Multi-Probe Measurement System Based on Single-Cut Transformation for Fast Testing of Linear Arrays.

This paper introduces a near-field measurement system concept for the fast testing of linear arrays suited for mass production scenarios where a high number of nominally identical antennas needs to be measured. The proposed system can compute the radiation pattern, directivity and gain on the array plane, as well as the array complex feeding coefficients in a matter of seconds. The concept is based on a multi-probe antenna array arranged in a line which measures the near field of the antenna under test in its array plane. This linear measurement is postprocessed with state-of-the-art single-cut transformation techniques. To compensate the lack of full 3D information, a previous complete characterization of a "Gold Antenna" is performed. This antenna is nominally identical to the many ones that will be measured with the proposed system. Therefore, the data extracted from this full characterization can be used to complement the postprocessing steps of the single-cut measurements. An X-band 16-probe demonstrator of the proposed system is implemented and introduced in this paper, explaining all the details of its architecture and operation steps. Finally, some measurement results are given to compare the developed demonstrator with traditional anechoic measurements, and show the potential capabilities of the proposed concept to perform fast and reliable measurements.

Clinical Simulation in Palliative Care for Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Randomized Clinical Trial and Complementary Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: a lack of adequate training in palliative care leads to a greater emotional burden on nurses. PURPOSE: to assess the effect of a simulation using standardized patients on self-efficacy in palliative care, ability to cope with death, and emotional intelligence among nursing students. METHODS: a randomized clinical trial and qualitative study. A total of 264 nursing students in a palliative care module completed the Bugen, trait meta-mood, and self-efficacy in palliative care scales after active participation in the simulation (n = 51), watching the simulation (n = 113), and the control group (n = 100). An ANOVA with a multi-comparative analysis and McNemar's tests for paired samples were calculated. Active participants were interviewed, and a thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: there was an improvement after the assessment in all three groups assessed for coping with death (p < 0.01), emotional intelligence (p < 0.01), and self-efficacy (p < 0.01). In addition, the active group improved more than the observer group and the control group in coping with death, attention, and repair. The students in the interviews identified sadness and an emotional lack of control. CONCLUSIONS: the simulation improved nursing students' self-efficacy in palliative care. This effect was partially stronger in the active group.

Hospital Intervention to Reduce Overweight with Educational Reinforcement after Discharge: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity and overweight affect more than one-third of the world's population and pose a major public health problem. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on dietary habits and physical exercise in patients with overweight admitted to departments of internal medicine, comprising a pre-discharge educational session with follow-up and reinforcement by telephone at 3, 6, and, 12 months post-discharge. Outcome variables were weight, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), hospital readmissions, emergency department visits, and death. METHOD: A randomized experimental study with a control group was performed in hospitalized non-diabetic adults aged ≥18 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 Kg/m2. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The final sample included 273 patients. At three months post-discharge, the intervention group had lower SBP and DPB and improved dietary habits (assessed using the Pardo Questionnaire) and VAS-assessed HRQOL in comparison to the control group but a worse EQ-5Q-5L-assessed HRQOL. There were no between-group differences in hospital readmissions, emergency department visits, or mortality at any time point. Both groups evidenced a progressive improvement over the three follow-up periods in weight, SBP, and dietary habits but a worsening of EQ-5D-5L-value-assessed HRQOL. DISCUSSION: The intervention group showed greater improvements over the short term, but between-group differences disappeared at 6 and 12 months. Weight loss and improvements in key outcomes were observed in both groups over the follow-up period. Further research is warranted to determine whether a minimum intervention with an educational leaflet, follow-up phone calls, and questionnaires on overweight-related healthy habits, as in the present control group, may be an equally effective strategy without specific individual educational input.

Differences in Dietary Habits, Physical Exercise, and Quality of Life between Patients with Obesity and Overweight.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity differ in their repercussions on the health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. The objective of this study was to compare physical activity levels and dietary habits before admission and HRQoL at discharge between patients with obesity and overweight. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among participants in a clinical trial on education for healthy eating and physical activity, enrolling non-diabetic patients admitted to Internal Medicine Departments. These were classified by body mass index (BMI) as having overweight (25-29.9 Kg/m2) or obesity (≥30 kg/m2). Data were gathered on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical variables (medication for anxiety/depression, Charlson Comorbidity Index, length of hospital stay), physical exercise and diet (International Physical Activity and Pardo Questionnaires), and HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L). The study included 98 patients with overweight (58.2% males) and 177 with obesity (52% males). RESULTS: In comparison to patients with obesity, those with overweight obtained better results for regular physical exercise (p = 0.007), healthy diet (p = 0.004), and "emotional eating" (p = 0.017). No between-group difference was found in HqoL scores. CONCLUSION: Patients with overweight and obesity differ in healthy dietary and physical exercise behaviors. Greater efforts are warranted to prevent an increase in the BMI of patients, paying special attention to their state of mind.

Differences in Dietary Habits, Physical Exercise, and Quality of Life between Male and Female Patients with Overweight.

Overweight can be an additional problem in patients admitted to hospital. OBJECTIVE: To analyze gender differences in pre-admission dietary habits and physical exercise and in HRQoL at hospital discharge among hospitalized adults with overweight. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in non-diabetic patients enrolled in a clinical trial with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 Kg/m2 at admission. Bivariate analyses used Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test for qualitative variables and the Mann-Whitney test for numerical variables. RESULTS: The study included 148 males and 127 females. At admission, women had higher BMI (p = 0.016) than men and a larger percentage consumed drugs for depression (p = 0.030) and anxiety (p = 0.049), and followed a religion-based diet (p = 0.022). Pre-admission, women had healthier habits related to dietary caloric intake (p = 0.009) and greater adherence to recommendations for a healthy diet (p = 0.001). At discharge, women described worse self-perceived health (p = 0.044) and greater pain/discomfort (p = 0.004) in comparison to men. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-admission, women had better habits related to a healthy diet and did not differ from men in habits related to physical exercise but had a higher BMI. At discharge, women reported worse self-perceived health and greater pain/discomfort. These differences should be considered for the adequate clinical management of patients with overweight.

Analysis of clinical practices in the Nursing Degree: Vision of tutors and students. / Análisis de las prácticas clínicas en el Grado en Enfermería: visión de tutores y estudiantes.

OBJECTIVE: To discover the opinions of the tutors and students of the Degree in Nursing on clinical practices and identify strategies and improvement proposals for teacher performance. METHOD: A qualitative study with a phenomenological perspective through focus groups with clinical nurse tutors and nursing students. The participants were divided into 3 groups: students, tutors from the medical area and tutors from the surgical area. The number of groups was determined by saturation of the information. The discourse was transcribed and a syntactic and semantic manual analysis of the discourse was made to extract the analysis variables. Permission was obtained from the Provincial Research Ethics Committee and the corresponding centre. RESULTS: Both the tutors and the students emphasized the need to train tutors in teaching skills and provide them with tools that facilitate their work, as well as the need for formal recognition of their teaching function. In their discourse, both groups proposed a change of vision, and above all of attitudes, in the development of teaching-learning. Finally, there is a need for a change in the model of relations between the University and health services. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above, the need to encourage and train clinical professionals as tutors is identified and a change of model proposed to bring the University and the health system closer together.

[NIC as a tool for assessing competences of nursing students in clinical placement at surgical units]. / Intervenciones enfermeras NIC como herramienta de evaluación de las competencias del Prácticum de estudiantes de Enfermería en las unidades quirúrgicas.

BACKGROUND: This paper shows the utility of a NIC standardized language to assess the extent of nursing student skills at Practicum in surgical units OBJECTIVE: To identify the nursing interventions classification (NIC) that students can learn to perform in surgical units. To determine the level of difficulty in learning interventions, depending on which week of rotation in clinical placement the student is. METHOD: Qualitative study using Delphi consensus technique, involving nurses with teaching experience who work in hospital surgical units, where students undertake the Practicum. The results were triangulated through a questionnaire to tutors about the degree of conformity. RESULTS: A consensus was reached about the interventions that students can achieve in surgical units and the frequency in which they can be performed. The level of difficulty of each intervention, and the amount of weeks of practice that students need to reach the expected level of competence was also determined. CONCLUSION: The results should enable us to design better rotations matched to student needs. Knowing the frequency of each intervention that is performed in each unit determines the chances of learning it, as well as the indicators for its assessment.

