María Cristina Martínez Fernández

Dr. María Cristina Martínez Fernández

SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences Universit of Leon
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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24 July 2023 in BMC Women's Health
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PFPaula Fernández-Pérez
Paula Fernández-Pérez
RLRaquel Leirós-Rodríguez
Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez
MMMª Pilar Marqués-Sánchez
Mª Pilar Marqués-Sánchez
MFMaría Cristina Martínez Fernández
María Cristina Martínez Fernández
FCFernanda Oliveira de Carvalho
Fernanda Oliveira de Carvalho
LEONARDO Yung dos Santos MACIELLEONARDO Yung dos Santos MACIEL
LEONARDO Yung dos Santos MACIEL
Background: Dyspareunia is defined as the occurrence of pain during or after sexual intercourse, which directly affects physical, sexual, and mental health. This condition can lead to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem in women who experience it. Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions for the treatment of female dyspareunia. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Method: Search of publications was conducted in Scopus, Medline, Pubmed, Cinahl and Web of Science. Treatment effects were defined as standardized mean difference and their 95% confidence intervals. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Crohan's Q test and quantified using the I2 index. Results: Of the 19 articles selected, six applied multimodal physiotherapy treatments; five, electrotherapy; three, Thiele's massage; two, interdisciplinary interventions or pelvic floor muscle training; and one, extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The meta-analysis showed significant results for the variables pain and quality of life with the interventions based on electrotherapy and electrotherapy combined with pelvic floor muscle training. These interventions did not show significant results for the improvement of sexual function. Conclusions: Physiotherapy techniques are effective and procedures have been identified with reliable results in improving pain and quality of life in patients with dyspareunia. One of the most important aspects is the strengthening of the perineal musculature and the application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Furthermore, manual trigger point release therapy and Thiele massage, optimize and guarantee the reduction of pain intensity. Prospero registration: CRD42021236155.

24 January 2024 in Healthcare
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PLPaula López-Jardón
Paula López-Jardón
MFMaría Cristina Martínez Fernández
María Cristina Martínez Fernández
Rubén García-FernándezRubén García-Fernández
Rubén García-Fernández
Cristian MartínCristian Martín
Cristian Martín
RVRodrigo Verdeal-Dacal
Rodrigo Verdeal-Dacal
Intermediate care units (IMCUs) have become increasingly important in the care of critical and semi-critical patients, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is still no clear definition of their structural characteristics, specialties, types of patients, and the benefits they provide. The aim of this work is to describe the current state of implementation and operation of IMCUs in hospitals and patient care. To achieve this goal, a systematic review was conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL databases, along with a hand search. The research yielded 419 documents, of which 26 were included in this review after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results were highly diverse and were categorized based on the following topics: material resources, human resources, continuity of care, and patient benefits. Despite the different objectives outlined in the studies, all of them demonstrate the numerous benefits provided by an IMCU, along with the increased relevance of this type of unit in recent years. Therefore, this systematic review highlights the benefits of IMCUs in the care of critical patients, as well as the role of health workers in these units.

16 February 2022 in Intensive and Critical Care Nursing
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Elena Fernández-MartínezElena Fernández-Martínez
Elena Fernández-Martínez
EMEstefanía Afang Mapango
Estefanía Afang Mapango
MFMaría Cristina Martínez Fernández
María Cristina Martínez Fernández
VVVerónica Valle-Barrio
Verónica Valle-Barrio
To describe clinical practice interventions aimed at providing Family-Centred Care in intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA recommendations in various databases: PubMed, Cinahl, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were consulted, as well as within the grey literature found on the web pages of official organizations related to Intensive Care Medicine and Nursing. Adult intensive care unit. The search yielded 209 documents of which 24 were included in this review: eight qualitative studies, seven protocols and recommendations from official bodies, one mixed-method studies, five descriptive studies, one cross-sectional study, one pilot program and one literature review. A thematic analysis revealed four major themes: the use of communication systems, multidisciplinary interventions; the promotion of family engagement and family support. The results show different strategies that can be implemented in clinical practice to solve the difficulties encountered in Family-Centred Care in critical care units during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a great variety in the nature of the interventions developed, with the use of telecommunication systems in daily practice being the most repeated aspect. Future research should aim to assess whether the interventions implemented increase the quality of patient and family care by meeting their needs.

