Quality of measurement properties of medication adherence instruments in cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Medication adherence has a major impact on reducing mortality and healthcare costs related to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Selecting the best patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) among the many available for this kind of patient is extremely important. This study aims to critically assess, compare and synthesize the quality of the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures to assess medication adherence among patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This review followed the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The searches were performed in Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, LILACS, PsycINFO, and ProQuest (gray literature). RESULTS: A total of 110 records encompassing 27 different PROMs were included in the review. The included records were published between 1986 and 2023, most of which reported studies conducted in the United States and were published in English. None of the PROMs were classified in the category "a", thus being recommended for use due to the quality of its measurement properties. The PROMs that should not be recommended for use (category "c") are the MTA, GMAS, DMAS-7, MALMAS, ARMS-D, and 5-item questionnaire. The remaining PROMs, e.g., MMAS-8, SMAQ, MEDS, MNPS, ARMS-12, MGT, MTA-OA, MTA-Insulin, LMAS-14, MARS-5, A-14, ARMS-10, IADMAS, MAQ, MMAS-5, ProMAS, ARMS-7, 3-item questionnaire, AS, 12-item questionnaire, and Mascard were considered as having the potential to be recommended for use (category "b"). CONCLUSION: None of the included PROMs met the criteria for being classified as trusted and recommended for use for patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, 21 PROMs have the potential to be recommended for use, but further studies are needed to ensure their quality based on the COSMIN guideline for systematic reviews of PROMs. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019129109.

Validity, sensitivity and specificity of a measure of medication adherence instrument among patients taking oral anticoagulants.

Although self-report instruments are currently considered a valuable tool for measuring adherence, due to their low cost and ease of implementation, there are still important factors that impact measurement accuracy, such as social desirability and memory bias. Thus, the Global Assessment of Medication Adherence Instrument (GEMA) was developed to provide an accurate measure of this construct. The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties of the measurement of the Global Evaluation of Medication Adherence Instrument (GEMA) among patients with chronic diseases. A methodological study was conducted in the public hospital of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The adherence to anticoagulants as well as the international normalized ratio (INR) was assessed on 127 patients. Besides GEMA, two other instruments were used to assess adherence: the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8) and the Measurement of Adhesion to Treatments (MAT). The GEMA presented a satisfactory level of specificity (0.76) to identify adherents among those with a stable INR, low sensitivity (0.43) for the identification of non-adherents among those with an unstable INR, and a Positive Predictive Value of 0.70. Positive and weak to moderate correlations were observed between the proportion of doses assessed with GEMA and the scores on the MMAS-8 (r = .26 and r = .22, respectively) and the MAT (r = .22 and r = .30, respectively). The GEMA presented good practicality, acceptability, and evidence of specificity regarding the stability of the INR. The validity of the construct was partially supported by the relationship with self-reported measures of adherence.

Driveline dressings used in heartmate patients and local complications: A retrospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Patients with long-term ventricular assist devices (VAD) are predisposed to infection, bleeding, and pressure injuries at the insertion of the driveline. There is no consensus on a driveline dressing protocol. Chlorhexidine is often used to clean the driveline exit site and has been associated with lower rates of infection. For driveline coverage, bacteriostatic agents and transparent film have shown good results, but are costly. The same issue was associated with anchorage devices. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the types of dressings used in the driveline of patients using HeartMate (HM) and to describe the incidence density of local complications (infection, bleeding, and pressure injury) within 30 days postoperatively. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted and included 22 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after implantation of HM II and III in a Brazilian private hospital. RESULTS: Several types of dressings were used in the drivelines. There were 22 different types of dressings. Dressing type 6 (Chlorhexidine, Excilon, Gauze and IV3000) were the most used (45.4%). Subjects using the Flexi-Trak anchoring device had a higher rate of local bleeding (50.0%) and those who used the Hollister device had more infection (61.1%) and pressure injury associated with a medical device (11.1%), compared to others. Infection was the primary complication (45.4%), followed by local bleeding (27.7%). CONCLUSION: Despite the high variability of products used in the driveline of patients using HeartMate, the dressing made with chlorhexidine, silver-impregnated absorbent foam and transparent film, and the use of anchoring devices was the most frequently used. Infection was the most common complication.

