Relationship between sense of coherence and health-related behaviours in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The sense of coherence is developed through the learning process and contributes to the positioning of individuals in the health-disease continuum, facilitating successful and adaptive personal outcomes. Health-related behaviours represent a health determinant of utmost importance for public health and the development of adolescent and youth health promotion policies, as they are related to the main risk factors and problems of morbidity and mortality in our society. Previous studies have analysed the relationship between sense of coherence and only some individual health outcomes such as oral health, the relationship of sense of coherence with smoking and alcohol consumption, concluding that salutogenic factors are related to quality of life and preventive behaviours. The aim of this systematic review was to describe the relationship of sense of coherence with different health-related behaviours investigated so far in the adolescent and youth population. METHODS: A systematic review was carried out in databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and PsycInfo) and in the bibliographies of the retrieved articles, without limitation of time or language. Associations between sense of coherence and health-related behaviours have been assessed. RESULTS: A total of 1214 investigations were reviewed and 21 of them were included in this systematic review. The relationship between sense of coherence and eight health-related behaviours were identified (alcohol use, physical activity, tobacco use, eating habits, rest periods, use of illegal substances, behaviours related to oral health and time spent in games on the computer). CONCLUSIONS: Our results increase the available evidence and support the solid relationship of the sense of coherence with health behaviours both as a protective factor against risk behaviours and for its positive association with preventive and health promoting behaviours of adolescents, young adults and university students.

[Motives and perceptions of family care for dependent elderly]. / Motivos y percepciones del cuidado familiar de mayores dependientes.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze the motives that lead people to take care of a dependent relative and their perceptions of the care situation. DESIGN: Phenomenological qualitative study. LOCATION: The study was conducted in the Jaén-Norte Sanitary District, during 2013 and 2014. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 13 primary caregivers of dependent elderly relatives with a minimum experience of one year in care participated, selected by intentional sampling. METHOD: Discourse analysis of 13 in-depth interviews considering the semantic and pragmatic content and field notes. Triangulation was performed in the analysis to favor the credibility of the study. RESULTS: The motives for caring for a dependent relative are:'Familism','Material gains' and'Social pressure'. In turn, the'Familism' include 7 dimensions/motives:'Family obligation','Affection to the person taken care of','Return the received','Well-being of the person taken care of','Respect to the decision of the person taken care of','Agreement','Habit'. When the main motive to take care of is the'Family obligation', the'Material gains' or the'Social pressure' caregivers do not manifest positive perceptions for caring, and vice versa. CONCLUSION: This study has identified that'Familism','Material gains' and'Social pressure' are reasons why people care for a dependent relative in our sociocultural environment, as well as the relationship with the perception of the care situation. This will facilitate the identification of caregivers with greater predisposition to suffer negative consequences for caring and the development of interventions aimed at the prevention of such consequences.

Memory complaints in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: More prospective or retrospective?

OBJECTIVE: Patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), usually considered an early stage of Alzheimer's disease, have deficits not only in retrospective memory (RM), that is, recalling of past events, words or people, but also on prospective memory (PM), the cognitive ability of remembering to execute delayed intentions in the future. This study investigated whether patients with aMCI refer more PM complaints as compared with RM complaints, and whether this might depend upon short-term vs long-term items or time-based vs event-based tasks. METHODS: Patients with aMCI (n = 178) and healthy controls (n = 160) underwent the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ), a 16-item instrument to appraise differences between PM and RM complaints, as well as a general mental state examination, a subjective memory complaints questionnaire, objective memory tests, and assessment of depressive symptoms and activities of daily living. RESULTS: Patients with aMCI reported more memory complaints evaluated with the PRMQ (total score = 44.3 ± 10.8) as compared with controls (36.7 ± 9.8, P < 0.001). Using a mixed effect repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that participants generally referred more retrospective than prospective memory complaints. Patients with aMCI had significantly more complaints on short-term memory as compared with long-term memory, and more complaints in time-based (auto-initiated) as compared with event-based tasks, than healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with aMCI reported significantly more difficulties on short-term memory, presumably reflecting internal temporal lobe pathology typical of Alzheimer's disease, and more complaints on time-based tasks, which are cognitively very demanding, but did not seem particularly troubled regarding prospective memory.

The start of caring for an elderly dependent family member: a qualitative metasynthesis.

