Validation of the knowledge evaluation questionnaire of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program in high school students.

There is an urgent need for generalized training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques, starting with secondary education. Validated instruments for assessing the efficacy of such interventions are not yet available. This study aimed to validate an evaluation questionnaire of a CPR training program for high school students, to analyze the levels of readability, difficulty, reliability, and content validity, as well as the fit the purpose for which they were designed, the trait they are intended to measure. An instrumental study was conducted in 2 phases. In the first phase, an inter-judge validation was carried out with 11 experts in CPR accredited instructors of basic and advanced CPR by the American Heart Association. In the second phase, the psychometric properties were evaluated from the perspective of Item Response Theory. During May of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 academic years, 259 4th-year secondary school students from a high school in the southeastern area of the island of Gran Canaria (mean age: 15.78 years; 50.60% male) were surveyed anonymously using the questionnaire to be validated. The questionnaire was easily readable (74.12 Flesch-Szigriszt Index); the difficulty level (Easy/Very Easy) in the context of this secondary school level of education and the ability level of the respondents overlapped sufficiently and there was no gender bias. The questionnaire was able to discriminate between respondents of slightly more than 7 levels of expertise, from low knowledge of CPR to high knowledge of CPR (Separation Index 7.53). The model fit was excellent (infit = 1/outfit = 1.01). The content validity index was adequate. The separation index and reliability exceeded what was considered adequate for guaranteed use. The level of difficulty of the items and the level of ability of the respondents is in line with the educational level of the students. The questionnaire did not produce a gender bias in response probability. The questionnaire is easily understandable and can discriminate between different levels of ability without differential gender bias, and its reliability is outstanding, as it exceeds the minimum criteria.

Predictors of personal growth in induced abortion / Predictores de crecimiento personal en el aborto inducido

Background: Knowledge about the psychological experience in induced abortion remains limited. Studies have been biased towards negative consequences. Method: A descriptive and prospective study was conducted. Participants were 338 adult women who came to have an induced abortion in authorized centers of Las Palmas (Spain). Results: A large proportion of women reflected moderate to very high personal growth at all measurement times (from 64.79% to 76.36%), with statistically significant increases. The perception of social support explained most of the variance in the cross-sectional prediction of personal growth, both at the time of the abortion and in the follow-up one month later. The variables that predicted growth longitudinally were: greater perception of the abortion as a turning point in their lives, lower level of academic education, greater frequency of thoughts about abortion one month later, lower frequency of thoughts about abortion six months later, and greater perceived social support one month later. Conclusions: The perception of personal growth is part of the psychological experience of abortion. This finding invites us to broaden the traditional focus on the psychological effects of induced abortion, to also include the positive outcomes

Antecedentes: el conocimiento sobre la experiencia psicológica del aborto inducido sigue siendo limitado. Los estudios se han sesgado hacia las consecuencias negativas. Método: estudio descriptivo y prospectivo. Participaron 338 mujeres adultas que interrumpieron voluntariamente su embarazo en centros autorizados de Las Palmas (España). Resultados: una gran proporción de mujeres reflejó un crecimiento personal entre moderado y muy alto en todas las evaluaciones (desde un 64,79% a un 76,36%), con aumentos estadísticamente significativos. La percepción del apoyo social explicó la mayor parte de varianza en la predicción transversal del crecimiento personal, tanto en el momento del aborto como en el seguimiento un mes después. Las variables que predijeron el crecimiento longitudinalmente fueron: mayor percepción del aborto como un punto de inflexión en sus vidas, menor nivel de educación académica, mayor frecuencia de pensamientos sobre el aborto un mes después, menor frecuencia de pensamientos sobre el aborto seis meses después, y mayor percepción de apoyo social un mes después. Conclusiones: la percepción del crecimiento personal es parte de la experiencia psicológica del aborto. Este hallazgo invita a ampliar el enfoque tradicional sobre los efectos psicológicos del aborto inducido, para incluir también los resultados positivos

Predictors of personal growth in induced abortion / Predictores de crecimiento personal en el aborto inducido

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the psychological experience in induced abortion remains limited. Studies have been biased towards negative consequences. METHOD: A descriptive and prospective study was conducted. Participants were 338 adult women who came to have an induced abortion in authorized centers of Las Palmas (Spain). RESULTS: A large proportion of women reflected moderate to very high personal growth at all measurement times (from 64.79% to 76.36%), with statistically significant increases. The perception of social support explained most of the variance in the cross-sectional prediction of personal growth, both at the time of the abortion and in the follow-up one month later. The variables that predicted growth longitudinally were: greater perception of the abortion as a turning point in their lives, lower level of academic education, greater frequency of thoughts about abortion one month later, lower frequency of thoughts about abortion six months later, and greater perceived social support one month later. CONCLUSIONS: The perception of personal growth is part of the psychological experience of abortion. This finding invites us to broaden the traditional focus on the psychological effects of induced abortion, to also include the positive outcomes

ANTECEDENTES: el conocimiento sobre la experiencia psicológica del aborto inducido sigue siendo limitado. Los estudios se han sesgado hacia las consecuencias negativas. MÉTODO: estudio descriptivo y prospectivo. Participaron 338 mujeres adultas que interrumpieron voluntariamente su embarazo en centros autorizados de Las Palmas (España). RESULTADOS: una gran proporción de mujeres reflejó un crecimiento personal entre moderado y muy alto en todas las evaluaciones (desde un 64,79% a un 76,36%), con aumentos estadísticamente significativos. La percepción del apoyo social explicó la mayor parte de varianza en la predicción transversal del crecimiento personal, tanto en el momento del aborto como en el seguimiento un mes después. Las variables que predijeron el crecimiento longitudinalmente fueron: mayor percepción del aborto como un punto de inflexión en sus vidas, menor nivel de educación académica, mayor frecuencia de pensamientos sobre el aborto un mes después, menor frecuencia de pensamientos sobre el aborto seis meses después, y mayor percepción de apoyo social un mes después. CONCLUSIONES: la percepción del crecimiento personal es parte de la experiencia psicológica del aborto. Este hallazgo invita a ampliar el enfoque tradicional sobre los efectos psicológicos del aborto inducido, para incluir también los resultados positivos

Predictors of personal growth in induced abortion.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the psychological experience in induced abortion remains limited. Studies have been biased towards negative consequences. METHOD: A descriptive and prospective study was conducted. Participants were 338 adult women who came to have an induced abortion in authorized centers of Las Palmas (Spain). RESULTS: A large proportion of women reflected moderate to very high personal growth at all measurement times (from 64.79% to 76.36%), with statistically significant increases. The perception of social support explained most of the variance in the cross-sectional prediction of personal growth, both at the time of the abortion and in the follow-up one month later. The variables that predicted growth longitudinally were: greater perception of the abortion as a turning point in their lives, lower level of academic education, greater frequency of thoughts about abortion one month later, lower frequency of thoughts about abortion six months later, and greater perceived social support one month later. CONCLUSIONS: The perception of personal growth is part of the psychological experience of abortion. This finding invites us to broaden the traditional focus on the psychological effects of induced abortion, to also include the positive outcomes.

The use of physical restraints in long-term care in Spain: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Physical restraint is a procedure used frequently in long-term care. It is a controversial practice because its use is associated with numerous complications and also affects freedom and individual autonomy. The objective of this study was to examine the use of physical restraint of long-term care residents with the ability to move voluntarily. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional observational and correlational multi-center study. Nine centers agreed to participate. Of the 1,200 people present at the time of data collection, those without voluntary movement or in the facility for less than a month were excluded. Thus, the final sample was 920 residents. Data on the use of restraints was collected by direct observation. Information about the age, gender, length of stay, falls, mobility, cognition and functional status of residents was gathered by reviewing clinical records and interviewing nursing staff. A descriptive analysis of the data obtained was conducted. The generalized linear model was used, considering only the principal effects of each variable and using the logit link function. The model has been adjusted for clusters and for other possibly confounding factors. For all analyses, a confidence interval (CI) of 95% was estimated. RESULTS: The prevalence of residents with at least one physical restraint was 84.9% (95% CI: 81.7-88.1), with variability between centers of 70.3 to 96.6% (p-value Kruskal Wallis test <0.001). Full-enclosure side rails were most often used (84.5; 95% CI: 81.1-87.9), but other types of restraints were also used frequently. Multivariate analysis showed that the degree of functional impairment increased the probability of the use of restraint. A significant association was also found between restraint use and the impaired cognitive status of residents. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence was higher than in studies from other countries. The results emphasize the need to improve the training of nursing staff in the care of residents with impairments in functional and cognitive status. The use of alternative devices and nurse consultants need to be evaluated, and the introduction of specific laws considered.

