Adherence to phosphodiesterase type 5 Inhibitors in the treatment of frectile dysfunction in long-term users: How Do Men Use the Inhibitors?

The high effectiveness of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-i) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been demonstrated. However, previous research shows that PDE5-i treatments have high discontinuation rates.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A internacionalização de PME: o caso da Carvalheira, Bastos Lda.

Mestrado em GestãoAtualmente, a internacionalização é uma estratégia adotada por muitas empresas, independentemente da sua dimensão com o intuito de enfrentar o abrandamento económico no seu mercado doméstico e impulsionar o seu crescimento. No caso das PME, as principais razões que as levam a sair do seu mercado doméstico e a arriscar em mercados externos prendem-se com motivações reativas e muitas vezes exógenas, como sejam a saturação do mercado doméstico, as pressões da concorrência e as relações com os clientes. Assim, a crise financeira no país, aliada à crise no setor da construção civil, leva esta PME portuguesa, do ramo da carpintaria de limpo, a procurar novas oportunidades no exterior. No entanto, como tem consciência da falta de experiência e conhecimento nos mercados internacionais, começa por abordar os mercados numa lógica de procura de novas oportunidades, aproveitando as oportunidades que lhe são dirigidas e vendo nestas uma forma de aprofundar relacionamentos e ganhar experiência neste âmbito. Posteriormente, este conhecimento e experiência permitir-lhe-á enveredar por uma estratégia de internacionalização mais ativa, abandonando/diminuindo a lógica de oportunidade e apostando numa lógica mais estruturada e planeada. Este trabalho, ao tirar proveito de um único estudo de caso, pretende analisar a perspetiva evolutiva da empresa, e como uma estratégia empreendedora, a confiança e a incorporação em redes de relacionamentos facilitam o processo de abertura aos mercados externos.Nowadays, internationalization is a strategy adopted by many companies, regardless of size, to face the economic slowdown on their domestic market, and boost their growth. In the case of SMEs, the main reasons that lead them to leave their domestic market and venture in foreign markets are reactive, often exogenous motivations as market saturation, competitive pressures and relationship with clients. Thus, the financial crisis felt in the domestic market, allied to the crisis the civil construction went through, led this SME from clean carpentry sector to seek new opportunities in foreign markets. However, as it is aware of the lack of experience and knowledge in foreign markets, it decided to internationalize based on an opportunity seeking strategy, taking advantage of the opportunities spotted, seeing in this opportunities a way to gain experience and knowledge in foreign markets. Later on, the knowledge and experience internalized allows the firm to follow an internationalization perspective based on a more active, planned, and structured perspective. This work, using a single case study method seeks to the evolutionary perspective of the company, and how an entrepreneurial, trust-based, networked strategy facilitates the foreign markets opening up process

Flutuações e diferenças de género no desenvolvimento da orientação sexual: Perspectivas teóricas

Neste trabalho pretendemos realizar uma revisão teórica das principais investigações sobre transições e flutuações na orientação sexual, dando especial relevo aos estudos de Lisa Diamond sobre as transições na identidade, comportamentos e atracções. Apresentamos ainda os resultados mais relevantes relativamente às diferenças de género na orientação sexual, que atribuem maior importância a estas diferenças do que propriamente às categorias de identidade sexual decorrentes da orientação sexual

Flutuações e diferenças de género no desenvolvimento da orientação sexual: perspectivas teóricas

Neste trabalho pretendemos realizar uma revisão teórica das principais investigações sobre transições e flutuações na orientação sexual, dando especial relevo aos estudos de Lisa Diamond sobre as transições na identidade, comportamentos e atracções. Apresentamos ainda os resultados mais relevantes relativamente às diferenças de género na orientação sexual, que atribuem maior importância a estas diferenças do que propriamente às categorias de identidade sexual decorrentes da orientação sexual

European older adults' use of the Internet and social networks for love and sex

What is the prevalence of using the Internet for love and sexual activities among older adults across Europe, and what predicts such use? Data were collected in probability samples among populations aged 60–75 years in Norway (N = 1271), Denmark (N = 1045), Belgium (N = 991), and Portugal (N = 509) using postal questionnaires. A total of 36% of men and 15% of women reported having used the Internet for sex and love purposes, most often to watch pornography. The use of the Internet for various love and sex purposes was higher in participants who had a partner, who had masturbation activity and who were satisfied with their current level of sexual activity. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that use of the Internet to find committed partners, watch pornography, buy sex products or seek information or advice was lower in Portuguese men than men in Norway, Denmark, and Belgium. Tailored websites to promote both sexuality and how to preserve a committed relationship are likely to prove important for the aging population

Masturbation among women: Associated factors and sexual response in a portuguese community sample

Masturbation is a common sexual practice with significant variations in reported incidence between men and women. The goal of this study was to explore the (1) age at initiation and frequency of masturbation, (2) associations of masturbation with diverse variables, (3) reported reasons for masturbating and associated emotions, and (4) the relationship between frequency of masturbation and different sexual behavioral factors. A total of 3,687 women completed a web-based survey of previously pilot-tested items. The results reveal a high reported incidence of masturbation practices amongst this convenience sample of women. Ninety one percent of women, in this sample, indicated that they had masturbated at some point in their lives with 29.3% reporting having masturbated within the previous month. Masturbation behavior appears to be related to a greater sexual repertoire, more sexual fantasies, and greater reported ease in reaching sexual arousal and orgasm. Women reported a diversity of reasons for masturbation, as well as a variety of direct and indirect techniques. A minority of women reported feeling shame and guilt associated with masturbation. Early masturbation experience might be beneficial to sexual arousal and orgasm in adulthood. Further, this study demonstrates that masturbation is a positive component in the structuring of female sexuality

