OBJETIVO: Caracterizar o perfil de desempenho de crianças normo-ouvintes de sete e oito anos em um teste de triagem de processamento auditivo. MÉTODO: O trabalho é um estudo observacional descritivo. Foram selecionadas 109 crianças de sete anos e 106 crianças de oito anos da rede regular de ensino de Cuiabá-MT portadoras de limiares de audibilidade de até 15 dBNA, ausência de indicativos de distúrbio de processamento auditivo e ausência de alterações fonológicas. As mesmas foram avaliadas por meio de um teste de triagem de processamento auditivo e as pontuações obtidas foram comparadas com a literatura nacional. RESULTADOS: As médias e os desvios-padrões encontrados nos sub-testes Fala Filtrada, Fala no Ruído e Palavras Competitivas na idade de sete anos foram respectivamente 24,4±5,1, 33,4±3,4 e 76,50±9,7 pontos, e na idade de oito anos 24,0±4,8; 34,0±3,0 e 77,5±10,8 pontos. CONCLUSÃO: As pontuações obtidas, não podem ser generalizadas para todas as crianças brasileiras devido à variabilidade regional reforçando a necessidade de estudos com casuísticas maiores e que descrevam o desempenho de crianças de várias faixas etárias e pertencentes a diversas regiões geográficas e condições sociais. / PURPOSE: To characterize performance profile of seven and eight years old children listeners through auditory processing screening test. METHODS: This work is a descriptive observacional study. One hundred nine sevenyear- old children and 106 eight-year-old children regularly attending schools and fitting following criteria were recruited: auditory thresholds up to 15dBNA, absence of auditory processing deficit, and absence of phonologic disturbs. Selected children were evaluated through auditory processing screening test. These children\'s scores were compared with others Brazilian studies. RESULTS: Performance averages and standard-deviations for the sub-tests Filtered Words, Auditory Figure Ground and Competitive Words in seven year-old were respectively 24.4±5.1, 33.4±3.4, and 76.50±9.7 points, while eight year-old were respectively 24.0±4.8, 34.0±3.0, and 77.5±10.8 points. CONCLUSION: The scores in the test used cannot be generalized for the Brazilian children. Due to Brazilian regional variability of children\'s performance in the test, larger multi-centric studies, encompassing children of broader geographic regions and social conditions, as well as age range, are necessary.

Introdução. Muitos estudos epidemiológicos sugerem a potencial relação do consumo habitual de nutrientes ou alimentos com as doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT). Os efeitos da dieta na saúde humana não ocorrem em curto prazo e sim pela exposição repetida em períodos de tempo maior. O interesse em se estudar o consumo alimentar na fase da adolescência justifica-se pela associação de hábitos alimentares inadequados neste grupo etário serem um fator de risco para enfermidades, particularmente as de origem metabólica. A avaliação e a quantificação da dieta habitual dos indivíduos e escolha do instrumento para a mensuração do consumo são exercícios difíceis, pois ambos influenciam a plausibilidade dos resultados obtidos. Cada vez mais os sistemas computadorizados e o meio digital estão sendo incrementados no campo das pesquisas relacionadas à saúde da população, pois permitem recolher dados de forma contínua, independentemente da hora do dia e do dia da semana, e sem limitações geográficas. Objetivo. Aplicar o Questionário de Frequência Alimentar Simplificado para Adolescentes (QFASA) em ambiente digital para avaliação da dieta habitual de escolares do município de Salesópolis SP. Métodos. Uma amostra de 157 escolares respondeu a dois Questionários de Frequência Alimentar Simplificado para Adolescentes versão virtual (QFASA) e três Recordatórios de 24 horas (R24h). O QFASA possui 58 itens alimentares, semi-quantitativo e com frequência de consumo. Foi realizada a descrição do consumo habitual dos escolares pelo QFASA e pelo R24h. Os resultados de consumo alimentar de macronutrientes e alguns micronutrientes foram comparados entre: QFASA aplicado no primeiro momento (QFASA1) x QFASA aplicado segundo momento (QFASA2) e QFASA2 x média entre 3 R24h. Resultados. De 157 adolescentes, com idade média de 13 anos, 64 por cento eram do sexo feminino. Os meninos apresentaram consumo superior de energia e nutrientes comparado com as meninas na média dos 3 Recordatórios de 24 horas e no 7 QFASA2. Ao comparar os dois QFASA observou-se diferença entre as médias de consumo dos macro e micronutrientes, com exceção da vitamina C e o QFASA1 apresentou valores superiores para todos os nutrientes estudados. Quando confrontados os valores de consumo do QFASA2 com o R24h, observa-se também diferenças entre suas médias, com exceção do colesterol e vitamina C para o sexo masculino, além disso o QFASA2 superestima todos os nutrientes estudados. Conclusão. Os meninos apresentam uma média maior de consumo alimentar quando comprados as meninas para a maioria dos nutrientes estudados, tanto no R24h quanto no QFASA. O QFASA na sua versão virtual não pode ser considerado um bom instrumento para avaliar o consumo habitual dos adolescentes, pois apresenta médias significativamente diferentes, quando comparado ao R24h (método de referência). Além disso, mostrou-se de difícil compreensão pelos adolescentes, necessitando de uma revisão dos seus itens, porções definidas e frequência de consumo e posterior estudo de usabilidade e Teste de Resposta ao Item. / Introduction. Many epidemiological studies have demonstrated the potential relationship between habitual intake of nutrients or foods with chronic non communicable diseases (NCDs). Due to the effects of diet on human health do not occur in the short term but by repeated periods of a long time. The interest in studying adolescents food intake is justified by the association of poor dietary habits in this group being a risk factor for diseases, particularly those of metabolic origin. The assessment,quantification and choice of an instrument for measuring intake of adolescents usual diet are difficult exercises because both influence the plausibility of the results. Increasingly, computer systems and digital media are being incremented in the field of research related to the health of the population, they allow to collect data continuously, regardless of time of day and day of the week, and without geographical limitations. Objective. Applying the Simplified Food Frequency Questionnaire for Adolescents (SFQA) in digital environment to evaluation of usual diet of school children in Salesópolis - SP. Methods. A sample of 157 students answered two Simplified Food Frequency Questionnaire for Adolescents - virtual version (SFQA) and three 24-hour recalls (24h). The SFQA had 58 semi-quantitative food items with the frequency of consumption. The description of the usual diet of students by QFASA and the 24h was performed. The results of dietary intake of macronutrients and some micronutrients were compared in two moments: 1. SFQA - applied at first time (SFQA1) x SFQA - applied second time; 2. The average of (SFQA2) between 3 R24h x SFQA2. Results. Between 157 adolescents, mean age of 13 years (64 per cent female). The boys had higher intake of energy and nutrients when compared to girls in the average of three 24-hour recalls and SFQA2. When comparing the two SFQA was observed difference between the mean intake of macronutrients and micronutrientes, with the exception of vitamin C and SFQA1 revealed higher values in all the studied nutrients. When confronted 9 intake values of SFQA2 with 24h, was observed differences between their averages, with the exception of cholesterol and vitamin C for males, moreover the SFQA2 over-estimated all studied nutrients. Conclusion. Boys have higher food intake than girls in most nutrients studied, in the R24h and SFQA. The SFQA in its virtual version can not be considered a good instrument to assess the habitual intake of adolescents, has been shown significantly differences between means when compared to R24h (reference method). Moreover, proved elusive for adolescents, requiring a revision of their items, defined portions and frequency of intake and subsequent usability study and test item response.

