This study investigated whether clown intervention could reduce preoperative worries and the affective responses of children undergoing minor surgery. Parental anxiety was also tested.Child's age, previous hospitalization, and temperament were tested as predictors of the child's responses during this preoperative phase. Seventy children were assigned to one of two groups: children accompanied by their parents and a pair of clowns or, those accompanied by the parents but without the clowns. The results emphasized the relevance of clown intervention on the reduction of preoperative worries and emotional responses, not only in children but also in their parents.

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Atitudes infantis face aos cuidados de saúde e perceção de dor: papel mediador dos medos médicosChildren's attitudes regarding health care and perception of pain: the mediating role of medical fears

The present study sought to contribute to a better understanding of children’s attitudes and behaviors regarding oral health and dental practices. The sample was composed of 101 children (8–10 years), collected from several schools in the Lisbon metropolitan area. Our main goals were to collect a survey of information about the beliefs, attitudes, habits and knowledge of children about oral and dental issues in order to not only have an overview of them but also to serve as a basis and a starting point for the development of intervention programs to increase positive attitudes and behaviors related to oral health and promote greater knowledge about these subjects. In general, children reported positive behaviors regarding dental habits and oral hygiene practices. Children’s opinions and beliefs about dentists were also globally positive; however, the results suggested that younger children reported more positive attitudes, emotions and previous experiences. Regarding children’s knowledge about these dental issues, the results were quite negative and worrying, ruled by ignorance and incorrect beliefs and behaviors. In sum, all the results and conclusions of this study may contribute to the development of educational programs within the scope of the promotion of oral health and hygiene practices—“An Adventure about Oral Health.”

Handbook of research on ICTs for human-centered healthcare and social care services / Maria Manuela Cruz-Cunha, Isabel Maria Miranda, and Patricia Goncalves, editors.volumes cm Includes bibliographical references and index. Summary: "This book is a comprehensive collection of relevant research on technology and its developments of ICTs in healthcare and social services, focusing on the emerging trends in the social and healthcare sectors such as social networks, security of ICTs, and advisory services"--Provided by publisher. ISBN 978-1-4666-3986-7 (hardcover) --ISBN 978-1-4666-3987-4 (ebook) --ISBN 978-1-4666-3988-1 (print & perpetual access) 1. Medical informatics--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Information storage and retrieval systems--Medicine--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Medical care--Computer networks--Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Cruz-Cunha, Maria Manuela, 1964-editor of compilation. II. Miranda, Isabel Maria, 1954-editor of compilation. III. Goncalves, Patricia, 1974-editor of compilation. IV. Title: Handbook of research on information and communication technologies for human-centered healthcare and social care services. R858.H3228 2013 610.285--dc23 2012048438British Cataloguing in Publication Data A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library.All work contributed to this book is new, previously-unpublished material. The views expressed in this book are those of the authors, but not necessarily of the publisher.

Worries are common in surgical patients, especially in children. The present study analyzed the factor structure and the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Child Surgery Worries Questionnaire (CSWQ-P) in a Portuguese sample of 490 children. Exploratory factor analysis, conducted via principal axis factoring with oblimin rotation, provided evidence for a four-factor structure of the 21 item questionnaire. A confirmatory factor analysis was also conducted, showing the good fit of this solution. The CSWQ-P proved to have one more subscale than the original Spanish version CSWQ. Correlations with the children's trait anxiety provided evidence of convergent validity for the CSWQ-P. Females also scored higher on worries than males on all subscales. Psychometric properties of this revised version of the CSWQ provided support for use with young children, and indicate the CSWQ-P has value for use in healthcare practice and in clinical research.