Economic impact of sporting events - evaluation criteria and indicators of interest in the case of Madeira

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Trends in physiotherapy education: retrospective analysis of ECPE congress abstracts

Relevance: The last decade both physiotherapy and education faced many demands. Educators are challenged to show evidence and report their best practices. An overview of what has been the focus in the European Congress of Physiotherapy Education (ECPE) and the main areas of interest and developments in the European Higher Education area could provide the opportunity to benchmark towards the policy statement of education of the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT), facilitating consistency and perhaps assisting in formulating a relevant research agenda for the future. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to give an overview of the trends in physiotherapy education of the last decennium as it is presented at the conferences of the European Region of the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (ER-WCPT). Methods/analysis: A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out and qualitative and quantitative analysis was made on the basis of content and study design/methodology, by three independent reviewers of all abstracts presented at each of the three previous ECPE conferences of 2004 (Estoril – Portugal), 2008 (Stockholm – Sweden), 2012 (Vienna – Austria). Categories for content analyses were developed based on the distribution and main themes used in the conference. Results: A total of n = 350 abstracts were classified. The main topics were divided between ICT – Information Communication Technology, Education and Employment, Continuous Professional Development, Teaching and Learning, Clinical Education, Evidence Based Practice: Teaching and Learning, Clinical Reasoning, Innovation and Curriculum Development, Teaching in Specific Areas, Interdisciplinary. And considering different methodological approaches: Descriptive Studies; Analytical Observational and Experimental Studies; Reviews and Mixed Methods. Discussion and conclusions: This analysis was constrained by lack of transparency on the description of methodologies in the abstracts and also by the different organization of the abstract books. We needed to create a category “Information available doesn’t allow a classification” and make our decisions based on the rather classic distinction of qualitative and quantitative study types and methodology. From the results we can find an increase of total presentations from the first to the last conference. In all conference there is a clear preference for poster presentations and the qualitative studies are more favored. There is an overall increase in research and implementation research from the first conference to the last. Impact and implications: The next step could be a comparison with WCPT congress education related abstracts and the proceedings of educational networks like COHEHRE and ENPHE. This kind of reflection could help researchers and educators create a research agenda and build upon earlier work. It gives an incentive to the development of high quality methodologies. An overview of reports gives the opportunity to compare with published results and could challenge publishing criteria.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cortisol, coping familiar e sobrecarga em cuidadores informais de toxicodependentes

This study focuses on the prospective mediation role of family coping between burden and cortisol levels in informal caregivers of addicts as well as on the feasible use of two different ways to analyse the salivary cortisol levels. Participants were 120 Portuguese informal caregivers of addicts. The cortisol samples were collected at awakening, 45 minutes later and after a 30 minute presentation of images taken from the International Affective Picture System. Family coping and caregiver burden were measured using the Portuguese versions of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment, and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale. Cortisol samples were collected in salivettes and the results were computed in order to determine the Area Under the Curve scores (AUCg, AUCi). Results found family coping to be negatively correlated with burden and AUCg levels (i.e. overall intensity) and positively correlated with either AUCg and AUCi (i.e. change over time). The mediation model revealed that family coping was a partial mediator in the relationship between the burden and AUCg levels. Therefore, Family Coping appears to be an essential variable in understanding the stress response and should be considered in further studies and interventions. In addition, the use of two different formulas for calculating cortisol levels provided important new information concerning the relationship between cortisol, burden and family coping. It seems that burden has a more profound effect on the overall intensity of the neuroendocrine response to caregiver stress and not so much on the sensitivity of the system.Este estudo centrou-se na utilização viável de duas maneiras diferentes para analisar os níveis de cortisol salivar e no papel moderador do coping familiar entre níveis de cortisol e sobrecarga em cuidadores informais de toxicodependentes. A amostra incluiu 120 cuidadores informais de toxicodependentes. As amostras foram recolhidas ao acordar, 45 minutos mais tarde e depois de uma apresentação de 30 minutos de imagens retiradas do IAPS (International Affective Picture System). O coping familiar e a sobrecarga foram avaliados usando as versões em português do Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) e Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-Copes) respetivamente. As amostras de cortisol foram recolhidas em salivettes e os resultados foram computados, a fim de determinar a área sob a curva (AUCg, AUCi). Os resultados encontraram que o coping familiar encontrou-se negativamente correlacionado com a carga e os níveis AUCg (i.e. intensidade global) e positivamente correlacionada com AUCg e AUCi (ou seja, a mudança ao longo do tempo). O modelo revelou que o coping familiar foi um mediador parcial na relação entre a sobrecarga e os níveis de AUCg. Assim, o uso de duas fórmulas diferentes para calcular os níveis de cortisol forneceu novas informações importantes sobre a relação entre o cortisol, sobrecarga e coping familiar. Parece que a sobrecarga tem um efeito mais profundo sobre a intensidade global da resposta neuroendócrina ao stress do cuidador e não tanto na sensibilidade do sistema

