Confirmatory factor analysis of the effect of daily-living on the happiness of community-dwelling older adults in Chile.

This study examined the effect of the human-functioning dimension on happiness among community-dwelling older adults (OAs) in Chile. Questionnaires were used for data collection from a sample of 785 OAs of both sexes attending healthcare institutions. Exploratory factor analysis was performed using parallel analysis and oblique rotation. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted using the maximum likelihood and unweighted least squares methods. Goodness-of-fit analyses were performed by considering absolute and respective incremental fit indices. The relationships between the functioning and happiness factors were all significant at the 1% level, indicating that functioning impacts happiness. The ratios of the variances between both constructs were identical to those of the covariances, indicating consistency between the models, with similarities and equalities in the estimation of their parameters. The modeling confirms a direct relationship between activities of daily living functioning and happiness. Given that a lack of functioning significantly affects OAs' happiness and quality of life, this relationship is consistent with the available theory. These findings may contribute to the formulation of social and health policies regarding OAs in Chile and other Latin American countries.

Tongue strength and clinical correlations in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with Parkinson's disease present affected lingual functioning at some stage of the progression of the disease. The objective was to determine the strength and endurance values of the tongue in PD subjects and whether weakness in tongue lift may be an indicator of disease progression. OBJECTIVE: To determine the strength and endurance values of the tongue in PD subjects and whether weakness in tongue lift may be an indicator of disease progression. METHODS: Sixty subjects performed tasks of tongue to palate maximum isometric pressure (MIP) and sustained 50% of MIP for endurance. The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument was used as evaluation tool. Selected domains of the Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) related to tongue pressure were considered. Variables of sex, age, disease duration, disease progression (Hoehn & Yahr stage) and body mass index were selected for association analysis. RESULTS: Tongue MIP ranged from 16 to 48 kPa (mean = 33.43 kPa), which was significantly lower than normal reference values. Likewise, tongue endurance was significantly diminished. Analysis of variance showed differences in tongue strength between stages of disease progression F(3) = 6.503, p = .001, but not for endurance. Subjects in stage IV exhibited the lowest values. No sex effect was found. Tongue strength showed significant correlations with SWAL-QOL domains such as food selection, symptoms frequency and eating duration. CONCLUSION: Tongue strength and endurance are significantly reduced in Parkinson's disease. Tongue strength is higher in the early stage of the disease and significantly different from that of more severe stages, emerging the notion that tongue strength is a sensitive indicator of disease progression. Selected items regarding swallowing quality of life are strongly associated with tongue strength.

Effects of a tongue training program in Parkinson's disease: Analysis of electrical activity and strength of suprahyoid muscles.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the electrical activity of the suprahyoid muscle and the tongue pressure in a two-wing program of tongue strengthening in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A pre-post-detraining design study included sixty PD patients assigned to two groups randomly. The experimental group (EG) performed tongue isometric pressure exercises using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument with an increasing scheme of 5% load weekly and traditional tongue therapy for 8 weeks. The control group (CG) performed only traditional therapy. The electrical activity of suprahyoids was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) during tongue-to-palate pressure. Four selected domains of the Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) mostly related to tongue strength were considered. RESULTS: The experimental group showed increased sEMG values of suprahyoid muscles reaching statistically significant difference at the fourth week of tongue training, while the control did it at the eighth week. Experimental group showed significant improvements in tongue strength (d = 2.128; p = 0.000). Only controls showed detraining effect. Statistically significant difference within groups were found in one and three dimensions of the SWAL-QOL in the CG and EG, respectively. CONCLUSION: Analysis of electrical activity on suprahyoids muscles provided a better understanding of the changes underlying the outcomes of tongue strength gains obtained through a combined tongue strengthening exercises protocol in PD. Such protocol led not only to increased tongue strength but also to a better perceived swallowing function in PD subjects.