Validation of the Interpersonal Support Links Scale VIDA / Validación de la Escala de Vínculos Interpersonales de Apoyo VIDA

Social Support is one of the most well documented factors influencing health outcomes. Cultural differences and language use between Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries advise caution in the use of the same measurement instruments. Furthermore the instruments validated in Spain have been developed with very specific or small samples. The aim of this instrumental study was to develop a new general purpose Social Support Questionnaire that overcomes these limitations. Method: With a sample of 1080 participants (48.2% women, mean age 33.51), an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, examining its internal consistency, reliability, convergent validity, content validity and readability. Results: A three-factor structure (Friends, Family and Significant Others Support) was replicated and confirmed (with a very good fit), explaining nearly 73% of the variance with an excellent internal consistency (.94 or more) with significant evidence of convergent validity with other related measurements of Social Support and Health. Conclusions: The parameters of structural validity, internal consistency, reliability and convergent validity, taken together, present an optimized profile when compared to the rest of the reviewed surveys

El Apoyo Social es uno de los factores determinantes del nivel de salud mejor documentados. Las diferencias culturales y en el uso de la lengua entre España y otros países de habla española aconsejan prudencia en el empleo de los mismos instrumentos de medida. Además, los instrumentos validados en España se han basado en muestras muy específicas y pequeñas. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido el desarrollo de un cuestionario de Apoyo Social para propósitos generales que supere esas limitaciones. Método: se llevaron a cabo análisis factoriales exploratorio y confirmatorio, así como un estudio de la consistencia interna, la fiabilidad, validez convergente, validez de contenido y legibilidad en una muestra de 1080 participantes (48.2% mujeres, edad media 33.51). Resultados: hallamos, replicamos y confirmamos (con muy buen ajuste) una estructura de tres factores (Apoyo de Amigos, Familia y Personas Relevantes) que explican una varianza cercana al 73%, con una excelente consistencia interna (.94 o más) y fiabilidad, y con indicios significativos de validez convergente con otras medidas de Apoyo Social y de salud relacionadas. Conclusiones: los parámetros de validez estructural, consistencia interna, fiabilidad y validez convergente tomados en su conjunto, presentan un perfil optimizado en comparación con el resto de los cuestionarios revisados

Validación de un cuestionario sobre la percepción del profesorado del manejo de situaciones de emergencias en el ámbito escolar / Validation of a questionnaire on the teaching staff’s view of how emergency situations are handled at school

OBJETIVOS: desarrollar un instrumento para evaluar la percepción de los profesores de su capacidad para el manejo y control de las situaciones de emergencias en el ámbito escolar no universitario, así como determinar la validez de constructo y la consistencia interna de dicho instrumento. MÉTODO: estudio de validación de un instrumento desarrollado en el curso 2009/10 en centros escolares no universitarios de la provincia de Las Palmas, con la participación de 432 profesores. Para determinar la estructura factorial y validez de constructo del cuestionario se llevaron a cabo un análisis factorial explora- torio y un análisis factorial confirmatorio. La consistencia interna se determinó mediante el Alpha de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: con base en el análisis factorial exploratorio se establecieron dos posibles soluciones estructurales, de cuatro y cinco factores. De acuerdo al análisis factorial confirmatorio el ajuste de ambos modelos fue bueno con un ligero mejor ajuste a favor del modelo de cuatro factores. Los coeficientes Alfa de Cronbach obtenidos fueron F1= 0,922; F2= 0,904; F3= 0,860; y F4= 0,815. La varianza explicada total, según el análisis de componentes principales, es de 65,59%. CONCLUSIONES: a expensas de que sería preciso aún llevar a cabo una validación discriminante y convergente, así como determinar la fiabilidad del test-retest, el cuestionario desarrollado para evaluar la capacidad del profesorado en el manejo y control de las situaciones de emergencias en el ámbito escolar presenta un adecuado fundamento psicométrico. Por lo tanto, se constituye como una herramienta válida y fiable que puede facilitar el aporte de soluciones integrales formativas adaptadas a las necesidades de los docentes