BACKGROUND: The family often takes care of an elderly person who suddenly becomes dependent. This greatly affects different aspects of the caregivers' lives. The aim of this study is to explore the initial experiences, during the first year of care, of persons who suddenly become caregivers for elderly dependent relatives. METHODS: A search in CINAHL, PsycINFO, WOS, Medline, and Scopus and a metasynthesis of qualitative research were conducted including 19 articles. RESULTS: Three categories were developed to explain the process of becoming a caregiver 'taking on the role' (life changes, uncertainty and confusion, and acceptance or resistance); 'beginning to realise' (new needs, impact, and appraisal); and 'implementing strategies' (seeking help and self-learning, reordering family and social relationships, solving problems, and devising strategies to decrease negative emotions and stress). CONCLUSIONS: The synthesis provides a comprehensive understanding of the experience of becoming a caregiver in order to help health-care professionals to adapt care plans to this situation.

[The first moments of the carer: The process of becoming a caregiver of a dependent elderly relative]. / Primeros momentos del cuidado: el proceso de convertirse en cuidador de un familiar mayor dependiente.

AIM: Describe the initial process through which people who imminently become caregivers of a dependent elderly relative. DESIGN: Qualitative study, for which its analysis has been directed by Grounded Theory principles. LOCATION: This study was conducted in the Health Districts of Jaén, during 2015 and 2016 at the community level. PARTICIPANTS AND/OR CONTEXTS: The recruitment was carried out by managers of the Health Centres of each Health District, who located the participants who met the inclusion criteria and invited them to participate in the study. METHOD: Eleven in-depth interviews were carried out, until saturation of information, on individuals who had been caring for an older relative with dependency for less than one year. RESULTS: Three phases have been described during this process. An initial phase of changes, in which the caregiver assumes new activities; a second phase full of emotions, in which the needs and consequences emerge in caregivers; and a third phase that emphasises acceptance as a coping strategy and uncertainty as an expectation of the future. DISCUSSION: The description of this process provides a comprehensive understanding of the experience of becoming a family caregiver, in order to help health professionals to adapt to the plans of care for this initial situation.

Evaluating Satisfaction and Self-Confidence among Nursing Students in Clinical Simulation Learning.

BACKGROUND: Clinical simulation is effective in nursing student education, fostering autonomous learning and critical skill development in safe environments. This method is adaptable to dynamic educational approaches and integrates technology. Satisfaction and self-confidence are key elements in its evaluation. The general objective of this research was to describe the levels of satisfaction and self-confidence among undergraduate nursing students regarding the use of clinical simulation in the field of family and community nursing. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the University of Jaén, Spain, during the 2023/2024 academic year. Data on sociodemographic aspects, satisfaction, and self-confidence were collected using a validated instrument. The statistical analysis included central measures, dispersion, and frequencies, with confidence intervals. RESULTS: The study involved 96 students in scenario 1 (family assessment) and 97 in scenario 2 (family intervention), with the majority being women. In scenario 1, the mean satisfaction score was 4.38 out of 5, and self-confidence was scored 4.44 out of 5. Prior preparation time correlated significantly with higher levels of satisfaction and self-confidence. In scenario 2, the mean scores were slightly higher but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated high levels of satisfaction and self-confidence among nursing students following clinical simulations. Prior preparation was associated with better outcomes, and the quality of the simulation positively impacted the results.

Factors Influencing Nutritional Status in Hospitalized Individuals Aged 70 and Above.

BACKGROUND: Older adults are vulnerable to malnutrition due to physical, psychological, and social factors. Malnutrition, a prevalent and modifiable issue in this population, is associated with an elevated risk of adverse clinical outcomes. The purpose of the study is to assess the nutritional status of older adult individuals admitted to a general hospital and examine its correlation with socio-health and demographic variables. METHODS: The study included 239 individuals aged 70 and above, employing a cross-sectional descriptive observational approach with a convenience sampling method. Sociodemographic information was gathered, and variables such as cognitive impairment, functional capacity, comorbidities, medication consumption, and nutritional status were evaluated. Statistical analysis involved descriptive calculations, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis, utilizing binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Approximately half of the sample were at risk of malnutrition, with a more notable prevalence among women. Factors such as age (OR = 1.04), cognitive impairment (OR = 1.06), functional dependence (OR = 0.96), and comorbidities (OR = 1.08) were linked to an elevated risk of malnutrition. In our regression model, age, cognitive impairment, and drug consumption emerged as significant predictors of malnutrition risk. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals aged 70 and above have a notably high prevalence of malnutrition risk, particularly among those experiencing functional dependence and cognitive impairment. In our sample, cognitive impairment in older adults, coupled with above-median drug consumption, emerges as the primary predictor for malnutrition risk.

