The effect of reinforcing an educational programme using telephone follow-up on health-related quality of life of individuals using warfarin: A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of reinforcing an educational programme through telephone follow-up on health-related quality of life and anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals starting warfarin therapy. BACKGROUND: Educational interventions have improved quality of life in individuals using warfarin. Few studies have examined the addition of telephone follow-up to enhance educational interventions. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial in outpatient setting. METHODS: Hospitalised adults starting warfarin therapy who agreed to participate received an educational programme about the warfarin treatment. At discharge, they were randomised to receive either five telephone follow-up calls (intervention) or no telephone calls (controls). Both groups were evaluated for health-related quality of life (using Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) at three and six months post-discharge. Groups were compared at each time by independent-samples t test, and over time by repeated-measures analysis of variance, with time (three and six months), groups (intervention and control) and an interaction between time and group as factors. Level of significance was set at 0.05. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials was used for reporting. RESULTS: Fifty-two individuals (26 per group) completed the study. There were no statistical differences between groups in health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms, at both times post-discharge. Participants who received follow-up telephone calls reported better positive psychological impact (a subscale of quality of life) than controls. CONCLUSIONS: Reinforcing an educational programme with telephone follow-ups did not have an overall effect on health-related quality of life of individuals using warfarin but promoted positive psychological impact. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The low cost of reinforcing educational programmes with telephone calls and the improvement in positive psychological aspects indicate that this type of intervention is still a promising intervention that could be further investigated and improved.

Systematic review of the psychometric properties of instruments to measure sexual desire.

BACKGROUND: Sexual desire is one of the domains of sexual function with multiple dimensions, which commonly affects men and women around the world. Classically, its assessment has been applied through self-report tools; however, an issue is related to the evidence level of these questionnaires and their validity. Therefore, a systematic review addressing the available questionnaires is really relevant, since it will be able to show their psychometric properties and evidence levels. METHOD: A systematic review was carried out in the PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy was developed according to the following research question and combination of descriptors and keywords, including original studies with no limit of publication date and in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Two reviewers carried out the selection of articles by abstracts and full texts as well as the analysis of the studies independently. The methodological quality of the instruments was evaluated by the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. RESULTS: The search resulted in 1203 articles, of which 15 were included in the review. It identified 10 instruments originally developed in the English language. Unsatisfactory results on methodological quality were evidenced in cultural adaptation studies with no description of the steps of the processes and inadequacy of techniques and parameters of adequacy for models. The Principal Component Analysis with Varimax rotation predominated in the studies. CONCLUSIONS: The limitation of the techniques applied in the validation process of the reviewed instruments was evident. A limitation was observed in the number of adaptations conducted and contexts to which the instruments were applied, making it impossible to reach a better understanding of the functioning of instruments. In future studies, the use of robust techniques can ensure the quality of the psychometric properties and the accuracy and stability of instruments. A detailed description of procedures and results in validation studies may facilitate the selection and use of instruments in the academic and/or clinical settings. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42018085706.

A randomized controlled trial of an educational programme with telephone reinforcement to improve perceived health status of Brazilian burn victims at 6-month post discharge.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare health status, self-efficacy, symptoms of depression and anxiety and post-traumatic stress between two groups of burn victims receiving information on self-care through routine care or an educational programme with telephone reinforcement. BACKGROUND: Self-care post discharge is an important factor on quality of life of burn victims. Reinforcement of self-care programme via telephone follow-up might improve self-efficacy and general health perception in burn victims. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled clinical trial. METHOD: From 2011-2012, we randomized 108 burn victims either to an educational programme on self-care tailored for burn victims according to the cognitive social theory and reinforcement by telephone every 4-6 weeks for 6 months post discharge, or to the routine instructions given at discharge from the hospital. During hospitalization, at discharge, at 6 and 12 months post discharge, we collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, Burns Specific Health Scale Revised (BSHS-R), Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (PSE), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) and Impact of the Event Scale (IES). We analysed data using t-test, Chi-square test and linear regression models. RESULTS: Groups were similar regarding clinical and demographic characteristics, except for age. At 6-month follow-up, there were no differences between the groups on BSHS-R, PSE and HADS Depression, while the intervention group showed fewer symptoms of anxiety (HADS Anxiety) and lower IES scores than the control group. CONCLUSION: The educational programme, when compared with usual care, reduced anxiety symptoms and post-traumatic stress. Educational programmes with telephone follow-up might be a viable intervention to improve self-care for burn victims.

