Face-to-face versus remote: effects of an intervention in reading fluency during COVID-19 pandemic

Fluency is a central skill for successful reading. Research has provided evidence that systematic reading fluency interventions can be effective. However, research is scarce on the effects of interventions delivered remotely versus face-to-face. This study investigated the efficacy of a systematic and standardized intervention for promoting reading fluency in third-grade students (N = 207) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study had a pretest, posttest, and follow-up design, with two intervention groups (remote vs face-to-face) and a control group. The intervention groups experienced 20 intervention sessions (2 sessions per week), each lasting approximately 50 min. Word reading accuracy, text reading accuracy, and fluency were measured in the three rounds of assessment. In both intervention groups, all measures of reading showed gains from pretest to posttest. The results also suggested that the efficacy of the intervention was similar in the remote and face-to-face modalities. These findings highlight the relevance of systematic interventions in increasing reading fluency and support the use of remote interventions as an adequate alternative to face-to-face interventions.This work was financially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science (FCT) and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education through national funds within the framework of the Psychology for Positive Development Research Center-CIPD (grant number UIDB/04375/2020) and the Psychology Research Centre (UIDB/PSI/01662/2020)

ESTRATÉGIAS NÃO FARMACOLÓGICAS NO CONTROLE DA DOR CRÓNICA EM ADOLESCENTES

Introdução: O diagnóstico de uma doença crónica tem um profundo impacto na vida do adolescente e da sua família. A dor está muitas vezes associada à doença e/ou a procedimentos inerentes a toda a sua trajetória. O Enfermeiro Especialista em Saúde Infantil e Pediátrica deve assumir a dor do adolescente como um foco importante de atenção, adotando todas as estratégias para a sua prevenção e controle. Objetivos: Identificar produção científica relativa às estratégias não farmacológicas no controle da dor crónica em adolescentes. Metodologia: Revisão Integrativa da Literatura efetuada nas bases de dados: CINAHL Complete; MEDLINE Complete; Nursing & Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews e MedicLatina, disponíveis no motor de busca EBSCO, publicados entre 2012 e 2022. A seleção e análise de relevância dos artigos foi efetuada pelos revisores de forma independente. Resultados: Dos 364 artigos iniciais foram selecionados 8 artigos, segundo critérios previamente definidos. Constatou-se que, as estratégias do Enfermeiro Especialista em Saúde Infantil e Pediátrica são essencialmente dirigidas aos adolescentes e pais, no contexto domiciliário e com recurso a tecnologias. São ainda apresentadas estratégias focadas no adolescente em contexto clínico e reforçada a influência de suporte externo, através de coach online. Conclusão: É fundamental investir na formação dos profissionais, sensibilizando-os para a implementação de estratégias não farmacológicas no alívio da dor crónica no adolescente, assim como a necessidade de adequação das estratégias às novas tecnologias

Development of a group emergent literacy screening tool

It is important to identify children who are struggling with emergent literacy skills as early as possible to provide them with the support they need to prevent future academic failure. Screening tools administered in groups are more cost-effective than those administered individually, but few are available in Portugal. The goal of this study was to explore the psychometric properties (difficulty, reliability, and validity) of a group emergent literacy screening test for Portuguese-speaking children. The test includes two phonological awareness tasks, one vocabulary task, and one concepts of print task. The sample comprised 1379 children from pre-K (n = 314), kindergarten (n = 579), and first grade of primary education (n = 486). Measures of emergent literacy, reading and writing skills, and academic achievement were used to test the validity of the screening test. The Rasch model results suggest that the tasks were suitably difficult for the kindergarten group, but had varying levels of difficulty for pre-K and first grade. Reliability was adequate for the tasks with an appropriate level of difficulty. Scores for the screening test were highly correlated with measures of literacy and with academic achievement. These findings suggest that the presented emergent literacy screening test is valid and reliable, making it a useful tool for practice and research

Construct validity and reliability of the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire (QASCI) in caregivers of patients with COPD

Highlights • Caring for a person with COPD can impact several dimensions of caregivers' lives. • The caregiving experience should be assessed to develop tailored interventions. • The QASCI tool presented good construct validity and reliability results. • It may be valuable to assess caregiving burden in caregivers of patients with COPD.Introduction: COPD often leads to loss of independence in daily activities which may increase the dependency on the informal caregiver, resulting in caregiving burden. Several instruments have been used to assess caregiving burden in COPD; however, their measurement properties have been poorly investigated in this population. This study assessed the construct validity and reliability of the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire (QASCI) in informal caregivers of patients with COPD. Methods: Participants completed the QASCI (higher scores indicate higher burden) and the following questionnaires to assess construct validity: Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument – Short Form (WHOQOL-Bref). QASCI was completed again one week later to assess test-retest reliability. Statistical analyses included: Pearson’s (r) or Spearman’s (ρ) correlations (construct validity); Cronbach’s α (internal consistency); Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2,1, test-retest reliability) and Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Minimal Detectable Change (MDC95) and Bland and Altman 95% Limits of Agreement (LoA). Results: Fifty caregivers (62.7 ± 9.8 years, 88% female; patients’ FEV1 = 45.2 ± 21.3%predicted) participated. QASCI mean score was 28.5 ± 19.8 (moderate burden). QASCI was positively correlated with ZBI (r = 0.908; p < 0.01), HADS anxiety (r = 0.613; p < 0.01) and depression (ρ = 0.634; <0.01) and negatively correlated with WHOQOL-Bref ( 0.476 to 0.739) (all p < 0.01). Cronbach’s α was 0.793 for the QASCI total score (subscales: 0.747–0.932). The ICC2,1 was 0.924, SEM 2.8 and MDC95 7.8, and the LoA were 18.3 to 11.1. Conclusions: The QASCI seems to be a promising measure to assess burden levels associated with informal caregiving in COPD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enablers, barriers, needs and preferences of physical activity in patients with COPD: does pulmonary rehabilitation play a role?

