Eliane Corrêa Chaves

Stressing factors and coping strategies used by oncology nurses

In the oncology specialty, many factors can result in occupational stress in nursing professionals. As an attempt to controlling this situation, individuals may use coping strategies. Coping is a cognitive and behavioral effort one uses to face a stressful situation. The aims of this study were to identify the stressful factors regarding oncology nurses, and to verify what coping strategies they use. Two questionnaires were used: a demographic data inventory, designed by the researcher, and the Folkman and Lazarus coping strategies inventory. The results showed that the main stressful factors for oncology nurses are patient death (28.6%), emergency situations (16.9%), relationship issues with the nursing team (15.5%), and work-process situations (15.5%). In the studied population, the main coping strategy used was positive reappraisal.In the oncology specialty, many factors can result in occupational stress in nursing professionals. As an attempt to controlling this situation, individuals may use coping strategies. Coping is a cognitive and behavioral effort one uses to face a stressful situation. The aims of this study were to identify the stressful factors regarding oncology nurses, and to verify what coping strategies they use. Two questionnaires were used: a demographic data inventory, designed by the researcher, and the Folkman and Lazarus coping strategies inventory. The results showed that the main stressful factors for oncology nurses are patient death (28.6%), emergency situations (16.9%), relationship issues with the nursing team (15.5%), and work-process situations (15.5%). In the studied population, the main coping strategy used was positive reappraisal.

Vulnerabilidade e sofrimento no trabalho do agente comunitário de saúde no Programa de Saúde da Família

This qualitative research was aimed at investigating the representations and significations that a group of community health agents (CHAs) has concerning the vulnerabilities for suffering in their work to which they are exposed to, as well as the manifestations of this suffering as they perform their actions in the Family Health Program (PSF, in the Portuguese language acronym). The semi-structured interview with the group of agents explored the meaning of being a CHA and their perception of their work organization; the analysis was based on the hermeneutics theoretical-methodology referential and on the theories related to labor psychodynamics. The findings show the existence of considerable suffering vulnerability, generated by an idealized ideation of the practice and by the scarce perspective for rearranging the constitutive ingredients of work organization, since these professionals depend on factors that are beyond their grasp, which include the limitations of the assistential model proposed by the PSF.This qualitative research was aimed at investigating the representations and significations that a group of community health agents (CHAs) has concerning the vulnerabilities for suffering in their work to which they are exposed to, as well as the manifestations of this suffering as they perform their actions in the Family Health Program (PSF, in the Portuguese language acronym). The semistructured interview with the group of agents explored the meaning of being a CHA and their perception of their work organization; the analysis was based on the hermeneutics theoretical-methodology referential and on the theories related to labor psychodynamics. The findings show the existence of considerable suffering vulnerability, generated by an idealized ideation of the practice and by the scarce perspective for rearranging the constitutive ingredients of work organization, since these professionals depend on factors that are beyond their grasp, which include the limitations of the assistential model proposed by the PSF.

O efeito do exercício de estimulação da memória em idosos saudáveis

Considerando a frequente queixa dos idosos frente ao seu desempenho mnemonico, este estudo tem por objetivo investigar o efeito da estimulacao da memoria sobre o desempenho no Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEM), e observar correlacao socio-demografica com o desempenho cognitivo. O MEM foi aplicado em 46 idosos integrantes de uma oficina de memoria, sem diagnostico medico de demencia, antes e apos a execucao das atividades da mesma. Observou-se correlacao e significância estatistica entre os escores dos MEMs aplicados antes e apos a oficina, porem nao houve associacao significante estatisticamente entre esse desempeho e as variaveis socio-demograficas.Considering the constant complaints of the elderly regarding their memory performance, this study aims to investigate the effect of memory stimulation on the performance in the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and to observe the socio-demographic correlation with cognitive performance. The MMSE was applied in 46 elders without dementia diagnosis that participated in a memory workshop before and after the activities of the workshop were carried out. Correlation and statistical significance was observed between the MMSEs scores applied before and after the workshop, but there were no statistically significant association between this performance and the socio-demographic variables.