Methods to assess ambivalence towards food and diet: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Ambivalence towards food and diet, which favours behavioural inertia, might be a barrier to adopting healthier eating behaviours. Measuring it can help researchers to better understand its relationship with behaviour change and design interventions aimed at resolving it. In this scoping review, we map and describe methods and tools employed in studies to assess, measure or classify the ambivalence of participants towards food- and diet-related attitude objects. METHODS: In accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for conducting scoping reviews, we retrieved peer-reviewed studies from MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, FSTA and Food Science Source and preprints from PsyArXiv and MedRxiv. Two independent reviewers screened the articles. We considered for inclusion peer-reviewed studies and preprints that assessed the ambivalence of participants of any age, sex or sociodemographic group towards food and diet. RESULTS: We included 45 studies published between 1992 and 2022, which included participants from 17 countries. Eighteen methods were employed across the included studies to assess different types of ambivalence (felt, potential or cognitive-affective), the most frequent of which were the Griffin Index, the Subjective Ambivalence Questionnaire, the MouseTracker Paradigm and the Orientation to Chocolate Questionnaire. CONCLUSION: This scoping review identified several methods and tools to assess different types of ambivalence towards food- and diet-related objects, providing an array of options for future studies.

A Mobile Phone App Intervention to Promote Healthy Salt Intake Among Adults: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: There is sound evidence associating high salt intake and a greater risk of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular diseases. High salt intake has been observed in several populations worldwide. Therefore, promoting healthier salt consumption has been encouraged as a low-cost strategy to reduce this risk factor. However, these strategies need to be sound, built on theoretical and methodological bases, and consider the target population's context. OBJECTIVE: This protocol aims to describe a mobile phone app intervention to promote healthy salt intake among adults. METHODS: This is an experimental and longitudinal study protocol conducted in three modules. Module 1 refers to the planning of the intervention based on the Behaviour Change Wheel framework. Module 2 is the development of the mobile phone app intervention based on the date of module 1. In module 3, the intervention will be evaluated using a randomized controlled study, with three steps of data collection in a 2-month follow-up in a sample of 86 adults (43 participants for each group: the control group and intervention group) recruited from the primary health care centers of a Brazilian town. The discretionary salt intake questionnaire will assess salt consumption, the app usability will be assessed using the System Usability Scale, and psychosocial variables (habit, intention, and self-efficacy) will also be measured. RESULTS: Recruitment began in October 2021, and the follow-up will end in August 2022. The results of this study are expected to be published in 2023. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study will help people to control salt intake when cooking at home, will stimulate self-care, will work as an alternative or supportive method in the relationship between health care professionals and patients, and will contribute to implementing the app intervention to promote healthy salt intake on a large scale. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry RBR-4s8qyyq; https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4s8qyyq. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/37853.

Autocuidado e risco cardiometabólico em pessoas com hipertensão arterial em seguimento na atenção primária / Self-care and cardiometabolic risk in people with high arterial pressure following primary care

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o autocuidado e o risco cardiometabólico em pessoas com hipertensão arterial (HA) em seguimento clínico regular na atenção primária à saúde. Estudo analítico e transversal conduzido entre 86 pessoas com HA no interior do Estado de São Paulo, por meio da aplicação das versões brasileiras da Escala de Autocuidado de Hipertensão e do Escore de Risco Cardiometabólico de Framingham. Os participantes demonstraram níveis satisfatórios de confiança (71,3(14,7)), níveis insatisfatórios para manutenção (59,2(14,5)) e manejo (55,1(20,3)) do autocuidado na Escala de Autocuidado e 34,6% de chance de desenvolver infarto agudo do miocárdio nos próximos dez anos. Os indivíduos com menor idade apresentaram níveis de confiança satisfatórios em relação ao manejo do autocuidado, e observou-se maior risco cardiometabólico entre pessoas com diabetes e angina. Os indivíduos possuem confiança, mas demonstram inadequados manejo e manutenção do comportamento de autocuidado, e quanto menor a idade, melhor o manejo do autocuidado.

