Cross-Cultural and Psychometric Properties Assessment of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.

INTRODUCTION: The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale (ESES) is a reliable measure, in the English language, of exercise self-efficacy in individuals with spinal cord injury. The aim of this study was to culturally adjust and validate the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale in the Portuguese language. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale was applied to 76 subjects, with three-month intervals (three applications in total). The reliability was appraised using the intra-class correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman methods, and the internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach´s alpha. The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale was correlated with the domains of the Quality of life Questionnaire SF-36 and Functional Independence Measure and tested using the Spearman rho coefficient. RESULTS: The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brazil presented good internal consistency (alpha 1 = 0.856; alpha 2 = 0.855; alpha 3 = 0.822) and high reliability in the test-retest (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.97). There was a strong correlation between the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brazil and the SF-36 only in the functional capacity domain (rho = 0.708). There were no changes in Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brazil scores between the three applications (p = 0.796). DISCUSSION: The validation of the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale questionnaire permits the assessor to use it reliably in Portuguese speaking countries, since it is the first instrument measuring self-efficacy specifically during exercises in individuals with spinal cord injury. Furthermore, the questionnaire can be used as an instrument to verify the effectiveness of interventions that use exercise as an outcome. CONCLUSION: The results of the Brazilian version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale support its use as a reliable and valid measurement of exercise self-efficacy for this population.

Introdução: O instrumento Exercise Self-Efficacy scale (ESES) é fiável, na língua inglesa, para medir a autoeficácia em exercícios em indivíduos com lesão medular. O objetivo do estudo foi adaptar transculturalmente e validar a escala ESES para a língua Portuguesa. Material e Métodos: O Exercise Self-Efficacy scale foi aplicado três vezes em 76 indivíduos, a cada três meses. A fiabilidade foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse de Bland e Altman, e a consistência interna pelo alfa de Cronbach. O Exercise Self-Efficacy scale foi correlacionado com os domínios do Questionário de Qualidade de Vida SF-36 e da Medida de Independência Funcional e avaliado pelo rho de Spearman. Resultados: O Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brasil apresentou boa consistência interna (alpha 1 = 0,856; alpha 2 = 0,855 e alpha 3 = 0,822) e alta fiabilidade no teste-reteste (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse = 0,97). Houve correlação forte do Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brasil somente com o domínio Capacidade Funcional do SF-36 (rho = 0,708). Não houve mudança nas pontuações do Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brasil entre as três aplicações (p = 0,796). Discussão: A validação do Exercise Self-Efficacy scale permite que este seja utilizado nos países de língua portuguesa de forma fiável, pois representa o primeiro instrumento específico para o estudo da auto-eficácia em exercícios em indivíduos com lesão medular e, ainda, ser utilizado como instrumento para verificar a efetividade de intervenções que utilizem exercício como desfecho. Conclusão: A versão brasileira da Exercise Self-Efficacy scale é válida e fiável para avaliação da autoeficácia em exercícios para essa população.

Physical therapy in peripheral facial paralysis: retrospective study.

UNLABELLED: Peripheral facial paralysis requires specialized treatment. Physical therapy aims at reestablishing facial movements. The aim of this study was to describe and to analyze physical therapy results for individuals with peripheral facial paralysis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out at the University Hospital, authorized by the Statistics and Medical File Services, from 1999 to 2003. Data are presented in descriptive form with mean and median values for numeric variables and frequency for categorical variables. RESULTS: Twenty-three files were analyzed during four years. Females predominated and the average age was of 32.3 years (SD+/-16.5); 14 idiopathic and five trauma cases; 12 with total motor deficit and 11 with partial motor deficit; in the 12 cases that underwent final evaluation, seven had partial and five had total recovery. The physical therapy program used was kinesiotherapy and patient education. CONCLUSION: In this study, individuals were similar to individuals in other populations. They were treated with kinesiotherapy, as suggested by the scientific literature and recovered.