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Background: The present study analyses the design of programming literacy in the sixth grade of Primary Education, starting from the use of simple activities with visual block‐based programming, through Scratch, and progressively linking difficulty to the use of the Unity engine, and the C# language, with simple activities identical to those created in Scratch. Objectives: This research aims to evaluate future teachers' abilities and attitudes regarding programming and its educational possibilities. We intend to evaluate the viability of a teaching proposal that combines a visual block‐based programming environment and a more advanced one, based on C#. Method: In the settings of two public Spanish universities, we analyse the possibilities in the training of future teachers who are studying for a degree in Primary Education Teaching and a degree in Pedagogy. Based on a test and three scales, descriptive data and statistical inference are detailed through a quasi‐experimental design with a Student's t‐test in the first dimension, and a Wilcoxon test in the second dimension. Results: The participants improved their performance and attitudes towards programming with the intervention of the study in the use of coding. Conclusions: It can be concluded that coding is essential in teacher training, and that a greater presence of programming training in higher education is essential. The benefits are visible in the pedagogical approach of coding related to creativity, innovation, motivation, an active approach and interest, highlighting the fact that the implementation of visual block‐based programming by blocks and engines is feasible in Elementary Education. The training proposal—provided by appropriate progression, selection, and sequencing of content—fosters basic and practical teacher training, and this can be defined as an apt training solution. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Visual Programming Language (Scratch) provides benefits in educational contextsEducational Technology in classroom provides motivation and encouragement.Active methods and interactions are interesting and beneficial to elementary school students What this paper adds: Visual programming and game engine are feasible in Elementary Education, detailing significant improvements regarding academic outcomesWe found benefits in this pedagogical approach related to creativity, innovation, motivation, active approach and interest. Implications for practice and/or policy: Due to the benefits and positive results obtained in this research it is recommended to implement Visual Programming LanguageWe recommend the introduction to engine in educational settings in 6th grade in primary education though a cross‐curricular implementation.We recommend to apply an active approach, innovation, and learning computational concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has drawn attention to the stigma and high rates of victimization among people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and an overlap between bias and non-bias victimization. However, studies of bias events or hate crime involving persons with ID are scarce. Using a self-report measure, we analyze lifetime bias victimization in a sample of 260 adults diagnosed with ID (age M = 41.7, SD = 12.0; 59.2% men), of whom 92 experienced bias victimization (age M = 41.2, SD = 11.9; 54.3% men), and compare the number of different types of victimization and the poly-victimization status between bias and non-bias victims. We also examine the following features: the victim, offender(s), victim–offender relationship, and location. Results show that bias victims experience a higher number of different types of victimization than non-bias victims (M = 7.74 and 4.96, respectively; p <.001, r rb=.37, ξ =.42) and are four times more likely to be poly-victims than non-bias victims (odds ratio [ OR ] = 4.37; 95% CI, p <.001). Most of the victims experienced a number of bias victimization episodes (89.1%; n = 82), and more than a quarter were injured (27.2%, n = 25) as a result of the victimization. All the bias victimizations by strangers were carried out in public places, as were most of the bias victimizations by acquaintances. Schoolmates and work colleagues perpetrated attacks at school and in the workplace, respectively. More than half of the victims, 63% (n = 58), spoke of the experience with someone, but only one reported it to the authorities. The paper provides a valuable descriptive and bivariate analysis of bias victimization of people with ID. The findings will help to understand bias violence against this population, highlighting the need for targeted and effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of the stigma construct for the rehabilitation of people with severe mental illness, there are still no scales that offer a measurement for public stigma in Spanish with good psychometric properties. The aim of this paper is to refine and improve an existing scale to measure public stigma towards people with severe mental illness among the Spanish population. We also intended to decrease the number of items in order to facilitate its applicability. 