This study aimed evaluate self-care and cardiometabolic risk in people with arterial hypertension undergoing regular clinical follow-up in primary health care. Exploratory study conducted among people with hypertension in the interior of the State of São Paulo, through the application of the Brazilian versions of the Hypertension Self-Care Scale and the Framingham Cardiometabolic Risk Score. Participants demonstrated satisfactory levels of confidence (71.3 (14.7)) and unsatisfactory levels for Self-Care maintenance (59.2 (14.5)) and management (55.1 (20.3)), domains of the Scale Self-care; and a 34.6% chance of developing acute myocardial infarction in the next 10 years. The youngest individuals had satisfactory levels of confidence in relation to the management of self-care; and higher cardiometabolic risk was observed among people with diabetes and angina. No significant associations were found between the other variables. Individuals have confidence, but demonstrate inadequate Self-Care management and maintenance and the younger the better self-care management.

Content Validity of a Questionnaire Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior to Assess the Psychosocial Determinants of Insulin Adherence.

OBJECTIVES: To verify the content validity of questions of an insulin adherence questionnaire based on the Theory Planned Behavior in outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The instrument was derived from a tool created to evaluate psychosocial determinants of adherence to oral antidiabetics medications in the Brazilian context, and was submitted for evaluation by a committee of experts and members of the target population. The item-level content validity index, the scale-level content validity index averaging calculation method, and the modified kappa coefficient were used to evaluate agreement among specialists. The comprehensibility of the instrument by members of the target population was qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: The item-level content validity index was found to be lower than desired in 6 of the 20 items analyzed. Of these, one item was modified and 5 were excluded after the comprehensibility evaluation by members of the target population; one item from the perceived control scale was excluded. Content validation resulted in an instrument with 14 items, distributed in the domains intention (4 items), attitude (3 items), perceived norm (4 items), and perceived control (4 items) scales. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support good evidence of the content validity of the instrument for use among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy.

Validation of the Brazilian Version of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate-FACT-P (Version 4) in Prostate Cancer Patients.

The purpose of this study is to validate the Brazilian version of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate FACT-P (version 4) in nonmetastatic prostate cancer (PC) patients. Patients with histopathological diagnosis of PC were submitted to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires - SF-36 (Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short-Form Health Survey) and FACT-P (version 4). After 7 to 15 days, FACT-P (version 4) was reapplied in the sample's percentage that participated the first evaluation. Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to determine internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) certified stability. Correlations between FACT-P (version 4) and SF-36 tested convergent validity. Regarding known groups validity, the hypothesis tested was that FACT-P (version 4) is capable of discriminating HRQOL in patients with different PC risk classifications. A total of 112 patients with nonmetastatic PC were evaluated. Cronbach alpha coefficients (0.64-0.88) and ICC (0.75-0.93) obtained satisfactory results of reliability. Verified correlations (r 0.3-0.72) between FACT-P (version 4) and SF-36 suggest convergent validity. In the studied sample, FACT-P (version 4) was unable to discriminate HRQOL in nonmetastatic patients. The Brazilian version of FACT-P questionnaire (version 4) showed evidences of reliability and validity on evaluating HRQOL in Brazilian men with nonmetastatic PC.