Formação em fonoaudiologia: considerações acerca das realidades brasileira e chilena / Graduation in speech therapy and audiology: considerations about the reality in Brazil and Chile / Formación en fonoaudiologia: consideraciones acerca de la realidad brasileña y chilena

Introdução: Este artigo apresenta resultados de um convênio de cooperação técnico-científica, que estuda a formação e inserção da Fonoaudiologia no Brasil e no Chile. Objetivo: analisar dados referentes ao número de cursos, vagas oferecidas, matrículas efetivadas e profissionais egressos de universidades públicas e privadas no Brasil e no Chile. Método: a coleta de dados sobre as Instituições brasileiras de Ensino Superior se deu a partir do site do Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação, e a das chilenas por meio do Serviço de Informações sobre Educação e Conselho Nacional de Educação. A análise foi descritiva abrangendo o número de cursos, de vagas, o processo seletivo e o número de egressos nas décadas de 90 a 2010. Resultados: No Brasil, houve grande crescimento do número de cursos e oferta de vagas em Fonoaudiologia entre 2001 e 2003, e decréscimo a partir de 2008. O número de egressos se manteve entre 1500 e 2000 profissionais nas três últimas décadas. Na realidade chilenahouve um crescimento maior a partir 2004, que se mantém constante até os dias atuais. Em ambos os países o sistema privado expandiu muito mais que o público. Conclusão: Houve uma expansão de vagas e matriculados em cursos de Fonoaudiologia em ambos os países, a partir de 2001, no Brasil, e de 2004, no Chile. Essa expansão evidencia efeitos da política internacional para ensino superior na América Latina, que privilegia o sistema privado de ensino.

Purpose: To analyze the data on offered vacancies, enrollment and graduates considering public and private universities in Brazil and Chile. Method: the information and data on higher education institutions was obtained from the website of the National Institute for Research and Education in Brazil, and the Information Service of Higher Education and the National Council of Education in Chile. The analysis was descriptive and covered the number of graduate programs, number of vacancies, the selection process and number of graduates in the decades of 90 to 2010. Results: In Brazil, despite the large increase of Speech Therapy Graduate Programs between 2001 and 2003, there was a decrease since 2008. The number of graduates has remained between 1500 and 2000, from 1991 to 2010. Currently, there is a higher growth in Chile since 2004, which remains constant even to the present day. In both countries, the private system has expanded much more than the public one. Conclusion: There was an expansion of vacancies and of students in speech therapy programs in both countries, after 2001 in Brazil, and 2004 in Chile. This expansion demonstrates the effects of the international policy for higher education in Latin America, which favors the private system of education.

Introducción: Este estudio presenta resultados de un acuerdo de cooperación científica y técnica, que estudia la formación y la inserción de la Fonoaudiologia en Brasil y en Chile. Objetivo: Analizar los datos sobre el número de cursos que se ofrecen, las vacantes, la matrícula realizadas y los profesionales graduados de universidades públicas y privadas en Brasil y en Chile. Método: La recolección de datos sobre las instituciones de educación superior en Brasil se produjo en el sitio web del Instituto Nacional de Estudios e Investigaciones en Educación, y el chileno a través del Servicio de Información de Educación y el Consejo Nacional de Educación. El análisis fue descriptivo y cubrió el número de cursos, de ofertas, el proceso de selección y el número de graduados en las décadas 90 a 2010. Resultados: En Brasil, hubo grande crecimiento significativo en el número de cursos y número de vacantes en Fonoaudiologia entre 2001 y 2003 y una disminución a partir de 2008. El número de graduados se ha mantenido entre 1500 y 2000 en las tres últimas décadas. En Chile hubo un mayor crecimiento a partir de 2004 que se mantiene constante hasta nuestros días. En ambos países, el sistema privado se ha expandido mucho más que el público. Conclusión: Se observó un aumento de oferta y de matriculados en cursos de Fonoaudiologia en ambos países, a partir de 2001 en Brasil y 2004 en Chile. Esta expansión muestra los efectos de la política internacional para la educación superior en América Latina, que favorece el sistema privado de educación.

