Contribution of Attentional Networks to Basic Arithmetic Achievement in School-age Children / Contribución de las redes atencionales al rendimiento en aritmética básica en niños de edad escolar

Nowadays, there is still debate about the origin of arithmetic disabilities. Two predominant hypotheses have been developed in this regard: 1) difficulties in arithmetic appear due to a deficit in domain-specific skills (numerical skills) and 2) there is a strong relationship between the development of the domain-general processes and arithmetical skills. In this study we explore the specific contribution of orienting and executive control attentional networks to individual variability in basic mental arithmetic. Participants were elementary school children, from second to third grade, with and without difficulties in basic mental arithmetic. Results provide support for the two proposed hypotheses. Children with difficulties in arithmetic showed difficulties both in numerical skills and in attentional networks. These findings suggest that arithmetic difficulties may be associated with a heterogeneous combination of deficits, including difficulties in attentional functioning.

En la actualidad existe aún debate sobre el origen de las dificultades en aritmética. Se han desarrollado dos hipótesis predominantes al respecto: 1) las dificultades en aritmética aparecen por un déficit en las capacidades de dominio específico (capacidades numéricas) y 2) hay una estrecha relación entre el desarrollo de los procesos de dominio general y las habilidades aritméticas. En este estudio se explora la contribución específica de las redes de atención ejecutiva y orientación atencional a la explicación de la varianza en aritmética básica. Participaron niños de segundo y tercer grado de primaria, con y sin dificultades en aritmética básica. Nuestros resultados ofrecen sustento a las dos hipótesis propuestas, ya que los niños con dificultades en aritmética mostraron dificultades tanto en las capacidades numéricas como en las redes atencionales. Estos hallazgos sugieren que las dificultades en aritmética pudieran estar asociadas a una combinación heterogénea de déficits, incluyendo dificultades en el funcionamiento atencional.

Research orientations related to guidance and counselling programmes: A content analysis study / Orientaciones de investigación relacionadas con los programas de orientación y asesoramiento: un estudio de análisis de contenido

Guidance and psychological counselling services, which are seen as an integral part of the education system, refer to the whole of systematic services offered in line with a certain plan and programme. Guidance and counselling programmes (G&CP) are of considerable importance in the provision of these services based on data and evidence and in obtaining the expected efficiency from the services. The aim of this study is to evaluate the studies on G&CP in terms of content analysis, to reveal the current situation and to determine the scientific research orientations related to these studies. With this study, it was aimed that field staff, educators and researchers should recognise the gaps in the G&CP field, gain different perspectives on their fields of study and shed light on new research in this field. The data related to this study, which was designed according to the descriptive survey model using qualitative research methodology, were obtained by document review method. In connection with the topic of re-search, 105 graduate thesis studies in the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database between 2007 and 2019 and 133 journal articles in the Web of Science database were examined. The obtained data were evaluated using the descriptive content analysis method. Studies on the subject have in-creased in recent years and more than half of the research has been carried out in the United States. It was observed that experimental studies were conducted using the most quantitative research methodology, that more emphasis was placed on the programme evaluation process and that sample groups at different levels, especially school counsellors, were studied. Additionally, there are some findings supporting that there are more studies concerning community-based preventive and intervention programmes than school-based studies, and also supporting the fact that school-related researches are especially paying attention to investigate the effects of the programme, perceptions and experiences of the programme, programme design and programme evaluation. Finally, the results from the research findings were interpreted and the recommendations for the researchers were presented

Los servicios de orientación y asesoramiento psicológico, que se consideran parte integrante del sistema educativo, se refieren al conjunto de servicios sistemáticos que se ofrecen de acuerdo con un determinado plan y programa. Los programas de orientación y asesoramiento (POA) son de considerable importancia en la prestación de estos servicios basados en datos y pruebas y en la obtención de la eficiencia esperada de los servicios. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar los estudios sobre POA en términos de análisis de contenido, revelar la situación actual y determinar las orientaciones de investigación científica relacionadas con estos estudios. Con este estudio, se pretendía que el personal de campo, los educadores y los investigadores reconocieran los desajustes en el campo de POA, obtengan diferentes perspectivas sobre sus campos de estudio y arrojen luz sobre nuevas investigaciones en este campo. Los datos relacionados con este estudio, que fue diseñado según el modelo de encuesta descriptiva utilizando metodología de investigación cualitativa, se obtuvieron mediante el método de revisión de documentos. En relación con el tema de investigación, se examinaron 105 estudios de tesis de posgrado en la base de datos de tesis y disertaciones de ProQuest entre 2007 y 2019, y 133 artículos de revistas en la base de datos de Web of Science. Los datos obtenidos se evaluaron mediante el método de análisis de contenido descriptivo. Los estudios sobre el tema han aumentado en los últimos años y más de la mitad de las investigaciones se han realizado en Estados Unidos. Se observó que los estudios experimentales se realizaron utilizando la metodología de investigación más cuantitativa, que se puso más énfasis en el proceso de evaluación del programa y que se estudiaron grupos de muestra de diferentes niveles, especialmente orientadores escolares. Además, hay algunos hallazgos que respaldan que hay más estudios sobre programas de intervención y prevención basados en la comunidad que estudios basados en la escuela, y también respaldan el hecho de que las investigaciones relacionadas con la escuela están prestando especial atención a investigar los efectos, las percepciones y experiencias, el diseño y la evaluación del programa. Finalmente, se interpretaron los resultados de los hallazgos de la investigación y se presentaron las recomendaciones para los investigadores