Impact of a Theory-Based Intervention to Promote Medication Adherence in Patients With a History of Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Patient discontinuation of cardioprotective medications after a cardiac ischemic event commonly occurs early after hospital discharge. Theory-based interventions could be effective in promoting better patient self-regulation of health-related behaviors and positive intentions to adhere to the recommended medical regimen. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy and feasibility of a theory-based intervention to promote adherence to cardioprotective medications. METHODS: In this mixed-methods quasi-experimental study with 3 time points, we recruited 45 participants with a positive intention to adhere and a history of myocardial infarction. They were recruited in primary care units in Brazil. Data collection occurred in 2 waves (Tb and T60). The intervention consisted of developing action and coping plans, delivered in a 30-minute face-to-face session, with face-to-face reinforcement at a 30-day interval. Quantitative data were submitted to descriptive, Wilcoxon, and McNemar analyses; qualitative data were submitted to content analysis. RESULTS: An increase in the proportion of patients adhering to medications at the end of follow-up was found (T60 - Tb, +60.0%; P < .001). In addition, a significant reduction was found for blood pressure (T60 - Tb, -8.6 mm Hg; P < .001), heart rate (T60 - Tb, -6.6 bpm; P < .001), and low-density lipoprotein (T60 - Tb, -6.2 mg/dL; P < .05). Qualitative results revealed that the intervention was feasible, with an attrition rate of zero. The intervention was found to be easy to apply to patients' daily lives, and there was adequate time for implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the potential efficacy of a theory-based intervention on the promotion of adherence to cardioprotective medications and on the related clinical end points, as well as its feasibility in the clinical context (Universal Trial Number: U1111-1189-9967).

Factors related to patient adherence to the use of new oral anticoagulants / Factores relacionados a la adhesión de pacientes al uso de nuevos anticoagulantes orales / Fatores relacionados à adesão de pacientes ao uso de novos anticoagulantes orais

ABSTRACT Objective: To characterize the self-reported adherence of patients with cardiovascular diseases to the use of new oral anticoagulants and to identify factors related to adherence to these drugs. Method: This is a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study, carried out with outpatients. The collection of sociodemographic, clinical, and adherence data, through the Measurement of Adherence to Treatments, was made through telephone calls. Descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were used. Results: A total of 120 patients using new anticoagulants for 32.3 months, on average, participated in the study. More than half of the sample consisted of women, who were professionally inactive, with a mean age of 70.1 years and a mean family income of 6.7 minimum wages. The mean adherence score was 5.7, in a possible range between 1 and 6, indicating medication adherence. Inactive employment status, female sex, higher family income, and follow-up at a public outpatient clinic were related to greater adherence to these medications. Conclusion: The patients showed high adherence to new anticoagulants. Employment status, sex, family income, and type of outpatient follow-up were related to medication adherence, and should be considered in the design of interventions for this public.

RESUMEN Objetivo: caracterizar la adhesión autorrelatada de los pacientes con enfermedades cardiovasculares al uso de nuevos anticoagulantes orales e identificar los factores relacionados a la adhesión a esos medicamentos. Método: estudio descriptivo, correlacional y transversal, con paciente ingresado. La recolección de datos sociodemográficos, clínicos y de adhesión, por medio de la Medida de Adhesión a los Tratamientos, ocurrió a través del teléfono. Se utilizaron el análisis descriptivo, correlacional y de regresión lineal múltiple. Resultados: participaron del estudio 120 pacientes que utilizaron nuevos anticoagulantes por 32,3 meses, aproximadamente. Más de la mitad de la muestra estuvo compuesta de mujeres jubiladas, con edad promedia de 70,1 años y remuneración familiar promedia de 6,7 sueldos mínimos. El score promedio de adhesión fue de 5,7, dentro de un período posible entre 1 y 6, lo que indicó adhesión farmacológica. Conclusión: los pacientes presentaron elevada adhesión a los nuevos anticoagulantes. Situación laboral, sexo, renta familiar y tipo de acompañamiento en ambulatorio estuvieron relacionados a la adhesión farmacológica, debiendo ser considerados en la delineación de intervenciones para ese público.

Factors related to patient adherence to the use of new oral anticoagulants.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the self-reported adherence of patients with cardiovascular diseases to the use of new oral anticoagulants and to identify factors related to adherence to these drugs. METHOD: This is a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study, carried out with outpatients. The collection of sociodemographic, clinical, and adherence data, through the Measurement of Adherence to Treatments, was made through telephone calls. Descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were used. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients using new anticoagulants for 32.3 months, on average, participated in the study. More than half of the sample consisted of women, who were professionally inactive, with a mean age of 70.1 years and a mean family income of 6.7 minimum wages. The mean adherence score was 5.7, in a possible range between 1 and 6, indicating medication adherence. Inactive employment status, female sex, higher family income, and follow-up at a public outpatient clinic were related to greater adherence to these medications. CONCLUSION: The patients showed high adherence to new anticoagulants. Employment status, sex, family income, and type of outpatient follow-up were related to medication adherence, and should be considered in the design of interventions for this public.

Musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial factors and work ability in Brazilian labor justice workers.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of the electronic judicial process (PJe) in recent years is associated with an increase in workload and stricter control through productivity targets in the Brazilian labor judiciary. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relations between musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial factors and work ability in civil servants of a labor justice body in the context of the PJe. METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory study with a quantitative approach involving 449 workers. Sociodemographic, occupational and related data were collected through questionnaires validated in the Brazilian context. Data analysis was conducted by descriptive and inferential statistics: Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: There was a correlation between musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors (p < 0.05), as well as between both musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors with reduced work ability (p < 0.05). The multiple linear regression model pointed to the female gender and the dimensions "demands", "control" and "peer support" as related to the musculoskeletal symptoms. CONCLUSION: We highlight the importance of a broader approach, involving psychosocial factors in preventive actions related to musculoskeletal disorders considering the important relationship with work ability.

Psychometric properties of medication adherence instruments in cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacological treatment of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus reduces the risk of cardiovascular events.; however, most patients do not adhere to the treatment. There are several self-reported measures for assessing medication adherence. Identifying the instruments with the best psychometric evidence is essential for selecting an accurate measure. The aim of this study is to critically assess, compare and synthesize the quality of the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures to access medication adherence among patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This protocol is reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) and the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. The following databases will be searched: Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, LILACS, PsycINFO and ProQuest. DISCUSSION: This review will provide a detailed assessment of the measurement properties of self-reported medication adherence instruments in patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus to support clinical practice and research. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019129109.

Musculoskeletal symptoms and work ability in a context of electronic judicial process.

INTRODUCTION: The recent transformations undergone by Brazilian labor court, especially with the introduction of electronic process of law (processo judicial eletrônico [PJe]), had a significant influence on how people work. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms and work ability in public sector employees working in a specialized labor court body. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 449 workers, who provided demographic and occupational information and completed the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and the Work Ability Index (WAI). RESULTS: Symptoms occurred more frequently in wrists/hands (62.4%), shoulders (62.1%), and neck (60.4%) in the past 12 months, and in the neck (29.8%), shoulders (29.4%), and wrists/hands (29.2%) in the past 7 days. The mean WAI score was 38.7 (6.4), and 31.4% of participants had poor or moderate work ability. WAI scores were poorer when participants had previous problems, and the number of body segments involved in complaints was greater among those with inadequate work ability. CONCLUSIONS: Higher frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms in wrists/hands, shoulders, and neck may be related to using PJe for work and is associated with poorer work ability scores, highlighting the importance of preventive interventions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of Unna boot in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.

This systematic review determined the effectiveness of the Unna boot in the treatment of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) by assessing the quality of the available evidence. A systematic search of studies published between August 2019 and February 2020 was conducted using the PubMed, PubMed/PMC, BVS/BIREME, CINAHL, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, ProQuest, BDTD, CAPES Thesis and Dissertation, OPEN THESIS, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination and SciELO databases. Studies were eligible if they reported primary studies, controlled clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies or observational studies (cross-sectional studies or cohort studies). We identified 302 articles. After screening and critical appraisal, eight articles were included in this review, while six articles were included in the meta-analysis. Four studies were included in the outcome of complete ulcer healing rate with a weighted estimate of the odds ratio of 0.43 (95% CI = 0.188-1.01). No evidence of the presence of considerable heterogeneity was observed (p = 0.35, I2 = 32%). Two studies were assigned to the outcome time to complete ulcer healing (days) with a weighted estimated mean difference of 41.3 days (95% CI = 21.62-61.04). Evidence of the presence of considerable heterogeneity was observed (p = 0.01, I2 = 85%). The results showed a moderate degree of evidence that there is no difference in the healing rates of VLUs with the use of the Unna boot. For the time to complete ulcer healing, the low number of studies and low classification impaired the reporting at any level of evidence.

