Patterns of dosage regimen instructions regarding topical medicines: how is the information perceived by patients?

BACKGROUND: The communication of dosage regimen instructions by physicians is of utmost importance on treatment adherence. Few studies until now have approached the topical treatment adherence subject. OBJECTIVE: This study aims the characterization of dosage regimen instructions given by physicians and the assessment of chronic dermatological patients' perception regarding these instructions. METHODS: Two instruments one for physicians (PHYSDOSAGE) and one for patients (PATIENTDOSAGE) were developed and applied in a cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study to two independent samples composed by 91 physicians and 43 patients. RESULTS: Most of physicians reported to provide dosage regimen instructions. When cross checking information from both studied samples, physicians and patients, it was concluded that physicians reported to provide more frequently oral and written treatment instructions, e.g. electronic prescription, than patients reported having received it. Also, physicians claimed to often provide information about the duration of treatment and the frequency of topical medicines' application, which was not acknowledged by patients. CONCLUSIONS: Contradictory results were found between the physicians' information input and the patients' perception about dosage regimen instructions provided during the consultation. These findings could negatively influence the treatment adherence and the clinical outcomes. Thus, it is of paramount importance the implementation of strategies to improve optimal communication of dosage regimen instructions for topical medicines.

Longitudinal effects of an intervention on perfectionism in adolescents / Efectos a largo plazo de una intervención sobre el perfeccionismo en adolescentes

Perfectionism is a personality disposition characterized by a person´s striving for flawlessness and the setting of excessively high performance standards. This trait has been associated with a broad range of psychopathological conditions. Consequently, prevention of its harmful effects must start early. Objective: To investigate if one group session to manage perfectionism has the effect of reducing the levels of this trait, two and six months later. Method: A community-based sample of 978 Portuguese adolescents from three different high schools completed a self-reporting questionnaire including the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale, before and after one skill session. Three groups were formed: the intervention group received a skill session aimed at reducing perfectionism; control group 1 received a skill session aimed at healthy habits, and control group 2 received no intervention. Results: At baseline, no significant mean differences were found by gender or by school in Total Perfectionism or its dimensions. After one session to manage Perfectionism, the intervention group showed significant reduction in self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) scores, two months (p = .001) and six months later (p = .02). No significant reductions were observed in the control groups. Discussion: Our findings suggest that adolescents are sensitive to short interventions aimed at reducing perfectionism (AU)

Perfeccionismo es un rasgo de la personalidad caracterizado por la lucha por la perfección y la fijación de normas de rendimiento excesivamente altas. Se ha asociado con una amplia gama de condiciones psicopatológicas. En consecuencia, la prevención de sus efectos nocivos debe comenzar temprano. Objetivo: investigar si una sesión para manejar el perfeccionismo puede reducir los niveles de este rasgo, dos y seis meses más tarde. Método: una muestra comunitaria de 978 adolescentes, de tres secundarias, respondió a un cuestionario de auto-reporte incluyendo la Escala de Perfeccionismo Infantil y Adolescente antes y después de una sesión. El grupo de Intervención recibió una sesión orientada a reducir el perfeccionismo. El grupo control 1 una sesión sobre hábitos saludables y el grupo control 2 no recibió intervención. Resultados: al inicio, no se encontraron diferencias significativas de medias por género y por escuela. Después de una sesión para manejar el Perfeccionismo, el grupo de intervención mostró una reducción significativa en las puntuaciones del perfeccionismo auto-orientado, dos meses (p = .001) y seis meses después (p = .02). Sin reducciones significativas en los controles. Discusión:nuestros hallazgos sugieren que los adolescentes son sensibles a intervenciones cortas para reducir el perfeccionismo (AU)

Longitudinal effects of an intervention on perfectionism in adolescents.

Perfectionism is a personality disposition characterized by a person´s striving for flawlessness and the setting of excessively high performance standards. This trait has been associated with a broad range of psychopathological conditions. Consequently, prevention of its harmful effects must start early. OBJECTIVE: To investigate if one group session to manage perfectionism has the effect of reducing the levels of this trait, two and six months later. METHOD: A community-based sample of 978 Portuguese adolescents from three different high schools completed a self-reporting questionnaire including the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale, before and after one skill session. Three groups were formed: the intervention group received a skill session aimed at reducing perfectionism; control group 1 received a skill session aimed at healthy habits, and control group 2 received no intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, no significant mean differences were found by gender or by school in Total Perfectionism or its dimensions. After one session to manage Perfectionism, the intervention group showed significant reduction in self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) scores, two months (p = .001) and six months later (p = .02). No significant reductions were observed in the control groups. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that adolescents are sensitive to short interventions aimed at reducing perfectionism.

