Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-11"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 122
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Prevalence of urinary incontinence and impact on quality of life in women from Seia, PortugalPublication . Vilão, Sara Raquel; Silva, Patrícia; Pocinho, Margarida; Rebelo, PedroABSTRACT - Introduction – Urinary incontinence (UI) or involuntary loss of urine is a frequent and concerning health condition, which can be subdivided into three common types: stress, urge, or mixed UI. Objectives – To identify the prevalence of UI in women in the municipality of Seia and evaluate the impact of UI on quality of life (QoL). Methods – A descriptive observational study with analytical characteristics was conducted, using a convenience sample of women in the municipality of Seia (n=416), with a subsample of incontinent women (n=117). A sample characterization questionnaire and the Contilife® measurement instrument were used. Inferential analysis was performed using the Chi-Square test, Student’s t-test, and Likelihood Ratio (LR) measure. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha. Results – The prevalence for the population of Seia was 28.1%, with a significant association between parity and the presence of UI, with a large LR value. UI has an impact on women’s QoL (59%), as measured by Contilife® (mean 7.59 in overall QoL), with mixed UI causing the most pronounced effect (73.3%). Conclusion – Female UI impacts on QoL with statistically significant values in all Contilife® dimensions, although classified as low impact. Physiotherapists can be first-contact professionals, allowing the quantification of women with UI and acting in the prevention and treatment of this condition, leading to physiotherapy being a guideline for improving quality of life.
- Environmental and occupational exposure to chemical agents and health challenges I: what message can bring to regulatory science?Publication . Ladeira, CarinaHuman beings live in constant contact with chemical agents—mainly through environmental exposure—and also derived from occupational settings. Environmental exposure is ubiquitous, originating from air, water, and soil. While some chemicals are short-lived in the environment and may elicit no harmful effects in humans, other chemicals bioaccumulate and/or persist for a long time in the environment or the human body due to frequent exposure. However, it is valuable to note that environmental exposure also includes diet, lifestyle, hobbies, and exposure to other substances such as drugs, food additives, pesticides, and nanomaterials, among other daily products, which are currently significant areas of research, such as bisphenols, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), micro-nano plastics (MP-NPs), among others. Occupational exposure concerns the potentially harmful exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace; however, more specifically, it involves substantial contact with hazardous substances. Possible health effects can arise from these types of exposure, which can be measured and prevented by biomonitoring, and the outcome should be integrated to ensure better regulatory decision-making. This editorial provides a brief overview of the major findings of each of the research published, and taken together which information can give to surveillance health and regulatory science on the future research that should be considered.
- Focus on food instead of nutrients improves consumers’ understanding of meals’ nutrition qualityPublication . Viegas, Cláudia; Lamy, E.; Prada, M.; Rocha, AdaBackground: Nowadays, most of the information directed to consumers focuses on nutrients, ignoring the impact of the interactions between different foods, origin, or degree of processing. The methodologies currently applied have led consumers to confuse foods with nutrients, meat, and fish are often referred to as “proteins”, and grains and potatoes are referred to as “carbohydrates, forgetting that these foods are sources of other nutrients, such as fat, proteins, or fiber. Furthermore, its efficacy is compromised by the difficulties of reading labels among consumers. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the understanding of food and nutritional information presented in menus to consumers, comparing the nutrient-focused approach (Nutrition Declaration) and the new food-focused approach (infographic - based on the Portuguese food Guide, from previous research). Methods: 4 different meals were created, 2 balanced and complete in terms of food and nutrient content and 2 unbalanced and incomplete. A questionnaire was applied, evaluating the understanding of the balance and healthiness of the meals, using the two approaches (nutrient-focused and food-focused). The order of presentation of the approaches and the meals was randomized for all participants. The questionnaire was distributed online through snowball sampling. Results: 221 individuals participated, mostly female (67%), aged 25 to 54 years old. Evaluation of meals (“how balanced” and “how to complete” the meal is) using the Nutrition Declaration did not allow to distinguish the quality of meals (Mb ¼ 3,8; Mc¼4,0), in opposite the Infographic returned significant differences between M1/M2 (Mb ¼ 4,3; Mc¼4,4) and M3/M4 (Mb ¼ 2,5; Mc¼2,6) (p < 0.01) allowing consumers to perceive differences between meals. The percentage of consumers that responded “I don’t know” to these questions decreased using the food-focused tool (13% vs 2%). Conclusions: The food-focused approach allows for a better understanding of meals’ nutritional balance.
