Examining the relationship between health-related quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury and the mental health of their caregivers in Colombia, South America.

Although considerable research has been carried out on family caregivers of individuals with various types of disabilities, spinal cord injury (SCI) caregivers have received considerably less attention in terms of research, especially in regions such as Latin America. This study examined the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with SCI and their family caregiver's mental health in Neiva, Colombia. Thirty-four individuals with SCI and their primary caregivers (34 dyads; n=68) from the Foundation for the Integral Development of People with Disabilities in Neiva, Colombia, were included in this study. Individuals with SCI completed eight subscales of the SF-36 that assessed HRQOL. Five aspects of caregiver mental health were assessed, including burden (Zarit Burden Interview), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory). A series of multiple regressions uncovered strong associations among the HRQOL of individuals with SCI and various aspects of caregiver mental health. In these regressions, patient physical functioning and pain were independently related to caregiver burden; patient pain and general health were independently related to caregiver satisfaction with life; and patient pain was independently related to caregiver anxiety. HRQOL in individuals with SCI was robustly related to their caregiver's mental health, suggesting that the two sets of variables are closely linked. These findings suggest that caregiver mental health should be a central part of SCI rehabilitation interventions, especially in Latin America.

Un modelo para estimar la productividad de camiones usados para movimiento de tierra en obras de infraestructura

Las operaciones de movimiento de tierra son parte fundamental de la mayoría de los proyectos de construcción de infraestructura. Para obtener ganancias cuando se trabaja en estas operaciones, la creación de un plan y la selección del equipo apropiado son aspectos críticos para maximizar la productividad. Obtener la máxima productividad es una tarea que puede ser muy difícil. Para planificar la obra, se debe conocer los tiempos de viaje de los camiones. El tiempo de viaje es una variable que depende de muchas otras variables. Este artículo presenta el desarrollo de un modelo que permite realizar estudios sofisticados, utilizando características fundamentales del equipo, para estimar el tiempo de viaje y rendimiento de camiones en obras de movimiento de tierra. (AU)