Open Access
Grief reactions of potential organ donors' bereaved relatives: an observational study
(American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 2020-09-01) Soria Oliver, María; Aramayona, Begoña; López Martínez, Jorge S.; Martín, María J.; Martínez, José M.; Sáenz Mendía, Raquel; García Sánchez, Rubén; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: most family members of potential organ donors experience the death of their relative in an intensive care unit. While under an emotional burden, bereaved relatives must make a decision that will affect the life of other patients. A better understanding of grief within the context of organ donation will help intensive care unit staff better support families during this process. Objectives: to empirically describe the emotional reactions of potential organ donors' family members facing a loved one's death and analyze the relationship of these reactions to factors that occur in the process of illness and death. Methods: a prospective observational study was conducted in 16 Spanish hospitals for 36 months. Data of 421 relatives of potential organ donors, collected through a previously validated instrument, included relatives' emotional responses, deceased's and relatives' characteristics, circumstances of death, and behavior of health care staff. Results: unexpected deaths were linked to more intense emotional reactions and less acceptance of death than were anticipated deaths. Additional stressors, such as perception of poor treatment by hospital staff, perception of deficient medical care, and poor relationships among family members, were associated with stronger reactions. Conclusions: observation and analysis of the factors studied may help hospital staff members anticipate bereaved relatives' emotional reactions and provide better support during the grieving process, increasing family members¿ well-being and facilitating a better-informed organ donation decision.
Open Access
Combining participatory action research and emerging ways of collective action to promote institutional change toward social commitment: groundings, strategies, and implications of an experience
(Wiley, 2021) López Martínez, Jorge S.; Soria Oliver, María; Aramayona, Begoña; García Sánchez, Rubén; Martín, María J.; Martínez, José M.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Aims: this study reports the foundations, strategies, and results of an institutional change experience based on the combination of participatory-action-research and new currents of collective mobilization and political participation. It aimed to achieve the institution's greater social commitment and a more participatory and transparent management. Methods: the process took place in a Spanish public university and was promoted and coordinated by a Work Group that emerged from grassroots university community. Collective diagnosis was performed through face-to-face strategies (global, sectorial, and faculty meetings) and virtual tools (web-blog, on-line surveys, shared documents). Collective action combined nonformal with formal institutional participation and applied hybrid activism, self-organization in horizontal structures and integrative conflict management. Results: a sequential process of diagnosis, collective action, and negotiation was implemented. As a result, the university Governing Team, representatives from different sectors and members of the Work Group worked jointly to define several institutional actions that were thereafter launched. Those actions aimed to improve institutional participation and transparency, and greater institutional social commitment. Conclusion: the combination of participatory-action-research and new ways of collective action can be an excellent tool to draw institutions towards greater social engagement, thus contributing to sustainable social change. A model to guide institutional change is drafted.
Open Access
The relationship between allergic diseases and internalising and externalising behaviours in Spanish children: a cross-sectional study
(Codon Publications, 2021) Berzosa Grande, María del Pilar; González-Fraile, Eduardo; Sánchez-López, Rocío; Soria Oliver, María; Rueda-Esteban, Santiago; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Introduction and objectives: the relationship between allergic diseases and behavioural disorders is still unclear. The objective of this study is to describe and compare children’s behaviour (internalising and externalising) across a sample of children between 6 and 11-years-old with and without allergic diseases. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional, observational case-control study that comprises a survey of 366 families (194 cases and 172 controls) including a Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and a sociodemographic questionnaire with questions related to family, school education, health conditions, and allergy symptoms was administered. Results: children with a diagnosis of allergy showed higher scores in the overall CBCL score (standardised mean differences [SMD] = 0.47; CI: 0.26–0.68) and in the internalising and externalising factors (SMD = 0.52 and SMD = 0.36, respectively) than non-allergic children. Odds ratio analyses showed a higher risk (OR = 2.76; CI 95% [1.61 to 4.72]) of developing a behavioural difficulty in children diagnosed with allergies. Age and level of asthma appears as modulatory variables. Conclusions: children diagnosed with allergies at age 6 to 11 years show larger behavioural problems than non-allergic children, especially in internalising behaviours. These findings suggest the importance of attending to them and treating them in the early stages of the diagnosis to avoid future psychological disorders.
