Emotional intelligence (EI) and assertiveness are key abilities for physiotherapists. Clinical placements seem to affect students’ development of EI and assertiveness, and their construction of the professional role. This study aims to compare the EI of physiotherapy students with students from other health professions and explore the evolution of EI and assertiveness in physiotherapy students throughout their university education, focusing on the influence of clinical practice. Students (N = 753) completed a self-administered questionnaire to measure emotional intelligence (TMMS 24), assertiveness (CSES), and sociodemographic variables. EI levels were adequate and very similar across the three disciplines. Regarding assertiveness, physiotherapy students in year 4 obtained significantly higher levels than students in years 1, 2, and 3. Significant correlations (rs (207) = 0.35, p < .001) were found between assertiveness and the number of modules of clinical practice. This study contributes with further evidence on the improvement of assertiveness in physiotherapy students through their university education and, in particular, with clinical placements. Practical implications highlight the importance of training in EI and assertiveness during university, coupled with clinical placements, in order to prepare for an effective and satisfactory professional life.

Physical and psychological demands from gymnastics increase the occurrence of injuries and pain among athletes, whose consequent level of catastrophizing could affect rehabilitation and performance. Although the characteristics of each gymnastics discipline may be key factors, they remain unclear. This study aimed to describe injuries, pain, and catastrophizing levels of gymnasts, according to their discipline and training characteristics. A total of 160 gymnasts fulfilled an online survey at the end of the 2021 season. Eighty gymnasts sustained 106 injuries (mainly ankle), and 128 had current pain (mainly low back). Although results were similar among disciplines, rhythmic gymnasts had a higher prevalence of low back pain (p = 0.003) and artistic wrist pain (p = 0.011). Gymnasts who sustained an injury displayed higher hours of training (p = 0.026), and those with current pain had more sports experience (p = 0.001) and age (p < 0.001). A higher catastrophizing level was observed in injured gymnasts and correlated with pain level (p < 0.001). No other differences were found (p > 0.05). Pain and injury prevalence is extremely high among gymnasts, being specific to the gymnastics discipline and increasing catastrophizing experience. Hours of training, age, and sports experience are key related factors, regardless of discipline.

Background: In nurses, self-compassion mitigates the effects of stress, burnout and compassion fatigue, and enhances empathy, compassion and well-being and quality of life. The Self-Compassion Scale is the most-used instrument. The aim of this study is to validate the Spanish version of the new developed State Self-Compassion Scale–Long (SSCS–L). Methods: Students of the first year of the Nursing Degree were surveyed online. Together with the SSCS–L, their levels of positive and negative affect was reported. Analyses included descriptive statistics, competitive confirmatory factor analysis, evidence on criterion-related validity and estimates of reliability. Results: The best fitting model for the SSCS–L was the one hypothesizing six-correlated factors of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, self-judgement, isolation, and over-identification. Positive relations between the positive dimensions of self-compassion and positive affect were found, whereas there were negative relations between the positive poles of self-compassion and negative affect. Estimates of reliability were adequate, except for the dimension of over-identification. Conclusions: Self-compassion has become a key competency for nurses. The SSCS–L is an appropriate tool to allow an adequate assessment of self-compassion in experimental contexts.

Pain assessment is difficult in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). This is of particular relevance in children with communication difficulties, when non-verbal pain behaviors could be essential for appropriate pain recognition. Parents are considered good proxies in the recognition of pain in their children; however, health professionals also need a good understanding of their patients’ pain experience. This study aims at analyzing the agreement between parents’ and physiotherapists’ assessments of verbal and non-verbal pain behaviors in individuals with CP. A written survey about pain characteristics and non-verbal pain expression of 96 persons with CP (45 classified as communicative, and 51 as non-communicative individuals) was performed. Parents and physiotherapists displayed a high agreement in their estimations of the presence of chronic pain, healthcare seeking, pain intensity and pain interference, as well as in non-verbal pain behaviors. Physiotherapists and parents can recognize pain behaviors in individuals with CP regardless of communication disabilities.