Reliability and Validity of the Spanish Version of the Brief-BESTest in Stroke Patients.

Background: Balance disorders and postural control treatments play an important role in fall prevention. The Brief-BESTest is a short-scale employed to evaluate balance and fall risk in different populations. Balance assessment is a fundamental element in patients with Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation since postural alteration is one of the most frequent sequelae. The objective was to validate the Spanish version of the Brief-BESTest questionnaire in the stroke population. Methods: Subjects of both sexes aged over 18 years with a diagnosis of acute/chronic stroke were included. The BESTest, Mini-BESTest, Brief-BESTest, Berg Balance Scale, and Timed Up & Go Test were used to assess balance. The scales were implemented once. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess the internal consistency and confirmatory factorial analysis was employed to assess validity. Results: A total of 44 patients with a mean age of 65.35 years (SD = 10.665) participated. Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed a high internal consistency with a value of 0.839. In the criterion validity, there was a high positive correlation between the Brief-BESTest and BESTest (r = 0.879), Mini-BESTest (r = 0.808), and Berg Balance Scale (r = 0.711). Conclusion: The Spanish version of the Brief-BESTest scale is valid and reliable, showing adequate psychometric properties for balance assessment in patients with acute or chronic stroke.

Tucker3-PCovR: The Tucker3 principal covariates regression model.

In behavioral research, it is very common to have manage multiple datasets containing information about the same set of individuals, in such a way that one dataset attempts to explain the others. To address this need, in this paper the Tucker3-PCovR model is proposed. This model is a particular case of PCovR models which focuses on the analysis of a three-way data array and a two-way data matrix where the latter plays the explanatory role. The Tucker3-PCovR model reduces the predictors to a few components and predicts the criterion by using these components and, at the same time, the three-way data is fitted by the Tucker3 model. Both the reduction of the predictors and the prediction of the criterion are done simultaneously. An alternating least squares algorithm is proposed to estimate the Tucker3-PCovR model. A biplot representation is presented to facilitate the interpretation of the results. Some applications are made to empirical datasets from the field of psychology.

A web-based educational therapy intervention associated with physical exercise to promote health in fibromyalgia in Brazil: the Amigos De Fibro (Fibro Friends) study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Health education is one of the main items to enable health promotion to patients with fibromyalgia. The objective of the study "Amigos de Fibro (Fibro Friends)" is to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention associated with physical exercise based on the web in promoting health and quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia in Brazil. METHODS: A study with a randomized controlled trial approach will be carried out. The sample will consist of 24 participants, divided into two groups, with 12 individuals each. The experimental group will participate in meetings with lectures, debates, conversation rounds and exercises by a multidisciplinary team. Physical exercises will also be performed in an online environment. On the other hand, the control group will receive an e-book of education and self-care. Primary outcomes will be quality of life. The secondary outcomes will be sociodemographic and health profile, pain intensity, sleep quality, self-care agency, usage and costs of health and social care services, viability of the program and program participation. In addition, a qualitative evaluation process will be carried out with the participants. After the intervention, the data of both groups will be collected again, as well as after 3, 6, and 12 months to verify the effect and the maintenance of the intervention. DISCUSSION: The results will provide data for studies to consider the use of this tool in the future by professionals working in the field of rheumatology. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-3rh759 ( https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=RBR-3rh759 ). Date of registration: 07/02/2020].

Validity of the telematic Fugl Meyer assessment scale - upper extremity (TFMA-UE) Spanish version.

Background: Telematic assistance has become indispensable in recent years. The increased prevalence of Acquired brain injury and the sequels it causes, requires long-lasting multidisciplinary treatments. Validated tools to assess the evolution of the disabilities and limitations of this pathology are essential to individualize and prescribe adapted treatments. The aim has been to create the telematic version of the Fugl Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity Motor Function (TFMA-UE) Spanish scale and its adaptation to the remote assessment of neurologic patients. Methods: An adapted scale was designed based on the Fugl Meyer Assessment scale-telematic version (FMA-TV): TFMA-UE. This scale is composed by 21 items which evaluate the upper extremity motor function. Physiotherapists trained in this tool, evaluate the results obtained from applying the two versions (on-site and telematic) to compare the results. Results: TFMA-UE was administered to 30 patients with acquired brain injury. It was applied on site and through the web platform selected by the patients in two different days. Patients completed all the scale in an easily way without help. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a factorial structure with a factor (76.08% of the variance). The Cronbach's internal consistency index obtained was 0.98 and the weight kappa index used to measure agreement between the two versions was 0.78 which represents substantial agreement. Conclusion: The Telematic Fugl Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity Motor Function (TFMA-UE) scale is a viable, useful and easy to apply tool that allows the upper extremity motor function assessment of Acquired Brain Injury patients.

