What Competencies Does a Community Occupational Therapist Need in Neurorehabilitation? Qualitative Perspectives.

More than three million people in Chile suffer from neurological conditions, and many of these become permanent users of health services with a community approach. In this way, disciplinary competencies in this area are relevant. We seek to characterize the competencies for community occupational therapy intervention in neurorehabilitation. Using a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with eighteen professionals and were analyzed using content analysis. The main results are associated with the competencies of knowledge associated with theoretical biomedical and community elements. Skills range from health evaluation and intervention on micro- and macrosocial levels. Attitude is also an important skill, stemming from personal and relational spheres. These findings suggest that interventions are essentially on a personal and microsocial level, focusing first on pathology and treatment, and later comprehending the interactions with a patient's close social environment, such as family, schoolmates, and workmates and their physical environment at home, school, and the workplace. Although the final objective of community intervention is present in the discourse as being able to generate structural changes that favor well-being and social inclusion, concrete competencies are not appreciated on a macrosocial level.

Monitoring the Frequency and Duration of Hypoglycemia in Preterm Infants and Identifying Associated Factors.

BACKGROUND: Hypoglycemia is common in very low birth weight neonates and may have adverse effects. Material and Method: Sixty preterm infants were monitored using continuous glucose monitoring (CGMS) and capillary techniques during the first week of life. Hypoglycemia was defined as glucose ≤47 mg/dL (≤2.6 mmol/L). Results: Hypoglycemic episodes were detected in 41.66% (95% CI: 29.07-55.12). In 69.64% the duration was greater than thirty minutes, in 26.78% (95% CI: 15.83-40.3) hypoglycemia exceeded two hours. Hypoglycemia was observed most frequently during the first 48 hours. In 35.7%, hypoglycemia was not detected with capillary tests. The agreement between the two techniques was good (r = 0.77, p < 0.001), Hypoglycemia was associated with a lower birth weight (OR: 0.99, p = 0.06). Conclusions: Hypoglycemia is frequent with significant duration in very low birth weight neonates. CGMS could be considered for use in these neonates to improve their glycemic control and prevent the associated morbidity.

Burnout in Spanish Security Forces during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, members of the State Security Forces and the Armed Forces have been mobilized to guarantee the security and mobility of the population and to support health institutions by providing personnel for care, creating field hospitals, transferring the sick and the dead, etc. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of burnout in these professionals using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale, both in its different subscales and its total value. The study was developed using a quantitative methodology through a simple random sample (n = 2182). An ad hoc questionnaire was administered including variables related to: (a) socio-demographic issues, (b) subjective perceptions about their working conditions and the need for psychological and psychiatric treatment, and (c) the Death Anxiety Scale developed by Collett-Lester, and the MBI. The results show high levels of burnout (28.5%) in all its subscales: emotional exhaustion (53.8%), depersonalization (58.0%), and lack of personal development (46.3%). The logistic regression verifies a series of predictive variables that coincide in each of the subscales. These data indicate the need to implement prevention and treatment measures for workers so that their, stress, and anxiety to which they are subjected during their professional activity does not become a norm that can have negative repercussions for them, especially given the risk of new pandemic waves.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Death Anxiety in Security Forces in Spain.

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which produces COVID-19 disease, has revealed to political and social circles a series of needs that have not yet been met. The workers of the State Security Forces and the Armed Forces have done an extraordinary job to try to alleviate the effects that the pandemic has had on the population and to return stability to the citizenry as much as possible. In this context, the following investigation is developed based on two objectives: (PO1) to know the level of anxiety in the face of death in these professionals; (PO2) to determine the predictive variables in the above-mentioned phenomenon. Professionals from all over Spain have participated in the study (n = 2079). From a quantitative perspective, a questionnaire was developed from the Collet-Lester death anxiety scale. The results show a total level of 69.2% in the scale, as well as some higher levels about the fear of death of others (82.1%) and the fear of the process of dying of others (78.2%). On the other hand, from the binary logistic regressions, four variables are evidenced that condition the risk of suffering death anxiety: (a) certainty of needing psychological treatment in the future; (b) absence of Individual Protection Equipment (PPE); (c) high levels of Emotional Exhaustion; (d) high levels of depersonalization-these last two come from the Maslach and Jackson Burnout scale. These data show a need for training and intervention in the emotional and psychological demands of the professionals of the Armed Forces and State Security Forces, as well as the obligation to develop a continuous dialogue with the institutions they represent to foster the feeling of belonging to them. It is essential, regardless of the serious consequences that the virus has caused, to understand the psychosocial and emotional demands of enforcement agents and to improve their occupational health.