Evaluation of the Use of Project-Based Learning in the Nursing Degree.

Project-based learning (PBL) is a teaching methodology that allows students to acquire knowledge and competencies through the completion of projects that respond to real-life problems. The aims of this study were to evaluate the acquisition of knowledge of students of the Aging Nursing subject through a PBL-based intervention and determine the degree of student satisfaction with the use of this methodology. A mixed, quasi-experimental, pre-post study was conducted without a control group using an educational intervention based on PBL and descriptive phenomenology with content analysis of the experiences reported after it. A knowledge questionnaire about nursing homes was administered before the start of the intervention. After using PBL to carry out the subject project, the same knowledge questionnaire and an ad hoc questionnaire on satisfaction, assessment, and improvement aspects were administered. In total, 111 nursing students participated. The difference in knowledge after the educational intervention was significant. The mean pre-intervention score was 5.56, SD 1.50, and the mean post-intervention score was 7.14, SD 1.59, (p = 0.001). In total, 74% of the students stated that they were very satisfied with the use of this methodology. The students had a positive perspective on the process of acquiring knowledge that PBL allows. The students improved their knowledge about the planning and management of nursing homes with the use of the project-based learning teaching methodology. They were very satisfied with said activity. Teachers must be adequately trained for the correct implementation of this teaching methodology. This study was not registered.

Perceptions, Motivations, and Empowerment Strategies of Midwives in Rural and Remote Areas of Northern Morocco.

The shortage of midwives is a problem in rural and remote areas. This is mainly the consequence of job insecurity and difficult living conditions. The present study aimed to identify and analyse the perceptions and motivations of midwives in rural and remote areas of northern Morocco on the quality of their working life and the motivational factors and empowerment strategies they use to maintain and develop their work. It is a qualitative study that follows Van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenology approach. Three focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 midwives from rural and remote areas. The results indicate that midwives in rural and remote areas have a negative perception of the quality of the work and their personal life because of the scarcity of basic resources, unfavourable working conditions, and the personal sacrifices they have to make to support themselves. However, some factors favour their efforts. Therefore, there is a need to promote intersectoral policies that focus on improving material and human resources, as well as the working and personal conditions of midwives and the factors that support and empower them.

Hereditary breast cancer and ancestry in the Madeira archipelago: an exploratory study.

Access to genetic testing and counselling in remote areas such as the Madeira archipelago, in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, may be complex. Different counselling methods, including telegenetics, should be explored. In this study, we characterise the Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) families with Madeira ancestry enrolled in our programme. Of a total of 3,566 index patients tested between January 2000 and June 2018, 68 had Madeira ancestry and 22 were diagnosed with a pathogenic germline variant (PV). As in the whole group, BRCA2 PV were more frequent in Madeira patients (68.4%: c.9382C>T (26.3%), c.658_659del (21%), c.156_157insAlu (10.5%), c.793+1G>A (5.3%) and c.298A>T (5.3%). However, the most frequently diagnosed PV in Madeira patients was the BRCA1 c.3331_3334del (31.6%). BRCA1/2 detection rates were 27.9% and 10.5% for Madeira and the whole group, respectively. This study is the first characterisation of HBOC patients with Madeira ancestry. A distinct pattern of BRCA1/2 variants was observed, and the geographic clustering of BRCA1 c.3331_3334del variant may support the possibility of a founder mutation previously described in Northern Portugal. The high detection rate observed reinforces the need to reduce gaps in access to genetic testing in Madeira and other remote areas. According to current guidelines, timely identification of HBOC patients can contribute to their ongoing care and treatment.

Treatment of anal fistula with Baccharis dracunculifolia extract. Experimental study in rats. / Tratamento da fístula anal com extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia. Estudo experimental em ratos.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the efficacy of Baccharis dracunculifolia extract in the treatment of anal fistulas in rats. METHODS: twenty male Wistar rats were submitted to anal fistula and, after 30 days, were divided into three groups: Control Group, with five animals; Carbopol Group, with five animals; and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, with ten animals. In the Control Group, no treatment was performed. In the Carbopol Group, a daily infusion of Carbopol was performed for 30 days. In the Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, a daily infusion of Carbopol plus Baccharis dracunculifolia extract was performed for 30 days. Specimens were taken for histological analysis after euthanasia. RESULTS: there was no complete closure of the fistulous tract in any of the animals. The mean area of the remaining tract was of 847.2µm2, 565.6µm2 and 372.7µm2, in the Control Group, Carbopol Group, and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, respectively, (p=0.001). The mean of the inflammatory process score was of 2.4, 2.4, and 2.1, in the Control Group, Carbopol Group, and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, respectively, (p=0.285), while the mean values of vascular congestion were of 1.6, 1.4, and 1.1, in the Control Group, Carbopol Group, and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, respectively, (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Baccharis dracunculifolia extract was able to reduce the lumen of the fistulous tracts and the degree of vascular congestion, without, however, reducing the local inflammatory process or totally closing the fistulous tracts.

OBJETIVO: avaliar a eficácia do extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia no tratamento de fístulas anais em ratos. MÉTODOS: vinte ratos Wistar machos foram submetidos à confecção de fístula anal e, após 30 dias, foram distribuídos em três grupos: Grupo Controle, com cinco animais; Grupo Carbopol, com cinco animais; e Grupo Baccharis dracunculifolia, com dez animais. No Grupo Controle, não se realizou nenhum tratamento. No Grupo Carbopol, realizou-se infusão diária de carbopol, e no Grupo Baccharis dracunculifolia, infusão de extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia com carbopol, ambos por 30 dias. Foram retirados espécimes para análise histológica após a eutanásia. RESULTADOS: não houve fechamento completo do trajeto fistuloso em nenhum dos animais. A média da área do trajeto resultante foi de 847,2µm2, 565,6µm2 e 372,7µm2, respectivamente, nos Grupos Controle, Carbopol e Baccharis dracunculifolia (p=0,001). A média do escore de processo inflamatório foi de 2,4, 2,4 e 2,1, respectivamente, nos Grupos Controle, Carbopol e Baccharis dracunculifolia (p=0,285), enquanto a média de congestão vascular foi de 1,6, 1,4 e 1,1, respectivamente, nos Grupos Controle, Carbopol e Baccharis dracunculifolia (p=0,031). CONCLUSÃO: o extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia foi capaz de reduzir o lúmen dos trajetos fistulosos e a congestão vascular, sem reduzir, no entanto, o processo inflamatório local ou fechar totalmente os trajetos fistulosos.

Association between Sense of Coherence Associated with Mental Health in Caregivers of Older Adults.

The purpose of this study was to analyze association between sense of coherence and perceived burden, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in caregivers of older adults. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a probabilistic sample of 132 caregivers of older relatives from the regions of Jaén, Spain. The measures assessed were sense of coherence (Life Orientation Questionnaire), subjective burden (Caregiver Strain Index of Robinson), anxiety and depression (Goldberg Scale), and quality of life (Health Questionnaire SF-12). The main analyses included bivariate analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multivariate analysis through canonical correlation analysis. Our findings show that the sense of coherence explained 50.8% of the variance shared between subjective burden, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. We highlighted manageability as the variable within the dimensions of the sense of coherence with the greatest participation in the model. The sense of coherence may be an important protective factor for the mental health of the caregiver of dependent elderly relatives.

Perceived Needs of The Family Caregivers of People with Dementia in a Mediterranean Setting: A Qualitative Study.

The purpose of this study was to identify, classify and analyze the perceived needs of caregivers of elderly people with dementia during the care process. A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study using seven focus groups was conducted in different primary health care centers in the province of Jaén (Spain) between July 2012 and February 2013. Eighty-two family caregivers who were caring for people with dementia in different stages of the disease were selected by purposeful maximum variation sampling. Data were analyzed and organized thematically, considering the semantic and pragmatic content and field notes. Two main categories of the perceived needs of caregivers were identified. The first was related to the management of caring for a relative with dementia, and the second was related to the management of the caregivers' own care. Our findings support the provision of comprehensive interventions for the improvement of caregivers' emotional health that encompass more than one care need. This is where psycho-educational interventions aimed at managing the various aspects of dementia and self-care in caregivers can be accommodated. In addition, proactive interventions to develop important skills to care for a relative with dementia, which are not perceived as needs by the caregivers, are needed. These include skills in family negotiation, planning and searching for resources outside the family.

