Reference measures of lower-limb joint range of motion, muscle strength, and selective voluntary motor control of typically developing children aged 5-17 years.

Background: Joint range of motion based on the neutral null method, muscle strength based on manual muscle testing, and selective voluntary motor control based on selective control assessment of the lower extremity are standard parameters of a pediatric three-dimensional clinical gait analysis. Lower-limb reference data of children are necessary to identify and quantify abnormalities, but these are limited and when present restricted to specific joints or muscles. Methods: This is the first study that encompasses the aforementioned parameters from a single group of 34 typically developing children aged 5-17 years. Left and right values were averaged for each participant, and then the mean and standard deviation calculated for the entire sample. The data set was tested for statistical significance (p < 0.05). Results: Joint angle reference values are mostly consistent with previously published standards, although there is a large variability in the existing literature. All muscle strength distributions, except for M. quadriceps femoris, differ significantly from the maximum value of 5. The mean number of repetitions of heel-rise test is 12 ± 5. Selective voluntary motor control shows that all distributions, except for M. quadriceps femoris, differ significantly from the maximum value of 2. Conclusion: Since typically developing children do not match expectations and reference values from the available literature and clinical use, this study emphasizes the importance of normative data. Excessively high expectations lead to typically developing children being falsely underestimated and affected children being rated too low. This is of great relevance for therapists and clinicians. Level of evidence: 3.

Coherencia cardiaca y eficacia del biofeedback cardiovascular en personal de enfermería: ensayo clínico aleatorizado / Cardiac Coherence and the Effectiveness of Cardiovascular Biofeedback in the Nursing Team: A Randomized Clinical Trial / Coerência cardíaca e eficácia do biofeedback cardiovascular na equipe de enfermagem: ensaio clínico randomizado

Introducción: a través de la respiración profunda guiada y consciente, el biofeedback cardiovascular, una herramienta tecnológica innovadora, permite mejorar la coherencia cardiaca y la activación del sistema nervioso parasimpático, fundamentales para recuperar y mantener la homeostasis y la salud psicoemocional. Objetivo: analizar el efecto del biofeedback cardiovascular sobre los parámetros de variabilidad de la frecuencia cardiaca en profesionales de enfermería. Materiales y método: ensayo clínico aleatorizado con dos grupos ­biofeedback y placebo­ realizado con 115 profesionales de enfermería que trabajaban en unidades de hospitalización clínica y quirúrgica de un hospital universitario, que presentaban un nivel de estrés global superior a 1, según la Escala de Síntomas de Estrés. Los grupos participaron en nueve reuniones a lo largo de tres semanas. El desenlace se evaluó mediante parámetros de rMSSD y coherencia cardiaca al final de cada reunión, medidos con el EmWave Pro Plus®, que utiliza la fotopletismografía para cuantificar los datos fisiológicos relacionados con los latidos del corazón. El análisis se realizó mediante ecuaciones de estimación generalizada, considerando α = 5%. Resultados: se evidenció una interacción significativa tiempo-grupo en los parámetros de coherencia cardiaca; el grupo de intervención presentó un aumento de los parámetros medios de coherencia cardiaca en todos los momentos de medición en comparación con el grupo de control (p < 0,001; r > 0,98). No hubo una interacción significativa entre el tiempo y el grupo en los parámetros rMSSD en ninguno de los tiempos de medición (p = 0,432). Como terapia mente-cuerpo, el biofeedback cardiovascular demostró ser útil y prometedor, ya que al promover la activación parasimpática y la relajación es posible prevenir los efectos deletéreos asociados a los estresores ocupacionales. Conclusión: la intervención con biofeedback cardiovascular tuvo un efecto mayor que el placebo en la mejora de la coherencia cardiaca, lo que se tradujo en la recuperación de la homeostasis del organismo.

