The effectiveness of a group intervention to facilitate posttraumatic growth among women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study tested the effectiveness of a group intervention designed to facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG). METHODS: Sample consisted of 205 women diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer who were either assigned to an intervention group (n = 58) or to a control group (n = 147). PTG, challenge to core beliefs, and rumination (intrusive and deliberate) were assessed at baseline (T1), at 6 months (T2), and at 12 months after baseline (T3). RESULTS: Results from the Latent Growth Modeling suggested that participants from the intervention group have higher levels of PTG. The challenge to core beliefs and the intrusive rumination have a moderator role on PTG, since group intervention is also linked to the enhancement of both variables. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in the intervention group increase PTG. Challenge to core beliefs and intrusive rumination are improved by group intervention, which to a certain extent facilitate PTG.

The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: Factor Structure and Invariance in a Sample of Breast Cancer Patients and in a Non-Clinical Sample.

The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) is frequently used to assess positive changes following a traumatic event. The aim of the study is to examine the factor structure and the latent mean invariance of PTGI. A sample of 205 (M age = 54.3, SD = 10.1) women diagnosed with breast cancer and 456 (M age = 34.9, SD = 12.5) adults who had experienced a range of adverse life events were recruited to complete the PTGI and a socio-demographic questionnaire. We use Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the factor-structure and multi-sample CFA to examine the invariance of the PTGI between the two groups. The goodness of fit for the five-factor model is satisfactory for breast cancer sample (χ2(175) = 396.265; CFI = .884; NIF = .813; RMSEA [90% CI] = .079 [.068, .089]), and good for non-clinical sample (χ2(172) = 574.329; CFI = .931; NIF = .905; RMSEA [90% CI] = .072 [.065, .078]). The results of multi-sample CFA show that the model fit indices of the unconstrained model are equal but the model that uses constrained factor loadings is not invariant across groups. The findings provide support for the original five-factor structure and for the multidimensional nature of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Regarding invariance between both samples, the factor structure of PTGI and other parameters (i.e., factor loadings, variances, and co-variances) are not invariant across the sample of breast cancer patients and the non-clinical sample.

[Burnout in Portuguese Healthcare Professionals: An Analysis at the National Level]. / Burnout em Profissionais da Saúde Portugueses: Uma Análise a Nível Nacional.

INTRODUCTION: Burnout is a psychological syndrome, characterized by a state of high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization and low personal accomplishment, which leads to erosion of personal, professional and health values. This study reports the incidence of burnout in Portuguese Healthcare professionals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Burnout in Portugal's health professionals was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey, using a zero (never) to six (always) ordinal scale, on a sample of 1 262 nurses and 466 physicians with mean age of 36.8 year (SD = 12.2) and 38.7 (SD = 11.0), respectively. Participants came from all national districts (35% Lisbon, 18% Oporto, 6% Aveiro, 6% Setúbal, 5% Coimbra, 5% Azores and Madeira), working in hospitals (54%), Families' Health Units (30%), Personalized Health Units (8%) and other public or private institutions (8%). RESULTS: Analysis of MBI-HSS scores, stratified by district, revealed that both types of professionals had moderate to high levels of burnout (M = 3.0, SD = 1.7) with no significant differences between the two groups. Vila Real (M = 3.8, SD = 1.7) and Madeira (M = 2.5, SD = 1.5) were the regions where burnout levels were higher and lower, respectively. Burnout levels did not differ significantly between Hospital, Personalized Health Units and Families' Health Centers. Professionals with more years in the function were less affected by Burnout (r = -0.15). No significant association was observed with the duration of the working day (r = 0.04). The strongest predictor of burnout was the perceived quality of working conditions (r = -0.35). DISCUSSION: The occurrence of the burnout syndrome in Portuguese health professionals is frequent, being associated with a poor working conditions perception and reduced professional experience. The incidence of the burnout syndrome shows regional differences which may be associated with different and suboptimal conditions for health care delivery. Results suggest the need for interventions aimed at improving working conditions and initial job training of health professionals, as requisites for a good professional practice and personal well-being. CONCLUSIONS: At the national level, between 2011 and 2013, 21.6% of healthcare professionals showed moderate burnout and 47.8% showed high burnout. The perception of poor working conditions was the main predictor of burnout occurrence among the Portuguese health professionals.