Instruments used in the assessment of expectation toward a spine surgery: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and describe the instruments used to assess patients' expectations toward spine surgery. METHOD: An integrative review was carried out in the databases PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS and PsycINFO. RESULTS: A total of 4,402 publications were identified, of which 25 met the selection criteria. Of the studies selected, only three used tools that had confirmed validity and reliability to be applied; in five studies, clinical scores were used, and were modified for the assessment of patients' expectations, and in 17 studies the researchers developed scales without an adequate description of the method used for their development and validation. CONCLUSION: The assessment of patients' expectations has been methodologically conducted in different ways. Until the completion of this integrative review, only two valid and reliable instruments had been used in three of the selected studies. OBJETIVO: Identificar e descrever os instrumentos usados para avaliar a expectativa dos pacientes diante do tratamento cirúrgico da coluna vertebral. MÉTODO: Revisão Integrativa realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS e PsycINFO. RESULTADOS: Identificamos 4.402 publicações, das quais 25 atenderam aos critérios de seleção. Dos estudos selecionados, apenas em três os autores utilizaram instrumentos que possuíam validade e confiabilidade confirmadas para serem aplicados; em cinco estudos foram utilizados escores clínicos, modificados para a avaliação das expectativas dos pacientes, e em dezessete os pesquisadores elaboraram escalas sem adequada descrição do método usado para o seu desenvolvimento e validação. CONCLUSÃO: A avaliação das expectativas dos pacientes tem sido metodologicamente conduzida de diferentes maneiras. Até a finalização desta revisão integrativa, apenas dois instrumentos, válidos e confiáveis, haviam sido utilizados em três dos estudos selecionados.

[Self-Care, Sense Of Coherence And Depression In Patients Hospitalized For Decompensated Heart Failure]. / Autocuidado, senso de coerência e depressão em pacienteshospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca descompensada.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the self-care behaviors according to gender, the symptoms of depression and sense of coherence and compare the measurements of depression and sense of coherence according to gender. METHOD: A correlational, cross-sectional study that investigated 132 patients with decompensated heart failure (HF). Data were collected through interviews and consultation to medical records, and analyzed using the chi-square and the Student's t tests with significance level of 0.05. Participants were 75 men and 57 women, aged 63.2 years on average (SD = 13.8). RESULTS: No differences in self-care behavior by gender were found, except for rest after physical activity (p = 0.017). Patients who practiced physical activity showed fewer symptoms of depression (p<0.001). There were no differences in sense of coherence according to self-care behavior and gender. Women had more symptoms of depression than men (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Special attention should be given to women with HF considering self-care and depressive symptoms.

A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of planning strategies in the adherence to medication for coronary artery disease.

AIM: To examine the effect of action and coping planning strategies in the adherence to medication among outpatients with coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND: Action and coping planning strategies are based on implementation intention, which requires self-regulation by the individual, to prioritize intentionally planned responses over learned or habitual ones, from daily routines to stressful situations. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants (n = 115) were randomized into intervention (use of action and coping planning strategies, n = 59) or control (usual care, n = 56) groups. The study was conducted between June 2010-May 2011 in two in-person visits: baseline and 2-month follow-up. Participants in the intervention group received telephone reinforcement between baseline and 2-month follow-up. Adherence to medication for cardioprotection and symptoms relief was evaluated by proportion of adherence, global measure of adherence evaluation and Morisky Self-Reported Measure of Medication Adherence Scale at both baseline and 2-month follow-up. FINDINGS: When using the measure of global measure of adherence, participants in the intervention group reported adherence to therapy more often than controls (odds ratio = 5.3), but no statistically significant change was observed in the other two outcome measures. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that individuals who use action and coping planning report higher adherence to drug treatment, when measured by the global adherence evaluation. Further studies with longer follow-ups are needed to assess if the effect of planning strategies has long-term duration.

[Translation and cultural adaptation of the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire for burn victims in Brazil]. / Tradução e adaptação transcultural do Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire para vítimas de queimaduras no Brasil.

This methodological study aimed to describe the process of translation and cultural adaptation of the Perceived stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ) and analyze the internal consistency of the items in the step of pre-testing. The PSQ was developed to evaluate the perception of stigmatizing behaviors of burn victims. The adaptation process was carried out from August 2012 to February 2013, comprising the steps outlined in the literature. As part of this process, the pre-test with 30 adult burn victims was held. All participants at this step reported to understand the instrument items and the scale of responses. There were no suggestions or changes in the tested version. The value of Cronbach's alpha at pre-test was 0.87. The contribution of this study is to describe the operation of each of the steps of this methodological process and show the internal consistency of the items in the pre-test.

Reliability and validity of the body image quality of life inventory: version for Brazilian burn victims.

The aims of this study were to adapt the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI) into Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and to assess the psychometric properties of the adapted version. Construct validity was assessed by correlating the BIQLI-BP scores with the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, with Burns Specific Health Scale-Revised (BSHS-R), and with gender, total body surface area burned, and visibility of the scars. Participants were 77 adult burn patients. Cronbach's alpha for the adapted version was .90 and moderate linear correlations were found between body image and self-esteem and between BIQLI-BP scores and two domains of the BSHS-R: affect and body image and interpersonal relationships. The BIQLI-BP showed acceptable levels of reliability and validity for Brazilian burn patients.

[Perceived health status and pharmacological adherence of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention]. / Estado de saúde percebido e adesão farmacológica em pacientes submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the perceived health status and pharmacological adherence, and to verify the correlation between these measures in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, after hospital discharge. It was a cross-sectional study carried out from May 2011 to July 2012. The instruments used were: SF-86 and Measurement of Adherence to Treatment, with 101 patients, 54 (53.5%) of which were men; average age of 59.5 +/- 10.3; and 32 (32.7%) with previous cardiac treatment. All study participants were using antihypertensive drugs; the majority 99 (98%) used antiplatelet drugs; 98 (97%) used cholesterol reducers, and 59 (58.4%) used coronary vasodilators. The average number of drugs used was 6.8 +/- 2.1. Pharmacological adherence was observed in 98 (97%) patients. The participants presented best perceived health status in Social Functioning and Physical Functioning. Positive correlations of moderate magnitude were found between measurements of pharmacological adherence and Physical Functioning, General Health and Social Functioning. There was correlation between pharmacological adherence and perceived health status.

[Anxiety and depression among men and women who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention]. / Ansiedade e depressão entre homens e mulheres submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea.

A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study aimed to investigate the association of sex and the presence of anxiety and depression after hospital discharge in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Fifty-nine patients undergoing PCI and receiving outpatient treatment in the first seven months after hospital discharge were evaluated. To assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used. To test the possible associations between the variables anxiety, depression and sex the Chi-square test was used with a significance level of 5%. The results indicated a greater number of women with depression and the association between the variables sex and depression was statistically significant. In relation to anxiety, cases were more frequent in males and the association between the variables sex and anxiety was not statistically significant.

Elaboration of an educational video for cardiopulmonary resuscitation with chest compressions in adults.

OBJECTIVES: to develop and analyze the face and content validity of a storyboard for constructing an educational video for training laypersons in cardiopulmonary resuscitation with only chest compressions in adults. METHODS: a methodological study of storyboard elaboration and validity for producing an educational health video. The storyboard was submitted to analysis of 20 judges to assess its adequacy with the proposed objective. To assess the agreement between judges, the Content Validity Index was calculated. After validating the storyboard, video production took place. RESULTS: the Content Validity Index met expectations. Its mean in each group was ≥ 0.90 (lay judges = 0.97; expert judges = 0.90; all judges = 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: the video produced is composed of scientific information, professional expertise and laypersons' perceptions, making it important evidence for health education.

Comparison of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Individuals According to their Sex, Type of Cardiac Device, and Diagnosis of Chagas Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Implantable cardiac pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators are alternatives for the treatment of arrhythmias, however, their use has caused changes in the emotional state of patients. The objective of this study was to compare the measures of anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals according to their sex, type of cardiac device, and diagnosis of Chagas disease. METHODS: This is an observational and cross-sectional study conducted with adults with implantable cardiac pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators. Data was collected using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We used the Student's t-test for independent samples and the Chi-squared test, with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-four patients participated in the study, 168 with cardiac pacemakers and 76 with implantable cardioverter defibrillators; 104 had Chagas cardiomyopathy (85 with cardiac pacemakers and 19 with implantable cardioverter defibrillators). No statistically significant differences were found in measures of anxiety and depression symptoms according to device type (P=0.594 and P=0.071, respectively) and the presence of Chagas etiology (P=0.649 and P=0.354, respectively). Women had higher mean scores for anxiety (P=0.002) and depression symptoms (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In the comparison between the groups, according to the type of implanted device and the diagnosis of Chagas disease, no significant differences were found in the measures of anxiety and depression symptoms. Women showed higher means when compared to men, indicating the need to test and implement interventions to minimize these symptoms in this population.