- Nutritional management for post-stroke sarcopenia risk and multi-comorbidities patient via percutaneous endoscopic gastrotomy: a case report and review of the literaturePublication . Oliveira, Sofia; Martins, Beatriz; Pereira, Paula; Silva, Maria LeonorStroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, often leading to complications such as malnutrition, dysphagia, and sarcopenia. We present the case of a 78-year-old male with a history of ischemic stroke and multiple comorbidities, who was underweight and weakened. Over a 10-month follow-up period, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube was placed, and nutritional management was carried out based on biochemical and nutritional status assessments. Anthropometric and blood biochemical parameters confirmed the need to adjust protein and energy intake to the patient's requirements. Personalized nutritional intervention, including a caloric surplus and dietary adjustments, resulted in weight gain, improved muscle mass, and biochemical blood parameters. This case report highlights the comprehensive nutritional management of a post-stroke patient to improve outcomes and quality of life.
- Study on the influence of physical activity intensity and maturation on sports injuries in children and adolescentsPublication . Costa e Silva, Lara; Silva, Ana Lúcia; Teles, Júlia; Fragoso, IsabelIntensive training combined with a growing body can predispose children to sports injuries. We aimed to identify the importance of physical activity (PA) intensity and maturity as predictors of injury in youth. Information about injuries was collected using a questionnaire (LESADO), the PA intensity was assessed via accelerometry, and maturity was assessed using the Tanner–Whitehouse III bone age method and maturity offset. A total of 121 participants aged between 10 and 18 years were selected from four different schools. Regression analyses were used to determine the significant predictors of the injury profile. Only the injury type presented significant results. The time spent on moderate PA (χ2(2) = 6.701, p = 0.035) and bone age (χ2(2) = 7.196, p = 0.027) were the final predictors. The odds of having a strain or a fracture relative to a sprain increased 1.04 times for each minute spent on moderate PA. Likewise, the odds of having a strain or a fracture relative to a sprain decreased by 1.7 times per year of bone age. The PA intensity and bone age proved to be injury predictors in the growing athletes, with more predictive power in injury type. No meaningful associations were found for the injury occurrence, injury rate, and body area injury location.
- Addressing challenges to enhance clinical research in Portugal: insights from the OncoT3 Expert Group Delphi StudyPublication . Resende, Catarina; Abreu, Marta; Presa Ramos, José; Carda, José; Costa, Luís; Cardoso, Fátima; Pereira, Deolinda; Teixeira, Encarnação; Tonin, Fernanda; Duarte-Ramos, FilipaIntroduction Over the past decades, clinical research has evolved significantly, driven by advances in regulatory frameworks, technological innovations, and methodological approaches. In Portugal, while there has been progress - such as increased regulatory alignment with European standards and the adoption of digital trial management tools - various challenges remain. These may include, among others, limited access to funding, slower patient recruitment rates, and regulatory hurdles that can delay trial approvals. Our goal was to identify key areas for improvement toward the optimization of clinical research practices in the country. Methods A modified three-round Delphi study was conducted online (2023-2024) to achieve a nationwide expert consensus. The scientific committee, composed of seven experts, developed 45 initial statements across five topics: dedication time to clinical research, organization of integrated research centers, conditions for implementing clinical trials, the role of institutional authorities, and patient recruitment and referral. A five-point Likert-type scale was used (1 - 'strongly disagree', 2 - 'disagree', 3 - 'neither agree nor disagree', 4 - 'agree', and 5 - 'strongly agree') to rate each statement. The consensus threshold was established as a percentage of agreement among participants (≥90% in the first round and ≥85% in the second round). The level of consensus achieved by the panel was discussed by the scientific committee during virtual meetings. Results Fifty-one experts completed the exercise (86.4% response rate). Consensus was reached on 32 of the 45 initial statements (71.1%) in the first round, with most of them (n = 20, or 62.5%) presenting high concordance rates (>95%). Four new statements were added for the second round, grounded on the feedback from the experts. By the end of the study, consensus was achieved on 45 out of the 49 final statements (91.8%), with the greatest agreement on the organization of integrated research centers and conditions for implementing clinical trials. Three statements regarding patient recruitment and referral, and one statement on the role of institutional authorities to promote clinical research, did not reach consensus, highlighting the need for further dialogue and innovative solutions in these fields. Conclusion The insights of this study can inform health organizations, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders about the barriers and opportunities to improve clinical research in Portugal. By learning from global best practices and tailoring strategies to local contexts, the country can become a more prominent player in the international community.