Open Access
Are sexist attitudes and gender stereotypes linked? A critical feminist approach with a Spanish sample
(Frontiers, 2019-10-24) García Sánchez, Rubén; Almendros, Carmen; Aramayona, Begoña; Martín, María J.; Soria Oliver, María; López Martínez, Jorge S.; Martínez, José M.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
This study aims to verify the psychometric properties of the Spanish versions of the Social Roles Questionnaire (SRQ; Baber and Tucker, 2006), Modern Sexism Scale (MS), and Old-Fashioned Sexism Scale (OFS; Swim et al., 1995; Swim and Cohen, 1997). Enough support was found to maintain the original factor structure of all instruments in their Spanish version. Differences between men and women in the scores are commented on, mainly because certain sexist attitudes have been overcome with greater success in the current Spanish society, while other issues, such as distribution of power in organizational hierarchies or distribution of tasks in the household, where traditional unequal positions are still maintained. In all cases, it was found that men showed greater support for sexist attitudes. The correlations between the three instruments were as expected in assessing sexist attitudes that tend to relate to each other. Eventually, we found no empirical evidence for the postulated link between sexist attitudes and traditional gender stereotypes. Our results call for the validity and effectiveness of the classic theories of gender psychology, such as gender schema theories (Bem, 1981; Markus et al., 1982) and the notion of a gender belief system (Deaux and Kite, 1987; Kite, 2001).
Open Access
Relations between mental workload and decision-making in an organizational setting
(SpringerOpen, 2017) Soria Oliver, María; López Martínez, Jorge S.; Torrano, Fermín; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
Background: the complexity of current organizations implies a potential overload for workers. For this reason, it is of interest to study the effects that mental workload has on the performance of complex tasks in professional settings. Objective: the objective of this study is to empirically analyze the relation between the quality of decision-making, on the one hand, and the expected and real mental workload, on the other. Methods: the study uses an ex post facto prospective design with a sample of 176 professionals from a higher education organization. Expected mental workload (Pre-Task WL) and real mental workload (Post-Task WL) were measured with the unweighted NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire; difference between real WL and expected WL (Differential WL) was also calculated; quality of decision-making was measured by means of the Decision-Making Questionnaire. Results: general quality of decision-making and Pre-Task WL relation is compatible with an inverted U pattern, with slight variations depending on the specific dimension of decision-making that is considered. There were no verifiable relations between Post-Task WL and decision-making. The subjects whose expected WL matched the real WL showed worse quality in decision-making than subjects with high or low Differential WL. Conclusions: the relations between mental workload and decision-making reveal a complex pattern, with evidence of nonlinear relations.
Open Access
An Integrated Psychosocial Model of Relatives' Organ Donation (IMROD): joining pieces of the puzzle
(Frontiers Media, 2018) López Martínez, Jorge S.; Soria Oliver, María; Aramayona, Begoña; García Sánchez, Rubén; Martínez, José M.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Organ transplantation remains currently limited because the demand for organs far exceeds the supply. Though organ procurement is a complex process involving social, organizational, and clinical factors, one of the most relevant limitations of organ availability is family refusal to donate organs of a deceased relative. In the past decades, a remarkable corpus of evidence about the factors conditioning relatives' consent has been generated. However, research in the field has been carried out mainly by means of merely empirical approaches, and only partial attempts have been made to integrate the existing empirical evidence within conceptual and theoretically based frameworks. Accordingly, this work articulates the proposal of an Integrated Psychosocial Model of Relatives' Organ Donation (IMROD) which offers a systematic view of the factors and psychosocial processes involved in family decision and their interrelations. Relatives' experience is conceptualized as a decision process about the possibility of vicariously performing an altruistic behavior that takes place under one of the most stressful experiences of one's lifetime and in the context of interaction with different healthcare professionals. Drawing on this, in the proposed model, the influence of the implied factors and their interrelations/interactions are structured and interpreted according to their theoretically based relation with processes like rational/heuristic decision-making, uncertainty, stress, bereavement, emotional reactions, sense of reciprocity, sense of freedom to decide, and attitudes/intentions toward one's own and the deceased's organ donation. Our model also develops a processual perspective and suggests different decisional scenarios that may be reached as a result of the combinations of the considered factors. Each of these scenarios may imply different balances between factors that enhance or hinder donation, such as different levels of uncertainty and potential decisional conflict. Throughout our work, current controversial or inconsistent results are discussed and interpreted on the basis of the relationships that are posited in the proposed model. Finally, we suggest that the structure of the relationships and interactions contained in our model can be used by future research to guide the formulation of hypotheses and the interpretation of results. In this sense, specific guidelines and research questions are also proposed.
