ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The impact of social support on comprehensive measures of results (clinical and functional) of the course of schizophrenia was studied, understood and evaluated as a multidimensional construct differentiating sources of support (family vs. nonfamily). METHODS: One hundred fifty-two patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were assessed with the Mannheim Interview on Social Support (MISS) and the Social Functioning Scale (SFS). The hypotheses were explored in a prospective longitudinal design, using a causal correlational analysis for their evaluation by applying structural equation models. RESULTS: The only explanatory factor of social functioning was Nonfamily social support, while the only explanatory factor of clinical result measurements was Family social support, observing a clearly differentiated impact of the different sources of support on the schizophrenia result measurements. It was also found that while Family social support explained 6.8% of the variance in the clinical result measurements, Nonfamily social support explained 13.7% of the variance in social functioning. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed the differential importance of social support variables (family vs. nonfamily) in the clinical and functional result measurements of people with schizophrenia.
Subject(s)
Schizophrenia , Humans , Prospective Studies , Social SupportABSTRACT
Background: The Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ) has been suggested as the most appropriate instrument for measuring experiential avoidance. However, no Spanish validation has been published. The aim of this study was to validate a Spanish version of the BEAQ in a clinical sample treated at a community mental health unit. Methods: Participants (N = 332) completed the BEAQ as well as other self-report measures of experiential avoidance and psychopathology. Results: Internal consistency was satisfactory (α = .82). No statistically significant gender differences were found in the BEAQ scores. The data also showed high test-retest reliability after four to six weeks, acceptable concurrent validity with another experiential avoidance measure and acceptable convergent validity with the psychopathology measure. The principal component analysis, forcing the one factor solution proposed in the original scale, produced indicators similar to the English version of the BEAQ. Conclusions: These results firmly support the reliability and validity of this Spanish validation, stressing its usefulness as a measure of experiential avoidance in clinical populations
Antecedentes: el Cuestionario Breve de Evitación Experiencial (BEAQ) ha sido propuesto como el instrumento más adecuado para medir la evitación experiencial. Sin embargo, todavía no ha sido publicada ninguna validación en español. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio ha sido la validación de una versión española del BEAQ, en una muestra clínica atendida en un Centro de Salud Mental Comunitario. Método: los participantes (N = 332) completaron el BEAQ, así como otras medidas de autoinforme de evitación experiencial y psicopatología. Resultados: la consistencia interna fue satisfactoria (α = .82). No se encontraron diferencias de género estadísticamente significativas en las puntuaciones del BEAQ. Los datos también mostraron una alta fiabilidad test-retest en un intervalo de cuatro a seis semanas, validez concurrente aceptable con otra medida de evitación experiencial y validez convergente aceptable con la medida de psicopatología. El análisis de componentes principales forzando a la solución de un factor, como se propuso en la escala original, obtuvo unos indicadores similares a los obtenidos en dicha versión inglesa. Conclusiones: los resultados confirman la adecuada fiabilidad y validez de la presente versión española del BEAQ, destacando su utilidad como medida de la evitación experiencial en población clínica
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Patient Health Questionnaire , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/psychology , Self Report , Adjustment Disorders/diagnosis , Adjustment Disorders/psychology , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Dysthymic Disorder/diagnosis , Dysthymic Disorder/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/diagnosis , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/psychology , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Disorders/psychology , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Sex Factors , SpainABSTRACT
Este artículo evalúa la eficacia de un entrenamiento en habilidades sociales para la adquisición y mejora de destrezas de comunicación requeridas en la implantación y desarrollo de estrategias de responsabilidad social corporativa en una PYME (Pequeña y Mediana Empresa). Se utilizó un diseño cuasi-experimental con medidas pre-post de un entrenamiento en el que participaron 56 directivos y mandos intermedios de la mencionada empresa, mientras que el grupo de comparación estuvo conformado por 28 trabajadores de igual empleo en otra empresa del mismo sector productivo y composición demográfica similar. Los resultados demostraron que después del entrenamiento los participantes obtuvieron puntuaciones medias más altas que antes del mismo en una escala de adopción de la perspectiva del otro y en una de interés empático. Asimismo obtuvieron promedios más elevados después del entrenamiento que los obtenidos por el grupo de comparación en ambas variables así como en una medida de heteroevaluación mediante un diferencial semántico sobre empatía. Se discuten los resultados y sus implicaciones prácticas para la implantación y desarrollo de estrategias de responsabilidad social (AU)
This paper addresses the effectiveness of social skills training for the acquisition and improvement of communication skills required in the implementation and development of corporate social responsibility strategies in a SME (Small and Medium Enterprise). A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used, in which 56 senior and middle managers of such enterprise were trained (experimental group), while the comparison group was composed by 28 workers in the same job position at another company in the same productive sector and similar demographic composition. Results showed that scores of trained participants in both adoption of the other-party perspective and empathetic interest scales were higher after than before training. Their scores after training were also higher than those obtained by the comparison group in both variables as well as on an empathy heteroevaluation measure based on semantic differential. Findings and its practical implications for implementing and developing social responsibility strategies are discussed (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Social Responsibility , Social Behavior , Aptitude , 34600/methods , Health Strategies , Evaluation of the Efficacy-Effectiveness of InterventionsABSTRACT