Introdução: O burnout é uma síndrome psicológica, caracterizada por elevada exaustão emocional, elevada despersonalização e baixa realização profissional, que conduz à erosão dos valores pessoais, profissionais e de saúde. Este estudo reporta a prevalência do burnout em profissionais de saúde Portugueses. Material e Métodos: Os níveis de burnout foram estimados pelo Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey numa escala ordinal de zero (nunca) a seis (sempre) pontos. A amostra foi constituída por 1 262 enfermeiros e 466 médicos com médias de idade de 36,8 anos (DP = 12,2) e 38,7 (DP = 11,0), respetivamente. Os participantes foram provenientes de todos os distritos nacionais (35% Lisboa; 18% Porto; 6% Aveiro, 6% Setúbal, 5% Coimbra; 5% regiões autónomas), com atuação em meio hospitalar (54%), centros de saúde (Unidade de Saúde Familiar - 30%; Unidades de Cuidados de Saúde Primários - 8%) e outras instituições públicas/privadas (8%). Resultados: A análise dos níveis de burnout revelou que ambas as categorias profissionais apresentaram níveis moderados a elevados de burnout (M = 3,0; DP = 1,7) não sendo significativas as diferenças entre as duas profissões. Vila Real (M = 3,8; SD = 1,7) e a Madeira (M = 2,5; DP = 1,5) são as regiões onde os níveis de burnout são mais e menos elevados, respetivamente. Os níveisde burnout não diferiram significativamente entre Hospitais, Unidades de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados e Unidades de Saúde Familiares. Os profissionais com maior tempo na função são menos acometidos por burnout (r = -0,15) não ocorrendo associação significativa com a duração da jornada de trabalho (r = 0,04). A má qualidade das condições de trabalho foi o melhor preditor do burnout (r = -0,35). Discussão: A ocorrência da síndrome de burnout em profissionais de saúde portugueses é frequente, estando associada à percepção de más condições de trabalho e à menor duração do tempo de serviço. A incidência de burnout apresenta diferenças regionais que podem estar associadas ao aumento do stress imposto pelo exercício da profissão em condições sub-ótimas para a prestação dos cuidados de saúde. Os resultados alertam para a necessidade de intervenções para melhorar as condições de trabalho e formação inicialdos profissionais de saúde de forma a garantir a qualidade do serviço prestado aos utentes e o bem-estar pessoal destes profissionais. Conclusões: A nível nacional, entre 2011 e 2013, 21,6% dos profissionais de saúde apresentaram burnout moderado e 47,8% burnout elevado. A perceção de más condições de trabalho foi o principal preditor da ocorrência de burnout nos profissionais de saúde Portugueses.

University student´s engagement: development of the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI)

Abstract Student engagement is a key factor in academic achievement and degree completion, though there is much debate about the operationalization and dimensionality of this construct. The goal of this paper is to describe the development of an psycho-educational oriented measure – the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI). This measure draws on the conceptualization of engagement as a multidimensional construct, including cognitive, behavioural and emotional engagement. Participants were 609 Portuguese University students (67 % female) majoring in Social Sciences, Biological Sciences or Engineering and Exact Sciences. The content, construct and predictive validity, and reliability of the USEI were tested. The validated USEI was composed of 15 items, and supported the tri-factorial structure of student engagement. We documented evidence of adequate reliability, factorial, convergent and discriminant validities. USEI’s concurrent validity, with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student Survey, and the predictive validity for self-reported academic achievement and intention to dropout from school were also observed. (AU)