Assessing eating disorder symptoms in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review of psychometric studies of commonly used instruments.

BACKGROUND: Various well-validated interview and self-report instruments are available to assess eating disorder symptomatology. However, most psychometric studies have been conducted in high-income countries. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the available psychometric studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries on well-known measures for assessing eating disorder symptoms. METHODS: Psychometric studies with the following instruments were included: the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT). Searches were conducted on August 30, 2021, in the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and CABI. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN). The studies were considered to have conducted the minimum psychometric evaluation if they assessed at least the three types of validity (content, criteria, and construct) or diagnostic performance. The psychometric properties were also evaluated considering the cut-off points described in the literature for each of the analysis methods used to evaluate validity and reliability and two reviewers independently selected the studies and evaluated the quality criteria. RESULTS: A total of 28 studies were included. The studies were conducted in 13 countries (10 middle income and 3 low income). The instruments that were most used in the studies were the EAT and EDE-Q. According to the overall COSMIN assessment, in most (57%) of the studies the psychometric properties assessed were not described. Forty-three percent of the studies conducted the minimum psychometric evaluation. However, according to the described cut-off points, the results for the psychometric properties assessed showed, in general, acceptable validity and reliability. CONCLUSION: The results of this review suggest a lack of studies with the recommended psychometric properties in low- and middle-income countries on these commonly used instruments. With the steady increase in the prevalence of eating disorders globally, psychometric investigations of instruments for measuring eating disorder symptoms in these countries should be encouraged to promote their early detection and treatment.

The prevalence of eating disorders has increased worldwide. Various instruments are available to assess eating disorder symptomatology, but most psychometric studies have been conducted in high-income countries. The current study aimed to systematically review studies from low- and middle-income countries that have examined the psychometric properties of commonly used measures for assessing eating disorder symptoms. The findings of this study suggest a lack of research in low- and middle-income countries on the psychometric properties of commonly used eating disorder instruments. To promote the early detection and treatment of eating disorder symptoms, instruments with adequate psychometric properties must be available worldwide.

Usefulness of Acceptability and Feasibility Assessment in Studies of Nursing Interventions

Nursing interventions constitute an essential component in the discipline and play a central role in the distinction of the nursing practice with regards to other health professionals. In light of the theory, authors like Burns and Grove,(1) define nursing interventions as deliberate cognitive, physical or verbal activities, which are implemented in individuals and families, seeking therapeutic objectives that contribute to health and wellbeing. In turn, for Sidani and Braden,(2) these are described as treatments, therapies, procedures, or actions developed by health professionals within a specific situation of the patient, for the purpose of modifying current conditions and leading to beneficial health outcomes. These approaches aim, in addition to guiding professional to respond to the needs of individuals and/or families, to move towards evaluating the achievement of the results; for this, structured, systematic and rigorous evaluation processes of the interventions are required.

Eficacia de una intervención de enfermería de soporte social al adulto para el autocontrol de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Efficacy of a social support nursing intervention for adults for the self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objetivo: Determinar la eficacia de una intervención de enfermería de soporte social al adulto para el autocontrol de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Método: Ensayo Clínico Aleatorizado de tipo paralelo en una muestra de 94 sujetos, 47 sujetos asignados al grupo de intervención y 47 sujetos asignados al grupo control, que recibió la atención convencional. Los desenlaces primarios fueron el autocontrol y el soporte social, evaluados en tres momentos (pre - post y seguimiento al mes de finalizada la intervención) con las etiquetas de resultados de enfermería Autocontrol: diabetes (1619) y Soporte social (1504). La intervención de enfermería de soporte social fue diseñada con base en la Teoría de Autocontrol Individual y Familiar, y en evidencia científica; posteriormente validada por consenso de expertos. Resultados: El efecto de la intervención para el resultado Autocontrol: diabetes, mostró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = <0.001) entre los grupos, en las mediciones pre - post, y pre - seguimiento. Para el resultado Soporte Social, también hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = <0.001) entre los grupos, en las mediciones pre - post, y pre - seguimiento. Conclusiones: se pudo comprobar que la intervención de enfermería de soporte social en el adulto es más eficaz para el autocontrol de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 que la atención convencional. De esta manera, se hace necesario considerar la implementación de esta intervención en la práctica de enfermería.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a social support intervention for adults for the self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method: Randomized clinical trial of parallel type in a sample of 94 subjects, 47 subjects assigned to the intervention group and 47 subjects assigned to the control group, who received conventional care. The primary outcomes were self-management and social support, evaluated in three moments (pre-post and follow-up one month after the end of the intervention) with the nursing result labels Self-management: diabetes (1619) and Social support (1504). The social support intervention was designed based on the Individual and Family Self-management Theory, and on scientific evidence; subsequently validated by expert consensus. Results: The effect of the intervention for the outcome Self-management: diabetes, showed a statistically significant difference (p = <0.001) between the groups, in the pre-post and pre-follow-up measurements. For the Social Support outcome, there was also a statistically significant difference (p = <0.001) between the groups, in the pre-post and pre-follow-up measurements. Conclusions: it was found that social support intervention in adults is more effective for self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus than conventional care. Thus, it is necessary to consider the implementation of this intervention in nursing practice.