Quality of Life, Perception of Disease and Coping Strategies in Patients with Hemophilia in Spain and El Salvador: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Hemophilia is characterized by the development of joint bleeds that cause long-term joint damage (hemophilic arthropathy). Joint damage leads to disability and affects psychosocial aspects in patients with hemophilia. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical situation, perception of disease and quality of life, and coping strategies in adult patients with hemophilia in El Salvador and Spain. METHODS: In this comparative clinical study, 43 patients with hemophilia aged between 18 and 50 years old from Spain and El Salvador participated. After obtaining the patients' consent, they completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R), Hemophilia-QoL and Inventory of Coping strategies questionnaires. Joint status was assessed using the Hemophilia Joint Health Score and based on a record of clinical and treatment data. RESULTS: Hemophilia patients from Spain showed an improved perception of quality of life (p <0.05), although there were only differences in the self-criticism variable (p = 0.04) for coping strategies. Joint damage and age correlated (p <0.05) negatively with perception of disease, perceived quality of life and coping strategies in both populations. There were differences (p <0.05) between the two populations based on HIV and HCV coinfections in perception of disease and perceived quality of life. CONCLUSION: Patients with hemophilia in El Salvador exhibit a poorer perception of disease and quality of life. Despite differences in access to treatment from one country to the other, there is no difference in coping with the disease. Older patients are better able to adapt to the disease.

Escala de desarrollo armónico (EDA): Una propuesta para la evaluación clínica del desarrollo infantil desde la Teoría de Sistemas / Harmonic Development Scale (SHD): A proposal for the clinical evaluation of child development from Systems Theory

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la Escala de Desarrollo Armónico ­EDA­ como una propuesta innovadora para llevar a cabo la prevención de los trastornos del desarrollo infantil. La escala se construyó para observar el ascenso del paisaje epigenético individual desde el paradigma de los sistemas dinámicos. Para lograrlo, se han estudiado parámetros que pueden explicar la evolución del sistema ­índice de armonía y cociente de desarrollo estable­, un mecanismo del cambio ­tirón cognitivo­ y fuerzas moldeadoras ­velocidad y cristalización­, siguiendo el principio de «armonía¼ para alcanzar el máximo desarrollo potencial. La estructura de la escala es adecuada para funcionar como un test adaptativo informatizado, por lo que resulta accesible, fácil de usar y puede validarse siguiendo la metodología de respuesta al ítem ­TRI­. Las cualidades «orgánicas¼ de la EDA permiten un funcionamiento interactivo a través de Internet ­www.maternal.eu­.

The objective of this work is to present the Scale of Harmonic Development ­SHD­ as an innovative proposal to carry out the prevention of childhood development disorders. The scale was built to observe the individual epigenetic landscape ascent from the dynamic system paradigm. To achieve this, several parameters have been studied, those which that can explain the system's evolution ­harmonic index and stable development quotient­, a change mechanism ­cognitive pull­ and shaping forces ­speed and crystallization ­, following the «harmony¼ principle to achieve the desired potential. The scales structure is suitable to work as a computerized adaptive test, therefore it being accessible, easy to use and it can be validated through the item response theory ­IRT­. The «organic¼ qualities of the SHD allow an interactive operation through Internet ­www.maternal.eu­.

Evaluación Psicométrica de una Escala de Distorsiones Cognitivas sobre los Juegos de Azar en una Muestra Nacional de Estudiantes Colombianos / Psychometric Evaluation of a Cognitive Distortions Scale for Gambling in a National Sample of Colombians Students / Avaliação Psicométrica de uma Escala de Distorções Cognitivas sobre os Jogos de Azar numa Amostra Nacional de Estudantes Colombianos

