Translation, Validity and Internal Consistency of the Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire for Brazilian families of patients that died from cancer: a cross-sectional and methodological study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire (QoDD) may prove to be an important evaluation tool in the Brazilian context, and, therefore, can contribute to a more precise evaluation of the dying and death process, improving and guiding the end-of-life patient care. OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the QoDD into Brazilian Portuguese and measure its validity (convergent and known-groups) and internal consistency DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional, methodological study was conducted at the Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Brazil METHODS: A total of 78 family caregivers participated in this study. Semantic, cultural, and conceptual equivalences were evaluated using the content validity index. The construct validity was assessed through convergent validation and known groups analysis [presence of family members at the place of death; feel at peace with dying; and place of death (hospital versus home; hospital versus Palliative Care)]. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The questionnaire was translated into Brazilian Portuguese and presented evidence of a clear understanding of its content. Cronbach's alpha values were ≥ 0.70, except for the domains of treatment preference (α = 0.686) and general concerns (α = 0.599). The convergent validity confirmed a part of the previously hypothesized correlations between the Palliative Care Outcome Scale-Brazil (POS-Br) total scores and the QoDD domain scores. The QoDD-Br domains could distinguish the patients who died in palliative care and general wards. CONCLUSION: The QoDD-Br is a culturally adapted valid instrument, and may be used to assess the quality of death of cancer patients.

Translation, Validity and Internal Consistency of the Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire for Brazilian families of patients that died from cancer: a cross-sectional and methodological study.

BACKGROUND: The Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire (QoDD) may prove to be an important evaluation tool in the Brazilian context, and, therefore, can contribute to a more precise evaluation of the dying and death process, improving and guiding the end-of-life patient care. OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the QoDD into Brazilian Portuguese and measure its validity (convergent and known-groups) and internal consistency. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional, methodological study was conducted at the Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 78 family caregivers participated in this study. Semantic, cultural, and conceptual equivalences were evaluated using the content validity index. The construct validity was assessed through convergent validation and known groups analysis [presence of family members at the place of death; feel at peace with dying; and place of death (hospital versus home; hospital versus Palliative Care)]. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The questionnaire was translated into Brazilian Portuguese and presented evidence of a clear understanding of its content. Cronbach's alpha values were ≥ 0.70, except for the domains of treatment preference (α = 0.686) and general concerns (α = 0.599). The convergent validity confirmed a part of the previously hypothesized correlations between the Palliative Care Outcome Scale-Brazil (POS-Br) total scores and the QoDD domain scores. The QoDD-Br domains could distinguish the patients who died in palliative care and general wards. CONCLUSION: The QoDD-Br is a culturally adapted valid instrument, and may be used to assess the quality of death of cancer patients.

Damming in the Madeira River modifies the food spectrum of piscivorous and affects their resource partitioning

Phylogenetic proximity suggests some degree of diet similarity among species. Usually, studies of diet show that species coexistence is allowed by partitioning food resources. We evaluate how visually oriented piscivorous fishes (Characiformes) share prey before and after building the Santo Antônio Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) in the Madeira River (Brazil), the largest muddy-water tributary of the Amazon River. Piscivorous species (Acestrorhynchus falcirostris, Acestrorhynchus heterolepis, Hydrolycus scomberoides, and Rhaphiodon vulpinus) were sampled under pristine (pre-HPP) and disturbed (post-HPP) environmental conditions. We analyzed species abundance and stomach contents for stomach fullness and prey composition to check variations between congeneric and non-congeneric species. The percent volume of prey taxa was normalized by stomach fullness and grouped into the taxonomic family level to determine diet, niche breadth, and overlap. Only R. vulpinus abundance increased in post-HPP. There was no significant variation in niche breadth between the periods, while niche overlap decreased in congeneric and non-congeneric species. Our results indicate that river impoundment affected piscivorous fishes in distinct ways and modified their resource partitioning. Therefore, evaluate interspecific interactions is a required tool to understand how fishes respond to river damming.(AU)

A proximidade filogenética pode indicar similaridade da dieta entre espécies e a partilha de recursos alimentares é um mecanismo que possibilita a coexistência. Neste trabalho, avaliamos como peixes piscívoros compartilham presas antes e depois da construção da Usina Hidrelétrica (UHE) Santo Antônio no rio Madeira (Brasil), o maior afluente de águas brancas do rio Amazonas. Espécies piscívoras (Acestrorhynchus falcirostris, Acestrorhynchus heterolepis, Hydrolycus scomberoides e Rhaphiodon vulpinus) foram coletadas em condições ambientais pristinas (pré-HPP) e impactadas (pós-HPP). Nós avaliamos as abundâncias e as dietas para identificar variações entre as espécies congenéricas e não-congenéricas. O percentual de volume de cada presa foi corrigido pelo grau de repleção estomacal e os itens agrupados ao nível taxonômico de família para determinar dieta, amplitude e sobreposição alimentar. Apenas a abundância de R. vulpinus aumentou no pós-HPP. Não houve diferença na amplitude alimentar das espécies após o represamento, contudo a sobreposição de nicho diminuiu para as espécies congenéricas e não congenéricas. Nossos resultados indicam que o represamento do rio afetou os peixes piscívoros modificando sua partilha de recursos. Avaliar as interações interespecíficas, portanto, é uma ferramenta necessária para entender como os peixes respondem ao represamento de rios.(AU)

Academic Procrastination: Relationships with Support from the Environment and Self-Leadership / Procrastinação Acadêmica: Relações com o Suporte do Ambiente e Autoliderança / Procrastinación Académica: Relaciones con el Soporte del Ambiente y Autolideranza

Abstract Procrastination is the behavior related to voluntary delays at the beginning or end of tasks and in decision making. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mediational effect of self-leadership strategies on the relationship between academic procrastination and support from the environment. A cross-sectional correlational study was carried out with the participation of 1,436 students. Three instruments were used: Learning Support Scale, Academic Procrastination Scale - Short Form and Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire. The findings confirmed the hypotheses by demonstrating that the more students use self-leadership strategies, the less they procrastinate and the lesser the influence of support from the environment. The full mediation model has been confirmed. The study stands out for its understanding of procrastination and the influence of support from the environment and self-leadership. It is suggested that further longitudinal studies be conducted, assessing differences in these behaviors between groups of students, programs, levels of higher education or shifts.

