The relationship of the atlantic diet with cardiovascular risk factors and markers of arterial stiffness in adults without cardiovascular disease

Background: Studying the adherence of the population to the Atlantic Diet (AD) could be simplified by an easy and quickly applied dietary index. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship of an index measuring compliance with recommendations regarding the Atlantic diet and physical activity with cardiovascular disease risk factors, cardiovascular risk factors, obesity indexes and arterial stiffness markers. Methods: We included 791 individuals from the EVIDENT study (lifestyles and arterial ageing), (52.3 ± 12 years, 61.7% women) without cardiovascular disease. Compliance with recommendations on AD was collected through the responses to a food frequency questionnaire, while physical activity was measured by accelerometer. The number of recommendations being met was estimated using a global scale between 0 and 14 points (a higher score representing greater adherence). Blood pressure, plasma lipid and glucose values and obesity rates were measured. Cardiovascular risk was estimated with the Framingham equation. Results: In the overall sample, 184 individuals (23.3%) scored between 0–3 on the 14-point index we created, 308 (38.9%) between 4 and 5 points, and 299 (37.8%) 6 or more points. The results of multivariate analysis yield a common tendency in which the group with an adherence score of at least 6 points shows lower figures for total cholesterol (p = 0.007) and triglycerides (p = 0.002). Similarly, overall cardiovascular risk in this group is the lowest (p < 0.001), as is pulse wave velocity (p = 0.050) and the mean values of the obesity indexes studied (p < 0.05 in all cases). Conclusion: The rate of compliance with the Atlantic diet and physical activity shows that greater adherence to these recommendations is linked to lower cardiovascular risk, lower total cholesterol and triglycerides, lower rates of obesity and lower pulse wave velocity values

Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis strains with increase of penicillin minimal inhibitory concentrations

We report the isolation and characterization of ten strains showing an increase in the minimal inhibitory concentrations to penicillin (MICs > 0·1 μg/ml), and describe the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological features. The susceptibility of 3432 meningococcal strains isolated from patients in the recent epidemic wave (1978–86) in Spain, to several antimicrobial agents used in the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of meningococcal infection has been tested. Most were resistant to sulphadiazine but sensitive to other antibiotics. The possible existence of a new pattern of behaviour of meningococcal to penicillin is discussed

Effectiveness of an mHealth intervention combining a smartphone app and smart band on body composition in an overweight and obese population: Randomized controlled trial (EVIDENT 3 study)

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to an improvement in health markers by helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. mHealth interventions have been widely reported to achieve greater weight loss than other approaches, but their effect on body composition remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to assess the short-term (3 months) effectiveness of a mobile app and a smart band for losing weight and changing body composition in sedentary Spanish adults who are overweight or obese. Methods: A randomized controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted involving the participation of 440 subjects from primary care centers, with 231 subjects in the intervention group (IG; counselling with smartphone app and smart band) and 209 in the control group (CG; counselling only). Both groups were counselled about healthy diet and physical activity. For the 3-month intervention period, the IG was trained to use a smartphone app that involved self-monitoring and tailored feedback, as well as a smart band that recorded daily physical activity (Mi Band 2, Xiaomi). Body composition was measured using the InBody 230 bioimpedance device (InBody Co., Ltd), and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The mHealth intervention produced a greater loss of body weight (–1.97 kg, 95% CI –2.39 to –1.54) relative to standard counselling at 3 months (–1.13 kg, 95% CI –1.56 to –0.69). Comparing groups, the IG achieved a weight loss of 0.84 kg more than the CG at 3 months. The IG showed a decrease in body fat mass (BFM; –1.84 kg, 95% CI –2.48 to –1.20), percentage of body fat (PBF; –1.22%, 95% CI –1.82% to 0.62%), and BMI (–0.77 kg/m2, 95% CI –0.96 to 0.57). No significant changes were observed in any of these parameters in men; among women, there was a significant decrease in BMI in the IG compared with the CG. When subjects were grouped according to baseline BMI, the overweight group experienced a change in BFM of –1.18 kg (95% CI –2.30 to –0.06) and BMI of –0.47 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.80 to –0.13), whereas the obese group only experienced a change in BMI of –0.53 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.86 to –0.19). When the data were analyzed according to physical activity, the moderate-vigorous physical activity group showed significant changes in BFM of –1.03 kg (95% CI –1.74 to –0.33), PBF of –0.76% (95% CI –1.32% to –0.20%), and BMI of –0.5 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.83 to –0.19). Conclusions: The results from this multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial study show that compared with standard counselling alone, adding a self-reported app and a smart band obtained beneficial results in terms of weight loss and a reduction in BFM and PBF in female subjects with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 and a moderate-vigorous physical activity level. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to ensure that this profile benefits more than others from this intervention and to investigate modifications of this intervention to achieve a global effect

