Assessment of the degree of satisfaction of physical therapy students with the academic experience

Introduction The demand for higher education in Brazil has grown in recent decades, leading to teaching, pedagogical and structural changes in the public and private education sectors. Assessments of academic experience evaluate the quality of services provided within the fields of learning, relationships and infrastructure. Objective To assess the degree of satisfaction with their academic experience of students from all years of the undergraduate physical therapy course. Materials and Methods Cross-sectional research with 137 students from four years of the physical therapy course. The Scale of Satisfaction with Academic Experience was used, which contains 35 questions and is divided into three dimensions. Results The 1st-year students were the most satisfied (121.43 ± 18.68), followed by the 3rd-year (118.97 ± 25.37), then the 2nd (118.50 ± 28.28) and 4th-year students (103.02 ± 28.66). Conclusion The results were consistent with the literature regarding the limited experience of 1st-year students within the institution, which influences their evaluation, as it shows an incipient interaction with problems that permeate the course. On the other hand, the 4th-year students showed a more critical view due to the expectations of the fight for a place in the labor market

Ability to follow drug treatment with calcium and vitamin D in postmenopausal women with reduced bone mass

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of women with reduced bone mass to follow calcium/vitamin D treatment in relation to prescribed regimen, dose, indication, mode of intake, and the associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women taking medication after bone mineral density diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis was conducted using the MedTake questionnaire. A total of 186 patients attending a menopause clinic were studied. Sociodemographic characteristics, history of comorbid conditions, concomitant use of medication, length of medication use, and ability to follow treatment in relation to prescribed regimen, dose, indication, and mode of ingestion were assessed. Results: The mean (SD) age of the women analyzed was 61.6 (8.21) years. The mean time since menopause was 16.8 years. Most women reported having difficulty reading, and 79% were white. The ability to follow treatment, evaluated using MedTake, was lower than 60% in most women. Taking the wrong dose was the most frequent error. The only factor associated with inadequate treatment was the use of concomitant medication (odds ratio, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.06-5.08). Conclusions: The ability to follow adjuvant calcium and vitamin D treatment for decreased bone mass is low and associated with concomitant use of medication.19998999

Multimorbidity and associated factors in Brazilian women aged 40 to 65 years: a population-based study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of multimorbidity and associated factors in Brazilian women aged 40 to 65 years with 11 or more years of school education. Methods: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional population-based study was conducted using an anonymous self-report questionnaire completed by 377 women. The number of reported morbid conditions was evaluated (depression, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, urinary incontinence, and insomnia) and classified as none or one and two or more morbid conditions. The sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and reproductive factors associated with these conditions were also assessed. The X-2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis with stepwise selection criteria were used to select the major factors associated with morbid conditions, with a significance level set at 5%. Results: Insomnia was reported by 38.5%, depression by 31%, hypertension by 28.4%, urinary incontinence by 23.2%, and diabetes by 6.3% of the participants. In this sample, 28.9% did not report any morbid conditions, 31.8% reported one morbid condition, and 39.3% reported two or more morbid conditions. On logistic regression analysis, the increased likelihood of having two or more morbid conditions was associated with bad/fair self-perception of health (increased 5.1 times; 95% CI, 1.85-14.1), nonperformance of physical activity (increased by 2.7 times; 95% CI, 1.08-6.81), obesity (increased by 30.3 times; 95% CI, 3.17-250), postmenopause (increased by 4.4 times; 95% CI, 1.57-12.11), and nervousness (increased by 3.8 times; 95% CI, 1.45-9.8). Conclusions: A worse self-perception of health, sedentariness, obesity, nervousness, and being postmenopausal were associated with multimorbidity.195569575Sao Paulo Foundation [04/10524-8]Sao Paulo Foundation [04/10524-8

The Prevalence of the Components of Low Sexual Function and Associated Factors in Middle-Aged Women

Introduction. Female sexual function depends on biological, psychological, and sociocultural contexts. Aim. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of low levels of functioning in each of the sexual function domains (desire, arousal, and orgasm) and the factors associated with these phenomena, as well as to assess the frequency of sexual activity in this same sample population. Methods. A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted using an anonymous self-response questionnaire completed by 378 Brazilian-born women of 40-65 years of age with 11 years or more of formal education. The evaluation instrument was based on the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire. Results. The prevalence of low sexual desire was 60.6%; low arousal, 37%; and low orgasmic function, 31.1%. Multiple regression analysis showed that having a sexual partner (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.69, confidence interval [CI] = 0.53-0.90) and nervousness (PR = 1.33, CI = 1.01-1.75) were factors associated with low sexual desire. Aging (PR = 1.04, CI = 1.02-1.06), having a sexual partner (PR = 0.57, CI = 0.41-0.81), feeling well/excellent (PR = 0.59, CI = 0.41-0.85), and having hot flashes (PR = 1.47, CI = 1.01 = 2.15) were factors found to be associated with low sexual arousal. Having a sexual partner (PR = 0.55, CI = 0.42-0.71), feeling well/excellent (PR = 0.68, CI = 0.49-0.94), and having hot flashes (PR = 2.08, CI = 1.43 = 3.04) were factors found to be associated with low sexual orgasmic function. Having a sexual partner (PR = 0.47, CI = 0.38-0.58), feeling well/excellent (PR = 0.78, CI = 0.69-0.89), and having hot flashes (PR = 1.15, CI = 1.05-1.26) were factors found to be associated with a frequency of sexual activity of once a week or less. Conclusions. In this sample of middle-aged women, low sexual desire was the most prevalent sexual problem. These results highlight the importance of identifying and treating factors associated with each individual component of low female sexual function. Valadares ALR, Pinto-Neto AM, de Souza MH, Osis MJD, and da Costa Paiva LHS. The prevalence of the components of low sexual function and associated factors in middle-aged women. J Sex Med 2011; 8: 2851-2858.8102851285

Aging, obesity, and multimorbidity in women 50 years or older: a population-based study

Objective: This study aims to evaluate multimorbidity and its associated factors in Brazilian women aged 50 years or older. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study using self-reports. A total of 622 women aged 50 years or older were included. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more of the following morbidities: hypertension, osteoarthritis, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, glaucoma, chronic bronchitis or asthma, urinary incontinence, cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, and pulmonary emphysema. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors were evaluated. Data were analyzed using chi(2) test and Fisher's exact test, and Poisson multiple regression analysis was performed. Prevalence ratios and their 95% CIs were calculated. Results: In this sample, 15.8% of participants reported no morbidities, whereas 26% reported having one morbid condition and 58.2% reported multimorbidity. With respect to morbidities, 55.9% of women reported having hypertension, 33.8% reported having osteoarthritis, 24.5% reported having cataracts, 22.7% reported having diabetes, 21.3% reported having osteoporosis, 9.9% reported having glaucoma, 9.2% reported having bronchitis, 8.9% reported having urinary incontinence, and 6.8% reported having cancer, whereas 4.8% reported having had a myocardial infarction, 2.7% reported having had a stroke, and 1.8% reported having pulmonary emphysema. Multiple regression analysis showed that for each additional year of life, women increased their likelihood of multimorbidity by 3% (95% CI, 1.02-1.04). Furthermore, for each point increase (kg/m(2)) in their body mass index, women also increased their likelihood of multimorbidity by 3% (95% CI, 1.02-1.04). Conclusions: Multimorbidity is principally associated with aging and obesity.208818824Sao Paulo Foundation for the Support of Research [2010/15867-1]Sao Paulo Foundation for the Support of Research [2010/15867-1