Browsing by Author "Costa, Andreia"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Beam steering antenna and network design for WPT applicationsPublication . Costa, Andreia; Gonçalves, Ricardo; Pinho, Pedro; Carvalho, NunoThe Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly present in our daily routine. It allows to use technology in a more efficient way. Important enabler of it is Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) as an alternative to electrical conductors (wires and cables). Given these aspects a linear microstrip antenna array was developed for 2.45 GHz ISM band, with Circular Polarization (CP). The main objective of this array is to create a beam to power up wireless sensors within a specific area of a room. The steering performance of the antenna is simulated using CST tool. Simulation results are found to be in good agreement with measurements.
- Design of UAV and ground station antenas for communications link budget improvementPublication . Costa, Andreia; Gonçalves, Ricardo; Pinho, Pedro; Carvalho, NunoThis paper presents the design and implementation of two antennas aiming the improvement of the link budget between an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and the ground station. The performance of the antennas is simulated using CST software tool and the simulation results are found to be in good agreement with the measurements. The UAV antenna presents 6 dBi of gain with an omni-directional coverage. The ground station antenna is a directional antenna based on a stacked configuration allowing an increase of the bandwidth while achieving a gain of 13.5 dBi. Both antennas operate at 1.335 GHz and a range of 50 Km is predicted when included in the communication system.
- Healthcare equity and commissioning: a four-year national analysis of Portuguese primary healthcare unitsPublication . Pereira, António; Biscaia, André; Calado, Isis; Freitas, Alberto; Costa, Andreia; Coelho, AnabelaEqual and adequate access to healthcare is one of the pillars of Portuguese health policy. Despite the controversy over the commissioning processes' contribution to equity in health, this article aims to clarify the relationship between socio-economic factors and the results of primary healthcare (PHC) commissioning indicators through an analysis of four years of data from all PHC units in Portugal. The factor that presents a statistically significant relationship with a greater number of indicators is the organizational model. Since the reform of PHC services in 2005, a new type of unit was introduced: the family health unit (USF). At the time of the study, these units covered 58.1% of the population and achieved better indicator results. In most cases, the evolution of the results achieved by commissioning seems to be similar in different analyzed contexts. Nevertheless, the percentage of patients of a non-Portuguese nationality and the population density were analyzed, and a widening of discrepancies was observed in 23.3% of the cases. The commissioning indicators were statistically related to the studied context factors, and some of these, such as the nurse home visits indicator, are more sensitive to context than others. There is no evidence that the best results were achieved at the expense of worse healthcare being offered to vulnerable populations, and there was no association with a reduction in inequalities in healthcare. It would be valuable if the Portuguese Government could stimulate the increase in the number of working USFs, especially in low-density areas, considering that they can achieve better results with lower costs for medicines and diagnostic tests.
- Mental health patient-reported outcomes and experiences assessment in PortugalPublication . Coelho, Anabela; de Bienassis, Katherine; Klazinga, Niek; Santo, Susan; Frade, Patrícia; Costa, Andreia; Gaspar, TâniaMental ill-health is increasingly recognized by policymakers for its significant human and economic toll. The main objective of this study is to capture patient-reported outcomes and experiences on mental health care in Portugal using methods developed for international benchmarking purposes, such as the OECD Patient-reported Indicators Surveys. The study included 397 participants, 247 (62.2%) women, divided into four age groups: ages 16-24 years, ages 25-44 years, ages 45-65 years, and ages 66 years or older. The data collection procedure and analysis followed the OECD PaRIS Mental Health Working Group 2021 protocol allowing subsequent comparability with data from other OECD member countries. Findings on the WHO-5 Well-Being Index showed that women manifest a lower score in well-being following mental health care services use. This finding may be, at least in part, explained by the study population (mental health services users), including individuals with clinical depression which is more frequently observed in women. In terms of the level of satisfaction with treatment (provided by nurses, doctors, phycologists, etc.) the response "Yes, definitely" varied from 67% of answers regarding "time spent by care providers", to 76.3% "involvement in decisions" to 79.7% regarding "clarity of explanations" and 84.4% regarding the item courtesy and respect. This study shows the feasibility of implementing and using patient-reported metrics (PROM and PREM) in mental health services in Portugal. The study results generate useful clinical information to help meet the expectations and needs of patients, contributing to a continuous improvement of mental health community services.
- Sexually transmitted infections and health literacy: a community-based preventive programPublication . Sul, Susana; Ferreira, Liliana; Maia, Ana Catarina; Coelho, Anabela; Costa, AndreiaBackground: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health problem with a high risk of morbidity and community transmissibility. Evidence points to their continuous increase. This study describes the design, development, and implementation of a community-based STI prevention program for community healthcare users. Methods: Based on the Health Planning Process design method, a structured, community-based intervention program on STI counseling and detection was conducted in a primary health care unit in Lisbon. Two data collection instruments were applied in the diagnosis of the situation, namely the Health Literacy Survey Portugal (ILS-PT) and the STD Attitude Scale, to 47 patients who attended the health consultation on STI counseling and detection in a primary care unit in Lisbon. Two interventions were implemented, the health education session and the provision of an educational poster. In the evaluation of the project, the acceptance and satisfaction of the patients with the implemented interventions were considered outcome indicators. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data was performed. Results: The participants show considerably low levels of health literacy and high-risk behaviors for acquiring STIs. After an intervention, a high percentage of the participants point out the project as exciting and valuable and reveal having acquired knowledge that allowed them to improve their health. Furthermore, the patients were very satisfied with the implemented health education session and the educational poster. Conclusion: This project revealed the urgent and important need to implement community intervention projects to prevent STIs and promote health literacy among the most vulnerable groups.
- The epidemiology of falls in Portugal: an analysis of hospital admission dataPublication . Sampaio, Filipa; Nogueira, Paulo; Ascenção, Raquel; Henriques, Adriana; Costa, AndreiaBackground: Falls are a common cause of injury and pose an increased risk of morbidity, mortality, and lifelong disability. Falls encompass a troublesome definition and can pose challenges in epidemiological studies. Data on fall-related hospital admissions in Portugal remain unpublished. This study aimed to examine the epidemiology of fall-related hospital admissions in the Portuguese population between 2010 and 2018. It also aimed to examine annual rates of fall-related hospital admissions using three methodological approaches. Methods: The Portuguese Hospital Morbidity Database was used to identify all cases resulting in one or more inpatient admission in public hospitals related to falls from 2010 to 2018. Fall-related hospital admissions were described by age groups, sex, geographical area of residence, and type of fall. Annual rates were computed using three approaches: i) based on the number of inpatient admissions with an ICD code of fall, ii) based on the number of patients admitted to inpatient care with an ICD code of fall, and iii) based on the number of inpatient admissions with a principal diagnosis of the injury. Results: Between 2010 and 2018, 383,016 fall-related admissions occurred in 344,728 patients, corresponding to 2.1% of the total number of hospitalizations during the same period. Higher rates were seen among the younger (20-25) and the oldest age groups (+85), males until the age of 60, females from the age of 60, and areas of residence with a higher aging index. An overall rate of falls per 100,000 population was estimated at 414 (based on the number of admissions), 373 (based on the number of patients), and 353 (based on the number of admissions with a principal diagnosis of injury). Conclusions: This study provides an overall picture of the landscape of falls in a scarcely explored setting. The results aim to contribute to identifying appropriate preventive interventions and policies for these populations.