Background: Assessment of the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding COVID-19 and preventive measures in household contacts of COVID-19 cases after the acute phase of the pandemic.
Methods: Survey among household contacts of COVID-19 cases conducted in healthcare centers in Navarre (1) and Catalonia (8) between May 2022 and July 2023. The frequency of use of preventive measures and the knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 were assessed through 12 items.
Results: 215 contacts participated who correctly used the preventive measures (>85%), except for facemasks (35.8%) and interpersonal distance (47%); >85% showed adequate knowledge (5/6 items) and >80% had a positive attitude (3/6 items). Moreover, 54.7% considered that COVID-19 negatively affected their life and 54.1% that it is better to develop immunity by getting infected than by vaccination.
Conclusions: Household contacts show a correct level of knowledge and positive attitude towards the disease and its preventive measures.
Background: The aim of this study is to translate, culturally adapt, and validate a Spanish version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for a sample of nursing assistant aides.
Methods: The questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted. Next, it was included in a battery of tests that was completed by 526 nursing assistants working in residential care homes in the Principality of Asturias (Spain). To assess its validity, the Exploratory Factor Analysis and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used. The internal consistency was estimated with McDonald's Omega coefficient (?), complemented by the test-retest reliability analysis through the intraclass correlation coefficient. The validity of the criteria was established by the correlation between total score on the test and quality of life measures, job insecurity and psychological demand, and social support at work.
Results: The Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis adjustment indices confirmed it is a unidimensional test. The internal consistency values indicated very high reliability (? = 0.81). Similarly, the intraclass correlation coefficient showed statistically significant values and an excellent correlation coefficient (r = 0.95). The validity of the criteria showed a statistically significant correlation with all the constructs studied, particularly with quality of life.
Conclusions: This Spanish version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire has good psychometric qualities for a population of nursing aides and therefore may be a valid and reliable tool for assessing musculoskeletal disorders.
Background: The study aim was to analyze the relationship between functional thyroid pathology and the exposure to work shifts / night shifts, and describe the most prevalent thyroid disorders based on the type of shift.
Methodology: Cross-sectional study performed in the emergency department of a hospital in Almeria (Spain). Relationships between thyroxine and thyrotropin levels (TSH) and work shifts, professional category and history of thyroid pathology were analyzed.
Results: The study included 133 workers; 80.5% female, average age was 46.11 years (38 - 65), and 52% were part of the nursing staff; thyroid disorders were more frequent in female participants. Most participants (81.2%) had rotating shifts schedules and 11.3% night shifts (12.1% female and 7.7% male). Thyroid alterations were found in 27% of the participants (usually elevated TSH levels and normal thyroxine levels), particularly in those doing night shifts (61.1%). TSH alterations were more frequent in individuals doing night shifts than in rotating shifts (53.3 vs 13.0%; p<0.001). Individuals working night shifts had mean TSH values in the normal range, although significantly higher than the individuals in the rest of the shifts; thyroxine levels were found to be similar. No thyroid disorders were found in day shift participants. Night shift and a history of thyroid pathology were independent predictors of thyroid disorders.
Conclusions: Night shift schedules and history of thyroid disorders are more frequent in female, both related to the presence of thyroid disorders, indicating the need to include the evaluation of these disorders in health surveillance programs and analyze gender differences.
Cryptococcal meningitis is an infrequent infection with high morbidity and mortality. Its presentation in immunocompetent patients is rare. We present the case of a 67-year-old male who was admitted for subacute symptoms of gait disturbance and urinary incontinence. Neurological examination revealed inability to stand and memory impairment. Cranial imaging showed obstructive tetraventricular hydrocephalus with areas of gliosis in the cerebellar peduncles. Endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus was performed and cerebrospinal fluid samples taken revealing the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans. The patient improved with the endoscopic treatment and after completing intravenous antifungal therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and fluconazole for ten weeks. Antifungals are used to treat cryptococcal meningitis in immunocompetent patients. On rare occasions, it presents with hydrocephalus, a situation that requires surgical treatment using cerebrospinal fluid diversions or endoscopic techniques.
Catamenial pneumothorax is a spontaneous recurrent pneumothorax that occurs in women of reproductive age and in temporal relationship with the menses. It usually occurs within 24 hours before or 72 hours after the start of the menstrual cycle; however, multiple variations have been described in terms of the temporal relationship. To date, it is considered a rare condition; this may be justified by the limited available knowledge on this disease leading to misdiagnosis. Often, making a diagnosis of catamenial pneumothorax is complicated; it mainly depends on the medical history; also, it may be a surgical or histopathological diagnosis. Management strategies for catamenial pneumothorax may include combinations of hormonal therapy, pleurodesis, lung parenchyma resection, and diaphragm resection/repair. The aim of reporting this atypical case of catamenial pneumothorax is to highlight the relevance of having the adequate knowledge on this entity so it does not go unnoticed despite its apparent low incidence.
Abdominal internal hernia is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in pediatric emergency departments, being the herniation through the foramen of Winslow an exceptional entity (less than 0.5% of the herniae). We report the case of a 15-year-old adolescent male without previous surgical interventions who presented with abdominal pain and vomiting; computed tomography scans showed intestinal obstruction due to an internal hernia through the foramen of Winslow. To reduce the herniated ileum, the patient required surgical intervention with diagnostic laparoscopy, which, due to bad visualization, was changed to supraumbilical midline laparotomy. There was no need to resect the affected ileum as it appeared healthy. We did not perform a preventive technique to reduce the risk of recurrence. Postoperative pelvic collection was conservatively managed with antibiotics. The patient undergoes regular follow-up in the pediatric surgery department.
Background: Police officers are exposed to risk and violence, which makes their work highly stressful. According to the Job Demand-Resource model, the working conditions of police officers may affect their health and job satisfaction. The aims of this research were to evaluate the psychosocial factors at work in a sample of municipal police officers from the Valencian Community (Spain) to identify the prevalence of psychosocial risks and their consequences and analyse the influence of psychosocial factors (resource and demands) at work on job satisfaction and health.
Methods: The Unidad de Investigación Psicosocial de la Conducta Organizacional (UNIPSICO) battery was used to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of different levels of risk and their consequences in police officers (n=103). The influence of psychosocial factors (resource and demands) at work on psychosomatic disorders and job satisfaction was examined using stepwise regression analysis.
Results: All considered variables showed moderate levels of psychosocial risk for the whole sample. As for the consequences of psychosocial risks, moderate levels of psychosomatic disorders and job satisfaction were also observed. Perceived stress levels and organizational stressors have a negative effect on health and job satisfaction.
Conclusions: To create positive conditions for the health and well-being of police officers, real commitment is required when evaluating psychosocial risks in local police organizations and the establishment of prevention and intervention measures where psychosocial risk factors are detected.