Resumo Procrastinação é o comportamento relacionado aos atrasos voluntários nos inícios ou términos de tarefas e nas tomadas de decisão. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito mediacional das estratégias de autoliderança na relação entre procrastinação acadêmica e suporte do ambiente. Foi realizado um estudo correlacional de corte transversal que contou com a participação de 1.436 estudantes. Foram utilizados três instrumentos: Escala de Suporte à Aprendizagem, Academic Procrastination Scale - Short Form e Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire. Os achados confirmaram as hipóteses ao demonstrarem que quanto mais eles utilizam estratégias de autoliderança menos eles procrastinam e menor é a influência do suporte ambiental. O modelo de mediação total foi confirmado. A pesquisa destaca-se pela compreensão da procrastinação e a influência do suporte do ambiente e da autoliderança. Sugere-se a realização de estudos longitudinais, que avaliem diferenças desses comportamentos entre grupos de estudantes, cursos, níveis de ensino superior ou turnos.

Resumen La procrastinación es el comportamiento relacionado con retrasos voluntarios al comienzo o al final de las tareas y en la toma de decisiones. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto mediador de las estrategias de auto-liderazgo en la relación entre la procrastinación académica y el apoyo del entorno. Se realizó un estudio correlacional transversal con la participación de 1436 estudiantes. Se utilizaron tres instrumentos: Escala de apoyo al aprendizaje, Academic Procrastination Scale - Short Form y Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire. Los hallazgos confirmaron las hipótesis al demostrar que cuanto más utilizan las estrategias de auto-liderazgo, menos procrastinan y menor es la influencia del apoyo ambiental. Se ha confirmado el modelo de mediación completo. La investigación se destaca por su comprensión de la procrastinación y la influencia del apoyo ambiental y el autoliderazgo. Se sugiere realizar estudios longitudinales, que evalúen diferencias en estos comportamientos entre grupos de estudiantes, cursos, niveles de educación superior o turnos.

Syndromes related to sodium and arginine vasopressin alterations in post-operative neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS), syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and diabetes insipidus (DI) are frequently found in postoperative neurosurgery. PURPOSE: To identify these syndromes following neurosurgery. METHOD: The study included 30 patients who had been submitted to tumor resection and cerebral aneurysm clipping. Sodium levels in serum and urine and urine volume were measured daily up to the 5th day following surgery. Plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) was measured on the first, third and fifth days post-surgery. RESULTS: CSWS was found in 27/30 patients (90%), in 14 (46.7%) of whom it was associated with a reduction in the levels of plasma AVP (mix syndrome). SIADH was found in 3/30 patients (10%). There was no difference between the two groups of patients. CONCLUSION: CSWS was the most common syndrome found, and in half the cases it was associated with DI. SIADH was the least frequent syndrome found.

Syndromes related to sodium and arginine vasopressin alterations in post-operative neurosurgery

BACKGROUND: Cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS), syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and diabetes insipidus (DI) are frequently found in postoperative neurosurgery. PURPOSE: To identify these syndromes following neurosurgery. METHOD: The study included 30 patients who had been submitted to tumor resection and cerebral aneurysm clipping. Sodium levels in serum and urine and urine volume were measured daily up to the 5th day following surgery. Plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) was measured on the first, third and fifth days post-surgery. RESULTS: CSWS was found in 27/30 patients (90 percent), in 14 (46.7 percent) of whom it was associated with a reduction in the levels of plasma AVP (mix syndrome). SIADH was found in 3/30 patients (10 percent). There was no difference between the two groups of patients. CONCLUSION: CSWS was the most common syndrome found, and in half the cases it was associated with DI. SIADH was the least frequent syndrome found.

INTRODUÇÃO: A síndrome perdedora de sal (SPS), síndrome da secreção inapropriada do hormônio antidiurético (SIADH) e diabetes insipidus (DI) são freqüentemente encontradas no pós-operatório de neurocirurgia. OBJETIVO: Identificar essas síndromes relacionadas à neurocirurgia. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 30 pacientes submetidos à ressecção de tumor (n=19) e clipagem de aneurisma (n=11) cerebral durante os primeiros cinco dias do pós-operatório. Os pacientes foram submetidos a dosagens diárias de sódio sérico e urinário até o 5° dia pós-operatório, com controle de volume urinário neste período e dosagem de arginina-vasopressina (AVP) plasmática no 1°, 3° e 5° dias pós-operatórios. RESULTADOS: A SPS foi encontrada em 27/30 pacientes (90 por cento), em 14/27 (46,7 por cento) associada à diminuição dos níveis de AVP plasmática (síndrome mista). A SIADH foi encontrada em 3/30 pacientes (10 por cento). Não houve diferença entre os dois grupos de pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: A SPS foi a síndrome mais freqüente, em metade de casos associada ao DI. A SIADH foi a menos freqüente.