Experiencia del Cuidador familiar con los cuidados paliativos y al final de la vida / Family Caregivers Experience with the Palliative care's and End-of-Life

Objetivo principal: Conocer la experiencia del cuidador familiar en relación a los cuidados paliativos y al final de la vida. Metodología: Mediante una búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura en bases de datos: MEDLINE, CINAHL, CUIDEN y PsycArticles de artículos originales publicados entre 2011 y 2016, producto de investigaciones cualitativas dirigidos hacia la experiencia de los cuidadores familiares y los cuidados paliativos al final de la vida. Resultados principales: Se identificaron 292 artículos, se evaluaron veintidós a texto completo eliminándose 7. La experiencia de los cuidadores está relacionada con la importancia del cuidador familiar, la comunicación con el equipo de salud, los cuidados al final de la vida y morir en compañía de la familia. Conclusión principal: Los cuidadores familiares y las familias de pacientes al final de la vida requieren de intervenciones integrales, seguimiento y control por parte de los profesionales en salud

Objective: To know the experience of the family caregiver in relation to palliative care at the end of life. Methods: Through an exhaustive search of the literature in databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, CUIDEN and PsycArticles of original articles published between 2011 and 2016, product qualitative research directed towards the experience of family caregivers and palliative care at the end of life. Results: 292 articles were identified, twenty-two were evaluated in full text, eliminating seven. The experience of caregivers is related to the importance of the family caregiver, communication with the health team, care at the end of life and death in the company of the family. Conclusions: Family caregivers and end-of-life patient families require comprehensive interventions, follow-up and monitoring by the health professionals.Categories. Caregiver Burden. Caregiver Support

Análisis de las prácticas clínicas en el Grado en Enfermería: visión de tutores y estudiantes / Analysis of clinical practices in the Nursing Degree: Vision of tutors and students

Objetivo: Conocer las opiniones de los tutores y de los estudiantes del Grado en Enfermería sobre las prácticas clínicas e identificar estrategias y propuestas de mejora para el desempeño de la labor docente. Método: Estudio cualitativo con perspectiva fenomenológica mediante grupos focales con enfermeros tutores de prácticas clínicas y estudiantes de Enfermería. Los participantes se segmentaron en 3 grupos: estudiantes, tutores del área médica y tutores del área quirúrgica. El número de grupos lo determinó la saturación de la información. Se transcribieron los discursos y se realizó un análisis manual sintáctico y semántico de los discursos para extraer las variables de análisis. Se obtuvieron los permisos del Comité de Ética de la Investigación Provincial y del centro correspondiente. Resultados: Tanto los tutores como los estudiantes destacan la necesidad de capacitar a los tutores en las habilidades formativas y proporcionarles herramientas que faciliten su labor, así como el reconocimiento formal de su función docente. En sus discursos, ambos colectivos proponen un cambio de visión y, sobre todo, de actitudes en el desarrollo de la enseñanza-aprendizaje. Y, por último, se manifiesta la necesidad de un cambio en el modelo de relaciones entre la Universidad y los servicios sanitarios. Conclusiones: Con base en lo anteriormente expuesto, se identifica la necesidad de incentivar y formar a los profesionales clínicos para la función tutorial y de plantear un cambio de modelo que propicie un acercamiento entre la Universidad y el sistema sanitario