402 college students (73% women) responded to the attributional questionnaire (AQ27) in two subsamples. Exploratory and confirmatory factorial analysis with high cutoffs were conducted. The convergent validity with the resource allocation questionnaire was also tested. We have obtained a parsimonious tool, with 14 items and four factors, and some reliable psychometric indexes and convergent validity. The factors obtained were dangerousness-fear, lack of solidarity, coercion and avoidance. These results improve the findings from other studies that try to validate the AQ27 in other languages. We discuss the different factors that should be considered in the estimation of public stigma and the necessity to implement programmes to reduce it to enable recovery. Since the public stigma of mental illness is an obstacle to recovery and rehabilitation, reliable instruments are needed to assess it. A parsimonious instrument in Spanish with good psychometric characteristics for measuring public stigma is obtained. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, a questionnaire of 14 items is obtained. Four factors constitute the instrument: "dangerousness-fear", "coercion", "lack of solidarity", and "avoidance". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: AHDs in mental health are fundamental tools in advance care planning processes. It is an important method for involving mental healthcare users in clinical decisions and in providing effective healthcare based around user preferences.AHDs can be applied in situations in which the person may forfeit their legal capacity, according to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.However, the use of AHDs as described above is not yet a reality in Spain. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: The present study surveys the knowledge and attitudes of mental healthcare providers towards AHDs in clinical practice.Although providers had a moderate–low level of knowledge about AHDs, they presented positive attitudes towards them. What are the implications for practice?: The use of AHDs in mental healthcare practice poses challenges to the Spanish mental healthcare system. Acquiring up‐to‐date data on the knowledge and attitudes of providers towards AHDs allows organizations to address aspects of their service that require reinforcement. This data could also be used by other countries just starting to use AHDs, as an initial step towards supporting the implementation of a multistage intervention process.More in‐depth training for providers would help improve their competence to implement or honour the statements set out in AHDs, the related legal and ethical issues, and liability issues related to their implementation.The Spanish mental healthcare system requires structural changes so that providers can embrace new ways of relating to users and to organize partnerships and a continuity of care centred on user preferences. Introduction: Advance healthcare directives (AHDs) in mental health offer important information regarding service users' preferences. However, whether AHDs are truly understood by providers is questionable. Aim: To survey the knowledge and attitudes of mental health professionals towards AHDs and examine any associations with sociodemographic and occupational variables. Method: We cross‐sectionally surveyed the knowledge and attitudes of 113 mental health professionals by using two validated questionnaires. Results: Participants showed very positive attitudes and high levels of knowledge about the conceptual definition and application of AHDs in clinical practice but their knowledge of the legalities, procedure and registration of AHDs was poor. Working in a community, having a career specializing in mental health or having personally signed an AHD was associated with enhanced knowledge about them. Moreover, female sex or employment as an auxiliary nursing‐care technician was associated with stronger positive attitudes. Discussion: Legal and structural changes will be needed to implement AHDs in Spain and to promote competence among healthcare providers in order to include AHDs in everyday practice. Implications for practice: The Spanish mental healthcare system requires legal and structural changes and must improve healthcare providers' competence in AHDs before they are implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Dyspnea, affecting up to 60% of cancer patients, exacerbates physical and psychological distress, reducing quality of life. This study aims to explore the relationship between dyspnea and factors such as age, sex, clinical diagnosis, and treatment lines in cancer patients, with the goal of improving understanding and management of this debilitating symptom to enhance patient care and quality of life. Methods: This study employed an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive approach to investigate patients with oncological disease at the University Hospital of Salamanca between March 2021 and April 2024. A convenience sample was selected, including patients over 18 years old with a pathological diagnosis of cancer, experiencing any degree of dyspnea, and who consented to participate by signing the informed consent. Exclusion criteria included lack of consent and clinical conditions that prevented an interview. The studied variables encompass sociodemographic (age, gender, diagnosis, tumor stage, number of treatment lines) and clinical aspects (daily activities, degree of dyspnea, functional capacity, physical performance), evaluated using the Barthel Index, the mMRC Dyspnea Scale, the ECOG Scale, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Data were collected through semistructured