Thelma Simões Matsukura

Adaptação transcultural para o Brasil do Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa (GMFCS)

BACKGROUND: Due to the complexity of clinical symptoms of cerebral palsy and the difficulties in classifying it based upon the motor types and the topography of the body distribution only, Canadian researchers have proposed the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Although this classification system has been largely used in Brazil, it has not been cross culturally adapted yet. OBJECTIVES: To perform the cross adaptation of the Gross Motor Function Classification System for the Cerebral Palsy (GMFCS) into Brazilian-Portuguese and to verify the reliability among observers of the adapted instrument in Brazilian children. METHODS: This study was performed in two stages; the first stage was related to the process of cross-cultural adaptation and the second stage tested the instrument. Translation, back-translation, semantic and content analysis, back-translation of the final version and the approval of the authors were used for the cross-cultural adaptation. The test of the instrument was performed in 40 children with cerebral palsy, who were evaluated by two raters to verify the reliability among the observers. RESULTS: The results showed that the stages of translation and back-translation did not present any difficulties and the semantic and conceptual equivalence was achieved. The reliability among the observers showed that the evaluations do not differ and that there is an excellent correlation and internal consistency of the construct with an ICC of 0.945 (95% CI 0.861 to 0.979) and a Cronbach a of 0.972. CONCLUSIONS: The final version of the GMFCS showed good potential of applicability for undergraduate students and professionals of the neuropediatric area.

O Questionário de Suporte Social (SSQ): estudos da adaptação para o português

Com o objetivo de realizar a versao e estudos psicometricos do Questionario de Suporte Social de Sarason, aplicou-se o instrumento em 113 mulheres-maes. Para a analise, utilizou-se a estatistica Kappa, o Indice de Concordância Bruta e a Correlacao de Spearman. A consistencia interna do instrumento foi avaliada. Os resultados indicam uma fidedignidade teste-reteste aceitavel e um alto nivel de consistencia interna. Observaram-se associacoes estatisticas entre os indices de suporte social e as variaveis trabalho, gravidez e renda. Apresentam-se informacoes sobre fontes de suporte social e extensao da rede as quais sugerem uma participacao maior da familia proxima como fornecedora de suporte.With the aim of developing psychometrical studies using the Saransons Social Support Questionnaire, an adapted version of the instrument was applied to 113 mothers. The Kappa Statistical Parameter, the Index of Gross Agreement and Spearmans Correlation were used to the analysis. The analysis of the internal consistency instrument showed a high level of it. In addition, the results indicated an acceptable test-retest reliability as well as statistical relationships between the social support indexes and variables related to work, pregnancy and income. Information on social support sources and the extension of the network suggest a greater participation of the family as the provider of the support.Con el objetivo de realizar la version y estudios psicometricos del Cuestionario del Apoyo Social de Saranson, se empleo el instrumento en 113 mujeres-madres. Para la analisis se utilizo la estatistica Kappa, el Indice de Concordancia Bruta y la Correlacion de Spearman. Se estimo la consistencia interna del instrumento. Los resultados muestran una fidelidad test-retest acetable y un elevado nivel de consistencia interna. Se observaron asociaciones estadisticas entre los indices de apoyo social y las variables trabajo, gestacion y renta. Se presentan informaciones sobre fuentes de soporte social y extension de la red?, las cuales sugieren una mayor participacion de la familia como proveedora del apoyo.

Estresse e suporte social em mães de crianças com necessidades especiais

The aim of this article is to assess the relationship between stress and social support in mothers of children with special needs, as contrasted with mothers of children with typical development, from low income families. In this quantitative study, participants included 75 mothers with children aged four to eight years, with income up to four minimum wages, divided in two groups: mothers of children with typical development and mothers of children with special needs. The mothers answered the Inventory of Stress Symptom and the Social Support Questionnaire. The results showed that mothers of both groups suffered stress. The mothers of children with special needs have a smaller number of people to support them. A negative relationship between stress and satisfaction with social support was observed. This study agrees with earlier research findings and confirms the importance of the role of social support in family adaptation processes. The association found between satisfaction with social support and the stress signals the importance of health intervention programs for families of children with special needs.

