Pleasure before business: emotions and age effects on daily activity scheduling.

Activity scheduling represents a key process in daily life, involving the evaluation of the costs and benefits of the resources to be invested, but also a preference for when to engage in pleasant or unpleasant activities. Aging affects the evaluation processes and individual preferences due to changes in cognitive functioning and life perspectives. The present study investigated the differences between younger adults (age range 19-33) and older adults (age range 65-87) in a task assessing preferential scheduling of activities. Participants were asked to schedule thirty emotional activities (positive, negative, or neutral) within a 30-day time window, assigning one activity for each day. Results indicated that older adults, but not younger adults, planned positive activities closer in time, supporting the "positivity effect". Also, both younger and older adults tended to postpone negative activities, scheduling them in the last days. Finally, for older adults only, negative affect was associated with the tendency to put positive activities closer in time. Present findings showed age-specific effects of emotional content on daily activity scheduling.

Side of motor symptom onset predicts sustained attention deficits and motor improvements after attention training in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson's disease (PD) side of motor symptom onset has been associated with distinct cognitive deficits; individuals with left-side onset (LPD) show more visuospatial impairments, whereas those with right-side onset (RPD) show more verbal impairments. Non-spatial attention is a critical cognitive ability associated with motor functioning that is right hemisphere lateralized but has not been characterized with regard to PD side of onset. We compared individuals with LPD and RPD on non-spatial attention tasks and examined differential responses to a 4-week sustained attention training program. METHOD: Participants included 9 with LPD and 12 with RPD, who performed both brief and extended go/no-go continuous performance tasks and an attentional blink task. Participants also engaged in an at-home sustained attention training program, Tonic and Phasic Alertness Training (TAPAT), 5 days/week for 4 weeks. We assessed cognitive and motor symptoms before and after training, and after a 4-week no-contact period. RESULTS: At baseline, participants with LPD exhibited worse performance than those with RPD on the extended continuous performance task, indicating specific deficits in sustaining attention. Poorer attention was associated with worse clinical motor scores. Notably, side of onset had a significant effect on clinical motor changes after sustained attention training, with only LPD participants improving after training, and 4/9 showing clinically meaningful improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to RPD, participants with LPD had poorer sustained attention pre-training and were more likely to improve on clinical motor functioning after sustained attention training. These findings support mechanistic differences between LPD and RPD and suggest potential differential treatment approaches.

Recent advances in understanding Alzheimer's Disease: diagnosis and management strategies.

As the rates of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) increase in the world due to the aging of the population, research has made tremendous advances to target the two hallmark pathologies of AD: amyloid-ß (Aß) plaque deposition and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. Here, we discuss recent advances in the clinical evaluation and management of AD, with a focus on new hypotheses related to the etiology of AD and new evidence related to AD-mimicking neurodegenerative diseases. Though recent clinical studies suggest anti-amyloid disease modifying agents may slow the progression of AD, there is currently no medication that stops it. Moreover, slowing the progression will result in more individuals in the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia stages of AD. Given this reality, we evaluate the development of non-pharmacological strategies to help sustain cognitive function and quality of life.

Changing Decisions: The Interaction between Framing and Decoy Effects.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive biases are popular topics in psychology and marketing, as they refer to systematic cognitive tendencies in human thinking that deviate from logical and rational reasoning. The framing effect (FE) and the decoy effect (DE) are examples of cognitive biases that can influence decision making and consumer preferences. The FE involves how options are presented, while the DE involves the addition of a third option that influences the choice between the other two options. METHODS: We investigated the interaction between the FE and the DE in the case of both incongruent (ID) and congruent (CD) decoys in a sample of undergraduates (n = 471). The study had a two (positive vs. negative valence) × three (original, congruent decoy, incongruent decoy) within-subject design. RESULTS: The ID option reduces the FE in both positive- and negative-framed conditions compared to the controls, while adding the CD option increases the FE only in the positive-framed condition. Additionally, the inclusion of the CD option enhances the level of decision confidence, whereas no significant differences were found in the ID condition. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings gave new insights into the interplay between two of the most frequent cognitive biases.

Microbiological Characterization of the Biofilms Colonizing Bioplastics in Natural Marine Conditions: A Comparison between PHBV and PLA.

