Validation of the Spanish version of the eating disorders quality of life instrument (EDQOL).

BACKGROUND: The Eating Disorders Quality of Life instrument (EDQOL) is a disease-specific health related quality of life self-report questionnaire designed for disordered eating patients. Although the EDQOL is one of the most suitable and widely used questionnaires in many countries, no prior research has addressed the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the EDQOL. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the EDQOL among ED patients. METHODS: 141 female eating disorder patients, with a mean age of 18.06 years (SD = 6.31), completed the EDQL in addition to the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), the Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA 3.0) and the Health Survey (SF-12). We calculated item/scale characteristics, internal consistencies and bivariate correlations with other measures of quality of life and adjustments. We assessed the goodness-of-fit of the 4-factor model using confirmatory factors analysis and explored the sensitivity of change following skill-based interventions. RESULTS: The fit of the 4-factor model was acceptable (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation: 0.07, Standard Root Mean Square Residual: 0.07). Cronbach's alpha was excellent for the total (.91) and acceptable for all subscales (0.78-0.91). The construct validity was found with measures of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, quality of life and clinical impairment. The psychological and physical/cognitive scales and the EDQOL global scale were responsive to change. CONCLUSION: The Spanish EDQOL version is a useful instrument to assess quality of life in eating disorder patients and to evaluate outcomes of skills-based interventions.

Eating Disorders (EDs) have a severe impact on many domains of quality of life (QOL). Therefore QOL needs to be addressed in effectiveness research and clinical practice. Furthermore, QOL is a very relevant concept in the treatment of chronic diseases and its evaluation requires specific health-related questionnaires. One widely used self-report measure to assess the quality of life in eating disorders is the Eating Disorder Quality of Life (EDQOL). Despite its high clinical relevance, EDQOL has not been previously investigated in the Spanish context. To overcome this gap, the present study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the EDQOL in a sample of Spanish eating disorder patients. The findings showed that the Spanish version of the EDQOL is robust in terms of reliability, factor structure and construct validity. This questionnaire may be preferred by clinicians and researchers interested in ED-specific health related quality of life impairment and as an additional indicator of ED severity.

Testing carer skill training programs in Spanish carers of patients with eating disorders / Aplicación de programas de entrenamiento en habilidades para cuidadores españoles de pacientes con un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research was to conduct a pilot study to measure the effectiveness of the Collaborative Care Skills Training Workshops (CCSTW) on the outcomes of Spanish carers and to analyse the impact of this programme on the patient's wellbeing. We used psychoeducation as a comparison intervention in the study. METHOD: The study compared two forms of carer workshops. 64 carers and 37 eating disorder patients participated in this study. Carers were randomised to either the CCSTW or the Psycho-educational programme. This study used an experimental intervention design with evaluations before, after and at a 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Carers receiving both intervention programmes showed an improvement in wellbeing indicating a benefi t from the training. The course of burden, psychological distress, expressed emotion and illness perception was similar in the two groups. In patients whose caregivers had participated in CCSTW programme the levels of anxiety, depression and psychological distress decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These fi ndings suggest that carer distress, burden, illness perception and expressed emotion can be alleviated if they are helped in this role. There appear to be secondary benefi ts of the CCSTW on patients' wellbeing

ANTECEDENTES: el objetivo de esta investigación fue llevar a cabo un estudio piloto para evaluar la efectividad de los Talleres de Cuidado Colaborativo (CCSTW) en cuidadores españoles de pacientes con un trastorno alimentario y analizar el impacto de este programa en el bienestar del paciente. MÉTODO: este estudio comparó dos programas para cuidadores. Los cuidadores fueron asignados aleatoriamente a un programa psicoeducativo o a CCSTW. Participaron 64 cuidadores y 37 pacientes con un trastorno alimentario. Este estudio utilizó un diseño experimental con medidas pre-post y a los 3 meses de seguimiento. RESULTADOS: los cuidadores de ambos programas mostraron una mejora en el bienestar que indica el benefi cio de ambas intervenciones. La evolución de la carga del cuidador, el malestar psicológico, la emoción expresada y la percepción de la enfermedad fueron similares en los dos grupos. En los pacientes, cuyos cuidadores habían participado en el programa CCSTW, los niveles de ansiedad, depresión y malestar psicológico disminuyeron. CONCLUSIÓN: estos resultados sugieren que el malestar del cuidador, la carga, la percepción de enfermedad y la emoción expresada pueden aliviarse si se les ayuda en este rol. Se encuentran benefi cios secundarios de los CCSTW en el bienestar de los pacientes

The Spanish Validation of the Accommodation and Enabling Scale for Eating Disorders Among Carers: A Pilot Study.

Literature suggests that families may accommodate patients' symptoms in attempts to alleviate family conflict and stress. These accommodating and enabling behaviours may have a negative impact on carers and those they care for. There are no self-report questionnaires validated in Spanish to measure accommodation among relatives of patients with an eating disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Accommodation and Enabling Scale for Eating Disorders (AESED-S) among relatives of eating disorder patients. A cross-sectional study of 90 relatives was carried out to explore the factor structure, reliability and validity of the AESED-S. The internal consistency of the Spanish version of the AESED subscales was good, ranging from .89 to .81. The correlation of the five subscales with conceptually related measures (negative caregiving experience and distress) supports the convergent validity of this instrument in this sample. Results indicated that the Spanish version of the AESED provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing family accommodation in the context of having a relative with an eating disorder.

Eating habits, physical activity, consumption of substances and eating disorders in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between adolescents with a high or low risk of developing an eating disorder (ED) in different health behaviors (eating habits, physical activity and the consumption of substances) per gender. The EAT-40 and the Inventory of Behavioral Health in Scholars were applied to 2142 middle school students from Alicante (Spain), of whom 52.8% were girls and 47.2% were boys, with an average age of 13.92 years old (Sd = 1.34). Results indicated that girls with a high risk of developing an ED consumed fewer meals, ate fewer unhealthy foods, followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. Furthermore, they also performed more physical activity with the objective of losing weight, and consumed more tobacco, alcohol and medicines. Boys at high risk of developing an ED followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. For boys, no more differences were found. These results suggest that any program directed at the prevention of ED should not only include nutritional education, but should also seek to promote regular physical activity with objectives other than weight loss or the burning of calories.

Eating habits, physical activity, consumption of substances and eating disorders in adolescents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between adolescents with a high or low risk of developing an eating disorder (ED) in different health behaviors (eating habits, physical activity and the consumption of substances) per gender. The EAT-40 and the Inventory of Behavioral Health in Scholars were applied to 2142 middle school students from Alicante (Spain), of whom 52.8% were girls and 47.2% were boys, with an average age of 13.92 years old (Sd = 1.34). Results indicated that girls with a high risk of developing an ED consumed fewer meals, ate fewer unhealthy foods, followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. Furthermore, they also performed more physical activity with the objective of losing weight, and consumed more tobacco, alcohol and medicines. Boys at high risk of developing an ED followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. For boys, no more differences were found. These results suggest that any program directed at the prevention of ED should not only include nutritional education, but should also seek to promote regular physical activity with objectives other than weight loss or the burning of calories (AU)

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar las diferencias entre los adolescentes con mayor y menor riesgo de desarrollar un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) en diferentes conductas relacionadas con la salud (hábitos alimentarios, actividad física y consumo de sustancias) por género. Se administró el EAT-40 y el Inventario de Conductas de Salud en Escolares a 2142 adolescentes estudiantes de secundaria de la provincia de Alicante (España), de los que el 52.8% fueron chicas y 47.2% chicos, con una edad media de 13.92 años (Dt = 1.34). Los resultaros indicaron que las chicas con mayor riesgo de desarrollar un TCA realizaban menos comidas, realizaban más dietas y prestaban más atención a los componentes de la alimentación. Además, también realizaban más actividad física con el objetivo de perder peso, y consumían más tabaco, alcohol y medicamentos. Los chicos con mayor riesgo de desarrollar un TCA realizaban más dietas y prestaban más atención a los diferentes componentes de la alimentación. No se encontraron más diferencias en el caso de los chicos. Estos resultados sugieren que cualquier programa dirigido a la prevención de los TCA debe incluir, no sólo educación nutricional, sino también la promoción de la práctica regular de actividad física, con objetivos distintos a la pérdida de peso y a quemar calorías (AU)

Conductas sexuales de riesgo y prevención del sida en la adolescencia / Sexual risk behaviors and AIDS prevention among adolescents

En este trabajo se revisan las investigaciones sobre conductas sexuales adolescentes y se sintetizan los principales modelos teóricos que explican la adopción de medidas de protección ante situaciones de riesgo relacionadas con el sida. La falta de información puede inducir a realizar comportamientos con riesgo de transmitir el VIH y de tener embarazos no deseados, si bien otras variables de tipo social, conductual y cognitivo también explican las conductas sexuales de riesgo. Se destaca la importancia de que el adolescente perciba el riesgo potencial y se sienta competente para desarrollar comportamientos protectores, y que los beneficios de tomar estas medidas sean más valorados que los costes (AU)

Conductos sexuales de riesgo y prevención del sida en la adolescencia / No disponible

En este trabajo se revisan las investigaciones sobre conductas sexuales adolescentes y se sintetizan los principales modelos teóricos que explican la adopción de medidas de protección ante situaciones de riesgo relacionadas con el sida. La falta de información puede inducir a realizar comportamientos con riesgo de transmitir el VIH y de tener embarazos no deseados, si bien otras variables de tipo social, conductual y cognitivo también explican las conductas sexuales de riesgo. Se destaca la importancia de que el adolescente perciba el riesgo potencial y se sienta competente para desarrollar comportamientos protectores, y que los beneficios de tomar estas medidas sean más valorados que los costes (AU)

This article reviews some studies about sexual behavior by adolescents, and synthesizes the main theoretical models that explain the adoption of protective behaviors under situations of HIV risk. The absence of information as well as social, behavioral, and cognitive variables could also account for some behaviors associated with pregnancy and HIV risk. The relevance of individual risk perception and feelings of self-efficacy to develop protective behavior in adolescents is discussed. It is argued that the benefits of adopting these behaviors outweigh the costs (AU)