Algumas pragas nos pomares de citrinos da Ilha do Pico (Açores).

VI Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - Pico 1991.Observação de pragas em 3 pomares de citrinos da Ilha do Pico a fim de actualizar a lista de espécies nocivas anteriormente conhecida. Foram observadas 10 espécies pertencentes a 7 famílias; Diaspididae, Coccidae, Margarodidae, Aleyrodidae, Aphididae, Tetranychidae e Tenuipalpidae

Algumas pragas de citrinos da Ilha de S. Jorge (Açores).

VII Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - São Jorge e Topo - 1992.Durante a Expedição Científica "S. Jorge e Topo/92", realizada em Junho-Julho de 1992, foram colhidas amostras de árvores de citrinos para observação da entomofauna e acarofauna nocivas a esta cultura. Foram identificadas 14 espécies pertencentes a 9 famílias. As famílias Diaspididae, Coccidae e Aphididae, são aquelas que apresentam maior riqueza especifica, representando cerca de 60% do total

Sobrecarga em cuidadores informais de dependentes de substâncias : adaptação do Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA)

Os problemas causados pelo abuso e dependência de substâncias assumem-se como um dos mais difíceis de resolver nas sociedades ocidentais. Os cuidadores informais dos Dependentes de Substâncias prestam cuidados que, por vezes, interferem com aspectos da vida pessoal, familiar, laboral e social dos cuidadores, predispondo-os a conflitos. Frequentemente, estas pessoas entram em situações de crise manifestando sintomas como: tensão, constrangimento, fadiga, stress, frustração, redução de convívio, depressão e alteração da auto-estima, entre outros. Esta sobrecarga (burden) ou tensão pode acarretar problemas físicos, psicológicos, emocionais, sociais e financeiros, que acabam por afectar o bem-estar do doente e cuidador. O Caregiver Reaction Assessment (Given, et al., 1992) é um instrumento que avalia aspectos específicos da situação de cuidar, incluindo as dimensões positivas e negativas das reacções dos cuidadores no cuidar de um paciente com uma doença, podendo ser utilizado como medida de sobrecarga. Este artigo apresenta a adaptação do CRA numa amostra de cuidadores de Dependentes de Substâncias. Os resultados mostram uma elevada fidelidade, sendo que três factores explicam 58,76% da variabilidade total. A subescala Auto-Estima apresenta um α=0,95, a subescala Impacto na Vida Familiar do Cuidador um α=0,88 e a subescala Impacto no Quotidiano do Cuidador um α=0,70. Os 24 itens do instrumento apresentam um α=0,95, confirmando as boas qualidades psicométricas e mantendo todos itens originais. Os resultados obtidos com o CRA sugerem uma boa validade de construto, estando negativamente correlacionado com o Suporte Social (IESSS). Com base nos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que a escala apresenta boas qualidades psicométricas para ser utilizada numa população de cuidadores de Dependentes de Substâncias., sendo útil como medida de sobrecarga.Problems caused by drug and alcohol addiction poses are the most difficult to handle in western societies. Caregiving interferes with caregiver’s own personal, family, job and social life, making them more susceptible to interpersonal conflicts. As a result, caregivers often experience feelings of tension, fatigue, uneasiness, stress, frustration, depression, reduced social interactions, changes in self-esteem, among other symptoms. These feelings of burden and stress may convey physical, psychological, emotional, social and financial problems, ultimately affecting the caregiver and patient’s well-being. The Caregiver Reaction Assessment (Given, et al., 1992) is an instrument that assesses specific aspects of caregiving, including positive and negative caregiver reactions, posing as a burden measure. This article presents the adaptation of CRA in a sample of addict’s informal caregivers. The results show that the Portuguese adaptation has good validity, with three factors explaining 58,76% of the observed variance. The Self-Esteem, Impact on Caregiver’s Family Life, Impact on Caregiver’s Health subscales have internal consistency scores of 95, 88 and, 70, respectively. The total 24 items of CRA have an internal consistency score of 95, confirming the good psychometric quality of the instrument. The CRA presents good construct validity, being negatively correlated with Social Support (IESSS). Based on these results, t the scale presents good psychometric qualities meeting the terms for the use on drug and alcohol addict’s informal caregivers as a burden measure

