Adapting Demirjian Standards for Portuguese and Spanish Children and Adolescents.

Estimation of children's chronological age is highly important in human and forensic sciences. The Demirjian method has been reported as accurate for this purpose. The literature review shows some evidence that the accuracy of estimating chronological age via the Demirjian standards is not a straightforward process. The objective of this research is to analyze the reliability of the Demirjian standards in Portuguese and Spanish children and adolescents and adapt it to include sex and group age as contingent factors. METHODS: Orthopantomographs of 574 Portuguese and Spanish male and female children and adolescents were employed to test the reliability of the Demirjian method. After testing for inter-rater consistency and age estimation using the Demirjian standards, multiple regression analysis was performed controlling for sex and age group. RESULTS: The Demirjian standards overestimated chronological age for both sexes, mainly for females. Through the development of regression functions, more detailed dental age estimation was performed. The predictive capacities of the Demirjian method and the significant teeth varied as a function of children's age. The Demirjian global standard predicted over 65% of the variance of the chronological age. Taking a tooth-by-tooth approach, the predictive ability increased by over 70%. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of estimating chronological age via the Demirjian method is not as reliable as it might appear, judging from the results found according to age group and according to sex crossed with age group.

Toxic Leadership and Empowering Leadership: Relations with Work Motivation.

Purpose: The present study aims to verify the association between two opposing models of leadership, toxic and empowering, and the different dimensions of work motivation. Participants and Methods: Three questionnaires (Toxic Leadership Scale, Empowering Leadership Questionnaire, and Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale) were applied to 408 workers. Cluster analysis was performed. Results: Cluster analysis produced eight clusters based on the different configurations of leadership dimensions, namely coercive, centralizer, false paternalistic, toxic role model, coach, narcissistic-empowering, toxic, and empowering. Those clusters relate differently to work motivation dimensions. Conclusion: The profiles with higher scores in empowering leadership dimensions are more generally related to autonomous regulation (identified and intrinsic work motivation). The profiles with higher toxic leadership dimensions are more related to amotivation and controlled regulation (extrinsic work motivation). One profile stood out: the narcissistic-empowering profile that combines high scores in narcissistic leadership and empowering leadership dimensions. This profile unexpectedly relates significantly to autonomous regulation. This study contributed to the knowledge of the work motivation dimensions concerning empowerment and toxic leadership. Therefore, it contributes to deepening the nomological network of the concepts and providing inputs to human resource processes suitable to improving the organizational results and the workers' quality of life.

A randomized controlled preclinical trial on 3 interposal temporomandibular joint disc implants: TEMPOJIMS-Phase 2.

The effort to develop an effective and safe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc substitute has been one of the mainstreams of tissue engineering. Biodegradable customized scaffolds could approach safety and effectiveness to regenerate a new autologous disc, rather than using non-biodegradable materials. However, it is still technically challenging to mimic the biomechanical properties of the native disc with biodegradable polymers. In this study, new 3D tailored TMJ disc implants were developed: (1) Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) scaffold reinforced with electrospun Poly(εcaprolactone) (PCL) fibers on the outer surface (PGS+PCL); (2) PCL and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) (PCL+PEGDA); and (3) PCL. The TMJ implants were tested in a randomized preclinical trial, conducted in 24 black Merino sheep TMJ, perfoming bilateral interventions. Histologic, imaging, and kinematics analysis was performed. No statistical changes were observed between the PGS+PCL disc and the control group. The PCL+PEGDA and PCL groups were associated with statistical changes in histology (p = 0.004 for articular cartilage mid-layer; p = 0.019 for structure changes and p = 0.017 for cell shape changes), imaging (p = 0.027 for global appreciation) and dangerous material fragmentation was observed. No biomaterial particles were observed in the multi-organ analysis in the different groups. The sheep confirmed to be a relevant animal model for TMJ disc surgery and regenerative approaches. The PCL and PCL+PEGDA discs presented a higher risk to increase degenerative changes, due to material fragmentation. None of the tested discs regenerate a new autologous disc, however, PGS+PCL was safe, demonstrated rapid resorption, and was capable to prevent condyle degenerative changes.

Nurses' Strategies to Prevent and/or Decrease Work-Related Technostress: A Scoping Review.

Although there is evidence of the impact of technostress on nurses' physical and psychological well-being, there is no clear understanding of what strategies are used by nurses to prevent/decrease work-related technostress. Thus, we aim to map existing literature that describe the strategies used by nurses to prevent or decrease work-related technostress. This review followed the methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute for scoping reviews. Data analysis, extraction, and synthesis were performed by two independent reviewers. After contrasting the found literature with the inclusion criteria outlined, no studies were found that address our review question. Overall, we found that technostress is a broad concept, thus becoming difficult to define. Given the complexity and demands of the clinical settings where nurses work, it may be that other stressors are more commonly identified and reported in the literature.