6 December 2019 in Sustainability
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Elena Fernández-MartínezElena Fernández-Martínez
Elena Fernández-Martínez
ALAna I López-Alonso
Ana I López-Alonso
Pilar Marques-SanchezPilar Marques-Sanchez
Pilar Marques-Sanchez
MFMaría Cristina Martínez Fernández
María Cristina Martínez Fernández
LVLeticia Sánchez Valdeón
Leticia Sánchez Valdeón
Cristina Liebana-PresaCristina Liebana-Presa
Cristina Liebana-Presa
It is important to consider university settings as sustainable environments that promote student well-being. Our aim in this study was to determine how the variables of engagement, emotional intelligence, sense of coherence, and coping influence the health of students at a Spanish university. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The instruments of measures administered were: The General Health Questionnaire, Trait Meta-Mood Scale, Uterch Work Engagement Scale, sense of coherence and brief coping scale to 463 students. The results showed that better-perceived health was associated with higher scores for dedication, vigor, clarity, repair, sense of coherence, active coping, positive reframing, and humor. Conversely, poorer perceived health was associated with higher scores for attention, instrumental support, self-distraction, venting, religion, denial, self-blaming, emotional support, and behavioral disengagement. In addition, the variables analyzed presented differences by sex. Our proposed predictive model of health and the associations between variables indicate the need to cultivate emotional skills, such as mood repair, a sense of coherence, and coping strategies, in order to promote student health. Facilitating students’ acquisition of knowledge and resources by analyzing these and other variables can contribute to individual well-being and help university students to cope with present and future academic challenges.

11 December 2020 in Frontiers in Psychology
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Cristina Liebana-PresaCristina Liebana-Presa
Cristina Liebana-Presa
MFMaría Cristina Martínez Fernández
María Cristina Martínez Fernández
José Alberto Benítez-AndradesJosé Alberto Benítez-Andrades
José Alberto Benítez-Andrades
Elena Fernández-MartínezElena Fernández-Martínez
Elena Fernández-Martínez
PMPilar Marqués-Sánchez
Pilar Marqués-Sánchez
IGIsaías García-Rodríguez
Isaías García-Rodríguez
The disease brought about by the SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 coronavirus has had an unprecedented global impact. Confinement to control the outbreak may have mental health consequences for the most vulnerable in the population, including adolescents. This study aims to describe and analyze the relationships between the stress variables, Emotional Intelligence and the intention to use cannabis in healthy adolescents, before and after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic containment stage. A comparative correlational study was carried out with validated self-completed questionnaires through an online platform. The sample is made up of adolescents (n = 300) aged 13–17 from two different schools in Ponferrada (León, Spain). The analysis of correlation and differences between the groups indicate that confinement has had effects on the mental health of the adolescents, specifically on the emotional manifestations of stress. Furthermore, significant gender differences were found for stress values and Emotional Intelligence. However, no differences have been found for cannabis use intention.

MFMaría Cristina Martínez Fernández
María Cristina Martínez Fernández
SCSara Castiñeiras-Martín
Sara Castiñeiras-Martín
Cristina Liebana-PresaCristina Liebana-Presa
Cristina Liebana-Presa
Elena Fernández-MartínezElena Fernández-Martínez
Elena Fernández-Martínez
Lisa GomesLisa Gomes
Lisa Gomes
Pilar Marques-SanchezPilar Marques-Sanchez
Pilar Marques-Sanchez
SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is a tool for standardizing and improving interprofessional communication. This study aims to explore the impact of SBAR in healthcare professionals’ wellbeing, through concepts such as job satisfaction, engagement, resilience, and job performance, in the internal medicine unit of a university hospital in the province of León (Spain). This is an observational, descriptive, longitudinal case study with a pre- and post-intervention approach. Questionnaires were distributed to a group of doctors, nurses, and healthcare assistants before and after the implementation of the SBAR tool in the ward. The use of SBAR was monitored to ensure staff compliance. Data statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program. Resilience levels increased significantly post-intervention. Job satisfaction and engagement levels remained neutral, slightly decreasing post-intervention. Besides’ being a useful tool to improve communication, SBAR was effective in improving resilience among staff. Several aspects related to hospital management may have had an impact on job satisfaction and engagement results.