Measurement properties of the Brazilian version of the Motor Assessment Scale, based on Rasch analysis.

Purpose: To cross-culturally adapt and verify the measurement properties of the Brazilian version of the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS).

Methods: The process of cross-cultural adaptation followed standardized procedures. Construct validity of the MAS was investigated using Rasch analysis (n = 100), whereas inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities were evaluated using Kappa coefficients and Bland and Altman plots (n = 52).

Assessment of the measurement properties of the post stroke motor function instruments available in Brazil: a systematic review.

Background: While there are several instruments in Brazil that measure motor function in patients after stroke, it is unknown whether the measurement properties of these instruments are appropriate.

Objective: To identify the motor function instruments available in Brazil for patients after stroke. To assess the methodological quality of the studies and the results related to the measurement properties of these instruments.

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire.

Objectives: to describe the process of translation and linguistic and cultural validation of the Evidence Based Practice Questionnaire for the Portuguese context: Questionário de Eficácia Clínica e Prática Baseada em Evidências (QECPBE).

Method: a methodological and cross-sectional study was developed. The translation and back translation was performed according to traditional standards.

Disseminated Nocardiosis: A Successful Blind Strategy of Treatment in an HIV Infected Patient.

Background. Nocardiosis is a rare disease that mainly affects severely immunocompromised patients. Symptoms are nonspecific and microbiological isolation is difficult, hiding the diagnosis.

Integration and continuity of Care in health care network models for frail older adults.

A detailed review was conducted of the literature on models evaluating the effectiveness of integrated and coordinated care networks for the older population. The search made use of the following bibliographic databases: Pubmed, The Cochrane Library, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus and SciELO. Twelve articles on five different models were included for discussion.

[Screening the risk for functional loss: a basic strategy for organizing the elderly health care network].

From a critical analysis of experiments in the use of screening tools for functional loss in the elderly, it was observed that the main motivation to develop and implement a screening instrument is to improve health care for the frail elderly or those at risk of functional loss and repeated hospital admissions. The instruments are preferably short questionnaires with no more than 16 self-reported questions. The main intervention performed after screening was monitoring the elderly by a specialized nursing service that, when necessary, referring them to the medical service.

[Difficulties and rewards on aging: the elderly's self perception].

The purpose of this study was to identify in the scientific literature, the self-image and representations that elders have about themselves in different contexts. Frequently, the society considers aging as a "problem", creating stereotypes that could result in the exclusion of the aged. Through the analysis of researches that investigated the opinion of the elders about their difficulties and rewards in old age, it was evidenced how important are the choices people make through the life.