The Reliability and Validity of an Assessment Tool for Developmental Dyslexia in Chinese Children.

Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder in children. It refers to the phenomenon in which children with normal intelligence lag significantly behind their peers in reading ability. In China, there is no unified standard for the assessment of dyslexia due to the use of simplified and traditional Chinese characters in different regions. This study was aimed at analyzing the reliability and validity of the self-developed Chinese dyslexia assessment tool named Chinese Reading Ability Test (CRAT), which was suitable for students of grade 3 to 5 in primary school. We randomly selected three primary schools in Shantou city of China, including two in the central district and one in the surrounding district. A total of 1492 students of grades 3 through 5 were recruited. We assessed the reliability of CRAT by test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The validity assessment was realized by discriminant validity, content validity and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). For reliability, the test-retest correlation coefficient of the total score of the CRAT was 0.671. The difference between the test-retest was not statistically significant. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the CRAT was 0.75. For validity, the correlation coefficient between the score of each subscale and the total score of the scale ranged from 0.29 to 0.73. The indexes of the three structural equation models all meet the standard (p > 0.05, χ2/df < 2.00, RMSEA < 0.05, GFI > 0.90, AGFI > 0.90, NFI > 0.90, CFI > 0.90 and IFI > 0.90). The fitting effects of the models were good. The CRAT has sufficient reliability and validity which could be used for the assessment and auxiliary diagnosis of Chinese Dyslexia in primary school students of grade 3 to 5.

Acute poisoning among children and adolescents in southern Norway. / Akutt forgiftning blant barn og ungdom i Agder.

BACKGROUND: Self-inflicted poisoning is common in adolescents and is a risk factor for suicide. The aim of this study was to survey the circumstances surrounding hospitalisations due to acute poisoning in patients aged up to 18 years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: All hospitalisations in the Departments of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Sørlandet Hospital Trust (Arendal and Kristiansand) due to acute poisoning in the period 1 August 2014-31 July 2015 were prospectively recorded with the aid of a form completed during the admission. RESULTS: There were 88 hospitalisations distributed among 68 adolescents (mean age 15.5 years, SD 1.5) and 13 children (mean age 2.8 years, SD 2.8). The poisoning was categorised as self-harm behaviour in 32 (47 %) of the adolescents, and as substance misuse-related in 35 (52 %). In total, 37 (54 %) of the adolescents had been or were under treatment at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Fifteen (22 %) of the adolescents were deemed to be suicidal. Thirty (94 %) of the adolescents who reported self-harm as the intention behind their poisoning were offered further follow-up at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, along with 7 (20 %) of the group with substance misuse-related poisoning. INTERPRETATION: Adolescents who reported self-harm as their intention were usually offered further follow-up, whereas adolescents with substance misuse-related poisoning were rarely offered follow-up.

[Dropout from Specialty Training is determined by the perception of autonomy and treatment efficacy]. / 6 av 10 ST-läkare på BUP funderar på att hoppa av - Upplevelse av brist på effektiv psykologisk behandling och låg autonomi på arbetsplatsen främsta orsaker.

The Swedish Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry conducted a survey among their specialty trainees in 2018. Of the 48% response rate, around 48% admitted hesitancy to continue in their chosen specialty. A further 12% planned to depart from their field after completion of training. Factors associated with discontinuation in training were the perception of ineffective psychotherapeutic treatments and a lack of autonomy at work; which was strongly correlated to the doctor's role and team collaboration. Workload was generally perceived as excessive, with not enough time for after work recovery and the subsequent negative impact on private life. However, these factors were not found to significantly affect trainees' decision to leave. The doctor's role requires better clarification and medical leadership needs to be improved, so that evidence based treatments can be offered.

Impact of a social skills program on children's stress: A cluster randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Most preschool children in Western industrialized countries attend child care during the day while parents work. Studies suggest that child care may be stressful to young children, perhaps because they still lack the social skills to interact daily in a group setting away from parents. This gap in social abilities may be greater for children in lower-income families, who may face more adversity at home, with fewer resources and more social isolation. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 2013-2014 to test whether a social skills intervention led by early childhood educators within the child care center could reduce diurnal cortisol levels to more typical patterns expected of children this age. We randomized 19 public child care centers (n = 361 children) in low-income neighborhoods of Montreal, Canada, to either: 1) the Minipally program - intervention group (n = 10 centers; 186 children), or 2) waiting list - control group (n = 9 centers; 175 children). Saliva samples for cortisol levels were collected 3 times/day, pre- and post-implementation. The Minipally puppet program consists of 2 workshops/month for 8 months for the development of social skills and self-regulation in 2-5-year-olds, with reinforcement activities between workshops. Educators received 2-days' training and 12 h' supervision in Minipally. RESULTS: Linear mixed models for repeated measures revealed a significant interaction between intervention status and time of day of cortisol sampling (ß = -0.18, p = 0.04). The intervention group showed patterns of decreasing diurnal cortisol secretion (ß = -0.32, p < 0.01), whereas the control group showed increasing slopes (ß = 0.20, p < 0.01). Moreover, family income was a moderator; children in lower-income families benefited most from the intervention. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that a social skills training program, when integrated into a preschool education curriculum, can foster an environment more conducive to typical childhood patterns of cortisol secretion.

Quality of both parents' cognitive guidance and quantity of early childhood education: Influences on pre-mathematical development.

BACKGROUND: Only a handful of longitudinal studies have explored the effects of both parents in early parenthood on children's cognitive development, and no study has controlled for simultaneous early childhood education and care (ECEC) experiences. AIMS: To examine the similarity of each parent's cognitive guidance and contribution to children's pre-mathematical outcomes across parent gender while controlling for amount of ECEC. SAMPLE: A longitudinal study on 66 Finnish two-parent families and their children. METHODS: Both parents' autonomy support and scaffolding behaviour were observed during play interactions with the child at 2;0. Children's numerical and spatial skills were tested at 3;0 and 4;0. Parental reports on amount of ECEC in months were collected at 2;0, 3;0, and 4;0. RESULTS: The two parenting constructs were conceptually similar across parent gender as demonstrated by fairly strong measurement equivalence. While mothers on average showed more scaffolding and equal amounts of autonomy support compared to fathers during play interaction, they displayed less variability in the former and more variability in the latter behaviour. The contribution of mothers' and fathers' cognitive guidance was more similar for children's numerical than spatial development. Both parents' education positively predicted autonomy support but not amount of ECEC exposure, which was positively related to numerical development. As expected, parents' education did not predict ECEC exposure, and child gender was not related to child outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are discussed in relation to measurement invariance and gender-neutral parenting in the context of early childhood.

Rodinha de conversa - um olhar para a saúde mental infantil na atenção básica / Yarning circle - a look at children's mental health in basic attention

A partir da observação da alta demanda de questões relacionadas à saúde mental de crianças e adolescentes, verificou-se uma necessidade de proporcionar um espaço de acolhimento para questões referentes à temática da saúde mental infantil. O espaço foi criado para que essas questões, que muitas vezes ficam polarizadas entre olhares das equipes de Educação e CAPSi, sejam acompanhadas e referenciadas nas Unidades de Saúde da Família. O trabalho é feito com as crianças e seus responsáveis e são acompanhados por membros da USAFA e NASF. Ainda que existam dificuldades no processo de implementação do grupo, tal espaço auxilia na organização do fluxo da saúde mental infantil, diminui a demanda dos CAPS infantis, colabora para despatologização do comportamento infantil e auxilia no acolhimento das angústias dos responsáveis. O trabalho segue em construção, para que possamos garantir uma rede acolhedora, que enxergue o usuário que a acessa de forma integral e humanizada, como o SUS preconiza.

Creencias de directivos escolares: implicancias en el liderazgo pedagógico / School leaders' beliefs: implications in the educational leadership / Crenças de diretores escolares: implicações na liderança pedagógica

El objetivo del artículo consiste en develar las creencias que poseen líderes escolares sobre diseño de enseñanza, proceso de aprendizaje y evaluación, según enfoque pedagógico por transmisión o construcción. El trabajo se suscribe a la investigación educativa. Participan 10 directivos que lideran centros educativos de educación primaria y secundaria, región de La Araucanía, Chile. Para recoger información se aplica un cuestionario de escala tipo Likert y se realiza un grupo de discusión entre los participantes. Los resultados cuantitativos reflejan que coexisten creencias híbridas en el pensamiento directivo desde enfoques pedagógicos por transmisión y construcción. Sin embargo, al analizar el contenido discursivo, emergen las creencias por transmisión. En conclusión, prevalecen creencias directivas con un enfoque pedagógico por transmisión que subyace a la toma de decisiones de estos líderes. Surge la necesidad de una formación directiva centrada en un liderazgo pedagógico que tensione y reconstruya las creencias de directores escolares.

The aim of this article is to reveal the beliefs that leaders have on the instructional design, learning and assessment process, according to the pedagogical approach by transmission or construction. The work subscribes to the educational research. There, participated 10 principals who lead schools in primary and secondary education, in Araucania region, Chile. To collect the information, a questionnaire Likert scale is applied and is done in a group discussion among participants. The quantitative results show that hybrid beliefs coexist in the principal thinking from pedagogical approaches b transmission and construction. However, when analyzing the discursive content, transmission beliefs emerge. In conclusion, prevailing the principal beliefs with a pedagogical approach underlying transmission decisions of these leaders. Arises the need of management training focused on pedagogical leadership that stresses and rebuild the beliefs of school principals.

O objetivo deste artigo consiste em revelar as crenças que possuem os líderes escolares sobre projeto de ensino, processo de aprendizagem e avaliação, segundo o enfoque pedagógico por transmissão ou construção. O trabalho se subscreve à investigação educativa. Participam 10 diretores que lideram centros educativos de educação primária e secundária da região da Araucanía, Chile. Para recolher as informações, se aplica um questionário de escala tipo Likert e se realiza um grupo de discussão entre os participantes. Os resultados quantitativos refletem que coexistem crenças híbridas no pensamento dos diretores desde os enfoques pedagógicos por transmissão e construção. No entanto, ao analisar o conteúdo discursivo, emergem as crenças por transmissão. Em conclusão, prevalecem as crenças com enfoque pedagógico por transmissão que subjaz à tomada de decisão destes líderes. Surge a necessidade de uma formação diretiva centrada na liderança pedagógica que tencione e reconstrua as crenças de diretores escolares.

Short-term outcome of functional integrity of the auditory brainstem in term infants who suffer perinatal asphyxia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess short-term outcome of impaired functional integrity of the auditory brainstem in term infants who suffer perinatal asphyxia. METHODS: Maximum length sequence brainstem auditory evoked response (MLS BAER) was recorded and analyzed at a mean age of 3months in term infants after perinatal asphyxia. The data were compared with age-matched normal term infants. RESULTS: The infants after asphyxia showed an increase in the latency of MLS BAER wave III at 91, 455 and 910/s, and wave V at all click rates of 91-910/s. The interpeak intervals in the infants after asphyxia were increased at almost all click rates. The IV and I-III intervals were increased at all click rates, and the III-V interval was increased at 455 and 910/s. These increases were generally more significant at higher than at lower click rates. The amplitudes of waves I, III and V in the infants after asphyxia were reduced at all click rates. The V/I amplitude ratio was increased at 91-455/s clicks. The slope of III-V interval-rate function was abnormally increased. 17.1% of the infants after asphyxia had an abnormal increase in IV intervals. CONCLUSIONS: MLS BAER was moderately abnormal at 3months of age in term infants after perinatal asphyxia, suggesting moderate impairment in the functional integrity of the auditory brainstem. The impairment occurs in 17.1% of the infants. Compared with that found at term, the impairment has improved, but not completely recovered.

A Clinical Care Algorithmic Toolkit for Promoting Screening and Next-Level Assessment of Pediatric Depression and Anxiety in Primary Care.

With a documented shortage in youth mental health services, pediatric primary care (PPC) providers face increased pressure to enhance their capacity to identify and manage common mental health problems among youth, such as anxiety and depression. Because 90% of U.S. youth regularly see a PPC provider, the primary care setting is well positioned to serve as a key access point for early identification, service provision, and connection to mental health services. In the context of task shifting, we evaluated a quality improvement project designed to assist PPC providers in overcoming barriers to practice-wide mental health screening through implementing paper and computer-assisted clinical care algorithms. PPC providers were fairly successful at changing practice to better address mental health concerns when equipped with screening tools that included family mental health histories, next-level actions, and referral options. Task shifting is a promising strategy to enhance mental health services, particularly when guided by computer-assisted algorithms.

