Validity studies of the scale of positive and negative perceptions about alcohol effects.

OBJECTIVE To describe the process of elaboration and validation of the Scale of Perceptions about Alcohol Consumption in Higher Education Students in a Portuguese sample, considering the relationship between alcohol use rates and students' perceptions about the effects of this consumption. METHODS The validation study included 531 Portuguese college freshmen who answered the instrument, which is composed of five items that express positive perceptions and five items that express negative perceptions about the effects of alcohol consumption. RESULTS Evidence of content validity, internal structure and external variables were obtained. The results of the factor analysis confirm the distribution of positive and negative perceptions by two different factors according to the theoretical model. Adequate internal consistency indexes were obtained for each dimension. The data obtained showed expected correlations between the perceptions and consumption behaviors of the students, indicating evidence of criterion validity of the scale. Moreover, the study showed that different consumption patterns between men and women, with higher alcohol consumption in the students' households and restaurants or cafés by male students, in addition to the similarity in the consumption pattern between the two genders in parties and bars or nightclubs. CONCLUSION The data obtained show the validity of the instrument. In the discussion, the article presents considerations about the responsibility of higher education institutions in the prevention and reduction in consumption rates among their students.

Validity studies of the scale of positive and negative perceptions about alcohol effects / Estudos de validade da escala de percepções positivas e negativas sobre efeitos do álcool

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the process of elaboration and validation of the Scale of Perceptions about Alcohol Consumption in Higher Education Students in a Portuguese sample, considering the relationship between alcohol use rates and students' perceptions about the effects of this consumption. METHODS The validation study included 531 Portuguese college freshmen who answered the instrument, which is composed of five items that express positive perceptions and five items that express negative perceptions about the effects of alcohol consumption. RESULTS Evidence of content validity, internal structure and external variables were obtained. The results of the factor analysis confirm the distribution of positive and negative perceptions by two different factors according to the theoretical model. Adequate internal consistency indexes were obtained for each dimension. The data obtained showed expected correlations between the perceptions and consumption behaviors of the students, indicating evidence of criterion validity of the scale. Moreover, the study showed that different consumption patterns between men and women, with higher alcohol consumption in the students' households and restaurants or cafés by male students, in addition to the similarity in the consumption pattern between the two genders in parties and bars or nightclubs. CONCLUSION The data obtained show the validity of the instrument. In the discussion, the article presents considerations about the responsibility of higher education institutions in the prevention and reduction in consumption rates among their students.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Considerando a relação entre as taxas de uso de álcool e as percepções dos estudantes sobre os efeitos desse consumo, descrever o processo de elaboração e validação da Escala de Percepções sobre o Consumo de Álcool em Estudantes do Ensino Superior em uma amostra portuguesa. MÉTODOS Participaram do estudo de validade 531 estudantes portugueses do primeiro ano do ensino superior que responderam ao instrumento, composto por cinco itens que expressam percepções positivas e cinco itens que expressam percepções negativas sobre os efeitos do consumo de álcool. RESULTADOS Evidências de validade de conteúdo, de estrutura interna e baseadas em variáveis externas foram obtidas. Os resultados da análise fatorial confirmam a distribuição das percepções positivas e negativas por dois fatores diferenciados em acordo com o modelo teórico de partida. Índices adequados de consistência interna foram obtidos para cada dimensão. Os dados obtidos mostraram correlações esperadas entre as percepções e os comportamentos de consumo dos estudantes, indicando evidências de validade de critério da escala. Em acréscimo, o estudo indicou haver padrões de consumo diferenciados entre os sexos, registando-se maior consumo de álcool nas residências e nos restaurantes ou cafés por parte dos homens, além de similaridade entre os dois sexos no padrão de consumo em festas e bares ou discotecas. CONCLUSÃO Os dados obtidos evidenciam a validade do instrumento. Na discussão dos dados, o artigo apresenta considerações sobre a responsabilidade das instituições de ensino superior na prevenção e redução das taxas de consumo entre a sua população estudantil.

La mayor prevalencia del hábito tabáquico en Ingeniero White puede explicar la tasa de incidencia aumentada de cáncer de pulmon / Higher prevalenceof smoking at Ingeniero White may explain the increased lung cancer incidence rate