Low physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is essential in COPD management but its influence on patients’ perspectives about PA has been overlooked. This study assessed PA enablers, barriers, needs and preferences of patients attending or not PR. Two focus groups were conducted. One with 6 patients (70.2±8.8yrs; FEV1 55.5±14.4pp) attending a PR programme and another with 6 patients (65±7.6yrs; FEV1 58.2±21.4pp) naïve to PR. Interviews were analysed thematically. Enablers, barriers and needs were similar in both groups. Enablers/barriers fitted in health-related, psychosocial and environmental sub-themes. Identified enablers included: recognising that PA delays the onset of frailty and promotes wellbeing and functionality, being motivated by their family and health professionals, and the availability of green spaces. Main barriers were dyspnoea/fatigue and cough, exacerbations, comorbidities, fear of feeling breathless, frailty, cold/humid weather, smoke, crowded places and not having a current job. Main needs were health professional guidance and self-management education, including training on how to dose PA. Both groups identified (dog) walking as a preferred activity. Other PA preferences differed between groups: patients naïve to PR preferred activities such as playing with grandchildren, gardening and walking in daily tasks (e.g., shopping), whereas the PR group preferred exercise-related activities such as cycling or treadmill. This study provides guidance for future PA-enhancing interventions in those with/without PR previous experience.publishe

Construct validity and reliability of the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire (QASCI) in caregivers of patients with COPD

COPD often leads to loss of independence in daily activities which may increase the dependency on the informal caregiver, resulting in caregiving burden. Several instruments have been used to assess caregiving burden in COPD; however, their measurement properties have been poorly investigated in this population. This study assessed the construct validity and reliability of the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire (QASCI) in informal caregivers of patients with COPD.publishe

Needs and expectations of smartphone apps features for enhancing physical activity in patients with COPD

Background: Smartphone apps may be valuable to promote physical activity (PA) behaviours in patients with COPD. However, studies assessing their effectiveness and actual usage have yielded mixed results. Assessing patients’ perspectives may result in more engaging and effective mHealth solutions. Aim: This study aimed to assess the needs and expectations of patients with COPD on the use of smartphone apps for PA promotion. Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with 9 patients (64.3±7.6yrs, 8 male, FEV1 59.4±18.1%pred). Data were analysed thematically. Results: All patients reported having a smartphone and using it for calls and text messages only (n=3), plus for accessing social networks (n=6), monitoring PA (n=3) and watching videos (n=1). When asked about a smartphone app for PA promotion, all patients were interested in using the app if it proves to able to encourage and guide them towards being more physically active. Needs and expectations regarding the app consisted of: 1) the use of a simple/clear language without foreign expressions, appropriate to their culture/education levels (n=8); 2) receiving detailed progress on PA with personalised goals adjusted to their health condition (n=8); 3) sharing experiences with other patients (n=4) and 4) monitoring physiological data (e.g., heart rate, oxygen saturation; n=2). Patients reported fear of being “abandoned” by health professionals if they used the app (n=4) and of exercising above their limits (n=2). Most patients highlighted the need for support on how to use the app and information about benefits and risks of PA (n=6). Conclusion: Findings from this study provide guidance to future mHealth PA interventions.publishe

Reliability and validity of the QASCI questionnaire to assess caregiving burden in COPD

Sem resumo disponível.publishe

Relationship between distress and physical activity in informal carers of patients with COPD

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to an increase in patient’s dependence on the informal carer and consequently to higher levels of distress. In the general population, higher levels of physical activity (PA) have been found to contribute to lower levels of distress. However, this relationship has been scarcely studied in carers of patients with COPD. Aim: This study aimed to explore the relationship between distress and PA in informal carers of patients with COPD and the influence of caregiving duration. Methods: Forty-one carers (62.4±10.1 years, 90.2% female; 41.5% caring for patients >40h/week; patients’ FEV1=43.7±19.7%pred) completed the Portuguese tool to assess distress related to caregiving (Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire [QASCI]; higher score meaning higher distress; 7 subscales); the Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire (HPAQ) to assess PA; and questions related to the caregiving duration (h/week, years). Pearson’s correlations and linear regressions were used. Results: There was a negative moderate correlation between the QASCI (30.3±20.7) and the HPAQ (5.1±1.2) (r=-.517; p=.01). Correlations were also found between PA and some of the QASCI subscales (emotional burden r=-.500; implications for personal life r=-.652; financial burden r=-.471; perception of efficacy and control mechanisms r=.428; p<.01). Two linear regression models were tested to predict the QASCI score involving as predictors: 1) HPAQ (B1=-9.094) (p=.001; r2=.27); 2) HPAQ (B1=-7.401) and caregiving h/week (B2=6.156) (p<.001; r2=.39). Conclusions: Higher PA levels may be related to decreased levels of distress in this population. Further research is needed.publishe