Indicadores para uma proposta de orientação a familiares de crianças com alterações de linguagem em atendimento fonoaudiológico / Indicators for a family guidance proposal for families of children in Speech Therapy / Indicadores para una propuesta de orientación a las familias de los niños con trastornos del lenguaje en la terapia fonoaudiológica

Objetivo: Desenvolver um levantamento de indicadores para elaboração de uma proposta de orientação a familiares das crianças com alterações de linguagem em atendimento fonoaudiológico, baseado na compreensão das suas necessidades. Método: Em três diferentes momentos do processo terapêutico, 22 familiares de crianças atendidas, entre 2 a 11 anos, participaram de entrevistas semiestruturadas, baseadas na metodologia qualitativa. A análise das entrevistas resultou em 18 indicadores, especificando, para cada um deles, objetivos e sugestões de condutas. Resultados: A partir desses indicadores, uma proposta de intervenção foi construída para ajudar o profissional a atender as necessidades dos familiares, baseado nas suas perspectivas. Conclusão: A literatura conta com poucos estudos sobre intervenções fonoaudiológicas com famílias, logo, este estudo considerou as necessidades dos familiares, para enfatizar a importância de acolher a família e assegurar o respeito às singularidades do paciente e de seus familiares.

Objective: To develop a chart with indicators to help elaborate a family guidance proposal for families of children suffering from language disorders and undergoing speech therapy. That will be done by understanding the families' needs. Method: In 3 different moments of the treatment process, 22 family members of children between 2 and 11 years old who were in treatment, participated in semi-structured interviews for a qualitative enquiry. The analysis of the interviews resulted in 18 indicators, each of them specifying a goal and a guideline for the speech therapist. Results: Based on these indicators, a guidance proposal was constructed to help the professional to attend to the families' needs, as understood from their perspective. Conclusion: The literature offers few studies about family guidance in speech therapy. Therefore, the present study is based on the needs of the families, emphasizing the importance of taking the family in and guaranteeing respect for the singularities of both patients and their relatives.

Objetivo: Desarrollar una investigación de indicadores para preparar una propuesta de orientación a las familias de los niños con trastornos del lenguaje en la terapia fonoaudiológica, basado en la comprensión de sus necesidades. Método: En tres distintos momentos del proceso terapéutico fonoaudiológico, 22 familiares de niños en tratamiento, entre 2 y 11 años participaron de entrevistas semiestructuradas basadas en la metodología cualitativa. Del analisis de las entrevistas, resultaron 18 indicadores y se especifico, para cada una de ellos, metas y sugerencias de conductas. Resultados: A partir de estes indicadores, una propuesta de intervención fue construida para ayudar al Fonoaudiólogo para atender las necesidades de las familias, en fución de sus perspectivas. Conclusión: La literatura tiene pocos estudios sobre las intervenciones fonoaudiológica con las familias, por lo que este estudio tuvo en cuenta las necesidades de las familias para destacar la importancia de acojerlas y garantizar el respeto a las singularidades del paciente y de sus familias.

Proyecto de Trabajo: Prevención de Adicciones en Escuelas Medias / PREVENTION OF ADDITIONS IN MEDIAN SCHOOLS

This article details a work design called "Prevention of additions in Median Schools". The objective of the Program of Scholastic Health is to support and to improve the quality of life of the members of the educative community facibilitating their access to the Primary Attention of Health. Related to health, the authors describe specifically the netting supplied by the General Hospital for Acute Diseases "Juan Fernandez" from the city of Buenos Aires. The specific objective is to emphasize the attention in sectors of Health and Education for the development of the subprogram "prevention of additions", with special consideration to primary and median schools

The relationship between parents with a history of childhood problems and incidence of consequent child abuse.

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors related to the need for cooperation with child guidance centers with a focus on the presence or absence of a history of childhood problems in at-risk parents receiving support from their municipality. Among the 1890 parents who received child care support from public health nurses in the municipalities, 164 parents (8.7%) had a history of childhood problems. Among these, 50 parents (30.5%) received support from child guidance centers. The parents with a history of childhood problems had a higher incidence rate for receiving support from child guidance centers than other parents. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that "marital strife or domestic violence", and "financial problems" were associated with consultations with child guidance centers among parents with a history of childhood problems. The results showed that family situations of parents who had a history of childhood problems may, in time, become more severe, even if they have received support from public health nurses in the municipalities. Therefore, parents with a history of childhood problems need support as early as possible. In addition, those parents with "marital strife or domestic violence" and "financial problems" also need guidance and early nursing care interventions. J. Med. Invest. 63: 209-215, August, 2016.