Search

Background: Many caregivers are insufficiently prepared, and little is known about measures that can be employed to enhance their preparedness. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with caregiver preparedness and establish a predictive model including the relationship between preparedness, burden, resilience and anxiety. Design: A cross‐sectional design was used. Methods: The sample included 172 family caregivers who were selected from one private hospital and daytime nursing centres. Caregivers were recruited from 2018 to 2019; they completed assessments for caregiver preparedness, anxiety, resilience and burden. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with preparedness. Results: Preparedness was significantly associated with high levels of resilience and a low level of burden, while it was not associated with anxiety. Caregivers' gender, experience and cohabitation status were the main predictors. Resilience is an explanatory factor for caregiver preparedness in the predictive model. Conclusion: The demographic variables related to preparedness can be used to guide efforts to meet the needs of vulnerable caregivers. A caregiver's preparedness depends on their level of burden and resilience. Nursing interventions focused on these aspects could make the caregiver's role easier and improve the quality of care provided. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Many caregivers are inadequately prepared for this role, and ensuring adequate preparedness is important for family caregivers.Preparedness and factors predictive of this in Spanish family caregivers have not been well‐documented.Resilience, burden and anxiety affect caregivers, but the degree to which they influence caregivers' preparation levels is unknown. What is the contribution of this paper? Specific factors influence the preparedness of family caregivers. Men and caregivers who do not cohabit in the same household with the care‐dependent person may present greater deficits in preparedness. Moreover, poor health and lack of experience in caring can result in inadequate caregiving performance.Readiness, resilience and burden are significantly related, and the best predictor of family caregivers' preparedness is resilience.Resilience leads to greater preparedness in caregivers, and better‐prepared caregivers experience a lighter burden. What are the implications of this paper? Knowing the factors associated with preparedness in advance will allow health‐care professionals to prevent deficits in vulnerable family caregivers.Resilience is a decisive factor which prevents negative consequences such as low preparedness. A resilient coping style can diminish the burden and promote successful adaptation in caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the first virtual reality (VR) photography application that incorporates elements on panoramic images to assess short-term spatial memory is presented. It also allows the interaction with these elements. A study was conducted (N = 50) to compare participants' performance outcomes and subjective experience when using a VR application with and without panoramic photography. The results show that both applications are effective in assessing short-term spatial memory. The results with panoramic photography include: 1) It was effective for short-term recall since, after using the application, the participants were able to verbally recall the objects and place them without significant differences with respect to the objects correctly placed; 2) The performance outcomes were independent of age and gender; 3) The perceived level of presence was directly related to experiencing less cybersickness when using the application; 4) The level of satisfaction was directly related to perceived enjoyment, concentration, usability, competence, calmness, and expertise; 5) The more the familiarity with VR applications, the less the perceived cybersickness. Finally, the application offers two main advantages: 1) The evaluators can customize the environment by adding as many elements as desired to the panoramic photograph; 2) It could be especially suitable for groups with reduced mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to first assess the long-term effects of the adaptation of the American Strengthening Families Programme in Spain (known as the Programa de Competencia Familiar, translated into English as the Family Competence Programme (FCP)). The second aim is to identify family typologies and family changes regarding family competence over time. The paper’s initial hypothesis is that families have different behaviours and take advantage of the FCP in different ways. Design/methodology/approach – Monitored applications of the FCP were conducted using a quasi-experimental design consisting of a control group and pre-test, post-test and two-year follow-up assessments. The sample was made up of 136 families who took part in the programme and another 18 who participated in the control groups. Validated instruments were applied to assess the methodological processes and the family assessments. A cluster analysis was undertaken to identify different family typologies and their evolution in relation to the FCP goals. Findings – The FCP shows effective and consistent results over time for families in a variety of difficult situations, with important result maintenance. The longitudinal analysis (i.e. the two-year follow-up) demonstrates that the majority of changes identified (using the factors under consideration) maintained their relevance for most of the families, producing positive change. Originality/value – There is little long-term evaluation or longitudinal analysis of family prevention programmes that are evidence-based and include cognitive-emotional content. This paper analyses the long-term evaluation of family prevention programmes and identifies the ways in which families change over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? In general, the current studies of positive mental health use questionnaires or parts thereof. However, while these questionnaires evaluate aspects of positive mental health, they fail to measure the construct itself., What does this paper add to existing knowledge? The widespread use and the lack of specific questionnaires for evaluating the positive mental health construct justify the need to measure the robustness of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire. Also six factors are proposed to measure positive mental health., What are the implications for practice? The availability of a good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals., Abstract Introduction Nursing has a relevant role in managing mental health. It is important to identify and thereafter to enhance positive aspects of mental health among university nursing students. Aim The aim of the present study was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire ( PMHQ) in terms of reliability and validity using confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of university students. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 1091 students at 4 nursing schools in Catalonia, Spain. The reliability of the PMHQ was measured by means of Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the test-retest stability was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient ( ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the validity of the factorial structure. Results Cronbach's alpha coefficient was satisfactory (>0.70) for four of the six subscales or dimensions and ranged from 0.54 to 0.79. ICC analysis was satisfactory for the six subscales or dimensions. The hypothesis was confirmed in the analysis of the correlations between subclasses and the overall scale, with the strongest correlations being found between the majority of the subscales and the overall scale. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model proposed for the factors fit the data satisfactorily. Discussion This scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating positive mental health in university students. Implications for Practice A good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze the technical-tactical performance profile of the serve for various age groups and categories of competition in men's volleyball. The sample comprised 13,262 serves performed by 986 players in 299 sets observed in various categories of competition (U-14, U-16, U-19, national senior, and international senior). An observational design was used. The variables studied were category of competition, type of execution, and serve performance. The results showed that for higher age groups (senior categories), there were significantly fewer jump serves and poorer serve performance, regardless of players' maturity and training development. The use of the jump serves increased the serve risk while attempting to hinder the organization of the opponent attack. This paper discusses the serve evolution and the implications on the training process at the different age groups in men's volleyball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment (BE) impacts on people's disability and health, in terms of overweight, depression, alcohol abuse, poor self-rated health and presence of psychological symptoms; it is reasonable to assume that BE also impacts on participation levels. This paper presents the validation of the COURAGE Built Environment Self-Reported Questionnaire (CBE-SR), an instrument designed to evaluate BE in the context of health and disability. Subjects participating to COURAGE, a cross-sectional study conducted on 10 800 citizens of Poland, Finland and Spain, completed a protocol inclusive of the CBE-SR. Psychometric properties and factor structure were analysed, and factor scores created. Gender differences, differences between persons from different age groups and persons reporting the environment as facilitating, hindering or neutral were calculated. Eight items were deleted so that the final version of CBE-SR comprises 19 items. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.743 to 0.906, and test-retest stability was demonstrated for the majority of items. Four subscales were identified: Usability of the neighbourhood environment; Hindrance of walkable environment; Easiness of use of public buildings, places and facilities; and Risk of accidents and usability of the living place. Younger respondents reported their neighbourhood as more usable but perceived walkways as more hindering and public buildings as less easy to use; gender differences were almost inexistent. The CBE-SR is a four-scale instrument with good psychometric properties that measures the person-environment interaction. It is sensitive across age groups and is consistent with the subject's overall judgement of the degree to which the environment is facilitating or hindering. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Poor built environments have a negative impact on the level of a person's participation. However, instruments measuring the person-environment interaction are lacking., The CBE-SR is a valid and reliable instrument that researchers can use to assess the relationships between the intrinsic health state and the objective features of the environment., Understanding this relationship would provide further insight into the need of addressing the individual's functioning either by means of interventions directed to the individual or by making changes to the individual's environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the association of subjective memory complaints (SMC) with perceived state of health, mood and episodic memory (associative and everyday memory). We studied these areas using two different complaint assessment methods (three general questions and a validated scale). The study included 269 older adults (aged 65-87) with age-related memory changes, but without cognitive impairment. They were evaluated with Mini-cognitive Exam, Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (a test of everyday memory), Paired Associates Learning Test, Memory Failures of Everyday Questionnaire, three memory complaints questions, Nottingham Health Profile and Geriatric Depression Scale. The results indicated that memory for everyday performance, mood and perceived health were independent predictors of SMC, with mood and perceived health being stronger predictors than actual memory performance. Age was not associated with subjective memory and, with regard to level of education, only the illiterate level was associated with SMC. A specific questionnaire on subjective memory was found to be preferable to an aggregate of complaints questions on self-reported memory; only health profile was found to predict the outcomes on memory complaints questions. Our conclusion is that a group of underlying factors other than everyday memory were playing a role in SMC; these SMC of subjects with age-related memory changes were mainly associated with subjective evaluations of their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aim to describe the relationship between job satisfaction and compare levels of resilience among out‐of‐hospital emergency medical service professionals. Background: The study of the impact of the working environment on health professionals has raised great interest. Job‐related variables and resilience can be a protective factor against stressful and demanding events at work. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey comprising sociodemographic and job‐related variables was conducted among 406 workers (doctors, nurses, psychologists, and ambulance technicians) from the out‐of‐hospital emergency medical system in Spain. Resilience was self‐reported using the Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale. Results: Nursing professionals were less resilient compared with ambulance technicians (score difference 1.709, p =.008). As age increased, resilience was lower (r = −.118). Professionals with higher resilience scores were more satisfied in their work (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02–1.11), and professionals with higher psychological strength, gained from working with other colleagues, also showed greater job satisfaction (OR = 5.47, 95% CI: 2.55–11.73). Conclusion: There was a positive association between resilience, job satisfaction and collaborative work. Professionals with greater psychological strength, gained from working with other colleagues, also showed higher levels of job satisfaction. Implications for Nursing Management: Managers can use these results to influence the work environment to enhance job satisfaction and hence improve the resilience of the out‐of‐hospital emergency health care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to study the effects of muscle fatigue induced by countermovement jumps (CMJ) on instep kick foot velocity in young male soccer players. Fifteen under-18 soccer players from a professional club performed maximal velocity instep kicks before and after a fatigue protocol that consisted of continuous CMJ. Foot velocity at impact without fatigue, foot velocity at impact with fatigue, CMJ height without fatigue, maximum jump height in fatigue test, and CMJ height change in fatigue test on a dynamometric platform were measured. There was a significant difference between jump height with and without fatigue (P = .00; ES = 0.8), but there were no significant differences between kicking with fatigue and without fatigue (P = .580, ES = 0.10). In conclusion, although the protocol was intense enough to generate fatigue in the muscles involved in CMJ, there were no significant differences in kicking velocity under fatigue conditions with respect to kicking without fatigue in the soccer players studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the effects of low-load, high-velocity resistance training (RT) combined with plyometrics on physical performance in pre-peak-height-velocity (PHV) soccer players. Methods: Thirty young soccer players from the same academy were randomly assigned to either a strength training (STG, n = 15) or a control group (CG, n = 15). Strength training consisted of full squat exercise with low load (45-58% 1RM) and low volume (4—8 repetitions/set) combined with jumps and sprints twice a week over 6 wk of preseason. The effect of the training protocol was assessed using sprint performance over 10 and 20 m, countermovement jump, estimated 1-repetition maximum, and average velocity attained against all loads common to pre- and posttests in full squat. Results: STG showed significant improvements (P = .004- 001) and moderate to very large standardized effects (ES = 0.71-2.10) in all variables measured, whereas no significant gains were found in CG (ES = -0.29 to 0.06). Moreover, significant test x group interactions (P < .003-001) and greater between-groups ESs (0.90-1.97) were found for all variables in favor of STG compared with CG. Conclusion: Only 6 wk of preseason low-volume and low-load RT combined with plyometrics can lead to relevant improvements in strength, jump, and sprint performance. Thus, the combination of field soccer training and lightweight strength training could be used for a greater development of the tasks critical to soccer performance in pre-PHV soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Professional support of families that are under temporary protection, with the goal of reunification, is necessary for helping families re‐establish their family dynamics. Without this support, the conditions that contributed to child abuse and neglect will likely persist. In this context, the attitude of professionals towards positive parenting and child participation is a decisive factor. The quantitative study presented here contributes knowledge regarding these 2 variables. The study was conducted with 106 professionals who work in the child protection system. The results show a high degree of consensus among professionals regarding the following practices: (a) incorporating positive parenting into family reunification processes; (b) training the biological parents in parenting skills; and (c) promoting the active participation of children in foster care and reunification. Regarding the latter point, the study found that older and more experienced professionals are more open and inclined to promote participation in family reunification processes. The practical implications of the results invite us to review attitudinal competencies training for professionals working in child protection services, focusing on encouraging a positive attitude towards the parental competencies of the biological family and the active participation of children in foster care and reunification. These professionals' attitudes are a key factor in mediating the process of family reunification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical measurement study. BACKGROUND: Achilles tendinopathy is a prevalent sport-related injury. The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire is a widely used patient-reported outcome to assess the severity of symptoms for this injury. OBJECTIVE: To adapt the VISA-A questionnaire into Spanish and to assess its psychometric