Our findings suggest that QOL scores do not differ markedly between spouses. Since QOL seemed similarly affected in both men and women, consideration might be given to offering interventions to them as a dyad. These results are not in line with the previous non-paired studies, and further investigations are required to address this dissimilarity.

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The PaTH (University of Pittsburgh/UPMC, Penn State College of Medicine, Temple University Hospital, and Johns Hopkins University) clinical data research network initiative is a collaborative effort among four academic health centers in the Mid-Atlantic region. PaTH will provide robust infrastructure to conduct research, explore clinical outcomes, link with biospecimens, and improve methods for sharing and analyzing data across our diverse populations. Our disease foci are idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, atrial fibrillation, and obesity. The four network sites have extensive experience in using data from electronic health records and have devised robust methods for patient outreach and recruitment. The network will adopt best practices by using the open-source data-sharing tool, Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside (i2b2), at each site to enhance data sharing using centrally defined common data elements, and will use the Shared Health Research Information Network (SHRINE) for distributed queries across the network.

BackgroundInfertility is associated with impairment in human life. The quality of life (QOL) construct allows measuring the impact of health conditions in a broader way. The study aimed to explore the impact of the psychological distress on QOL's dimensions in men experiencing infertility.Methods162 men were completed a socio-demographic form, SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Hierarchical regressions included demographic and clinic variables, and subsequently depression and anxiety were added.Results and DiscussionModel 1 was not accurate in predicting QOL. R2 values ranged from 0.029 (Social Functioning) to 0.149 (Mental Health). Eight domains were not associated with any of the predictors. In the second model, a R2increase was observed in all domains. R2 of QOL scores ranged from .209 (Role Physical) to .406 (Social Functioning). The intensity of the depression was a significant predictor for all outcomes. The load of depression was higher than the ones of the socio-demographic and clinical variables. Anxiety levels have also presented the same effect, but with less intensity.ConclusionSubthreshold depression and anxiety were major predictors of QOL in men experiencing infertility. Health professionals need to include assessment of psychological symptomatology to plan more efficient interventions to infertile patients.

The scope of this study is to identify what empowerment strategies were addressed for the promotion of health in health research, characterizing them from a socio-critical and post-structuralist standpoint. It involved an Integrative Review conducted in May 2011 of the Medline, Lilacs and SciELO databases. The inclusion criteria were complete research articles, case reports or experience reports, published between 2002 and 2011 in Portuguese, Spanish and English. The research criteria included the key words "empowerment" and "health promotion" (DeCS/BIREME). Twenty articles, which presented strategies of individual and/or social empowerment that were characterized by a socio-critical perspective, were selected. It is considered that some activities, mainly those that included thematic discussion groups, represented a mobilization and empowerment strategy. These included theater, culture circles, community therapy, therapeutic learning workshops, home visits, university extension and social action projects. It is considered that all empowerment strategies are inherently health promotion strategies, but not all health promotion strategies effectively result in empowerment.

Objectives: To explore the perception of quality of life of elders from a health care district in Porto Alegre, RS, and to identify the most common dimensions of voice by the elders. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using the following open question: What quality of life means to you? Participants consisted of 260 elders who were residents of Porto Alegre, RS. N-Vivo 2.0 was used to conduct content analysis by observing the dimensions of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-100 and the module WHOQOL-OLD. Results:The majority of participants reported that quality of life was synonym of good health. The most common dimensions of quality of life were positive feelings, personal relationships, and access to food. Conclusion: The study's findings support that quality of life is a multidimensional construct that can be used to evaluated objectives and subjective parameters. Key Words: Quality of life; Aged; Health of the Elderly. RESUMOObjetivos: Conhecer a percepção de idosos de um distrito de saúde de Porto Alegre/RS sobre o significado de qualidade de vida e identificar quais as facetas de qualidade de vida foram mais referidas pelos idosos. Métodos: Estudo descritivo e transversal a partir de uma questão aberta: "O que significa QV para você?". Responderam a essa pergunta 260 idosos, moradores de Porto Alegre-RS. Foi realizada análise de conteúdo, com apoio do software NVivo 2.0, utilizando como categorias as facetas de QV propostas pela versão brasileira do instrumento WHOQOL-100 e módulo WHOQOL-OLD. Resultados: Para a maioria, QV significava ter Saúde. Em seguida, as categorias mais representativas foram: sentimentos positivos, relações pessoais e alimentação. Conclusões: Os achados reforçam a idéia de que QV é um conceito multidimensional, podendo ser analisada tanto por parâmetros objetivos como subjetivos. Descritores: Qualidade de Vida; Idoso; Saúde do idoso. RESUMENObjetivos: Conocer la percepción de ancianos de un distrito de salud de Porto Alegre/RS sobre el significado de calidad de vida y identificar cuáles son las facetas de calidad de vida que fueron más referidas por los ancianos. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y transversal a partir de una pregunta abierta: "¿Que significa CV para usted?". Respondieron a esa pregunta 260 ancianos, residentes en Porto Alegre/RS. Fue realizado el análisis de contenido, con apoyo del software NVivo 2.0, utilizando como categorías las facetas de CV propuestas por la versión brasileña del instrumento WHOQOL-100 y módulo WHOQOL-OLD. Resultados: Para la mayoría, CV significaba tener Salud. En seguida, las categorías más representativas fueron: sentimientos positivos, relaciones personales y alimentación. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos refuerzan la idea de que CV es un concepto multidimensional, pudiendo ser analizado tanto por parámetros objetivos como subjetivos. Palabras clave: Calidad de Vida; Anciano; Salud del anciano.