Biodegradable polymers offer a potential solution to marine pollution caused by plastic waste. The marine biofilms that formed on the surfaces of poly(lactide acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were studied. Bioplastics were exposed for 6 months to marine conditions in the Mediterranean Sea, and the biofilms that formed on their surfaces were assessed. The presence of specific PLA and PHBV degraders was also studied. PHBV showed extensive areas with microbial accumulations and this led to higher microbial surface densities than PLA (4.75 vs. 5.16 log CFU/cm2). Both polymers' surfaces showed a wide variety of microbial structures, including bacteria, fungi, unicellular algae and choanoflagellates. A high bacterial diversity was observed, with differences between the two polymers, particularly at the phylum level, with over 70% of bacteria affiliated to three phyla. Differences in metagenome functions were also detected, revealing a higher presence of proteins involved in PHBV biodegradation in PHBV biofilms. Four bacterial isolates belonging to the Proteobacteria class were identified as PHBV degraders, demonstrating the presence of species involved in the biodegradation of this polymer in seawater. No PLA degraders were detected, confirming its low biodegradability in marine environments. This was a pilot study to establish a baseline for further studies aimed at comprehending the marine biodegradation of biopolymers.

Effect of the Presence of Lignin from Woodflour on the Compostability of PHA-Based Biocomposites: Disintegration, Biodegradation and Microbial Dynamics.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) has gained attention as a possible substitute for conventional polymers that could be integrated into the organic recycling system. Biocomposites with 15% of pure cellulose (TC) and woodflour (WF) were prepared to analyze the role of lignin on their compostability (58 °C) by tracking the mass loss, CO2 evolution, and the microbial population. Realistic dimensions for typical plastic products (400 µm films), as well as their service performance (thermal stability, rheology), were taken into account in this hybrid study. WF showed lower adhesion with the polymer than TC and favored PHBV thermal degradation during processing, also affecting its rheological behavior. Although all materials disintegrated in 45 days and mineralized in less than 60 days, lignin from woodflour was found to slow down the bioassimilation of PHBV/WF by limiting the access of enzymes and water to easier degradable cellulose and polymer matrix. According to the highest and the lowest weight loss rates, TC incorporation allowed for higher mesophilic bacterial and fungal counts, while WF seemed to hinder fungal growth. At the initial steps, fungi and yeasts seem to be key factors in facilitating the later metabolization of the materials by bacteria.

With or without the Mask: Age Differences in Perceived Trustworthiness and Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the obligation to wear surgical face masks have affected social interactions. Wearing a mask can cause impairments in face identification, emotion recognition, and trait impressions. The present study investigated, during the COVID-19 period, age-related differences in perceived trustworthiness (Study 1) and health (Study 2) when viewing faces with or without masks. Younger (YAs, 18-35 years) and older (OAs, over 65 years) adults' ratings were compared. Through a web-based platform, a series of neutral younger and older faces (YFs vs. OFs) were presented, on a computer screen, with or without a mask (Mask vs. No-Mask), and participants were asked to rate them on a 7-point scale. Furthermore, data collected during the pandemic (Mask and No-Mask conditions) were compared with ratings obtained before it (Pre-COVID condition). Perceived trustworthiness was lower in the No-Mask condition for both age groups compared to Mask and Pre-COVID conditions, which did not differ. For health ratings, no differences emerged for OAs between the conditions, whereas YAs' ratings were lower in both the Mask and No-Mask conditions compared to the Pre-COVID condition. The fear of contracting COVID-19 affected both trustworthiness and health ratings. Wearing a surgical face mask affects trait impressions for YAs and OAs, partly due to the fear of COVID-19. Trait impressions are also influenced by the age of the face to be evaluated.

Valorization of Agricultural Waste Lignocellulosic Fibers for Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-Co-Valerate)-Based Composites in Short Shelf-Life Applications.

Biocircularity could play a key role in the circular economy, particularly in applications where organic recycling (composting) has the potential to become a preferred waste management option, such as food packaging. The development of fully biobased and biodegradable composites could help reduce plastic waste and valorize agro-based residues. In this study, extruded films made of composites of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) and lignocellulosic fibers, namely almond shell (AS) and Oryzite® (OR), a polymer hybrid composite precursor, have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed a weak fiber-matrix interfacial interaction, although OR composites present a better distribution of the fiber and a virtually lower presence of "pull-out". Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the presence of fibers reduced the onset and maximum degradation temperatures of PHBV, with a greater reduction observed with higher fiber content. The addition of fibers also affected the melting behavior and crystallinity of PHBV, particularly with OR addition, showing a decrease in crystallinity, melting, and crystallization temperatures as fiber content increased. The mechanical behavior of composites varied with fiber type and concentration. While the incorporation of AS results in a reduction in all mechanical parameters, the addition of OR leads to a slight improvement in elongation at break. The addition of fibers improved the thermoformability of PHBV. In the case of AS, the improvement in the processing window was achieved at lower fiber contents, while in the case of OR, the improvement was observed at a fiber content of 20%. Biodisintegration tests showed that the presence of fibers promoted the degradation of the composites, with higher fiber concentrations leading to faster degradation. Indeed, the time of complete biodisintegration was reduced by approximately 30% in the composites with 20% and 30% AS.

