45 Years of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE): A perspective from ibero-america.

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was created by Marshal Folstein et al. in 1975 as an instrument for brief (5-10 min) assessment of mental status in hospitalized patients. It is considered the most widely used test for standardized cognitive assessment in the clinical setting, especially with the elderly population. It has countless translations in different languages, and according to the different international (PubMed) and regional (SciELO, Redalyc, and Dialnet) scientific databases, it has been widely used by the scientific community. This article describes the historical evolution of the MMSE, highlights its evaluative properties, and provides bibliometric data on its impact on scientific publications, with a special focus on Ibero-America.

El Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) fue creado por Marshal Folstein et al. en 1975 como un instrumento para la evaluación breve (5-10 minutos) del estado mental de pacientes hospitalizados. Se lo considera la prueba más utilizada para la evaluación cognitiva estandarizada en el ámbito clínico, especialmente con la población adulta mayor. Tiene innumerables traducciones a diferentes idiomas y de acuerdo con las diferentes bases de datos científicas internacionales (PudMed) y regionales (Scielo, Redalyc y Dialnet) se puede constatar que ha sido ampliamente utilizada por la comunidad científica. En este trabajo se describe la evolución histórica del MMSE, se destacan sus propiedades evaluativas y se indican datos bibliométricos acerca de su impacto en las publicaciones científicas, con especial énfasis en IberoAmérica.

¿Qué es el síndrome pos-COVID-19? Definición y actualización / What is post-COVID-19 syndrome? Definition and update

Resumen Este trabajo aborda el origen y el desarrollo del síndrome pos-COVID-19, el cual consiste en la persistencia a través del tiempo de diferentes síntomas como consecuencia de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. A partir de una revisión narrativa de la literatura científica, se realiza un breve recorrido sobre el nuevo término y se precisa la definición conceptual, los síntomas característicos, las diversas implicaciones en la salud de las personas y las respuestas de atención específica que se han implementado. Se concluye con una llamada de atención a los gobiernos de América Latina y el Caribe para dar tratamiento y seguimiento a este problema de salud pública.

Abstract This work addresses the origin and development of post-COVID-19 syndrome, which consists of the persistence of different symptoms over time as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Based on a narrative review of the scientific literature, a brief analysis of the new term is made, specifying the conceptual definition, characteristic symptoms, the various implications for people's health, and the responses to specific care measures that have been implemented. It concludes with a wake-up call to the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean in order for care and surveillance to be provided to this public health problem.

45 Years of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE): A perspective from ibero-america / 45 años del mini-mental state examination (mmse): una perspectiva histórica desde iberoamérica

ABSTRACT The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was created by Marshal Folstein et al. in 1975 as an instrument for brief (5-10 min) assessment of mental status in hospitalized patients. It is considered the most widely used test for standardized cognitive assessment in the clinical setting, especially with the elderly population. It has countless translations in different languages, and according to the different international (PubMed) and regional (SciELO, Redalyc, and Dialnet) scientific databases, it has been widely used by the scientific community. This article describes the historical evolution of the MMSE, highlights its evaluative properties, and provides bibliometric data on its impact on scientific publications, with a special focus on Ibero-America.

RESUMO El Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) fue creado por Marshal Folstein et al. en 1975 como un instrumento para la evaluación breve (5-10 minutos) del estado mental de pacientes hospitalizados. Se lo considera la prueba más utilizada para la evaluación cognitiva estandarizada en el ámbito clínico, especialmente con la población adulta mayor. Tiene innumerables traducciones a diferentes idiomas y de acuerdo con las diferentes bases de datos científicas internacionales (PudMed) y regionales (Scielo, Redalyc y Dialnet) se puede constatar que ha sido ampliamente utilizada por la comunidad científica. En este trabajo se describe la evolución histórica del MMSE, se destacan sus propiedades evaluativas y se indican datos bibliométricos acerca de su impacto en las publicaciones científicas, con especial énfasis en IberoAmérica.

Cross-national measurement invariance of the Purpose in Life Test in seven Latin American countries.

The Purpose in Life Test (PIL) is a measure of purpose in life widely used in many cultures and countries; however, cross-cultural assessments are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL in the general population of seven Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay). A total of 4306 people participated, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, where Uruguay has the highest mean age (M = 41.8; SD = 16.6 years); while Ecuador has the lowest mean age (M = 24.6; SD = 7.8 years). Furthermore, in each country, there is a higher proportion of women (>60%) than men (<40%). Using Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the factorial structure does not show evidence of invariance among the included countries. However, based on the Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment, there is evidence that a three-dimensional structure of the PIL (Meaning of existence, Freedom to make meaning in daily life and Will to find meaning in the face of future challenges) is the same in the participating countries. Results based on item response theory indicate that most PIL items can significantly differentiate responses according to the level of life purpose. In addition, people with low life purpose will tend to choose the lower response alternatives on the PIL; while people with higher life purpose will choose higher response alternatives. The findings indicate that the PIL has the potential to increase knowledge about how people conceive and experience their purpose in life in different countries.

Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the purpose in life test - Short form (PIL-SF) in seven Latin American countries.

The aim was to test the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL-SF in a sample of people from seven Latin American countries. Additionally, the characteristics of the PIL-SF items were evaluated and to assess the relationship between purpose in life, as measured by the PIL-SF, and fear of COVID-19. A total of 4306 people from seven Latin American countries participated in the study. The results indicated that the PIL-SF is invariant in the seven participating countries and, therefore, there is evidence that the items reflect the purpose of life in the same way in all countries. This allows comparisons of purpose in life between countries that are free of bias, reflecting the true differences in how countries respond to items. From IRT, the discrimination parameters are adequate and indicate that the items cover a wide range of the purpose in life construct. The difficulty parameters are adequate and increase monotonically. This indicates that people would need a higher level of purpose in life to respond to the higher response categories. Thus, the PIL-SF items would be useful in determining people with a relatively high degree of purpose in life. Identifying people with different levels of purpose in life would allow them to be part of intervention programs, either to support those with low levels or to maintain and reinforce their purpose in life. The evidence of cross-country measurement invariance of the PIL-SF provides a measure to be used in cross-cultural studies about the meaning of life.

What is post-COVID-19 syndrome? Definition and update.

This work addresses the origin and development of post-COVID-19 syndrome, which consists of the persistence of different symptoms over time as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Based on a narrative review of the scientific literature, a brief analysis of the new term is made, specifying the conceptual definition, characteristic symptoms, the various implications for people's health, and the responses to specific care measures that have been implemented. It concludes with a wake-up call to the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean in order for care and surveillance to be provided to this public health problem.

Este trabajo aborda el origen y el desarrollo del síndrome pos-COVID-19, el cual consiste en la persistencia a través del tiempo de diferentes síntomas como consecuencia de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. A partir de una revisión narrativa de la literatura científica, se realiza un breve recorrido sobre el nuevo término y se precisa la definición conceptual, los síntomas característicos, las diversas implicaciones en la salud de las personas y las respuestas de atención específica que se han implementado. Se concluye con una llamada de atención a los gobiernos de América Latina y el Caribe para dar tratamiento y seguimiento a este problema de salud pública.

Is it possible to find a bifactor structure in the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S)? Psychometric evidence in an Ecuadorian sample.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the construct validity based on the internal structure, the relationship with other variables, and the internal consistency among items of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in a sample of 743 Ecuadorians. The findings confirm the presence of a bifactor structure, which includes a general factor and two specific factors: one emotional and the other physiological. The general factor, and the specific factors presented adequate levels of internal consistency. Finally, the FCV-19S showed a highly significant relationship with GAD-7 at the latent level. The scale has adequate psychometric properties for its application.

Fear of COVID-19 scale: Validity, reliability and factorial invariance in Argentina's general population.

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Scale of Fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) in a sample of 1,291 Argentines. The two-related factor structure of the FCV-19S had satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices using structural equation modeling and item response theory. Further results showed that the reliability was adequate, the factor structure was strictly invariable across age groups, and the model that evaluated the relationships between fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and depression had adequate goodness of fit indices as well. The results indicated that FCV-19S has strong psychometric properties to measure fear of COVID-19 in the general population of Argentina.

Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the fear of COVID-19 scale in seven Latin American countries.

The objective was to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in 7 Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay). The participants were 2944 people, selected through non-probability sampling for convenience, where the majority were women. Data collection occurred between 12 June and 14 September 2020. The results indicated that the model with two related factors presents a better fit to the data and has partial scalar invariance among the 7 countries. Differences in emotional and physiological reactions were observed between the countries.

Socio-Demographic Variables, Fear of COVID-19, Anxiety, and Depression: Prevalence, Relationships and Explanatory Model in the General Population of Seven Latin American Countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely impacted Latin America. A model was tested that evaluated the contribution of socio-demographic factors and fear of COVID-19 on anxiety and depression in samples of residents in seven Latin American countries (Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and El Salvador). A total of 4,881 individuals, selected by convenience sampling, participated in the study. Moderate and severe levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety were identified, as well as a moderate average level of fear of COVID-19. In addition, it was observed that about a quarter of the participants presented symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and a major depressive episode. Fear of COVID-19 significantly and positively predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms, whereas the effects of socio-demographic variables are generally low [χ2(287) = 5936.96, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.064 [0.062, 0.065]; CFI = 0.947; and SRMR = 0.050]. This suggests the need for the implementation of preventive actions in the general population of these countries, with the aim of reducing the prevalence of depressive, anxious and fearful symptoms related to COVID-19.