The role of Dental Fear, Pain anticipation and Self-efficacy in Endodontic Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive-behavioural interventions may be important for the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. One cognitive factor that has generated considerable interest as a possible mediator is self-efficacy. METHODS: One hundred patients diagnosed with pulpal or periapical pathology that required endodontic therapy were treated. Data were collected at baseline in the waiting room before therapy and then during treatment. RESULTS: Positive correlations were found between dental fear, pain anticipation and dental avoidance (p⟨0.001). The correlation between dental fear and pain anticipation showed the largest effect sizes. Healthy participants had higher scores in self-efficacy (Mean=32.55; SD=7.15) than those with systemic diseases (n=15; Mean=29.33; SD=4.76, p=0.04). Participants who not taking medication before treatment had lower scores for pain anticipation (Mean=3.63; SD=2.85) than those taking medication. The contribution of pain anticipation to dental avoidance varied at different values of self-efficacy. The indirect effect of dental fear on dental avoidance via dental anxiety was significant in individuals with higher self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Self-efficacy had an essential moderation role between pain anticipation and dental avoidance during endodontic treatment.

Efectividad percibida (vs uso) del afrontamiento (ACSQ) en futbolistas / Perceived Effectiveness (vs Use) of Coping (Acsq) in Soccer Players

Este estudio analiza la estructura factorial de la versión española (Kim, Duda, Tomás y Balaguer, 2003) del Cuestionario de Aproximación al Afrontamiento en el Deporte (Approach to Coping in Sport Questionnaire, ACSQ-1, Kim, 1999; Kim y Duda, 1997) en 562 futbolistas. Adicionalmente, se plantea la validación de una versión adaptada del ACSQ diseñada para valorar la percepción de efectividad. Los resultados del CFA ponen de manifiesto un ajuste satisfactorio para ambos modelos ACSQ-uso y ACSQ-efectividad, observándose mejores indicadores para el modelo de efectividad (x2/gl=2.57; CFI= .913; TLI= .904; RMSEA= .058). Por otro lado, las relaciones de las diferentes dimensiones de afrontamiento en su versión uso y en su versión efectividad con las variables externas consideradas (ansiedad y autoconfianza) ponen de manifiesto el diferente papel de ambos criterios, y la necesidad, por lo tanto, de contemplar ambos indicadores en la valoración del coping en el ámbito deportivo

This study examines the factorial structure of the Spanish version (Kim, Duda, Tomás y Balaguer, 2003) of the Approach to Coping in Sport Questionnaire (ACSQ-1, Kim, 1999; Kim y Duda, 1997) in 562 soccer players. Additionally, a second aim of this study is to analyze the psychometric properties of an adapted version of ACSQ designed to assess perception of effectiveness. The results of CFA provided a satisfactory fit for both models ACSQ-use and ACSQ-effectiveness, showing better indexes for effectiveness model (x2/df = 2.57; CFI = .913; TLI = .904; RMSEA = .058). Moreover, the relations between ACSQ-use, ACSQ-effectiveness and the external variables (anxiety and self-confidence) show the different roles of both criteria, and the need, therefore, of contemplate both indicators in the assessment of coping in sport

The impact of dental appearance and anxiety on self-esteem in adult orthodontic patients.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the relationship between different dimensions of dental appearance impact and self-esteem in adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, with special attention to the possible mediating role of anxiety. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: A quasi-experimental design was used with a matched control group (without orthodontic treatment). In each group (experimental and control), there were 85 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The impact of dental appearance was measured using the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ). State anxiety was assessed with the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and self-esteem with Rosenberg's self-esteem scale. RESULTS: In both groups (experimental and control), self-esteem correlates negatively, ranging between 0.26 and 0.43, with all dimensions of dental appearance impact (except for the positive dental self-confidence dimension, where all correlations were positive). Anxiety correlates positively, ranges between 0.35 and 0.44, with social impact, psychological impact and aesthetic concern, although it maintains no significant correlations with dental self-confidence. Nevertheless, in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, anxiety plays a mediating role between dental impact dimensions and self-esteem, whilst for the control group anxiety only plays a mediator role between psychological impact and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Anxiety plays a fundamental role in the effect of perceived dental impact on self-esteem in adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. These results have important practical implications for the design of bio-psycho-social intervention programs that contemplate cognitive-affective variables as an essential part of orthodontic treatment in adults.

Perfil académico del estudiante de fisioterapia / Academic profile of physiotherapist student

El presente trabajo pretende analizar el perfil del estudiante de fisioterapia, concretamente en lo que se refiere a diversas áreas: interés y motivación por los estudios, percepción del futuro laboral, influencia familiar en el estudio, relación con la familia, hábitos de estudio y asistencia a clase, percepción de los compañeros y el profesor, percepción de autoeficacia, conocimientos complementarios (idiomas/informática), y ansiedad, estrés y consecuencias asociadas. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto unas características muy positivas en estos estudiantes en lo que se refiere a motivación por los estudios, apoyo familiar y hábitos de estudio. Sin embargo también se observa una baja percepción de autoeficacia y un alto nivel de estrés en estos estudiantes (AU)

Efectos de un programa de habilidades de comunicación en estudiantes de enfermería. Propuesta de un instrumento de evaluación (ISEC) / Effects of a comunication skills training program on a sample of nursing students. A proposal of assessment instrument (ISEC)

Dada la importancia que las habilidades de comunicación han demostrado tener en diferentes profesiones, especialmente en las sanitarias, el presente trabajo tiene por objetivo analizar los efectos de un programa de formación en este tipo de habilidades sobre una muestra de estudiantes de enfermería. El programa pretendía el entrenamiento práctico de las habilidades de comunicación en diferentes situaciones habituales de su práctica profesional, utilizando para ello el ensayo de conducta, el modelado, el empleo de instrucciones, la retroalimentación, el refuerzo, la resolución de problemas y la asignación de tareas para casa. La comparación de resultados pre-post pone de manifiesto que el programa resulta eficaz en la mejora de variables de naturaleza cognitivo-emocional que se encuentran en la base de la competencia interpersonal, tales como la capacidad de planificación, las expectativas de resultado, la autoeficacia percibida o la metapercepción positiva, así como en la disminución de variables tales como la anticipación de efectos negativos en el interlocutor o la disminución en la ansiedad asociada a la situación (AU)

Communication skills are a key ingredient of success in many jobs, especially in health-related ones. A sample of nursing students was exposed to a training program in communication skills. The goal of this study was to analyse whether the program was able to improve communication skills in this sample. This training program was based on common everyday situations in nursing practice. With this purpose, behaviour rehearsal, modelling, instructions, feedback, reinforcement, problem solving and assignments were used. Comparing pre- and post-test results, it is concluded that the program was effective in improving cognitive-emotional variables that are critical for interpersonal competence, such as planning capacity, results expectations, perceived self-efficacy, positive meta-perception, and a decrease of both anticipation of negative effects and anxiety linked to the situation (AU)