Perceptions of COVID-19 Maternal Vaccination among Pregnant Women and Healthcare Workers and Factors That Influence Vaccine Acceptance: A Cross-Sectional Study in Barcelona, Spain.

COVID-19 is associated with poor maternal and pregnancy outcomes. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended in Spain, yet vaccination rates in pregnancy are suboptimal. This study investigates the perceptions of pregnant women and healthcare workers (HCW) regarding COVID-19 vaccination. A web-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in 2021-2022 among 302 pregnant women and 309 HCWs in the Catalan public health system. Most pregnant women (83%) and HCWs (86%) were aware of COVID-19 maternal vaccines. The recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccination by an HCW was identified as the greatest facilitator for maternal vaccine uptake, while the fear of harming the foetus was the most significant barrier reported for rejecting vaccination. HCWs recognised they received limited information and training about COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, which hindered them from providing informed recommendations. This study highlights that information and education on COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant women and health professionals are pivotal to ensuring informed decision-making and increasing vaccine uptake.

Home-Based Electronic Cognitive Therapy in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Can home-based computerized cognitive training programs be a useful tool to sustain cognition and quality of life in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD)? To date, the progressive nature of the disease has made this question difficult to answer. Computerized platforms provide more accessibility to cognitive trainings; however, the feasibility of long-term, home-based computerized programs for patients with AD dementia remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a 24-week home-based intervention program using the Constant Therapy app and its preliminary efficacy on cognition in patients with AD. Constant Therapy is a program developed for patients with speech and cognitive deficits. We hypothesized that patients with AD would use Constant Therapy daily over the course of the 24-week period. METHODS: Data were collected over a 48-week period. We recruited participants aged between 50 and 90 years with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to AD or mild AD dementia. Participants were randomly assigned to either the Constant Therapy (n=10) or active control (n=9) group. The Constant Therapy group completed a tablet-based training during the first 24 weeks; the second 24 weeks of computerized training were optional. The active control group completed paper-and-pencil games during the first 24 weeks and were invited to complete an optional Constant Therapy training during the second 24 weeks. Every 6 weeks, the participants completed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The participants independently accessed Constant Therapy using an Apple iPad. Our primary feasibility outcomes were the rate of adherence and daily use of Constant Therapy over 24 weeks. Our secondary outcomes were Constant Therapy performance over 24 weeks and change in RBANS scores between the 2 experimental groups. RESULTS: Feasibility analyses were computed for participants who completed 24 weeks of Constant Therapy. We found that long-term use of the Constant Therapy program was feasible in patients with AD over 24 weeks (adherence 80%; program use 121/168 days, for 32 minutes daily). These participants showed an overall improvement in accuracy and latency (P=.005) in the Constant Therapy scores, as well as specific improvements in visual and auditory memory, attention, and arithmetic tasks. The Constant Therapy group showed improvement in the RBANS coding subtest. No unexpected problems or adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term (eg, 24 weeks) computerized cognitive training using Constant Therapy is feasible in patients with AD in the mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia stages. Patients adhered more to Constant Therapy than to the paper-and-pencil training over 24 weeks and improved their performance over time. These findings support the development of future randomized controlled trials that will investigate the efficacy of Constant Therapy to sustain cognitive function in patients with AD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02521558; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02521558.

Impact of amyloid PET in the clinical care of veterans in a tertiary memory disorders clinic.

Introduction: We aimed to characterize the clinical impact of amyloid PET (APET) in a veteran population with cognitive decline by comparing differences in management between those who did and did not have an APET. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. Poisson regressions and logistic regression were used for comparisons. Results: Out of 565 veterans, 197 underwent APET; positivity rate was 36.55%. Having an APET was associated with longer follow-up, and increased diagnostic variability; it was not associated with number of additional studies, cholinesterase inhibitors prescription, or referrals to research. A positive APET was associated with less diagnostic variability, fewer additional tests, greater cholinesterase inhibitor prescriptions, and more research referrals. Discussion: In a medically complex, real-world population, APET yielded lower positivity rates and was not associated with classical clinical utility variables when comparing patients with and without an APET. APET may be used more to "rule out" rather than to confirm Alzheimer's disease. Highlights: Amyloid PET was associated with longer follow-up, and higher diagnostic variability.No association was seen with cholinesterase inhibitors prescription, or referrals to research.In complex patients, expected amyloid PET positivity rates are lower than previously described.Amyloid PETs were used to "rule out" AD than to confirm the diagnosis of AD.

