Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among Brazilian Children with Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease and Its Associated Factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes (motor development, nonverbal intelligence, and attention) in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) compared with healthy children from a public hospital in southern Brazil. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with pediatric patients of both sexes: 37 children with cyanotic CHD and a control group with 38 healthy children. Parents/guardians undertook a questionnaire and the SNAP IV scale (to evaluate attention) was applied. Two instruments were applied to each child: the R-2 Non-Verbal Intelligence test and the motor development scale. To assess the factors associated with insufficient performance in the three fields of neurodevelopment, a Poisson regression analysis was performed with a robust estimate. Results: There were no significant differences between children with cyanotic CHD and the control group for any of the neurodevelopmental outcomes studied. Low socioeconomic class was a factor associated with worse performance on the intelligence test and inattention. Furthermore, age was a factor for performance on the intelligence test, while a greater number of siblings was a factor associated with worse performance on the attention test. Conclusions: Public policies regarding child health must involve prioritizing the improvement of families' social conditions.

[Construction of an Instrument of Risk Assessment and Injury Severity for the Diaper Area in Infants: RDIC-lac]. / Construcción de un instrumento de valoración del riesgo y gravedad de las lesiones del área del pañal en lactantes RDIC-lac*.

Objective: To design an instrument to measure impairment of skin integrity in the diaper area of infants and severity of injury for the prevention and management of irritative diaper dermatitis. Methodology: Design in 3 phases: 1) comprehensive review and critical appraisal of literature to design the preliminary content of the instrument; 2) critical evaluation of initial proposal by an expert group (nursing and pediatric medicine) with opinion survey and ad hoc questions; 3) content analysis using data tabulation for the modification and final design of the instrument. Setting: Primary Care Management of Tenerife. Results: In the 1st phase a proposed instrument is designed: two groups of risk factors (10 modulators risk and 9 high risk); and a severity scale with 5 aspects to assess including 4-5 items each (depth, location, extension, type of injury, signs of infection). The 2nd phase involved 19 professionals. A Tabulation of the data grouped into add or omit factors was used. The 3rd phase ends with a modified version of the instrument: 10 modulating factors, 5 of hig risk and 4 items for each aspect to assess severity. Discussion-Conclusions: The scarce bibliography found and absence of similar tools explain the design. The next phase will be the validation of RDIC-lac instrument. Clinical Relevance: Susceptibility to prevent skin lesions in the diaper area in the pediatric age.

The transformation process for palliative care professionals: The metamorphosis, a qualitative research study.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care professionals are exposed daily to high levels of suffering. This makes them particularly vulnerable to suffering from stress, which can lead to burnout and/or compassion fatigue. AIMS: To analyse the professional trajectory of palliative care workers over time and the factors which influence this trajectory. DESIGN: A qualitative study was designed based on the Grounded Theory approach, using semi-structured individual interviews. Interviews were recorded audio-visually and transcribed verbatim for subsequent analysis using the procedure described by Miles and Huberman. This process was supported using ATLAS.ti 6 software. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 10 palliative care professionals from Extremadura (Spain) took part in the study. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a common trajectory followed by participants in their working lives: pre-palliative care/honeymoon/frustration/maturation. In addition, factors which influence this trajectory were identified. Details of the self-care strategies that these professionals have developed are described. The result of this process, which we have metaphorically termed 'metamorphosis', is the formation of a professional who can work satisfactorily within a palliative care context. CONCLUSION: During their professional activity, palliative care professionals go through a series of phases, depending on the relationship between the cost of caring and the satisfaction of caring, which can influence both the care provided to patients and families and their own personal circumstances. Being aware of this risk, and implementing self-care strategies, can protect professionals and enable them to conduct their work in an optimal manner. Reflecting on the experiences of these professionals could be useful for other health professionals.