interviews and medical records, and analyzed using specialized software. This research has ethical approval CEiM Code 2023 12 1472, Reference 2024/01. Results: The mean age was 66.82 years. Lung cancer was predominant (60.2%), with most patients in stage 3 (65.7%) and receiving three treatment lines (68.7%). Higher age, advanced disease stage, and more treatment lines correlated with lower Barthel and SPPB scores, and higher ECOG and mMRC scores, indicating worse functionality, physical performance, and greater dyspnea. No significant correlations were found between gender or pathological diagnosis and the studied variables. Conclusions: Advanced age, higher disease stage, and more treatment lines are associated with decreased functionality, poorer physical performance, and increased dyspnea in cancer patients. Gender and specific cancer diagnosis do not significantly affect these relationships. Addressing dyspnea is crucial to improving the quality of life and physical performance in this population. Future studies should explore additional factors like treatment types and nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To psychometrically assess the Spanish version of the Self‐Care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC‐CII‐Sp) in community‐dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. Design: A methodological study. Method: A total of 1260 older adults participated in the study between May 2020 and February 2022. The data were analysed using SPSS Statistics® 26 and AMOS® 24. The items' content validity index and the Fleiss' kappa were calculated to assess the SC‐CII‐Sp's content validity. Convergent validity was assessed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between the participants' scores on the SC‐CII‐Sp and their scores on the Spanish Chronic Disease Self‐Efficacy scale (SCD‐SE). Construct validity was tested by performing a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The SC‐CII‐Sp's reliability was tested by computing the Cronbach's alpha. Results: The SC‐CII‐Sp showed good content and convergent validity. The CFA showed that the SC‐CII‐Sp has three sub‐scales. The 8‐item Self‐Care Maintenance sub‐scale has good internal consistency and is comprised of two dimensions: illness‐related and health‐promoting behaviour. The Self‐Care Monitoring sub‐scale had excellent internal consistency and its five loaded items belonged to a single dimension. The 6‐item Self‐Care Management sub‐scale has adequate internal consistency and two dimensions: autonomous and consulting behaviour. Conclusion: The Spanish version of SC‐CII is a valid and reliable instrument to be used in the assessment of self‐care behaviours amongst Spanish‐speaking, community‐dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. Implications for the Profession: Nurses need valid and reliable tools to assess self‐care behaviours in Spanish‐speaking community‐dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. This study provides a 19‐item tool that allows for the comprehensive evaluation of self‐care behaviours in healthy and ill states. Impact: Using the SC‐CII‐Sp in clinical or research settings could help nurses to examine the effects of different interventions on self‐care behaviours amongst Spanish‐speaking, community‐dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. Patient or Public Contribution: None to be reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The widespread adoption of mobile devices by adolescents underscores the potential to harness these tools to instill healthy habits into their daily lives. An exemplary manifestation of this initiative is the Healthy Jeart app, crafted with the explicit goal of fostering well-being. Methodology: This study, framed within an applied investigation, adopts an exploratory and descriptive approach, specifically delving into the realm of user experience analysis. The focus of this research is a preliminary examination aimed at understanding users' perceived usability of the application. To glean insights, a comprehensive questionnaire was administered to 101 teenagers, seeking their evaluations on various usability attributes. The study took place during 2022. Results: The findings reveal a considerable consensus among users regarding the evaluated usability aspects. However, the areas for improvement predominantly revolve around managing the information density, particularly for a subset of end users grappling with overwhelming content. Additionally, recommendations are put forth to streamline the confirmation process for user suggestions and comments. Conclusion: This analysis illuminates both the strengths of the app and areas ripe for refinement, paving the way for a more user-centric and efficacious Healthy Jeart application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objective: To describe the experiences of nursing students and their mental health as they entered employment during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic (May–June 2020). Background: As other healthcare professionals, nursing students who worked during the first COVID‐19 wave suffered from dysfunctional mental health symptoms. Design: Sequential, mixed‐method, multicentre study. Methods: The study population comprised 92 students in the third and fourth year of the Nursing degree at three Spanish universities, who entered employment during the pandemic. Data were collected between May and June 