Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale: measuring parenting self-efficacy in Portuguese mothers during the first year postpartum.

Background: The Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS) was designed to assess parenting self-efficacy in parents of infants during the first year.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the psychometric characteristics of the KPCS in Portuguese mothers during the first-year postpartum.

Methods: A sample of 383 mothers were recruited at two public outpatient units in Northern Portugal.

PROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE CLINICAL, RADIOGRAPHIC AND FUNCTIONAL EVOLUTION OF TREATMENT FOR UNSTABLE TROCHANTERIC FRACTURES OF THE FEMUR USING A CEPHALOMEDULLARY NAIL.

Unlabelled: To assess the clinical, radiological and functional evolution of osteosynthesis using a cephalomedullary nail, in unstable trochanteric fractures of the femur, over a one-year postoperative follow-up.

Methods: Fourteen men and 23 women of mean age 77.7 years were evaluated.

Effect of preoperative statin therapy on patients undergoing isolated and combined valvular heart surgery.

Background: It is unknown whether patients undergoing valve surgery benefit from preoperative statin therapy. We examined the effects of statin treatment in a large group of patients undergoing valve surgery.

Methods: Between October 2001 and May 2008, a total of 10,061 patients underwent isolated or combined valve surgery at our institution.

How does the use of polytetrafluoroethylene neochordae for posterior mitral valve prolapse (loop technique) compare with leaflet resection? A prospective randomized trial.

Objective: Mitral valve surgery for posterior mitral leaflet prolapse consists mostly of leaflet resection, but implantation of premeasured polytetrafluoroethylene neochordae (ie, loops) is another option. The aim of this prospectively randomized trial was to determine how preservation of leaflet structure in combination with premeasured neochordae compares with the widely adopted technique of leaflet resection.

Methods: A total of 129 patients with severe mitral regurgitation, with a mean mitral regurgitation grade of 3.

Unsung heroes.

This article describes learning modules developed by faculty to assist community health nursing students to care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. These modules were problem based using the protocol format PACES (Problem Identification, Assessment, Creative Problem Solving, Emphasis and Simplicity) to assist students and caregivers to individualize care planning. Caring theory provided the unifying thread for the project.