Introducción: Es aceptado científicamente que el tabaquismo es la principal causa de cáncer de pulmón. Entre 1998 y 2007 comprobamos mayores tasas de cáncer de pulmón en Ingeniero White (IW), barrio cercano al Polo Industrial de la ciudad de Bahía Blanca, donde varios estudios encontraron una prevalencia mayor de tabaquismo. Objetivos: Comparar la prevalencia del hábito tabáquico entre IW y Tiro Federal (TF), y describir las conductas de consumo de tabaco y las opiniones respecto a las normas antitabaco de los habitantes de esos barrios. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal, mediante encuesta estructurada. Se encuestaron 437 hogares de IW y 343 de TF. Resultados: La prevalencia de fumadores fue de 33,2% en IW y 23% en TF; hogares con fumadores: 59,1% (IW) y 40% (TF); prevalencia en hombres: 40,3% (IW) y 29,8% (TF); prevalencia en mujeres: 26,6% y 16,7% ; hogares donde se permite fumar: 38,6% (IW) y 25,9% (TF) siendo todas estas diferencias altamente significativas. Conclusiones: El presente estudio mostró una mayor prevalencia del consumo de tabaco en IW que en Tiro Federal.La mayor prevalencia de tabaquismo en la población de IW podría ser la explicación de las tasas de incidencia aumentadas en este barrio cercano al polo industrial; sin embargo la confirmación de esta asociación amerita la realización de estudios analíticos adicionales.

Introduction: It is scientifically accepted that smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. Between the years 1998 and 2007 higher lung cancer rates were found at Ingeniero White (IW), a neighborhood close to the Industrial Complex of the city of Bahía Blanca, where several studies found a higher prevalence of smoking. Objectives: To compare the prevalence of smoking habits between IW and Tiro Federal (TF) and describe smoking behaviors and opinions with regard to anti-smoking regulations in these two neighborhoods. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study using a structured survey. 437 homes at IW and 343 at TF were surveyed. Results: Smokers´ prevalence was 33.2% at IW and 23% at TF; smokers' homes: 59.1% (IW) and 40% (TF); male prevalence: 40.3% (IW) and 29.8% (TF); female prevalence: 26.6% (IW) and 16.7% (TF); homes where smoking is allowed: 38.6% (IW) and 25.9% (TF). All these differences are statistically relevant. Conclusions: This study showed a higher smoking prevalence at Ingeniero White com pared to Tiro Federal. The higher smoking prevalence in the population at IW could be the explanation for the increased incidence rates in this neighborhood close to the industrial complex; however, the confirmation of this assumption requires additional analytic studies.

Apoyo social en universitarios españoles de primer año: propiedades psicométricas del Social Support Questionnaire-Short Form y el Social Provisions Scale / Social support in Spanish first year university students: Psychometrics properties of the Social Support Questionnaire-Short Form and the Social Provisions Scale

El apoyo social percibido es un constructo multifacético conceptualizado como la valoración cognitiva de que existe una relación de confianza con los otros, con los que se puede contar en caso de necesidad. El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar las propiedades psicométricas de las escalas de apoyo social percibido Social Support Questionnaire-Short Form (SSQ6) y Social Provisions Scale (SPS) en una muestra de 855 universitarios, 575 mujeres y 280 hombres, matriculados en primer año de grado de 16 titulaciones de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (España). El SSQ6 mide las dimensiones de disponibilidad y satisfacción del apoyo percibido, mientras que el SPS evalúa sus funciones. Los análisis factoriales realizados confirman el modelo de dos dimensiones del SSQ6 y la estructura de seis factores del SPS. La consistencia interna de ambas escalas es satisfactoria, al igual que las evidencias de validez obtenidas de las correlaciones entre las dos escalas y sus respectivas subescalas. Los resultados revelan que las versiones españolas del SSQ6 y el SPS son medidas fiables y válidas para la evaluación del apoyo social percibido en población universitaria.

Perceived social support is a multifaceted construct conceptualized as one's cognitive appraisal as to the existence of a connection to others, based on trust, on whom one can rely on when necessary. The aim of this paper is to examine the psychometric properties of perceived social support, using the following scales: Social Support Questionnaire-Short Form (SSQ6) and Social Provisions Scale (SPS), on a sample of 855 first year university students - 575 females and 280 males - enrolled in 16 professional degrees at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). The SSQ6 Scale assesses the dimensions of perceived support availability and satisfaction, whilst the SPS Scale assesses its social support functions. The factor analysis conducted confirms the SSQ6 Scale's twodimensional model and the SPS Scale's six-factor structure. Internal consistency of both scales is satisfactory, as is the evidence of validity obtained from the correlations between the two scales and their subscales. The results reveal that the Spanish version of the SSQ6 and SPS scales are reliable and valid measurements for assessing perceived social support amongst university students.

Uso profilactico del cefamandol en pacients sosmetidas a histerectomia / Use of cefamandol in hysterectomy patients

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo en 30 pacientes sometidas a histerectomía por diferentes causas, con la finalidad de demostrar la eficacia del Cefamandol en la profilaxis de infecciones post-operatorias, para lo cual las pacientes fueron divididas al azar en dos grupos: el grupo de estudio recibió en el período perioperatorio Cafamandol y el grupo contol no recibió ningún antibiótico. El análisis estadístico de los resultados, no demostró diferencias significativas ente ambos gupos