[SYSTEMATIZATION, ORDER AND SECURITY AS A RESULT OF THE NURSE ASSESSMENT IN PAEDIATRIC EMERGENCY: A METAMORPHOSIS PROCESS]. / Sistemática, orden y seguridad como resultado de la valoración enfermera en la urgencia pediátrica un proceso de metamorfosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine from the health care professionals perspective the impact on clinical practice of incorporating an assessment tool for primary care paediatric emergency. METHOD: Qualitative study based on the collection of written documents. Twenty-four wide and detailed documents were collected. Thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: Participants were 9 nurses and 7 paediatricians, all with experience in the Paediatric Emergency Department. The results are grouped into three areas: perception of previous situation; benefits perceived; difficulties of the change process related to the triage instrument. The benefits perceived include the achievement of the objectives related to triage as well as collateral benefits for the organization and distribution of structural resources, adequacy of human resources, self-assessment and professional recognition, improvement of team communication and users service perception. The difficulties identified are related to the feasibility of using this instrument when patient flow is high and to the need of specialized training. CONCLUSIONS: All participants perceived more benefits than disadvantages, and both nurses and paediatricians experienced the process as a positive experience. The introduction of the assessment tool had a broader impact than expected.

Experiences of Spanish out-of-hospital emergency workers with high levels of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had a major psychological impact on health care workers (HCWs). This study was embedded in a larger quantitative study on the mental health care of out-of-hospital HCWs in Spain. To better understand this, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the experiences, coping strategies, and influencing factors of out-of-hospital HCWs who scored high (> 25 points) on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) in a previous quantitative mental health study. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using six in-depth interviews with individuals who scored high on the depression scale and agreed to be contacted by email between May and June 2021, using the phenomenological approach. The data were analysed using Brawn and Clare's method. RESULTS: The main results findings related to four themes. The emotional impact of assuming a professional role with high self-demands and responsibilities; Factors influencing the development of negative emotions such as the cruelty of the pandemic, the helplessness in relation to health management and policy, the changing role of the professional and the relationship with society; Personal protection through coping strategies to manage negative emotions such as support from colleagues and family; Good practices for the future looking for different management strategies that can influence individuals and their personal, professional, and social relationships. CONCLUSION: The strong impact of the circumstances experienced points to the need to develop psychological support programmes that can protect people's mental health from depression during a crisis and improve the relationship between workers and their managers.

RESUMEN: ANTECEDENTES: La pandemia de COVID-19 tuvo un gran impacto psicológico en el personal sanitario. Este estudio forma parte de un estudio cuantitativo más amplio sobre la atención a la salud mental de los trabajadores sanitarios extrahospitalarios en España. Para comprenderlo mejor, se llevó a cabo un estudio cualitativo para explorar las experiencias, estrategias de afrontamiento y factores de influencia de los trabajadores extrahospitalarios que obtuvieron puntuaciones altas (> 25 puntos) en la Escala de Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés (DASS-21) en un estudio cuantitativo previo sobre salud mental. MéTODOS: Se realizó un estudio cualitativo mediante seis entrevistas en profundidad con individuos que puntuaron alto en la escala de depresión y aceptaron ser contactados por correo electrónico entre mayo y junio de 2021, utilizando el enfoque fenomenológico. Los datos se analizaron utilizando el método de Brawn y Clare. RESULTADOS: Los principales hallazgos de los resultados se relacionaron con cuatro temas. El impacto emocional de asumir un rol profesional con altas autoexigencias y responsabilidades; Factores que influyen en el desarrollo de emociones negativas como la crueldad de la pandemia, la impotencia en relación con la gestión y la política sanitaria, el papel cambiante del profesional y la relación con la sociedad; Protección personal a través de estrategias de afrontamiento para gestionar las emociones negativas como el apoyo de los compañeros y la familia; Buenas prácticas para el futuro buscando diferentes estrategias de gestión que puedan influir en los individuos y en sus relaciones personales, profesionales y sociales. CONCLUSIóN: El fuerte impacto de las circunstancias vividas apunta a la necesidad de desarrollar programas de apoyo psicológico que puedan proteger la salud mental de las personas durante una crisis y mejorar la relación entre los trabajadores y sus jefes.

Female genital mutilation in the Canary Islands: A qualitative study on the perspectives of women and healthcare professionals.