- Preventive behaviors among higher education students in response to COVID-19: the role of risk perceptionPublication . Peralta, Catarina; Silva, Manuela V.; Dores, Artemisa R.; Silva, Marina Almeida; Pinto, Marta Vasconcelos; Ramos, Delfina; Rodrigues, Matilde A.In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, higher education institutions adopted a set of measures to ensure safe face-to-face teaching and to control potential outbreaks. However, the effectiveness of the implemented measures is dependent on the behavior of students, who are generally young, often displaced, living with other colleagues, and constantly seeking physical contact, which makes their behavior outside the institution also of particular relevance to controlling the pandemic. An online questionnaire was developed and applied to characterize the behaviors adopted by students inside and outside the higher education institution, as well as risk perception based on the health belief model (HBM) and unrealistic optimism, with the participation of 620 students from three Portuguese higher education institutions. The adoption of safe behaviors is related to a greater perception of the benefits and the severity of COVID-19. Unrealistic optimism also harms preventive behaviors. The behaviors least adopted by students concerning potential exposure to COVID-19 were disinfecting hands and equipment after use, as well as physical distancing from colleagues. Regarding behaviors adopted outside the institution, it was found that students did not avoid physical contact with colleagues and family members. These findings contribute to our understanding of student behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, help institutions understand if the applied strategies were effective or not, and denote the need to reinforce or improve the implemented strategies.
- Medication use for the management of professional performance: between invisibility and social normalisationPublication . Lopes, Noémia; Tavares, David; Pegado, Elsa; Raposo, Hélder António; Rodrigues, CarlaThis article aims to explore pharmaceuticalisation processes in professional work contexts. The approach focuses on identifying patterns of medicine and dietary supplement use for managing work performance, and on discussing the relationship between these consumption practices and work-related pressure factors. This analysis adapts the notions of 'normalisation' to understand the extent of cultural acceptability of these practices, and the notion of 'differentiated normalisation' to capture the tension between the trend towards normalisation of such consumption and its partial social (in)visibility within work settings. Empirical support for this analysis is based on a sociological study conducted in Portugal on professions under high performance pressures. The study involved three professional groups - nurses, journalists and police officers. A mixed methods approach was used, including focus groups, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Overall, the results show a trend towards the use of medicines and supplements for performance management, which reveals itself as a cultural response to work-related social pressures. Such consumption coexists with irregular patterns of either occasional or long-term use, as well as heterogeneous processes of 'normalisation' and 'hidden' consumption. Conclusions point to a social interconnection between the intensification of work pressures and the pharmaceuticalisation of work performance.
- Development of a tool to assess the compliance of canteen menus with the Mediterranean dietPublication . Neto, B.; Ferreira, L.; Rocha, Ada; Viegas, CláudiaThe Mediterranean Diet (MD) is one of the healthiest food patterns associated with important health benefits. Acknowledging this, it’s important to understand how the dietary patterns of the consumers align with the MD. Over time, different authors have formulated several indexes for this purpose. However, current indexes lack standardization, and they only evaluate the quality of the diet of individuals to be used by health professionals and political decision-makers. Although there are indexes to assess the food options at the restaurants, none of them assess the menu compliance with the MD. Due to the importance of food services in the food choices and dietary patterns of the consumers, this research developed an index to assess the alignment of food availability with the MD key points. To address this gap, after reviewing the existing indexes in the literature, the authors created a tool that assesses the degree of compliance of menus with the MD - MedCIn. This index is divided into 4 dimensions, the first one assesses the availability (part A) and variety (part B) of the food/food groups. The second dimension assesses the nutritional quality of the menus based on the nutritional declaration, the third dimension assesses the food portions and culinary options, and the fourth dimension allows the verification of the previous information on site. Although the use of all dimensions allows for a more comprehensive menu evaluation, dimension one can be used as a first approach to MD compliance. The index is meant to be applied in a 4-week cycle, though it can be adapted for each food service. Validation of this tool included construct validity, internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability, all of which returned high values (alpha-Cronbach¼0.88; Cohens Kappa¼0.92). The researchers consider this a reliable tool to easily assess compliance of menus with MD key points, allowing for the identification of issues to be addressed and improved.
- A strain acceleration method to identify the onset of diffuse neckingPublication . Sampaio, Rui F. V.; Pragana, João; Bragança, Ivo; Silva, Carlos; Martins, PauloThis paper presents an innovative ‘strain acceleration method’ for determining the onset of diffuse necking in sheet forming tests using data obtained from digital image correlation (DIC). The method identifies the onset time of diffuse necking and provides the corresponding in-plane principal strain values by detecting a local extreme in the second derivative of the minor principal in-plane strain with respect to time at the edges of the sheet surface region where diffuse necking occurs. Results obtained from applying the method to tensile testing on two different materials and comparisons with available methods based on force-time or principal strain rate evolutions confirm its accuracy and validity. The new method was implemented in a computer software to be used for research and education that also enables determination of localized necking and fracture and plotting the strain loading paths in principal strain space.