2020. In the quantitative phase, data were collected using an online questionnaire containing both validated anxiety and stress scales. In the qualitative phase, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative data and a reflexive thematic analysis of the qualitative data were carried out, and analyses were combined. COREQ checklist was used for reporting. Results: The combined quantitative and qualitative results were organised into five thematic areas: (1) Interruption of clinical placements, (2) Entering employment on a healthcare assistant contract, (3) Preventing contagion, (4) Adapting to the situation and managing emotions, and (5) Lessons learned. Conclusion: The students had a positive overall experience of entering employment, as they were able to develop their nursing skills. However, they had an emotional impact in form of stress caused by excessive responsibility, academic uncertainty, lack of personal protective equipment and training in its use, and the possibility of spreading disease to their family members. Relevance to Clinical Practice: In the current context, changes must be made in study programmes to instruct nursing students to be able to cope with extreme clinical situations, such as pandemics. The programmes should include a more extensive coverage of epidemics and pandemics and management of emotional aspects such as resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyse the effects of leisure-based community activities in improving neighbourhood support and social cohesion, data were collected in two neighbourhoods of Barcelona (Spain) through questionnaires and interviews. The results indicate that promoting neighbourhood support requires a different strategy from promoting participation in leisure-based activities aimed at developing social cohesion within a community. The study also suggests various useful strategies to strengthen the effects of leisure-based community activities. The strategies recommended revolve around networking, use of the public space, recognition of diversity and conflict management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communication and advance care directives may be affected by the presence of dementia. We sought to describe the information and end-of-life preferences provided to nursing homes residents and their families. Methods: Trained nurses collected information from 124 residents randomly selected with palliative care needs from eight nursing homes. Results: A total of 54.4% of the residents with dementia had been provided with information about their state of health, compared to 92.5% of the residents without dementia (p < 0.01); family members exhibited no differences regarding information (p = 0.658), regardless of whether the resident was cognitively impaired. Most advance care interventions remained unexplored, except for cases where a transfer to hospital (81.5%) or serotherapy (69.4%) was desired. Decisions regarding palliative sedation (p = 0.017) and blood transfusion (p = 0.019) were lower among residents with dementia. Conclusions: Residents, especially residents with dementia, are provided with limited information and their preferences are inadequately explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing requires a high load of emotional labour. The link between nursing, emotional labour and the female sex, complicates the figure of the male nurse, because masculinity is associated with physical or technical (rather than emotional) and moreover is defined in contrast to femininity. Our objective was to understand how emotion management is described by male nurses who work in the paediatrics department of a Spanish tertiary hospital. Methods: Qualitative descriptive study. The participants were selected through intentional sampling in the paediatrics department of a Spanish tertiary hospital. We conducted semi-structured interviews until reaching data saturation. We carried out a content analysis, using Lincoln and Guba's definition of scientific rigour. Results: We identified two key themes in the data: 1) Stereotypes related to the emotional aspects of care: Participants took for granted some gender stereotypes while questioning others and defended alternative ways of managing emotions related to care. 2) Emotion management strategies: Participants described keeping an emotional distance, setting boundaries, relativising problems and using distraction and humour. Discussion: Nursing care is conditioned by gender roles and stereotypes that present men as less capable than women of feeling and managing emotions. However, emotion management is necessary in nursing care—especially in paediatrics—and our participants reported using strategies for it. Although participants continued to interpret care in terms of traditional roles, they contradicted them in adapting to the emotional labour that their job requires. Conclusions: New behaviours are emerging among male nurses, in which care and emotion management are not exclusively the purview of women. Our participants reproduced some gender stereotypes while disrupting others, and they tended to cling to the stereotypes that were favourable to them as male nurses. As we work towards a gender-neutral profession, these results represent a first step: male participants reported that they provide care and manage their emotions as well as (or better than) women. However, because they substantiated their claims by drawing on negative