Introduction: Migration to Western countries is associated with social and health challenges that are difficult to manage. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that still occurs in the 21st century. According to the World Health Organization, FGM is a ritual procedure involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-therapeutic reasons. Objectives: (I) To explore the experiences of women residing in the Canary Islands, in Spain, who had suffered FGM, and their assessment of the healthcare received. (II) To explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals who had attended to these cases, care pathways, and prevention. Methods: A qualitative study, phenomenologically oriented based on a pragmatic perspective, was conducted. We conducted open in-person interviews, and written documents were sent via email for data collection. Purposeful and snowball sampling methods were used to select women who had undergone FGM and healthcare providers who had attended to such patients. Nine participants were recruited, five health professionals and four women. Although the sample size was not very large, the data had enough depth and richness to meet the goals of the study. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. Results: Six main themes emerged, including the "meaning of FGM," "health consequences," "benefits of treatments," "knowledge about FGM," "experiences of professionals and with professionals," and "recommendations of professionals in improving care." Conclusions: Professionals and women identified the lack of training to address this problem, and both parties perceived FGM as a negative practice. The women lack knowledge about the relationship between some health problems they suffer and FGM, which poses a challenge for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, professionals need to know in detail all health conditions related to FGM to diagnose and treat these women more accurately. When affected women arrive in Western countries and receive correct information on the consequences of FGM, they are more likely to reject this practice. The identification of cases of FGM in women born in the Canary Islands urges the need to develop strategies to avoid such situations.

[Attacks on personnel assigned to the Primary Care Management of Tenerife and the SARS-CoV2 pandemic]. / Agresiones a personal adscrito a la Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Tenerife y pandemia por SARS-CoV2.

OBJECTIVE: To measure and characterize the aggressions suffered by health professionals in the field of primary care in Tenerife between 2018-2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020-2021 (pandemic). Secondly, to analyze the degree of knowledge of the professionals in relation to the procedure for action against aggressions as well as the existing security measures and aspects that could be improved for their protection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study using a self-completed form electronically. It was disseminated through the different communication channels with health professionals, being available between March and April 2022. The quantitative variables were analyzed using measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the qualitative variables in percentage, also performing a bivariate analysis using the Chi square and Student's T. RESULTS: 72.50% of the participants have suffered some type of aggression in the workplace and they are more frequent causes in the metropolitan area of Tenerife, which are produced fundamentally by the patient and their relatives. These aggressions are mostly verbal and occur in greater quantity towards women with the category of nurse. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing is the category that suffers the most aggressions in primary care in Tenerife, regardless of the area of the island where they carry out their work.

Caring to achieve the maximum independence possible: a synthesis of qualitative evidence on older adults' adaptation to dependency.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To understand the process of adaptation to dependency in older adults and their families. BACKGROUND: Dependency and family care giving are attracting the attention of policymakers, service providers and researchers. DESIGN: An interpretative synthesis of qualitative studies has been conducted. METHODS: An extensive search without time and idiom limitations was conducted using the main databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, SSCI, LILACS, CUIDEN, Cochrane Library and JBI): personal communication from expert panel was used to detect filters strategies to find qualitative studies; these strategies were combined with search terms for dependence in older adults. The studies (2164 potentially relevant papers) were judged by two reviewers based on reading title, abstract, keywords and/or full text (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese) to determine their inclusion. After, 203 papers were critically appraised by two reviewers (disagreements were resolved by discussions). Finally, the synthesis of the 20 studies with best interpretative character was carried out based on the principles and procedures of Grounded Theory. RESULTS: The findings were related to the process of adaptation to dependency, the factors and the strategies used, the emotions, perceptions and feelings of care givers and older adults. The central category that emerged was 'Caring to achieve the maximum independence possible', and this could be seen as a transition period in which older adults and their families progressed in a mutually determined adaptation process. This category is made up of several redefinitions of concepts, phases, adaptation strategies and final responses to the process. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show the interconnected nature of physical, material, social and emotional aspects of care; and the profound social impact of providing and receiving care. Relevance to clinical practice. The nurses can assist families and older adults to enhance adaptation to dependency, anticipating and helping to redefine the concepts of care.

