Usefulness of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire in assessing the quality of life of parents of children with asthma

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of parents of children with asthma and to analyze the internal consistency of the generic QOL tool World Health Organization Quality of Life, abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF).MethodsWe evaluated the QOL of parents of asthmatic and healthy children aged between 8 and 16, using the generic WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. We also evaluated the internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha (αC), in order to determine whether the tool had good validity for the target audience.ResultsThe study included 162 individuals with a mean age of 43.8±13.6 years, of which 104 were female (64.2%) and 128 were married (79.0%). When assessing the QOL, the group of parents of healthy children had higher scores than the group of parents of asthmatic children in the four areas evaluated by the questionnaire (Physical, Psychological Health, Social Relationships and Environment), indicating a better quality of life. Regarding the internal consistency of the WHOQOL-BREF, values of αC were 0.86 points for the group of parents of asthmatic children, and 0.88 for the group of parents of healthy children.ConclusionsParents of children with asthma have impaired quality of life due to their children's disease. Furthermore, the WHOQOL-BREF, even as a generic tool, showed to be practical and efficient to evaluate the quality of life of parents of asthmatic children

INFLUÊNCIA DO ÍNDICE DE MASSA CORPORAL E DO NÍVEL DE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA NO DESENVOLVIMENTO MOTOR E APTIDÃO FÍSICA DE CRIANÇAS

A finalidade deste estudo foi verificar a influência do índice de massa corporal e dos níveis de atividade física no desenvolvimento motor e aptidão física de jovens.  Participaram 64 jovens com idade entre 9 e 10 anos de ambos os sexos, sendo avaliados: níveis de atividade física, estado nutricional, aptidão física (força, flexibilidade e resistência) e desenvolvimento motor. A amostra foi dividida em quatro grupos, estratificados pelo nível de atividade física e estado nutricional. Os dados foram comparados por meio do teste de Kruskal-Wallis (p0,05).  Resultados: 34,4% dos jovens apresentavam peso acima e 50% eram sedentários. O peso acima influenciou na resistência e na habilidade de controle de objetos, sendo que o nível de atividade física diminui o impacto da obesidade na força e na habilidade de locomoção. A flexibilidade não foi influenciada.  Conclusão: atividade física e estado nutricional podem influenciar na aptidão física e no desenvolvimento motor de jovens.

Strength training decreases the depressive symptoms and improves the health-related quality of life in older women

O objetivo do presente estudo foi de avaliar os efeitos do treinamento de força, com prescrição baseada na percepção de esforço, nos sintomas depressivos e na Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS) de idosas. Participaram do estudo 24 idosas (idade de 65,6 ± 4,5 anos), submetidas a um treinamento de força duas vezes por semana, durante 12 semanas com intensidade prescrita através da escala de percepção de esforço de BORG. Utilizou-se a escala de depressão geriátrica (EDG) de para rastreio de depressão e avaliação dos sintomas depressivos. Para avaliação da QVRS, utilizou-se o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida Short Form-36 (SF-36). Para comparação das variáveis pré e pós-treinamento foi utilizado o teste de Wilcoxon. Foi encontrada uma redução dos sintomas depressivos, bem como da frequência de idosas com pontuação indicativa de episódio depressivo atual, após o treinamento de força. Para a QVRS, foram encontradas melhoras nas subescalas de capacidade funcional, estado geral da saúde, vitalidade e saúde mental. O treinamento de força, baseado na percepção de esforço, foi um método efetivo para uma redução nos sintomas de depressivos das participantes bem como para melhora da QVRS relacionada à saúde nas seguintes subescalas do SF-36: vitalidade, capacidade funcional, estado geral da saúde e saúde mental em idosas.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of strength training, based on the perceived effort, on depressive symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of elderly women. Twenty four older women (65.6 ± 4.5 years), performed training exercise two times per week during 12 weeks. The intensity was prescribed using the BORG perceived effort scale. The Geriatric Depression Scale (EDG) was used to evaluate the depressive symptoms intensity. The HRQoL, was evaluated thought the Short Form-36 (SF-36). A significant decrease of depressive symptoms was found. The HRQoL improved in some, but not all subscales. Improvements were found at functional capacity, general heath, vitality and mental health subscales. The strength training, based on perceived effort, was an effective method to decrease the depressive symptoms and improve HRQoL on the functional capacity, general heath, vitality and mental health subscales of SF-36 on older women

Evaluation of passive plantarflexion torque and active dorsiflexion torque in rhythmic gymnasts and nonathletes

The training performed by elite athletes leads to specific functional demands, producing changes on tendon and muscle properties. In the rhythmic gymnastics (RG) athletes there is a higher motor control demand in extreme plantarflexed positions. This functional demand can change the passive torque produced by the plantarflexors, as well as influence the dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) and maximal dorsiflexion torque. We compared the dorsiflexor ROM and the influence of the passive plantarflexion torque (PPT) on the active dorsiflexion torque (ADT) between RG and nonathletes (NA) girls. The study included 10 RG and 10 NA. The dorsiflexor ROM was measured with a goniometer. The PPT and ADT were evaluated through isokinetic dynamometry at five ankle joint angles (20º, 10º, 0º, -10º, -20º). Independent T test was used to comparison between groups (α = 0.05). Pearson correlation coefficients indicated a high and moderate negative correlation between PPT and ADT for RG and NA, respectively. RG had a smaller dorsiflexion ROM than NA. The PPT was significantly higher in RG compared NA. In contrast, the ADT was higher in NA. The PPT correlation to ADT was r = -0.82; p < 0.01 and r = -0.68; p < 0.01, for RG and NA, respectively. Results suggest that higher mechanical loading on plantarflexors in the RG increase the PPT that influence negatively in the dorsiflexor ROM and ADT.O treinamento realizado por atletas de elite acarreta demandas funcionais específicas que produzem mudanças nos tendões e nas propriedades musculares. Nas atletas de ginástica rítmica (GR) há uma exigência maior de controle motor em posições extremas de flexão plantar. Esta demanda pode alterar o torque passivo dos flexores plantares bem como influenciar na amplitude de movimento (ADM) de flexão dorsal e torque dos dorsiflexores. No presente estudo foi comparada a ADM de flexão dorsal de GR e meninas não atletas (MNA), e determinada a correlação entre o torque passivo dos flexores plantares (TPFP) e o torque ativo dos flexores dorsais (TAFD). O estudo incluiu 10 GR e 10 MNA. A ADM de flexão dorsal foi medida com um goniômetro. O TPFP e TAFD foram avaliados por meio de um dinamômetro isocinético em cinco ângulos articulares (20º, 10º, 0º, -10º e -20º). O teste T para amostras independentes foi utilizado para a comparação entre os grupos (α = 0,05). O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson indicou uma correlação negativa alta e moderada entre o TPFP e TAFD para as GR e NA, respectivamente. GR apresentaram menor ADM de flexão dorsal comparadas às MNA. O TPFP foi significativamente maior nas GR comparado as MNA. Por outro lado, o TAFD foi maior nas MNA. A correlação do TPFP com o TAFD foi de r = -0,82; p < 0,01 e r = -0,68; p < 0,01 para GR e MNA, respectivamente. Os resultados sugerem que a alta demanda mecânica nos flexores plantares na GR aumenta o TPFP que pode influenciar negativamente na ADM dos flexores dorsais e no TAFD

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Measurement of associated W plus charm production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Peer reviewe

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació