Patricia Rico Mena

Ms. Patricia Rico Mena

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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9 April 2023 in Children
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PMPatricia Rico Mena
Patricia Rico Mena
JGJavier Güeita-Rodriguez
Javier Güeita-Rodriguez
RARicardo Martino Alba
Ricardo Martino Alba
MCMarina Castel-Sánchez
Marina Castel-Sánchez
DPDomingo Palacios-Ceña
Domingo Palacios-Ceña
The healthcare providers caring for children with life-threatening illnesses experience considerable compassion fatigue. The purpose of this study was to describe the feelings and emotions of professionals working in an interdisciplinary pediatric palliative home care team. A qualitative case study was conducted, comprising 18 participants. A purposeful sampling technique approach was used including the home-based interdisciplinary pediatric palliative team. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and researchers’ field notes. A thematic analysis was performed. Two themes emerged: (a) changing life for the better, which described how professionals value life more and helping children and families provides compassion satisfaction, which is comforting and explains their dedication to care; (b) adverse effects of work highlighted the emotional burden of caring for children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses, which can affect their job satisfaction and may lead to burnout, showing how experiencing in-hospital child deaths with suffering leads professionals to develop an interest in specializing in pediatric palliative care. Our study provides information on possible causes of emotional distress in professionals caring for children with life-threatening illnesses and highlights strategies that can help them to reduce their distress.

10 November 2024 in Children
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CECarlota Beatriz Esteban-Gavilán
Carlota Beatriz Esteban-Gavilán
PMPatricia Rico Mena
Patricia Rico Mena
JGJavier Güeita-Rodriguez
Javier Güeita-Rodriguez
VLVíctor Navarro López
Víctor Navarro López
RRRaúl Escudero Romero
Raúl Escudero Romero
Objective: This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy techniques in oxygenation, chest X-ray findings, and lung auscultation in paediatric patients aged 0 to 18 years diagnosed with atelectasis. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Results: Eight randomised clinical trials were included, involving 430 children ranging from 35 weeks of gestational age to 14 years. These trials evaluated various respiratory physiotherapy techniques and their effects on oxygenation and chest radiograph outcomes. The methodological quality of the studies ranged from acceptable to good, according to the PEDro scale. Conclusions: Recent evidence indicates that respiratory physiotherapy is effective and safe in the paediatric population with atelectasis. Both manual and instrumental techniques demonstrated efficacy, with instrumental techniques showing superior outcomes in many cases.

15 January 2026 in Children
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JLJavier López-Ruiz
Javier López-Ruiz
MGMaria-Jose Gimenez
Maria-Jose Gimenez
MCMarina Castel-Sánchez
Marina Castel-Sánchez
PMPatricia Rico Mena
Patricia Rico Mena
ALAna Mallo López
Ana Mallo López
PMPatricia Martín-Casas
Patricia Martín-Casas
Background/Objectives: To analyze the parent-perceived quality of life (QoL) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to study the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical factors and this perception, under the perspective of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 95 participants (ages 5–19 years) with CP. Participants’ parents were asked about sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and compiled Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life (CP-QoL) and Pediatric Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT). Participants were assessed and classified into the following functional domains: gross motor function (GMFM-88, GMFCS), manual ability (MACS), eating and drinking abilities (EDACS), and communication function (CFCS). Correlations between CP-QoL domains and variables were investigated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and multivariate predictive models were used to investigate the variables predicting CP-QoL scores for each domain. Results: A total of 95 children with a mean age of 12.4 ± 3.5 years (range 5–19 years) were included. Participants demonstrated moderate-high GMFM-88 level (228.8 ± 44.7) and high functional performance across PEDI-CAT domains: Activity (57.2 ± 5.1), Mobility (63.1 ± 5.6), and Social/Cognitive (70.2 ± 4.3). Parent-perceived QoL was significantly higher when children did not require AFOs, botulinum toxin, or recent hospitalizations, and lower among children who attended physical therapy >2 h/week. Moderate correlations were consistently found between the ‘Feelings about Functioning’ domain and functional variables, being positive for GMFM-88 and all PEDI-CAT domains, and negative for GMFCS, MACS, EDACS and CFCS. That domain of CP-QoL was best explained by the regression model (R2 = 0.619, p < 0.001), with the combination of three variables: GMFM-88, PEDI-CAT Activity and PEDI-CAT Social/Cognitive. Among them, PEDI-CAT Activity was the strongest predictor (β = 0.1436). Conclusions: In children with CP, to enhance family well-being, interventions should prioritize social participation and carefully balance the intensity and frequency of therapy against family burden and daily life demands, as QoL is primarily driven by manual ability and functional performance.