Methodological aspects of the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study.

This paper describes the main methodological aspects of a cohort study, with emphasis on its recent phases, which may be relevant to investigators planning to carry out similar studies. In 1993, a population based study was launched in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. All 5,249 newborns delivered in the city's hospitals were enrolled, and sub-samples were visited at the ages of one, three and six months and of one and four years. In 2004-5 it was possible to trace 87.5% of the cohort at the age of 10-12 years. Sub-studies are addressing issues related to oral health, psychological development and mental health, body composition, and ethnography. Birth cohort studies are essential for investigating the early determinants of adult disease and nutritional status, yet few such studies are available from low and middle-income countries where these determinants may differ from those documented in more developed settings

Efficacy of auriculotherapy for the reduction of stress in nursing students: a randomized clinical trial Eficacia de la auriculoterapia para la disminución del estrés en estudiantes de enfermería: ensayo clínico aleatorio Eficácia da auriculoterapia para diminuição de estresse em estudantes de enfermagem: ensaio clínico randomizado

This study is a randomized single-blind trial, which aimed to evaluate the efficacy of true auriculotherapy and placebo auriculotherapy in reducing the stress levels of mid-level Nursing students of the School of Nursing of the Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital. Seventy-one students with average, high and very high scores, according to Vasconcellos' List of Stress Symptoms, were divided into three groups: Control (25), Auriculotherapy (24), and Placebo/Sham (22). They were evaluated at the baseline, 8th and 12th sessions and at the follow-up (15 days) and received Shen Men and Brainstem points (Auriculotherapy Group) and Wrist and Outer Ear points (Placebo/Sham Group). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant differences between the Control/Auriculotherapy groups from the 8th session, which was maintained in the third and fourth evaluations (p=0.000) and between the Control/Placebo groups (p<0.05) at the three evaluations. It was concluded that the true auriculotherapy obtained better responses (45.39%) than the placebo (34.18%) in the reduction of the stress, but further studies are recommended for the re-evaluation of the sham points for stress. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01420848.<br>Este ensayo clínico aleatorio simple-ciego tuvo el objetivo de evaluar la eficacia de la auriculoterapia verdadera y auriculoterapia placebo en la disminución del estrés de los estudiantes de la Escuela de Enfermería del Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa. Setenta y un alumnos com puntuaciones medias, altas y altísimas por la Lista de Síntomas de Estrés de Vasconcellos se dividieron en 3 grupos: Control (25), Auriculoterapia (24), Placebo/Sham (22). Se evaluaron al inicio, con 8, 12 sesiones y seguimiento (15 días). En la ANOVA se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre os grupos de Control/Auriculoterapia en las 3 evaluaciones (P=0,000) y entre Control/Placebo (P<0,05). Se concluyó que la auriculoterapia obtuvo mejor respuesta (45,39%) que el placebo (34,18%) en reducir el estrés. Se recomiendan más estudios para la reevaluación de los puntos sham de estrés. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01420848.<br>Trata-se de estudo clínico randomizado, simples cego, com o objetivo de avaliar a eficácia da auriculoterapia verdadeira e placebo na diminuição dos níveis de estresse em alunos de nível médio, da Escola de Enfermagem do Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa. Setenta e um estudantes com escores médio, alto e altíssimo, pela Lista de Sintomas de Estresse de Vasconcellos, foram divididos em 3 grupos: controle (25), auriculoterapia (24) e placebo/Sham (22). Foram avaliados, no início, com 8, 12 sessões e follow-up (15 dias) e receberam os pontos Shen Men, tronco cerebral (auriculoterapia) e punho e ouvido externo (placebo/Sham). Na análise de variância (Anova) constataram-se diferenças estatísticas significativas entre os grupos controle/auriculoterapia a partir de 8 sessões, mantendo-se após a terceira e a quarta avaliação (p=0,000) e entre controle/placebo (p<0,05), nas três avaliações. Concluiu-se que a auriculoterapia verdadeira obteve melhores respostas (45,39%) do que o placebo (34,18%) na redução do estresse, mas recomendam-se mais estudos para reavaliação de pontos Sham para estresse. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01420848