Introdução: a partir de uma respiração profunda guiada e consciente, o biofeedback cardiovascular, ferramenta tecnológica inovadora, possibilita melhorar a coerência cardíaca e a ativação do sistema nervoso parassimpático, fundamentais para a recuperação e manutenção da homeostase e da saúde psicoemocional. Objetivo: verificar o efeito do biofeedback cardiovascular sobre os parâmetros da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca dos profissionais da enfermagem. Materiais e método: ensaio clínico randomizado, com dois grupos ­ biofeedback e placebo ­, realizado com 115 profissionais de enfermagem atuantes em unidades de internação clínica e cirúrgica de um hospital universitário, que apresentaram nível geral de estresse maior que 1, conforme a Escala de Sintomas de Estresse. Os grupos participaram de nove encontros por três semanas. O desfecho foi avaliado pelos parâmetros rMSSD e pela coerência cardíaca, ao final de cada encontro, aferidos através do EmWave Pro Plus®, que utiliza fotopletismografia para a quantificação de dados fisiológicos relacionados ao batimento cardíaco. A análise foi feita por equações de estimação generalizadas, considerando α = 5 %. Resultados: evidenciou-se interação tempo-grupo significativa nos parâmetros da coerência cardíaca; o grupo intervenção teve aumento nas médias dos parâmetros da coerência cardíaca em todos os momentos de aferição quando comparado ao grupo controle (p < 0,001; r > 0,98). Não houve interação tempo-grupo significativa nos parâmetros da rMSSD em nenhum dos momentos de aferição (p = 0,432). Como terapia mente-corpo, o biofeedback cardiovascular mostrou-se útil e promissor, ao promover ativação parassimpática e relaxamento possibilita a prevenção de efeitos deletérios associados aos estressores ocupacionais. Conclusão: intervenção com biofeedback cardiovascular demonstrou efeito superior a placebo na melhora da coerência cardíaca, refletindo em recuperação da homeostase do organismo.

Introduction: Through guided and conscious deep breathing, cardiovascular biofeedback, an innovative technological tool that enables improved cardiac coherence and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which are vital for recovering and maintaining homeostasis and psycho-emotional health. Objective: To verify the effect of cardiovascular biofeedback on heart rate variability parameters in nursing professionals. Materials and Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial conducted in two groups ­ biofeedback and placebo ­ with 115 nursing professionals working in clinical and surgical inpatient units at a university hospital, who presented an overall stress level higher than 1, according to the Stress Symptom Scale. The groups participated in nine appointments over three weeks. The outcome was assessed by rMSSD parameters and cardiac coherence at the end of each appointment, which were measured using EmWave Pro Plus®, which uses photoplethysmography to quantify physiological data related to the heartbeat. The analysis was performed using generalized estimation equations, considering α = 5 %. Results: There was a significant time-group interaction in cardiac coherence parameters; the intervention group presented an increase in the mean cardiac coherence parameters at all measurement times, when compared to the control group (p < 0.001; r > 0.98). There was no significant time-group interaction in the rMSSD parameters at any of the measurement times (p = 0.432). As a mind-body therapy, cardiovascular biofeedback proved to be useful and promising. By promoting parasympathetic activation and relaxation, it is possible to prevent the deleterious effects associated with occupational stressors. Conclusion: The intervention with cardiovascular biofeedback proved to be superior to placebo in improving cardiac coherence, resulting in the recovery of the body's homeostasis.

Effect of cardiovascular biofeedback on nursing staff stress: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the effect of cardiovascular biofeedback on nursing staff stress when compared to an activity without self-monitoring. METHOD: a randomized controlled clinical trial, carried out with nursing professionals from a university hospital. The intervention group (n=58) performed cardiovascular biofeedback, and the control (n=57) performed an online puzzle without self-monitoring, totaling nine meetings over three weeks. The outcome was assessed using the Stress Symptoms and Work-Related Stress scales, and the biological marker heart rate variability. The generalized estimating equations method was used. RESULTS: the intervention had no effect on self-reported instruments (p>0.050). However, there was an effect of time (p<0.050) on all heart rate variability indicators, demonstrating changes over the sessions. CONCLUSION: cardiovascular biofeedback showed promising results in the biological marker, suggesting that it can be used in nursing staff as a complementary therapy by promoting better autonomic nervous system regulation.

