Reducing stress and supporting positive relations in families of young children with type 1 diabetes: A randomized controlled study for evaluating the effects of the DELFIN parenting program

Abstract Background To assess initial efficacy and feasibility of a structured behavioural group training (DELFIN) for parents of children with diabetes type 1, in order to reduce parenting stress and to improve parenting skills. Methods A randomized controlled study was conducted between July 2008 and September 2010, at a children’s hospital in Hannover with parents of children with type 1 diabetes (2–10 yrs) (intervention group n = 37; control group n = 28). Parenting skills, parents’ psychological burden, children’s behavioural difficulties and quality of metabolic control were assessed before, 3 months after and 12 months after participating in the training program. Results In the intervention group parenting behaviour in conflict situations improved significantly after 3 months (Z = −3.28; p ≤ 0.001). It remained stable over 12 months (Z = −2.94; p ≤ 0.01). Depression and anxiety scores of parents decreased (Z = −1.93; p ≤ .05; Z = −2.02; p ≤ .05). Even though the outcome in the intervention group was more positive, the differences between both study arms failed to reach statistical significance. Unexpectedly parenting behaviour in the control group improved also (Z = −2.45; p ≤ .05). Anxiety as well as stress scores decreased in this group (Z = −2.02; p ≤ .05 and Z = −2.11; p ≤ .05). In both groups the initial metabolic control was good and without significant differences (A1c 7.2±0.8% vs. 7.1±0.4%; p > 0.5). It remained stable in the DELFIN group (A1c 7.1±0.8%; p > 0.5), but it increased slightly in controls (A1c 7.3±0.5%; Z = −2.79; p = .005). Conclusions This study has brought first evidence for the efficacy and feasibility of the program. A multicentre study with a larger sample is necessary to confirm these first results.</p

Propuesta de una escala para medir la calidad del servicio de los centros de atención secundaria de salud Proposal of a scale to measure the quality of service in secondary healthcare centers

El Ministerio de Salud en Chile se ha planteado como uno de sus principales objetivos, proveer servicios acorde a las expectativas de la población. Para lograrlo, se requiere necesariamente, conocer cuál es la calidad del servicio ofrecida por los centros de salud. En Chile, los centros de atención secundaria, no han desarrollado escalas de calidad del servicio que tengan un buen grado de validez, fiabilidad y dimensionalidad. Este artículo, propone una escala que cumpla estas condiciones, para medir de manera óptima la calidad del servicio que los Centros de Atención Secundaria ofrecen a sus pacientes. Para lograr este objetivo, se aplicó una encuesta estructurada y posteriormente se realizó un exhaustivo análisis psicométrico de los datos, a través de una serie de análisis exploratorios y confirmatorios que incluyó ecuaciones estructurales. Este estudio permitió construir y proponer una escala fiable, válida y con buen grado de dimensionalidad, compuesta por cinco subescalas claramente relacionadas e integradas en un único constructo. Estas son: confiabilidad, empatía, capacidad de respuesta, accesibilidad y tangibles.<br>Chile's Ministry of Health has made it one of its main objectives to provide services that meet the expectations of the population. To achieve this, it is necessary to know what the quality of service offered by healthcare centers is like. In Chile, secondary healthcare centers have not developed quality of service scales that have a good level of validity, dependability, and dimensionality. This article proposes a scale that fulfills these conditions so as to measure in an optimal way the quality of service that secondary healthcare centers offer their patients. To achieve this objective, a structured survey was applied, followed by an exhaustive psychometric analysis of the facts through exploratory and confirmatory analysis that included structural equations. This study allowed for the construction and proposal of a scale that is valid, dependable and has a good level of dimensionality composed of five subscales that are clearly related and integrated in one single construct. These are: reliability, empathy, response capacity, accessibility, and tangibility

Determinants of capital structure in Irish SMEs

Capital structure, SME, Zellner’s SUR model, E44, G21, G32, L26,