Background: Patient evaluation of primary health care (PHC) as a recognised means of obtaining important information for quality improvement can be enhanced with the availability and use of acceptable, reliable and valid questionnaires. This research reports the development and validation of the patients' evaluation scale (PES) for assessment of the quality of primary health care in Nigeria. Methods: Mixed methods design was used to develop and validate items, response scale and domains in the Patients' Evaluation Scale. Items were derived from literature review and content analysis of interviews with patients. Face and content validity were established with primary health care experts and patients while quantitative pilots were conducted to determine questionnaire's acceptability across groups and appropriate response format. The conduct of a large multi-centre psychometric validation survey was used to determine the internal structure (exploratory factor analysis), reliability (internal consistency), construct, criterion and discriminative validities (Pearson's correlation coefficient, structural equation modelling using regression equation method) and acceptability (scale and item response pattern) of the questionnaire. The discriminatory properties were assessed by questionnaire's ability to differentiate population groups' scores in line with 'a priori' hypotheses. Results: The development resulted in the long and shortened forms of PES containing 27 and 18-items respectively. Both showed good indices for validity and acceptability among various population groups in Nigeria. PES-SF resulted from the deletion of items in PES that didn't meet recommended Eigen value < 1, factor loading < 0.5, item-total, item-domain correlation < 0.4 and item-item correlation within domains of < 0.2. PES-SF has Cronbach's alpha of 0.87 for entire questionnaire and 0.78, 0.79 and 0.81 respectively for the three domains (codenamed 'facility', 'organisation', and 'health care'). The three components solution from the Scree plot explained 56.6% of the total variance of perceived quality. Items correlated significantly higher with domain identified through factor analysis than with other domains. In line with 'a priori' hypothesis, scale and domains scores of PES-SF could differentiate population groups based on patients' clinical and socio-demographic characteristics. PES-SF scores also showed significant correlation with patient general satisfaction and likelihood of returning or recommending others to the PHC centres. Conclusion: The patient evaluation scale designed for exit assessment of patients' experiences with PHC in Nigeria shows good measurement properties. It will be useful to clinicians, researchers and policy makers for patient-focused quality improvement activities in Nigeria. Further research will involve translation to major Nigerian languages and to assess PES validity against observed quality criteria.

