Effect of different types of supervised exercise programs on cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, pain, fatigue, mental health and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in older patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae "EJerSA-COVID-19": a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with COVID-19 present the so-called post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 such as fatigue, post-stress discomfort, dyspnea, headache, pain mental impairment, incapacity to perform daily physical tasks ant exercise intolerance. This study aims to investigate the effects of different exercise programs on physical and mental fitness, physical condition and biomarkers of the immune system and oxidative stress in older patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae. METHODS: The sample will be made up of 120 eligible participants, over the age of 60 years who have had COVID-19 disease and are survivors and present persistent COVID-19 symptomatology diagnosed by the corresponding physician. The participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental groups: supervised endurance group (SEG, n = 30), supervised strength group (SSG, n = 30), supervised concurrent group (SCG, n = 30), which will perform the corresponding exercise program 3 days a week compared to the control group (CG, n = 30), which will not carry out a supervised exercise program. The design of this project will include measurements of four relevant dimensions; 1) Cardiorespiratory fitness; 2) Muscle fitness; 3) Pain and mental health; and 4) Biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will provide insights into the effects of different exercise programs on physical and mental fitness, physical condition and biomarkers of the immune system and oxidative stress in older patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae. These findings may be the basis for the formulation of health plans and rehabilitation programs that allow healthy aging and a reduction in the associated morbidity in patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05848518. Registered on May 8, 2023.

Circulating nitrate-nitrite reduces oxygen uptake for improving resistance exercise performance after rest time in well-trained CrossFit athletes.

This study aimed to determine the effects of circulating nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) concentrations on resistance exercise performance, VO2 and biomarkers of muscle damage. Eleven well-trained male CrossFit athletes (29.2 ± 3.7 years, 78.9 ± 5.4 kg, 175.1 ± 6.3 cm) carried out a resistance exercise test after drinking 140 mL of beetroot juice (BJ) or placebo. The test consisted of repeating the same resistance exercise routine twice: wall ball shots plus full back squat with 3-min rest (1st routine) or without rest (2nd routine) between the two exercises. Higher NOx plasma levels were verified after BJ than placebo in the pretest and post-test (p < 0.001). A higher number of repetitions was observed after BJ intake compared to placebo in the full back squat exercise during the first routine (p = 0.004). A significantly reduced VO2 was detected after BJ intake compared to placebo during rest and full back squat execution in the first routine (p < 0.05). Plasma myoglobin concentrations were significantly increased with BJ compared to placebo (p = 0.036). These results showed that plasma NOx levels reduced VO2 after BJ intake during rest time. These reduced VO2 was a key factor for improving full back squat performance during the first routine.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students in the first wave: A cross-sectional survey.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychological impact on nursing students at the end of period of confinement during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study reported in line with the STROBE guidelines. METHODS: Nursing students were invited to complete an online questionnaire at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year using convenience sampling. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic factors, work, and life experiences in relation to COVID-19, habits and lifestyle using the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and the Generalized Anxiety disorder-7 scale. Variables related to anxiety were analysed using multiple lineal regression analysis, RESULTS: The prevalence of low psychological well-being in the 203 students was 44.3% and of anxiety 55.7%. In the multivariate analysis the variables associated with anxiety were having worked in the pandemic, having had symptoms of COVID-19 and having been afraid of getting infected. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing students have been high, and levels of psychological well-being have been low. The fact of having worked during the pandemic, having had symptoms compatible with COVID-19 or being afraid of getting infected are associated with the highest scores for anxiety. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study gives more evidence on the psychological impact on nursing students during the first wave of the pandemic in Spain. This can be used to design anxiety management programmes for inclusion into teaching syllabuses. It also gives arguments for the setting up of psychological and emotional support services for these students and other healthcare professionals working during the pandemic.

Reliability and validity study of the Spanish adaptation of the "Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale" (SCLS).

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) recommends the use of new educational methodologies and the evaluation of student satisfaction. Different instruments have been developed in Spain to evaluate different aspects such as clinical decisions and teamwork, however no instruments have been found that specifically evaluate student self-confidence and satisfaction during clinical simulation. The aim was to translate the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale (SCLS) questionnaire into Spanish and analyse its reliability and validity and understand the level of satisfaction and self-confidence of nursing students with respect to learning in clinical simulations. The study was carried out in two phases: (1) adaptation of the questionnaire into Spanish. (2) Cross-sectional study in a sample of 489 nursing students. The reliability and exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses were performed. To analyse the relationship of the scale scores with the socio-demographic variables, the Fisher Student T-test or the ANOVA was used. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency reliability for the total scale and each of its dimensions. Cronbach's alpha was 0.88 (0.83 to 0.81) for each of the dimensions. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed that both the one-dimensional and two-dimensional models were acceptable. The results showed average scores above 4 for both dimensions. The SCLS-Spanish translation demonstrated evidence of its validity and reliability for use to understand the level of satisfaction and self-confidence of nursing students in clinical simulation. Clinical simulations help students to increase their levels of confidence and satisfaction, enabling them to face real scenarios in clinical practice.

The Relationship between Resistance Exercise Performance and Ventilatory Efficiency after Beetroot Juice Intake in Well-Trained Athletes.