Amyloid PET ordering practices in a memory disorders clinic.

Introduction: This study assessed the ordering of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans in a Veterans Affairs (VA) memory disorders clinic as part of routine clinical care, with possible implications for the extent to which ordering may occur outside of the VA in the future if covered by insurance. Methods: Clinical features predictive of ordering amyloid PET scans were retrospectively assessed; the percentage of patients who met appropriate use criteria were evaluated. Results: Among 565 veterans, 34.9% of received an amyloid PET scan and 98.0% of these were consistent with appropriate use criteria. Patients with a PET were younger and more likely to have an initial diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Of patients without an amyloid PET scan ordered, 64.4% would have met appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET. Discussion: The majority of scans ordered were consistent with appropriate use criteria and more patients were eligible than received a scan. The current study's findings that approximately one-third of patients in a memory disorders clinic received an amyloid PET scan has implications for memory disorders clinics inside and outside of the US Veterans Health Administration.

Distinguishing Between Genuine and Feigned Dementia Using Event-related Potentials.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) may perform below cutoffs on traditional, memory-based performance validity tests. Previous studies have found success using event-related potentials (ERPs) to detect feigned neurocognitive impairment in younger populations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of an auditory oddball task in conjunction with the P3b peak amplitude to distinguish probable AD from simulated dementia. METHOD: Twenty individuals with probable AD and 20 older healthy controls (HC) underwent an ERP auditory oddball protocol and the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). The HC were asked to perform honestly for one condition and to simulate dementia for the other. The individuals with probable AD were asked to perform honestly. The P3b peak amplitude and button press accuracy were collected from each participant and were analyzed to determine their effectiveness in detecting performance validity. RESULTS: The P3b peak amplitude remained stable regardless of behavioral condition in the HC group. When combined with the TOMM Trial 2 score, the P3b peak amplitude further improved the ability to correctly differentiate individuals with probable AD from HC simulating dementia with 100% sensitivity and 90% specificity. CONCLUSION: The P3b peak amplitude was found to be an effective physiologic measure of cognitive impairment in individuals with probable AD compared with HC simulating dementia. When combined with the TOMM Trial 2 score, the P3b peak amplitude served as a promising performance validity measure for differentiating individuals with probable AD from HC simulating dementia.

Nano- and micro-sized carnauba wax emulsions-based coatings incorporated with ginger essential oil and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose on papaya: Preservation of quality and delay of post-harvest fruit decay.

Carnauba wax nano and micro-sized emulsions and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coatings, alone or combined with ginger essential oils (GEO) were applied on papayas and evaluated under several storage conditions. In a first experiment, storage parameters were: 6 days at 22 °C, and 9 days at 13 °C followed by 5 days at 22 °C. In a second experiment, storage was: 5 days at 22 °C, and 10 days at 16 °C followed by 3 days at 22 °C. Coating effects were dependent on storage conditions. While fruits were in cold storage, there were few changes; however, at 22 °C, the differences between coatings became more evident. Nanoemulsions maintained papaya quality during storage by retarding firmness loss, color changes, and reducing respiration rates, resulting in delayed ripening. GEO exhibited some positive effect on fungal disease control. Nanoemulsion-based coatings improved shelf life by reducing weight loss, color development, and slowing ripening of papaya fruit.

Updating the Chieti Affective Action Videos database with older adults.

Validation of the Chieti Affective Action Videos (CAAV) database was replicated with a sample of older adults (age range 65-93). When designing experimental studies of emotions, it is crucial to take into consideration the differences in emotional processing between young and older adults. Therefore, the main goal of the present study was to provide an appropriate dataset for the use of CAAV in aging research. For this reason, the CAAV administration and the data collection methodology was faithfully replicated in a sample of 302 older adults. All the 360 standardized stimuli were evaluated on the emotional dimensions of valence and arousal. The CAAV validation in an older adults' population increases the potential use of this innovative tool. The present validation supports the use of the CAAV database in future experimental studies on cognitive functions in healthy and pathological aging.

