Articles with short titles describing the results are cited more often

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate some features of article titles from open access journals and to assess the possible impact of these titles on predicting the number of article views and citations. METHODS: Research articles (n = 423, published in October 2008) from all Public Library of Science (PLoS) journals and from 12 Biomed Central (BMC) journals were evaluated. Publication metrics (views and citations) were analyzed in December 2011. The titles were classified according to their contents, namely methods-describing titles and results-describing titles. The number of title characters, title typology, the use of a question mark, reference to a specific geographical region, and the use of a colon or a hyphen separating different ideas within a sentence were analyzed to identify predictors of views and citations. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent title characteristics that could predict citation rates. RESULTS: Short-titled articles had higher viewing and citation rates than those with longer titles. Titles containing a question mark, containing a reference to a specific geographical region, and that used a colon or a hyphen were associated with a lower number of citations. Articles with results-describing titles were cited more often than those with methods-describing titles. After multivariate analysis, only a low number of characters and title typology remained as predictors of the number of citations. CONCLUSIONS: Some features of article titles can help predict the number of article views and citation counts. Short titles presenting results or conclusions were independently associated with higher citation counts. The findings presented here could be used by authors, reviewers, and editors to maximize the impact of articles in the scientific community

Impacto de um programa de atividade física sobre a ansiedade, depressão, estresse ocupacional e síndrome de Burnout dos profissionais de enfermagem no trabalho

OBJETIVO: avaliar os efeitos de um programa de atividade física no local de trabalho sobre os níveis de ansiedade, depressão, Burnout, estresse ocupacional e na autopercepção da saúde e qualidade de vida, relacionada ao trabalho de uma equipe de enfermagem, em uma unidade de cuidados paliativos. MÉTODOS: o programa de atividade física no local de trabalho foi realizado cinco dias por semana, com duração de dez minutos, durante três meses consecutivos. Vinte e um profissionais de enfermagem foram avaliados antes e após a intervenção, com o Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, o Inventário Maslch Burnout, e o Job Stress Scale. As mudanças na autopercepção da saúde e qualidade de vida, relacionada ao trabalho, foram mensuradas por meio de um questionário semiestruturado. RESULTADOS: o programa de atividade física no local de trabalho não acarretou resultados significativos sobre os níveis de ansiedade, depressão, Burnout e estresse ocupacional. No entanto, após a intervenção, os participantes relataram melhor percepção de dor e sensação de fadiga no trabalho. CONCLUSÃO: o programa de atividade no local de trabalho não resultou em efeitos benéficos sobre estresse ocupacional e variáveis psicológicas, mas foi bem-aceito pelos profissionais de enfermagem, que relataram melhora na percepção da saúde e qualidade de vida relacionada ao trabalho.OBJETIVO: evaluar los efectos de un programa de actividad física en el lugar de trabajo (AFT) en los niveles de ansiedad, depresión, agotamiento, estrés ocupacional y autopercepción de la salud y la calidad de vida relacionada con el trabajo de un equipo de enfermería en una unidad de cuidados paliativos. MÉTODOS: el programa AFT se llevó a cabo durante cinco días a la semana, con una duración de diez minutos, durante tres meses consecutivos. Veintiún profesionales de enfermería fueron evaluados antes y después de la intervención, con Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, el Inventário Maslch Burnout y la Job Stress Scale. Los cambios en la percepción de la salud y la calidad de vida relacionada con el trabajo se midieron utilizando un cuestionario semi-estructurado. RESULTADOS: el programa AFT no dio resultados significativos en los niveles de ansiedad, depresión, agotamiento o estrés laboral. Sin embargo, después de la intervención, los participantes informaron una mejor percepción del dolor corporal y de la sensación de fatiga en el trabajo. CONCLUSIÓN: el programa AFT no condujo a efectos beneficiosos sobre el estrés laboral y las variables psicológicas, pero fue bien aceptada por los profesionales de enfermería, quienes reportaron mejoría en la percepción de la salud y la calidad de vida relacionada con el trabajo.OBJECTIVE: to assess the effects of a workplace physical activity (WPA) program on levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, occupational stress and self-perception of health and work-related quality of life of a nursing team in a palliative care unit. METHODS: the WPA was conducted five days per week, lasting ten minutes, during three consecutive months. Twenty-one nursing professionals were evaluated before and after the intervention, with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Maslch Burnout Inventory, and the Job Stress Scale. The changes in self-perceived health and work-related quality of life were measured using a semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: the WPA did not yield significant results on the levels of anxiety, depression, burnout or occupational stress. However, after the intervention, participants reported improved perceptions of bodily pain and feeling of fatigue at work. CONCLUSION: the WPA did not lead to beneficial effects on occupational stress and psychological variables, but it was well accepted by the nursing professionals, who reported improvement in perceptions of health and work-related quality of life

Analysis of the quality of life in patients submitted to oncological treatment of the head and neck

To evaluate the quality of life and the influence of sociodemographic and clinical variables in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional study. Two instruments were used: sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy Head Neck (FACT-HN). Results: 170 respondents, 60.6% male, 51.2% married, with laryngeal cancer being the most found (34.7%) of the total sample, 78.8% underwent surgical procedures. In FACT-HN, the variables that showed significance were: educational level, professional activity and salary income. Only in the subscale additional head and neck cancer specific concerns (HNSC) were significant: type of cancer, staging, chemotherapy and surgical treatment. Conclusions: The research contributes by showing that predictive factors of quality of life are also socioeconomic issues and not just clinical issues related to the therapeutic approach. Assistance planning is essential to provide support for rehabilitation and reintegration into society

Avaliação da qualidade de vida de pacients tratados e em tratamento para hanseníase: uso do Dermatology Life Quality Index e do Whoqol-bref

Qualidade de vida (QV) é um assunto que vem despertando o interesse de pesquisadores e profissionais, principalmente, das áreas biológicas e humanas. Informações sobre QV têm sido utilizadas para avaliar a eficácia de determinados tratamentos, agravos à saúde e impacto físico e psicossocial. A hanseníase, foco do estudo em questão, é uma doença crônica, que pode interferir em aspectos importantes da vida do indivíduo. Trata-se de um estudo transversal e descritivo que analisou a QV de 90 pacientes com hanseníase que estavam em acompanhamento nos três serviços de referência em hanseníase da Diretoria Regional de Saúde VI de Bauru/SP. Utilizou-se como instrumentos para a coleta dos dados três protocolos: a ficha de caracterização sóciodemográfica dos pacientes, os questionários de qualidade de vida WHOQOL-bref e DLQI. Identificou-se que o sexo masculino apresentou-se mais freqüente que o feminino, tanto nos pacientes tratados quanto nos em tratamento, totalizando 59 (65,5%) dos 90 pacientes. A maior parte dos pacientes apresentou idade entre 40-59 anos (53/90, 59%) e 65 (72,2%) tinham até o primeiro grau de escolaridade, 43 (47,8%) encontravamse ativos e 47 (52,2%) inativos, 76(84,4%) recebiam de um a dois salários mínimos. Além de serem portadores da hanseníase, referiram ter outras morbidades, sendo mais freqüentes as doenças crônicas como Diabetes mellitus e Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica.A grande maioria (77/90, 85,5%) era multibacilar, 74 (82,2%) dos entrevistados tinham grau 0 de incapacidade. A presença de reações foi mais freqüente no sexo masculino sendo estatisticamente significante. A avaliação da QV do ponto de vista genérico - WHOQOL-bref - mostrou que os pacientes tinham comprometimento nos domínios físico e psíquico. As diferenças foram evidentes aplicando-se o WHOQOL-bref na comparação entre pacientes com hanseníase...Quality of life (QOL) is a subject that has aroused the interest of researchers and practitioners, mainly from the biological and human areas. Information on QOL have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of certain treatments, health problems and physical and psychosocial impact. Leprosy is a chronic disease, which can interfere with important aspects of functioning. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that evaluated the QOL of 90 patients with leprosy who were in attendance at the three reference services in leprosy in the Regional Health Board VI of Bauru. We used as instruments for data collection three protocols: the sociodemographic characteristics protocol, the quality of life questionnaire WHOQOL-bref and DLQI. It was identified that male sex was more frequent than females, both in patients treated as well as in those undergoing treatment, encompassing 59 (65.5%) out 90 patients. Most patients presented with ages between 40-59 years old (53/90, 59%) and 65 (72.2%) had completed elementary education, 43 (47.8%) were active and 47 (52,2%) inactive, 76 (84.4%) received one to two minimum wages. In addition to the diagnosis of leprosy, patients reported having other comorbidities, the most frequent chronic diseases were diabetes mellitus and Hypertension. The vast majority (77/90, 85.5%) were multibacillary, 74 (82.2%) respondents had grade 0 disability. There was a statistically significant higher rate of leprosy reactions occurrence in males then in females.The assessment of QOL in terms of generic WHOQOLbref showed that patients had impairment in physical and psychic domains. The differences were evident when applying WHOQOL-bref to patients with leprosy, regarding the clinical presentation, inactivity, absence from work due to leprosy diagnosis time and occurrence of leprosy reactions. The assessment of QOL in terms of specific DLQI showed that patients with... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Caracterização venosa central em crianças internadas em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva pediátrica

