Empathy, psychometrics, cut-off points in nursing students from Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are no cut-off points for levels of empathy, making it difficult to assess the change experienced in its development or as a result of its intervention. It is an unsolved problem. INTRODUCTION: Empathy is a cognitive-affective attribute that enables nursing staff to maintain a professional relationship that entails various benefits for the patient. Its strengthening and development during university education is desirable. Empathy studies in Latin American nursing students are based on the direct scores obtained on an empathy test, based on which the variable is described and groups are compared. Statistical comparisons are not enough to discriminate substantive changes since two statistical values can show differences without implying that the post-intervention levels may correspond to a higher category in relation to those of pre-intervention or that two compared groups are qualitatively different. The above applies to empathic behaviour and is valid for students and professionals of health. This study aimed to establish cut-off points that allow defining ordinal categories in empathy. METHODS: In this multicenter and cross-sectional study, 3712 students from 11 Latin American nursing schools participated. The Jefferson Empathy Scale (JES) was applied; the psychometric properties were confirmed by Factor Analysis Confirmatory and Invariance. RESULTS: The JSE empathy scale is a measure with adequate reliability and construct validity. Examined cut-offs determined a structure of five empathy intervals that allowed them to be classified as empathy values in very high, high, medium, low and very low. DISCUSSION: The sequence of statistical tests carried out allowed us to determine ranges of categorical values in the empathy levels of groups of students. However, the determined categories may constitute a specific characteristic of them. It is not possible to extrapolate these results to regions other than those of Latin America. CONCLUSION: The estimated rankings allow comparing levels of empathy between groups of nursing students and the real effect of empathic interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: To contribute with strategies to evaluate changes in the empathic skills of nursing students, resulting in a well-valued skill in health services. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: The cut-off points define evaluative categories (very low, low, medium, high and very high) that allow objective classification of levels of empathy achieved after (for example) an empathic intervention. This allows assessment of substantive changes experienced by nursing students (and professionals).

Allostatic load and canine companionship: a comparative study using biomarkers in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: to compare the biomarkers and the allostatic load levels in a sample of older persons with and without canine companionship. METHOD: descriptive and comparative study. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a fasting blood sample. The allostatic load comprised 11 biomarkers that are primary and secondary stress mediators, which arise from the following systems: neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, cardiovascular and anthropometric. RESULTS: a significant difference was found in two biomarkers: cortisol (t= -3.091, df=104, p=0.003) and total cholesterol (t= -2.566, df=104, p=0.012), in the allostatic load levels between older adults with and without a canine companionship (U= 1714.00, Z= 2.01, p=0.044). By associating the allostatic load level with the canine companionship, there was a higher frequency of older adults with low allostatic load among those who have canine companion, compared with those who do not have canine companionship. (χ2= 3.69, df=1, p= 0.043). CONCLUSION: canine companionship influences health in a positive way, as the allostatic load is lower in older adults who have a dog as companion, in addition to presenting lower levels of cortisol and total cholesterol.

Allostatic load and canine companionship: a comparative study using biomarkers in older adults / Carga alostática e companhia canina: um estudo comparativo utilizando biomarcadores em idosos / Carga alostática y compañía canina: un estudio comparativo mediante biomarcadores en adultos mayores

ABSTRACT Objective: to compare the biomarkers and the allostatic load levels in a sample of older persons with and without canine companionship. Method: descriptive and comparative study. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a fasting blood sample. The allostatic load comprised 11 biomarkers that are primary and secondary stress mediators, which arise from the following systems: neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, cardiovascular and anthropometric. Results: a significant difference was found in two biomarkers: cortisol (t= -3.091, df=104, p=0.003) and total cholesterol (t= -2.566, df=104, p=0.012), in the allostatic load levels between older adults with and without a canine companionship (U= 1714.00, Z= 2.01, p=0.044). By associating the allostatic load level with the canine companionship, there was a higher frequency of older adults with low allostatic load among those who have canine companion, compared with those who do not have canine companionship. (χ2= 3.69, df=1, p= 0.043). Conclusion: canine companionship influences health in a positive way, as the allostatic load is lower in older adults who have a dog as companion, in addition to presenting lower levels of cortisol and total cholesterol.

RESUMO Objetivo: comparar os biomarcadores e o nível de carga alostática em uma amostra de idosos com e sem companhia canina. Método: estudo descritivo e comparativo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de uma ficha sociodemográfica e uma amostra de sangue em jejum. A carga alostática incluiu 11 biomarcadores que são mediadores primários e secundários de estresse, os quais são resultantes dos sistemas: neuroendócrino, imune, metabólico, cardiovascular e antropométrico. Resultados: houve diferença significativa em dois biomarcadores: cortisol (t= -3,091; gl=104; p=0,003) e colesterol total (t= -2,566; gl=104; p=0,012), no nível de carga alostática entre os idosos com e sem companhia canina (U= 1714,00; Z= 2,01; p= 0,044). Ao associar o nível de carga alostática com a companhia canina, houve uma maior frequência de idosos com baixa carga alostática naqueles que têm companhia canina, em comparação com aqueles que não têm a companhia canina (χ2= 3,69; gl=1; p=0,043). Conclusão: a companhia canina interfere na saúde de maneira positiva, pois a carga alostática dos idosos que têm um cão como companhia é menor, além de apresentarem uma concentração menor de cortisol e de colesterol total.

RESUMEN Objetivo: comparar los biomarcadores y el nivel de carga alostática en una muestra de adultos mayores con y sin acompañamiento canino. Método: estudio descriptivo, comparativo. Los datos se colectaron mediante una ficha sociodemográfica y una muestra de sangre en ayuno. La carga alostática incluyó 11 biomarcadores que son mediadores primarios y secundarios del estrés, los cuales provienen de los sistemas: neuroendocrino, inmune, metabólico, cardiovascular y antropométrico. Resultados: hubo diferencia significativa en dos biomarcadores: cortisol (t=-3.091, gl=104, p=0.003) y colesterol total (t=-2.566, gl=104, p=0.012), en el nivel de carga alostática entre los adultos mayores con y sin compañía canina (U=1714.00, Z=2.01, p=0.044). Al asociar el nivel de carga alostática con la compañía canina, existió mayor frecuencia de adultos mayores con carga alostática baja en quienes son acompañados por un canino, comparado con aquellos que no tienen acompañamiento canino (χ2=3.69, gl=1, p=0.043). Conclusión: el acompañamiento canino interviene en la salud de forma positiva, ya que es menor la carga alostática de los adultos mayores que tienen un perro como compañía, asimismo, presentan menor concentración de cortisol y colesterol total.