Head Injury Exposure in Veterans Presenting to Memory Disorders Clinic: An Observational Study of Clinical Characteristics and Relationship of Event-Related Potentials and Imaging Markers.

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and repetitive head impacts (RHI) related to blasts or contact sports are commonly reported among military service members. However, the clinical implications of remote TBI and RHI in veterans remains a challenge when evaluating older veterans at risk of neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that veterans in a memory disorders clinic with remote head injury would be more likely to have neurodegenerative clinical diagnoses, increased rates of amyloid PET positivity, higher prevalence of cavum septum pellucidi/vergae, and alterations in event-related potential (ERP) middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs) and long latency ERP responses compared to those without head injuries. Methods: Older veterans aged 50-100 were recruited from a memory disorders clinic at VA Boston Healthcare system with a history of head injury (n = 72) and without head injury history (n = 52). Patients were classified as reporting prior head injury including TBI and/or RHI exposure based on self-report and chart review. Participants underwent MRI to determine presence/absence of cavum and an ERP auditory oddball protocol. Results: The head injury group was equally likely to have a positive amyloid PET compared to the non-head injury group. Additionally, the head injury group were less likely to have a diagnosis of a neurodegenerative condition than those without head injury. P200 target amplitude and MLAEP amplitudes for standard and target tones were decreased in the head injury group compared to the non-head injury group while P3b amplitude did not differ. Conclusions: Veterans with reported remote head injury evaluated in a memory disorders clinic were not more likely to have a neurodegenerative diagnosis or imaging markers of neurodegeneration than those without head injury. Decreased P200 target and MLAEP target and standard tone amplitudes in the head injury group may be relevant as potential diagnostic markers of remote head injury.

Data on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on people's expectations about their future.

The worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has unpredictably changed the way people live, by influencing their behaviors and beliefs. This article presents the raw data that have been used to investigate how the pandemic affected people's beliefs and expectations about their future. A total of 3991 participants (18-85 years old) were recruited through an online survey using the Qualtrics platform. The data collection was carried out during the Italian lockdown, between April 1st and April 20th, 2020. This survey collected information about psychological and socioeconomic variables related to the COVID-19 emergency. Respondents filled out a battery of questionnaires that included five measures. Three of the measures were specifically developed by the authors: 1. Expected repercussions of COVID-19; 2. Forethought scale; and 3. Perceived financial resources. The two other measures were standardized questionnaires: the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory Short Version (ZTPI-short) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Data from tailored measures on the COVID-19 pandemic reflect people's beliefs about the future, in terms of expectation about the pandemic's effect, estimation of the time needed for the pandemic to resolve, and estimation of how long people could endure the lockdown situation from a financial perspective. The ZTPI questionnaire was administered to measure people's differences in terms of Deviation from Balanced Time Perspective (DBTP). The PANAS questionnaire, instead, was administered to investigate people's differences in terms of emotional mood states. The provided dataset could be useful to other researchers, considering that the data were collected during the lockdown imposed on Italian citizens to face the unprecedented emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the collected data may help to understand how people coped with the pandemic, both from a psychological and socioeconomic perspective. Finally, this dataset can be included in the broad context of data, procedures, and experimental materials that have been used to expand our knowledge in the study of time perspective, beliefs, and emotions.

"What's next?" Individual differences in expected repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future are hardly predictable, and people differ in terms of expected repercussions on their future. This study investigated individual differences in the pandemic's expected repercussions, with particular attention to a Balanced Time Perspective (BTP). BTP reflects an individual profile with optimal temporal orientations, it is positively associated with mental health, and it has proven to promote successful coping with unexpected crises. We analyzed data from 3991 adults from 18 to 85 years old participating in an online survey conducted during the Italian lockdown. Participants provided information on BTP, affective states, financial resources, and expectations for the future. Multi-group path analysis was used to test the hypothesized model and to explore gender differences. Results showed that people with a more BTP had fewer negative beliefs about COVID-19's consequences on their future life. BTP affected expected repercussions also indirectly, via affects and beliefs. Finally, gender emerged as a significant moderator of some of the relationships highlighted. The present study contributes to the understanding of the psychological reactions to the current health emergency by confirming its impact on several life domains besides health, not only in the present but also in the anticipated future.

Age-related differences in the perception of COVID-19 emergency during the Italian outbreak.