Relationship Between Anticoagulant Medication Adherence and Satisfaction in Patients With Stroke.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the self-reported measure of adherence and the relation between adherence to warfarin use, demographic and clinical variables, and the satisfaction with the treatment in patients affected by stroke. METHODS: This is a correlational, quantitative, and cross-sectional study, carried out in the outpatient clinics of a public university hospital from October 2017 to April 2018. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through interviews and hospital charts, as well as by applying the Measurement of Treatment Adherence (MTA) and the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale, in their Brazilian versions. Results of the international normalized ratio (INR) were collected. Measurements of accuracy of the MTA scale were calculated in relation to the INR classification. RESULTS: Of 99 patients (55.6% male with a mean age of 58.6 years), 57.6% presented with therapeutic INR values and 75.8% of the patients were adherent to the oral anticoagulant therapy according to the MTA. The accuracy analysis of the measurement provided by the MTA scale in relation to the INR classification showed a sensitivity of 77.2% and a specificity of 26.2%. The patients' satisfaction with the treatment was high. The Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale had an average total score of 46.4, with the dimension impact in the field having the highest score (20.3). CONCLUSION: Stroke patients were adherent and satisfied with the oral anticoagulant therapy. The MTA had good sensitivity and poor specificity. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics identified were not associated with adherence and satisfaction with treatment.

Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Version of the Nurses' Knowledge of High-Alert Medications Scale: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High-alert medication is considered to be a medication that presents a high risk of causing significant patient harm when used erroneously and its consequences can be fatal. The Nurses' Knowledge of High-Alert Medication scale (NKHAM) is a tool available to evaluate the knowledge of nurses in practice about this issue. AIM: This pilot study aimed to measure the reliability and known-groups validity of the Brazilian version of the NKHAM. METHODS: This pilot psychometric study was carried out at the Faculty of Nursing and University Hospital of the University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Forty nursing students and 44 registered nurses working in complex clinical or surgical settings completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Brazilian version of the NKHAM. The Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20) coefficient and Mann-Whitney test were used to establish reliability and known-groups validity. A significance level of ≤ 0.05 was adopted for all the analyses. RESULTS: Analyses demonstrated preliminary acceptable reliability scores of 0.55 and 0.60 in domains A and B of NKHAM, respectively. A significant difference was found between the nursing students' and the registered nurses' knowledge of high-alert medications, demonstrating the scale's ability to discriminate between the two groups. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Although this is pilot study, results suggest that the Brazilian version of the NKHAM might be a reliable and valid tool to measure nurses' knowledge of high-alert medications.

Cultural adaptation of the 5-D itch scale and its reliability for Brazilian burn survivors.

This was a methodological study whose objective was to culturally adapt the 5-D itch scale for Brazilian Portuguese and verify its practicability, acceptability and reliability for burn survivors. This study followed the five internationally recommended steps for the adaptation process: translation, synthesis, back translation, assessment by an expert committee and pretesting process; besides, an evaluation of its practicability, acceptability and reliability was conducted. The pretest was carried out with thirty burn survivors - hospitalized or on outpatient follow-up - from two public hospitals in the state of São Paulo. Most burn survivors were male (18; 60%), aged at mean of 39.2 (SD=11.1), with deep partial burn injuries (16; 59.3%), percentage of total burn surface area of 12.3 (SD=9.8); and most accidents occurred at domestic environment (18; 60%). The Brazilian version had semantic and idiomatic, conceptual and cultural equivalences, with a satisfactory content validity index for each item (CVI-I). Mean application time was 3.5minutes, acceptability was good, and there was evidence of reliability for the total score (0.793). The Brazilian version of the 5-D itch scale showed equivalence and evidence of reliability for assessing pruritus and its impact in burn survivors.