Personal and technological skills to coach people with noncommunicable diseases: development and validation of a scale for nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Current international policies converge to the need of empowering patients and families in becoming more autonomous in the self-caring and management of their noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Given their professional scope, nurses are the most well-positioned health professionals to answer this societal challenge. In the literature, health coaching and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) emerge as two still under-used contributions to nursing practice in this regard. Given the lack of instruments and research developed so far in the use of health coaching and ICTs during nurses training, we aim to develop a scale that explores nursing students' perceptions regarding their coaching skills of people with NCDs and the potential role of ICTs in this domain. METHODS: After a comprehensive literature review, an initial items list (n = 39) was delineated and discussed by a panel of international experts. After conceptual and structural consensus, the pre-validated version of the Personal and Technological Skills to coach people with noncommunicable diseases scale (PTSC-NCD scale) was created. Then, the pre-validated PTSC-NCD scale was translated to Portuguese, Finnish, Flemish and Slovenian following Beaton and colleagues' recommendations, and applied to undergraduate nursing students in five European universities. Principal component analysis and reliability analysis were performed in each country through the statistical program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 22.0). All ethical assumptions were complied with throughout this study. RESULTS: 874 nursing students enrolled in the study, predominantly female (71.1%) and with a mean age of 22.4 years (SD = 5.49). After data analysis across international settings, three dimensions emerged: Coaching Centred Personal Skills (F1); Digital Technology Improving Patient-Centred Care (F2); and Digital Technology Improving Relational Skills (F3). All the dimensions showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha >.80). CONCLUSION: The PTSC-NCD scale evidence good validity and reliability indicators across different international settings.

The Quality of Life of Older Individuals Following the World Health Organization Assessment Criteria.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric qualities of the WHOQOL-BREF(PT) (the questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Grpup for quality of life assessment), when applied to Portuguese elderly people residing in a community setting. The psychometric qualities were assessed by confirmatory factor analysis. A hierarchical second-order model and a third model were performed, and all three models presented similar and reasonable adjustment indexes. The data analysis showed that the construct failed only regarding discriminant validity because the correlations between the first-order factors were higher, associated with lower values of average variance extracted. The psychometric qualities found in the original translation/validation of the WHOQOL-BREF(PT) were compared with those found in this study; this study found higher correlations between domains but a similar level of factor reliability. The findings of this study lead to three recommendations: (i) to compute each factor score for each participant using the factor score weights obtained from confirmatory analysis models instead of adopting a unitary weight for each item, as proposed by the authors of the original translation/validation of the WHOQOL-BREF(PT); (ii) to compute a QOL score, which is not included in the original translation/validation; and (iii) to analyze differences between individual scores for each participants, which should be done by a group of health experts.

Study on Overload Injuries during Periods of Intense Physical Activity Complemented by Isokinetic Dynamometry Evaluation.

Objective The present study aims to measure the incidence of overload injuries in training soldiers, who are subjected to intense physical exercise, and to compare it with a control group. Next, it intends to verify whether there is any relationship between overload injuries and some neuromuscular function parameters. Methods Analytical, prospective observational study. Both the observational and the control group consisted of soldiers from the Portuguese Army. Clinical evaluation was performed by medical interview in the week prior to the beginning of a military parachuting course and in the week immediately after its completion. The neuromuscular performance was assessed by isokinetic dynamometry during the medical interview. Results With 44 of the 57 military personnel in training complaining of pain, the observational group had significantly more injuries than the control group ( p < 0.001). Five complaints had traumatic origin and 39 were overload injuries. Of the 39 military personnel with overload injuries, 21 reported limited sports performance. However, isokinetic dynamometry showed no statistically significant differences in neuromuscular performance ( p = 0.223 and p = 0.229). Conclusion Military personnel in training are prone to overload injuries, with an incidence rate > 70%. The implementation of strategies for injury monitoring and prevention is critical to promote health and physical capacity.

Study on Overload Injuries during Periods of Intense Physical Activity Complemented by Isokinetic Dynamometry Evaluation / Estudo das lesões de sobrecarga durante período intenso de atividade física complementado com avaliação por dinamometria isocinética

Abstract Objective The present study aims to measure the incidence of overload injuries in training soldiers, who are subjected to intense physical exercise, and to compare it with a control group. Next, it intends to verify whether there is any relationship between overload injuries and some neuromuscular function parameters. Methods Analytical, prospective observational study. Both the observational and the control group consisted of soldiers from the Portuguese Army. Clinical evaluation was performed by medical interview in the week prior to the beginning of a military parachuting course and in the week immediately after its completion. The neuromuscular performance was assessed by isokinetic dynamometry during the medical interview. Results With 44 of the 57 military personnel in training complaining of pain, the observational group had significantly more injuries than the control group (p< 0.001). Five complaints had traumatic origin and 39 were overload injuries. Of the 39 military personnel with overload injuries, 21 reported limited sports performance. However, isokinetic dynamometry showed no statistically significant differences in neuromuscular performance (p = 0.223 and p = 0.229). Conclusion Military personnel in training are prone to overload injuries, with an incidence rate > 70%. The implementation of strategies for injury monitoring and prevention is critical to promote health and physical capacity.

Resumo Objetivo Os autores pretendem medir a incidência de lesões de sobrecarga em militares em formação, que são submetidos a exercício físico intenso, e compará-la com um grupo controle. Posteriormente, pretende-se verificar se existe alguma relação entre a ocorrência de lesões de sobrecarga e alguns parâmetros da função neuromuscular. Métodos Estudo observacional prospectivo analítico. Grupo de observação e grupo controle constituídos por militares do Exército Português. A avaliação clínica foi feita por entrevista médica na semana que antecede o início do curso de paraquedismo militar e na semana imediatamente após o final do curso. Em simultâneo com a entrevista médica, foi realizada a avaliação da performance neuromuscular através da dinamometria isocinética. Resultados Com 44 dos 57 militares em formação a referir queixas álgicas, o grupo de observação apresentou significativamente mais lesões que o grupo controle (p < 0.001). Cinco queixas foram de origem traumática e 39 foram lesões de sobrecarga. Dos 39 militares com lesões de sobrecarga, 21 referiram limitação do rendimento esportivo. No entanto, na avaliação por dinamometria isocinética, não se verificaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas na evolução da performance neuromuscular (p = 0.223 e p = 0.229). Conclusão Os militares em formação são indivíduos propensos a sofrerem lesões de sobrecarga, tendo-se obtido uma taxa de incidência de lesões de sobrecarga na ordem dos 70%. A implementação de estratégias de monitoração e prevenção das lesões são fundamentais na promoção da saúde e da capacidade física.

Referral to the national network of integrated care: the nurses' perception.

OBJECTIVE: to understand the referral to the National Network of Integrated Continuous Care, from the perspective of nurses who work in this care context. METHOD: an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach, with data collection between July and September 2019 through interviews with 12 nurses who work in Integrated Continuous Care Teams, in Northern Portugal. The content analysis technique was used to analyze the statements. RESULTS: the professionals revealed that there are difficulties and constraints in the process of referring users to the National Network of Integrated Continuous Care. The process is bureaucratic, complex, and time-consuming, conditioning user accessibility to timely care. CONCLUSION: the referral process is a very bureaucratic and time-consuming procedure, which not only conditions and delays users' access to the National Network of Integrated Continuous Care network, contributing to the worsening of the clinical status of some patients. The number of professionals is insufficient, inducing the demand for services through urgency. The focus on primary care should seek to improve inequalities in access, compete for more equitable and accessible care, generating more quality in health care.

The flushing procedure in nursing practices: A cross-sectional study with Portuguese and Brazilian nurses.

BACKGROUND: In patients with peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs), performing flushing is an essential procedure to maintain catheter patency and prevent complications. These PIVC related complications can lead to premature removal and therapeutics interruption, which implies the need of a new catheterization thus increasing patient discomfort and pain. AIMS: To identify nursing practices related to the flushing procedure, namely: moment(s) of the flushing; the syringe size used; the flush solution, volume and technique; the knowledge and accomplishment of the recommended standards on flushing by nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2017, with Brazilian and Portuguese nurses. An online questionnaire was developed based on the international recommendations on flushing procedure. Descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 76 nurses answered the questionnaire. The majority of nurses (84.2%) performed flushing: the most common technique used was continuous syringe pressure (31.2%), with the push-pause technique being performed by 23.4% of the nurses. Despite the majority performs flushing at four distinct moments (after the PIVC insertion, before, between and after drug delivery), there are inconsistencies in flush solution, volume, and syringe size. The most used volume to perform flushing was 5 mL, filled using normal saline. Despite this, they also recognized the omission of this procedure due to time constrains, no familiarity with the procedure and unavailable material. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that flushing procedure isn't always performed by nurses in their clinical practice. Also, several inconsistencies were observed between nurses that performed flushing, reflecting the lack of empirical evidence in this area of research.

