Positive and Negative Feelings among Spanish Young-Old and Old-Old during the Lockdown of the COVID-19 First Wave.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic required a population lockdown during the first wave in March 2020. Evidence has shown a circular relationship between perceived threat and the risk of developing negative mood, which might impact the affect balance of older adults. We aimed to investigate the positive and negative feelings expressed by young-old (60-70 years) and old-old (over 71 years) Spanish adults during the lockdown of the COVID-19 first wave, and the social and psychological variables associated. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted in 528 participants using a questionnaire composed of sociodemographic data and validated scales for resilience (Brief Resilient Coping Scale) and emotions (Scale of Positive and Negative Experience). RESULTS: We found a positive balance between positive and negative feelings with no differences between both groups. Regression analysis showed that social network and resilience, but not age, are significant predictors of both greater positive feelings and lower negative feelings. CONCLUSIONS: Our results evidence the relevance of promoting targeted support psychological and social measures that effectively help older adults to cope with such a difficult scenario as the current pandemic. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Health-care providers must develop targeted care strategies aimed at providing emotional support for older adults from a holistic perspective.

Gender impact of caring on the health of caregivers of persons with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a brain syndrome that affects a growing number of persons worldwide and generates a strong and progressive demand for care from a family caregiver, usually females. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the care provided by family caregivers of persons with dementia as well as the impact on their health and its interrelation with gender. PATIENT INVOLVEMENT: This study was carried out in collaboration with the 13 associations of family caregivers of persons with dementia that are part of a Regional Federation. This partnership worked towards bettering patient care and proposing improvements to the public health system. METHODS: A multi-institutional cross-sectional study. A total of 462 primary family caregivers of persons with dementia from north-west Spain were included. Data were collected between January and April 2019 with an anonymous self-administered validated questionnaire (ICUB-97) based on Virginia Henderson's nursing care model. RESULTS: The most affected needs in family caregivers are those related to "recreational activities", "communication" and "rest and sleep". Statistically significant differences between male and female participants' pattern of care and health-related impacts were found, especially in issues related to work and family reconciliation. DISCUSSION: Care plans should be developed taking gender perspective into account. From a nurse model point of view, more research is necessary to reduce health disparities. This study provides an assessment of gender differences in care and the impact on caregivers' health. PRACTICAL VALUE: Regarding the specific health conditions of female caregivers and from a holistic point of view, these findings could provide novel and interesting data that might help to implement gender perspective in nursing care plans, generally invisible in routine clinical practice.

Conhecimento de estudantes portugueses de enfermagem sobre doação de sangue / Conocimientos de estudiantes portugueses de Enfermería sobre donación de sangre / Knowledge of Portuguese nursing students about blood donation

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o nível de conhecimento de estudantes de Enfermagem face à doação de sangue; identificar a importância atribuída às barreiras para a doação de sangue; e, identificar os meios de comunicação digital mais utilizados. Métodos Trata-se de uma pesquisa realizada numa Instituição de Ensino Superior da Região Centro de Portugal no ano letivo de 2018/2019. O estudo é descritivo, de natureza transversal, através de dois questionários ad hoc, preenchido on-line por 165 estudantes de Enfermagem. Resultados Os conhecimentos podem ser considerados de muito baixos (intervalo entre as doações; tempo de espera depois de fazer uma tatuagem ou um piercing; tempo de espera entre a ingestão de ferro; baixos (quantidade de sangue e alimentação prévia), médios (idade e peso mínimo, dador universal) e altos (casos em que o sangue é analisado). Os motivos para não doar sangue que assumiram bastante e muita importância foram "Porque tenho alguma condição física ou médica que me impede doar" e "Porque mantive práticas sexuais de risco". Conclusão A falta de conhecimentos sobre as condições de elegibilidade pode fazer com que uma pessoa considere, de forma errada, que não pode doar sangue. Tendo em conta os resultados obtidos e o acesso aos meios de comunicação digital, sugere-se que sejam implementados programas de e-saúde que promovam o aumento de conhecimentos e a redução de barreiras à doação de sangue.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar el nivel de conocimiento de estudiantes de Enfermería sobre la donación de sangre, identificar la importancia atribuida a las barreras para la donación de sangre e identificar los medios de comunicación digital más utilizados. Métodos Se trata de un estudio realizado en una Institución de Enseñanza Superior de la región centro de Portugal en el año lectivo 2018/2019. El estudio es descriptivo, de naturaleza transversal, a través de dos cuestionarios ad hoc que fueron completados en línea por 165 estudiantes de Enfermería. Resultados Los conocimientos pueden considerarse muy bajos (intervalo entre las donaciones, tiempo de espera después de hacerse un tatuaje o piercing, tiempo de espera después de la ingesta de hierro); bajos (cantidad de sangre y alimentación previa); medios (edad y peso mínimo, donante universal) y altos (casos en que se analiza la sangre). Los motivos para no donar sangre que tuvieron bastante y mucha importancia fueron "Porque tengo alguna condición física o médica que me impide donar" y "Porque mantuve prácticas sexuales de riesgo". Conclusión La falta de conocimientos sobre las condiciones de elegibilidad puede provocar que una persona considere, de forma equivocada, que no puede donar sangre. Teniendo en cuenta los resultados obtenidos y el acceso a los medios de comunicación, se sugiere implementar programas de eSalud que promuevan el aumento de conocimientos y la reducción de barreras para la donación de sangre.

Abstract Objective To assess the level of knowledge of nursing students regarding blood donation, to identify the importance consider challenges for blood donation, and to determine the most used digital communication channels. Methods This research was performed at University of Central Portugal in 2018/2019. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 165 nursing students completed online two ad hoc questionnaires. Results The level of knowledge can be classified as very low (interval between donations, waiting time after getting a tattoo or piercing, waiting time after taking iron supplements), low (amount of blood, eating before donation), medium (age and minimum weight, universal donor) and high (cases in which the blood was analyzed). The reasons for not donating blood that gained considerable and great importance were: "Because I have a physical or medical condition that makes me ineligible to donate" and "Because I had a risky sexual behavior". Conclusion The lack of knowledge about the eligibility requirements can make someone wrongly consider that he or she cannot donate blood. Considering the results obtained and the access to digital communication channels, the implementation of eHealth programs is recommended to promote more knowledge, and to reduce the barriers for blood donation.