[Comparing the perspectives of primary care doctors in the Canary Islands and Alberta (Canada)]. / Comparando las perspectivas de los médicos de atención primaria de Canarias y Alberta. ¿Es más bonito el jardín del vecino que el mío?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the advantages and disadvantages of two different Health Care Systems from the perspective of Primary Care (PC) physicians. DESIGN: Qualitative research based on the analysis of documents written as diaries for the study. SETTING: Primary Care in the Canary Islands (Spain) and Alberta (Canada) CONTEXT AND PARTICIPANTS: Intentional sample to identify different profiles of physicians. METHOD: Participants were asked to write a document describing their work activities, including the impact of the organisational system and on their personal life. Two representatives of the health care system were asked to write a detailed description about how PC is organised in their country. Nine diaries were collected (5 from the Canary Islands and 4 from Alberta). Ritchie & Spencer framework was used for the analysis. RESULTS: In Alberta, physicians have access to more complementary tests; they can offer hospital care; they have to sort out administrative work; they can choose were to work; and can specialise in different types of health care services. In the Canary Islands physicians can have paid holidays and the administrative issues do not depend on them, patients have a physician assigned and seem to have more institutional support. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study allow us to constructively analyse the role of PC physicians, assess the advantages and re-think the disadvantages related to how we work in order to learn from other health care systems.

[Antidepressant management strategy from the patient perspective: struggling internally and externally]. / Estrategias de manejo de los antidepresivos desde la perspectiva de los pacientes: luchando interna y externamente.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the consumption pathway and strategies of coping with antidepressants use from the patients perspective. DESIGN: Qualitative research. SETTING: Tenerife. SAMPLING: Theoretical sampling until saturation. METHOD: A total of 17 open interviews with patients who consumed antidepressants whether combined with tranquilisers or not. The age range was between 35-85 years, and there were 13 women. Ten lived in a more urban setting and the rest in rural areas. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a modified Grounded Theory supported by the software program ATLAS.ti. RESULTS: The process identified as coping with antidepressants, was called "struggling internally and externally." It consisted of the individual assessment of the benefits and risks of medication use (internal struggle), addressing stigma and social pressure (external struggle). The outcome of the assessment made by patients may lead to different strategies for adjusting to drug treatment: "unconditional acceptance", "resigned acceptance" or "forced acceptance". CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the evaluation process that the patient needs to go through, given the internal and external struggle in which they are immersed, can be useful to develop interventions that improve medication use. In fact, physicians have an important role, although not always explicitly sought in resolving the dilemma posed by patients using antidepressant drugs and, therefore, reducing the length of patient suffering.

Co-Creation of Massive Open Online Courses to Improve Digital Health Literacy in Pregnant and Lactating Women.

BACKGROUND: Digital health literacy (DHL) increases the self-efficacy and empowerment of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in using the Internet for health issues. The European project IC-Health aimed to improve DHL among PLW, through the co-creation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). METHODS: The co-creation of the MOOCs included focus groups and the creation of communities of practice (CoPs) with PLW and healthcare professionals aimed to co-design the MOOCs. The quantitative measures of MOOCs' acceptability, experience in the co-creation process and increase in DHL (dimensions of finding, understanding and appraisal) were assessed. RESULTS: 17 PLW participated in focus groups, 113 participants were included in CoPs and 68 participants evaluated the acceptability of MOOCs. A total of 6 MOOCs aimed at improving PLW's DHL were co-designed. There was a significant improvement in self-perceived DHL after using MOOCs (p-value < 0.001). The acceptability of MOOCs and co-creation experience were positively valued. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results of the quantitative assessment showed a higher self-perceived DHL after the IC-Health MOOCs. These results suggest that IC-Health MOOCs and the co-creation methodology appear to be a viable process to carry out an intervention aimed to improve DHL levels in European PLW.

How to provide care for patients suffering from terminal non-oncological diseases: barriers to a palliative care approach.

Despite the seemingly evident pertinence of palliative care for patients suffering from non-oncological long-term life-threatening diseases, everyday clinical practice is far from that assumption. This study aims to explore palliative care service provision for these patients in Spain. Patients, family caregivers and healthcare professionals were interviewed, individually or in a group, aiming at identifying barriers in the provision of care and strategies to overcome them. Ritchie and Spencer's framework was used for data analysis. The barriers identified were as follows: lack of clarity about prognosis, the hegemony of the curative approach, avoiding words and the desire to cheat death. Provision of palliative care services for these patients should be guided by the characteristic trajectory of each type of disease. Even if healthcare systems were capable of providing specialized palliative care services to this large group of patients, other barriers should not be overlooked. It would then seem appropriate to provide therapeutic and palliative care simultaneously, thus facilitating adaptation processes for both patients and relatives.