Formação em Fonoaudiologia: Considerações acerca das realidades brasileira e chilena / Graduation in Speech therapy and audiology: considerations about the reality in Brazil and Chile / Formación en Fonoaudiologia: consideraciones acerca de la realidad brasileña y chilena

Introdução: Este artigo apresenta resultados de um convênio de cooperação técnico-científica, que estuda a formação e inserção da Fonoaudiologia no Brasil e no Chile. Objetivo: analisar dados referentes ao número de cursos, vagas oferecidas, matrículas efetivadas e profissionais egressos de universidades públicas e privadas no Brasil e no Chile. Método: a coleta de dados sobre as Instituições brasileiras de Ensino Superior se deu a partir do site do Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação, e a das chilenas por meio do Serviço de Informações sobre Educação e Conselho Nacional de Educação. A análise foi descritiva abrangendo o número de cursos, de vagas, o processo seletivo e o número de egressos nas décadas de 90 a 2010. Resultados: No Brasil, houve grande crescimento do número de cursos e oferta de vagas em Fonoaudiologia entre 2001 e 2003, e decréscimo a partir de 2008. O número de egressos se manteve entre 1500 e 2000 profissionais nas três últimas décadas. Na realidade chilenahouve um crescimento maior a partir 2004, que se mantém constante até os dias atuais. Em ambos os países o sistema privado expandiu muito mais que o público. Conclusão: Houve uma expansão de vagas e matriculados em cursos de Fonoaudiologia em ambos os países, a partir de 2001, no Brasil, e de 2004, no Chile. Essa expansão evidencia efeitos da política internacional para ensino superior na América Latina, que privilegia o sistema privado de ensino.(AU)(AU)

Purpose: To analyze the data on offered vacancies, enrollment and graduates considering public and private universities in Brazil and Chile. Method: the information and data on higher education institutions was obtained from the website of the National Institute for Research and Education in Brazil, and the Information Service of Higher Education and the National Council of Education in Chile. The analysis was descriptive and covered the number of graduate programs, number of vacancies, the selection process and number of graduates in the decades of 90 to 2010. Results: In Brazil, despite the large increase of Speech Therapy Graduate Programs between 2001 and 2003, there was a decrease since 2008. The number of graduates has remained between 1500 and 2000, from 1991 to 2010. Currently, there is a higher growth in Chile since 2004, which remains constant even to the present day. In both countries, the private system has expanded much more than the public one. Conclusion: There was an expansion of vacancies and of students in speech therapy programs in both countries, after 2001 in Brazil, and 2004 in Chile. This expansion demonstrates the effects of the international policy for higher education in Latin America, which favors the private system of education.(AU)(AU)

Introducción: Este estudio presenta resultados de un acuerdo de cooperación científica y técnica, que estudia la formación y la inserción de la Fonoaudiologia en Brasil y en Chile. Objetivo: Analizar los datos sobre el número de cursos que se ofrecen, las vacantes, la matrícula realizadas y los profesionales graduados de universidades públicas y privadas en Brasil y en Chile. Método: La recolección de datos sobre las instituciones de educación superior en Brasil se produjo en el sitio web del Instituto Nacional de Estudios e Investigaciones en Educación, y el chileno a través del Servicio de Información de Educación y el Consejo Nacional de Educación. El análisis fue descriptivo y cubrió el número de cursos, de ofertas, el proceso de selección y el número de graduados en las décadas 90 a 2010. Resultados: En Brasil, hubo grande crecimiento significativo en el número de cursos y número de vacantes en Fonoaudiologia entre 2001 y 2003 y una disminución a partir de 2008. El número de graduados se ha mantenido entre 1500 y 2000 en las tres últimas décadas. En Chile hubo un mayor crecimiento a partir de 2004 que se mantiene constante hasta nuestros días. En ambos países, el sistema privado se ha expandido mucho más que el público. Conclusión: Se observó un aumento de oferta y de matriculados en cursos de Fonoaudiologia en ambos países, a partir de 2001 en Brasil y 2004 en Chile. Esta expansión muestra los efectos de la política internacional para la educación superior en América Latina, que favorece el sistema privado de educación.(AU)(AU)