Beliefs and Attitudes about Childhood Epilepsy among School Teachers in Two Cities of Southeast Brazil

Childhood epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder associated with profound psychosocial limitations epileptic childrens routine. Lack of information and inappropriate beliefs are still the factors that most contribute to the stigma and discrimination. This study aimed at characterizing teachers beliefs and attitudes at regular and special schools in two cities of southeastern Brazil where students with epilepsy studied. Fifty-six teachers of public regular schools and specialized educational institutions for children with disabilities from two cities of Southeast Brazil who had epileptic children in their classroom completed the Brazilian version of The Epilepsy Beliefs and Attitudes Scale: Adult Version and answered a data sheet about sociodemographic characteristics. The results showed that no significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) have been found between the beliefs and attitudes of teachers in mainstream and special schools but both schoolteachers had more inappropriate beliefs and attitudes than appropriate ones against childhood epilepsy. These findings raise an important issue, providing us with the knowledge that epilepsy is still a condition which is surrounded by wrong beliefs. Also, educational programs could help reduce the gaps in knowledge about how such disease has been perceived worldwide.

Avaliação de políticas públicas: a inclusão de alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais no Ensino Fundamental das cidades-pólo do Estado de São Paulo

This research paper presents and compares aspects of theory and practice for inclusive education in Brazil. Brazilian policy on inclusive education and implementation strategies seek to guarantee access, attendance, and quality education for students with special needs in regular school. Although there are many studies about the legal aspects and the implementation for inclusive school policy, there seems to be a gap between theory and what actually happens in local schools. The Federal government focused on 144 cities intending to promote interaction between administration policies and educational practices in local schools. Based on the perceptions of Special Education administrators of the selected Sao Paulo cities, the aim of this study is to identify those actions that were implemented according to national directives for special education in the regular school system for Primary Education. Six Special Education Departments of these cities participated in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires, with open and closed questions. The results show that in these cities in the state of Sao Paulo, the administrators are aware of national public policy regulations; provisions also are in place to promote teacher preparation, continuing education courses and support for teachers. There is transportation, accessibility and access to some educational resources necessary for students with special needs in the regular school. However, there is no statistical information about the total population of special need students in each city; the number of students with disabilities enrolled in regular schools is still very small. Besides these limitations, there are few multidisciplinary teams, and scant collaboration of state departments in Special Education initiatives.

Relacionamento intergeracional, práticas de apoio e cotidiano de famílias de crianças com necessidades especiais

This exploratory study based on a qualitative approach aimed to investigate intergenerational relationships and support practices in the daily lives of families of children with special needs. Study participants were five mothers, grandmothers and older siblings of children with disabilities, who answered a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were analyzed qualitatively using the Collective Subject Discourse technique. It was found that grandmothers have been an important source of support for the family, because they are also concerned about devoting attention and care to the siblings of the child with disabilities. The study reveals a positive intergenerational relationship between grandmothers and grandchildren. The study highlights the need for directing more specialized attention to these family members and points out the need for further research on the subject.

Adaptação transcultural da versão portuguesa do social support appraisals para o Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To present the process of cross-cultural adaptation of the Portuguese version of Social Support Appraisals. Method: The process of cross-cultural adaptation involved the evaluation of conceptual, items, semantics, operational, measurement and functional equivalence. Two hundred eighteen students from 4th to 8th grades participated in the study. RESULTS: In measurement equivalence, factor analysis revealed four dimensions with values of alpha coefficient for the total scale of .79. The construct validity demonstrated that the greater the age and education level of the participants, the greater was the support perceived from friends and the lower the perception of teachers support. CONCLUSION: further studies should be conducted with people from different regions of the country in order to observe the suitability of the Brazilian version.