OBJECTIVE: to develop an instrument to evaluate the view of teaching staff on their ability to handle and control emergency situations in non-university school surroundings, and to determine the validity of the instrument's construct and its internal consistency. METHOD: a validation study conducted on an instrument developed over the 2009/10 academic year at non-university schools in the province of Las Palmas, with 432 participating teachers. In order to determine its factorial structure and validity of the questionnaire's construct, exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses were carried out. Internal consistency was tested with the Cronbach Alpha. RESULTS: based on an exploratory factorial analysis, two possible structural solutions were established, of four and five factors. According to the confirmatory factorial analysis, both models were accordingly adjusted, with a slightly smaller adjustment in favour of the four factor model. The Cronbach Alpha coefficients obtained were F1= 0.922; F2= 0.904; F3= 0.860; and F4= 0.815. The total explained variance, according to the main component analysis, was 65.59%. CONCLUSIONS: without prejudice to the need for a discriminating and convergent validation and an examination of test-retest reliability, the questionnaire completed to evaluate the teaching staff's capacity to handle and control emergency situations in school surroundings is adequately justified in psychometric terms. Consequently, it is a valid and reliable tool that is able to provide comprehensive formative solutions adapted to teachers' needs

Validation of the BASR relaxation technique for the control of craving, anxiety and stress in an experimental nicotine withdrawal set / Validación de la técnica de relajación RBSA para el control del craving, la ansiedad y el estrés bajo condiciones experimentales de abstinencia a la nitcotina

Anxiety, craving and stress are associated with a higher risk of recurrence and a success reduction of smoking cessation programs. Relaxation techniques are one of the resources that psychology can bring to bear on these programs. The Brief Automated Suggestive Relaxation technique (BASR) is presented. Its design carries with it the idea of creating a brief and self-applied procedure which allows one to obtain results from the outset with minimum effort by both patient and therapist. This technique is confirmed within the multi-component program for smoking cessation as a confrontation resource for symptoms of anxiety/craving/stress deriving from quit smoking and nicotine Withdrawal Syndrome, its possible effectiveness was studied. There were 45 participants and all were smokers (average age of 43.91, 55.6% women), randomly divided in two groups: BASR condition (15 minutes relaxation session) or control condition (15 minutes rest session). Two standardized tests were used for the evaluation, the Anxiety-State scale (STAI-S) and the Differential Stress Inventory of Adjectives for the Study of Moods (IDDA-EA). An analogical qualification Scale of Smoking Desire was also used. In agreement with findings, a positive effect and the efficacy of the technique employed for the control of craving, anxiety and stress in smokers was corroborated.

La ansiedad, el craving y el estrés se asocian con un mayor riesgo de recurrencia y a una reducción del éxito de los programas para dejar de fumar. Las técnicas de relajación son uno de los recursos que la psicología puede aportar a estos programas. Presentamos la técnica de Relajación Breve Sugestiva Automatizada (RBSA), diseñada con la idea de crear un procedimiento breve y auto-aplicado que permita obtener resultados inmediatos y con un mínimo esfuerzo tanto del paciente como del terapeuta. Esta técnica se integra en un programa multicomponente para dejar de fumar como un recurso para la confrontación de los síntomas de ansiedad/craving/estrés que se derivan de dejar de fumar y del Síndrome de Abstinencia de la nicotina. Se estudió su posible eficacia. Participaron 45 fumadores (edad promedio de 43.91, 55,6% mujeres), divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos: condición RBSA (sesión de 15 minutos de relajación) o condición de control (15 minutos de reposo). Se utilizaron dos pruebas estandarizadas para la evaluación, la escala de Ansiedad-Estado (STAI-S) y la escala de Estrés del Inventario de Diferencial de Adjetivos para el Estudio de Estados de Ánimo (IDDA-EA). También se empleó una escala analógica para la evaluación del Deseo de fumar. De acuerdo con los resultados se constató un efecto positivo y la eficacia de la técnica empleada para el control del craving, la ansiedad y el estrés en fumadores.

