Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on foot health and quality of life: an observational case-control study.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. This condition primarily affects the axial skeleton and presents direct foot involvement, such as Achilles enthesitis or plantar fascia involvement. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of foot health on the quality of life of individuals with AS compared to a control group without AS. Materials and methods: A sample of 112 subjects was recruited, with a mean age of 46.80 ± 10.49 years, divided into two groups: 56 individuals with AS (cases) and 56 individuals without AS (controls). Demographic data were collected, and the scores obtained in the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains were recorded. Results: Of the participants, 27.79% (N = 30) were men and 73.21% (N = 82) were women. The mean age in the group was 46.80 ± 10.49. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the domains of foot function, foot pain, footwear, overall foot health, general health-related physical activity, and social capacity between the AS group and the control group. Conclusion: Individuals with AS exhibited a decreased quality of life, as indicated by their Foot Health Status Questionnaire scores.

The effectiveness of learning strategies for the development of Emotional Intelligence in undergraduate nursing students: A systematic review protocol.

AIM: This protocol proposes a systematic review to identify and disclose learning strategies and evaluation tools to improve Emotion Intelligence (EI) in undergraduate nursing students. BACKGROUND: EI improves the ability to manage emotions and their consequences. Management of emotions is fundamental in nursing both at inter- and intra-professional levels, and with the patients and their family carers. DESIGN: Systematic review protocol of effectiveness based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. REVIEW METHODS: All articles based on educational programmes and/or activities to develop EI in nursing curricula will be included in the review. It will analyse the principle EI attributes and outcomes such as burnout, intention to leave and problem-solving skills. Based on the review question, seven databases will be searched: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and ERIC. Also, grey literature (Google Scholar and Open Gray) will be searched. Since no similar systematic reviews are present in the literature, no time limits will be set. To establish the quality of studies JBI tools will be used. When appropriate, we will meta-analyse prevalence and incidence estimates or we will meta-synthesize themes and findings. EXPECTED RESULTS: This systematic review is expected to provide an overview of educational and training methods, pedagogical strategies and evaluation tools to address EI in nursing and provide high-quality care to patients and their families. Results of the review will support nursing educators and leaders in implementing teaching and learning strategies to improve the Emotional Intelligence of undergraduate nursing students. CONCLUSIONS: Mastering emotions is fundamental for nurses. Implementing education courses based on EI according to the best training methods and pedagogical strategies could become key for nursing curricula. Moreover, after the review, it will be possible to identify the best training methods and pedagogical strategies for implementing continuing professional development (CPD) courses in EI in the courses of following graduation.

Implications of gut and oral microbiota in neuroinflammatory responses in Alzheimer's disease.

A diverse and stable microbiota promotes a healthy state, nevertheless, an imbalance in gut or oral bacterial composition, called dysbiosis, can cause gastrointestinal disorders, systemic inflammatory states and oxidative stress, among others. Recently, gut and oral dysbiosis has been linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is considered the most common form of dementia and a public health priority due to its high prevalence and incidence. The aim of this review is to highlight the implications of gut and oral microbiota in the neuroinflammation characteristic of AD pathology and the subsequent cognitive impairment. It is a systematic review of the current literature obtained by searching the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases. The characteristic intestinal dysbiosis in AD patients leads to increased permeability of the intestinal barrier and activates immune cells in the central nervous system due to translocation of microbiota-derived metabolites and/or bacteria into the circulation leading to increased neuroinflammation and neuronal loss, thus generating the cognitive impairment characteristic of AD. The presence in the central nervous system of Porphyromonas gingivalis can cause an increased neuroinflammation and beta-amyloid peptide accumulation.

Estrategias de desarrollo de competencias emocionales en estudiantes de ciencias de la salud: revisión integrativa / Strategies for the development of emotional competencies in health science students: integrative review

Además de habilidades clínicas, los estudiantes de ciencias de la salud precisan, en su proyecto formativo, lograr otras competencias de carácter psicoemocional como garantía de calidad de la asistencia prestada. Con el objetivo de analizar las diferentes estrategias llevadas a cabo a tal fin, se ha realizado una revisión integrativa de la literatura publicada en los últimos 10 años en las bases de datos científicas Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute, APA PsycNet Advanced Search, PsycINFO y en el Repositorio Científico de Acceso Abierto de Portugal. Se obtuvieron un total de siete publicaciones que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión establecidos. Para cada uno de los mismos se extrajeron como unidades de análisis principales el tipo de estudio, el objetivo, la muestra y la estrategia aplicada sobre la misma, las herramientas de medición de los resultados y sus principales hallazgos. Éstos muestran que las estrategias puestas en marcha en cada uno de los estudios fueron efectivas para mejorar los niveles de competencia emocional. No obstante, así mismo, se extraen como conclusiones la escasa evidencia científica disponible al respecto y la diversidad de objetivos, variables, metodologías e instrumentos de recogida de datos utilizados para el logro de tal competencia. La dificultad en el establecimiento de evidencias pone de manifiesto la necesidad de seguir profundizando para lograr el asentamiento de aquellas estrategias pedagógicas, que mejor sirvan para lograr la necesaria competencia emocional de los estudiantes y futuros profesionales en el ámbito de ciencias de la salud. (AU)

In addition to clinical skills, health science students need, in their training project, to achieve other competencies of a psychoemotional nature as a guarantee of the quality of the care provided. With the aim of analysing the different strategies carried out to this end, an integrative review of the literature published in the last 10 years in the scientific databases Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute, APA PsycNet Advanced Search, PsycINFO and the Portuguese Open Access Scientific Repository was carried out. A total of seven publications were obtained that met the established inclusion criteria. For each of them, the main units of analysis were extracted as the type of study, the objective, the sample and the strategy applied to it, the tools used to measure the results and the main findings. These show that the strategies implemented in each of the studies were effective in improving levels of emotional competence. However, the scarce scientific evidence available in this respect and the diversity of objectives, variables, methodologies and data collection instruments used for the achievement of such competence are also conclusions drawn. The difficulty in establishing evidence highlights the need for further research to establish those pedagogical strategies that best serve to achieve the necessary emotional competence of students and future professionals in the field of health sciences. (AU)

SBAR Method for Improving Well-Being in the Internal Medicine Unit: Quasi-Experimental Research.

SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is a tool for standardizing and improving interprofessional communication. This study aims to explore the impact of SBAR in healthcare professionals' wellbeing, through concepts such as job satisfaction, engagement, resilience, and job performance, in the internal medicine unit of a university hospital in the province of León (Spain). This is an observational, descriptive, longitudinal case study with a pre- and post-intervention approach. Questionnaires were distributed to a group of doctors, nurses, and healthcare assistants before and after the implementation of the SBAR tool in the ward. The use of SBAR was monitored to ensure staff compliance. Data statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program. Resilience levels increased significantly post-intervention. Job satisfaction and engagement levels remained neutral, slightly decreasing post-intervention. Besides' being a useful tool to improve communication, SBAR was effective in improving resilience among staff. Several aspects related to hospital management may have had an impact on job satisfaction and engagement results.

Descriptive Study of Friendship Networks in Adolescents and Their Relationship with Self-Efficacy and Alcohol Consumption Using Social Network Analysis.

Alcohol is a widely used legal drug. Self-efficacy takes on great importance in an adolescent's development. Levels of self-efficacy can contribute to the decision-making process of the adolescent. In this phase, a group of friends becomes increasingly important. Alcohol is present in different social aspects. Adolescents use alcohol as a social facilitator or as part of the development of their autonomy. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the structure of the friendship network, self-efficacy, and alcohol consumption in adolescents. METHODS: We used an online platform with validated self-reported questionnaires to collect the data. The sample consisted of 195 adolescents aged between 16 and 18, from different educational centers in Bierzo (Spain). RESULTS: It was found that 43.6% of the adolescents in our research were high-risk consumers. Significant differences were obtained in terms of self-efficacy and different network metrics. These networks were represented by considering the levels of alcohol consumption. In the friendship network, we observed how the central adolescents presented higher levels of self-efficacy and lower alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Self-efficacy is established as a predictor of coping and not consuming alcohol and adolescence as a crucial moment to implement prevention strategies. Social Network Analysis is a useful tool that provides an image of the context in which adolescents find themselves.

Heart Disease, Now What? Improving Quality of Life through Education.

INTRODUCTION: The management of chronic illness assumes a level of demand for permanent care and reaches a priority dimension in the health context. Given the importance of nursing care to post-acute coronary syndrome patients, the objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention program on quality of life in patients after acute coronary syndrome. METHOD: Quasi-experimental study with two groups: an experimental group exposed to the educational intervention program and the control group without exposure to the educational intervention program. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences between both groups (p < 0.001). Although only valid for the specific group of subjects studied, the educational intervention program enabled significant gains in quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of the study, a systematized and structured educational program, integrated into the care organization and based on transition processes, is effective in developing self-care skills and improves the quality of life in patients after acute coronary syndrome.

Friendship and Consumption Networks in Adolescents and Their Relationship to Stress and Cannabis Use Intention.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is an illegal psychoactive substance that's use is widespread among adolescents. During adolescence, many changes can cause stress. In this phase, the group of friends becomes increasingly important, being a situation of vulnerability for the beginning of cannabis use, either as an escape mechanism or due to peer's influence. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the structure of the consumption and friendship network, the intention to use cannabis, and the stress in a secondary school class. METHODS: An online platform with validated self-reported questionnaires were used for data collection. RESULTS: The sample consisted of adolescents (n = 20) aged 14-16 from a third-year class of compulsory secondary education in Ponferrada (León, Spain). Significant differences were obtained concerning consumption intention and the different network metrics in both the friendship and consumption networks. Subsequently, the representation of these networks was carried out. CONCLUSIONS: Social Network Analysis is a very useful tool that provides a picture of the context in which adolescents are located. In the consumption network, there are central actors who have not yet consumed cannabis; this is a crucial moment to implement prevention strategies.

Physical Activity, Resilience, Sense of Coherence and Coping in People with Multiple Sclerosis in the Situation Derived from COVID-19.

The confinement forced by COVID-19 can have repercussions on the health of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationships between physical activity, a sense of coherence, resilience and coping among people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis during the health emergency situation. To achieve this goal, this transversal descriptive study included 84 patients that belonged to multiple sclerosis associations during the period of confinement. Participants filled out the Physical Activity (IPAQ-SF), Sense of Coherence (SOC-13), Resilience Scale (ER-14) and coping (COPE-28) questionnaires. The results showed that the average age was 46.9 and that 67.9% had Relapsing Remittent Multiple Sclerosis diagnosed on average 13.9 years ago. They had a high degree (33.3%) and moderate degree (34.5%) of physical activity, high levels of resilience, while the level of a sense of coherence was average and the most commonly used strategies for coping were active confrontation and religion. Physical activity was not related to the rest of the studied variables, but there were correlations between the other variables. The people with multiple sclerosis who belong to patient associations have remained physically active during the obligatory confinement period and have elevated degrees of resilience and an average sense of coherence, as well as using suitable coping strategies, which is why the social-health resource of belonging to a patient association could be boosting these variables that are beneficial to their health.