Mental Health Screening of Healthcare Professionals Who Are Candidates for Psychological Assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are among those most affected by the COVID-19 health emergency, with many presenting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Research shows that one of the factors involved in mitigating the impact of stressful situations is the use of cognitive emotional regulation mechanisms. The aims of this study were (a) to describe the functional and dysfunctional cognitive emotional regulation mechanisms (FRMs and DRMs) by gender, (b) to screen the main group of healthcare professionals who are candidates to receive psychological assistance based on FRMs and DRMs, and (c) to determine the HCP profile of candidates for psychological assistance. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Data were obtained from an adhoc questionnaire-the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-18), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The representative sample comprised 1452 HCPs. The results revealed significant differences between men and women in the use of DRMs. Women showed a higher use of catastrophizing (≤0.001) and rumination (0.008). The screening procedure detected that 7.5% (109 cases) of the HCPs were candidates to receive psychological support. According to the results of this study, age group (30-39 years old), professional activity (being a nurse or nursing assistant), and having psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression are variables that independently increase the probability of requiring psychological assistance. The gender variable was not found to be an independent factor when it comes to receiving psychological support. In conclusion, it is necessary to consider the influence of cognitive emotional regulation strategies employed by HCPs in the screening of candidates for psychological assistance and design effective interventions to reverse the emotional distress caused by COVID-19.

Perceived acceptance of condom use by partners, close friends, and parents of Spanish and Mozambican heterosexual adolescents.

PURPOSE: The main aim of the current study was to compare Spanish and Mozambican male and female secondary students, with regard to sexual behaviors and perceptions surrounding the acceptance of condom use. METHOD: The participants were 773 secondary students-412 from Spain and 361 from Mozambique, aged from 15 to 17 years old. Data collection was done using questionnaires. Analysis was carried out using multivariate methods. RESULTS: Spanish adolescents took more precautions than Mozambican adolescents. Furthermore, Spanish adolescents perceived that the acceptance of condom use by their referents were higher than those reported by the Mozambican adolescents. Among Spanish youths, only the perceived acceptance of their current partner predicted condom use in their most recent sexual encounter. DISCUSSION: Differences in the decision-making power of males and females and the type of partner might explain the differences observed in the preventive behavior of the students in both countries.

Características de la comunicación con enfermos de cáncer en el contexto sanitario y familiar / No disponible

Este artículo presenta las características comunicativas que establecen los usuarios, los profesionales sanitarios y los cuidadores que sufren procesos de pérdida. La metodología del estudio corresponde a una triangulación entre métodos en que para el estudio de la misma unidad empírica se utilizan dos estrategias de investigación una cualitativa y otra cuantitativa. El diseño del estudio cualitativo sigue los principios metodológicos de la Grounded Theory. La construcción de la muestra se ha utilizado el muestreo intensivo por representatividad teórica que se concreta a partir de 7 casos ejemplares. El diseño del estudio cuantitativo es descriptivo exploratorio. La muestra corresponde a 63 participantes. Los resultados muestran los elementos que configuran las características de la comunicación. En este contexto se identifica la existencia de una fractura comunicativa y una contención emocional por parte del profesional que se traslada en el ámbito sociofamiliar aumentando el dolor vivido por el enfermo. Los indicadores que facilitan la comunicación efectiva en el continuo de la enfermedad corresponden a la importancia del tiempo, la demostración de cuidado, el reconocimiento emocional y la preservación de la esperanza. En el contexto sociofamiliar la dificultad para compartir del dolor se justifica por el miedo a que el otro sufra. Esta protección benevolente incrementa la sensación de dolor que vive el paciente en silencio y en soledad. Como conclusión, la promoción de una comunicación colaborativa y afectiva facilita la autorregulación emocional del paciente y media la reconceptualización de la calidad de vida tanto del afectado como de la red de apoyo (AU)

This paper presents the characteristics of communication that provide users, health professionals and careers who suffer loss processes. The methodology of the study corresponds to a triangulation between methods in which to study the same empirically unit uses two investigation strategies, qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative study design follows the methodological principles of the Grounded Theory. The construction of the sample has been used for intensive sampling theory that represented in 7 cases. The quantitative study design is descriptive and exploratory. The sample corresponds to 63 participants The results show the characteristics of the communication. In this context, the professional achieve a broken communication and emotional containment. The same result it is identified in the sociofamiliar environment. This situation increases the pain of the patient. The indicators of an effective communication are the importance of time, the demonstration of care, emotional recognition and preservation of hope. In the sociofamiliar context the difficulty to share the emotion it is justified by the fear that the family or friend suffers. This benevolent protection increases the sensation of pain which the patient lives in silence and solitude. In conclusion, the promotion of collaborative communication and emotional self-regulation facilitates the patient’s emotional and mediates the re-conceptualization of quality of life of individuals as network support (AU)

Mobile phone use while driving in a sample of Spanish university workers.

A number of epidemiological studies have reported drivers who use a mobile phone while driving have an elevated risk of being involved in a crash. This is particularly concerning as a survey of drivers in the Spanish region of Catalunya found that approximately 87% own mobile phones. The present study investigated the reported frequency of mobile phone use on Spanish roads (for talking and using SMS), the characteristics of the drivers who use mobile phones while driving and whether they altered their driving behaviour when using a mobile phone. The research found that more than 60% use a mobile phone while driving and that the phone is mostly used for making calls, rather than using SMS. In general, males and females use mobile phones about the same reported frequency, although males were more likely to use a mobile phone to talk on the highway. The pattern for age was the same for both male and female participants, with the younger drivers using SMS more frequently than older drivers. On urban roads almost half of the drivers reported changing their driving behaviour when using a mobile phone, while on the highway this figure was slightly over 41%. The reported frequency of using a mobile phone to talk on urban roads was significantly correlated with crash involvement. However, this affect disappeared once the contributions of the demographic and descriptive variables had been partialled out.

Increasing safety-belt use in Spanish drivers: a field test of personal prompts.

A variation of the ABAB experimental design was used to assess the impact of a verbal prompt on safety-belt use for those traveling by urban roads and highways in Spain. The personal prompt resulted in an increase (29.6%) in safety-belt use among drivers traveling on urban roads. This research shows that the impact of personal prompts can be generalized to cultures outside the United States.