This study used a multimodal approach to address the issue of obesity among individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 30 and 40 residing in a rural region of north-east Spain. A pretest–posttest model was employed in a clinical trial design, comparing an intervention group with a control group. The intervention, which lasted for a period of nine months, was based on three main strategies: the prescription of physical activity, the promotion of healthy nutritional habits, and the management of emotional wellbeing through Positive Mental Health (PMH). A variety of assessment tools were employed, including the CLASS-AF scale and a stress test for physical activity levels; advanced anthropometry and blood analysis for metabolic and body composition variables; a Mediterranean diet adherence questionnaire for nutritional habits; and a PMH multifactorial questionnaire for the assessment of emotional management. The results revealed significant improvements in the level of physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in favor of the intervention group, where 89.4% (n = 17) of the participants went from being not very active/sedentary to being active. Also, adherence to the Mediterranean diet improved with a mean increase of 2.2 points on the scale [mean: 10.5 (CI 95%: 9.90, 11.09)]. In addition, significant reductions in body fat [mean: −2.50 kg (CI 95%: −3.56, −1.44)] and free fat mass [mean: −3.38% (IC 95%: −4.34, −2.41), along with decreased cholesterol levels (196 vs. 182 mg/dL), were observed, suggesting a decrease in cardiovascular and metabolic risk. In conclusion, this multimodal intervention was effective at improving the lifestyle of people with obesity and reducing their cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The combination of interventions focused on physical activity, diet, Positive Mental Health, and metabolic changes and were perceived as a comprehensive and complementary strategy in obesity care. These findings highlight the importance of approaching this condition from multiple perspectives to ensure optimal health outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are confronted with complex clinical situations that impact their physical condition and psychological well-being. Psycho-emotional disorders such as pain, anxiety and post-traumatic stress are highly prevalent in this context, significantly affecting both the patient’s experience and the quality of care provided. Effective communication can help manage patients’ psycho-emotional states and prevent post-ICU disorders. To evaluate the effectiveness of the CONECTEM communicative intervention in improving the psycho-emotional well-being of critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit, regarding pain, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Methods: A quasi-experimental study employed a pre–post-test design with both a control group and an intervention group. The study was conducted in two ICUs in a tertiary Hospital in Spain. A total of 111 critically ill patients and 180 nurse–patient interactions were included according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Interactions were classified according to the level of the patient’s consciousness into three groups: G1 (Glasgow 15), G2 (Glasgow 14–9), and G3 (Glasgow < 9). Depending on the patient’s communication difficulties, nurses selected one of three communication strategies of the CONECTEM intervention (AAC low teach, pictograms, magnetic board, and musicotherapy). Pain was assessed using the VAS or BPS scale, anxiety using the STAI, and symptoms of PTSD using the IES-R. The RASS scale was utilized to evaluate the degree of sedation and agitation in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Data analysis was performed using repeated ANOVA measures for the pre–post-test, as well as Pearson’s correlation test and Mann–Whitney U or Kruskal–Wallis statistical tests. Results: The results showed pre–post differences consistent with pain after the intervention in patients with Glasgow scores of 15 (p < 0.001) and 14–9 (p < 0.001) and in anxiety (p = 0.010), reducing this symptom by 50% pre-test vs. 26.7% post-test. Patients in the intervention group with levels of consciousness (Glasgow 15–9) tended to decrease their post-traumatic stress symptoms, with reductions in the mean IES scale patients with a Glasgow score of 15 [24.7 (±15.20) vs. 22.5 (±14.11)] and for patients with a Glasgow score of 14–9 [(Glasgow 14–9) [30.2 (±13.56) 27.9 (±11.14)], though this was not significant. Given that patients with a Glasgow score below 9 were deeply sedated (RASS-4), no pre–post-test differences were observed in relation to agitation levels. Conclusions: The CONECTEM communication intervention outcomes differed between pre- and post-intervention assessments in patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15–9 regarding pain. These findings are consistent with a potential benefit of the CONECTEM communication intervention, although further studies using designs that allow for stronger causal inference are needed to assess its impact on the psycho-emotional well-being of critically ill patients.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has shown the vulnerability of some population groups, including persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The present paper will provide more clarity and understanding of the experiences of family members of persons with IDD housed in residential facilities in Catalonia within the period of maximum restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interpretive phenomenological qualitative approach. Study participants consisted of 14 relatives of IDD individuals who were institutionalized in residence facilities or homes. The guiding questions emerged from group discussions with relatives of those with IDD who did not participate in the subsequent interviews. Drawing from this group, the factors that were identified to have had the greatest impact on their lives were later used to guide the interviews. Data collection was carried out in face-to-face individual interviews that were recorded together with the observations of two researchers between February and October 2022. Our analysis identified 4 main themes that developed into additional factors: the decision to stay at home or in the residence, fear, illness, and protocol. Individuals with IDD lost their daily routines, suffered from social isolation, and did not understand the situation. The results of this study allow for a better understanding of the experiences of families of persons with IDD in residential centres during the lockdown by identifying their needs and how to better support them in the future. Knowledge and understanding of these events should allow for better management of similar situations in the future.

