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Objective: To ascertain the content validity of the Self-perception of Family Health Status scale.Method: A validation study of an instrument with an online Delphi panel using the consensus technique. Eighteen experts in the subject were intentionally selected, with a multidisciplinary origin and representing different professional fields. Each of the proposed items was assessed using a five-point scale, and open-ended questions, to modify or propose items. Descriptive analysis was performed of the sample and the items, applying criteria of validation/elimination.Results: The first round had a response rate of 83.3% and validated 75 of the 96 proposed items; the second had a response rate of 80%, and validated the 21 newly created items, concluding the panel of experts. Conclusions: We present an instrument to measure self-perception of family health status, from a nursing perspective. This may be an advance in scientific knowledge, to facilitate the assessment of the state of health of the family unit, enabling detection of alterations, and to facilitate interventions to prevent consequences to the family unit and its members. It can be used in clinical care, research or teaching.

An instrumental study of 392 households with sick or disabled members was conducted to analyze the psychometric properties of the Family Disease Management Scale. Three different models were analyzed using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). One was a single-dimensional factor (family disease management) with 30 items; and two hierarchical models with three factors, which represent the dimensions, family support, family normalization and family participation, that placed the workload into another of higher order called family disease management, the first with 30 items and the second with 29. The CFA results showed that the latter 29-item model provided a better fit. The internal consistency analysis using the Cronbach alpha test showed a value of .93 for the complete scale and above .80 in the three subscales. This instrument may be useful to assess how families manage the illness or disability of its members, especially in clinical practice given the importance of the family as the primary caregiver. As well as in performing epidemiological studies, and in the field of management, planning and assistance.

The current study examined the interrelationships among potentially relevant family and social factors associated with family health. A cross-sectional study was conducted by collecting demographic information from 432 families, including family typology, family life cycle (FLC), and social status as well as social support and stressful life events (SLEs), with self-perception of family health being measured as a dependent variable. Descriptive analysis of the sample and univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Multivariate analyses showed that the FLC stage of families as launching centers, lower educational level of household heads, and impact of SLEs were negatively associated with family health, whereas adequate perceived social support and the number of close friends and relatives were positively associated with family health. Therefore, these factors must be considered by family nurses to promote family health and prevent family dysfunction.

Objective: to know the perspective of alcoholic patients and their families about the behavioral characteristics of the disease, identifying the issues to modify the addictive behavior and seek rehabilitation. Method: ethnographic research using interpretative anthropology, via participant observation and a detailed interview with alcoholic patients and their families, members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Alanon in Spain. Results: development of disease behavior in alcoholism is complex due to the issues of interpreting the consumption model as a disease sign. Patients often remain long periods in the pre-contemplation stage, delaying the search for assistance, which often arrives without them accepting the role of patient. This constrains the recovery and is related to the social thought on alcoholism and self-stigma on alcoholics and their families, leading them to deny the disease, condition of the patient, and help. The efforts of self-help groups and the involvement of health professionals is essential for recovery. Conclusion: understanding how disease behavior develops, and the change process of addictive behavior, it may be useful for patients, families and health professionals, enabling them to act in a specific way at each stage.