Open Access
New patterns of information and communication technologies usage at work and their relationships with visual discomfort and musculoskeletal diseases: results of a cross-sectional study of Spanish organizations
(MDPI, 2019) Soria Oliver, María; López Martínez, Jorge S.; Torrano, Fermín; García González, Guillermo; Lara, Ángel; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
This cross-sectional study analyses the usage patterns of the new communication and information technologies (ICTs) and their relationship with visual discomfort and musculoskeletal diseases in an intentional sample of 1259 workers of Spanish organizations. The usage pattern with the greatest incidence of visual and muscular-skeletal disorders, especially in the wrist and neck, combines the use of laptops and desktops during long working hours. However, the group of workers primarily using mobile devices and working mostly at mobile posts does not appear to be particularly vulnerable to the musculoskeletal diseases and visual fatigue. The ratio of taking a short pause per hour and the implantation of certain technical and preventive measures is related to lower incidence of disorders in the workers as a whole. Current usage of ICTs is very complex and should be addressed using empirical analysis of the different forms of usage and their impacts on health.
Embargo
Requesting relatives' consent for intensive care for organ donation: an empirical analysis of Spanish transplant coordinators' practices
(Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2024-10-08) García Sánchez, Rubén; Soria Oliver, María; López Martínez, Jorge S.; Martínez, José M.; Martín, María J.; Barceló-Soler, Alberto; Coll, Elisabeth; Roldán, José; Uruñuela, David; Fernández-Carmona, Alberto; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background. Intensive care to facilitate organ donation (ICOD) involves the initiation or continuation of intensive care for patients with devastating brain injury for donation purposes. In the Spanish system, relatives undergo an early interview to request consent for this procedure. If they consent, a waiting time is agreed upon in the expectation that death by neurological criteria occurs and donation after brain death takes place. Otherwise, relatives can decide on donation after circulatory determination of death or withdrawal of life support. This study analyzes how Spanish transplant coordinators interact with relatives in early interviews and follow-ups on potential donation pathways. Methods. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a random stratified sample of 23 Spanish transplant coordination teams to explore strategies, practices, and perceptions of ICOD consent requests. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis. Results. Previous coordination with other units and information retrieval regarding patient and relatives' situations is crucial. The development of early interviews includes an introduction to the family, identification of decision makers, empathizing with relatives and offering condolences, reaffirming the fatal prognosis, explaining the possibility of donating based on the patient's will, confirming the family's understanding and resolving doubts, and ensuring comfort and assessing family needs. Conclusions. Approaching families to obtain ICOD consent is a regular practice for Spanish coordination teams. It involves a highly professional and diversified set of strategies based on establishing a support relationship for relatives. Our study provides strategies that serve as a reference for obtaining ICOD consent from families in other settings.
Open Access
Do psychosocial factors mediate the appearance of musculoskeletal symptoms? Evidence of an empirical study about the role of mental workload in computer workers
(Public Library of Science, 2021) Soria Oliver, María; López Martínez, Jorge S.; Torrano, Fermín; García González, Guillermo; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The emergence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSSs) in computer workers is a relevant occupational health problem. This study tests a multilevel model of analysis of risk factors in the appearance of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in computer workers that integrates indicators from different areas: temporal usage patterns, ergonomic factors, psychosocial factors, and individual variables, specifically testing the possible mediating role of the mental workload. A cross-sectional study was performed through online registration with a nonprobabilistic sample of 1198 workers from Spanish organizations. The results show that mental workload has a higher association than the rest of the factors with the onset of pain and discomfort in various body areas: neck in men, neck, shoulders and upper back in women. They also support the mediation role of mental workload in the relationship between usage patterns and the appearance of musculoskeletal symptoms. The use of multilevel theoretical models that adequately consider the complexity of the relationships between the different risk factors is necessary for a better understanding and intervention on MSSs in computer workers.