Sandra Rierola-Fochs

Ms. Sandra Rierola-Fochs

Research Group on Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O). Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare. University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (Uvic-UCC
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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PFPau Farrés-Godayol
Pau Farrés-Godayol
Javier Jerez RoigJavier Jerez Roig
Javier Jerez Roig
EMEduard Minobes-Molina
Eduard Minobes-Molina
MYMeltem Yildirim
Meltem Yildirim
MMMiriam Molas-Tuneu
Miriam Molas-Tuneu
MGMaria Giné-Garriga
Maria Giné-Garriga
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common geriatric syndrome affecting bladder health and is especially prevalent in nursing homes (NHs). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of UI and its associated factors in five Spanish NHs. UI (measured with Minimum Data Set 3.0), sociodemographic, and health-related variables were collected. Chi-square (or Fisher’s) or Student’s t-test (or Mann Whitney U) for bivariate analysis were used, with Prevalence Ratio (PR) as an association measure. The prevalence of UI was 66.1% (CI:95%, 53.6–77.2) in incontinent (n = 45, mean age 84.04, SD = 7.7) and continent (n = 23, mean age 83.00, SD = 7.7) groups. UI was significantly associated with frailty (PR = 1.84; 95%CI 0.96–3.53), faecal incontinence (PR = 1.65; 95%CI 1.02–2.65), anxiety (PR = 1.64; 95%CI 1.01–2.66), physical performance (PR = 1.77; 95%CI 1.00–3.11), and cognitive state (PR = 1.95; 95%CI 1.05–3.60). Statistically significant differences were found between incontinent and continent NH residents for limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), mobility, quality of life, sedentary behaviour, and handgrip strength. It can be concluded that two out of three of the residents experienced UI, and significant associated factors were mainly physical (sedentary behaviour, frailty, physical performance, ADL limitations, mobility, faecal incontinence, and handgrip strength) followed by psycho-cognitive factors (cognition, anxiety, and quality of life).

20 April 2021 in BMJ Open
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PFPau Farrés-Godayol
Pau Farrés-Godayol
Javier Jerez RoigJavier Jerez Roig
Javier Jerez Roig
EMEduard Minobes-Molina
Eduard Minobes-Molina
MYMeltem Yildirim
Meltem Yildirim
EGEster Goutan-Roura
Ester Goutan-Roura
MGMaria Giné-Garriga
Maria Giné-Garriga
Introduction Several studies have shown that physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviour (SB) are independent risk factors for many health-related issues. However, there is scarce evidence supporting the relationship between SB and urinary incontinence (UI) in community-dwelling older adults, and no information on any possible association in institutionalised older adults. Stage I of this project has the main objective of determining the prevalence of UI and its associated factors in nursing home (NH) residents, as well as analysing the association between UI (and its types) and SB. Stage II aims to investigate the incidence and predictive factors of functional and continence decline, falls, hospitalisations, mortality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among NH residents. Methods and analysis Stage I is an observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study with mixed methodology that aims to explore the current status of several health-related outcomes in NH residents of Osona (Barcelona, Spain). The prevalence ratio will be used as an association measure and multivariate analysis will be undertaken using Poisson regression with robust variance. Stage II is a 2-year longitudinal study that aims to analyse functional and continence decline, incidence of falls, hospitalisations, mortality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these outcomes. A survival analysis using the actuarial method for functional decline and continence, evaluated every 6 months, and the Kaplan-Meier method for falls, hospitalisations and deaths, and Cox regression for multivariate analysis will be undertaken. Ethics and dissemination The study received the following approvals: University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia Ethics and Research Committee (92/2019 and 109/2020), Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Osona Foundation for Health Research and Education (FORES) (code 2020118/PR249). Study results will be disseminated at conferences, meetings and through peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number NCT04297904.

SRSandra Rierola-Fochs
Sandra Rierola-Fochs
Luz Adriana Varela VásquezLuz Adriana Varela Vásquez
Luz Adriana Varela Vásquez
JMJose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
Jose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
EMEduard Minobes-Molina
Eduard Minobes-Molina
Background: Phantom limb pain can be defined as discomfort or pain in a missing part of the limb. The aims of this study were to develop and validate, through a Delphi methodology, a graded motor imagery protocol in order to reduce phantom limb pain. Method: Physiotherapists and/or occupational therapists with experience in research and a minimum clinical experience of five years in the field of neurorehabilitation and/or pain were recruited by part of a group of experts to assess the intervention. The study was conducted through an online questionnaire, where experts assessed each aspect of the intervention through a Likert scale. As many rounds as necessary were carried out until consensus was reached among experts. Results: A total of two rounds were required to fully validate the intervention. During the second round, the relative interquartile range of all aspects to be assessed was less than 15%, thus showing a consensus among experts and with good concordance (Kappa index of 0.76). Conclusion: Experts validated a graded motor imagery intervention of phantom limb pain in patients with amputations (GraMi protocol). This intervention can help to homogenize the use of graded motor imagery in future studies and in clinical practice.