Coping and Anxiety in Caregivers of Dependent Older Adult Relatives.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between coping and anxiety in caregivers of dependent older adult relatives. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the province of Jaén (Andalusia, Spain). The convenience sample consisted of 198 family caregivers of dependent older adults. The main measurements were anxiety (Hamilton scale), coping (Brief COPE), subjective burden (Caregiver Strain Index), objective burden and sex of the caregiver. The main analyses were bivariate analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression. An independent regression model was developed for anxiety and each type of coping, adjusting for sex, subjective burden and objective burden. Our results demonstrate that anxiety was negatively associated with planning (partial r = -0.18), acceptance (partial r = -0.22) and humor (partial r = -0.20), and it was positively associated with self-distraction (partial r = 0.19), venting (partial r = 0.22), denial (partial r = 0.27) and self-blame (partial r = 0.25). Planning, acceptance and humor coping strategies may be protective factors of anxiety. Strategies such self-management, relief, denial and self-blame may be risk factors for anxiety.

Burden and Anxiety in Family Caregivers in the Hospital That Debut in Caregiving.

This cross-sectional study aims to determine the level of subjective burden and anxiety of caregivers of dependent older relatives that start providing care in the hospital and to analyse the relationship between objective burden, subjective burden and anxiety in these caregivers. Seventy-two caregivers of dependent older relatives were recruited in a medium-long stay hospital. Sociodemographic variables, number of basic activities of daily living (ADLs) attended, hours of surveillance, burden, and anxiety were collected from caregivers. A trajectory analysis was used to analyse the relationship between variables. Of the caregivers, 36.1% had subjective burden and 14.9% had anxiety. Subjective burden was positively associated with the number of basic ADLs attended, the hours of surveillance, and the cognitive impairment of the care recipient. Anxiety was also positively associated with subjective burden. Subjective burden mediated the effects of the number of basic ADLs attended, hours of surveillance and the cognitive impairment of the care recipient on anxiety. The levels of subjective burden and anxiety in caregivers debuting in hospital care are elevated, showing the need for these caregivers to be cared for. Subjective burden is a possible risk factor for anxiety, independent of the objective burden; it may buffer the effects of objective burden on anxiety.

Septate Uterus in a Girl with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome is an extremely rare plurimalformative condition that can affect any organ. However, reports regarding gynecological problems are unusual. We report the first case of a septate uterus in an adolescent with this syndrome, in agreement with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Congenital Uterine Malformations by Expert (CUME) criteria for uterine septum. Additional studies are required to determine whether there is an increased frequency of müllerian duct anomalies with the condition. Our report extends the data on the clinical phenotype associated with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.

Validação do Questionário de Estilos de Vida Pessoal em Estudantes Universitários (PLQ-Universitários) / Validation of the Personal Life Questionnaire in University Students (PLQ-Universitários) / Validación del Cuestionario Sobre Estilos de Vida Personal en Estudiantes Universitarios (PLQ-Universitários)

Resumo Enquadramento: Estudantes universitários experimentam diversas situações que podem levá-los à modificação no estilo de vida. A procura de um instrumento de investigação adequado para analisar o estilo de vida desta população justifica-se pela importância desta fase. Objetivo: Descrever o processo de validação do Questionário de Estilos de Vida Pessoal em Estudantes Universitários (PLQ-Universitários) em estudantes universitários brasileiros. Metodologia: Estudo realizado com 286 universitários(as) brasileiros(as). A confiabilidade do PLQ-Universitários foi analisada pelos itens do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson e coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI). A consistência interna foi analisada pelo alfa de Cronbach da escala total e estabilidade do teste-reteste pelo CCI. Resultados: Os valores de alfa de Cronbach para consistência interna foram de 0,686 para homens e de 0,647 para mulheres. Conclusão: Este estudo pode ser utilizado para identificar as condutas relacionadas com o estilo de vida dos (as) universitários (as) brasileiro (as).

Abstract Background: University students experience several situations that can change their lifestyles. The search for a suitable research tool to analyze the lifestyle of this population is justified by the importance of this phase. Objective: To describe the validation process of the Questionário de Estilos de Vida Pessoal em Estudantes Universitários (PLQ-Universitários) in Brazilian university students . Methodology: This study was conducted with 286 Brazilian university students. Reliability was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Internal consistency was analyzed through Cronbach's alpha of the total scale and test-retest stability using the ICC. Results: Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was 0.686 for men and 0.647 for women. Conclusion: This tool can be used to identify behaviors related to the lifestyle of Brazilian university students.

Resumen Marco contextual: Los estudiantes universitarios experimentan diversas situaciones que pueden llevarlos a cambiar su estilo de vida. La búsqueda de una herramienta de investigación adecuada para analizar el estilo de vida de esta población se justifica por la importancia de esta fase. Objetivo: Describir el proceso de validación del Cuestionário de Estilos de Vida Pessoal em Estudantes Universitários (PLQ-Universitários) en estudiantes universitarios brasileños. Metodología: Estudio realizado con 286 estudiantes universitarios brasileños. La fiabilidad del PLQ-Universitarios se analizó mediante el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson y el coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI). La consistencia interna se analizó mediante el alfa de Cronbach de la escala total y la estabilidad test-retest mediante el CCI. Resultados: Los valores del alfa de Cronbach para la consistencia interna fueron 0,686 para los hombres y 0,647 para las mujeres. Conclusión: Este estudio puede servir para identificar los comportamientos relacionados con el estilo de vida de los(as) universitarios(as) brasileños(as).

The Use of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers Undergoing Prophylactic Mastectomy: A Retrospective Consecutive Case-Series Study.

INTRODUCTION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy in prophylactic mastectomy is controversial. It avoids lymphadenectomy in occult carcinoma but is associated with increased morbidity. Women with BRCA mutations have a higher incidence of occult carcinoma and our objective was to assess the clinical utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy when these women undergo prophylactic mastectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven-year retrospective consecutive case-series study of women, with a BRCA deleterious mutation, admitted to prophylactic mastectomy, at our center. Breast MRI < 6 months before surgery was routine, unless contraindicated. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients (43% BRCA1; 57% BRCA2) underwent 80 prophylactic mastectomies. 72% of patients had had breast cancer treated before prophylactic mastectomy or synchronously to it. The occult carcinoma incidence was 5%, and half of the cases were invasive. SLNB was performed in 19% of the prophylactic mastectomies; none of these had tumor invasion. Women with invasive carcinoma who had not undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy were followed closely with axillary ultrasound. The median follow-up was 37 months, with no local recurrence; 1 patient died of primary tumor systemic relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support this procedure for routine (in agreement with previous literature), in this high risk for occult carcinoma population.

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2.

BACKGROUND: There are currently no questionnaires to measure the knowledge of nurses about dementia or Alzheimer's disease care in the Spanish language. OBJECTIVE: To validate the Spanish version of the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2 (DKAT2-Sp). METHODS: The DKAT2 was translated into Spanish and then back-translated. The new Spanish version was validated in a sample of 361 members of the nursing staff from 24 nursing homes and a sample of 297 nursing students in Spain. Psychometric properties were assessed through an item analysis, a Rasch analysis, differential item functioning analysis, construct validity (known groups), and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). RESULTS: The 21 items of the DKAT2-Sp fit the model well, showing a wide range of difficulty. Four items have differential items functioning between nursing professionals and students. The DKAT2-Sp shows acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.76 for nursing professionals and 0.83 for students). Scores obtained in the known groups test were as hypothesized (Nursing home staff mean = 15.57 versus Nursing student mean = 12.85; p < 0.0001 for mean difference), supporting construct validity. CONCLUSION: The DKAT2-Sp is a reliable and valid questionnaire to measure knowledge about dementia in both nursing professionals and nursing students in Spanish-speaking contexts.

Essure® present controversies and 5 years' learned lessons: a retrospective study with short- and long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The risk-benefit of contraception with Essure® is being readdressed due to an increase of reports of adverse effects with this device. Our aim was to proceed to an internal quality evaluation and to identify opportunities for protocol improvement. We proceeded to a one-center, retrospective consecutive case series of women admitted for Essure® placement, from 1 January 2012 until 31 December 2016 (5 years). RESULTS: In a total of 274 women, technical difficulties were mainly unilateral, with no acute or short-term severe complications. The procedure was brief (median 3.2 min, IQR 2.5-5.2) and moderately painful (median of 4 in a 0-10 scale; IQR 3-5). At 3 months, the failure rate was 2%, with no pregnancies. Second surgery indication (< 1%) resumed to a case of nickel hypersensitivity. At 1 year, pregnancy rate was 1%. Ninety-eight percent of the patients would recommend the method. CONCLUSIONS: We identified high patient satisfaction and low failure rates, both at short and long term. Investigation about whether some women still have patent tubes at the 3-month follow-up could lead to protocol improvement. It is important that clinicians look for second causes for adverse effects related to Essure® and avoid the erroneous indication for implant removal. Long follow-up allowed for both internal quality evaluation and clarification of misconception; it could possibly also have contributed to patient satisfaction.