Analysis of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Psychophysiological Variables in Basketball Athletes.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a progressive muscle relaxation program on psychological (stress levels, anxiety, and mood states) and physiological (blood pressure and heart rate) variables in basketball athletes. Fifty-nine basketball players, aged 14 to 19 years, and members of Bauru Basket team, were recruited for this study and grouped into control group (CG, n = 30) and intervention group (IG, n = 29). The participants were evaluated, before and after the intervention, by the following means: Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), to measure the pre-competitive anxiety state, i.e., how anxious each athlete felt just before the competition; Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), an instrument for early detection of overtraining syndrome; Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), to identify the extent to which each athlete was physically or mentally stressed and the athlete's current capability for recovery; Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), specifically developed for athletes. The IG athletes participated in 12 progressive muscle relaxation sessions, a practice for tensing or tightening a specific muscle until an ideal state of relaxation is reached. Each participant had blood pressure and heart rate measured before and after every session. The CG athletes were evaluated similarly to those in the IG but without relaxation. The results showed statistically significant differences in cognitive anxiety (p = 0.039) and specific stress (p = 0.016) between CG and IG before the intervention; in addition, a significant heart rate decrease (p < 0.01) between IG and CG was noted.

Estresse ocupacional e sintomas osteomusculares em Agentes Comunitários de Saúde / Occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in Community Health Workers

Resumo Introdução Os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) trabalham em condições de riscos ocupacionais e sobrecarga que podem causar adoecimento. Objetivos Avaliar a presença de estresse ocupacional e sintomas osteomusculares em Agentes Comunitários de Saúde e comparar os níveis de estresse ocupacional, segundo as características sociodemográficas. Método Estudo transversal, realizado em 2017, em um município do interior paulista. Foram utilizadas a Escala de Estresse no Trabalho e o Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares. Resultados Participaram 44 ACS, sendo 70,5% do sexo feminino, 47,7% com 40 anos ou mais, 79,5% não exerciam outra atividade remunerada e 50,0% tinham de três a 10 anos de atuação profissional. Vinte e um (47,7%) profissionais apresentaram níveis importantes de estresse ocupacional (>2,5). Os principais fatores estressores foram: deficiência na divulgação de informações sobre decisões organizacionais (3,3;±1,1); deficiência nos treinamentos (3,4;±1,6); pouca valorização (3,2;±1,4); poucas perspectivas de crescimento na carreira (3,2;±1,6); discriminação/favoritismo no ambiente de trabalho (3,1;±1,5); falta de compreensão sobre as responsabilidades no trabalho (3,0;±1,5); tipo de controle (2,9;±1,1); forma como as tarefas são distribuídas (2,8;±1,4); realizar tarefas que estão além da capacidade (2,8;±1,2); falta de autonomia na execução do trabalho (2,7;±1,3); receber ordens contraditórias do superior (2,7;±1,4); tempo insuficiente para realizar o trabalho (2,7;±1,3). No último ano, 65,9% dos ACS referiram dor osteomuscular nas regiões lombar, 61,4% no pescoço, 47,7% nos ombros e 43,2% nos joelhos. Conclusão O estresse ocupacional e os sintomas osteomusculares são problemas presentes na prática laboral dos ACS, evidenciando que as organizações precisam incrementar recursos laborais para prevenir riscos psicossociais e amplificar a qualidade do trabalho destes profissionais.