stereotypes of women, further progress must be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous medical education focused on health problems emerging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is scarce. Although tobacco consumption is increasing in LMICs, there is a lack of tobacco cessation training programs in these countries. To promote smoking cessation interventions in Bolivia, Guatemala and Paraguay, we adapted an e-learning program developed in Catalonia (Spain). This process evaluation study reports on reach, dose and satisfaction of participants with the course, as well as the contextual factors of its application. We conducted a multiple method evaluation, which included a survey and several focus groups, each one specific to the same type of healthcare professional (nurses, doctors, other professionals). Two hundred and ninety-two participants registered into the online course. The motivation for undertaking the course was different between doctors and nurses. The main sources of difficulty in enrolling and finishing the course were the technical problems experienced when accessing the platform, and lack of acquaintance with computers and the Internet in general. Our results show that implementing e-learning education in hospitals from LMICs is feasible, especially when there are similarities between participating countries and the country in which the original program was developed. However, several elements such as strong organizational commitment, technical support and resources and adequate communication channels should be provided to facilitate enrollment and training completion. Efforts to improve Internet access should be made to avoid jeopardizing students' motivation to enroll and complete online training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Child abuse is a health and social problem, and few screening instruments are available for the detection of risk in primary health care. The aim was to develop a screening instrument to be used by professionals in the public health care sector, thus enabling the detection of infants and toddlers at risk of emotional and physical abuse and neglect, and to provide evidence for the feasibility of the instrument in Cyprus, Greece and Spain. Method A total of 50 health professionals from paediatric public health-care centres in the three countries were involved in a three-step process for guiding the development of the screening tool and its application. Results A nine-item screening tool, consisting of items assessing relational emotional abuse, physical abuse and other risk factors, was developed. The screening tool was applied on a total of 219 families with 0 to 3-year-old children attending public health centres in the three countries. Clinicians reported that they agreed on the inclusion of the questions (86.4-100%) and that they found the questions to be useful for the clinical evaluation of the family (63.2-100%). Conclusion The screening tool shows considerable face validity and was reported feasible by an international set of clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial. BACKGROUND: A clinical prediction rule to identify patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) most likely to respond to manual physical therapy has been published but requires further testing to determine its validity. OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of a clinical prediction rule proposed for the management of patients with CTS in a different group of patients with a variety of treating clinicians. METHODS: A preplanned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of manual physical therapies, including desensitization maneuvers of the central nervous system, in 120 women suffering from CTS was performed. Patients were randomized to receive 3 sessions of manual physical therapy (n = 60) or surgical release/decompression of the carpal tunnel (n = 60). Self-perceived improvement with a global rating of change was recorded at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Pain intensity (mean pain and worst pain on a 0-to-10 numeric pain-rating scale) and scores on the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (functional status and symptom severity subscales) were assessed at baseline and at 1,3, 6, and 12 months. A baseline assessment of status on the clinical prediction rule was performed (positive status on the clinical prediction rule was defined as meeting at least 2 of the following criteria: pressure pain threshold of less than 137 kPa over the affected C5-6 joint; heat pain threshold of less than 39.6°C over the affected carpal tunnel; and general health score [Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey] of greater than 66 points). Linear mixed models with repeated measures were used to examine the validity of the rule. RESULTS: Participants with a positive status on the rule who received manual physical therapy did not experience greater improvements compared to those with a negative status on the rule for mean pain (P = .65), worst pain (P = .86), function (P = .99), or symptom severity (P = .85). Further, the clinical prediction rule performed no better than chance in identifying the individuals with CTS most likely to respond to manual physical therapy or surgery (mean pain, P = .87; worst pain, P = .91; function, P = .60; severity, P = .66). No differences in self-perceived improvement were observed at either 6 (P = .68) or 