Interventions based on testing and communication training have been developed to reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary healthcare (PHC) for the treatment of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRTIs). However, research based on the experiences of PHC clinicians participating in ALTRIs interventions to reduce antibiotic prescribing in Barcelona is scanty.

This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of clinicians (physicians and nurses) on an intervention to reduce antibiotic prescription in PHC in Barcelona (Spain). This intervention was a randomised controlled study (cRCT) based on three arms: 1) use of a C-reactive protein (CRP) rapid test; 2) enhanced communication skills; and 3) combination of CRP rapid test and enhanced communication skills. In addition, the study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the detection of ALRTIs.

This qualitative study used a socio-constructivist perspective. Sampling was purposive. Participants were selected based on age, sex, profession, intervention trial arm in which they participated, and the socioeconomic area of the PHC where they worked. They were recruited through the healthcare centres participating in the study. Nine participants (7 women and 2 men) participated in two focus groups, lasting 65–66 min, in September–October 2022. Framework analysis was used to analyse the data.

Three themes were identified: ‘(The intervention) gave us reassurance’: intervention experiences among health professionals. This theme includes accounts of clinicians’ satisfaction with the intervention, particularly with CRP testing to support clinical diagnoses; ‘We don’t have time in primary healthcare’: structural and community resources in healthcare services. This theme encompasses clinicians’ experiences on healthcare pressures and PHC organisational structures barriers to PHC interventions; and ‘I only did three CRP’: impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the intervention. The last theme focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the intervention’s implementation.

CPR testing and promoting communication skills can be useful tools to support clinical decisions for ALRTIs. Structural barriers (e.g., healthcare pressures) and social inequities amongst service users were acknowledged as the main barriers for the implementation of ALRTIs interventions.

Integrating scientific research across multiple disciplines to advance breakthroughs is at the heart of clinical-translational science (CTS); among competencies that have been identified as essential for progress, skillful communication is critical. Few tools are available to address the social dynamics of the multidimensional diversity characteristics of CTS. We created the “Building a Diverse Biomedical Workforce Through Communication Across Difference (CAD)” workshop intervention. Based on principles of intercultural communication, CAD taught novel situationally-based communication skills to dyads of near-peer mentors and their undergraduate mentees. This study reports on the effectiveness of the operative mechanisms employed in CAD workshops for helping participants navigate highly diverse research environments.

Participant data were collected from multiple sources, including workshop artifacts as well as focus groups conducted post-workshop. Data were organized, individually coded, and then iteratively and collectively into pre-defined and emergent themes.

Responses indicated that the content and activities resonated strongly with participants and illuminated their understanding of challenges (both their own and others’) related to belonging, confidence, and connectedness to the research environment; several participants shared that they planned to use or had successfully used the skills. Focus group comments revealed that participants recognized the potential of the skills to include significant opportunities for non-instrumental interaction, contributing to a psychologically healthier workplace.

A brief intervention to develop communication skills across a variety of differences characteristic of clinical-translational settings improves communication between mentors and mentees and with peers and increases sense of belonging in the workplace, with potential benefits to wellbeing.

This study aimed to explore the multifaceted experiences of families with children and adolescents enrolled in the pediatric palliative care (PPC) program, with a particular emphasis on understanding their perspectives regarding the quality and effectiveness of care provided. Our goals included exploring emotional, social, and practical caregiving dimensions within the PPC context to address gaps and find areas for improvement. The objectives encompassed an exploration of the perceived effects on physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions, an investigation into pre-PPC inclusion experiences, and an identification of limitations and potential areas for enhancement within the program.

Using a qualitative descriptive approach with a phenomenological lens, we engaged 6 primary caregivers through semi-structured interviews, employing theoretical convenience sampling. Analysis involved meticulous transcription, alphanumeric coding, and thematic categorization using Atlas.ti 8.0® software.

Consistently echoed across interviews were the positive impacts on family dynamics, characterized by a sense of tranquility, enhanced patient care, and substantial caregiver support. Emotional well-being improvements were marked by elevated mood, reduced anxiety, and a restored sense of normalcy. Noteworthy challenges identified encompassed communication gaps among health-care professionals, limited-service availability, and perceived constraints in home care.

The study underscores the profound positive influence of the PPC program on the perceived quality of life for families navigating the complexities of caring for children with life-limiting illnesses. The findings underscore the paramount importance of holistic, family-centric care and underscore the imperative to address caregiver needs comprehensively to mitigate the risk of burnout. The identified challenges serve as signposts for refining communication strategies, expanding service provisions, and augmenting support structures within the PPC program. Overall, the study highlights the profound positive impact of the PPC program on family well-being, while also identifying areas for program enhancement, particularly in communication and service availability.