Assessment of physicians' knowledge about brain death and organ donation and associated factors.

Precocity and assertiveness when diagnosing brain death are essential for identifying potential donors. To assess the knowledge of physicians about brain death and organ donation, cross-sectional web-based survey was carried out with physicians from different specialties. The knowledge about brain death and organ donation was assessed by a questionnaire with 12 multiple-choice or multiple-answer questions (possible range from 0 to 12). The nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to verify the association between the physicians' knowledge and others variables. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, under number 4.022.657, and all patients agreed to participate and provided free prior-informed consent. Three hundred sixty physicians were included in this study, most of them have postgraduate (55%) and 59.2% were intensive care physicians. The median of responses was 5 (obtained range from 0 to 10). The participants were classified in 2 groups: with satisfactory knowledge (scores above 5) or without satisfactory knowledge (scores equal/below 5). There was better performance among participants who: completed graduation between 6 and 10 years (P < .012); were intensive care physicians (P < .002); had participated in training courses (P < .001); and those who had worked in intensive care unit (ICU) from 6 to 10 years (P < .023); had performed over 10 brain death protocols (P < .001), and felt safe to talk to family members about brain death (P < .001). The results showed that the participants had low knowledge about diagnosis of brain death and organ donation protocols despite the majority working in ICUs. Be an intensive care physician, had large time experience in ICU, and had performed brain death protocols were associated with unsatisfactory knowledge concerning the subject.

Effect of an educational program on physical activity in individuals undergoing their first percutaneous coronary intervention: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Educational programs designed for specific populations to improve regular physical activity need to be tested. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program, when compared to usual care, on improving physical activity 5 to 7 months after hospital discharge in adult patients undergoing their first percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial with two groups: usual care (n = 56) and educational program (n = 53) interventions. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected and the Baecke-Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire, Self-efficacy Scale for Physical Activity, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were administered at baseline and follow-up. Participants in the educational program received an intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory, focused on physical activity, followed by three telephone calls. The usual care group received the hospital routine information. Unadjusted and adjusted differences between the two groups in mean score changes (with 95% confidence intervals [CI]) were calculated for all outcomes. RESULTS: At follow-up, the educational program group showed higher mean ± standard deviation scores than the usual care group for practice of physical activity (7.94 ± 1.84 vs. 6.90 ± 1.89) and for self-efficacy (3.98 ± 3.75 vs. 2.52 ± 3.12). Adjusting for baseline outcome, the difference in mean change between groups was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.32, 1.46) for physical activity and 2.30 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.49) for self-efficacy. There were no statistical differences between groups in symptoms of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The educational program may be an effective intervention in increasing habitual physical activity and self-efficacy for physical activity in individuals with coronary artery disease.

[Patients' symptoms before a first hospitalization due to Acute Coronary Syndrome]. / Sintomas de pacientes antes da primeira hospitalização por Síndrome Coronariana Aguda.

The objective of this study was to characterize and compare patients regarding their report of experiencing chest pain, dyspnea and limitation of the daily life activities one week before their first hospitalization due to Acute Coronary Syndrome, according to the clinical presentation form, and compare them. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study. A clinical evaluation instrument was used to investigate the presence and severity of dyspnea, chest pain and physical restriction due to myocardial ischemia. Regarding the limitation to carry out physical activities, patients diagnosed with unstable angina showed lower capacity the week before hospitalization, and reported experiencing dyspnea and chest pain more frequently than patients who had an infarction in situations ranging from making strong efforts, such as walking uphill or on a flat surface but very quickly, to resting and in situations of little effort.

[Anxiety and depression among nursing professionals who work in surgical units]. / Ansiedade e depressão entre profissionais de enfermagem que atuam em blocos cirúrgicos.