Los objetivos de este trabajo son: (a) adaptar el Inventario de Pensamientos sobre el Juego (IPJ) a una muestra no aleatoria de estudiantes colombianos (N=4.300) de todas las regiones del país, (b) estudiar la prevalencia de las distorsiones cognitivas sobre los juegos de azar y (c) comparar los puntajes en el instrumento, de acuerdo al sexo, al nivel socioeconómico y a la edad. En los resultados, la escala mostró una buena fiabilidad interna y una estructura unidimensional. Alrededor del 50% de los sujetos presentaba de 2 a 7 distorsiones cognitivas, y los puntajes más altos en el IPJ se observaron en los hombres, en las personas de clases sociales bajas, en las más jóvenes y en quienes pensaban que, si les tocara mucha plata, se resolverían todos sus problemas.

The objectives of this study are: (a) adapt the Gambling Cognition Inventory (GCI) to a nonrandom sample of Colombian students (N=4.300) from all regions of the country, (b) study the prevalence of cognitive distortions on games of chance and (c) compare the scores in accordance with sex, socioeconomic level and age. In the results, the scale showed good internal reliability and a one-dimensional structure. Around 50% of the subjects showed 2 to 7 cognitive distortions, and the highest scores in the GCI were observed in men, in persons of lower social classes, in the youngest and in those who thought that if they won much money, all their problems would be solved.

Os objetivos deste trabalho são: (a) adaptar a Escala de Pensamentos sobre o Jogo (IPJ, em espanhol) a uma amostra não aleatória de estudantes colombianos (N=4.300) de todas as regiões do país; (b) estudar a prevalência das distorções cognitivas sobre os jogos de azar e (c) comparar as pontuações no instrumento de acordo com o sexo, o nível socioeconômico e a idade. Nos resultados, a escala mostrou uma boa confiabilidade interna e uma estrutura unidimensional. Ao redor de 50% dos sujeitos apresentavam de 2 a 7 distorções cognitivas, e as pontuações mais altas no IPJ foram observadas nos homens, nas pessoas de classes sociais baixas, nas mais jovens e nos quais pensavam que, se tivessem muito dinheiro, todos seus problemas seriam resolvidos.

The social phobia and anxiety inventory: first results of its reliability and structural validity in chilean adolescents / Inventario de ansiedad y fobia social: primeros resultados de fiabilidad y validez estructural en una muestra de adolescentes chilenos

En el presente estudio examinamos la fiabilidad y validez estructural de la versión chilena del ?Inventario de ansiedad y fobia social? (Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventary, SPAI; Turner, Beidel, Dancu y Stanley, 1989)), utilizando una muestra de 1040 adolescentes no clínicos (rango de edad entre 13 y 18 años). El análisis de validez estructural indicó la existencia de dos subescalas (Fobia Social y Agorafobia) claramente diferenciadas que explicaban un 43.4% de la varianza. Los índices de fiabilidad obtenidos fueron muy altos en cada una de las subescalas. A pesar de que se encontraron diferencias significativas debidas al sexo en ambas subescalas, los tamaños del efecto fueron muy bajos. Por otro lado, la variable edad resulta significativa en el subescala fobia social pero no en agorafobia, siendo igualmente la magnitud del efecto muy baja. Los resultados, en general, aportan evidencia empírica a favor de la fiabilidad y la validez de la versión chilena del Inventario de Ansiedad y Fobia Social.

In this report we examined the reliability and structural validity of the Chilean version of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, SPAI, (Turner, Beidel, Dancu y Stanley, 1989), using a sample of 1040 non clinical Chilean adolescents (range of age between 13 and 18 years). The structural validity analysis indicated the existence of two, clearly differentiated, subscales (Social Phobia and Agoraphobia) that explained 43.4% of the variance. The alpha reliability coefficients were very high in each one of the subscales. In spite of finding significant differences, for sex in both scales, the effect size was small. On the other hand, the age variable was significant in the social phobia scale but not in the agoraphobia one, but again the effect size was small. In general the results offer empirical evidence in support of the reliability and validity of the Chilean version of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory.