Carlos Sequeira

The needs of older people with mental health problems: a particular focus on dementia patients and their carers.

The problems and needs of older people are often associated with mental illness, characterized by a set of clinical manifestations, which constitute important domains for investigation and clinical practice. This paper presents the results of a pilot study whose main purpose was to identify met and unmet needs and to analyze the relationship between those needs, psychopathology and functionality in older people with mental health problems. A sample of 75 patients aged 65 or over, of both sexes, diagnosed with mental illness using ICD-9. The main diagnoses were depression (36%) and dementia (29.3%). Most patients had cognitive impairment (MMSE, 52%; CDT, 66.7%), depression (GDS, 61.3%), anxiety (ZAS, 81.3%), and moderate dependence (BI, 49.3% and LI, 77.3%). The main unmet needs found were daytime activities (40%), social benefits (13.3%), company (10.7%), psychological distress (9.3%), and continence (8%). The majority of these unmet needs occur with dementia patients. The majority of the carers of these patients had global needs (met and unmet) in terms of psychological distress. Findings also reveal that a low level of functionality is associated with dementia diagnoses. The association analyses suggest that dementia is an important determinant of the functional status and needs.

Reliability and validity of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire in a sample of Spanish university students

Accessible summary What is known on the subject?In general, the current studies of positive mental health use questionnaires or parts thereof. However, while these questionnaires evaluate aspects of positive mental health, they fail to measure the construct itself. &NA; What does this paper add to existing knowledge?The widespread use and the lack of specific questionnaires for evaluating the positive mental health construct justify the need to measure the robustness of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire. Also six factors are proposed to measure positive mental health. &NA; What are the implications for practice?The availability of a good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals. Introduction: Nursing has a relevant role in managing mental health. It is important to identify and thereafter to enhance positive aspects of mental health among university nursing students. Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) in terms of reliability and validity using confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of university students. Method: A cross‐sectional study was carried out in a sample of 1091 students at 4 nursing schools in Catalonia, Spain. The reliability of the PMHQ was measured by means of Cronbachs alpha coefficient, and the test‐retest stability was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the validity of the factorial structure. Results: Cronbachs alpha coefficient was satisfactory (>0.70) for four of the six subscales or dimensions and ranged from 0.54 to 0.79. ICC analysis was satisfactory for the six subscales or dimensions. The hypothesis was confirmed in the analysis of the correlations between subclasses and the overall scale, with the strongest correlations being found between the majority of the subscales and the overall scale. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model proposed for the factors fit the data satisfactorily. Discussion: This scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating positive mental health in university students. Implications for Practice: A good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals.

Focos de Enfermagem em pessoas mais velhas com problemas de saúde mental

Background: Mental disorders in the elderly are often associated with cognitive losses, and psychological and behavioural symptoms which compromise their qua...

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of NOC Outcomes “Anxiety Level” and “Anxiety Self-Control” in a Portuguese Outpatient Sample: Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of NOC Outcomes

PURPOSE To adopt the language and to evaluate the psychometric properties of “Anxiety level” and “Anxiety self-control” NOC outcomes in Portuguese adult patients. METHODS Methodological design. FINDINGS The final European Portuguese version of the NOC outcome “Anxiety level,” composed by 16 indicators, proved excellent internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was forced to three factors. The NOC outcome “Anxiety self-control,” composed of nine indicators, demonstrated a questionable internal consistency. EFA was forced to two factors. CONCLUSIONS European Portuguese versions of the studied NOC outcomes proved to be tools with acceptable psychometric properties for evaluating anxiety in Portuguese patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE This study contributed to the development of NOC language and to the enrichment of nursings body of knowledge. OBJETIVO Adaptar a linguagem e avaliar as propriedades psicometricas dos resultados NOC “Nivel de ansiedade” e “Autocontrolo da ansiedade” em utentes portugueses adultos. METODOS Estudo metodologico. RESULTADOS A versao portuguesa do resultado NOC “Nivel de ansiedade”, composta por 16 indicadores, apresentou uma excelente consistencia interna. A analise fatorial exploratoria (AFE) foi forcada a tres dimensoes. O resultado NOC “Autocontrolo da ansiedade”, composto por nove indicadores, apresentou uma consistencia interna questionavel. A AFE foi forcada a duas dimensoes. CONCLUSOES As versoes portuguesas dos resultados NOC estudados sao instrumentos com propriedades psicometricas aceitaveis para avaliar a ansiedade em utentes portugueses. IMPLICACOES PARA A PRATICA DE ENFERMAGEM Este estudo contribuiu para o desenvolvimento da linguagem NOC e para enriquecer o corpo de conhecimento de Enfermagem.

Tradução e validação do Confusion Assessment Method para a população portuguesa

Background: Acute confusion and delirium are common phenomena, especially in elderly people hospitalized in non-psychiatric acute wards. However, in Portugal...