ReSUmOEstudo descritivo de abordagem qualitativa cujo objetivo foi identificar o conhecimento das puérperas sobre aleitamento materno exclusivo. Participaram do estudo treze puérperas internadas no Alojamento Conjunto de uma instituição pública na região de Caxias do Sul-RS. Para a coleta dos dados utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada. A análise de dados foi realizada através de análise temática, emergindo três categorias: o conhecimento sobre amamentação exclusiva; o processo de amamentação; e as influências das informações recebidas sobre o processo de amamentação. Mesmo recebendo informações de profissionais de saúde no período pré-natal sobre a amamentação, é possível compreender a necessidade de melhorar a comunicação e o acompanhamento das puérperas por estes profissionais, como uma continuidade no cuidado, no período do puerpério imediato, tardio e também no remoto. descritores: Período Pós-Parto; Aleitamento Materno; Conhecimento; Enfermagem. aBStRaCt This is a descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, aimed to identify the knowledge of puerperal women on exclusive breastfeeding. Data were collected between September-October 2011, through semi-structured interview. Thirteen puerperal women, interned in a rooming unit of a public institution in the city of Caxias do Sul-RS, participated in the study. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis. From the interpretation of information three categories emerged: the knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding, the breastfeeding process and the influences of received information. Even getting information from health professionals in the prenatal period, it is possible to understand that there is a need to improve communication and monitoring of mothers, as a continuity of professional care in the postpartum period, and also later, in the remote. Key words: Puerperal Period; Breastfeeding; Knowledge; Nursing. ReSUmeNEste es un estudio descriptivo de abordaje cualitativo. Tuvo como objetivo identificar el conocimiento de las madres sobre la lactancia materna exclusiva hasta el sexto mes de vida. Participaron en este estudio 13 mujeres internadas en una unidad de pensión de una institución pública en la ciudad de Caxias do Sul-RS. Los datos fueron recogidos entre Septiembre y Octubre de 2011, a través de entrevista semi-estructurada. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante análisis temática. Con la interpretación de la información surgieron tres categorías: el conocimiento sobre la lactancia materna exclusiva, la lactancia materna y la influencia de las informaciones sobre el proceso de lactancia. Mismo recibiendo informaciones de los profesionales de la salud en el período prenatal es posible entender que hay una necesidad de mejorar la comunicación y el seguimiento de las madres, como una continuidad de los cuidados de estos profesionales, en el periodo del puerperio mediato, tardío y lejano.

Objective to construct and validate an educational manual for family caregivers of older adult dependent on care after a stroke. Method a methodological study with four stages: focus group with five family caregivers, to identify doubts and difficulties regarding home care for older adults with stroke; preparation of the manual by six researchers; content validation by 18 specialist nurses, and face validation by 12 family caregivers. For data analysis, thematic analysis was performed, the Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated, and the consensus of the target population was verified. Results from the focus group, the experiences and challenges faced by the caregivers in caring for aged family members with a stroke were identified, which supported the elaboration of an educative manual, in the second stage. In the expert consensus, a global CVI of 0.97 was obtained and, in face validation, a consensus of 95.51% by the target population. Conclusion an educational manual for family caregivers of older adults after a stroke was built, which was validated in terms of content and appearance. In view of this, it can be used as complementary material to the guidelines of the professionals, enabling improvement of the care provided by family members to the older adult dependent on care after a stroke.