Referral to the national network of integrated care: the nurses perception / Referenciação para a rede nacional de cuidados integrados: a percepção dos enfermeiros / Remisión a la red nacional de cuidados integrados: percepciones de los enfermeros

Objective: to understand the referral to the National Network of Integrated Continuous Care, from the perspective of nurses who work in this care context. Method: an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach, with data collection between July and September 2019 through interviews with 12 nurses who work in Integrated Continuous Care Teams, in Northern Portugal. The content analysis technique was used to analyze the statements. Results: the professionals revealed that there are difficulties and constraints in the process of referring users to the National Network of Integrated Continuous Care. The process is bureaucratic, complex, and time-consuming, conditioning user accessibility to timely care. Conclusion: the referral process is a very bureaucratic and time-consuming procedure, which not only conditions and delays users' access to the National Network of Integrated Continuous Care network, contributing to the worsening of the clinical status of some patients. The number of professionals is insufficient, inducing the demand for services through urgency. The focus on primary care should seek to improve inequalities in access, compete for more equitable and accessible care, generating more quality in health care.

Objetivo: compreender a referenciação para a Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados, a partir da perspetiva de enfermeiros que atuam nesse contexto assistencial. Método: estudo exploratório, descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, cujos dados foram coletados entre julho e setembro de 2019, por meio de entrevistas a 12 enfermeiros que trabalham em Equipes de Cuidados Continuados Integrados, do norte de Portugal. Para analisar as falas, utilizou-se a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: os profissionais revelaram que existem dificuldades e constrangimentos no processo de referenciação dos usuários para a Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados. O processo é burocrático, complexo e demorado, condicionando a acessibilidade dos usuários aos cuidados em tempo útil. Conclusão: o processo de referenciação é um procedimento muito burocratizado e demorado, que condiciona e atrasa o acesso dos usuários à Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados, contribuindo para o agravamento do estado clínico de alguns pacientes. O número de profissionais é insuficiente, induzindo à procura de serviços pela via da urgência. A aposta na atenção primária deverá procurar melhorar as desigualdades no acesso, concorrer para cuidados mais equitativos e acessíveis gerando mais qualidade nos cuidados de saúde.

Objetivo: comprender la derivación a la Red Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados, desde la perspectiva de los enfermeros que actúan en este contexto asistencial. Método: estudio exploratorio, descriptivo, con enfoque cualitativo, cuyos datos fueron recolectados entre julio y septiembre de 2019, a través de entrevistas con 12 enfermeros que trabajan en Equipos de Cuidados Continuados Integrados, del norte de Portugal. Para analizar las declaraciones, se utilizó la técnica de análisis de contenido. Resultados: los profesionales revelaron que existen dificultades y limitaciones en el proceso de derivación de usuarios a la Red Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados. El proceso es burocrático, complejo y demorado, condicionando la accesibilidad del usuario a la atención en tiempo oportuno. Conclusión: el proceso de derivación es un procedimiento muy burocrático y demorado, que no solo condiciona y atrasa el acceso de los usuarios a la Red Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados sino que además contribuye al agravamiento del estado clínico de algunos pacientes. El número de profesionales es insuficiente, lo que induce a la demanda de los servicios de la emergencia. La apuesta en la atención primaria debe orientarse a mejorar las desigualdades en el acceso, competir por una atención más equitativa y accesible y, así, brindar una mayor calidad en la atención de la salud.

Impact of an Innovative Securement Dressing and Tourniquet in Peripheral Intravenous Catheter-Related Complications and Contamination: An Interventional Study.

Reusable tourniquets and conventional securement dressings are considered risk factors for the occurrence of reported complications and catheter-related bloodstream infections. This study's purpose is to assess the impact of single-use disposable tourniquets and advanced occlusive polyurethane dressings with reinforced cloth borders on peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-related complications and contamination. A pre- and post-interventional prospective observational study was conducted in a cardiology ward of a tertiary hospital between April 2018 and February 2019. Overall, demographic and clinical data from 156 patients and PIVC-related outcomes were collected (n = 296) as well as PIVC tips for microbiological analysis (n = 90). In the pre-intervention phase (n = 118), complication rates of 62.1% were reported, while 44.1% of the PIVCs were contaminated (n = 34). In the post-intervention phase (n = 178), complication rates decreased to 57.3%, while contamination rates significantly decreased to 17.9% (p = 0.014; n = 56). Through a logistic regression, it was found that the use of innovative technologies reduces the chance of PIVC contamination by 79% (odds ratio (OR): 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05-0.98; p = 0.046). Meanwhile, PIVC-related complications and fluid therapy emerged as predictors for PIVC contamination. Findings suggest that the adoption of these innovative devices in nurses' practice contributes to the significant reduction of PIVC contamination.