The loss of a scalpel or a needle during surgery can threaten the health of the patient and lead to additional costs, and radiographical assistance during surgery has been the only recovery method. This study evaluates the efficacy of a metal detector compared with conventional radiology for recovering a needle lost in the oropharynx during surgery.

Different fragment sizes of needles normally used in pharyngoplasty were embedded at different locations and depths in a lamb's head. Three experienced and three junior otolaryngologists searched for the needle fragments using a metal detector and conventional radiology.

All fragments were found with each method, but the mean searching time was 90 per cent shorter with the metal detector.

A metal detector can be a useful tool for locating needles that break during ENT surgery, as it requires less time than conventional radiology and avoids exposing patients to radiation.

Self-perceptions of aging seem to be a key variable to understand physical and mental health (see the systematic review conducted by Tully-Wilson et al., 2021). Following Levy’s (2003) stereotype embodiment theory, negative attitudes towards aging originate as aging stereotypes (e.g., “older people are frail”; Warmoth et al., 2016) during childhood. They are internalized and reinforced in adulthood, both consciously and below conscious awareness, becoming aging self-stereotypes in old age and affecting self-perceptions of aging (Levy, 2003). Kordnat et al. (2016) developed an implicit association test (IAT; Greenwald et al., 1998) to assess implicit age stereotypes for specific life domains (health and family domains) across the life span and found positive stereotypes towards older people for family domain and negative for health domain. However, the associations between implicit age stereotypes and adults’ psychological distress have been scarcely analyzed. The aims of this communication are: a) to present the preliminary data of the validation of the implicit association test (IAT, Greenwald et al., 1998) to measure implicit aging stereotypes and b) to explore the relationship between implicit aging stereotypes and older adults’ psychological distress (loneliness, guilt associated with self-perception as a burden, and anxiety and depressive symptoms).

The IAT used is an adaptation of the IAT developed by Kordnat et al. (2016). The IAT explores the relationship between the categories of sickness/health and old/young age. The task has a target category that consists of: a) a set of 6 words of physical and mental sickness (e.g., frail, weak, sad, lonely) and 6 words of physical and mental health (e.g., healthy, energetic, happy, in company); and b) 6 photos of old people and 6 photos of young people.

Preliminary results of the implicit aging stereotypes task associations with older adults’ psychological distress in 100 community dwelling older adults will be presented.

Findings will be discussed. The implicit (below awareness) assessment of the aging stereotypes with the IAT in older adults could provide a better understanding of the role of aging stereotypes in older adults’ psychological distress, avoiding the weaknesses of assessing the construct through self-report measures.

it has been shown that having negative-self perceptions of aging significantly predicts depressive symptomatology. Although the partner relationship may have an impact on the effects of perception of aging on distress, the number of studies assessing the effect of partner on negative self-perception of aging and mental health is limited. The stress of one partner may elicit dyadic coping (DC) responses in the other partner. The stress of one partner may elicit dyadic coping responses in the other partner. Depending on whether the responses are positive (supportive) or negative (hostile)a close relationship can go along with additional stress or resources and benefits. The present study analyzes the relationship between negative self-stereotypes and depressive symptomatology, considering the partner’s dyadic coping as a moderator variable in this association.

Participants were 365 individuals (59.3% women) 40 years or older (M= 60.86, SD=10.66) involved in a marital/partner relationship. Participants completed a questionnaire that included the variables: negative self-perception of aging, positive DC (e.g., “My partner shows empathy and understanding to me”), negative DC (e.g., “When I am stressed, my partner tends to withdraw”), and depressive symptomatology. Two moderation models were tested by linear regression: the first considered positive DC and the second negative DC as a moderator in the relationship between negative self-perception of aging and depressive symptoms.

The effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on depressive symptoms was smaller among those who perceived higher levels of positive DC and lower levels of negative DC by their partners than among those perceiving lower positive DC and higher negative DC. The influence of supportive dyadic coping was higher when the levels of negative self-perception of aging were higher. Gender was a determinant factor in the moderation.

Positive DC mitigates the negative effects of negative self-perception of aging on wellbeing (by the mechanism of moderation), while negative DC amplifies this association and goes along with lower well-being in persons who report negative self-perceptions of aging. Training couples in supportive dyadic coping may be a resource to buffer the negative effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on well-being.

Caring for a relative with dementia is a chronic stress situation related to negative consequences such as elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms. A possible mediator variable explored to explain pathways from chronic stress to emotional distress is emotional ambivalence towards the care-recipient (the simultaneous experience of positive and negative feelings towards the care-recipient). Emotional ambivalence, measured with questionnaires, presents significant associations with depression and anxiety in family carers of people with dementia. However, the self-report of emotional ambivalence is susceptible to being influenced by social desirability. The aim of this study is to present preliminary results that analyze implicit ambivalence and its association with emotional distress in family carers of people with dementia.