20 October 2023 in Prosthetics and Orthotics International
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Journal Article
Closed access
SRSandra Rierola-Fochs
Sandra Rierola-Fochs
MOMirari Ochandorena-Acha
Mirari Ochandorena-Acha
JMJose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
Jose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
EMEduard Minobes-Molina
Eduard Minobes-Molina
Background: Phantom limb pain (PLP) can be defined as pain in a missing part of the limb. It is reported in 50%–80% of people with amputation. Objectives: To provide an overview of the effectiveness of graded motor imagery (GMI) and the techniques which form it on PLP in amputees. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: Two authors independently selected relevant studies, screened the articles for methodological validity and risk of bias, and extracted the data. Inclusion criteria used were clinical studies, written in English or Spanish, using GMI, laterality recognition, motor imagery, mirror therapy, or a combination of some of them as an intervention in amputated patients, and one of the outcomes was PLP, and it was assessed using a validated scale. The databases used were PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PEDro. Results: Fifteen studies were included in the review. After the intervention, all the groups in which the GMI or one of the techniques that comprise it was used showed decrease in PLP. Conclusion: The 3 GMI techniques showed effectiveness in decreasing PLP in amputees, although it should be noted that the application of the GMI showed better results.

12 December 2024 in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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MTMarc Terradas-Monllor
Marc Terradas-Monllor
SRSandra Rierola-Fochs
Sandra Rierola-Fochs
JMJose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
Jose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
CMCarles Parés Martínez
Carles Parés Martínez
CFCristina Font-Jutglà
Cristina Font-Jutglà
MOMirari Ochandorena-Acha
Mirari Ochandorena-Acha
Introduction: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) treats osteoarthritis in one knee compartment, while total knee arthroplasty (TKA) addresses all compartments. The debate focuses on UKA's advantages of quicker recovery and fewer complications versus TKA's lower long-term revision rates, emphasizing the need for thorough outcome evaluations. The aim of the present study is to describe and compare the pain, functional and psychological trajectories during a 6-month postoperative rehabilitation period between total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. Materials and Methods: 115 participants who had undergone either TKA or UKA were recruited. Outcome measurements were performed at 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks post-surgery. Measurements included pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), range of motion, walking speed (4 m walking test), physical performance (30-s chair stand test), health functioning (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index), pain catastrophizing (pain catastrophizing scale), fear of movement (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). A mixed-effects model was used to estimate the influence of type of surgery (either unicompartmental or total knee arthroplasty) to pain, function, and psychological trajectories. Results: Both TKA and UKA groups showed significant improvements across the six-month rehabilitation period except for anxiety symptoms in the TKA group, and fear of movement and depression in the UKA group. Between group analysis revealed that in the acute phase UKA patients showed improved range of motion and TKA patients displayed faster walking speed but higher fear of movement. Overall, the type of surgery does not significantly influence the overall rehabilitation pain, functional and psychological trajectories. Conclusions: Despite differences in the acute phase, there are no differences in pain, functional and psychological trajectories throughout the six-month rehabilitation period. These results should be acknowledged to better inform patients and to improve patient education during the perioperative period. Trial registration number: NCT03378440 (2017-12-18), retrospectively registered. Level of evidence: Level II.

27 January 2022 in Preprints.org
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MMMiriam Molas-Tuneu
Miriam Molas-Tuneu
Javier Jerez RoigJavier Jerez Roig
Javier Jerez Roig
EMEduard Minobes-Molina
Eduard Minobes-Molina
LCLaura Coll-Planas
Laura Coll-Planas
AEAnna Escribà-Salvans
Anna Escribà-Salvans
JNJordi Naudó-Molist
Jordi Naudó-Molist
(1) Background: Loneliness, little studied in Nursing Homes (NHs), can affect physical and mental health. We aimed to verify the prevalence of loneliness in 5 NHs and its associated factors. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional study. Older adults aged 65 or over with preserved cognitive status were included. The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale was used to assess overall, social, and emotional loneliness; sociodemographic and health-related variables were collected. The chi-square (or Fisher’s) test and logistic regression were used for bivariate and multivariate analysis respectively. (3) Results: The final sample consisted of 65 participants (81.5% female) with a mean age of 84±7.13. Prevalence of overall loneliness was 70.7% (95%CI:58.2-81.4), social loneliness 44.6% (95% CI: 33.1-56.6) and emotional loneliness 46.2% (95% CI: 34.5–58.1). Overall loneliness was associated with lower perceived quality of life (Odds Ratio-OR= 5.52, 95% CI:1.25-24.38) and NH with state subsidized places (OR=0.19, 95% CI: 0.05-0.74); social loneliness with having 0-1 children (OR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.08-0.77), and emotional loneliness with depression (OR=4.54, 95% CI: 1.28-16.08) and urinary incontinence (UI) (OR=4.65, 95% CI: 1.23-17.52). (4) Conclusions: Loneliness was present in almost 71% of residents and was associated with the type of NH and poorer quality of life, emotional loneliness with depression and UI and social loneliness with having less than 2 children.