Percepção de alunos com paralisia cerebral sobre o uso de recursos de tecnologia assistiva na escola regular

O Censo Escolar realizado no Brasil em 2006 localizou aproximadamente 29.000 alunos deficientes fisicos matriculados em classes comuns. A escolarizacao da crianca com comprometimento motor na escola comum tem sido discutida juntamente com as possiveis estrategias que possam colaborar para a participacao e aprendizagem desse aluno. Uma das estrategias indicadas tem sido o uso de recursos de tecnologia assistiva para favorecer a execucao das tarefas pedagogicas, porem pouco se sabe sobre a implementacao, a eficacia ou as contribuicoes desses recursos no processo de escolarizacao da crianca com deficiencia fisica. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar, a partir do ponto de vista do aluno com paralisia cerebral, as contribuicoes, dificuldades e o cotidiano implicado no uso de recursos de tecnologia assitiva no contexto da escolarizacao no ensino regular. Participaram deste estudo cinco alunos com diagnostico de paralisia cerebral nivel motor IV e V segundo o Sistema de Classificacao da Funcao Motora Grossa para paralisia cerebral - GMFCS. Foi utilizado um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado com as criancas e os dados obtidos foram transcritos e analisados na integra, optando-se em realizar uma categorizacao de acordo com os temas da entrevista. As percepcoes das criancas foram relevantes e elas mostraram-se capazes de apontar demandas e identificar quando e como os recursos podem ser limitantes dentro do contexto. Assim, considerar as opinioes e a participacao da crianca na identificacao de recursos de tecnologia pode contribuir na compreensao do impacto, das demandas e das possiveis contribuicoes no processo de implementacao e utilizacao do recurso de tecnologia assistiva.

Inclusão escolar e Educação Infantil: um estudo de caso

The inclusionary practices emerged in the 80’s, based on the movement of social inclusion and proposed a new paradigm for the care of children with special educational needs. The literature indicates a great difficulty concerning to the implementation of projects for inclusionary practices, and there are only few studies in the national literature about the integration of children with special educational needs in day nurseries (Early Childhood Education). The objective of this study was to develop a research, according to teachers’ perspective, about children with special educational needs inserted in day nurseries of the municipal net of the city of Catanduva, state of Sao Paulo, and also to identify the conception of the day nurseries principals about the school inclusion. This research was performed with the participation of 54 teachers and 15 principals; the teachers filled in the Instrument of Identification of Children with Special Educational Needs and the principals were interviewed. The results based on the teachers’ conceptions showed that 40 children with special educational needs are included in the day nurseries of the city, most of them were boys aged between two to three years old, and 27.5% of them were identified as in a risk situation. This study also revealed a superficial knowledge about inclusionary practices by the day nurseries principals, who prioritized the practical aspects.

[The Saranson's Social Support questionnaire: studies regarding its adaptation to portuguese].

Com o objetivo de realizar a versao e estudos psicometricos do Questionario de Suporte Social de Sarason, aplicou-se o instrumento em 113 mulheres-maes. Para a analise, utilizou-se a estatistica Kappa, o Indice de Concordância Bruta e a Correlacao de Spearman. A consistencia interna do instrumento foi avaliada. Os resultados indicam uma fidedignidade teste-reteste aceitavel e um alto nivel de consistencia interna. Observaram-se associacoes estatisticas entre os indices de suporte social e as variaveis trabalho, gravidez e renda. Apresentam-se informacoes sobre fontes de suporte social e extensao da rede as quais sugerem uma participacao maior da familia proxima como fornecedora de suporte.With the aim of developing psychometrical studies using the Saransons Social Support Questionnaire, an adapted version of the instrument was applied to 113 mothers. The Kappa Statistical Parameter, the Index of Gross Agreement and Spearmans Correlation were used to the analysis. The analysis of the internal consistency instrument showed a high level of it. In addition, the results indicated an acceptable test-retest reliability as well as statistical relationships between the social support indexes and variables related to work, pregnancy and income. Information on social support sources and the extension of the network suggest a greater participation of the family as the provider of the support.Con el objetivo de realizar la version y estudios psicometricos del Cuestionario del Apoyo Social de Saranson, se empleo el instrumento en 113 mujeres-madres. Para la analisis se utilizo la estatistica Kappa, el Indice de Concordancia Bruta y la Correlacion de Spearman. Se estimo la consistencia interna del instrumento. Los resultados muestran una fidelidad test-retest acetable y un elevado nivel de consistencia interna. Se observaron asociaciones estadisticas entre los indices de apoyo social y las variables trabajo, gestacion y renta. Se presentan informaciones sobre fuentes de soporte social y extension de la red?, las cuales sugieren una mayor participacion de la familia como proveedora del apoyo.