Objective:To develop and validate an algorithm for laser wound therapy. Method:Methodological study and literature review. For the development of the algorithm, a review was performed in the Health Sciences databases of the past ten years. The algorithm evaluation was performed by 24 participants, nurses, physiotherapists, and physicians. For data analysis, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and the chi-square test for independence was used. The level of significance of the statistical test was established at 5% (p<0.05). Results:The professionals’ responses regarding the facility to read the algorithm indicated: 41.70%, great; 41.70%, good; 16.70%, regular. With regard the algorithm being sufficient for supporting decisions related to wound evaluation and wound cleaning, 87.5% said yes to both questions. Regarding the participants’ opinion that the algorithm contained enough information to support their decision regarding the choice of laser parameters, 91.7% said yes. The questionnaire presented reliability using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient test (α = 0.962). Conclusion:The developed and validated algorithm showed reliability for evaluation, wound cleaning, and use of laser therapy in wounds.

Quality of life Body imageSelf-concept Self-esteem a b s t r a c tThe aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life and self-esteem in patients with intestinal stoma. This is a clinical, primary, descriptive, analytical study, conducted at the Ostomized People's Pole of Pouso Alegre, after approval by the Ethics Committee of the Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde Dr. Jose Antonio Garcia Coutinho under opinion No. 23,227.Three instruments -a questionnaire on demographics and stoma, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale/UNIFESP-EPM and Flanagan Quality of Life Scale -were used in the data collection.The following tests were used for statistical analysis: chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman correlation. For all statistical tests, the level of significance of 5% (p < 0.05) was considered. Most participants were older than 60 years, of male gender and attended support groups. Twenty-one (30%) of respondents were illiterate. Neoplasia was the most frequent of the causes that led patients to receive an ostomy; permanent colostomy was the type of ostomy used. Individuals were not submitted to stoma demarcation and did not make irrigation. Regarding the type of complication, 34 (48.60%) had dermatitis; 14 (20%) showed retraction.The mean of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale/UNIFESP-EPM was 10.81 and the mean of Flanagan Quality of Life Scale was 26.16. It was concluded that individuals with intestinal stoma participating in the survey showed impaired self-esteem/quality of life.

Patients with VLUs had low self-esteem and negative feelings about their bodies.

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Objective To investigate the subjective well-being and quality of life in patients with intestinal stoma. Method This study was conducted at Ostomized People's Pole of Pouso Alegre. Data were collected in the period between December 2012 and May 2013, after approval by the Ethics Committee of the Universidade do Vale do Sapucaí under opinion No. 23,277. The participants were selected by a convenience non-probability sampling. The following instruments were used: a questionnaire on demographics and stoma; a Subjective Well-being Scale; and a Quality Outcome Scale. Results Regarding the Flanagan Quality of Life Scale, 16–22 points were obtained, indicating that these patients suffered changes in their quality of life. Regarding the scale of subjective well-being in three domains: positive affect – 43 (61.40%) individuals; negative affect – 31 (44.30%) individuals; and life satisfaction – 54 (77.10%), all subjects obtained a score of 3, characterizing a negative change in these domains. The mean Flanagan Quality of Life Scale score was 26.16, and the means for the domains included in the Subjective Well-being Scale were: positive affect: 2.51; negative affect: 2.23 and life satisfaction: 2.77, indicating that the intestinal stoma users who participated in the study had negative feelings related to their own self-esteem and to the loss of quality of life. Conclusion Patients with intestinal stoma who participated in this study had a change in their quality of life and in subjective well-being.

Split-thickness skin grafting resulted in better health-related quality of life and self-esteem in patients with venous leg ulcers than did compression therapy with Unna's boot.

although stress faced by nursing professionals during the daily work, they keep the commitment in assisting with quality and humanization, existing a trend for emotional exhaustion, loss of heart and feelings of anguish, what reaffirms the importance of heath prevention in work environment.

The objective was to characterize the clientele of ostomy patients living in Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Among the causes that led patients to acquire an ostomy, the most prevalent was neoplasia; the type of ostomy was a permanent colostomy. Most people were not told that they would be submitted to the stoma. In addition, individuals were not subject to stoma demarcation, and irrigation was not performed. Regarding the type of complication, 34 (48.60%) had dermatitis; 14 (20%), retraction; and 13 (18.60%), prolapse. With respect to stoma diameter, 34 (48.60%) had 20–40 mm and 23 (32.90%), 40–60 mm. With this study, we became aware of the profile of ostomized patients treated at the municipality of Pouso Alegre/MG; it is expected that, with these data, the improvement of care to this population can be subsidized. We suggest that nursing professionals think of health action strategies with respect to guidance on stoma manufacture and to measures aiming for the prevention of possible complications, promoting ways to help these patients to make decisions and to verbalize feelings, so that they feel supported in coping with changes in their body image, for the sake of survival.