Angélica Riveros Rosas

Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión (HADS) en una población de pacientes oncológicos mexicanos

Background. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are among the major mental health problems in cancer patients. These symptoms affect the quality of life and treatment adherence, and are associated with other symptoms and longer hospital stays. Valid and reliable screening instruments such as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), have made possible the detection of possible cases of depression and anxiety in medically ill patients. However, the psychometric properties of this instrument have not been documented in different types of cancer diagnoses in the Mexican population. Objective. To determine the psychometric properties of the HADS in a sample of patients with cancer from the Mexican population. Method. Four hundred patients from the National Cancer Institute participated, of which 226 were women (56.5%) and 174 men (43.6%), with a mean age of 47.4 ± 14.1 years. Participants completed concurrently the HADS as well as the following inventories: 1. Beck Depression, 2. Beck Anxiety and 3. Distress Thermometer. Results. A factor analysis adjusted to two factors explained 48.04% of the variance, with 12 items loading on these two factors in a way similar to the original version. The internal consistency of the overall scale was satisfactory (α = 0.86). Cronbach’s alphas for each subscale were .79 and .80. The concurrent validity assessed by way of correlations with concurrent measures showed significant associations (Pearson r = 51-71, p Discussion and conclusion. The HADS has adequate construct validity, internal consistency and concurrent validity for its use in cancer patients from the Mexican population. The relevance of these results is a cost effective tool to provide timely mental health care early in oncological treatment for those in need. Detecting anxiety and depression symptoms through the HADS may benefit cancer patients by ensuring appropriate care that may increase their quality of life and treatment adherence, and reduce their hospital stays.

Evaluación de la percepción de pacientes sobre el comportamiento de comunicación del personal de enfermería: diseño y validación en población mexicana

Background. Nurse-patient communication has been established as a key component of professional healthcare. The present study examined the patients’ perception of the verbal and non-verbal communication skills of nurses. Although the Caring Assessment Tool (CAT) stands among the instruments available to evaluate these communication skills, cultural and schooling characteristics limit its direct applicability to the Mexican context. Objective. The aim of this study was to design and validate an instrument on the patient-recorded Nurse Communication Behavior (CECOP, for its acronym in Spanish) based on the Mexican patient’s experience. Method. Based on exploratory interviews with 29 patients, a first draft of the CECOP was designed. The instrument was validated by independent expert judges and after the elimination of two items it was used with 150 patients. The validity was assessed by a factor analysis extraction through Principal Component Analysis and Varimax Rotation. Convergence validity was established between the CAT and the CECOP and between the CECOP and numeric scales that evaluate empathy and patient satisfaction. Results. Construct Validity reduced the CECOP to 10 items in two factors (empathy and respect) with statistically significant KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) and Bartlett’s Test (p≤.001). The explained variation was 54.58%. The correlation between the CECOP score (10 items) and the CAT was .459. Between the CECOP and the empathy scale and between the CECOP and the satisfaction scale the correlations were .419 and .495, respectively. All correlations were statistically significant (p≤.001). Discussion and conclusion. The CECOP can be used to evaluate professional care in its human dimension from the patient’s perspective and to suggest improvements in the nurses communication.

Effects of cognitive-behavioural therapy on anxiety, depression and condom use in people with HIV in Mexico City: a pilot study

ABSTRACT Anxiety and depression in people living with HIV (PLWH) are negatively associated with healthy sexual behaviours. We pilot-tested a Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based intervention to reduce anxiety and depression, aimed to increase serostatus disclosure to sexual partners, quality of sexual life (QoSL) and condom use. The study had a single-case experimental design (AB) with follow-up measures. Eleven PLWH with moderate/severe anxiety/depression received six-module CBT intervention delivered in ten one-hour individual weekly sessions. Anxiety, depression, consistent/correct condom use and QoSL were measured. Depression and anxiety decreased after the intervention (depression baseline [BL] Mdn = 21, final [F] Mdn = 3, z = -2.934, p = .003; anxiety BL Mdn = 30, F Mdn = 4, z = -2.941, p = .003). QoSL improved (BL Mdn = 28, F Mdn = 13, z = -2.625, p = .009), along with participants’ ability to use condoms (57.14 vs.100, z = -2.937, p = .003). Effect size was large, changes were maintained at follow-up measurements. The CBT intervention had positive effects in reducing anxiety and depression, which could facilitate the acquisition of healthy sexual behaviours. Further studies are important to clarify the benefits of targeting emotional variables to improve wellbeing and prevention behaviours in PLWH.

Traducción y Adaptación al Español del Cuestionario de Satisfacción Laboral para Profesores

In this paper, the Spanish translation, adaptation, and validation processes of the Teachers Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (Lester, 1987) are described. 66 items with a five-option answer Likert scale were applied to 392 Mexican teachers (188 female, 204 male). Discrimination, reliability, and factor analyses were undertaken to obtain 33 items in seven factors: Supervision, Negative attitudes to teaching, Progress, Responsibility, Work itself, Social climate, and Working conditions. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was calculated (coefficient alpha) in .91 for the total score.