54 caregivers participated in the study (mean age = 61.2, SD = 12.92, 81.5% women). To explore implicit emotional ambivalence, we adapted a sequential priming paradigm developed to measure implicit ambivalence about significant others (Zayas & Shoda, 2015). Two priming stimuli were used: a) neutral (e.g., RRR) and b) valenced prime (i.e., the name of the care-recipient). The targets were positive and negative words that participants have to categorize as positive or negative.

A facilitation-inhibition indexes for positive and negative targets were calculated by subtracting the mean reaction time (RT) for valenced prime from the mean RT for neutral primes. Positive values show a facilitation effect of the valenced prime (i.e., the name of the care-recipient), and negative values inhibition. Participants were classified depending on their results of this indexes: a) positive (facilitation of positive information, inhibition of negative information), b) negative (facilitation of negative information, inhibition of positive information), c) flat (inhibition of positive and negative information), and d) ambivalence (facilitation of positive and negative information). ANOVAS were performed to explore differences between groups in emotional distress. The preliminary results showed that the ambivalence group might present more depressive symptoms compared with the positive group.

This is the first study that analyzed implicit ambivalence in family carers of people with dementia. The preliminary results show the relevance of exploring implicit processes to explain emotional distress in this population.

Caring for a family member with dementia may have important negative psychological consequences on caregivers. The present study aims to analyze the existence of different profiles in family caregivers of people with dementia according to the levels manifested in different psychosocial variables, which are grouped into psychosocial variables (dysfunctional thoughts, familism, experiential avoidance) and resources (leisure and social support). In addition, it aims to study whether there are differences among those profiles in the levels of distress (depressive, anxious and guilt symptomatology) depending on the relationship of kinship with the cared-for person.

288 family caregivers of people with dementia divided into four kinship groups (wives, husbands, sons and daughters) participated. Face-to-face interviews were conducted assessing sociodemographic variables, familism (family obligations), dysfunctional thoughts, experiential avoidance, leisure activities, perceived social support and depressive, anxious and guilt symptomatology. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using Ward's method and contingency tables were run between the clusters obtained and the variable of kinship and distress variables.

Five clusters were obtained: Low psychosocial vulnerability-High resources (mostly daughters), Low psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources (mostly daughters), Mixed (mostly sons), High psychosocial vulnerability-High resources (mostly husbands) and High psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources (mostly wives). Although with nuances, the clusters associated with lower distress are the Low psychosocial vulnerability-High resources profile and the High psychosocial vulnerability-High resources profile, and with higher distress the Low psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources profile and the Mixed profile.

High levels of dysfunctional thoughts, familism and experiential avoidance are not always associated with greater psychological distress. In fact, profile 2 (Low psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources), in which most caregiving daughters are distributed, seems to be particularly vulnerable to presenting higher levels of emotional. Therefore, the identification of profiles of potential protection and vulnerability to psychological distress in family caregivers could help to increase the effectiveness of interventions aimed at this population.

Research in informal dementia caregiving has focused on the negative outcomes it implies as a chronic stress situation, even though positive feelings derived from the caregiving experience are also reported. This co-occurrence of positive and negative experiences is a form of emotional complexity that has barely been explored in caregivers although it could be relevant for understanding caregivers' vulnerability to distress. To explore this emotional complexity, profiles of caregivers according to their levels of positive and negative affect were created and compared with regard to their reported anxiety, ambivalence feelings, experiential avoidance, quality of the actual relationship, thoughts of institutionalizing the person with dementia (PWD), and social support.

363 primary family caregivers were distributed in groups based on their reported depressive feelings and positive emotions related to caregiving and the PWD. Four groups were identified: (1) flat (low negative affect, low positive affect), (2) negative (high negative affect, low positive affect), (3) positive (low negative affect, high positive affect), (4) mixed (high negative affect, high positive affect). ANOVAS were performed to explore differences between groups.

Caregivers in the positive and mixed profiles reported better actual relationships with the PWD and higher experiential avoidance. Caregivers with both negative and mixed profile showed higher anxiety than the other profiles, and the negative profile also reported higher thoughts about institutionalizing the care-recipient and more ambivalence. Caregivers in the positive group reported the highest social support.

The obtained findings converge in the idea that caregivers ́ positive emotions towards the PWD are closely related to the quality of the relationship, and may be involved in a delayed decision to institutionalize her/him. The presence of negative affect (depressive feelings) is associated with anxiety symptoms, even when positive emotions are reported, supporting the high prevalence of anxiety-depressive comorbidity in this population. Finally, the negative profile (low positive and high negative affect) is the one that reports more ambivalence. Taken together, these findings suggest that caregiving for PWD should be considered an emotionally complex situation with positive affect derived from the caregiving being key in understanding caregivers’ well-being and distress.