O consumo de pornografia na internet numa amostra de mulheres portuguesas

Objetivo: Analisar e identificar alguns comportamentos sexuais relacionados com o consumo de pornografia online numa amostra de mulheres portuguesas. Método: Neste websurvey participaram 216 mulheres (Média de idade = 27,89; DP = 6,40; máx. = 58; mín. = 18) respondendo a um questionário online acerca do seu consumo de pornografia online e comportamentos sexuais associados. O estudo foi divulgado através do método snowball via e-mail e em diversos chatrooms em diferentes horas do dia e da noite. Resultados: 56,9% das mulheres já visitou sites pornográficos e 7% gasta mais de 6 horas por semana nesta atividade. Entretenimento, curiosidade e obtenção de excitação sexual são as principais motivações para este comportamento. Os resultados revelam ainda uma enorme diversidade de conteúdos pornográficos procurados. Conclusão: Este estudo mostra que a Internet pode ser uma ferramenta usada por algumas mulheres para o consumo de pornografia, com uma diversidade de objetivos e de conteúdos, e permite a identificação de alguns tópicos para futura investigação. ------ ABSTRACT ------ Aim: The main goal was to analyze the use of online pornography and identify some related sexual behaviours in Portuguese women. Method: 216 Portuguese (Mean age = 27.89; SD = 6.40; max. = 58; min. = 18) women answered an online questionnaire about their use of online pornography and other associated sexual behaviours. The questionnaire was announced through snowball method via e-mail and trough several chatrooms at different hours of day and night. Results: 56.9% of women, in this sample, have already used pornographic websites and 7% spends more than 6 hours per week in this activity. Entertainment, curiosity, and feeling sexual arousal, are the primary motivations for the use of these websites. Results also revealed a high diversity of preferred pornographic contents. Conclusion: The present study shows that the Internet can be a useful tool to search for pornography for some women, with a great diversity of objectives and contents, and allowed the identification of topics for future research

Portuguese version of Cues for Sexual Desire Scale: The influence of relationship duration

Introduction. It is well established that sexual desire is a triggered response to effective sexual stimuli. Factors that trigger women’s sexual desire can change over time and circumstances. The Cues for Sexual Desire Scale (CSDS) is a valuable assessment tool to measure the range and magnitude of such stimuli. Aim. To investigate the psychometric properties of CSDS within a Portuguese community sample of women; to examine the influence of relationship duration on CSDS scores. Methods. Portuguese women (N = 3,687) over age 18 completed a web-based survey of previously pilot-tested items. Main Outcome Measures. Factor structure and internal consistency of CSDS scores; differences between women in longer-term (more than five years) and shorter-term (less than three years) relationships; predictors of CSDS scores. Results. A factor analysis revealed a difference in factor structure between the Portuguese and the original (English) version of CSDS. A five factor solution explained 58.3% of the total variance. The CSDS demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach’s = 0.913). All subscales had a values greater than 0.85. Women in longer-term relationships had significantly fewer cues for sexual desire (M = 124) compared to women in shorter-term relationships (M = 128), t(1,879) = 3.7, P < 0.001. Older women (B = -0.075; P < 0.001), and longer term relationships (B = -0.056; P < 0.05), were significant predictors of lower CSDS-P scores. Additionally, women who masturbated (B = 0.172; P < 0.001) and reached orgasm easily (B = 0.059; P < 0.001) had higher scores for CSDS-P. Conclusions. The CSDS is a useful instrument for identifying triggers that facilitate sexual desire in Portuguese women.Women in longer-term relationships reported fewer cues compared to women in shorter-term relationships. This has clinical implications and suggests that encouraging women to consider newer and varied cues that might evoke or enhance sexual desire may be one means of addressing concerns with low sexual desire

Dropout in the treatment of erectile dysfunction with PDE5: A study on predictors and a qualitative analysis of reasons for discontinuation

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5) are currently the first line treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). However, previous research shows that PDE5 treatments have high discontinuation rates. Understanding the reasons for discontinuing PDE5 will be necessary to optimize the response to treatment. Aim. The main goals were: (i) to analyze discontinuation rate of PDE5; (ii) to identify the discontinuation predictors; and (iii) to study the reasons for discontinuation using a qualitative methodology. Main Outcome Measures. The PDE5 discontinuation rates, predictors, and reasons for discontinuation treatment. Methods. A total of 327 men with clinical diagnosis for ED who had been treated with PDE5 were successfully interviewed by telephone, after giving their informed consent by snail mail. Telephone interviews, concerning their ongoing treatment, were carried out using a standardized questionnaire form with quantitative and qualitative items. Participation rate was 71.8%. Results. Of the total sample, 160 men (48.9%) had discontinued PDE5 treatment. The discontinuation rate was higher among men with diabetes (73%) and in iatrogenic group (65%), and lower in venogenic etiology (38.7%).We differentiated three groups of men who discontinued treatment (i) during the first 3 months (55.1%); (ii) between 4 and 12 months (26.9%); and (iii) after a period of 12 months (18%). Qualitative analyses revealed diverse reasons for discontinuation: non-effectiveness of PDE5 (36.8%), psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, negative emotions, fears, concerns, dysfunctional beliefs) (17.5%), erection recovery (14.4%), and concerns about the cardiovascular safety of PDE5 (8.7%) were the most common. Older men and men whose partners were involved in the treatment, were less likely to discontinue treatment. Conclusion. Half the subjects discontinued medication. Mostly, there was a combination of factors that led to discontinuation: non-effectiveness and psychosocial factors appear to be the main reasons. Addressing those factors will allow following up with appropriate focus on relevant topics in order to improve compliance