Illness Experience and Quality of Life in Sjögren Syndrome Patients.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a disease with autoimmune features that affects mainly women and compromises the health-related quality of Life (HRQoL); it is important to evaluate illness experience for a better understanding of the life situation of the patient. The aim of the study was to summarize the individual life experiences and determine the impact of HRQoL and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and their correlation with health self-assessment in women with SS. The life experiences evaluation employed a concept mapping design to structure qualitative content obtained from semi-structured interviews. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to analyze the patient's experiences. EQ-5D-5L and OHIP-14Sp were used. The correlation between appreciation of the general health status and OHIP-14 was evaluated. The experience classification by patients were analyzed and a dendrogram was obtained, identifying 10 clusters of disease experiences of SS, being limitations, pain and difficulties, coping and attitudes towards treatment the most common. Pain/discomfort in EQ-5D-5L and physical pain and psychological discomfort in OHIP-14 were the most affected dimensions in the patients. The results support the theoretical perspective that the experience of illness is relevant to describing the main difficulties of patients with SS and how it affects their quality of life.

Abo Blood Group, Atherothrombotic Comorbidities, and COVID-19: A Case-Control Study of their Association in the Mexican Population.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has been associated with negative results in patients with A blood group and with a better evolution in O blood group individuals. AIM: Because the evidence regarding ABO blood groups and COVID was empirically not that clear in our country, we tested the association regarding COVID-19 and blood groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult patients were enrolled in this prospective, case-control, observational multicenter study. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were assigned to one of three groups based on the clinical presentation of the infection. Age, gender, ABO and Rh blood groups, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure, and smoking were recorded directly or from their clinical charts. ABO blood group was obtained from 5,000 blood donors (50% each gender). Atherothrombotic variables were compared with a nation-wide data collection. RESULTS: A total of 2,416 patients with COVID-19 were included (women:39.6%; men:60.4%). There were no significant differences between cases and controls in terms of age. O blood group was the most frequently found in healthy donors and COVID-19 patients, but this blood group was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients vs. healthy donors. ABO blood group was not associated with the final health status in COVID-19 patients. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and smoking were significantly more frequent among COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: The proposed protective effect of the O blood group in COVID-19 patients could not be reproduced in the Mexican population while some atherothrombotic risk factors had a significant effect on the clinical evolution.

Validez y confiabilidad del cuestionario de ansiedad y miedo dental IDAF -4C+ en adultos mayores / Validity and reliability of the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+) in Chilean older adults

RESUMEN: Objetivo: Determinar la validez aparente, validez de constructo y confiabilidad del cuestionario IDAF-4C+ versión en español, en adultos mayores de dos servicios de atención primaria de la Región Metropolitana, Chile. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal aplicado a 42 adultos mayores de dos servicios de atención primaria de la Región Metropolitana. La validez aparente se determinó mediante el juicio de expertos, la validez de constructo a través del análisis exploratorio confirmatorio, mientras que la confiabilidad se determinó por consistencia interna, exploratorio a través del coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Resultados: El juicio de expertos no realizó modificación al IDAF-4C+ versión en español. El análisis exploratorio confirmó la presencia de un solo factor, el cual explicó el 60,1% de la varianza, mientras que la confiabilidad arrojó un alfa de Cronbach de 0,901, considerado excelente. Conclusiones: El cuestionario IDAF-4C+ presentó una adecuada validez de contenido, validez aparente y una confiabilidad excelente. Se recomienda su uso para la medición de ansiedad dental en adultos mayores que acuden a los servicios de atención primaria evaluados.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the face validity, construct validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the IDAF-4C + in older adults, patients in two primary health care from the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Material and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, 42 older adults from two primary health care centres from the Metropolitan Region set up the sample. Face validity was determined by experts' judgment, construct validity was determined by a confirmatory factorial analysis and reliability was determined by internal consistency exploratory through Cronbach's alfa. Results: The experts did not modify the Spanish version of the IDAF-4C+. The factorial analysis confirmed the presence of only one factor which explains the 60,1% of the variance, and Cronbach's alfa resulted in 0,901, considered as excellent. Conclusions: The Spanish version of IDAF-4C+ is valid and reliable for the measurement of dental anxiety and fear and its use is recommended among older adults who visit primary health care centres in the Metropolitan Region.

Effects of Peppermint Aromatherapy on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting.

PURPOSE: Standardized order sets for postoperative patients often include antiemetic medications only for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of PONV in patients receiving peppermint aromatherapy and usual care to patients receiving only usual care. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental research design used to evaluate the ability of peppermint aromatherapy to decrease PONV and antiemetic use postoperatively. METHODS: Intervention group received peppermint aromatherapy with a control group receiving standard of care. The nausea scale with descriptors was used to evaluate PONV. FINDINGS: Descriptive statistics and a χ2 test revealed no statistical significance (P = .28). However, peppermint aromatherapy was preferred by many patients as indicated by patients' statements and decreased ratings and complaints of nausea. CONCLUSIONS: The peppermint aromatherapy was favorably received by many of the postoperative patients and may be an effective adjunct treatment with antiemetics for PONV.

Association of preoperative sleep pattern with posthysterectomy pain: a pilot study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of preoperative sleep pattern with posthysterectomy pain perception and satisfaction with surgery. METHODS: This pilot study included women undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for benign conditions. Sleep quality, insomnia severity, and insomnia risk were assessed pre- and postoperatively via standard questionnaires. Total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, and sleep efficiency were measured before and after hysterectomy using daily sleep diaries and wrist-worn actigraphy. Pain perception and satisfaction with hysterectomy were assessed postoperatively. Repeated-measures analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression were used for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty women participated; of them 16 had complete data and were analyzed. Total sleep time increased from 384 ± 102 minutes before to 468 ± 96 minutes after surgery (P = .023). Wake after sleep onset, a measure of sleep fragmentation, increased from 26 ± 15.1 minutes before to 52 ± 22.9 minutes after surgery (P = .014). Pearson's correlation showed preoperative total sleep time was inversely correlated with postoperative pain intensity (r = -.92, P = .01). Preoperative wake after sleep onset was positively correlated with postoperative pain intensity (r = .86, P = .008). Preoperative insomnia severity and insomnia risk were positively associated with postoperative pain and pain behaviors (ß = 0.41, P < .05; ß = 0.55, P < .01, respectively). Finally, preoperative sleep efficiency was positively associated with overall satisfaction with hysterectomy (ß = 0.39, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep duration and fragmentation increase following hysterectomy. Shorter, more fragmented preoperative sleep is associated with greater postoperative pain intensity. Better preoperative sleep was associated with more satisfaction after hysterectomy. Further studies are needed to determine if preoperative sleep interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy improve pain perception and satisfaction after hysterectomy.

The Effects of Interprofessional Pediatric End-of-Life Simulation on Communication and Role Understanding in Health Professions Students.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of interprofessional pediatric end-of life simulations for health professions students. A quasiexperimental design was used with three TeamSTEPPS® tools. Forty-one students were enrolled (nursing = 20, medicine = 10, pharmacy = 10, public health = 1). TeamSTEPPS 2.0 Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire and Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire analysis indicated a significant difference in mean pretest and posttest scores (p = .015 and p = .028, respectively). The Team Performance Observation Tool indicated statistical significance between simulations (p < .001, df = 18, r = .8). Simulations were significantly related to an increase in faculty observation scores, TeamSTEPPS 2.0 Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire pre-post scores, and TeamSTEPPS 2.0 Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire pre-post scores.