Factores asociados a la polifarmacia en población anciana no institucionalizada. Análisis de la submuestra de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2006 para personas mayores de Castilla y León / Factors related to polypharmacy in the non-institutionalised elderly. Analysis of the subsample of the National Survey of Health 2006 for the elderly in Castile-Leon

Introducción. El aumento de enfermedades de tipo crónico y degenerativo en el anciano conduce a un mayor consumo de medicamentos, que le convierte en una persona polimedicada, con los problemas que conlleva respecto a reacciones adversas e interacciones de fármacos. Material y métodos. Se analiza la submuestra de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2006, correspondiente a adultos mayores de 65 años residentes en Castilla y León (n=458). Mediante un modelo de regresión logística y un análisis factorial de correspondencias, se valoró qué variables influyen más en la polifarmacia. Resultados. El 86% de los entrevistados declaró consumir medicamentos y el 93,9% presenta alguna enfermedad crónica. Los problemas de salud más frecuentes son: artrosis, artritis o reumatismo (53,5%) e hipertensión (48,3%) y los medicamentos más consumidos son hipotensores (45%), medicamentos para el dolor (37,1%) y para el reumatismo (21,4%). Tanto la media de enfermedades presentadas como los fármacos consumidos son significativamente superiores en aquellos que dicen tener «mala o regular salud», los que frecuentan los servicios sanitarios, los que presentan déficit visual y auditivo y los que tienen dependencia para el cuidado personal, labores domésticas y movilidad (p<0,05). Las variables asociadas a la polifarmacia son: 3 o más enfermedades crónicas (OR=18,3), salud autopercibida regular-mala (OR=3,4) y sexo femenino (OR=1,9). Conclusiones. Dada la magnitud del problema sería conveniente incluir en los exámenes de salud del anciano una revisión del consumo de fármacos, en particular en las mujeres mayores de 75 años, con regular o mal estado de salud autopercibido que presentan 3 o más enfermedades(AU)

Background. The increase in chronic and degenerative diseases in the elderly leads to increased and multiple drug usage, which in turn leads to problems associated with adverse reactions and drug interactions. Material and methods. We analysed the subsample of the National Health Survey 2006, for adults over 65 living in Castile-León (n=458). Using a logistic regression model and correlation analysis the variables having more influence on polypharmacy were evaluated. Results. A total of 86% of those interviewed claimed to be taking drugs and 93.9% had a chronic illness. The most common health problems included arthrosis, arthritis or rheumatism (53.5%) and hypertension (48.3%), and most frequently used drugs were hypotensives (45%), pain medications (37.1%) and those for rheumatism (21.4%). Both the mean number of illnesses suffered and the drugs consumed are significantly higher in those who claimed to have, “or or fair health, used the health services, had impaired eyesight and hearing, dependent for personal care and domestic tasks, and mobility (P<.05). The variables associated with polypharmacy are three or more chronic diseases (OR=18.3), regular-poor self perceived health (OR=3.4) and females (OR=1.9). Conclusions. Given the magnitude of the problem it would be appropriate to include a review of the medications in health examinations of the elderly, particularly in women older than 75 years, with regular or self-perceived poor health and who have 3 or more diseases(AU)

[Factors related to polypharmacy in the non-institutionalised elderly. Analysis of the subsample of the national survey of health 2006 for the elderly in Castile-Leon]. / Factores asociados a la polifarmacia en población anciana no institucionalizada. Análisis de la submuestra de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2006 para personas mayores de Castilla y León.

BACKGROUND: The increase in chronic and degenerative diseases in the elderly leads to increased and multiple drug usage, which in turn leads to problems associated with adverse reactions and drug interactions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed the subsample of the National Health Survey 2006, for adults over 65 living in Castile-León (n=458). Using a logistic regression model and correlation analysis the variables having more influence on polypharmacy were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 86% of those interviewed claimed to be taking drugs and 93.9% had a chronic illness. The most common health problems included arthrosis, arthritis or rheumatism (53.5%) and hypertension (48.3%), and most frequently used drugs were hypotensives (45%), pain medications (37.1%) and those for rheumatism (21.4%). Both the mean number of illnesses suffered and the drugs consumed are significantly higher in those who claimed to have, "or or fair health, used the health services, had impaired eyesight and hearing, dependent for personal care and domestic tasks, and mobility (P<.05). The variables associated with polypharmacy are three or more chronic diseases (OR=18.3), regular-poor self perceived health (OR=3.4) and females (OR=1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Given the magnitude of the problem it would be appropriate to include a review of the medications in health examinations of the elderly, particularly in women older than 75 years, with regular or self-perceived poor health and who have 3 or more diseases.