Análisis del sesgo de selección en el piloto de un estudio longitudinal sobre envejecimiento en España / Analysis of selection bias in the pilot study of a longitudinal study on aging in Spain

Objetivos: Demostrar que la obtención de una muestra nacional probabilística para un estudio longitudinal sobre envejecimiento en España está expuesta a sesgos de selección. Cuantificar las pérdidas que se producen al administrar el cuestionario en distintas fases. Métodos: Estudio transversal sobre población española no institucionalizada de 50 años o más de edad realizado entre 2010 y 2011. Por medio de regresiones logísticas multivariadas se comparan características de las secciones censales de residencia de los que acceden (n = 5813) o no (n = 7023) a formar parte del marco muestral, de los que acceden (n = 1677) o no (n = 2875) a participar en el estudio, y de los individuos que contestan (n = 1398) o no (n = 346) a un cuestionario presencial posterior a uno telefónico. Además, se estudian los motivos de las negativas. Resultados: La mala salud y la discapacidad son los motivos específicos más referidos para no formar parte del marco o no participar en el estudio (14,4% y 27,9%, respectivamente). En ambos casos, la negativa es más frecuente en las secciones censales de menor nivel socioeconómico o ubicadas en Cataluña, Guipúzcoa o Vizcaya. Los individuos mayores de 80 años responden con menos frecuencia al cuestionario presencial. En cada fase de recogida de información se pierde entre un 8,6% y un 18,4% de efectivos. Conclusiones: Un muestreo probabilístico en puntos de muestreo elegidos por conveniencia permitiría dedicar más recursos a aumentar las tasas de respuesta en los colectivos menos participativos. Se propone la concentración de las preguntas en un solo cuestionario más breve previo a la extracción de sangre

Objectives: To demonstrate that selection of a probabilistic sample at a national level for a study of aging in Spain is subject to selection bias. To quantify the losses produced after each phase of the administration of a questionnaire. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of the Spanish community-dwelling population aged 50 years or older between 2010 and 2011. Through multivariate logistic regressions, the characteristics of the census tract of the patients' residence were compared between those who agreed (n = 5,813) or refused (n = 7,023) to be included in the sampling frame and between those who agreed (n = 1,677) or refused (n = 2,875) to participate in the study. The individual characteristics of persons who responded (n = 1,398) or refused to respond (n = 346) to a face-to-face questionnaire administered after a telephone interview were also compared. In addition, the reasons for refusal were studied. Results: The most frequent specific reasons for refusing to be included in the sampling frame or to participate in the study were poor health and disability (14.4% and 27.9%, respectively). In both cases, refusal was more frequent in the census tracts of districts with a lower socioeconomic level or those located in Catalonia, Guipúzcoa or Biscay. Individuals older than 81 participated less frequently in the face-to-face questionnaire. Between 8.6% and 18.4% of participants were lost at each stage of information retrieval. Conclusion: Probabilistic sampling in sampling points chosen by the researchers would allow more resources to be devoted to increasing response rates among the groups who are less likely to participate. Questions should be concentrated in only one shorter questionnaire, administered before blood extraction (AU)

[Analysis of selection bias in the pilot study of a longitudinal study on aging in Spain]. / Análisis del sesgo de selección en el piloto de un estudio longitudinal sobre envejecimiento en España.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that selection of a probabilistic sample at a national level for a study of aging in Spain is subject to selection bias. To quantify the losses produced after each phase of the administration of a questionnaire. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of the Spanish community-dwelling population aged 50 years or older between 2010 and 2011. Through multivariate logistic regressions, the characteristics of the census tract of the patients' residence were compared between those who agreed (n = 5,813) or refused (n = 7,023) to be included in the sampling frame and between those who agreed (n = 1,677) or refused (n = 2,875) to participate in the study. The individual characteristics of persons who responded (n = 1,398) or refused to respond (n = 346) to a face-to-face questionnaire administered after a telephone interview were also compared. In addition, the reasons for refusal were studied. RESULTS: The most frequent specific reasons for refusing to be included in the sampling frame or to participate in the study were poor health and disability (14.4% and 27.9%, respectively). In both cases, refusal was more frequent in the census tracts of districts with a lower socioeconomic level or those located in Catalonia, Guipúzcoa or Biscay. Individuals older than 81 participated less frequently in the face-to-face questionnaire. Between 8.6% and 18.4% of participants were lost at each stage of information retrieval. CONCLUSION: Probabilistic sampling in sampling points chosen by the researchers would allow more resources to be devoted to increasing response rates among the groups who are less likely to participate. Questions should be concentrated in only one shorter questionnaire, administered before blood extraction.

Efectos del entrenamiento en estrategias de regulación emocional en el bienestar de cuidadores de enfermos de Alzheimer / Effects of training in emotional regulation strategies on the well-being of carers of Alzheimer patients

Introducción. El presente estudio muestra los resultados de una intervención psicoeducativa que pretende dotar de estrategias de regulación de las emociones positivas y negativas con cuidadores de enfermos de Alzheimer. Material y métodos. En este estudio participaron 52 cuidadores informales de enfermos de Alzheimer. Estos cuidadores se distribuyeron en 2 grupos: grupo experimental (n=20) y grupo control (n=32). Todos fueron evaluados antes y después de la intervención a través de diferentes instrumentos de medida de los estresores, moduladores y consecuencias del cuidado. Resultados. En el contraste intergrupos, el grupo experimental, en comparación con el grupo control, obtuvo puntuaciones más altas en afecto positivo, bienestar subjetivo, regulación emocional y satisfacción con el cuidado, y valores inferiores en estrés percibido y afecto negativo. En el contraste intragrupos, los sujetos del grupo experimental registraron, inmediatamente tras la intervención, descensos significativos en las puntuaciones relativas a los pensamientos disfuncionales y la atención emocional. En los sujetos del grupo control se registra una mayor puntuación en apoyo psicosocial y un descenso en la satisfacción con el cuidado. Conclusiones. El programa desarrollado ha contribuido a que sus participantes experimenten un mayor bienestar emocional, atiendan a sus emociones de modo más adecuado y sufran menos pensamientos disfuncionales en relación con el cuidado. Estudios posteriores deberán confirmar establecer la estabilidad de los cambios registrados, dado el carácter progresivo del aprendizaje de las habilidades entrenadas y las cambiantes necesidades asociadas al cuidado(AU)

Introduction. The present research shows the results of a psychoeducational intervention programme centered on the regulation of the emotion among Alzheimer patients’ caregivers. Materials and methods. 52 informal caregivers of Alzheimer's patients participated. These caregivers were distributed into two groups: the experimental group (n=20) and the control group (n=32). All the participants were evaluated before and after the intervention programme through the application of different measurement tools measuring variables related to the care giving process; stressors, modulation variables and care giving consequences. Results. In the inter group contrast, the experimental group, when compared with the control condition, obtained higher scores in positive affect, subjective well-being, regulation of emotions, and satisfaction with caregiving. However, the experimental group recorded lower values in perceived stress and negative affect. With reference to the intragroup contrast, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in dysfunctional thoughts and emotional attention. The control group registered higher levels of psychosocial support and lower satisfaction with caregiving. Conclusions. The training programme, that we both developed and conducted, has contributed to a greater feeling of emotional well-being amongst the its participant caregivers, who now take more adequate care of their emotions and suffer fewer dysfunctional thoughts in relation to caregiving. In future studies, the stability of the results presented in this investigation should be established due to the progressive character of the skills learned during the programme, and the changing needs associated with the caregiving process(AU)

[Effects of training in emotional regulation strategies on the well-being of carers of Alzheimer patients]. / Efectos del entrenamiento en estrategias de regulación emocional en el bienestar de cuidadores de enfermos de Alzheimer.

INTRODUCTION: The present research shows the results of a psychoeducational intervention programme centered on the regulation of the emotion among Alzheimer patients' caregivers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 52 informal caregivers of Alzheimer's patients participated. These caregivers were distributed into two groups: the experimental group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 32). All the participants were evaluated before and after the intervention programme through the application of different measurement tools measuring variables related to the care giving process; stressors, modulation variables and care giving consequences. RESULTS: In the inter group contrast, the experimental group, when compared with the control condition, obtained higher scores in positive affect, subjective well-being, regulation of emotions, and satisfaction with caregiving. However, the experimental group recorded lower values in perceived stress and negative affect. With reference to the intragroup contrast, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in dysfunctional thoughts and emotional attention. The control group registered higher levels of psychosocial support and lower satisfaction with caregiving. CONCLUSIONS: The training programme, that we both developed and conducted, has contributed to a greater feeling of emotional well-being amongst the its participant caregivers, who now take more adequate care of their emotions and suffer fewer dysfunctional thoughts in relation to caregiving. In future studies, the stability of the results presented in this investigation should be established due to the progressive character of the skills learned during the programme, and the changing needs associated with the caregiving process.