[Effectiveness of interventions to help mitigate the influence of social networks on anorexia and bulimia nervosa: a systematic review].

BACKGROUND: The study aim to analyze the impact of interventions to help mitigate the influence of social networks on anorexia and bulimia nervosa. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were: randomized clinical trials, published between 2013 and 2023 with a score = 5 points on the Van Tulder methodological quality scale. RESULTS: Eight studies were selected, most carried out in secondary education centers or universities; one was online. The study sample consisted of 5,084 participants mainly young women and adolescents with an average age between 12 and 32 years. As for the social networks, some studies described their impact at a general level, while others focused on Instagram, Facebook, Tik-Tok, Twitter, and Snapchat. A positive correlation was found between the exposure to unrealistic beauty ideals found in social networks with greater concern and dissatisfaction with body image. All studies used instruments to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. The interventions helped reduce the influence of the media and social networks, improve self-perception and self-esteem assessments, reduce anxiety levels and internalization of the thin beauty ideal, reduce dietary restrictions, and make use of social networks differently. CONCLUSIONS: Longer-lasting interventions can improve body satisfaction (one year) and depressive symptoms (six months), especially in women. Interventions should include attention to self-criticism, self-perception, self-esteem, body image, nutritional management, and media literacy skills.

Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review.

(1) Background: Cancer constitutes one of the principal causes of morbi-mortality in the world and generates an important loss of patients' self-sufficiency. People who are their caregivers usually become the main care providers, which impacts their quality of life; (2) Aim: Analyze the different problems (physical, emotional, social, and financial) faced by people who are caregivers of adults with cancer and describe the strategies required to improve their quality of life; (3) Method: A literature review was conducted on the following database: PubMed, Cinahl, PsycINFO, and Scopus. The following eligibility criteria were specified: (a) research studies of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods, (b) consistent with objective, and (c) published in the English language or Spanish during the last five years; (4) Results: 36 studies were selected from those found in the literature. Regarding the problems mentioned: eight studies described physical issues, 26 emotional effects, 10 social implications, and seven financial strains. Twenty-eight studies described strategies to improve the quality of life of caregivers; (5) Conclusions: Caregivers are usually women around the age of 50. Problems faced are mostly emotional in nature, followed by social, physical, and financial ones. In order to cope with this burden, there are some strategies that can be developed to help to build skills to manage both the disease and the impact derived from it, therefore improving their quality of life.

Intersexuality/Differences of Sex Development through the Discourse of Intersex People, Their Relatives, and Health Experts: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Intersex/differences of sex development (DSD) conditions are divergences among genitalia, gonads, and chromosome patterns. These variances have been present for millennia and socially defined according to the cultural system established. The aim of this study is to describe the perspectives of adult intersex/DSD people, their relatives, and intersex/DSD expert professionals in Spain. A descriptive qualitative study design was adopted. The study was carried out in several locations in Spain. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted and addressed to 12 participants (4 intersex/DSD people, 3 relatives, and 5 professional experts). A total of 4 spheres, 10 categories, and 26 subcategories were obtained. The number of verbatims obtained in each of the spheres described were intersex/DSD as a community (n = 54), health sphere approach (n = 77), law sphere approach (n = 12), and psychosocial approach (n = 73). Regarding intersex/DSD as a community sphere, there is a clear need of promoting education on sex and body diversity. With respect to the health sphere, it is mentioned the inadequacy of services and how this has a negative impact on the health of intersex/DSD people. Regarding the law sphere, it is highlighted the need of designing legislations at a national level which protect and defend the rights of intersex/DSD people. Regarding the psychosocial sphere, these people suffer from social isolation, secrecy, shame, self-identity questioning, and mental disorders that negatively impact their quality of life.

Effects of Prehabilitation on Functional Capacity in Aged Patients Undergoing Cardiothoracic Surgeries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: an increasing number of advanced age patients are considered for cardiothoracic surgeries. Prehabilitation optimizes the patients' functional capacity and physiological reserve. However, the effectiveness of prehabilitation on physical functioning and postoperative recovery in the scope of cardiothoracic surgery is still uncertain. OBJECTIVE: to assess the effectiveness of prehabilitation on pre- and/or postoperative functional capacity and physiological reserve in aged patients that are considered for cardiothoracic surgeries. METHODS: this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021247117). The searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL until 18 April 2021. Randomized clinical trials that compared different prehabilitation strategies with usual care on the pre- and-postoperative results in aged patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgeries were included. Methodological quality was assessed by means of the Jadad scale, and the effectiveness of the interventions according to the Consensus on Therapeutic Exercise Training. RESULTS: nine studies with 876 participants aged from 64 to 71.5 years old were included. Risk of bias was moderate due to the absence of double-blinding. The content of the interventions (multimodal prehabilitation n = 3; based on physical exercises n = 6) and the result measures presented wide variation, which hindered comparison across the studies. In general, the trials with better therapeutic quality (n = 6) reported more significant improvements in physical functioning, cardiorespiratory capacity, and in the postoperative results in the participants under-going prehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: prehabilitation seems to improve functional capacity and postoperative recovery in aged patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgeries. However, due to the significant heterogeneity and questionable quality of the trials, both the effectiveness of prehabilitation and the optimum content are still to be determined.

Health Sciences Students' Perceptions of the Role of the Supervisor in Clinical Placements.

The supervision of clinical placements is essential to achieving a positive learning experience in the clinical setting and which supports the professional training of those being supervised. The aim of this study was to explore health sciences students' perceptions of the role of the supervisor in the supervision of clinical placements. A quantitative methodology was used, administering a previously validated questionnaire, by means of an expert panel and a pre-test, to 134 students from the Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry at the University of Seville (Spain). The analysis of variables was carried out by means of a data matrix. The results revealed a statistically significant difference in the perception of placement supervision depending on the degree, with Nursing producing the highest degree of affirmation in the variables studied and the greatest satisfaction with placement supervision; in contrast, Physiotherapy produced the greatest dissatisfaction and the lowest degree of affirmation. The study and analysis of these perceptions facilitates the collection of relevant information in order to formulate actions that help to improve the supervision experience during placements. They also allow a greater understanding of what factors most influence the experience of supervision during clinical placements.