Research protocol: a synthesis of qualitative studies on the process of adaptation to dependency in elderly persons and their families.

BACKGROUND: Dealing with dependency in the elderly and their families leads us to explore the life experience of those involved together with the processes of adaptation to this condition. A number of original studies have been published which, following a qualitative methodology, have dealt with both dimensions. OBJECTIVES: 1) To present a synthesis of the qualitative evidence available on the process of adaptation to dependency in elderly persons and their families; 2) to conduct an in-depth study into the experiences and strategies developed by both to optimise their living conditions; 3) to enable standards of action/intervention to be developed in the caregiving environment.A synthesis of qualitative studies is projected with an extensive and inclusive bibliography search strategy. The primary search will focus on the major databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, PSICODOC, Cochrane Library, JBI, EMBASE, LILACS, CUIDEN, CUIDEN qualitative, CUIDATGE, British Nursing Index, SSCI). The secondary search will be conducted in articles taken from the references to studies identified in the articles and reports and the manual search in congresses and foundation papers. Article quality will be assessed by the guide proposed by Sandelowski & Barroso and data extraction done using the QARI data extraction form proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute for Evidence-Based Practice.The synthesis of the findings will be based on the principles and procedures of grounded theory: coding, identification and relationship between categories, and synthesis using constant comparison as a strategy. DISCUSSION: This synthesis of qualitative evidence will enable us to detect health needs as perceived by the receivers in their own interaction contexts.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Expectations of Physicians with Respect to Palliative Care in Ecuador: A Qualitative Study.

Background: The worldwide need for palliative care is high, especially in mid- income countries like Ecuador, where the percentage of patients receiving such care is very small due to the scarcity of infrastructure and specialized personnel and to the unequal distribution in the country. The objective of this study is to explore the knowledge, attitudes and expectations related to palliative care of the physicians in Ecuador. Methods: A qualitative study based on 28 semi-structured interviews, from March 2014 to November 2016, with physicians working in four cities in Ecuador recruited through the snowball technique. Thematic analysis was developed supported by the ATLAS.ti software. Results: Five core themes were identified: (1) training, (2) health policy, (3) professionals' activities, (4) health services and (5) development of palliative care in Ecuador. Conclusions: Strategies are needed which intensify the training of medical professional in palliative care, as well as avail the human resources and materials for providing it.

[Public participation in research projects: ways of creating collective knowledge in health]. / Participación pública en los proyectos de investigación: formas de crear conocimiento colectivo en salud.

Public participation in research projects is an emerging area in Spain and Latin American countries. There are five types of projects according to the degree of involvement that the participants have in the processes: contributory, collaborative, co-created, contractual and independent. In order to promote public participation in health research teams, their practices and competencies need to be redefined. To this end, it may be useful to ask questions in the different phases of the research, as well as to develop strategies that include audiences that have fewer channels of participation in favour of favouring equity in health. This way of doing science allows gathering experience and expertise prioritizing and adapting the research to the needs of the population, which increases its transforming capacity and the social impact of its results.

[Implementation of telemedicine programs in Spain: experience of the main actors involved in the decision-making process]. / Implantación de programas de telemedicina en la sanidad pública de España: experiencia desde la perspectiva de clínicos y decisores.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the main benefits and risks related to the implementation of telemedicine programs in Spain, based on the experience of the actors influencing the decision-making process. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We performed a qualitative study based on audiotaped semi-structured telephone interviews. Eleven interviews were carried out, and the perspective of four physicians, three administrators, two researchers and two telecommunications industry workers were included. Theoretical sampling was used and thematic inductive analysis was performed. RESULTS: The following factors were identified as necessary to successfully resolve problems by using telemedicine programs: the commitment of the persons involved, technological aspects, economic and institutional support, acceptance by healthcare professionals and patients, the existence of protocols adjusted to the context, the need for information and training prior to the development of telemedicine programs, a forward-looking approach, routine use and full acceptance of telemedicine programs in the organization, and the need to defend equity for professionals and users. CONCLUSIONS: Successfully developing a telemedicine program requires a favorable environment in which risk can be foreseen. The main key element seems to be the human factor. The factors identified in this study should be considered when developing strategies to increase the chances of success of telemedicine programs in Spain.

