[Cost-consequence analysis of respiratory preventive intervention among institutionalized older people: randomized controlled trial]. / Descripción de los resultados y costes de una intervención preventiva a nivel respiratorio en el anciano institucionalizado: ensayo controlado aleatorizado.

INTRODUCTION: The institutionalized elderly with functional impairment show a greater decline in respiratory muscle (RM) function. The aims of the study are to evaluate outcomes and costs of RM training using Pranayama in institutionalized elderly people with functional impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on institutionalized elderly people with walking limitation (n=54). The intervention consisted of 6 weeks of Pranayama RM training (5 times/week). The outcomes were measured at 4 time points, and were related to RM function: the maximum respiratory pressures and the maximum voluntary ventilation. Perceived satisfaction in the experimental group (EG) was assessed by means of an ad hoc questionnaire. Direct and indirect costs were estimated from the social perspective. RESULTS: The GE showed a significant improvement related with strength (maximum respiratory pressures) and endurance (maximum voluntary ventilation) of RM. Moreover, 92% of the EG reported a high satisfaction. The total social costs, direct and indirect, amounted to Euro 21,678. CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation reveals that RM function improvement is significant, that intervention is well tolerated and appreciated by patients, and the intervention costs are moderate.

Predicting perceived health in Angolan elderly: the moderator effect of being oldest old.

The objective of this study was to test the predicting effects of variables measuring social support, dependence/active perceptions, and generativity, on this facet of well-being when controlled for socio-demographic variables (age, gender, marital status, and institutionalization). The research tries to extend previous literature by assessing them in a multivariate context, studying differential effects of these variables in young old and oldest old, and offering evidence of the scarcely studied population of Angola. The sample was formed by 737 young old and 266 oldest old. It was built a hierarchical regression, in which, among the different predictors, interactions effects between age and the psychosocial factors were included. Results provide evidence of the qualitative different perceived health and well-being of the young old and oldest old. When predicting perceived health of the Angolan oldest old, psychosocial factors lose much of its importance, and age itself and the limitations that accompanied it seem to be the key point.

Modelo estructural para predecir el bienestar y las actividades básicas de adultos mayores / A structural model to predict the well-being and basic activities of elderly adults

En España, las personas mayores sumaban un 17.9% del total de la población en 2010 y se espera que alcancen el 31.1% en 2050. Este aumento de la esperanza de vida no necesariamente implica una mejora en las condiciones de salud de las personas mayores. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar el impacto de variables sociodemográficas, identificadas en trabajos previos, sobre la dependencia funcional y el bienestar, mediante un modelo estructural de multiples indicadores, múltiples causas. Integraron la muestra 1 208 adultos mayores de la ciudad de Valencia (España), todos ellos jubilados mayores de 65 años, no hospitalizados y sin deterioro cognitivo. Además de los aspectos sociodemográficos se midieron: a) las actividades básicas de la vida diaria (ABVD) mediante el índice de Barthel, y b) el bienestar psicológico mediante las escalas de Ryff. Se obtuvo un modelo estructural con índices de ajustes adecuados que ofrece información relevante en relación con el bienestar y sus variables explicativas en un contexto multivariado. Los resultados revelan: a) entre los aspectos sociodemográficos, los efectos significativos fueron la edad y el nivel de estudios; b) se observa una relación positiva entre las ABVD y el nivel de bienestar; c) las ABVD median parcialmente la relación de los aspectos sociodemográficos con el bienestar.

Brief report: Association between socio-demographic factors, screen media usage and physical activity by type of day in Spanish adolescents.

This study examined the relationship between socio-demographic factors, screen media time usage, and light, moderate and vigorous activities on weekdays and weekends. Cross-sectional data was collected from 323 Spanish adolescents (mean age 13.59 years) who completed an interview administered recall questionnaire. Structural equation models indicated that male and younger adolescents spent more time on vigorous activities at the weekend, while females and older adolescents showed a greater involvement in light activities both on weekdays and weekends. State school students reported engaging in light and vigorous activities for longer periods than private school students on weekends. TV viewing was negatively linked to vigorous activities during weekdays and to light and moderate activities on weekends. The amount of mobile phone usage, however, was positively linked to light activities during weekdays, but negatively on weekends. The negative relationship between adolescents' use of screen media (TV and mobile phone) and physical activity and its possible displacement, depending on the type of day, added useful comparable knowledge for policies promoting an active lifestyle. Further research is required to provide evidence of the causality in the observed relationships.

Screen media time usage of 12-16 year-old Spanish school adolescents: Effects of personal and socioeconomic factors, season and type of day.

This study examined screen media time usage (SMTU) and its association with personal and socioeconomic factors, as well as the effect of season and type of day, in a Spanish sample of 12-16 year-old school adolescents (N=323). The research design was a cross-sectional survey, in which an interviewer-administered recall questionnaire was used. Statistical analyses included repeated measures analyses of variance, analysis of covariance and structural equation models. Results showed an average of 2.52h per day of total SMTU and partial times of 1.73h per day in TV viewing, 0.27h per day in computer/videogames, and 0.52h per day in mobile use. Four significant predictors of SMTU emerged. Firstly, the type of school was associated with the three media of our study, particularly students from state/public school spent more time on them than their private schools counterparts. Secondly, older adolescents (14-16 years old) were more likely to use computer/videogame and mobile phone than younger adolescents. Thirdly, the more accessibility to household technology the more probable computer/videogames and mobile phone were used. Finally, boys spent significantly more time in mobile phone than girls. Additionally, results revealed that adolescents seemed to consume more TV and computer/videogames in autumn than in winter, and more TV and mobile phones on weekends than on weekdays, especially among state school students. Findings from this study contribute to the existing knowledge on adolescents' SMTU patterns that can be transferred to families and policies.