OBJECTIVES: Older adults have been identified as a high-risk population for COVID-19, therefore it is crucial to understand how they perceived and reacted to the emergency. We examined age-related differences in emotions, cognitive attitudes, and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Based on the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, we expected to find a positive approach in older adults, which may translate into lower compliance with restrictive measures.Methods: We analyzed data (n = 306) from a nation-wide online survey conducted between April 1st and April 16th, 2020. We compared young (18-29 years), middle-aged (30-50 years), and older (65-85 years) adults' self-reported emotions, attitudes toward the emergency, and compliance with governmental rules.Results: Older adults showed lower negative emotions than young and middle-aged adults. Also, older adults were more confident about COVID-related information received, more favorable toward the restrictive measures, and perceived lower underestimation of the emergency compared to the other age groups. However, older people anticipated a longer time for the emergency to resolve. No age-related differences in compliance with the rules emerged.Conclusion: Older people showed a positive attitude toward the emergency. This attitude was confined in the here and now and did not extend to expectations for the future. Compliance with rules was high across our sample. However, less compliant individuals were also less confident in COVID-related information received by the media and official sources, suggesting the importance of providing precise and reliable information to promote adherence to restrictive measures.

Barreras para la utilización de la investigación en la práctica clínica: opinión de las enfermeras de un hospital universitario / Barriers for the use of research in clinical practice: the opinion by nurses in a University Hospital

OBJETIVO: identificar las principales barreras percibidas para la utilización de la investigación en la práctica clínica por parte de las enfermeras. MÉTODO: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal mediante la administración del cuestionario de "Barreras para la utilización de la investigación enfermera" en profesionales de Enfermería que estaban trabajando en el Consorci Corporació Parc Taulí de Sabadell (Barcelona) en mayo-septiembre de 2017. El muestreo fue no probabilístico accidental. La distribución de este cuestionario autoadministrado se efectuó vía online. Se llevó a cabo análisis univariante y bivariante. Se consideró que había diferencias estadísticamente significativas si la p< 0,05. RESULTADOS: participaron 276 profesionales de Enfermería. 244 (88,4%) mujeres. La media (DE) de experiencia laboral fue de 18,7 años (10,4) y de 11,32 años (8) de experiencia en el servicio en el que trabajaban en el momento del estudio. Un 46,7% recibió formación pregrado en investigación y un 70,3% postgrado. Las participantes consideran que la investigación es una actividad necesaria (88,8%) que contribuye al desarrollo de la profesión (98,9%), aunque opinan que requiere una gran inversión de tiempo y esfuerzo (94,9%) para poder llevarla a cabo. Las tres barreras identificadas con mayor puntuación fueron "los artículos/informes de investigación se publican con mucha demora" con una media (DE) de 3,03 (0,89), "los médicos no colaboran en la implementación" con una media (DE) de 2,99 (0,90) y "no hay tiempo suficiente en el trabajo para implementar nuevas ideas" con una media (DE) de 2,98 (1,03). CONCLUSIÓN: las principales barreras identificadas en este estudio por parte de los profesionales de Enfermería que han participado han sido falta de tiempo, falta de conocimientos en metodología investigadora y la percepción de falta de apoyo institucional

OBJECTIVE: to identify the main barriers perceived for the use of research in clinical practice by nurses. METHOD: a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted through the administration of the Questionnaire on Barriers for the Use of Nursing Research by Nursing professionals, which was prepared by the Consorci Corporació Parc Taulí of Sabadell (Barcelona) during May-September, 2017. There was non-probabilistic accidental sampling. This self-administered questionnaire was distributed online. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted. It was considered that there were statistically significant differences if p < 0.05. RESULTS: the study included 276 Nursing professionals; 244 (88.4%) were women. Their mean (SD) work experience was 18.7 years (10.4) and 11.32 years (8) of experience at the Hospital Unit where they worked at the time of the study. Of them, 46.7% had received undergraduate training in research, and 70.3% postgraduate. The participants considered that research is a necessary activity (88.8%) which contributes to the development of the profession (98.9%); although they reckon that it requires a major investment in time and effort (94.9%). The three barriers identified with the highest scores were: "research articles / reports are published with delay" with a mean (SD) 3.03 (0.89), "there is no collaboration by physicians in their implementation" with a mean (SD) 2.99 (0.90) and "there is not enough time at work to implement new ideas" with a mean (SD) 2.98 (1.03). CONCLUSION: the main barriers identified in this study by Nursing professionals who have participated are: lack of time, lack of knowledge regarding research methodology, and the perceived lack of support by the institutions