Work-family interference and work-family facilitation: a study of measurement invariance between genders / Interferência trabalho-família e facilitação trabalho-família: estudo da invariância da medida entre sexos / Interferencias trabajo-familia y la facilitación del trabajo y la familia: estudio de la invariancia de la medida entre los sexos

Work-family relationship is a subject of great interest for research, and studies have shown differences between genders. The aim of this study was to analyze measurement invariance between men and women, with reference to Work-Family interference among teachers. The W-F Scale (Carvalho & Andrade, 2012) was applied to a sample of 610 Portuguese higher education teachers. Dimensionality was tested by means of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The structure of the proposed theoretical model was well adjusted to the multi-group sample. Chi-square test was used to perform measurement invariance testing. Impact factors of the W-F Tension on Work and of W-F Tension on Family were invariant among teachers, indicating independence with regard to gender. Measurements for the remaining factors (Work Interference with Family, Family Interference with Work, Work as Family Life Facilitator, and Family as Work Facilitator) varied between men and women.

A relação trabalho-família é uma temática com grande interesse para a investigação, cujos estudos têm revelado diferenças entre sexos. Pretendeu-se analisar a invariância da medida entre os sexos masculino e feminino relativamente à interferência Trabalho-Família em docentes. A Escala T-F (Carvalho & Andrade, 2012) foi aplicada a 610 docentes do ensino superior português. Estudou-se a sua dimensionalidade por meio de análises fatoriais exploratória e confirmatória. A estrutura do modelo teórico proposto mostrou-se bem ajustada na amostra de multigrupos. A invariância da medida foi testada com o teste de Qui-quadrado. Os fatores Impacto da Tensão T-F no Trabalho e Impacto da Tensão T-F na Família foram invariantes entre docentes, indicando uma independência face ao sexo. As medidas para os restantes fatores (interferência do trabalho com a família, interferência da família com o trabalho, trabalho como facilitador da família e família como facilitadora do trabalho) variaram entre os sexos.

La relación trabajo-familia es una temática de interés para la investigación, y estudios han evidenciado diferencias entre sexos. Se analizó la invarianza de la medida entre hombres y mujeres relativamente a la interferencia Trabajo-Familia en docentes. La escala T-F (Carvalho & Andrade, 2012) fue aplicada a 610 docentes portugueses de educación superior. Se estudió la dimensionalidad mediante análisis factoriales exploratorio y confirmatorio. La estructura del modelo teórico propuesto se ajusta a la muestra de multigrupos. La invarianza de la medida fue testeada con la prueba Chi-cuadrado. Los factores Impacto de la Tensión T-F en el Trabajo e Impacto de la Tensión T-F en la familia fueron invariantes entre los docentes con respecto al sexo. Las medidas para los restantes factores (Interferencia del trabajo en la Familia, Interferencia de la Familia en el Trabajo, el Trabajo como Facilitador de la Familia, y la Familia como Facilitadora del Trabajo) varían entre sexos.

Phlebitis and infiltration: vascular trauma associated with the peripheral venous catheter.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the incidence rate and risk factors for the nursing-sensitive indicators phlebitis and infiltration in patients with peripheral venous catheters (PVCs). METHOD: cohort study with 110 patients. Scales were used to assess and document phlebitis and infiltration. Socio-demographic variables, clinical variables related to the PVC, medication and hospitalization variables were collected. Descriptive and inferential analysis and multivariate logistic models were used. RESULTS: the incidence rate of phlebitis and infiltration was respectively 43.2 and 59.7 per 1000 catheter-days. Most PVCs with these vascular traumas were removed in the first 24 hours. Risk factors for phlebitis were: length of hospital stay (p=0.042) and number of catheters inserted (p<0.001); risk factors for infiltration were: piperacillin/tazobactan (p=0.024) and the number of catheters inserted (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: the investigation documented the incidence of nursing-sensitive indicators (phlebitis and infiltration) and revealed new risk factors related to infiltration. It also allowed a reflection on the nursing care necessary to prevent these vascular traumas and on the indications and contraindications of the PVC, supporting the implementation of the PICC as an alternative to PVC.

Preclinical randomized controlled trial of bilateral discectomy versus bilateral discopexy in Black Merino sheep temporomandibular joint: TEMPOJIMS - Phase 1- histologic, imaging and body weight results.

INTRODUCTION: The role of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery is not well defined due to a lack of quality randomized controlled clinical trials, comparing different TMJ surgical treatments with medical and placebo interventions. The temporomandibular joint interposal study (TEMPOJIMS) is a rigorous preclinical trial divided in 2 phases. In phase 1 the authors investigated the role of the TMJ disc and in phase 2 the authors evaluated 3 different interposal materials. The present work of TEMPOJIMS - phase 1, aims to evaluate histopathologic and imaging changes of bilateral discectomy and discopexy in Black Merino sheep TMJ, using a high-quality trial following the ARRIVE guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized, blinded and controlled preclinical trial was conducted in 9 Black Merino sheep to investigate histopathologic (primary outcome), imaging and body weight (secondary outcomes) changes after bilateral discectomy, discopexy and sham surgery. RESULTS: Significant changes were noticed in discectomy group, both in imaging and histopathologic analyses. Body weight changes were most pronounced in the discectomy group in the first 4 months after surgery with recovery to baseline weight 6 months after surgery. Discopexy induced nonsignificant changes in histopathologic, imaging and body weight analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforces the importance of developing an effective interposal material to substitute the TMJ disc and the need to explore the molecular mechanisms that underlie TMJ cartilage degeneration. The study design proposed in TEMPOJIMS represents an important progress towards future rigorous TMJ investigations.

Effects of bilateral discectomy and bilateral discopexy on black Merino sheep rumination kinematics: TEMPOJIMS - phase 1 - pilot blinded, randomized preclinical study.

BACKGROUND: The temporomandibular joint interposal study (TEMPOJIMS) is a rigorous preclinical trial divided in 2 phases. In phase 1 the authors investigated the role of the TMJ disc and in phase 2 the authors evaluated 3 different interposal materials. The present work of TEMPOJIMS - phase 1, investigated the effects of bilateral discectomy and discopexy in sheep mastication and rumination. METHODS: This randomized, blinded and controlled preclinical trial (in line with the ARRIVE guidelines) was conducted in 9 Black Merino sheep to evaluate changes in mastication and rumination after bilateral discectomy and bilateral discopexy, by comparing with a sham surgery control group. The outcomes evaluated were: (1) absolute masticatory time; (2) ruminant time per cycle; (3) ruminant kinematics, and (4) ruminant area. After baseline evaluation and surgical interventions, the outcomes were recorded over 3 successive days, every 30 days, for 6 months. RESULTS: The first month after intervention seemed to be the critical period for significant kinematic changes in the discectomy and discopexy groups. However, 6 months after the bilateral interventions, no significant changes were noticed when compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, bilateral discectomy and discopexy had no significant effect in mastication and ruminatory movement. The introduction of kinematic evaluation presents a new challenge that may contribute to the improvement of future studies on the TMJ domain.

Taxa de incidência e o uso do flushing na prevenção das obstruções de cateter venoso periférico / Taza de incidencia y el uso do flushing en la prevención de las obstrucciones de catéter venoso periférico / Incidence rate and the use of flushing in the prevention of obstructions of the peripheral venous catheter

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a incidência cumulativa de obstrução do cateter venoso periférico e identificar o uso do flushing para prevenção das obstruções. Método: método misto, com estudo de coorte descritivo com seguimento de 110 pacientes de uma clínica médica de Portugal. A coleta de dados envolveu entrevistas com 22 enfermeiros, análise documental e observação participante. Realizada análise temática dos achados qualitativos e análise descritiva para os dados quantitativos. Resultados: a incidência cumulativa de obstrução foi 50%. As categorias temáticas desvelaram que o flushing era um cuidado para prevenção da obstrução do cateter venoso e realizado antes e/ou após a administração dos medicamentos. O volume de solução fisiológica utilizado no flushing variou entre 3 e 10 ml. Verificaram-se, também, situações de não adesão ao flushing e fatores que influenciavam nesta adesão, a saber: o tempo para realizar os cuidados, a complexidade e o grau de dependência dos pacientes, o volume de trabalho e o número de enfermeiros para prestar os cuidados. Conclusão: o flushing é um cuidado de enfermagem para a prevenção da obstrução do cateter venoso periférico, no entanto, as práticas de enfermagem para implementação não são uniformes quanto a frequência e volume de solução fisiológica. A ausência de um protocolo de enfermagem, a complexidade e o grau de dependência dos pacientes, o volume de trabalho e o número de enfermeiros são fatores capazes de influenciar na adesão à prática do flushing e consequentemente na incidência de obstrução do cateter venoso periférico e na segurança do paciente e qualidade dos cuidados.

RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar la incidencia acumulativa de la obstrucción del catéter venoso periférico e identificar el uso de flushing para la prevención de las obstrucciones. Método: método mixto, con estudio de cohorte descriptivo y con el seguimiento de 110 pacientes de una clínica médica de Portugal. La recolección de datos incluyó entrevistas con 22 enfermeros, análisis documental y observación participante. Se realizó el análisis temático de los hallazgos cualitativos y el análisis descriptivo para los datos cuantitativos. Resultados: la incidencia acumulativa de la obstrucción fue del 50%. Las categorías temáticas desvelaron que el flushing era un cuidado para la prevención de la obstrucción del catéter venoso y era realizado antes y/o después de la administración de los medicamentos. El volumen de solución fisiológica utilizado en el flushing varió de 3 a 10 ml. Se verificaron, también, situaciones de no adhesión al flushing y factores que influenciaban esta adhesión. A saber: el tiempo para realizar los cuidados, la complejidad y el grado de dependencia de los pacientes, el volumen de trabajo y el número de enfermeros para prestar los cuidados. Conclusión: el flushing es un cuidado de la enfermería para la prevención de la obstrucción del catéter venoso periférico. Sin embargo, las prácticas de enfermería para su implementación no son tan uniformes como la frecuencia y el volumen de la solución fisiológica. La ausencia de un protocolo de enfermería, la complejidad y el grado de dependencia de los pacientes, el volumen de trabajo y el número de enfermeros son factores capaces de influenciar la adhesión a la práctica del flushing y, consecuentemente, en la incidencia de obstrucción del catéter venoso periférico, en la seguridad del paciente y en la calidad de los cuidados.

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the cumulative incidence of the peripheral venous catheter obstruction and to identify the use of flushing to prevent obstructions. Method: mixed method, with a descriptive cohort study with monitoring of 110 patients from a medical clinic in Portugal. The data collection involved interviews with 22 nurses, documentary analysis and participant observation. Thematic analysis was performed on the qualitative findings and descriptive analysis was performed for the quantitative data. Results: the cumulative incidence of obstruction was 50%. The thematic categories revealed that flushing is a nursing care for the prevention of venous catheter obstruction and is performed before and/or after the administration of the drugs. The volume of normal saline solution used in flushing ranged from 3 to 10 ml. There were also situations of non-adherence to flushing and factors that influenced this adherence, namely: the time to perform the care, the complexity and the dependence score of the patients, the workload and the number of nurses to provide care. Conclusion: flushing is a nursing care for the prevention of peripheral venous catheter obstruction, however, the nursing practices for its implementation are not uniform regarding the frequency and volume of the normal saline solution. The lack of a nursing protocol, the complexity and dependence of the patients, the workload and the number of nurses are factors that are capable of influencing the adherence to the flushing practice and, consequently, the incidence of peripheral venous catheter obstruction and patient safety and quality of care.

Phlebitis and infiltration: vascular trauma associated with the peripheral venous catheter / Flebite e infiltração: traumas vasculares associados ao cateter venoso periférico / Flebitis e infiltración: traumas vasculares asociados al catéter venoso periférico

ABSTRACT Objective: to determine the incidence rate and risk factors for the nursing-sensitive indicators phlebitis and infiltration in patients with peripheral venous catheters (PVCs). Method: cohort study with 110 patients. Scales were used to assess and document phlebitis and infiltration. Socio-demographic variables, clinical variables related to the PVC, medication and hospitalization variables were collected. Descriptive and inferential analysis and multivariate logistic models were used. Results: the incidence rate of phlebitis and infiltration was respectively 43.2 and 59.7 per 1000 catheter-days. Most PVCs with these vascular traumas were removed in the first 24 hours. Risk factors for phlebitis were: length of hospital stay (p=0.042) and number of catheters inserted (p<0.001); risk factors for infiltration were: piperacillin/tazobactan (p=0.024) and the number of catheters inserted (p<0.001). Conclusion: the investigation documented the incidence of nursing-sensitive indicators (phlebitis and infiltration) and revealed new risk factors related to infiltration. It also allowed a reflection on the nursing care necessary to prevent these vascular traumas and on the indications and contraindications of the PVC, supporting the implementation of the PICC as an alternative to PVC.

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar a taxa de incidência e os fatores de risco para os indicadores sensíveis aos cuidados de Enfermagem, flebite e infiltração, em pacientes portadores de cateteres venosos periféricos (CVPs). Método: estudo de coorte com 110 pacientes. Utilizou-se escalas para avaliar e documentar flebite e infiltração. Recolheram-se variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas, relativas ao CVP, à medicação e à internação, bem como efetuou-se análise descritiva e inferencial, e modelação logística multivariada. Resultados: a taxa de incidência de flebite e infiltração foi de 43,2 e 59,7 por mil cateteres-dia, respectivamente. A maioria dos CVPs foi removida nas primeiras 24h devido a esses traumas vasculares. Foram fatores de risco para flebite o tempo de internação (p=0,042) e o número de cateteres inseridos (p<0,001), sendo para infiltração a piperacilina/tazobactan (p=0,024) e o número de cateteres inseridos (p<0,001). Conclusão: a investigação documentou a incidência de indicadores sensíveis aos cuidados de Enfermagem (flebite e infiltração) e evidenciou novos fatores de risco relacionados à infiltração. Possibilitou, também, uma reflexão sobre os cuidados de Enfermagem para prevenir esses traumas vasculares, as indicações e as contraindicações do CVP, tendo subsidiada a implementação do PICC nas práticas de Enfermagem como alternativa ao CVP.

RESUMEN Objetivos: determinar la tasa de incidencia y los factores de riesgo para los indicadores sensibles a los cuidados de Enfermería, flebitis e infiltración, en pacientes portadores de catéteres venosos periféricos (CVPs). Método: se trata de un estudio de cohorte entre 110 pacientes. Se utilizaron escalas para evaluar y documentar la flebitis y la infiltración. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, relativas al CVP, a la medicación y a la internación. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo e inferencial, y modelación logística multivariada. Resultados: la tasa de incidencia de flebitis e infiltración fue de 43,2 y 59,7 por mil catéteres-día, respectivamente. Se removió la mayoría de los CVPs en las primeras 24 horas debido a dichos traumas vasculares. Los factores de riesgo para la flebitis fueron: el tiempo de internación (p=0,042) y el número de catéteres insertados (p<0,001); para la infiltración: la piperacilina/tazobactan (p=0,024) y el número de catéteres insertados (p<0,001). Conclusión: la investigación documentó la incidencia de indicadores sensibles a los cuidados de Enfermería (flebitis e infiltración) y evidenció nuevos factores de riesgo relacionados con la infiltración. Posibilitó, también, una reflexión sobre los cuidados de Enfermería para prevenir los traumas vasculares y sobre las indicaciones y contraindicaciones del CVP, con la implantación del PICC auxiliando en las prácticas de Enfermería como alternativa del CVP.

Impact of a structured multicomponent educational intervention program on metabolic control of patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders, with a high prevalence of patients with poor metabolic control. Worldwide, evidence highlights the importance of developing and implementing educational interventions that can reduce this burden. The main objective of this study was to analyse the impact of a lifestyle centred intervention on glycaemic control of poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients, followed in a Community Care Centre. METHODS: A type 2 experimental design was conducted over 6 months, including 122 adults with HbA1c ≥ 7.5%, randomly allocated into Experimental group (EG) or Control Group (CG). EG patients attended a specific Educational Program while CG patients frequented usual care. Personal and health characterization variables, clinical metrics and self-care activities were measured before and after the implementation of the intervention. Analysis was done by comparing gains between groups (CG vs EG) through differential calculations (post minus pre-test results) and Longitudinal analysis. RESULTS: Statistical differences were obtained between groups for HbA1c and BMI: EG had a decrease in 11% more (effect-size r2 = .11) than CG for HbA1c (p < .001) and 4% more (effect-size r2 = .04) in BMI (p < .05). When controlling for socioeconomic characteristics and comorbidities that showed to be associated to each parameter in pre-test, from pre to post-test only EG participants significantly decreased HbA1c [Wilks' ʎ = .702; F(1,57) = 24.16; p < .001; ηp2 = .298; observed power = .998]; BMI values [Wilks' ʎ = .900; F(1,59) = 6.57; p = .013; ηp2 = .100; observed power = .713]; systolic Blood pressure [Wilks' ʎ = .735; F(1,61) = 21.94; p < .001; ηp2 = .265; observed power = .996] and diastolic Blood pressure [Wilks' ʎ = .795; F(1,59) = 15.20; p < .001; ηp2 = .205; observed power = .970]. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of a structured multicomponent educational intervention program by itself, beyond standard educational approach alone, supported in a Longitudinal analysis that controlled variables statistically associated with clinical metrics in pre-test measures, has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving HbA1c, BMI and Blood pressure values. TRIAL REGISTRATION: RBR-8ns8pb . (Retrospectively registered: October 30,2017).