Lâmpada: Signo inventado para a enfermagem / Lamp: sign invented for nursing / Lámpara: signo inventado para la enfermería

Objetivo: refletir sobre os indícios da tradição inventada do signo da enfermagem, conhecido internacionalmente, como a lâmpada. Conteúdo: ao adotarmos o percurso do ensaio teórico para o signo inventado para a enfermagem, discutimos sobre a estética da lâmpada, sua morfologia funcional e léxico (lanterna, lucerna e lâmpada), para o efeito de sua representatividade, considerando os marcos históricos a ela relacionados. Considerações finais: entender a implicação do signo como pertencimento para os estudantes e profissionais da enfermagem é assumir sua analogia direta, por semelhança e convencional(AU)

Objective: to reflect on the signs of the invented tradition of the nursing sign, known internationally as the lamp. Content: adopting the path of the theoretical essay for the sign invented for nursing, we discuss the aesthetics of the lamp, its functional morphology and lexicon (lantern, lucerne and lamp), for the purpose of its representativeness, considering the historical milestones related to it. Final considerations: understanding the implication of the sign as belonging for nursing students and professionals is to assume its direct analogy, by similarity and conventionality(AU)

Objetivo: reflexionar sobre los indicios de la tradición inventada del signo de enfermería, conocido internacionalmente como la lámpara. Contenido: adoptando el recorrido del ensayo teórico para el signo inventado para la enfermería, discutimos sobre la estética de la lámpara, su morfología funcional y el léxico (linterna, luz y lámpara) para efecto de su representatividad, considerando los marcos históricos relacionados a ella. Consideraciones finales: comprender la implicación del signo como pertenencia para los estudiantes y profesionales de enfermería es asumir su analogía directa, por semejanza y convencionalidad(AU)

Effectiveness of health literacy and relaxing music on quality of sleep and risk for antenatal depression.

Background: Pregnant women experience increased sleep disturbances during the third trimester of their pregnancy, which may result in the development of psychological issues in the perinatal period. There is a dearth of interventional studies that combine health literacy and the provision of music for the benefit of pregnant women in South Asia. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of a combination of Comprehensive Health literacy And Relaxing Music (CHARM) interventions on quality of sleep and risk for antenatal depression among women visiting antenatal outpatient departments of a tertiary hospital in South India. Methods: A four-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial was adopted; 128 low-risk primigravid women were recruited and randomly assigned to the four groups using block randomization. The interventions included relaxing music interventions, comprehensive health-literacy interventions, combinations of both as CHARM interventions, and standard antenatal care. All the interventions were provided for four weeks. The quality of sleep among pregnant women was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale at baseline and after four weeks of intervention. Women at risk of developing antenatal depression were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Antenatal Version. Results: Pregnant women who received CHARM interventions had significant improvement in quality of sleep when compared with other interventions (F(3,124) =15.0, P < .001, effect size η p2= 0.27). Also, 38 (29.6%) of the included pregnant women were at risk of developing antenatal depression, which was reduced to 21 (16.4%) following the intervention. Conclusion: CHARM intervention could promote quality sleep and reduce the risk of developing antenatal depression, thereby improving perinatal mental health.

Professional quality of life and occupational stress in nursing workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the levels of professional quality of life and the occupational stress in nursing professionals. METHOD: Cross sectional study conducted between April and August 2020, with nursing professionals working in inpatient units for clinical and surgical patients of a large hospital. The Work Stress Scale and the Professional Quality of Life Scale were applied. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 150 professionals, with a mean age of 43 ± 8.89 years, being 84.7% (127) female. The mean of the work stress scale was 1.9 (± 0.71), a moderate level of stress. It was found that compassion satisfaction had a median of 50.3 (9.1 - 64.6), burnout of 48.5 (32.2 - 84.8) and post-traumatic stress disorder of 47.1 (38.6 - 98.3). CONCLUSION: Stress at work and Compassion Fatigue were identified in the sample, especially in secondary-level professionals, demonstrating the need to implement strategies to reduce psycho-emotional harm in these professionals.

Interventions to support contraceptive choice and use: a global systematic map of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: To review the highest level of available evidence, a systematic map identified systematic reviews that evaluated the effectiveness of interventions to improve contraception choice and increase contraception use. METHODS: Systematic reviews published since 2000 were identified from searches of nine databases. Data were extracted using a coding tool developed for this systematic map. Methodological quality of included reviews was assessed using AMSTAR 2 criteria. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION: Fifty systematic reviews reported evaluations of interventions for contraception choice and use addressing three domains (individual, couples, community); Meta-analyses in 11 of the reviews mostly addressed interventions for individuals. We identified 26 reviews covering High Income Countries, 12 reviews covering Low Middle-Income Countries and the rest a mix of both. Most reviews (15) focussed on psychosocial interventions, followed by incentives (6) and m-health interventions (6). The strongest evidence from meta-analyses is for the effectiveness of motivational interviewing, contraceptive counselling, psychosocial interventions, school-based education, and interventions promoting contraceptive access, demand-generation interventions (community and facility based, financial mechanisms and mass media), and mobile phone message interventions. Even in resource constrained settings, community-based interventions can increase contraceptive use. There are gaps in the evidence on interventions for contraception choice and use, and limitations in study designs and lack of representativeness. Most approaches focus on individual women rather than couples or wider socio-cultural influences on contraception and fertility. This review identifies interventions which work to increase contraception choice and use, and these could be implemented in school, healthcare or community settings.

The utilization of systematic review evidence in formulating India's National Health Programme guidelines between 2007 and 2021.

Evidence-informed policymaking integrates the best available evidence on programme outcomes to guide decisions at all stages of the policy process and its importance becomes more pronounced in resource-constrained settings. In this paper, we have reviewed the use of systematic review evidence in framing National Health Programme (NHP) guidelines in India. We searched official websites of the different NHPs, linked to the main website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in December 2020 and January 2021. NHP guideline documents with systematic review evidence were identified and information on the use of this evidence was extracted. We classified the identified systematic review evidence according to its use in the guideline documents and analysed the data to provide information on the different factors and patterns linked to the use of systematic review evidence in these documents. Systematic reviews were mostly visible in guideline documents addressing maternal and newborn health, communicable diseases and immunization. These systematic reviews were cited in the guidelines to justify the need for action, to justify recommendations for action and opportunities for local adaptation, and to highlight implementation challenges and justify implementation strategies. Guideline documents addressing implementation cited systematic reviews about the problems and policy options more often than citing systematic reviews about implementation. Systematic reviews were linked directly to support statements in few guideline documents, and sometimes the reviews were not appropriately cited. Most of the systematic reviews providing information on the nature and scale of the policy problem included Indian data. It was seen that since 2014, India has been increasingly using systematic review evidence for public health policymaking, particularly for some of its high-priority NHPs. This complements the increasing investment in research synthesis centres and procedures to support evidence-informed decision making, demonstrating the continued evolution of India's evidence policy system.

Levels of Anxiety and Stress Experienced by Nurses in Inpatient Units / Níveis de ansiedade e de estresse no trabalho da enfermagem em unidades de internação / Niveles de ansiedad y de estrés en el trabajo de enfermería en unidades de hospitalización

Objective: To assess state-trait anxiety levels and their correlation with occupational stress and socio-biographical and occupational factors in nursing professionals. Materials and Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in the inpatient units of a university hospital in southern Brazil, with the participation of 162 nursing professionals. For data collection, socio-biographical and occupational forms, the Stress-Symptom Scale, the Workplace Stress Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. The data were analyzed based on descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Nursing professionals have moderate levels of state-trait anxiety. There is a positive correlation between state-trait anxiety scores, stress scores, and stress dimensions (rho = 0.811, p < 0.001). "Trait" anxiety is associated with years of experience in nursing (PR 0.97) and psychic-mental health follow-up (PR 1.97). "State" anxiety is associated with sex (PR 0.54), education (PR 2.26), and hours of sleep (PR 0.92). Conclusions: "State" anxiety is associated with sex, age, higher education level, and psychic-mental health follow-up; however, years of experience in nursing and hours of sleep were found to be protective factors.