Relationship Between Cortisol Levels and Memory Performance may be Modulated by the Presence or Absence of Cognitive Impairment: Evidence from Healthy Elderly, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Subjects

An inverted U-shape function between cortisol levels and memory performance has been reported in studies on both young animals and humans. Yet little is known about this relationship in normal aging or in older subjects with cognitive impairment. This issue is particularly significant since increased levels of cortisol have been reported in Alzheimers disease (AD). The present study examined the association between cortisol levels and visual memory performance in healthy subjects as well as in individuals presenting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD. Salivary cortisol was measured in 40 healthy elderly subjects, 31 individuals with amnestic MCI, and 40 subjects with mild probable AD. Memory performance was evaluated using the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery. Higher cortisol levels were associated with better memory performance in healthy elderly (p=0.005), while higher cortisol levels were correlated with poorer memory performance in MCI subjects (p=0.011). No correlation between cortisol and memory was found in the AD group (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the relationship between cortisol levels and memory performance in the aging process could vary according to the presence or absence of cognitive impairment.

O conhecimento científico como valor no agir do enfermeiro

This study with the objective to know the as values that supports the action of the nurse. It was a qualitative research based on hermeneutic. Data were obtained by means of an interview recorded by eight nurses working at the Hospitalization Units of the Hospital Sao Paulo. By means of the meaning obtained from speeches, it was possible to identify knowledge scientific a mean to obtain safety in the acting and to assure power.This study with the objective to know the as values that supports the action of the nurse. It was a qualitative research based on hermeneutic. Data were obtained by means of an interview recorded by eight nurses working at the Hospitalization Units of the Hospital São Paulo. By means of the meaning obtained from speeches, it was possible to identify knowledge scientific a mean to obtain safety in the acting and to assure power.RESUMO O estudo teve como finalidade conhecer o valor que sustenta o agir do enfermeiro. Optou-se pela pesquisa qualitativa, pautada na hermenêutica. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas com oito enfermeiras que atuam em unidades de internação do Hospital São Paulo. Pela análise dos significados apreendidos nos discursos foi possível identificar o conhecimento científico como valor e como meio de obter segurança no agir e assegurar o poder.

Algumas considerações sobre o paciente cirúrgico e a ansiedade

This study aims at giving theoretical aspects of the anxiety and discussing about the difficulty faced by nurses to evaluate the emotional state of the patient, considering that the theoretical basis of the nurse is not enough to interfere in this situation.

Fatores estressantes e estratégias de coping dos enfermeiros atuantes em oncologia

In the oncology specialty, many factors can result in occupational stress in nursing professionals. As an attempt to controlling this situation, individuals may use coping strategies. Coping is a cognitive and behavioral effort one uses to face a stressful situation. The aims of this study were to identify the stressful factors regarding oncology nurses, and to verify what coping strategies they use. Two questionnaires were used: a demographic data inventory, designed by the researcher, and the Folkman and Lazarus coping strategies inventory. The results showed that the main stressful factors for oncology nurses are patient death (28.6%), emergency situations (16.9%), relationship issues with the nursing team (15.5%), and work-process situations (15.5%). In the studied population, the main coping strategy used was positive reappraisal.In the oncology specialty, many factors can result in occupational stress in nursing professionals. As an attempt to controlling this situation, individuals may use coping strategies. Coping is a cognitive and behavioral effort one uses to face a stressful situation. The aims of this study were to identify the stressful factors regarding oncology nurses, and to verify what coping strategies they use. Two questionnaires were used: a demographic data inventory, designed by the researcher, and the Folkman and Lazarus coping strategies inventory. The results showed that the main stressful factors for oncology nurses are patient death (28.6%), emergency situations (16.9%), relationship issues with the nursing team (15.5%), and work-process situations (15.5%). In the studied population, the main coping strategy used was positive reappraisal.

Modelos clínico e psicossocial de atenção ao indivíduo e à família na assistência domiciliar: bases conceituais

Home care is a rapidly expanding segment in Brazil. The model currently applied to home care is based on clinical and hospital models. The objective of this article is to propose theoretical frameworks that can be applied to home care by taking into account its psychosocial dimension. Although indivisible, the conceptual frameworks of the clinical and the psychosocial models are broken down, for clarity purposes, in order to contribute to the improvement of practices, so as to add personal expressions and contexts as elements of psychosocial dynamics.Prestar asistencia en el domicilio ha sido una practica en expansion en el Brasil. No obstante, el modelo de asistencia se ha basado en el modelo clinico y hospitalario. Este articulo tiene como objetivo proponer referenciales teoricos para un modelo de atencion volcada a la asistencia domiciliaria, considerando la dimension psicosocial. Se presentan las bases conceptuales del modelo clinico y psicosocial, didacticamente separados, a pesar de no ser disociables, como una contribucion al perfeccionamiento de una practica capaz de agregar expresiones de la persona y del contexto en cuanto elemento de una dinamica psicosocial.

Stress and coping in older people with Alzheimer's disease

AIM To investigate stress intensity and coping style in older people with mild Alzheimers disease. BACKGROUND The potential risk assessment of a stress event and the devising of coping strategies are dependent on cognitive function. Although older individuals with Alzheimers disease present significant cognitive impairment, little is known about how these individuals experience stress events and select coping strategies in stress situations. DESIGN Survey. METHOD A convenient sample of 30 cognitively healthy older people and 30 individuals with mild Alzheimers disease were given an assessment battery of stress indicators (Symptom Stress List, Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), coping style (Jalowiec Coping Scale) and cognitive performance (mini-mental state exam) were applied in both groups. Statistical analysis of the data employed the Mann-Whitney test to compare medians of stress indicators and coping style, Fischers exact test to compare proportions when expected frequencies were lower than five, and Spearmans correlation coefficient to verify correlation between coping style and cognitive performance. RESULTS Both groups suffered from the same stress intensity (p = 0.254). Regarding coping styles, although differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.124), emotion-oriented coping was predominant in the patients with Alzheimers disease. However, those individuals displaying better cognitive performance in the Alzheimers disease group had selected coping strategies focused on problem solving (p = 0.0074). CONCLUSIONS Despite a tendency for older people with Alzheimers disease to select escape strategies and emotional control, rather than attempting to resolve or lesser the consequences arising from a problem, coping ultimately depends on cognitive performance of the individual. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The findings of this study provide information and data to assist planning of appropriate support care for individuals with Alzheimers disease who experience stress situations, based on their cognitive performance.

Efeitos da ansiedade sobre a pressão arterial em mulheres com hipertensão

Estudo descritivo, associativo, que objetiva conhecer a relacao da ansiedade com os niveis de pressao arterial em mulheres hipertensas e da ansiedade com o tempo de tratamento da hipertensao. Foram pesquisadas 78 mulheres em tratamento para hipertensao no InCor, mediante o Inventario de Ansiedade de Spilberger - IDATE, e a pressao arterial verificada, utilizando-se da medida indireta, obtida pelo metodo auscultatorio. Os dados foram submetidos a analise estatistica, com nivel de significância de 5%. A amostra apresentou traco e estado de ansiedade moderados e medias de pressao acima do normal, compativel com hipertensao estagio 1. Nao houve diferenca estatisticamente significante entre pressao arterial e niveis de ansiedade e entre o tempo de tratamento para hipertensao e niveis de ansiedade.This descriptive and associative study aims to examine the relation between anxiety and blood pressure levels in women with hypertension and between anxiety and hypertension treatment time. A research was carried out among 78 women under hypertension treatment at InCor Hospital, Brazil, through Spilberger Anxiety Inventory--IDATE and blood pressure was checked by means of the indirect measure, obtained by the auscultatory method. Data were submitted to statistic analysis at a 5% significance level. The sample displayed moderate traces and states of anxiety and average blood pressure above normal, compatible with hypertension stage 1. No significant statistical difference was observed between blood pressure and anxiety levels, nor between hypertension treatment time and anxiety levels.