Abstract Introduction Community health workers (CHWs) work under conditions of occupational risks and overload that can cause illness. Objectives To evaluate the presence of occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in community health workers, and compare the levels of occupational stress, according to sociodemographic characteristics. Method Cross-sectional study, conducted in 2017, in a municipality in the interior of São Paulo state. The Work Stress Scale and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire were used. Results Forty-four CHWs participated, 70.5% were female, 47.7% were 40 years old or older, 79.5% had no other paid activity and 50.0% had three to 10 years of professional experience. Twenty-one (47.7%) professionals presented important levels of occupational stress (>2.5). The main stressors were: deficiency in disclosure of information about organizational decisions (3.3;±1.1); deficiency in training (3.4;±1.6); little appreciation (3.2;±1.4); few prospects for career growth (3.2;±1.6); discrimination/favoritism in the work environment (3.1;±1.5); lack of understanding about job responsibilities (3.0; ±1.5); type of control (2.9;±1.1); how tasks are distributed (2.8;±1.4); performing tasks that are beyond one's capacity (2.8;±1.2); lack of autonomy in performing the work (2.7;±1.3); receiving contradictory orders from the superior (2.7;±1.4); insufficient time to perform the work (2.7;±1.3). In the last year, 65.9% of CHWs reported musculoskeletal pain in the lower back, 61.4% in the neck, 47.7% in the shoulders, and 43.2% in the knees. Conclusion Occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms are problems present in the CHWs' work practice, showing that organizations need to increase labor resources to prevent psychosocial risks and enhance the quality of work of these professionals.

Comparative Analysis of Psychology Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic in Brics Nations.

The BRICS Forum, an independent international organization encouraging commercial, political, and cultural cooperation between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was formed in 2011, and these countries have a significant influence on their regional affairs. These nations were hit by COVID-19 at different times, and all adopted home quarantine to reduce the spread of the virus. We present a comparative analysis of actions of psychology and potential outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in BRICS nations regarding five aspects: psychology in health policies, social roles of psychology, socioeconomic context, actions for the general population, and health professionals during stage 1 of the pandemic, and possible actions in stage 2. Various types of actions were taken by psychologists in BRICS, with different levels of coordinated cooperation with respective governmental and non-governmental organizations, multiple and parallel efforts from different scientific societies, and professional regulatory agencies. Scientific societies have had an important role in coordinating some of these efforts, especially because they congregate the psychologists from different parts of these countries, improving communication and access to key information. The aim of these actions varies from improving situational skills and competences to increase the accessibility of psychological services and provide psychoeducation and telepsychology. We will consider the social importance of these actions within these countries as a global opportunity for psychology to stage in a complex context involving human health. The way psychology in BRICS will face this challenging situation is likely to produce important regional influence, stimulate scientific contribution, and increase the accessibility of psychology.

Hanseníase e a nutrição: uma revisão da literatura / Leprosy and Nutrition: a review of literature

O presente estudo é uma revisão da literatura sobre hanseníase e nutrição, mostrando a importância do estado nutricional de hansenianos na melhoria da resposta ao tratamento. Foram selecionados estudos sobre hanseníase e nutrição em livros técnicos e artigos publicados no período de 2009 a 2013 utilizando-se as bases de dados Medline, LILACS, SciELO, PubMed e Bireme. Os achados do presente estudo evidenciam a importância de se avaliar estado nutricional e hábitos alimentares de pacientes portadores de hanseníase. Esses pacientes possuem déficits nutricionais em relação a dados antropométricos e a ingestão de nutrientes, que aumentam sua vulnerabilidade para baixa imunidade e consequentemente o agravo da doença. Há necessidade de novos estudos na área, pois existe uma carência de informações sobre o assunto. A implementação de programas de reeducação alimentar, educação nutricional e hábitos de vida saudáveis relacionados à promoção da saúde em pacientes com hanseníase são necessários.

The present study is a review of literature about nutrition and leprosy, showing how important nutritional status of leper are in order to improve the treatment response.The bibliographic search on leprosy and nutrition was conducted using databases such as Medline, LILACS,SciELO, PubMed and Bireme in technical books and articles published from 2009 to 2013. The findings of the study highlight the importance of assessing the nutritional status and the food habits of patients with leprosy.Those patients have nutritional deficits in relation to anthropometric data and to nutrient intake which increase their vulnerability for low immunity and, consequently, the aggravation of disease. There is a need for new studies in the area because of the lack of information about this subject. The implementation of nutritional re-education programs, nutrition education and healthy life habits related to health promotion for patients with leprosy are necessary.