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Emergency on Health Professionals: Burnout Incidence at the Most Critical Period in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The health profession is a burnout producer due to the continuous contact with pain and suffering. In addition, excessive workloads can generate stress and psychological distress. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the degree of burnout and its main triggers in health professionals in Spain at the most critical period of the COVID-19 emergency. METHOD: A quantitative research was developed through a simple random sampling in different Spanish hospitals through the period of greatest impact of the pandemic (N = 157). Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire from Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) containing 22 items, which measures three subscales: emotional burnout, depersonalization, and self-fulfillment. RESULTS: depersonalization values reached 38.9%. A total of 90.4% of the health professionals considered that psychological care should be provided from the work centers. Furthermore, 43.3% of the health professionals estimated that they might need psychological treatment in the future. Finally, 85.4% stated that the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) generated an increase in stress and anxiety. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the need to consider specific mental health care services and training in crises to avoid possible psychological disorders. The information obtained is also valuable for the development of future prevention protocols and training of health personnel to face pandemics of these characteristics or emergency scenarios. Having the necessary physical means for their protection, as well to updated regular and accurate information, is essential to avoid feelings of fear and uncertainty. This would promote the health of these professionals.

Monitoring the incidence, duration and distribution of hyperglycaemia in very-low-birth-weight newborns and identifying associated factors.

Objectives Hyperglycaemia is a common metabolic disorder in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The objective is to describe the incidence, duration, episodes and distribution of hyperglycaemia during the first 7 days of life of VLBW infants. Methods This is a prospective cohort study of 60 newborns weighing <1,500 g. Blood glucose levels were monitored with a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) during the first 7 days of life. Hyperglycaemia was defined as glucose ≥180 mg/dL (≥10 mmol/L). Results Incidence of hyperglycaemia recorded with the CGMS was 36.6% (95%CI: 24.6-50.1). In almost 74.6±5.48% of these cases the duration of the episode exceeded 30 min and in 45.25% (95%CI: 2.26-57.82) it exceeded 2 h. The condition occurred most frequently during the first 72 h of life. One-fifth of cases were not detected with scheduled capillary tests and 84.6% of these had hyperglycaemic episode durations of 30 min or more. Agreement between the two techniques was very good (r=0.90, p<0.001) and the CGMS proved to be reliable, accurate and safe. Hyperglycaemia detected by a CGMS is associated with lower gestational age (OR: 0.66, p=0.002), lower birth weight (OR: 0.99, p=0.003), the use of ionotropic drugs (OR: 11.07, p=0.005) and death (OR: 10.59, p=0.03), and is more frequent in preterm infants with sepsis (OR: 2.73, p=0.1). No other association was observed. Conclusions A CGMS could be useful during the first week of life in VLBW infants due to the high incidence and significant duration of hyperglycaemia and the high proportion of cases that remain undetected. The advantage of the CGMS is that it is able to detect hyperglycaemic episodes that the capillary test does not.

[Not Available]. / Efectividad de un programa de educación e intervención nutricional y de actividad física sobre la salud integral de mujeres posmenopáusicas.

Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar la eficacia de un programa de educación e intervención nutricional, de salud integral y ejercicio físico en mujeres posmenopáusicas, incidiendo especialmente en el sector de mujeres fumadoras con el fin de reducir el riesgo cardiovascular de este sector de población. Materiales y métodos: la población objeto de estudio estuvo constituida por 96 mujeres (46-79 años) residentes en Granada (sur de España).Al comienzo del estudio se recogieron las características sociodemográficas y se realizó una valoración nutricional; el consumo de alimentos se evaluó mediante una encuesta de 48 preguntas y un estudio de adhesión a la dieta mediterránea. Se determinaron datos antropométricos: índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de masa grasa y magra. Determinamos también el colesterol total, el colesterol LDL, HDL y los triglicéridos.Una vez obtenidos los primeros resultados, se realizó una intervención personalizada, para cada mujer participante en el estudio, de educación nutricional y de hábitos saludables. Transcurridos tres meses, se volvieron a determinar todos los parámetros anteriormente estudiados. Resultados: al comienzo del estudio se observó que la dieta de la población se adecuaba a los patrones de dieta saludable y tras la intervención nutricional se produjo una mejora del perfil calórico y lipídico y un descenso de la obesidad. En el grupo de las mujeres fumadoras además se encontró una mejora de los parámetros lipídicos séricos, alcanzando valores semejantes a los de las no fumadoras. Conclusiones: se observó que las mujeres posmenopáusicas andaluzas participantes en este estudio tenían una adecuada adhesión a la dieta mediterránea. La intervención nutricional mejoró en todo el grupo la calidad de la dieta y el porcentaje de obesidad y, además en las mujeres fumadoras mejoró el perfil lipídico.

The effectiveness of an education program and nutritional intervention, integrated health and physical activity in postmenopausal women / Efectividad de un programa de educación e intervención nutricional y de actividad física sobre la salud integral de mujeres posmenopáusicas

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a nutritional education and intervention programme, promoting holistic health and physical exercise in postmenopausal women, with special emphasis on women who smoke, in order to test whether greater adherence to the diet and increased physical activity and healthy lifestyles reduce cardiovascular risk in this population group. Material and methods: The study population consisted of 96 women (aged 46-79) living in Granada (southern Spain). At baseline, the sociodemographic characteristics were compiled and a nutritional assessment conducted, in which food consumption was assessed by 48h recall and the Mediterranean diet score (MDS) was calculated. Anthropometric data were also measured. Other data compiled included serum lipid parameters. When the initial results were obtained, a tailored intervention programme concerning nutrition and healthy lifestyle was provided to each participant. After three months, all the above parameters were re-assessed. Results: At the beginning of the study, it was observed that the diet of the study population complied with recommended patterns. However, the nutritional intervention resulted in an improved caloric and lipid profile and decreased obesity. Among the group of smokers, serum lipid parameters also improved, reaching values similar to those of the non-smokers. Conclusions: An appropriate adhesion to the Mediterranean diet score (MDS) was observed in the Andalusian postmenopausal women assessed in this study. For the whole study population, the nutritional intervention improved the quality of diet and reduced the percentage of obesity, while smokers also improved their lipid profile (AU)

Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar la eficacia de un programa de educación e intervención nutricional, de salud integral y ejercicio físico en mujeres posmenopáusicas, incidiendo especialmente en el sector de mujeres fumadoras con el fin de reducir el riesgo cardiovascular de este sector de población. Materiales y métodos: la población objeto de estudio estuvo constituida por 96 mujeres (46-79 años) residentes en Granada (sur de España). Al comienzo del estudio se recogieron las características sociodemográficas y se realizó una valoración nutricional; el consumo de alimentos se evaluó mediante una encuesta de 48 preguntas y un estudio de adhesión a la dieta mediterránea. Se determinaron datos antropométricos: índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de masa grasa y magra. Determinamos también el colesterol total, el colesterol LDL, HDL y los triglicéridos. Una vez obtenidos los primeros resultados, se realizó una intervención personalizada, para cada mujer participante en el estudio, de educación nutricional y de hábitos saludables. Transcurridos tres meses, se volvieron a determinar todos los parámetros anteriormente estudiados. Resultados: al comienzo del estudio se observó que la dieta de la población se adecuaba a los patrones de dieta saludable y tras la intervención nutricional se produjo una mejora del perfil calórico y lipídico y un descenso de la obesidad. En el grupo de las mujeres fumadoras además se encontró una mejora de los parámetros lipídicos séricos, alcanzando valores semejantes a los de las no fumadoras. Conclusiones: se observó que las mujeres posmenopáusicas andaluzas participantes en este estudio tenían una adecuada adhesión a la dieta mediterránea. La intervención nutricional mejoró en todo el grupo la calidad de la dieta y el porcentaje de obesidad y, además en las mujeres fumadoras mejoró el perfil lipídico (AU)