Intercultural mediation at the end of life. Different perceptions of the same process

The aim of this study was to identify the perceptions of palliative care professionals with regards to the management of patients from a different culture, and if there is a need to incorporate an intercultural mediator. To understand the influence of the intercultural mediator as a facilitator in the decision making of the patient and family at the end of life. The methodological approach is centered in pluralism, reinforced by triangulation of data and information. The intercultural mediator is crucial because they can provide light in a multitude of conflict situations caused by lack of knowledge about the patient's culture. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Assessing the Hands-on Usability of the Healthy Jeart App Specifically Tailored to Young Users

Background: The widespread adoption of mobile devices by adolescents underscores the potential to harness these tools to instill healthy habits into their daily lives. An exemplary manifestation of this initiative is the Healthy Jeart app, crafted with the explicit goal of fostering well-being. Methodology: This study, framed within an applied investigation, adopts an exploratory and descriptive approach, specifically delving into the realm of user experience analysis. The focus of this research is a preliminary examination aimed at understanding users’ perceived usability of the application. To glean insights, a comprehensive questionnaire was administered to 101 teenagers, seeking their evaluations on various usability attributes. The study took place during 2022. Results: The findings reveal a considerable consensus among users regarding the evaluated usability aspects. However, the areas for improvement predominantly revolve around managing the information density, particularly for a subset of end users grappling with overwhelming content. Additionally, recommendations are put forth to streamline the confirmation process for user suggestions and comments. Conclusion: This analysis illuminates both the strengths of the app and areas ripe for refinement, paving the way for a more user-centric and efficacious Healthy Jeart application.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under project PID2020-119478GB-I00 and by the European Commission, the University of Huelva, and the Junta de Andalucía under project UHU-202062.Departamento de Tecnologías de la Informació

Attitudes of undergraduate nursing students to cultural diversity: (Portuguese-Spanish) in a transboundary context.

Our main goal was to identify the attitudes of nursing students to cultural diversity in a healthcare setting, and find the potential relationship between this and the students' national background and their knowledge of cultural diversity. A descriptive observational study comparing two culturally different populations within a cross-border area (Algarve-Huelva) was conducted. The attitudes of the participants were measured across six categories: this study will describe the most significant ones. The cultural context is essential to the development of attitudes to immigration. Nursing care is a communicative act and encountering the "other" the core of the nursing professionals' work. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

A Comparative Study on the Quality of Life of Survivors of Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases, particularly acute myocardial infarction and strokes, lead to significant fatalities. Survivors often experience profound impacts on various aspects of their lives, making the assessment of their Quality of Life crucial for understanding their condition and adaptation to the illness. Methods: A community-based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to compare how survivors of stroke and acute myocardial infarction perceive their Quality of Life. The Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of life instrument was administered to 204 acute myocardial infarction and stroke survivors. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were also compared. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were noted in overall, physical, and psychological aspects of Quality of Life between the two groups, with stroke survivors consistently showing lower values in these dimensions. Conclusions: The Quality-of-Life perception of stroke and acute myocardial infarction survivors may be affected by several sociodemographic and clinical factors, and the results support the idea that the vascular event conditions the person’s Quality of Life, particularly in variables related to the person’s physical condition, functionality, and autonomy.Departamento de Enfermerí

QUALIDADE DE VIDA DO IDOSO INSTITUCIONALIZADO: REALIDADE VIVIDA NA REDE DE CUIDADOS CONTINUADOS INTEGRADOS DO ALGARVE

A Qualidade de Vida do idoso institucionalizado é uma temática cada vez mais debatida na sociedade contemporânea. Se, por um lado, se constata um acréscimo no recurso às instituições por parte dos idosos, por outro lado surge a necessidade de avaliar a Qualidade de Vida desta população. Na presente investigação pretendemos caracterizar os idosos institucionalizados e identificar as necessidades dos mesmos face à condição de idoso na instituição, fundamentando-nos na sua percepção de Qualidade de Vida. Neste projecto participaram 105 idosos internados nas unidades da Rede de Cuidados Continuados Integrados do Algarve. No estudo descritivo, de carácter transversal e de metodologia quantitativa, a colheita de dados foi feita através da aplicação de questionários: sociodemográfico, de caracterização da instituição e a aplicação da escala de Qualidade de Vida WHOQOL-BREF. No estudo original, as variáveis foram agrupadas em três categorias distintas, no presente artigo apresentamos apenas os resultados referentes à categoria de Idoso na Instituição. Os resultados relativos à Qualidade de Vida revelam diferenças estatisticamente significativas no que se refere à condição física do idoso, presença de suporte social, qualidade das visitas, participação do suporte social nos cuidados, possibilidade de obter períodos temporários de ausência da instituição e grau de autonomia. A condição física do idoso e o grau de autonomia revelaram ser aspectos fundamentais na boa percepção de Qualidade de Vida do idoso. De igual modo, o suporte social/familiar é um factor importante para o idoso institucionalizado e deve ser preservado, rumo à adequada reintegração social e familiar

Pueblos y paisajes antiguos de la selva amazónica

Durante algo más de 50 años antropólogos, arqueólogos, linguistas y geógrafos se han ocupado seriamente del pasado de la Amazonia. Más recientemente otros académicos, entre ellos genetistas y ecólogos, se han fascinado por el mismo. Durante más de 10.000 años los nativos han participado e interpretado esta historia. una historia que unos y otros leen y descifran a partir de diversas claves, como lo pueden ser las formas del paisaje, algunos objetos antiguos y los testimonios y tradiciones orales que tienen a su alcance. Los resultados son múltiples. Estos revelan tanto desacuerdos entre los especialistas como mundos insospechados. Se hacen evidentes caminos que se cruzan y se mezclan; en una dirección convergen y en otra divergen. El lector encontrará en este volumen una fracción de este universo, la misma va acompañada de una invitación a participar en un diálogo amplio que contribuya a enriquecer nuestra visión de un mundo por explorar

12,500+ and counting: biodiversity of the Brazilian Pampa

Knowledge on biodiversity is fundamental for conservation strategies. The Brazilian Pampa region, located in subtropical southern Brazil, is neglected in terms of conservation, and knowledge of its biodiversity is fragmented. We aim to answer the question: how many, and which, species occur in the Brazilian Pampa? In a collaborative effort, we built species lists for plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi that occur in the Brazilian Pampa. We included information on distribution patterns, main habitat types, and conservation status. Our study resulted in referenced lists totaling 12,503 species (12,854 taxa, when considering infraspecific taxonomic categories [or units]). Vascular plants amount to 3,642 species (including 165 Pteridophytes), while algae have 2,046 species (2,378 taxa) and bryophytes 316 species (318 taxa). Fungi (incl. lichenized fungi) contains 1,141 species (1,144 taxa). Animals total 5,358 species (5,372 taxa). Among the latter, vertebrates comprise 1,136 species, while invertebrates are represented by 4,222 species. Our data indicate that, according to current knowledge, the Pampa holds approximately 9% of the Brazilian biodiversity in an area of little more than 2% of Brazil’s total land. The proportion of species restricted to the Brazilian Pampa is low (with few groups as exceptions), as it is part of a larger grassland ecoregion and in a transitional climatic setting. Our study yielded considerably higher species numbers than previously known for many species groups; for some, it provides the first published compilation. Further efforts are needed to increase knowledge in the Pampa and other regions of Brazil. Considering the strategic importance of biodiversity and its conservation, appropriate government policies are needed to fund studies on biodiversity, create accessible and constantly updated biodiversity databases, and consider biodiversity in school curricula and other outreach activities