A cateterização venosa central é procedimento indispensável para monitorização e tratamento de crianças internadas em unidades de tratamento intensivo. Apesar de disseminada, a utilização de cateteres venosos centrais (CVCs) não é destituída de complicações no momento da inserção e durante sua manutenção. Os objetivos do estudo foram: identificar e quantificar as complicações da cateterização venosa central em crianças internadas em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica (UTIP); identificar os fatores de risco para complicações de inserção e de manutenção e avaliar a necessidade do emprego de medidas de prevenção de complicações e, se necessário, propor modificação das normas e rotinas dos cuidados de enfermagem vigentes. Analisou-se prospectivamente todas as crianças e adolescentes (1 mês a 18 anos de idade) internados na UTIP no período de um ano e que foram submetidos a punção venosa central, no ambiente da unidade. No período, 120 CVCs foram inseridos em 83 crianças. Os residentes (R3) inseriram 84,2% dos CVCs e não houve correlação entre complicações de inserção e manutenção e o profissional que realizou o procedimento.A taxa de sucesso de punção foi alta. A veia mais puncionada foi a jugular interna (79,2%), observando-se que sete tentativas de punção foram mal sucedidas (5,8%). As complicações de inserção mais freqüentes foram mal posicionamento do cateter (14,1%) e punção arterial (10,9%). Mais de três tentativas de punção foi significante para o aparecimento de intercorrências de inserção dos CVCs (p=0,004). Quanto as complicações de manutenção, houve correlação significante para troca do cateter realizada com fio guia (p=0,008), utilização de ventilação mecânica (p=0,025) e tempo de permanência do cateter por mais de sete dias (p=0,001). Sinais flogísticos ocorreram em 68,2% dos locais de inserção...Central Venous Catheters (CVCs) are considered indispensable in the current medical practice. The aim of this study was to identify and to analyze the complications of the venous catheterization in children admitted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) - UNESP, and to identify the risk factors for insertion and maintenance of CVCs. Also we aim to evaluate the necessity from prevention measures of complications and if it is necessary to change nursing care routine. During one year we analyzed prospectively 120 CVCs inserted in 83 children aged between 1 month and 18 years. Residents (R3) inserted 84.2% CVCs and no differences were observed between insertion and maintenance complications and the professional responsible for the procedure. Success punction rate was level. Internal jugular vein was the most punctioned vein (79,2%), and only 7 attempts failure (5,8%). Insertion complications more frequent were catheter bad positioned (14,1%) and arterial punction (10,9%). More than three attempts were statistical significant to insertion complication (p=0.004) and CVCs changed with guidewire were significant (p=0.008) to maintenance complications, as well as mechanical ventilation and indwelling time more than 7 days. Local infection was diagnosed in 68,2% and there were two cases of bloodstream-catheter-related infection. Constant observation of the nursing techniques, have showed that 82.3% of the nursing personal did not wash their hands before dressing, verifying association between no washing hands and appearing local infection catheter (p=0,005). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most common microorganism isolated from the catheters. Results aim the necessity to achieve training and continuing education about nursing care in the maintenance of central venous catheters. Results make clear the necessity to achieve training and continuing education about nursing care in the maintenance of central venous catheters

The Barretos short instrument for assessment of quality of life (BSIqol): development and preliminary validation in a cohort of cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To be clinically useful, an instrument assessing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) should be easy to understand and quick to answer. Few instruments have been designed to be short, simple, and easily understandable by patients from all educational levels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a brief general instrument developed to assess HRQOL.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Results from a preliminary study regarding the initial development of the Barretos Short Instrument for Assessment of Quality of Life (BSIqol) with 80 cancer patients are presented. Out of all the patients, 59 completed the BSIqol on two occasions in order to evaluate the reproducibility test-retest. Validity analyses were done comparing scores from BSIqol with EORTC QLQ-C30 and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). In addition, BSIqol scores were analyzed in function of ECOG-PS, work activity, and financial income.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BSIqol demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.79) and adequate test-retest reliability, with intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC) varying from 0.736 to 0.946. There were adequate correlations between scores of BSIqol, EORTC QLQ-C30 and ESAS. The BSIqol was capable of discriminating between clinical subgroups, with different ECOG-PS and work activity. Patients completed the BSIqol in a median time <2 min. Only one patient reported some difficulty to answer the instrument.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>BSIqol seems to be a straightforward and useful instrument for rapidly assessing HRQOL from cancer patients. Further studies are necessary to evaluate BSIqol in different populations and also to assess its responsiveness and define its minimal clinically important differences.</p