[Public participation in research from the perspective of primary health care researchers]. / La participación ciudadana en la investigación desde la perspectiva de investigadores de atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: Explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for development of public involvement in research by Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAPJGol) according to primary health care researchers in Catalonia (Spain). METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in 2017 with 36 primary health care research teams accredited by IDIAPJGol and its management staff. An open questionnaire (paper and online) was designed and piloted to develop a SWOT technique, and 65 answers were obtained (14 in paper and 51 online). A thematic content analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Most informants consider public involvement in research a useful, innovative, viable and essential strategy, but it requires a change of mentality and a move away from the hierarchical paradigm. It can be difficult to execute and can complicate studies. They are concerned about which citizens should be involve, how to select them, possible conflicts of interest and training needs. The main proposals for its implementation are to disseminate previous strategies, encourage motivation and synergies among citizens, researchers and institutions, and to clarify the roles of the actors involved. IDIAPJGol should develop recommendations for the public involvement in research, encourage their inclusion, have a mentor and advise the research teams. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the challenges, developing public involvement in research in primary health care is essential and feasible, what it is more should be based on a participatory strategy with all actors. The citizens can participate in any kind of design and phase of the research, adapting each project, being the primary health care a privileged area to develop the public involvement in research.

[Transsexuality and the process of sexual reassignment from the perspective of male transsex: A qualitative study]. / La transexualidad y el proceso de reasignación sexual desde la perspectiva de los varones transexuales: un enfoque cualitativo.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the process of sexual reassignment from the perspective of people who undergo this procedure; to know how their body image influences their day to day life and the impact on their sexuality, and to learn from transgender male experiences in order to guide the health care teams involved, so that they can provide care in a more adjusted way to actual needs. METHOD: Qualitative study with a total of 7 male transsexuals over 18 years of age, undergoing at least one surgery intervention for sexual reassignment, using data collection techniques such as individual, semi structured, open, audio recorded interviews and writing of reflective diaries. RESULTS: Decision making to undergo surgery to change their body image and sexual identity is complex. Factors influencing this decision are related to: the need to accept their own body, the experience with hormonal treatments, the relationship with the family and social context and with the partner, management of their own fears, the organization of health care services, the relationship and communication with the health care professionals, and the economic aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Both professionals and health services should consider and delve into the topic with the goal to understand the meaning of sex reassignment procedures to ensure better care for transsexualism.

The Use of Humor in Palliative Care: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Humor has its own place in the context of medicine. Nevertheless, its acceptance by terminal stage patients and health-care professionals has not been studied in depth and is not free from controversy. OBJECTIVES: To understand the significance, appropriateness, and pertinence of the use of humor in palliative care and to analyze its applicability. DESIGN: A narrative systematic review was undertaken and included in PROSPERO. DATA SOURCES: Online searches were carried out on PUBMED, PSYCINFO, EBSCO (CINHAL), EMBASE, SCIELO, SCOPUS, TESEO, WEB of SCIENCE, and COCHRANE between their launch date and December 31, 2015, complemented with manual searches with queries to experts. A total of 156 studies were identified, which were then filtered in pairs by means of an established hierarchy, selecting studies that discussed the use of humor specifically in palliative care from all perspectives and designs, and finally published in Spanish, English, French, or Portuguese. Critical reading of all the selected studies took place, with no exclusions due to quality evaluation. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were included. Five main topics were identified: (1) definition of humor, (2) use and functions of humor in palliative care, (3) how to use humor, (4) when not to use humor, and (5) humor before and after the diagnosis of terminal illness. CONCLUSIONS: Humor plays an unquestionable role in palliative care, but its use needs training and appropriate use.

Prevalence of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders in Average-IQ Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Meta-analysis.

Since their separation as independent diagnostics, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) have been conceptualized as mutually exclusive disorders. Similarities between both disorders can lead to misdiagnosis, especially when it comes to average-IQ adults who were not identified during childhood. The aim of this review was to examine the occurrence of SSD in average-IQ adults with ASD. Electronic and manual searches identified a total of 278 references, of which 10 were included in a meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of SSD in the total ASD sample was close to 6%, pointing to a high co-occurrence of the two conditions. Further research is needed to determine the factors that predispose members of this population to the emergence of psychotic disorders.