properties. METHODS: Cross-cultural adaptation was conducted according to recommended guidelines. The Spanish VISA-A (VISA-A-Sp) questionnaire was administered to 210 subjects: 70 healthy students, 70 active at-risk subjects (participating in running and jumping), and 70 patients diagnosed with Achilles tendinopathy. Participants were assessed at baseline and after 3 to 5 days. The injured subjects were also evaluated with a quality-oflife questionnaire (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) and at discharge. The final VISA-A-Sp was evaluated for reliability, validity, and responsiveness. RESULTS: Cronbach alpha for the VISA-A-Sp was greater than .8. The intraclass correlation coefficient (model 2,1) was 0.993 (95% confidence interval: 0.991, 0.995; P<.05). In the confirmatory factor analysis, a 1-factor solution obtained a relatively good fit. Subjects with Achilles tendinopathy scored significantly lower than the other 2 groups (P<.001). The VISA-A-Sp score within the Achilles tendinopathy group showed significant correlations with SF-36 physical components (Spearman rho>0.5, P<.001). The standard error of the measurement was 2.53, and the minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level was 7 points. The responsiveness indicators included an effect size of 2.16 and a standardized response mean of 1.92. CONCLUSION: The VISA-A-Sp showed satisfactory psychometric properties that were comparable to the original English-language version. Therefore, it can be recommended for use in clinical practice and research for assessing the severity of symptoms in Spanish-speaking athletes who suffer from Achilles tendinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to analyse the training load in wheelchair basketball small-sided games and determine the relationship between heart rate (HR)-based training load and perceived exertion (RPE)-based training load methods among small-sided games bouts. HR-based measurements of training load included Edwards’ training load and Stagno’s training impulses (TRIMPMOD) while RPE-based training load measurements included cardiopulmonary (session RPEres) and muscular (session RPEmus) values. Data were collected from 12 wheelchair basketball players during five consecutive weeks. The total load for the small-sided games sessions was 67.5 ± 6.7 and 55.3 ± 12.5 AU in HR-based training load (Edwards’ training load and TRIMPMOD), while the RPE-based training loads were 99.3 ± 26.9 (session RPEres) and 100.8 ± 31.2 AU (session RPEmus). Bout-to-bout analysis identified greater session RPEmus in the third [P < 0.05; effect size (ES) = 0.66, moderate] and fourth bouts (P < 0.05; ES = 0.64, moderate) than in the first bout, but other measures did not differ. Mean correlations indicated a trivial and small relationship among HR-based and RPE-based training loads. It is suggested that HR-based and RPE-based training loads provide different information, but these two methods could be complementary because one method could help us to understand the limitations of the other. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background The study assesses the support needs of individuals with intellectual disability and their families in Catalonia. The present authors examine family quality of life ( FQoL), identify the individual services required and assess families' perceptions of the extent to which their family member with intellectual disability and they themselves receive the services they need. Materials and Methods The N& S questionnaire ( Needs and Supports for people with intellectual disability and their families) was administered to 2160 families with a family member with intellectual disability aged under 70 in Catalonia ( Spain). Results Overall mean FQoL was quite high. FQoL was associated with family income, education, employment and percentage level of disability. Neither people with intellectual disability nor their families receive the specific support they need. Conclusions Besides providing specific support for individuals with intellectual disability, local policymakers and practitioners should apply a family-centred approach to the provision of support for families in order to improve FQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Couples affect each other cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally. The goal of this study is to test the benefits and potential use of the actor-partner interdependence model in examining how parental self-efficacy and positive contributions of fathers and mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Condition influence each other's psychological adaptation. The sample includes 76 Spanish couples who completed validated questionnaires measuring predictors, i.e., self-efficacy and positive contributions, and adaptation outcomes i.e., stress, anxiety, depression and psychological well-being. Multilevel analysis revealed many actor and some partner effects of parental self-efficacy and positive contributions to be important determinants of adaptation above and beyond child and sociodemographic factors, and as such, these effects should be targeted in clinical intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is a lack of large epidemiological studies researching the major factors of the oral well-being in schoolchildren. Aims To quantify the impact of the different clinical conditions related to caries and periodontal and dento-facial anomalies on the quality of life captured by the Child- OIDP. Design A standardized epidemiological study was conducted on 2041 Spanish schoolchildren, aged 6-12 years, to assess caries and periodontal and dento-facial disease. Data on oral health-related quality of life were collected using the Child- OIDP. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the modulating factors in the perceived oral well-being. Results The prevalence of impact in this sample was 45.7%, mostly for eating (24.3%) but also for smiling (16.2%); however, 72.5% of the subjects had at least one type of normative needs, mainly for periodontal treatment (52.3%), followed by caries (32.3%) and orthodontic treatments (20.6%). The main predictors of the impact on quality of life were perceived dental treatment needs, caries, and periodontal diseases. Also, some demographic (age and gender) and behavioural factors (consumption of sweets) modulated the impact on several domains. Moreover, subjects who rated their general health as good or very good reported a significantly better oral well-being than their counterparts. Conclusions Pain and aesthetic-related domains (i.e., problems when eating or smiling) are the major components of the oral health-related quality of life perceived by Spanish schoolchildren. Perceived treatment needs as well as dental and periodontal status were the strongest predictors of oral well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Protein-energy wasting ( PEW) is a highly prevalent condition in haemodialysis patients ( HD). The potential usefulness of nutritional-inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of PEW in chronic kidney disease has not been established completely. We hypothesised that a combination of serum albumin, percentage of mid-arm muscle circumference and standard body weight comprises a better discriminator than either single marker of nutritional status in HD patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 80 HD patients. Patients were categorised in two groups: well-nourished and PEW. Logistic regression analysis was applied to corroborate the reliability of the three markers of PEW with all the nutritional-inflammatory markers analysed. Results PEW was identified in 52.5% of HD patients. Compared with the well-nourished patients, PEW patients had lower body mass index, serum pre-albumin and body cell mass (all P < 0.001) and higher C-reactive protein (s- CRP) ( P < 0.01). Logistic regression analyses showed that the combination of the three criteria were significantly related with s- CRP >1 mg dL−1, phase angle <4°, and serum pre-albumin <30 mg dL−1 (all P < 0.05). Other indicators, such as lymphocytes <20% and Charlson comorbidity index, were significantly involved (both P < 0.01). A receiver operating characteristic curve ( area under the curve) of 0.86 ( P < 0.001) was found. Conclusions The combined utilisation of serum albumin, percentage of mid-arm muscle circumference and standard body weight as PEW markers appears to be useful for nutritional-inflammatory status assessment and adds predictive value to the traditional indicators. Larger studies are needed to achieve the reliability of these predictor combinations and their cut-off values in HD patients and other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and objective Regular blood transfusions in the management of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) often lead to iron overload. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of medication adherence on the effectiveness of deferasirox for the treatment of transfusional iron overload in patients with MDS. Secondary objectives were to describe treatment effectiveness and safety in daily clinical practice. Methods A longitudinal, retrospective, observational study was carried out in a university hospital. The inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, MDS diagnosis and treatment with deferasirox for transfusion-dependent iron overload during the period of study (from January 2011 to April 2015). Treatment effectiveness was estimated by serum ferritin (SF), and adherence was measured by medication possession ratio (MPR). Clinically relevant analytical alterations during the treatment and reasons for treatment discontinuation were also assessed. Results Thirty-five patients were included in the study. Median SF at baseline was 1636 μg/L, and it decreased to 1399 μg/L during follow-up. The median adherence rate was 92%, although only 54·8% of the patients maintained deferasirox adherence ≥90% during the whole duration of treatment. Adherence rate was inversely correlated to SF ( r = −0·288, P = 0·004). The median (p25, p75) duration of treatment was 11 (3·0, 37·8) months. The most common reasons for treatment discontinuation were renal toxicity (35%) and patient′s death (25%). What is new and conclusion Deferasirox's effectiveness, measured by the decrease in SF, was significantly better in adherent patients. The most frequent reason for treatment discontinuation was renal toxicity. Developing strategies to improve deferasirox treatment adherence and monitoring renal function in those patients should be key points in pharmaceutical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most individuals with autism spectrum disorders often fail in tasks of theory of mind (ToM). However, those with normal intellectual functioning known as high functioning ASD (HF-ASD) sometimes succeed in mentalizing inferences. Some tools have been developed to more accurately test their ToM abilities. The aims of this study were to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of Stories of Everyday Life Test ( SEL) in a sample of 29 children and adolescents with HF-ASD and 25 typically developing controls and to compare their performance. The Spanish- SEL demonstrated good internal consistency, strong convergence with clinical severity and another ToM test, and adequate discriminant validity from intellectual capability and age, identifying the condition of 70 % of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to examine the discrepancy between patients and caregivers' ratings of quality of life in terms of accuracy and precision, and identify factors associated with it, in order to facilitate the use of this scale as dementia progresses. Design: Cross-sectional analytic study. Setting: Day care centres. Participants: Community-living patients with Alzheimer's disease in early or moderate stage and their principal caregivers. Measurements: Participants rated patients' quality of life using DEMQOL. The discrepancy was assessed using the individual difference score and the residuals for each domain of DEMQOL. The scores on Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Clinical Insight Rating Scale, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, Health Utilities Index Mark 3 and Zarit Burden Interview were considered as possible predictors of the discrepancy. Results: A total of 276 subjects participated in the study (138 patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers). Discrepancy measured by individual difference score was lower than that measured by the residuals. Burden and mood-related symptoms explained the positive differences and residuals, while pain, self-perceived depression and cognition determined the negative ones. Conclusions: Differences exist between