THE EFFECT OF CARBON-PLATED RUNNING SHOES ON PERFORMANCE

Dominic Collichio1, Kyle Edgar1, Erik Hanson, FACSM1, Claudio Battaglini, FACSM1, Mark Belio1, Lilly Niehaus1, Zack Bennett1, Brian Jensen1, Benjamin Gordon2. 1UNC, Chapel Hill, NC. 2University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a carbon fiber plate on running economy (RE) in commercially available shoes of nearly identical midsole composition, geometry, and stack height. Three running shoes were compared; a traditional running shoe, no carbon plate, Razor 3 (R3), a half carbon plated shoe Razor Speed Elite Hyper (SE), and a full carbon plated shoe, Nike Vaporfly (VF). Methods: Nine male participants (18-35 years old) who had completed a 5 Km run in under 18 minutes and no injury or training disruption within a 6-month period of participation completed this 3-visit study. Participants completed a familiarization session, followed by a second visit in which a VO2max test was performed to determine ventilatory threshold (VT). Visit three included a shoe comparison of three different shoes running on a treadmill at a prescribed intensity: 5-10%% above and below VT for a total of six running bouts. Data were collected on VO2, RPE, shoe comfort, and running economy. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Results: When comparing SE vs. R3, the carbon fiber plate did not change RE, when running at intensities below (p = 0.355) and above VT (p = 0.715). There were no differences in heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in either the R3 (p = 0.875) or VF (p = 0.054) relative to the SE when performing below VT. However, relative to the SE, the VF showed a 2.8 % and 1.6% improvement in RE below (p = 0.005) and above VT (p = 0.019) respectively. The main effect of running intensity (above vs. below VT) was observed for VO2 (p \u3c 0.001) and HR (p \u3c 0.001). R3 remained unchanged independent of running speed relative to the SE (p = 0.827), while RE in the VF was increased (p = 0.046). No shoe condition x speed interaction was observed for HR (p = 0.323) or RPE (p = 0.125). Conclusion: The current findings of this study suggest that a carbon fiber plate alone may not account for RE improvements but play a contributory role in racing. While not statistically significant, the SE may provide physiologically significant improvements at faster running speeds. The current study is ongoing, and additional data are necessary to determine the true benefit or lack thereof of a carbon fiber plate on performance metrics

NURSES’ knowledge, skills and personal attributes for providing competent health education practice, and its influencing factors: A cross-sectional study

Aim: To explore nurses’ knowledge, skills and personal attributes for competent health education practice and their association with potential influencing factors. Background: Clinical nurses are expected to perform effective health education interventions, but they do not feel competent. The self-assessment of the health education competence and its conditional factors is paramount for professional development. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 458 clinical nurses from two health specialized centers in Spain participated in this study. Data were collected using the Nurse Health Education Competence Instrument and a second self-report ques- tionnaire from January to February 2019. Descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyse the data. The STROBE guideline was used Results: The mean scores of the knowledge (70.10 ± 15.11), skills (92.14 ± 15.18) and personal attributes scales (32.32 ± 5.89) were found to be low to moderate. The main influencing factors for the health education implementation were lack of education and training (71.4%), lack of time (67.5%) and high workload (67.3%). Nurses with higher educational level and perceived self-efficacy for competently providing health education, more extensive professional experience and previous training in health education rated higher in knowledge, skills and personal attributes. Age and years of experience were negatively correlated with knowledge scores, but positively with the rest of domains of the competence and self-efficacy. The regression models for the overall health education competence’s domains were significant (p < 0.001) with R2 values ranging from 28.0% to 49.3%. Self-efficacy, previous health education training and working in intensive care units were found to be significant in all cognitive, psychomotor and attitudinal scales. Conclusion: Clinical nurses reported on some skills and personal attributes for health education practice, but they seem to lack health education knowledge necessary for a competent practice. This study suggested that effective education and training and supportive organizational cultures are key to enhance nurses’ health education competence. Identifying nurses’ educational needs on the main domains of the competence and its intrinsic/ extrinsic influential factors may assist in both planning and organizing tailored training strategies and in pro- moting appropriate environments to support a high-quality health education practice Tweetable abstract: Nurses’ knowledge, skills and attitudes about health education competence are low to moderate. Training and organizational support are ke

