Introduction: Population aging increases the risk of dependency among older adults, which in turn necessitates care, primarily provided by family caregivers. This situation leads to physical and emotional strain on these caregivers. New technologies, such as tele-education, digital platforms, or mobile applications, can offer an accessible and equitable alternative for caregiver training and self-care support. Objective: The objective of this review is to analyze interventions targeted at family caregivers, both for their own self-care and for the care of dependent individuals, using new technologies. Design: A scoping review was conducted, including a total of thirty-two articles extracted from three databases: CINAHL, Scopus, and PubMed. Articles in any language were included, with no fixed time limit, while articles with samples that included family caregivers of oncology patients were excluded. Results: Most of the interventions were conducted via videoconference, showing outcomes that indicated a reduction in depressive symptoms among family caregivers. Conclusions: The implementation of new technologies for the development of interventions presents a viable alternative to in-person sessions. These technologies have shown positive results, while also helping to overcome time and geographical barriers imposed by caregiving responsibilities.

Functional rating scales allow clinicians to document and quantify alterations and progression of recovery processes. There is neither awareness of numerous knee scales nor are they easy to find or compare to select the most suitable. We aimed to compile validated knee functional rating tools and analyze the methodological quality of their validation studies. Also, we aimed to provide an operational document of the outcome measures addressing descriptions of parameters, implementations, instructions, interpretations and languages, to identify the most appropriate for future interventions. A systematic review involved a search of PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, and Dialnet databases from inception through September 2020. The main inclusion criteria were available functional rating scales/questionnaires/indexes for knees and validation studies. Methodological quality was analyzed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) and COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments Risk of Bias (COSMIN-RB). We selected 73 studies. The studies investigated 41 knee rating tools (general, 46%, and specific, 54%) and 71 validations, including 29,742 individuals with knee disorders. QUADAS-2 obtained the best results in patient selection and index test (applicability section). COSMIN-RB showed the highest quality in construct validity (most analyzed metric property). The specific tools were mainly designed for prosthesis and patellofemoral and anterior cruciate ligament injuries. More considered issues were specific function (93%), especially gait, pain/sensitivity (81%), and physical activity/sports (56%). We conducted a necessary, useful, unlimited-by-time and feasible compilation of validated tools for assessing knee functional recovery. The methodological quality of the validations was limited. The best validations were for the Copenhagen Knee Range of Motion Scale in osteoarthritis and arthroplasties, Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living and Lysholm Knee Score for general knee disorders and the Tegner Activity Score for anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The operational document for the scales provides necessary data to identify the most appropriate.

The objective of this review was to compile validated functional shoulder assessment tools and analyse the methodological quality of their validations. Secondarily, we aimed to provide a comparison of the tools, including parameter descriptions, indications/applications, languages and operating instructions, to choose the most suitable for future clinical and research approaches. A systematic review (PRISMA) was conducted using: PubMed, WoS Scopus, CINHAL, Dialnet and reference lists until 2020. The main criteria for inclusion were that papers were original studies of validated tools or validation studies. Pre-established tables showed tools, validations, items/components, etc. The QUADAS-2 and COSMIN-RB were used to assess the methodological quality of validations. Ultimately, 85 studies were selected, 32 tools and 111 validations. Risk of bias scored lower than applicability, and patient selection got the best scores (QUADAS-2). Internal consistency had the highest quality and PROMs development the lowest (COSMIN-RB). Responsiveness was the most analysed metric property. Modified UCLA and SST obtained the highest quality in shoulder instability surgery, and SPADI in pain. The most approached topic was activities of daily living (81%). We compiled 32 validated functional shoulder assessment tools, and conducted an analysis of the methodological quality of 111 validations associated with them. Modified UCLA and SST showed the highest methodological quality in instability surgery and SPADI in pain.

Background: The number of women in the chemical industry has recently increased due to more women pursuing science careers. It is necessary, therefore, to analyze the emerging health risks for female workers in the chemical industry. This study examines the relationship between occupational health and sex/gender in the chemical industry, with a gender perspective. Methods: We present a scoping review ( n = 97). After removing duplicates and applying eligibility criteria, we selected 27 articles published in the last decade that explored the industry’s occupational risks. Findings: Most of the papers include predominantly male samples and describe adult populations, mainly from developed countries. The studies focus on various employment contexts of chemical industries. We identified health risks in oncology, dermatology, and the respiratory system, among others. We found that particular emphasis was given to the relationship between occupational exposure and cancer, especially breast cancer. Furthermore, we observed sex/gender differences in the prevalence of respiratory and dermatological disorders. These results highlight the need to consider specific sex/gender-based health risk factors in the chemical industry. Conclusions/Application to Practice: The chemical industry is considered a crucial health determinant, however, the studies focused on sex/gender-based differences without considering gender-specific physiology and work circumstances. Although some studies do mention sex/gender disparities, such as occupational rhinitis, which is more frequent in women, studies are scarce. The absence of a segregated analysis with a gender perspective could lead to the ignorance of emerging health risks for female workers, highlighting the urgent need to include a gender perspective in future research.

In this study, we explored the impact of caregiving on quality of life and health perceptions and outlined the profile of grandparent caregivers in Andalusia (Spain) in terms of a range of sociodemographic variables related to the care of their grandchildren. A sample of 171 participants (21.6% men) completed the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) questionnaire and another ad hoc one providing sociodemographic and caregiving data. We studied the relationships between these variables and HRQoL using ANOVA, chi-square and Multiple Linear Regression. We found a mainly female profile for the care of grandchildren and interesting relationships for the physical and mental components of HRQoL. Some relationships were marked by gender: caregiving for pleasure was more often the motive for men while by imposition was more common among women. We discuss the impact of caregiving on health according to the Self-Determination Theory and suggest practical implications derived from the main findings.

Objetivo principal: explorar las vivencias y sentimientos sobre el cuidado que manifiestan las personas cuidadoras a través de las metáforas, profundizando en las diferencias de género. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo a través de entrevistas semi-estructuradas. Participaron 24 informantes, 7 pacientes y 17 personas cuidadoras vinculadas a una red de apoyo socio familiar. Se llevó a cabo un análisis del contenido con el software Atlas-ti versión 7®. Resultados principales: Las metáforas expresadas a través de los sentimientos muestran sentimientos comunes en hombres y mujeres: el amor y la satisfacción. Se identificaron sentimientos exclusivos de mujeres, que beben de mandatos de género. Se observó que los hombres se están incorporando al cuidado. Conclusión principal: Las metáforas encontradas desvelan los significados que se atribuyen al cuidado. Las mujeres son conscientes del valor de cuidar, pero lo normalizan. Los hombres esperan reconocimiento social. Objective: to explore the experiences and feelings about care that caregiver’s manifest through experiential and emotional metaphors, with special focus on gender differences. Methods: Qualitative study through semi-structured interviews. 24 informants, 7 patients and 17 caregivers participated, linked to a social and family support network. A content analysis was carried out with Atlas-ti version 7® software. Results: The metaphors expressed through feelings show common feelings in men and women: love and satisfaction. Feelings exclusive to women were identified, that come from gender mandates. It was observed that men are joining care more and more. Conclusions: The metaphors found reveal the meanings attributed to care. Women are aware of the value of caring, but they normalize it. Men expect social recognition.