Objective: To discover the opinions of the tutors and students of the Degree in Nursing on clinical practices and identify strategies and improvement proposals for teacher performance. Method: A qualitative study with a phenomenological perspective through focus groups with clinical nurse tutors and nursing students. The participants were divided into 3 groups: students, tutors from the medical area and tutors from the surgical area. The number of groups was determined by saturation of the information. The discourse was transcribed and a syntactic and semantic manual analysis of the discourse was made to extract the analysis variables. Permission was obtained from the Provincial Research Ethics Committee and the corresponding centre. Results: Both the tutors and the students emphasized the need to train tutors in teaching skills and provide them with tools that facilitate their work, as well as the need for formal recognition of their teaching function. In their discourse, both groups proposed a change of vision, and above all of attitudes, in the development of teaching-learning. Finally, there is a need for a change in the model of relations between the University and health services. Conclusions: Based on the above, the need to encourage and train clinical professionals as tutors is identified and a change of model proposed to bring the University and the health system closer together

Docencia universitaria semipresencial. Experiencia en el uso de la plataforma virtual SWAD / Semi-presential university teaching. An experience in the use of SWAD virtual platform

Introducción. La innovación en la metodología docente universitaria es una exigencia del nuevo Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. La utilización de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación es una realidad de la sociedad actual, y especialmente del alumnado universitario. Materiales y métodos. Este artículo muestra la experiencia en el uso de la plataforma virtual de apoyo a la docencia, en la asignatura de Salud y Medio Ambiente en la Universidad de Granada. Resultados y conclusiones. La opinión de los alumnos es muy favorable hacia su uso. Su nivel de satisfacción es muy alto, aunque les supone una dedicación y esfuerzo mayores a los esperados. La plataforma virtual ofrece unas posibilidades académicas que permiten el acercamiento y adaptación a los nuevos perfiles de alumnado. Para el profesorado supone un cambio en sus principales actividades: la preparación y diseño de contenidos, las tutorías virtuales y la gestión de foros (AU)

Introduction. The new European Space of higher education demands innovation in the university teaching methodology. The use of the new information and communication technologies is a reality in our current society, especially among university students. The use of virtual platforms for teaching is more developed in post graduate lifelong learning than in university education. Materials and methods. This articles narrates an experience in the use of SWAD virtual platform, teaching aid, in the subject course Health and Environment, in the University of Granada. Results and conclusions. The students have a positive opinion about the use of this platform. Their satisfaction level is very high, although it means more dedication and effort than expected. This virtual platform offers academic possibilities that allows us to get close and adapt to the new student profiles. To professors, it means a change in their main activities: preparing and designing contents, virtual tutorials, and forums managing (AU)

Intervenciones enfermeras NIC como herramienta de evaluación de las competencias del Prácticum de estudiantes de Enfermería en las unidades quirúrgicas / NIC as a tool for assessing competences of nursing students in clinical placement at surgical units

INTRODUCCIÓN: Mostramos la utilidad del lenguaje estandarizado NIC para evaluar el alcance de las competencias del Prácticum de los estudiantes de enfermería en las unidades quirúrgicas. OBJETIVO: Conocer las intervenciones de enfermería de la clasificación NIC que los estudiantes pueden aprender a realizar en las unidades quirúrgicas y el grado de dificultad para el aprendizaje de las intervenciones, según las semanas de rotación del alumno en las prácticas clínicas. MÉTODO: Estudio cualitativo mediante técnica de consenso Delphi, con la participación de enfermeros con experiencia docentes que trabajan en unidades quirúrgicas hospitalarias donde los estudiantes realizan el Prácticum. Se triangularon los resultados mediante cuestionario a los tutores sobre el grado de conformidad con los mismos. RESULTADOS: Se consensuan las intervenciones que los alumnos pueden realizar en las unidades quirúrgicas y la frecuencia con que las realizan, también se determina el grado de dificultad de cada intervención y las semanas de prácticas que los alumnos necesitan para alcanzar el grado de aprendizaje esperado para alcanzar las competencias. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados nos permitirán diseñar rotaciones más ajustadas a las necesidades del alumnado. Conocer la frecuencia con la que una intervención se realiza en cada unidad determina las posibilidades de su aprendizaje y los indicadores para su evaluación