¿Son efectivos los programas de cesación tabáquica en estudiantes universitarios? Revisión sistemática

Pardavila-Belio, M. I., Canga, A., Garcia-Vivar, C., et al. “¿Son efectivos los programas de cesación tabáquica en estudiantes universitarios? Revisión sistemática” en JBI European Region Best Practices Symposium 2016, celebrado en Madrid (España) del 27 al 28 de abril de 201

NURSES’ knowledge, skills and personal attributes for providing competent health education practice, and its influencing factors: A cross-sectional study

Aim: To explore nurses’ knowledge, skills and personal attributes for competent health education practice and their association with potential influencing factors. Background: Clinical nurses are expected to perform effective health education interventions, but they do not feel competent. The self-assessment of the health education competence and its conditional factors is paramount for professional development. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 458 clinical nurses from two health specialized centers in Spain participated in this study. Data were collected using the Nurse Health Education Competence Instrument and a second self-report ques- tionnaire from January to February 2019. Descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyse the data. The STROBE guideline was used Results: The mean scores of the knowledge (70.10 ± 15.11), skills (92.14 ± 15.18) and personal attributes scales (32.32 ± 5.89) were found to be low to moderate. The main influencing factors for the health education implementation were lack of education and training (71.4%), lack of time (67.5%) and high workload (67.3%). Nurses with higher educational level and perceived self-efficacy for competently providing health education, more extensive professional experience and previous training in health education rated higher in knowledge, skills and personal attributes. Age and years of experience were negatively correlated with knowledge scores, but positively with the rest of domains of the competence and self-efficacy. The regression models for the overall health education competence’s domains were significant (p < 0.001) with R2 values ranging from 28.0% to 49.3%. Self-efficacy, previous health education training and working in intensive care units were found to be significant in all cognitive, psychomotor and attitudinal scales. Conclusion: Clinical nurses reported on some skills and personal attributes for health education practice, but they seem to lack health education knowledge necessary for a competent practice. This study suggested that effective education and training and supportive organizational cultures are key to enhance nurses’ health education competence. Identifying nurses’ educational needs on the main domains of the competence and its intrinsic/ extrinsic influential factors may assist in both planning and organizing tailored training strategies and in pro- moting appropriate environments to support a high-quality health education practice Tweetable abstract: Nurses’ knowledge, skills and attitudes about health education competence are low to moderate. Training and organizational support are ke

Translation and psychometric validation of the Spanish version of the Demand Control Support Questionnaire (DCSQ) for nursing professionals

Aim: To translate and psychometrically validate the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire for nurses in Spain. Background: Nurses are one of the groups most affected by work-related stress. The combination of high job demands and low control is identified as the main source of stress among nurses. The Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for assessing psychosocial stress in the workplace. Methods: A two-phase cross-sectional descriptive study. The instrument was translated according to Sousa and Rojjanasrirat guidelines, including forward and backward translations, consensus meetings, pilot testing and expert committee. Structural validity, convergent and discriminative validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed in a sample of 247 nurses. Results: Exploratory factor analysis verified a three-factor solution with good internal consistency (Cronbach α values ranged from 0.62 to 0.87) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.65 to 0.85). Conclusions: The Spanish version of the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire seems to be a brief, valid and reliable instrument to measure psychosocial stress in the workplace in nurses. Implications for nursing management: The use of the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire can be of value to inform the design and implementation of appropriate management strategies to foster a more favorable work environment that promotes the wellbeing of professionals