patients and caregivers' perceptions about subjective states. The evaluations of each informant seem to be influenced by their own emotional state and the inner experience of the effects of the disease. Caregivers' ratings on DEMQOL could be useful to monitor the efficacy of any treatment whenever burden is low and patients have no great physical or emotional suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To estimate the frequency of alcohol consumption among nursing students and describe their behaviour patterns in relation to excessive consumption. Background Most alcohol-related problems appear in individuals who indulge in hazardous consumption, with hazardous drinkers constituting a priority in the field of preventive activities. According to previous studies, there is a high proportion of hazardous drinkers among university students. Design Descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods Over the course of the 2012-2013 academic year, we assessed 1060 nursing degree students, ascertaining their socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and alcohol consumption by means of the Systematic Alcohol Consumption Interview ( Interrogatorio Sistematizado de Consumos Alcohólicos/ ISCA) and Alcohol Use Disorders Inventory Test ( AUDIT). Results Hazardous alcohol consumption was observed in 43·4% of students. Moreover, 14·9% of men and 18·7% of women met criteria for hazardous drinkers, without any statistically significant difference between the sexes. The frequency of hazardous drinkers was significantly higher among participants aged under 21 years, those living outside the family nucleus and smokers. Conclusion A considerable proportion of students show evidence of hazardous alcohol consumption and, while there are no sex-related differences, the proportion of hazardous drinkers tends to be higher among the youngest subjects, smokers and persons living outside the family nucleus. Alcohol-prevention activities should envisage greater protection of university settings, particularly where future health professionals are involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Educational initiatives for informal caregivers have proved efficient at reducing some of their symptoms, consequence of their involvement in care giving. However, more progress must be made in terms of the design of more successful interventions. Aims: Randomized clinical trial to test the efficiency of an Education Program for Primary Informal Caregivers of Hospitalized Dependent Patients in relation to their burden, mental and physical health, and care related knowledge. Methods. Design: Cluster Randomized Trial. Sample: 151 participants, primary caregivers of hospitalized, dependent patients, carried out from February 2009 to March 2010. They were assigned at random to two groups: one received an intensive educational program (n = 78), and the other just a generic speech (n = 73). The degree of burden of caregivers was recorded (Zarit Test), as well as their physical and mental health (SF12) and their knowledge of caregiving, before, immediately, after and one and a half months after the intervention. These analyses were carried out according to the Generalized Estimated Equations Method, in order to assess any possible improvements. Results. Participants´ burden did not improve, as measured by Zarit Test (p = 0,338), nor did their physical (p = 0,917) or mental health (p = 0,345). However there was an improvement in their hygiene caregiving (p = 0,001) and mobility care giving (p = 0,001). Conclusions. Caregivers found useful the education program, providing them with an informal support group. Interventions need to be longer and more customized as well as adapted to specific demands. There is a lack of validated questionnaires to assess improvements in care knowledge. There is a need to develop programs that contemplate continuity of care from primary to specialized caregiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the Spanish validation of the 'Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition' instrument (MASC-SP). We recruited 22 adolescents and young adults with Asperger syndrome and 26 participants with typical development. The MASC-SP and three other social cognition instruments (Ekman Pictures of Facial Affect test, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, and Happé's Strange Stories) were administered to both groups. Individuals with Asperger syndrome had significantly lower scores in all measures of social cognition. The MASC-SP showed strong correlations with all three measures and relative independence of general cognitive functions. Internal consistency was optimal (0.86) and the test-retest was good. The MASC-SP is an ecologically valid and useful tool for assessing social cognition in the Spanish population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigacion & Educacion en Enfermeria is the property of Universidad de Antioquia, Facultad de Enfermeria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled, repeated-measures, single-blind randomized study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of cervical or thoracic manipulation on neurotensin, oxytocin, orexin A, and cortisol levels. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have researched the effect of spinal manipulation on pain modulation and/or range of movement. However, there is lile knowledge of the biochemical process that supports the antinociceptive effect of spinal manipulation. METHODS: Thirty asymptomatic subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups: cervical manipulation (n = 10), thoracic manipulation (n = 10), and nonmanipulation (control) (n = 10). Blood samples were extracted before, immediately after, and 2 hours after each intervention. Neurotensin, oxytocin, and orexin A were determined in plasma using enzyme-linked immuno assay. Cortisol was measured by microparticulate enzyme immuno assay in serum samples. RESULTS: Immediately after the intervention, significantly higher values of neurotensin (P<.05) and oxytocin (P<.001) levels were observed with both cervical and thoracic manipulation, whereas cortisol concentration was increased only in the cervical manipulation group (P<.05). No changes were detected for orexin A levels. Two hours after the intervention, no significant differences were observed in between-group analysis. CONCLUSION: The mechanical stimulus provided by spinal manipulation triggers an increase in neurotensin, oxytocin, and cortisol blood levels. Data suggest that the initial capability of the tissues to tolerate mechanical deformation affects the capacity of these tissues to produce an induction of neuropeptide expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life in chronically-ill elderly patients and its relationship with parameters concerning the patients' nutritional status. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary health-care centres in Jaen, Spain. Participants: A total of 168 chronically-ill elderly outpatients aged from 65 to 89 years. Measurements: Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. A nutritional assessment was undertaken including socio-demographic variables, anthropometric measurements (body-mass index and calf circumference), functional evaluation (Barthel index and Folstein mini-mental status test) and a dietetic questionnaire. The mini-nutritional assessment test was used as an assessment tool to detect nutritional risk. Results: Quality of life in chronically-ill elderly subjects, as determined by the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, which diminishes with age, is independent of anthropometric parameters and a statistically significant difference was found between gender, socio-demographic characteristics, functional capacity, nutritional status and the kind of chronic disease (p<0.05). Conclusion: The relationship between the quality of life with the patients' socio-demographic characteristics, functional capacity and nutritional status underlines the importance of taking these factors into account in the management of chronically ill patients, especially women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To contribute to the validation of the revised BMI-MNA-SF and CC- MNA-SF with regard to association and agreement with the full-MNA, considered as gold standard, in nursing homes in Spain. Design: Prospective analysis. Setting: Nursing homes. Participants: Eight hundred ninety five subjects aged 65 or older meeting inclusion criteria. Measurements: Correlation, diagnostic accuracy and agreement between the revised MNA short forms and the MNA full form. Results: The MNA-SFs correlated strongly with the full MNA version (Pearson's correlation coefficient r=0.904; p<0.001). High values of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were obtained for the BMI- MNA-SF and CC-MNA-SF against the full-MNA when the dichotomized categorizations 'malnourished-at risk of malnutrition' vs 'well nourished' and 'malnourished' vs 'at risk of malnutrition-well nourished' were considered (Youden's index at least 0.695 in all cases). Areas under the ROC curves also reached high values (BMI-SF: 0.950 and CC-SF: 0.923 for the first categorization; BMI-SF: 0.979 and CC-SF: 0.978 for the second one) showing both tests excellent accuracy with the full-MNA. The agreement between the MNA-SFs and the full-MNA was quantified as the percentage of correct classifications. The BMI-MNA-SF classified 83.80% correctly and the CC-MNA-SF classified 78.55% correctly. Significant proportions of subjects were underestimated by both MNA-SFs. Just about 6% of overestimations were found in both cases. Conclusion: The revised BMI-MNA-SF and CC-MNA-SF are rapid, easy and reliable tools capable to identify malnourished individuals and those who are at risk of malnutrition with minimal misclassifications with potential harm in nursing home residents. Due to the special characteristics of elderly staying in these institutions, the CC-MNA-SF is a good option to replace the BMI-MNA-SF when BMI is not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term effect of a physical fitness program on physical self-concept and physical fitness elements among primary school students. Spanish boys and girls (N = 75; M age = 11.1 yr., SD = 0.4) were divided into an experimental group and a control group. During physical education classes, the experimental group performed an 8-week program including two circuits of 8 exercises done for 15 to 35 sec. each with 45 to 25 sec. of rest between them. Physical self-concept (Physical Self-Description Questionnaire) and physical fitness (EUROFIT battery tests) were measured at the beginning and at the end of the physical fitness program. The results showed that the improvements in physical fitness were not accompanied by major changes in physical self-concept, even though the physical fitness program seemed to maintain the Experimental group's previous physical appearance, strength, and self-esteem perceptions, all of which statistically significantly decreased in the control group after the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maillard reaction products (MRP) improve food palatability and are linked to some positive biological actions. However, diverse negative consequences, some related to protein damage and mineral availability, have been established. Aim of study: We investigated the effects of MRP, from a bread crust diet, on phosphorus bioavailability and tissue distribution in rats to determine whether these effects are related to the molecular weight of browning products. Methods: During a study period of 88 days, rats were fed either a control diet or one of the following: with bread crust as a source of MRP, or one with its soluble high molecular weight, soluble low molecular weight or insoluble fraction (bread crust, HMW, LMW and insoluble diets, respectively). In the final week, a phosphorus balance was performed, after which the animals were sacrificed and some organs removed to analyse phosphorus content. A second balance was carried out throughout the experimental period to calculate phosphorus retention. Results: Phosphorus balance in the last week was unchanged. However, considering the whole experimental period, a trend towards improved bioavailability, significant in the HMW group, was observed. Higher phosphorus concentrations were measured in the small intestine and bone. Conclusions: The consumption of MRP derived from bread did not alter phosphorus retention, due to increased bioavailability, especially concerning HMW compounds. The overall phosphorus body content remained unchanged and there were no changes in the bone, its principal metabolic destination. However, MRP consumption markedly raised phosphorus levels at the digestive level, especially