Cross-cultural adaptation of four instruments to measure stigma towards people with mental illness and substance use problems among primary care professionals in Chile.

Stigma toward people with mental illness and substance use problems is a significant global concern, and prevents people with these conditions from accessing treatment, particularly in primary health care (PHC) settings. Stigma is a cultural phenomenon that is influenced by particular contexts and can differ by country and region. The majority of stigma research focuses on Europe or North America leading to a lack of culturally relevant stigma research instruments for the Latin American context. The present study describes and discusses the methodology for cross-culturally adapting four stigma measurement scales to the Chilean context. The cross-cultural adaptation process included nine phases: (1) preparation; (2) independent translations; (3) synthesis 1 with expert committee; (4) focus groups and interviews with researchers, PHC professionals, and PHC users; (5) synthesis 2 with expert committee; (6) independent back translations; (7) synthesis 3 with expert committee; (8) pilot with PHC professionals; and (9) final revisions. The adaptation process included an array of diverse voices from the PHC context, and met three adaptation objectives defined prior to beginning the process (Understandability, Relevance, and Acceptability and Answer Options). The resulting, culturally adapted questionnaire is being validated and implemented within PHC settings across Chile to provide in-depth insight into stigma among PHC professionals in the country. The authors hope it will be useful for future research on mental illness and substance use stigma in similar settings across Latin America.

Calidad de la relación entre matrones y cuidadores en la visita domiciliaria del Chile crece contigo en localidades rurales del valle de Aconcagua / Quality of the relationship between midwives and caregivers in Chile crece contigo home visit in rural locations from the Aconcagua valley

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: La visita domiciliaria (VD) es una actividad clave del Programa de Apoyo al Desarrollo Biopsicosocial (PADB) del Chile Crece Contigo (ChCC). Para mejorar su implementación, esta investigación tiene como objetivo analizar la relación entre matrones y la familia que accede a la VD, considerando las competencias y habilidades relacionales de los visitadores. MÉTODOS: Se utilizó un diseño observacional con enfoque cualitativo, de alcance exploratorio. Tres matrones que realizan VD en centros de salud familiar rurales de la provincia de Aconcagua aceptaron participar y ocho visitas del programa ChCC fueron grabadas, de 30 minutos promedio. El análisis cualitativo se realizó en base al Home Visit Rating Scale A+. RESULTADOS: Las cuatro categorías que orientaron la evaluación de las visitas fueron responsividad de la familia, relación con la familia, facilitación de la interacción padres - hijo/a y no intrusividad y colaboración. Estas categorías, en su mayoría,puntuaron con un nivel adecuado. No obstante, se requiere entrenamiento en habilidades relacionales para cumplir con una visita catalogada como buena o excelente, sobre todo en las áreas en las que hay que facilitar el vínculo y la interacción entre padre e hijo/a, con el fin de evitar una atención de carácter paternalista. CONCLUSIONES: Esta investigación pionera en el área rural, entregó información relevante para mejorar la VD en este contexto. Aunque los matrones cuentan con formación técnica en el área biomédica, es importante reforzar y/o capacitar en las características esenciales de una VD, para fortalecer la alianza entre el profesional y la familia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The home visit (HV) is a key activity in the Support Program for Biopsychosocial Development of Chile Crece Contigo (ChCC). To improve its implementation, this research aims to analyze the relationship between a midwife and the family that accesses the HV based on the competence and relational skills of the visitor. METHODS: An observational design with a qualitative approach of exploratory scope was used. Three midwives performing HV in rural family health centers in the Aconcagua province accepted to participate, and eight visits of the ChCC program were recorded, with an average of 30 minutes. The Home Visit Rating Scale A + was applied to these visits, for further qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The four categories that guided the evaluation of the visits were family responsiveness, relationship with the family, facilitation of parent-child interaction and non-intrusion and collaboration. These scored mostly with an adequate level but requires training in relational skills is required to meet a visit rated as good or excellent, especially in areas where it is necessary to facilitate the link and interaction between father and son, evidencing a paternalistic character of the attention model. CONCLUSIONS: This pioneering research in the rural area, provided relevant information to improve the HV in this context. Although midwives have technical training in the biomedical area, it is important to reinforce and / or train in the essential characteristics of a HV, to strengthen the alliance between the professional and the family.