The assessment of ventilatory efficiency is critical to understanding the matching of ventilation (VE) and perfusion in the lungs during exercise. This study aimed to establish a causal physiological relationship between ventilatory efficiency and resistance exercise performance after beetroot juice (BJ) intake. Eleven well-trained males performed a resistance exercise test after drinking 140 mL of BJ (~12.8 mmol NO3-) or a placebo (PL). Ventilatory efficiency was assessed by the VE•VCO2-1 slope, the oxygen uptake efficiency slope and the partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2). The two experimental conditions were controlled using a randomized, double-blind crossover design. The resistance exercise test involved repeating the same routine twice, which consisted of wall ball shots plus a full squat (FS) with a 3 min rest or without a rest between the two exercises. A higher weight lifted was detected in the FS exercise after BJ intake compared with the PL during the first routine (p = 0.004). BJ improved the VE•VCO2-1 slope and the PetCO2 during the FS exercise in the first routine and at rest (p < 0.05). BJ intake improved the VE•VCO2-1 slope and the PetCO2 coinciding with the resistance exercise performance. The ergogenic effect of BJ could be induced under aerobic conditions at rest.

Understanding the effects of beetroot juice intake on CrossFit performance by assessing hormonal, metabolic and mechanical response: a randomized, double-blind, crossover design.

BACKGROUND: Acute beetroot juice (BJ) intake has shown to enhance aerobic and anaerobic performance. However, no studies have evaluated the effects of BJ intake on CrossFit (CF) performance by linking hormonal, metabolic, and mechanical responses. The purpose of this study was to determine the causal physiological association between hormonal, metabolic and mechanical responses, and CF workouts performance after acute BJ intake. METHODS: Twelve well-trained male practitioners undertook a CF workout after drinking 140 mL of BJ (~ 12.8 mmol NO3-) or placebo. The two experimental conditions (BJ or placebo) were administered using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. The CF workout consisted of repeating the same exercise routine twice: Wall ball (WB) shots plus full back squat (FBS) with 3-min rest (1st routine) or without rest (2nd routine) between the two exercises. A 3-min rest was established between the two exercise routines. RESULTS: An interaction effect was observed in the number of repetitions performed (p = 0.04). The Bonferroni test determined a higher number of repetitions after BJ than placebo intake when a 3-min rest between WB and FBS (1st routine) was established (p = 0.007). An interaction effect was detected in cortisol response (p = 0.04). Cortisol showed a higher increase after BJ compared to placebo intake (76% vs. 36%, respectively). No interaction effect was observed in the testosterone and testosterone/cortisol ratio (p > 0.05). A significant interaction effect was found in oxygen saturation (p = 0.01). A greater oxygen saturation drop was observed in BJ compared to placebo (p <  0.05). An interaction effect was verified in muscular fatigue (p = 0.03) with a higher muscular fatigue being observed with BJ than placebo (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: BJ intake improved anaerobic performance only after the recovery time between exercises. This increase in performance in the first routine probably generated greater hypoxia in the muscle mass involved, possibly conditioning post-exercise performance. This was observed with a fall in oxygen saturation and in muscle fatigue measured at the end of the CF workout. The greatest perceived changes in cortisol levels after BJ intake could be attributed to the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway.

Reliability and validity study of the Spanish adaptation of the "Educational Practices Questionnaire" (EPQ).

The Educational Practices Questionnaire is an instrument for assessing students perceptions of best educational practices in simulation. As for other countries, in Spain, it is necessary to have validated rubrics to measure the effects of simulation. The objective of this study was to carry out a translation and cultural adaptation of the Educational Practices Questionnaire into Spanish and analyze its reliability and validity. The study was carried out in two phases: (1) adaptation of the questionnaire into Spanish. (2) Cross-sectional study in a sample of 626 nursing students. Psychometric properties were analyzed in terms of reliability and construct validity by confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the one-dimensional model is acceptable for both scales (presence and importance). The results show that the participants' scores can be calculated and interpreted for the general factor and also for the four subscales. Cronbach's alpha and the Omega Index were also suitable for all the scales and for each of the dimensions. The Educational Practices Questionnaire is a simple and easy-to-administer tool to measure how nursing degree students perceive the presence and importance of best educational practices.

Desarrollo de un nuevo modelo de Practicum. Reto y oportunidad de formar en roles avanzados en el Grado de Enfermería / Development of a new Practicum model. Challenge and opportunity to form in advanced roles in the Nursing Degree

El propósito de la educación en Enfermería es formar profesionales con actitudes, habilidades y conocimientos necesarios para llevar a cabo sus funciones de manera eficiente. Cada vez hay mayor demanda de profesionales de enfermería más competentes para el manejo de información, uso de nuevas tecnologías y aplicación de intervenciones complejas en el cuidado de las personas en diferentes entornos de cuidado. Para dar respuesta a esta demanda, desde la Escuela Superior de Ciencias de la Salud Tecnocampus, se apuesta por modelo de Practicum avanzado más integrador y acorde a la formación teórica y práctica, que permita al estudiante una visión holística, ya no tanto de las patologías concretas, sino de los procesos asistenciales en forma de itinerarios. El trabajo que aquí se presenta tiene el objetivo de dar a conocer este modelo y las herramientas evaluadoras del estudiante utilizadas durante el mismo

The purpose of the Nursing Education is to train nurses with skills, attitudes, aptitudes and knowledge to enable them to develop their function in an efficient manner. An increasing demand of nurses more competent to a data-management system, to use new technologies and application of complex interventions on different places of nursing care, is requested. To respond to this demand, the Escuela Superior de Ciencias de la Salud Tecnocampus (ESCST), has been emphasized for an advanced and integrative Practicum Model in accordance with the theoretical and practical training, that it enables students to have an holistic view. Not just of specific pathologies, but also the assistance processes by means of form of itinerary. The work that is presented has the aim to make know this model and which are evaluation tools that are used during the development for the assessment of student's practical training