when consumed as isolate fractions. The slower rate of stomach emptying is assumed to be related to this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To explore the construct validity of the Spanish version of the Frontal Systems Behavioral Scale (FrSBe) using Rasch modelling. Methods: Item responses of 245 Spanish subjects were analysed using Rasch analysis: self-rating of 65 participants with TBI or stroke (sample A), family-rating of the same 65 participants (sample B) and self-rating of 115 healthy individuals (sample C). Results: After removing or grouping several problematic items, the Apathy and the Executive Dysfunction sub-scales were found to be valid measures for samples A and B and the Disinhibition sub-scale was valid for samples B and C. Person Separation Index of reliability of sub-scales was greater than 0.83 for sample B and ∼0.72 for A and C. All items showed disordered threshold categories in samples A and B and five items were ordered in sample C. Conclusions: With a few modifications, the sub-scales of the FrSBe-Spanish version are adequate measures for the assessment of the behavioural syndromes derived from frontal systems dysfunction in persons with brain injury. The family-rating form is preferable to the self-rating form. Only the Disinhibition scale is a valid measure for the behavioural assessment of the normal population. A reduction of response categories is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The purpose of this work was to study the relationship of metacognition, absorption, and depersonalization in hallucinating patients. Design. A within-subjects correlational design was employed. Methods. We formed four groups from a clinical population (schizophrenic patients with hallucinations, schizophrenic patients with no hallucinations but with delusions, schizophrenic patients recovered from positive symptoms, and patients with a non-psychotic psychiatric disorder) and a non-clinical control group. All participants were given the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30, ), the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS, ) and the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS, ). Results. Schizophrenic subjects with hallucinations scored significantly higher on the depersonalization scale than any other group, and significantly higher on the absorption scale than any group except for the clinical patient controls. Schizophrenic patients with hallucinations also had significantly more dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs than subjects with no psychiatric pathology. It was further found that the metacognition variable correlated positively with the absorption and depersonalization variables, and that these variables in turn correlated positively with each other. Finally, it should be stressed that the variables that best predict hallucination severity are depersonalization and the MCQ-30 subscale `Need to control thoughts'. Conclusions. We discuss the role of metacognitive and dissociative variables in understanding hallucinations and suggest some approaches to their treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the relationship between childhood sexual and physical abuse, and key attitudinal and behavioural aspects of eating disorders (ED). Method Participants included 708 female undergraduates in a Spanish public university, aged from 18 to 30. Abuse was measured by the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, and ED by the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Results 14.3% of the sample had suffered childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and 3.8% childhood physical abuse (CPA). With respect to ED attitudinal features, we observed an increased Weight Concern score among CSA survivors. No association was found between this kind of abuse and disordered eating behaviours, after adjusting for depression, anxiety, self-esteem, body mass index, age and socioeconomic status. An inverse relationship was found between CPA and ED attitudes measured by EDE-Q (Restraint, Weight Concern, Shape Concern and the Overall Score), whereas no association was found with the behavioural aspects of eating disturbances. Discussion After controlling for different risk factors, CSA appears to be related to an increased Weight Concern, whilst other ED attitudinal features and behaviours do not seem to be related to childhood abuse. The inverse relationship found is discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies on the association between alcohol intake and the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) have yielded inconsistent results. Besides, few studies have analysed the effects of red wine (RW) consumption on the prevalence of the MetS and its components. As moderate RW drinkers have a better lipid profile and lower incidence rates of diabetes, hypertension and abdominal obesity, all components of the MetS, it was hypothesised that moderate RW consumption could be associated with a lower prevalence of the MetS. In the present cross-sectional study of 5801 elderly participants at a high cardiovascular risk included in the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) study, 3897 fulfilled the criteria of the MetS at baseline. RW intake was recorded using a validated 137-item FFQ. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to estimate the association between RW intake and the prevalence of the MetS. Compared with non-drinkers, moderate RW drinkers ( ≥ 1 drink/d) were found to have a reduced risk of prevalent MetS (OR 0·56, 95 % CI 0·45, 0·68; P< 0·001), a lower risk of having an abnormal waist circumference (OR 0·59, 95 % CI 0·46, 0·77; P< 0·001), low HDL-cholesterol concentrations (OR 0·42, 95 % CI 0·32, 0·53; P< 0·001), high blood pressure (OR 0·28, 95 % CI 0·17, 0·45; P< 0·001) and high fasting plasma glucose concentrations (OR 0·67, 95 % CI 0·54, 0·82; P< 0·001) after adjusting for several confounders. This association was found to be stronger in female participants, in participants aged < 70 years and in participants who were former or current smokers. No significant association was found between RW intake ( ≥ 1 drink/d) and TAG concentrations. In conclusion, moderate RW consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of the MetS in an elderly Mediterranean population at a high cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]