12 (P = .36) months, according to the rule. CONCLUSION: The results of this study did not support the validity of the previously developed clinical prediction rule for manual physical therapy in women with CTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parenting practices should be assessed and taken into account at an early age, since it is well documented that they are strongly related to children's development. This study provides data on the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire for Preschool children (APQ-Pr). A community sample of 622 (310 boys and 312 girls) 3 year-old children and their parents, participated in the study. Data were obtained from parents' reports and correspond to a semi-structured diagnostic interview and self-report questionnaires evaluating parenting and children's psychological states. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor solution: positive parenting, inconsistent parenting and punitive parenting. These scales scores showed moderate to good internal consistence (omega values ranged from .54 to .86). Inconsistent parenting scores achieved the strongest associations with external measures of psychopathology, especially for externalizing and conduct problems, as well as for functional impairment, the poorest associations being for the positive parenting scores. Results support the validity of the Spanish APQ-Pr, which is potentially a useful measure for the study of parenting practices regarding preschool children and their relation to conduct problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate and understand patient's satisfaction with nursing care in the intensive care unit to identify the dimensions of the concept of 'satisfaction' from the patient's point of view. To design and validate a questionnaire that measures satisfaction levels in critical patients. Background There are many instruments capable of measuring satisfaction with nursing care; however, they do not address the reality for critical patients nor are they applicable in our context. Design A dual approach study comprising: a qualitative phase employing Grounded Theory and a quantitative and descriptive phase to prepare and validate the questionnaire. Methods Data collection in the qualitative phase will consist of: in-depth interview after theoretical sampling, on-site diary and expert discussion group. The sample size will depend on the expected theoretical saturation n = 27-36. Analysis will be based on Grounded Theory. For the quantitative phase, the sampling will be based on convenience ( n = 200). A questionnaire will be designed on the basis of qualitative data. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used. The validation will be developed on the basis of the validity of the content, the criteria of the construct and reliability of the instrument by the Cronbach's alpha and test-retest approach. Approval date for this protocol was November 2010. Discussion Self-perceptions, beliefs, experiences, demographic, socio-cultural epistemological and political factors are determinants for satisfaction, and these should be taken into account when compiling a questionnaire on satisfaction with nursing care among critical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. To examine the prevalence of aggression against healthcare professionals and to determine the possible impact that violent episodes have on healthcare professionals in terms of loss of enthusiasm and involvement towards work. The objective was to analyse the percentage of occupational assault against professionals' aggression in different types of healthcare services, differentiating between physical and verbal aggression as a possible variable in detecting burnout in doctors and nursing professionals. Background. Leiter and Maslach have explored a double process model of burnout not only based on exhaustion by overload, but also based on personal and organisational value conflicts (community, rewards or values). Moreover, Whittington has obtained conclusive results about the possible relationship between violence and burnout in mental health nurses. Design. A retrospective study was performed in three hospitals and 22 primary care centres in Spain ( n = 1·826). Methods. Through different questionnaires, we have explored the relationship between aggression suffered by healthcare workers and burnout. Results. Eleven percent of respondents had been physically assaulted on at least one occasion, whilst 34·4% had suffered threats and intimidation on at least one occasion and 36·6% had been subjected to insults. Both forms of violence, physical and non-physical aggression, showed significant correlations with symptoms of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and inefficacy). Conclusions. The survey showed evidence of a double process: (1) by which excess workload helps predict burnout, and (2) by which a mismatch in the congruence of values, or interpersonal conflict, contributes in a meaningful way to each of the dimensions of burnout, adding overhead to the process of exhaustion-cynicism-lack of realisation. Relevance to clinical practice. Studies indicate that health professionals are some of the most exposed to disorders steaming from psychosocial risks and a high comorbidity: anxiety, depression, etc. There is a clear need for accurate instruments of evaluation to detect not only the burnout but also the areas that cause it. Professional