Is personality important for understanding the variation we see in animal welfare? In this thesis, I address that question by studying the association between personality and health, welfare, and happiness in three species of nonhuman primate: rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), brown capuchins (Sapajus apella), and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). As part of this research I test a newly designed animal welfare questionnaire. In Chapter 1 I review how animal welfare questionnaires can be designed and implemented as an addition tool for assessing animal welfare. In Chapter 2 I present a study of rhesus macaque personality, dominance, behaviour, and health. In Chapter 3 I test the reliability and validity of my animal welfare questionnaire. In Chapter 4 I extended my work on welfare questionnaires to test if they are valid for assessment of chimpanzee welfare and associated with personality. I specifically test if welfare ratings are based on observed behaviour. I conclude my quantitative work in Chapter 5 with a study testing the association between personality and health, welfare, and subjective well-being in rhesus macaques. Finally, Chapter 6 includes my conclusions and future directions for this line of research. Across all four quantitative studies some common trends were found. First, personality is associated with overall welfare and health. Second, welfare questionnaires are reliable and valid way to assess welfare in the studied species. And third, welfare and subjective well-being are measuring the same construct in these species. Overall, I conclude that personality is clearly useful for understanding animal welfare and that questionnaires are a reliable, valid, and valuable method of animal welfare assessment, in additional to traditional methods.

Introdução: Define-se dispepsia funcional (DF) por dor ou desconforto centrado no abdômen superior, na ausência de lesões estruturais que expliquem os sintomas. Apesar de muito prevalente, a DF permanece sendo uma entidade de difícil estudo, pela falta de ferramentas adequadas para mensuração de desfechos significativos. Isto acontece porque a DF não possui um substrato anatômico ou fisiopatológico mensurável, e, portanto, torna-se obrigatória a valorização de aspectos subjetivos para se quantificar benefícios de intervenções terapêuticas. Objetivo: Validar o Questionário Diagnóstico de Roma III para Dispepsia Funcional na língua portuguesa. Métodos: O questionário foi traduzido seguindo as recomendações do Grupo de Roma. O grupo de casos foi formado por 109 pacientes consecutivos com DF, que responderam o questionário em 4 momentos diferentes. Já o grupo de controles, foi composto por 100 doadores de sangue consecutivos, sem relato de sintomas digestivos. As seguintes propriedades clinimétricas foram avaliadas: consistência interna (através do alfa de Cronbach), reprodutibilidade, responsividade (através do X² de McNemar), validade discriminante (através do X² de Pearson), validade de conteúdo. Resultados: O Coeficiente alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,92. O questionário mostrou-se reprodutível, indicando que os pacientes responderam de maneira parecida nos dois momentos em que o questionário foi aplicado, a discordância entre as respostas não foi significativa (p=1,00). O questionário foi capaz de identificar alterações quando elas ocorreram, de maneira significativa (p<0,01). Os dois gastroenterologistas “cegos” concordaram que o questionário avalia DF. Quando comparamos as respostas dos casos com os controles (pareados por sexo e idade) o questionário indicou que 5,3% dos controles tinha DF, contra 91,2% dos pacientes, uma diferença significativa (p<0,01). Conclusão: O Questionário Diagnóstico de Roma III para Dispepsia Funcional está pronto para ser utilizado em estudos na língua portuguesa, tendo sido validado com sucesso. / Background: Validated questionnaires are essential tools to be utilized in epidemiological research. At the moment there are no Rome III diagnostic questionnaires translated to Portuguese. Aim: To validate the Portuguese version of the Rome III Diagnostic Questionnaire for Functional Dyspepsia (FD). Methods: The questionnaire has been translated following the Rome III recommendations. A hundred and nine consecutive patients with FD answered the questionnaire. The control group comprised 100 healthy consecutive blood donors, without digestive symptoms. Internal consistency, reproducibility, responsiveness, discriminant validity and content analysis were evaluated. Results: Cronbach‟s α coefficient was 0.92. The questionnaire showed reliability: the patients answered it in a similar way on two distinct occasions and their responses were substantially very similar (p=1.00). The questionnaire was able to demonstrate changes when they occur (p<0,01). Two “blinded” gastroenterologists agreed that the questionnaire adequately evaluated FD. When we compared the answers between patients and controls, the questionnaire showed that 5,3% of controls had FD symptoms compared with 91,2% of the patients (p<0,01). Conclusion: The Rome III Diagnostic Questionnaire for FD is ready to be used in clinical researches in Portuguese, as it has been successfully validated in Portuguese.

The aim of this thesis was to create a new communications strategy for the athletics meeting called Grand Prix Ústí nad Labem, thereby ensuring greater participation of the audience. The first part of this thesis is focused on the theoretical background with an emphasis on marketing communication and it's differences in the focus on sport and the development of effective communication using the tools of the communication mix. The second part of this work is devoted to the history and present of the athletics in Ústí nad Labem and the history of Grand Prix Ústí nad Labem. The third part of this thesis describes the current operation of the athletic meeting, it's organizational structure and financial aspects of the existing communication strategy. The fourth part is the actual research conducted through questionnaires. The results of the survey and additional outputs from SPSS helped to create the fifth part, the part which is designed to refocus the athletic meeting communication strategy -- billboards, tickets, TV commercials, to improve Internet and Internet forums communications, etc., which should help increase public participation in the actual Grand Prix meeting Ústí nad Labem.