Luis Felipe Dias Lopes

Comparative study of the performance of the CuSum and EWMA control charts

Abstract This work presents a comparative study of the performance of the cumulative sum (CuSum), as well as the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts. The objective of this research is to verify when CuSum and EWMA control charts do the best control region, in order to detect small changes in the process average. Starting from the data of a productive process, several series were simulated. CuSum and EWMA control charts were used to determine the average run length (ARL) to detect a condition out of control. ARL found by each chart which was then, compared. It was observed that the CuSum control chart practically did not sign points out of control for the levels of variation between ±1.0 standard deviation. For these variation levels the EWMA control chart was more efficient than CuSum. Among the parameters EWMA control chart the ones with constant λ=0.10 and 0.05, with the respective control limits L=2.814 and 2.625, were the ones that detected larger number of altered positions.

Hardy personality and burnout syndrome among nursing students in three Brazilian universities—an analytic study

BackgroundNursing students may exhibit the characteristics of resistance to stress, such as hardiness, which can reduce the risk of burnout. However, we found only one published study about these phenomena among nursing students. Thus, we investigated the association between hardiness and burnout in such students.MethodsAn analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted among 570 nursing students from three Brazilian universities. Data were collected relating to sociodemographic characteristics, hardiness, and burnout, which we analyzed using inferential statistics.ResultsWe observed that 64.04% of nursing students in the sample had a high level of emotional exhaustion, 35.79% had a high level of cynicism, and 87.72% had a low level of professional efficacy: these are dimensions of burnout. We also found that 48.77% had a high level of control, 61.40% a high level of commitment, and 35.44% a high level of challenge: these are dimensions of hardiness. Only 24.74% of the students experienced burnout, and 21.93% met the criteria for a hardy personality. There was a statistically significant difference between the frequency of hardiness and burnout (p = 0.033), with 68.00% of hardy students not exhibiting burnout.ConclusionsAlthough nursing students live with educational stressors, burnout was not preponderant in our sample students; this may be linked to hardiness. Thus, given its benefits to student life and health, we recommend the development of strategies to promote hardiness among nursing students.

Investigação do equilíbrio corporal em idosos

As people grow old, the human body undergoes for a long period of changes that cause a decline in some physical abilities, such as balance. This ...

Stress and Burnout among multidisciplinary residents

OBJECTIVE To identify associations between high-stress and burnout syndrome in multidisciplinary residents from a federal university in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHOD This is an analytical, cross-sectional and quantitative study. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Work Stress Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS) were applied to 37 residents between April and June 2011. P-values<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS We verified that 48.65% of the residents experienced high-stress. When associating the MBI-HSS subscales, we verified that 27% of the residents showed some indication of burnout syndrome. There was a statistically significant correlation (p=0.00, r=0.68) between a high-stress and burnout. CONCLUSIONS High-stress was confirmed as being a predictor of burnout syndrome among multidisciplinary residents. Therefore, we propose that intervention studies be conducted in order to change such contexts.OBJETIVO: identificar a associacao entre alto estresse e Burnout em residentes multiprofissionais de uma universidade federal do Rio Grande do Sul. METODO: trata-se de estudo analitico, transversal, quantitativo. Aplicaram-se um formulario de dados socio demograficos, a Escala de Estresse no Trabalho e o Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) em 37 residentes entre abril e junho de 2011. Valores de p<0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. RESULTADOS: verificou-se que 48,65% de residentes apresentavam alto estresse. Na associacao das subescalas do MBI, 27% dos residentes apresentaram indicativo para sindrome de Burnout. Observou-se correlacao estatisticamente significativa (p=0,00; r= 0,68) entre alto estresse e Burnout. CONCLUSOES: confirmou-se o alto estresse como preditor da sindrome de Burnout entre os residentes multiprofissionais. Assim, propoe-se a realizacao de estudos com delineamento interventivo para que essa realidade seja modificada.

Análise quantitativa da satisfação profissional dos enfermeiros que atuam no período noturno

Estudo de campo, exploratorio, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa que objetivou caracterizar os enfermeiros que trabalham no periodo noturno de um Hospital Universitario do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, bem como identificar o nivel real de satisfacao profissional em relacao a seis componentes do trabalho: autonomia, interacao, status profissional, requisitos do trabalho, normas organizacionais e remuneracao. Na coleta dos dados foram utilizados um questionario para caracterizacao sociodemografica e outro para o Indice de Satisfacao Profissional. Os dados foram coletados no periodo de marco a abril de 2008 e processados no programa estatistico Statistical Analisys System versao 9.1. Participaram 42 enfermeiros, majoritariamente do sexo feminino (90,48%), faixa etaria maior que 41 anos de idade (64,28%), estado civil casado ou com companheiro (64,29%), com filhos (80,96%) e que escolheram trabalhar nesse turno (90,48%). A autonomia foi considerada o componente de maior nivel real de satisfacao profissional enquanto normas organizacionais o de menor nivel.This exploratory, quantitative, and descriptive study aimed to characterize the night-shift nurses in a University Hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as well as to identify the actual professional satisfaction rate regarding six work components: autonomy, interaction, professional status, task requirements, organizational policies, and pay. For data collection, one survey was used in order for socio-demographic characterization and another to characterize the Work Satisfaction Index. The data was collected in March and April of 2008 and processed in the Statistical Analysis System software, version 9.1. The sample was composed of 42 participating nurses, mostly female (90.48%), aged more than 41 years (64.28%), either married or living with a partner (64.29%), with children (80.96%) and who chose to work in this shift (90.48%). Autonomy was considered the component which reached the highest level of real satisfaction, while organizational policies received the lowest level of satisfaction. DESCRIPTORS: Job satisfaction. Night work. Nursing. ANÁLISIS CUANTITATIVO DE LA SATISFACCIÓN PROFESIONAL DE LOS ENFERMEROS QUE ACTÚAN EN EL PERÍODO NOCTURNO RESUMEN: Estudio de campo, exploratorio descriptivo, de carácter cuantitativo, cuyo objetivo fue caracterizar los enfermeros que ejercen actividades laborales en el período nocturno en un Hospital Universitario de la provincia de Rio Grande do Sul, e identificar el nivel real de satisfacción profesional relacionado a seis componentes del trabajo: autonomía, interacción, estatus profesional, requisitos del trabajo, normas organizacionales y remuneración. Para la recolección de los datos fueron utilizados dos cuestionarios: uno para la caracterización sociodemográfica y otro para el Índice de Satisfacción Profesional. Los datos, recolectados en marzo y abril de 2008, fueron procesados en el programa estadístico Statistical Analisys System versión 9.1. Participaron 42 enfermeros, la mayoría del sexo femenino (90,48%), ubicados en la franja etaria superior a 41 años (64,28%), estado civil casado o con compañero (64,29%), con hijos (80,96%) y que eligieron trabajar en este turno (90,48%). La autonomía fue el componente que alcanzó el mayor nivel real de satisfacción profesional, mientras que las normas organizacionales, el menor nivel. DESCRIPTORES: Satisfacción en el trabajo. Trabajo nocturno. Enfermería.

A influência dos sistemas sensoriais na plataforma de força: estudo do equilíbrio corporal em idosas com e sem queixa de tontura

RESUMOObjetivo: analisar as respostas de dois grupos de idosas (com e sem queixa de tontura) submetidas a diferentes condicoes sensoriais em uma plataforma de forca. Metodos: para a realizacao desse estudo utilizou-se uma plataforma de forca AMTI OR6-5 com uma frequencia de aquisicao de 100 Hz. Foram realizadas coletas em quatro condicoes distintas: olhos abertos (OA), olhos fechados (OF) sobre apenas a plataforma de forca, olhos abertos (OAA) e olhos fechados (OFA) sobre uma almofada de 20 cm de espessura. As variaveis analisadas foram o centro de forca ântero-posterior (COPap), centro de forca medio-lateral (COPml), 95% da elipse da area, velocidade de oscilacao e comprimento da oscilacao.Comparacoes entre os grupos e entre as condicoes dentro dos grupos, foram realizadas por meio do teste de Duncan. Resultados: os resultados mostraram nao haver dife-rencas entre os grupos em nenhuma variavel, porem a condicao OFA causou maiores perturbacoes no equilibrio corporal das idosas. Conclusao: conclui-se que o aumento da dificuldade imposta pelas quatro condicoes de testes, alterou a oscilacao corporal das idosas avaliadas. DESCRITORES: Equilibrio Postural; Tontura; Idoso

Ocorrência de parasitos gastrointestinais e fatores de risco de parasitismo em gatos domésticos urbanos de Santa Maria, RS, Brasil

This study verified the gastrointestinal parasites occurrence in household cats in Santa Maria, RS, Brasil from March to June, 2011. In addition, the risk factors associated with gastrointestinal parasites infection were evaluated. One hundred ninety -one felines fecal samples were submitted to parasitological examination, as well as to an epidemiological questionnaire about the management and the animal habits, which was applied to the owners. Fecal samples were positive for one or more gastrointestinal parasites (47.1% - 90/191). Occurrence of mono-infection was 33.5% (64/191) and multi-infection 13.6% (26/191). Toxocara spp. (18.8%) and Giardia spp. (4.2%) were the main parasites found in mono-infection. The main association of parasites detected included: Ancylostoma spp. + Toxocara spp. (3.1%) and Cystoisospora spp. + Cryptosporidium spp. + Giardia spp. + Toxoplasma spp. + Toxocara spp. (1.5%). Epidemiological data were submitted to chi-square, Fisher and odds ratio tests, as well as analyzed the relationship between the epidemiological factors and the presence of gastrointestinal parasites (P>0.05). The main risk factors identified were: the scholar level of owners and frequency of antiparasitic treatments, which showed a direct influence on the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites. The data contribute to the understanding of the epidemiology of gastrointestinal parasites and could aid veterinarians and owners in developing of antiparasitic strategies for domestic cats.

Estresse em estudantes de enfermagem: uma revisão integrativa

Objective: to analyze the scientific production regarding stress in nursing students. Method: this integrative review has been conducted in the databases BDENF and LILACS and the electronic library SCIELO, with the association of the descriptor Nursing student with the keyword stress. For a description of selected research used the absolute (n), percentage (%) and categorization of data by similarity. Results: 16 studies have been selected in which 37.5% are related to stressors in the academic life of Nursing students, 37.5% regarding coping strategies in university life, and 25% in relation to signs and symptoms of stress. Stressors are present in the course of undergraduate nursing and reflect the quality of life, since scholars have signs and symptoms resulting from stress. Conclusion: suggested that the undergraduate courses to develop proposals to minimize stress in order to make the academic environment of nursing more productive and less stressful

Barreiras percebidas e hábitos de atividade física de adolescentes escolares de uma cidade do sul do Brasil

The purpose of this study was to analyze physical activity (PA) habits and perceived barriers to PA in high school students from the municipality of Santa Maria, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 424 students with a mean age of 15.69 (± 0.9) years, 54.72% of them male and 45.28% female, took part in the study. The third part of the COMPAC questionnaire was used to assess physical activity habits, and the questionnaire developed by Martins and Petroski (2000), adapted for this study population, to investigate perceived barriers to physical activity. The main perceived barriers were time devoted to studies, absence of an exercise partner, poor weather and long work hours. Girls perceived more barriers than boys. Nearly one-third of participants (32.35%) were considered insufficiently active. Engagement in moderate to vigorous PA differed significantly (p<0.05) between genders, girls being less active. Walking was the most widely practiced activity among girls (76.04%), whereas boys favored soccer (71.90%). There were significant differences in PA between private and public school students; those enrolled in state-run schools were most active. Our results can serve as a reference for specific actions designed to promote physical activity and health.

Fatores do pré-natal e do puerpério que interferem na autoeficácia em amamentação

Objective: To analyze which factors related to pre-natal and puerperium that interfere on self-efficacy in breastfeeding to hospitalized women in puerperium in joint accommodation. Methods: Quantitative research, transversal, developed with 322 women in puerperium, in the period of December 2011 to March 2012, with an instrument composed by Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form and a characterization form of the women in puerperium. The bi-varied analysis was performed in the Statistical Package for Social Science software. Results: Most of women in puerperium showed high self-efficacy on breastfeeding. It was occurred statistically significant association of self-efficacy on breastfeeding with the fact that the baby had been placed to suck after the first hour. Conclusion: The promotion of self-efficacy in maternal breastfeeding should begin in the pre-natal, being early stimulated on the maternity and accompanied during puerperium and childcare.O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar quais os fatores relacionados ao pre-natal e ao puerperio que interferem na autoeficacia em amamentacao para as puerperas internadas em alojamento conjunto. Metodos: Pesquisa quantitativa, transversal, realizada com 322 puerperas, no periodo de dezembro de 2011 a marco de 2012, com um instrumento composto pela Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form e um formulario para caracterizacao das puerperas. A analise bivariada foi efetuada no software Statistical Package for Social Science. Resultados: A maioria das puerperas apresentou alta autoeficacia na amamentacao. Ocorreu associacao estatisticamente significante da autoeficacia na amamentacao com o fato de o bebe ter sido colocado para sugar apos a primeira hora. Conclusao: A promocao da autoeficacia materna em amamentar deve ter inicio no pre-natal, ser estimulada precocemente na maternidade e acompanhada durante o puerperio e puericultura.