BACKGROUND: This paper shows the utility of a NIC standardized language to assess the extent of nursing student skills at Practicum in surgical units OBJECTIVE: To identify the nursing interventions classification (NIC) that students can learn to perform in surgical units. To determine the level of difficulty in learning interventions, depending on which week of rotation in clinical placement the student is. Method: Qualitative study using Delphi consensus technique, involving nurses with teaching experience who work in hospital surgical units, where students undertake the Practicum. The results were triangulated through a questionnaire to tutors about the degree of conformity. RESULTS: A consensus was reached about the interventions that students can achieve in surgical units and the frequency in which they can be performed. The level of difficulty of each intervention, and the amount of weeks of practice that students need to reach the expected level of competence was also determined. CONCLUSIONS: The results should enable us to design better rotations matched to student needs. Knowing the frequency of each intervention that is performed in each unit determines the chances of learning it, as well as the indicators for its assessment

Proceso de mejorade la enseñanza teóricoprácticade Enfermería MédicoQuirúrgica / Improvement process of theory-practice teaching of Medical-Surgical Nursing

Con el presente trabajo se pretende describir el proceso de mejora de laenseñanza teórico-práctica o de simulación en las materias de EnfermeríaMédico-Quirúrgica de segundo curso de la Diplomatura de Enfermería.Se trata de un trabajo de mejora tecnológica que se realizó en la EUEVirgen de las Nieves, adscrita a la Universidad de Granada, a lo largo detres cursos académicos. La enseñanza teórico-práctica o las prácticas desimulación constituyen el primer contacto de los estudiantes de Enfermeríacon los productos o materiales sanitarios, los cuales, mediante unadeterminada forma de usarlos o aplicarlos, a maquetas, robots, maniquíes,etc., constituirán las técnicas o procedimientos de los cuidados quehabrán de dominar y desarrollar en las prácticas clínicas. Esta aproximacióna la realidad ayuda a los estudiantes a reproducir con bastante fidelidadlos escenarios donde van a tener que enfrentarse a los problemas desalud de la población, de ahí, la importancia de establecer un programacomún con criterios y contenidos unificados y consensuados por todoslos profesores implicados. Previa exploración y análisis estratégico de lasituación de partida, el objetivo de este proyecto ha sido mejorar la insercióndel alumno en las unidades donde realiza las prácticas clínicas, así comoprepararle y motivarle para que, posteriormente, aprenda con mayor facilidada actuar en el contexto real y, a partir de esta base, adquiera las competenciascurriculares que tiene como objetivo esta asignatura (AU)

This work aims to describe the process to improve the theory-practiceor simulation teaching of topics relating to second year Medical-SurgicalNursing of the Nursing degree. It is a technological improvementwork that was performed in the Nursing School of Virgen de las Nieves,linked to the University of Granada, over the course of three academicyears. Theory-practice teaching or simulation practice are the firstpoint of contact of Nursing students with health products or materialswhich constitute the techniques or procedures of care that they will haveto master and develop in clinical practice sessions. This approach toreality helps students to reproduce, pretty accurately, the scenarios wherethey will have to face the population’s health problems. Therefore, itis very important to establish a shared programme with unified criteriaand contents that have been agreed upon by all teachers involved. Priorexploration and strategic analysis of the initial situation, the objectiveof this project has been to improve students’ insertion into the units wherethey will carry out clinical practice work, and to prepare them and motivatethem so that they later learn more easily how to act in real situationsand from there acquire the curricular competences that embodythe objective of this course (AU)

Los balnearios como Centros de Salud / Spas as health center

Los balnearios están siendo reconsiderados. Frente a estilos de vida lesivos para nuestra salud, y terapéuticas agresivas, se posicionan sólidamente las terapias naturales, como la crenoterapia. A ello contribuyen la emergencia de nuevos valores sociales relacionados con la salud. Se ofrece información técnica sobre las indicaciones y modalidades balneoterápicas (AU)

Spas are being reconsidered. Instead of unhealthy way of life and aggressive therapies, crenotherapy take sure place. The new demand for spas is a response to new values. We offer thecnics information above suitable indications and balneotherapy kinds (AU)