Retorno ao trabalho de pacientes com Síndrome Coronariana Aguda / Acute Coronary Syndrome patients' return to work

Resumo Introdução: as doenças cardiovasculares representam grande impacto de morbimortalidade para a sociedade brasileira. Objetivo: verificar o tempo para retorno ao trabalho de pacientes com Síndrome Coronária Aguda (SCA); identificar e correlacionar variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas, psicossociais e ocupacionais que podem influenciar nesse período e no desempenho no trabalho. Métodos: estudo transversal correlacional desenvolvido em 2015-2016 com 65 pacientes com SCA que retornaram ao trabalho. Instrumentos utilizados: Questionário de Caracterização; Questionário de Avaliação do Desempenho no Trabalho; Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire; MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life; Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão; e Impacto da Doença no Cotidiano do Valvopata. Foram aplicados: o teste de Mann-Whitney; pós-teste de Dunn; e coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. Resultados: o tempo médio para retorno ao trabalho foi de 7,3 meses. Os participantes que exerciam trabalho manual apresentaram tempo maior para retorno ao trabalho. O desempenho no trabalho foi fortemente correlacionado com a qualidade de vida e inversamente com ansiedade e depressão. Conclusão: os dados apontam a necessidade de desenvolvimento de estratégias a fim de promover o retorno ao trabalho de pacientes com SCA.

Abstract Introduction: cardiovascular diseases represent a major morbidity and mortality impact on the Brazilian society. Objective: to verify the Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients' time to return to work; and to identify and correlate sociodemographic, clinical, psychosocial, and occupational variables that may influence that time and their work performance. Methods: cross-sectional correlational study conducted in 2015-2016 with 65 ACS patients who returned to work. The instruments used were: Sociodemographic Questionnaire; Work Performance Evaluation Questionnaire; Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire; MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and Impact of Valvular Disease in Everyday Life. Mann-Whitney test, Dunn's posttest, and Spearman's correlation coefficient were applied. Results: participants took 7.3 months on average to return to work; the ones who performed manual labor took longer to do so. Professional performance was found to be strongly correlated with quality of life and, inversely, with anxiety and depression. Conclusion: data indicate the need to develop strategies to promote ACS patients' return to work.

Non-exhaustive double effort test is reliable and estimates the first ventilatory threshold intensity in running exercise.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the reliability of the non-exhaustive double effort (NEDE) test in running exercise and its associations with the ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) and the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS). METHODS: Ten healthy male adults (age: 23 ± 4 years, height: 176.6 ± 6.4 cm, body mass: 76.6 ± 10.7 kg) performed 4 procedures: (1) a ramp test for VT1 and VT2 determinations measured by ratio of expired ventilation to O2 uptake (VE/VO2) and expired ventilation to CO2 output (VE/VCO2) equivalents, respectively; (2) the NEDE test measured by blood lactate concentration (NEDELAC) and heart rate responses (NEDEHR); (3) a retest of NEDE for reliability analysis; and (4) continuous efforts to determine the MLSS intensity. The NEDE test consisted of 4 sessions at different running intensities. Each session was characterized by double efforts at the same running velocity (E1 and E2, 180 s), separated by a passive recovery period (90 s rest). LAC and HR values after E1 and E2 (in 4 sessions) were used to estimate the intensity equivalent to "null delta" by linear fit. This parameter represents, theoretically, the intensity equivalent to maximal aerobic capacity. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient indicated significant reliability for NEDELAC (0.93) and NEDEHR (0.79) (both p < 0.05). There were significant correlations, no differences, and strong agreement with the intensities predicted by NEDELAC (10.1 ± 1.9 km/h) and NEDEHR (9.8 ± 2.0 km/h) to VT1 (10.2 ± 1.1 km/h). In addition, despite significantly lower MLSS intensity (12.2 ± 1.2 km/h), NEDELAC and NEDEHR intensities were highly correlated with this parameter (0.90 and 0.88, respectively). CONCLUSION: The NEDE test applied to running exercise is reliable and estimates the VT1 intensity. Additionally, NEDE intensities were lower but still correlated with VT2 and MLSS.