Objetivo: avaliar os níveis de ansiedade traço-estado e sua correlação com o estresse ocupacional e com os fatores sociobiográficos e ocupacionais nos profissionais de enfermagem. Materiais e método: estudo quantitativo, transversal analítico, realizado nas unidades de internação de um hospital universitário do sul do Brasil, com a participação de 162 profissionais de enfermagem. Para a coleta de dados, utilizaram-se formulário sociobiográfico e ocupacional, Escala de Sintomas de Estresse, Escala de Estresse no Trabalho e Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado. Os dados foram analisados com base na estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: os profissionais de enfermagem apresentam níveis moderados de ansiedade traço-estado. Existe uma correlação positiva entre os escores de ansiedade traço-estado, os escores de estresse e as dimensões do estresse (rho = 0,811, p < 0,001). A ansiedade "traço" mostrou-se associada aos anos de experiência na enfermagem (RP 0,97) e ao acompanhamento para saúde psíquico-mental (RP 1,97). A ansiedade "estado" também mostrou associação com o sexo (RP 0,54), a escolaridade (RP 2,26) e as horas de sono (RP 0,92). Conclusões: a ansiedade "estado" mostrou-se associada ao sexo, à idade, ao nível de escolaridade superior, ao acompanhamento para a saúde psíquico-mental; no entanto, os anos de experiência na enfermagem e as horas de sono comportaram-se como um fator protetor.

Objetivo: evaluar los niveles de ansiedad estado-rasgo y su correlación con el estrés ocupacional y los factores sociobiográfico y ocupacional en profesionales de enfermería. Materiales y método: estudio cuantitativo, analítico y transversal realizado en las unidades de hospitalización de un hospital universitario del sur de Brasil, con la participación de 162 profesionales de enfermería. Para la recolección de datos, se utilizó un formulario sociobiográfico y ocupacional, la Escala de Síntomas de Estrés, la Escala de Estrés Laboral y el Inventario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo. Los datos se analizaron con base en la estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: los profesionales de enfermería presentan niveles moderados de ansiedad estado-rasgo. Existe una correlación positiva entre las puntuaciones de ansiedad estado-rasgo, las puntuaciones de estrés y las dimensiones de estrés (rho = 0,811, p < 0,001). La ansiedad "rasgo" se asoció con los años de experiencia en enfermería (RP 0,97) y el seguimiento de la salud psíquico-mental (RP 1,97). Por otra parte, la ansiedad "estado" se asoció con el sexo (RP 0,54), la educación (RP 2,26) y las horas de sueño (RP 0,92). Conclusiones: la ansiedad "estado" se asoció con el sexo, la edad, el nivel educativo superior y el seguimiento de la salud psíquico-mental; sin embargo, los años de experiencia en enfermería y las horas de sueño actuaron como factor protector.

Technology-based Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy (TaCT) for women with cardiovascular disease in a middle-income setting: A randomized controlled trial protocol.

Women are underrepresented in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) despite the benefits, and this is exacerbated in lower-resource settings where CR is insufficiently available. In this randomized controlled trial, the effectiveness of the Technology-based Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy (TaCT) electronic cardiac rehabilitation (eCR) intervention on functional capacity, risk factors, quality of life, heart-health behaviors, symptoms, and morbidity will be tested among women with CVD in a middle-income country. Following a pilot study, a single-center, single-blinded, 2 parallel-arm (1:1 SNOSE) superiority trial comparing an eCR intervention (TaCT) to usual care, with assessments pre-intervention and at 3 and 6 months will be undertaken. One hundred adult women will be recruited. Permuted block (size 10) randomization will be applied. The 6-month intervention comprises an app, website, SMS texts with generic heart-health management advice, and bi-weekly 1:1 telephone calls with a nurse trainee. Individualized exercise prescriptions will be developed based on an Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (primary outcome) and dietary plans based on 24 h dietary recall. A yoga/relaxation video will be provided via WhatsApp, along with tobacco cessation support and a moderated group chat. At 3 months, intervention engagement and acceptability will be assessed. Analyses will be conducted based on intent-to-treat. If results of this novel trial of women-focused eCR in a middle-income country demonstrate clinically-significant increases in functional capacity, this could represent an important development for the field considering this would be an important outcome for women and would translate to lower mortality.