This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was performed with the objective to evaluate anxiety and depression among nursing professionals working in Surgical Units. Participants were 211 nursing professionals from eleven hospitals of Londrina-Paraná, Brazil. Data collection was performed between the months of April and November 2007, using a questionnaire for the socio-demographic characterization of the professionals and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Most participants were nursing aides (62.6%), female (86.7%), married (54.0%), and in average 40 years old. Overall, the workers average score for anxiety was 6.3 and 5.2 for depression in an interval from zero to 21. A statistically significant difference was found for the occurrence of anxiety for cases of holding two jobs and the type of institution (p<0.05) and for the occurrence of depression for cases of nurses holding two jobs (p<0.05).

[Semantic validation of the Cardiac Patients Learning Needs Inventory for Brazilians and Portuguese]. / Validação semântica do Cardiac Patients Learning Needs Inventory para brasileiros e portugueses.

The Cardiac Patients Learning Needs Inventory (CPLNI) was constructed to assess the learning needs of patients with cardiac disease. This study aimed to compare the results of semantic validations of the CPLNI version adapted to Portuguese, involving 40 Brazilian and 16 Portuguese patients hospitalized for coronary artery disease treatment. The participants were individually interviewed and answered to sociodemographic and clinic characterization instrument, to the adapted CPLNI, and to the semantic validation instrument. In CPLNI's general assessment, most patients, both Brazilians and Portuguese, considered the instrument adequate, easy to understand and complete. The semantic validation of the CPLNI showed the need for some changes in its writing with a view to the semantic adaptation of the instrument for use in Portugal and Brazil.

Evolution of self-care in patients with heart failure at the first outpatient return and three months after hospital discharge.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the evolution of self-care in hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure, between the first return after hospital discharge (T0) and three months after this assessment (T1). METHOD: an observational, analytical and longitudinal study carried out in the cardiology outpatient clinics of two public hospitals in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. The sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through interviews and consultation of medical records. Self-care was assessed using the Brazilian version of the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index-SCHFI instrument. The data were analyzed by means of the Student's t test and paired distribution (McNemar) with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: we verified an increase in the mean scores of the three subscales of SCHFI (Maintenance, Management and Confidence), when comparing the values of T0 and T1, these differences being statistically significant (p<0.001). When comparing the positive changes in self-care actions over these months, we found statistically significant changes in the Maintenance (6 out of 10 items), Management (5 out of 6 items) and Confidence (4 out of 6 items) subscales. CONCLUSION: self-care for heart failure improved in the period between the first return after discharge and the end of three months of follow-up. Further studies are needed to verify the variables associated with improved self-care after hospitalization.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about acute coronary syndrome among patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Guyanese individuals with type 2 diabetes regarding acute coronary syndrome and explore associations between these measures and the population's sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted in Linden, Guyana, with sixty type 2 diabetics, interviewed using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and the Acute Coronary Syndrome-Response Index. The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess potential differences between groups according to the ACS-Response Index subscales, and sex, age, time since diabetes diagnosis, and body mass index and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the ACS-Response Index subscales according to educational level. RESULTS: only two participants correctly answered more than 70% of the Knowledge subscale. Participants obtained low mean scores in all subscales. Less than half of the participants reported chest pain and arm pain as symptoms of heart attack. Significant differences were found when comparing Knowledge (p=0.008) and Attitudes (p=0.009) according to educational level. CONCLUSION: individuals with type 2 diabetes showed low level of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs. Participants who scored the highest in Knowledge and Attitudes presented the highest educational level. The results show a need for health professionals to heed knowledge deficits regarding acute coronary syndrome among type 2 diabetes.

The experiences and consequences of a multiple trauma event from the perspective of the patient.

This was an ethnographic investigation with the aim of comprehending the meanings of the trauma experience among multiple trauma patients. The following techniques were used for data collection: direct observation, semi-structured interview and field diary. Biographical narratives were obtained from eleven trauma victims, and ten relatives as secondary informants. The data analysis considered the set of data of each participant and all data of all subjects, searching for differences and similarities. The meanings attributed to the trauma experience are associated with interrelated feelings of fear, insecurity, anger, vulnerability and suffering and to the meanings of quality of life that converge to valorize health and work appreciation and support by social networks. This analysis shows that the concepts and experiences of the trauma are conditioning factors of the health-disease process and they are essential in planning public health actions to meet the needs of individuals.