Chronic neck pain is highly prevalent. To determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture, in comparison with transcutaneous nerve stimulation-placebo (TENS-placebo) in the treatment of chronic uncomplicated neck pain, a single blind prospective study was designed, to be carried out at a Primary Healthcare Centre, with random assignment to two parallel groups and with evaluation and analysis by independent evaluators. A random assignment was made from 123 patients of the 149 initially recruited. These patients had been diagnosed with uncomplicated neck pain and experienced neck motion-related pain intensity equal to or exceeding 30 on a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 100 mm. The treatment with acupuncture was compared with TENS-placebo, applied over 5 sessions in three weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in maximum pain intensity related to motion of the neck, one week after the final treatment. Sensitivity was analysed per protocol (PP) and variant analyses were by intention to treat (ITT). Adjustment was made for confounders by multiple linear regression, including baseline values and rescue therapy. By ITT analysis, the change in the pain-VAS variable was greater among the experimental group (28.1 (95% CI 21.4-34.7)). The improvements in quality of life (physical aspect), active neck mobility and reduced rescue medication were clinically and statistically significant. In the treatment of the intensity of chronic neck pain, acupuncture is more effective than the placebo treatment and presents a safety profile making it suitable for routine use in clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Analgesia , Neck Pain/therapy , Acupuncture Analgesia/adverse effects , Adult , Analgesics/administration & dosage , Analgesics/therapeutic use , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neck Pain/physiopathology , Pain Measurement , Single-Blind Method , Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Se examinan los aspectos teóricos y prácticos que regulan el proceso de la evaluación cuando el objeto de la misma lo conforman las organizaciones sociales que colaboran con la Administración Pública para la prestación de servicios sociales. De este modo, se pretende dar respuesta a las necesidades de evaluación en lo que se refiere a: 1) el conocimientode las características del objeto de la evaluación; 2) la formulación de los criterios que serán empleados para su valoración; 3) el procedimiento a través del cual se obtendrá información relevante de cara a la valoración; y 4) la utilización de los resultados de la evaluación. Todo ello encaminado a la formulación de un modelo que pueda orientar la práctica de la evaluación de las organizaciones sociales
The theoretical and practical aspects regulating the evaluation process are examined when the object is made up of social organizations collaborating with the Government Agencies for the social services. In this way, it responds to the evaluation needs regardingfollowing: 1) the knowledge of the characteristics of the object being evaluated; 2) the formulation of the criteria that will be used for their assessment; 3) the procedure through which the relevant data needed for assessment is obtained; and 4) the use of the resultsof the evaluation. All of these are directed to the formulation of a model that guides the evaluation practice of the social organizations (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Social Organization , Evaluation of Medical School Curriculum , Social Work , Social Welfare/trends , PoliticsABSTRACT
Considering the many theoretical and methodological viewpoints in the field of evaluation, a guideline was established to facilitate the evaluation of social intervention programs. For this purpose, the goals of the evaluation were taken into account: (a) planning interventions, (b) learning and continuous improvement of interventions, (c) programming policies, and (d) transformation of society. These goals will determine the perspective of the analysis selected (focusing on the evaluand or the context) and the strategies for change employed (focusing on processes or results). The elements that, according to Shadish, Cook, and Levinton (1991), constitute the theory of evaluation (evaluand, value, building of knowledge, and uses) have also been considered. The analysis of all these components led to the elaboration of a guideline to orient the practice of evaluation from a pragmatic perspective, in accordance with the demands and needs of a certain social context.
Subject(s)
Decision Making , Mental Health Services , Psychological Theory , Social Facilitation , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , Social BehaviorABSTRACT
Considering the many theoretical and methodological view points in the field of evaluation, a guideline was established to facilitate the evaluation of social intervention programs. For this purpose, the goals of the evaluation were taken into account: (a) planning interventions, (b) learning and continuous improvement of interventions, (c) programming policies, and (d) transformation of society. These goals will determine the perspective of the analysis selected (focusing on the evaluand or the context) and the strategies for change employed (focusing on processes or results). The elements that, according to Shadish, Cook, and Levinton (1991), constitute the theory of evaluation (evaluand, value, building of knowledge, and uses) have also been considered. The analysis of all these components led to the elaboration of a guideline to orient the practice of evaluation from a pragmatic perspective, in accordance with the demands and needs of a certain social context (AU)
Considerando la multiplicidad de perspectivas teóricas y metodológicas existentes en el campo de la evaluación, se ha elaborado una pauta que permita conducir la evaluación de programas de intervención social. Para ello se han tenido en cuenta los propósitos u objetivos que puede perseguir la evaluación: (a) planificación de intervenciones, (b)aprendizaje y mejora continua de las intervenciones, (c) programación de políticas, y (d)transformación de la sociedad. Estos objetivos determinarán la perspectiva de análisis adoptada (centrada en el evaluando o en su contexto) y las estrategias de cambio utilizadas (orientadas a los procesos o a los resultados). Se han considerado también los elementos que para Shadish, Cook y Levinton (1991) constituyen la teoría de la evaluación (evaluando, valor, construcción del conocimiento y usos). El análisis de todos estos componentes ha permitido elaborar una guía que oriente la práctica de la evaluación desde una perspectiva pragmática acorde a las demandas y necesidades que se planteen en un contexto social determinado (AU)