exhaustion caused by aggression or other factors can reflect a deterioration in the healthcare relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the: (1) test-retest reliability of the English and Spanish language versions of the Multidimensional Task Ability Profile (MTAP), (2) cross-cultural adaptation of the Spanish language version of the MTAP, and (3) practicality of both versions in terms of time required for administration. The MTAP is a patient-reported outcome measure of physical function that uses a combination of text and pictorial illustrations. Methods An observational study was conducted with a convenience sample of patients with musculoskeletal disorders from three outpatient physical rehabilitation centers. Participants (n = 110) completed the MTAP two times, whereby the second test was completed 24-72 h after the first test. Focus groups were conducted at the end of the study. Correlation analyses were used to assess test-retest reliability and qualitative analyses were used to assess cultural adaptation of the MTAP. Results The English and Spanish versions of the MTAP displayed good test-retest reliability (ICC 2,1 = 0.87-0.97, p < 0.05). Qualitative analyses demonstrated adequate cross-cultural adaptation of the Spanish language version of the instrument. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that the MTAP has been adequately adapted from its original English version for use with Spanish-speaking individuals. The MTAP in its current form of 50 items is reliable when administered to individuals with musculoskeletal disorders in either English or Spanish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background People with developmental disabilities are at high risk for a limited participation in leisure activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the participation in, preference for and interest in leisure activities of young and adults with developmental disabilities, and to examine the factors associated with leisure activity. Methods A cross-sectional design was used with a convenience sample of 237 people aged 17 to 65, living in the community. Leisure participation was assessed with the Spanish version of Leisure Assessment Inventory. Percentages were calculated by types of activity, and repeated measures anovas were used to analyse the differences between types of activities, and mixed anovas to analyse the factors that explain differences in leisure activity participation, preference and interest. Results Leisure social activities and recreation activities at home were mostly solitary and passive in nature and were identified as those being most commonly engaged in. Respondents expressed preference for more social and physical activity, and they were interested in trying out a large number of physical activities. Age and type of schooling determine participation in leisure activity. The results underscore the differences in leisure activity participation, preference and interest depending on the severity of the disability. Conclusions The findings reveal interesting patterns of participation in leisure activities from the viewpoint of youngsters and adults with developmental disabilities. Leisure participation among people with developmental disabilities is likely to be more affected by environmental factors than by personal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of protocolised intervention for hospital discharge and follow-up in the primary care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality internationally. Design: A quasi-experimental design was adopted, with a control group and it was pseudorandomised by services. Methods: Patients with COPD admitted to two tertiary-level public hospitals in Spain were recruited (2007-2008). The outcome variables included: readmission rate, patient satisfaction (LOPSS12), quality of life (St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaire) and level of knowledge about COPD. 48 hours after admission, both groups were evaluated by specialist coordinating nurses. At the hospital, a coordinating nurse visited each patient in the experimental group every 24 hours to identify the main caregiver, provide information about the disease, explain treatment, identify care problems and needs and facilitate communication between professionals. 24 hours after discharge, the coordinating nurses informed the primary care nurses about patient discharge. The two nurses made the first home visit together. There were follow-up phone calls at 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after discharge. A total of 143 patients were recruited (Intervention group=56; Control group=87). Results: The results showed a significant improvement in the evolution of quality of life, at 12 and 24 weeks after discharge; the level of knowledge about COPD revealed significant differences between the groups. There were no differences according to satisfaction or readmission rate. Multivariate analysis (non-conditional logistic regression) showed the intervention to be ineffective in reducing the readmission rate. Conclusions: The planning of discharge for patients with COPD is effective in terms of improving the patients' quality of life and level of knowledge about the disease. Relevance to clinical practice: The characteristics of patients with COPD make it necessary to include them in hospital discharge planning programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]