Children and adolescent perfectionism scale: validation in a portuguese adolescent sample / Escala de perfecionismo de crianças e adolescentes: validação em adolescentes portugueses

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS). Method: 971 Portuguese high school students (572 girls and 399 boys) answered the CAPS. The test-retest reliability was obtained with 206 participants from the total sample. Results: Internal consistency (α= .809) and test-retest reliability (r= .691) were satisfactory. Main components of factorial analysis yielded two factors, accounting for 41.44% of the total variance. Factor structure was similar to the original version. Factors were labelled as "Socially Prescribed Perfectionism" and "Self-Oriented Perfectionism". Discussion: The Portuguese version of the CAPS is a valid and useful instrument for the evaluation of perfectionism among Portuguese adolescents.(AU)

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar as propriedades psicométricas da "Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale - CAPS" (Escala de Perfecionismo de Crianças e Adolescentes - EPCA). Método: 971 adolescentes portugueses do ensino secundário (572 raparigas e 399 rapazes) responderam a EPCA. A estabilidade temporal foi obtida com 206 participantes da amostra total. Resultados: A consistência interna (α=0,809) e a estabilidade temporal (r=0,691) foram satisfatórias. A análise fatorial dos principais componentes produziu dois fatores, que explicou 41,44% da variância total. A estrutura fatorial foi semelhante à da versão original. Os fatores foram denominados "Perfecionismo Socialmente Prescrito" e "Perfecionismo Auto-orientado". Discussão: A versão portuguesa da "CAPS"é um instrumento válido e útil para a avaliação do Perfecionismo em adolescentes portugueses.(AU)

Children and adolescent perfectionism scale: validation in a portuguese adolescent sample / Escala de perfecionismo de crianças e adolescentes: validação em adolescentes portugueses

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS). Method: 971 Portuguese high school students (572 girls and 399 boys) answered the CAPS. The test-retest reliability was obtained with 206 participants from the total sample. Results: Internal consistency (α= .809) and test-retest reliability (r= .691) were satisfactory. Main components of factorial analysis yielded two factors, accounting for 41.44% of the total variance. Factor structure was similar to the original version. Factors were labelled as "Socially Prescribed Perfectionism" and "Self-Oriented Perfectionism". Discussion: The Portuguese version of the CAPS is a valid and useful instrument for the evaluation of perfectionism among Portuguese adolescents.

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar as propriedades psicométricas da "Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale - CAPS" (Escala de Perfecionismo de Crianças e Adolescentes - EPCA). Método: 971 adolescentes portugueses do ensino secundário (572 raparigas e 399 rapazes) responderam a EPCA. A estabilidade temporal foi obtida com 206 participantes da amostra total. Resultados: A consistência interna (α=0,809) e a estabilidade temporal (r=0,691) foram satisfatórias. A análise fatorial dos principais componentes produziu dois fatores, que explicou 41,44% da variância total. A estrutura fatorial foi semelhante à da versão original. Os fatores foram denominados "Perfecionismo Socialmente Prescrito" e "Perfecionismo Auto-orientado". Discussão: A versão portuguesa da "CAPS"é um instrumento válido e útil para a avaliação do Perfecionismo em adolescentes portugueses.

Atitudes e comportamentos alimentares em uma população adolescente portuguesa / Eating attitudes and behaviours in a Portuguese adolescent sample

Introdução: Os transtornos do comportamento alimentar (TCA) têm aumentado nas últimas décadas. Um dos principais motivos para esse aumento é a pressão sociocultural exercida sobre os adolescentes, que consideram a magreza como um sinal de perfeição e beleza. Devido a essa pressão, muitos jovens adquirem comportamentos alimentares inadequados, e um pequeno número de indivíduos desenvolve TCA. Objetivos: Identificar as atitudes e comportamentos alimentares em uma população de adolescentes, de duas localidades portuguesas (Coimbra - meio urbano e Cantanhede - meio rural), e verificar se existiam diferenças quanto à localização geográfica de residência dos jovens, ao sexo, à idade e ao índice de massa corporal (IMC). Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico, transversal, descritivo e de correlação. O instrumento utilizado foi a versão Portuguesa do Teste de Atitudes Alimentares-25 (TAA-25). Resultados: Obtivemos 997 inquéritos válidos. As idades situaram-se entre os 14 e os 20 anos (média = 16,38; desvio padrão (DP) = 1,19). Um total de 86,6% tinham IMC dentro dos valores normais para a idade. Encontramos atitudes e comportamentos alimentares mais inadequados no sexo feminino, na cidade maior, mas não no grupo de jovens com o IMC mais elevado. Conclusões: A prevalência de atitudes e comportamentos alimentares disfuncionais foi baixa (4%). Foram mais frequentes no sexo feminino e nos que vivem em ambiente urbano, mas não nos adolescentes com IMC mais elevado. Consideramos interessante este último resultado, que contrasta com a restante literatura quanto ao fato de que os comportamentos alimentares disfuncionais são mais frequentes nos adolescentes com IMC mais elevado.

Introduction: In the last decades, Eating disorders (ED) have been increasing. One of the main reasons for this increase is the sociocultural pressure into adolescents, who consider thinness a signal of perfection and beauty. In this context, many adolescents initiate dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours, and some of them develop ED. Objectives: To study the eating attitudes and behaviours in two Portuguese groups of adolescents (Coimbra – urban area and Cantanhede – rural area) of high school students of both genders and to investigate possible differences between them in terms of local of residence, gender, age and body mass index (BMI). Methods: Epidemiological, cross-sectional, correlation and descriptive study. Portuguese adolescents were asked to complete the Portuguese version of Eating Attitude Test-25. Results: A total of 997 valid questionnaires were obtained. The age of the adolescents was between 14-20 years (mean = 16.38; standard deviation (SD) = 1.19). A total of 86.6% had a normal BMI for age. Dysfunctional eating behaviours were significantly more frequent in the female adolescents who lived in the bigger city, but not in the group with higher BMI for age. Conclusions: The prevalence of dysfunctional eating attitudes was low (4%). In accordance with other studies from western societies, female adolescent living in an urban area had more dysfunctional eating attitudes. In contrast with other studies, adolescents with higher BMI did not have more dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours, and we consider this result interesting.