Taxonomies: Towards a Shared Nomenclature and Language

This chapter will focus on the main nursing taxonomies, with special focus on their relation to mental health, and emphasize their usefulness to care conception, care documentation and clinical practice. Thus, four main classifications will be analysed: the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®), from the International Council of Nurses (ICN 2010), this being the only nursing taxonomy included in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Family of International Classifications, since 2008; the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC); and the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), as well as the International Nursing Diagnoses, approved by NANDA International, Inc. (NANDA-I). These connections (Johnson et al. 2011) show significant relevance to the nursing process, since they allow the understanding of the set of outcomes related to a specific nursing diagnosis (and also to identify the indicators enabling these outcomes evaluation). They also enable the identification of the suggested nursing interventions to respond to the specific nursing diagnosis.

‘Living together with dementia’ – Conceptual validation of training programme for family caregivers: Innovative practice:

This article presents results from a conceptual validation of the programme ‘Living Together with Dementia’, through an e-Delphi study carried out during April/May, 2015 with 26 Portuguese and Spanish experts. The programme consists of seven individual weekly sessions and two group sessions over a seven-week period. It covers dementia, communication and behaviour; demands and expectations of the caregiver role; basic activities of daily living; coping and problem solving strategies; physical and mental health of the caregiver and community support. The programme methods mainly consist of discussion sessions, practical examples/simulations and skill training.

“Living together with dementia”: Training programme for family caregivers – A study protocol

HighlightsThe increased incidence of dementia places the family in the role of caregiver.It is important to create, to implement and to validate training programmes for family caregivers of people with dementia living at home.The programme “Living together with dementia” addressed in this protocol seeks to be a response to empower these caregivers. Introduction: Due the increase incidence of Dementia, the creation, implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of training programmes for family caregivers of people with dementia living at home should be a goal of health professionals. The aim of this paper is to describe the randomised control trial protocol that will assess the effectiveness of the training programme for family caregivers who care for people with dementia at home “Living together with Dementia”. Methods: Randomised control trial. Family caregivers of people with dementia in early and moderate stages will be recruited through a neurology appointment at the São João Hospital Centre, Porto‐Portugal. The inclusion criteria employed will be as follows: to be the main caregiver of the person with dementia; to be literate; the care target has dementia in early or moderate stage; the person with dementia does not suffer from any other severe mental pathology. Caregivers will be randomised and assigned to control and experimental groups. 3 assessment moments will take place: initial, after the intervention and a follow up of 3 to 6 months. The assessment instruments include a survey containing sociodemographic data, Caregiver Burden Scale, Caregiver Assessment Satisfaction Index and Caregiver Assessment Difficulties Index. The participants of the experimental group will be submitted to a 7‐week individual psychoeducational programme. The study was approved by the Health Ethics Committee of the São João Hospital Centre in September 2015. Discussion: This programme might prove an asset to family caregivers of people with dementia living at home, since it pinpoints understanding and preparation of their role. It also facilitates the intervention of health professional, as it features as a guideline for their performance with this target population.

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Mental Vulnerability Questionnaire in Undergraduate Students.

PURPOSE Translate, adapt the language, and assess the psychometric properties of the Mental Vulnerability Questionnaire (MVQ) in a Portuguese population sample of young adults. DESIGN AND METHODS A psychometric validation study was performed. The sample comprised 166 undergraduate students. Factor analysis was applied to extract three indicators. FINDINGS The MVQ showed divergent validity with the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (p < .001) and convergent validity with the Mental Health Inventory including five items (p < .001). Reliability was verified through the assessment of internal consistency, evidencing positive outcomes (Cronbachs α = 0.81). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The MVQ shows psychometric properties enabling its adaptation to clinical practice and research, essential to an effective screening of mental vulnerability.

Psychometric Properties of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale in Higher Education Students

BACKGROUND: Psychological vulnerability is related to cognitive beliefs that reflect dependence on one’s sense of self-worth and to maladaptive functioning. It is a disadvantage that renders people less protected to face negative life experiences. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to adapt and test the psychometric properties of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale in a sample of 267 Portuguese higher education students. DESIGN: A psychometric study of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale, after translation into Portuguese, was performed with a convenience sample of higher education students. Participants were asked to fill in the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Psychological Vulnerability Scale, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and a one-item question about the Perception of Vulnerability. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 20.5 years (SD = 3.3). A factor analysis confirmed the original one-factor structure, explaining 42.9% of the total variance. The Psychological Vulnerability Scale showed adequate internal consistency and excellent test–retest stability. Convergent validity was confirmed by positive correlations with the Brief Symptom Inventory and Perception of Vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the Psychological Vulnerability Scale showed good validity, reliability, and stability over time. The Psychological Vulnerability Scale is now ready to be used by practitioners and researchers to measure the psychological vulnerability among Portuguese higher education students. These data add to the body of knowledge of psychiatric and mental health nursing and provides support for the use of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale in higher education students.