Estudio descriptivo del síndrome de Burnout en una muestra de profesionales de enfermería en el área sur de Gran Canaria / Descriptive study of burnout syndrome in a sample of nurses from Gran Canaria´s southern health care area

El Burnout, producto del estrés crónico laboral, causa un importante deterioro de la salud de los trabajadores, especialmente de los sanitarios, constituyendo una preocupación creciente de instituciones públicas y privadas, responsables políticos y sindicales. Diferentes estudios,tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, se han venido llevando a cabo tanto en distintos profesionales de la salud como en distintos ámbitos de intervención sanitaria con resultados dispares. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo describir los indicadores de Burnout utilizando el Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1986) en una muestra de 101 profesionales de la enfermería de los Hospitales públicos del área sur de Gran Canaria. Los resultados constatan unos elevados niveles de Burnout en dicho personal, por encima de los hallados en otros profesionales sanitarios de la misma comunidad autónoma, que guardan una especial conexión con las dificultades en las relaciones laborales y las características del trabajo. El carácter positivo (estimulador y motivante) del trabajo es un antídoto ante dicha sintomatología

Burnout syndrome, the result of chronic work-related stress, causes a significant deterioration of workers´health, especially that of health care workers. It constitutes an ever increasing concern for governmental and private organization, political leaders and trade unions. Various studies, both national and international, have been carried out with different groups of health workers in their various health care facilities, obtaining mixed results. The objective of this paper is to describe burnout indicators using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1986) on a sample of 101 nurses from public hospitals in Gran Canaria´s southern health care area. Results confirm the high levels of burnout syndrome in those studied. Burnout levels were even higher that those found in other healthcare professions within the same autonomous community. These results are probably related to the difficulties nurses experience in their personal relationship at work and with the job´s particular characteristics. The stimulating and positive side of their work is probably the best antidote against burnout syndrome

Apoyo social percibido: características psicométricas del cuestionario Caspe en una población urbana geriátrica / Perceived social support: psychometric properties of CASPE questionnaire in urban not institutionalized elderly population

Examinamos las características psicométricas de un nuevo cuestionario breve de Apoyo Social Percibido, denominado CASPE, en una muestra comunitaria de 207 personas mayores. Los parámetros del CASPE muestran valores aceptables: 0,65 para la consistencia interna Alfa, y 0,77 para la fiabilidad por el método de dos mitades. La correlación positiva significativa con otra medida de Apoyo Social (0,625, p= 0,000), la correlación negativa y significativa con las medidas de estrés (-0,220, p= 0,002) y ansiedad (-0,1635, p= 0,020), y la evaluación positiva emitida por los expertos (75%), aportan indirectamente validez al cuestionario. La solución trifactorial hallada (máxima verosimilitud con rotación varimax) explica el 62,5% de la varianza. Por todo ello, el CASPE, siendo susceptible de mejora, se presenta como un instrumento válido para la evaluación del Apoyo Social Percibido (AU)

We examined the psychometric properties of a new brief Inventory of Perceived Social Support, called CASPE, in a community based sample of 207 elderly people. The CASPE exhibited acceptable parameter values: internal Alpha consistency (0,65), and split half reliability (0,77). A positive significant correlation with other measurement of Social Support (0,625, p= 0,000), a negative significant correlation measures of stress, (-0,220, p= 0,002) and anxiety (-0,1635, p= 0,020), and the positive evaluation by experts judges (75%) provides indirect validation. The three factor solution found (maximum likelihood with varimax rotation) explained the 62,5% of variance. Thus the CASPE could be improved, this fact notwithstanding it appears to be a valid tool for assessment of Perceived Social Support (AU)