Little is known about the role of psychological factors in the functional recovery process of hip fracture patients. This study employed a prospective cohort design to test the hypothesis that hospitalized hip fracture patients with greater reported self-efficacy for conducting rehabilitation therapy would have a greater likelihood of recovering to a pre-fracture level of locomotion function six months after the fracture. This hypothesis was tested controlling for pre-fracture level of function and depressive symptoms reported during hospitalization for surgical repair. An original measure of rehabilitation therapy self-efficacy was evaluated prior to hypothesis testing. Study patients were recruited from two hospitals, interviewed during hospitalization and followed up six months later. Patients included in hypothesis test analyses (n = 24) were mostly women (82%) with a mean age of 79 years. Results showed that patients with higher self-efficacy scores had a greater likelihood of locomotion recovery, controlling for pre-fracture locomotion function level (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.21; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.00-1.45; P= 0.05). This positive association between rehabilitation therapy self-efficacy and likelihood of locomotion recovery persisted after adding depressive symptoms (the Center for Epidemiological Studies-depression (CES-D) score) to this logistic regression model (AOR for self-efficacy = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.99-1.42; P= 0.07). It is concluded that rehabilitation therapy self-efficacy is a potentially important psychological factor in helping hip fracture patients recover locomotion functioning.

The Alzheimer’s Service Coordination Program (ASCP) was developed based on the rationale that family caregivers of people with dementia could benefit in measurable ways from a care partnership arrangement linking primary care physicians with a community organization that specializes in dementia education and support. In metropolitan Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 29 physicians referred 62 family caregivers to a Service Coordinator (SC), who provided individualized consultation to family caregivers and capable patients with dementia regarding all non-medical aspects of dementia care and available resources in the community. Over a six-month intervention period, 44 caregivers with complete follow-up data reported statistically significant increases in self-efficacy for managing dementia symptoms, and self-efficacy for using community support services. Caregivers and participating physicians reported satisfaction with the ASCP. Despite relatively small numbers of participants, the service coordination and individualized consultation model featured in the ASCP has been adapted for two larger randomized trials in the USA.

Rasch modeling can help improve the precision of disability measurement in Medicare home care patients when using ADL and IADL items from the OASIS instrument.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of several interventions on improving medication adherence among White, Black, and Hispanic older women. A total of 109 women older than age 65 who were participating in a clinical osteoporosis trial were recruited for this 12-month study examining medication adherence. After baseline medication adherence was assessed, participants underwent standardized teaching. Participants were contacted monthly by telephone and were seen in a clinic setting every 3 months. All participants used a pillbox for 6 months, and the minority women used an electronic monitoring bottle for 6 months. Adherence was highest in White women. Black women showed significant improvement in adherence at 9 and 12 months, and Hispanic women demonstrated a significant increase in adherence at 12 months. The use of electronic monitors had a positive effect on adherence for the minority women.

RESUMENInvestigar es un arte, no importa el enfoque en el que nos inscribamos para realizarlo. Sin embargo, debemos reconocer que existen prejuicios personales, que podrían obstaculizar nuestro desempeño si no tomamos medidas para desplegar nuestras capacidades. El objetivo de este escrito es invitar a la reflexión, y aclarar que construir problemas de investigación cualitativa, es una oportunidad para el aprendizaje, y no un problema en su connotación negativa. La metodología utilizada para concluir estas ideas, está centrada en la reflexión personal, la experiencia vivida como docente en asignaturas de investigación, y la crítica a los planteamientos de autores que con sus textos, pueden crear prejuicios a la comunidad investigativa sin que lo tengan premeditado.Palabras Claves: investigación, problema, paradigmas, creatividad. SUMMARYResearch is an art, no matter the approach that we enroll to do so. However, we recognize that there are personal biases that could hinder our performance if we do not take measures to develop our capabilities. The aim of this paper is to invite reflection and to clarify to build qualitative research problems, it is an opportunity for learning, not a problem in their negative connotation. The methodology used to conclude these ideas, focuses on personal reflection, the experience as a teacher in subjects research, and criticism of the approaches of authors with their texts, can create prejudice to the research community without you having premeditated.Keywords: research, problem, paradigms, creativity. INTRODUCCIÓNEn el campo de la investigación cualitativa existen dos retos a vencer, que debemos tener en constante vigilancia metodológica. Uno: construir conocimiento científico en ese ámbito no es lo mismo que para los procesos de investigación cuantitativa, su carácter humano invita a reflexionar constantemente sus formas de innovar. Dos: La creatividad necesaria en el proceso de investigaciones cualitativas, no es tan fácil desarrollar porque implica romper con procedimientos y estructuras mentales arraigadas para investigar.