Communication is the key to understanding the emotional vulnerability of patients in critical condition. A sudden change in health experienced by these individuals due to an accident or illness can lead to serious psycho-emotional outcomes. Main objective: To conduct and evaluate an augmentative alternative communication training program (CONCETEM) for pre-hospital nurses and determine its utility and the satisfaction of the nurses. Methods: The study has an observational-descriptive design. The sample was 12 pre-hospital nurses selected by inclusion criteria. Post-training evaluation was conducted by the research team to learn whether nurses could perform the communicative intervention. Results: 100% of the nurses who underwent CONECTEM training were prepared to implement communicative intervention in the ambulance. 60% of the nurses considered that the training was very useful for improving the quality of care for critically ill patients transferred by ambulance. The nurses’ satisfaction with the communication training was ‘very good’ for 42.4% and ‘good’ for 58.3%. Conclusions: The results support the importance of Augmentative Alternative Communication training to improve outcomes in critically ill patients and reveal that nurses feel that more training is needed. La comunicación es la clave para comprender la vulnerabilidad emocional de los pacientes en estado crítico. Un cambio repentino en la salud, experimentado por estas personas debido a un accidente o enfermedad, puede causar un efecto psicoemocional como la ansiedad o el estrés postraumático. Objetivo principal: Evaluar un programa de formación en técnicas de comunicación básica y asistida (CONECTEM) para enfermeras pre-hospitalarias y conocer la utilidad y la satisfacción percibida del programa de formación. Métodos: El estudio presenta un diseño observacional-descriptivo cuasi experimental. La muestra fue de 12 enfermeras pre-hospitalarias seleccionadas según los criterios de inclusión. Se realizó un test post formación para evaluar los conocimientos adquiridos de las enfermeras. Resultados: El 100% de las enfermeras que realizaron el entrenamiento en CONECTEM fueron aptas para implementar la intervención comunicativa en la ambulancia. El 60% de las enfermeras consideró que la formación fue muy útil para mejorar la calidad de la atención en los pacientes críticos trasladados en ambulancia. La satisfacción percibida por las enfermeras de la formación CONECTEM, fue muy buena en un 42,4% y buenas, en un 58,3%. Conclusiones: Los resultados respaldan la importancia de la formación en técnicas de comunicación asistida y alternativa (CAA) para mejorar las curas integrales al paciente crítico y ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de formación en comunicación de las enfermeras de pre-hospitalaria.

Gender-based violence in dating relationships is a multifaceted issue that encompasses diverse forms. In university settings, high prevalence rates have been reported, with psychological violence being the most common. New forms of digital violence, such as cyberbullying, control through social media, and digital aesthetic pressure, further complicate the phenomenon. Purpose: This study aimed to explore Health Sciences students’ perceptions of gender-based violence in dating relationships to identify key dimensions for understanding and intervention. Methods: A qualitative design was employed using focus groups with ten participants, analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Four main themes emerged: characteristics of gender-based violence in dating relationships, types of violence identified, aesthetic pressure within affective relationships, and strategies for detecting and responding to violence. Conclusions: Findings emphasize the importance of incorporating students’ voices into prevention strategies and propose educational interventions that address both offline and online dynamics of gender-based violence in dating relationships.

Background: The climacteric is a stage in women's lives that, even today, remains taboo in many regions of the world where social contexts are otherwise highly advanced. Although women's experiences have generated growing interest there is still a need for greater understanding. Learning about and studying the experiences and needs that determine women's emotional well-being during the various stages of the climacteric provides a knowledge base that allows future research to design evidence-based, high-quality health promotion and intervention programs aimed, from a holistic perspective, at fostering well-being during this stage of life. In this sense, a project was proposed to explore these experiences and needs and to co-create a Decalogue for Positive Mental Health during the climacteric. Methods: A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was conducted. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and two focus groups ( n = 12) between February and April 2025. The sample was recruited by convenience. Inclusion criteria were women currently experiencing the climacteric who were available to participate in the focus groups. All discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 25 through content analysis. Results: Three main categories emerged: symptoms, self-care, and aesthetic pressure. A total of 59 codes were identified, and sentiment analysis was conducted, showing predominantly neutral and negative results across the three categories. Conclusions: The modern lifestyle has transformed the profile of women experiencing the climacteric. Today, they are more aware of this stage and demand clear information and standardized protocols to better understand it. Furthermore, self-care and positive mental health have consolidated as key elements to navigate this transition period with well-being.