Measuring the efficiency of Palestinian public hospitals during 2010-2015: an application of a two-stage DEA method

While health needs and expenditure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) are growing, the international donations are declining and the economic situation is worsening. The purpose of this paper is twofold, to evaluate the productive efficiency of public hospitals in West Bank and to study contextual factors contributing to efficiency differences

Social support for informal caregivers of substance dependent patients

Os cuidadores informais têm de lidar com situações potencialmente causadoras de stress e Sobrecarga. Uma amostra com 120 cuidadores de Dependentes de Substâncias, residentes em Portugal, completou uma bateria de questionários que incluía o BDI (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961; McIntyre & Araújo-Soares, 1999), BSI (Canavarro, 1999; Derogatis, 1975, 1993), CRA (Given, et al., 1992), WHOQOL – Bref (Fleck, 2000; Vaz Serra, et al., 2006) e o IESSS (Ensel & Woelfel, 1986; Faria, 1999). De seguida, os participantes foram distribuídos por três grupos (G1, G2 e G3), dependendo do tempo de abstinência do familiar a quem prestavam cuidados. O estudo explorou a relação entre diversas variáveis clínicas e psicológicas e o suporte social nesses cuidadores. Os resultados revelaram que a coabitação com o paciente, o distress psicológico, a qualidade de vida (relações sociais e psicológica) e a sobrecarga são preditores, do suporte social explicando 48% da variância observada. O modelo de mediação demonstrou que o suporte social é um mediador parcial da relação entre o distress e a sobrecarga, explicando 60% da variância observada. Deste modo, verifica-se a importância de intervir no suporte social no sentido de diminuir o impacto do distress e sobrecarga nos cuidadores.Informal caregivers must cope with situations that may induce stress and burden. A sample with 120 addicts’ caregivers, living in Portugal, completed a survey that included BDI (Beck, et al., 1961; McIntyre & Araújo-Soares, 1999), BSI (Canavarro, 1999; Derogatis, 1975, 1993), CRA (Given, et al., 1992), WHOQOL – Bref (Fleck, 2000; Vaz Serra, et al., 2006) and IESSS (Ensel & Woelfel, 1986; Faria, 1999). Afterwards, the participants were assigned to one of three groups (G1, G2 and G3), based on the abstinence time of the family member whom they cared. This study explored the relationship among clinical variables, psychological variables and social support in those caregivers. The results revealed that living with the patient, distress, quality of life (social relations and psychological) and burden predict social support, explaining 48% of the observed variance. The mediation model demonstrated the social support was a partial mediator of the relationship between distress and burden, explaining 60% of the observed variance. Thus, the study emphasizes the importance of promoting social support in order to lessen the impact of distress and burden on informal caregivers.(undefined

Effect of experimental parameters on alginate/chitosan microparticles for BCG encapsulation

The aim of the present study was to develop novel Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-loaded polymeric microparticles with optimized particle surface characteristics and biocompatibility, so that whole live attenuated bacteria could be further used for pre-exposure vaccination against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the intranasal route. BCG was encapsulated in chitosan and alginate microparticles through three different polyionic complexation methods by high speed stirring. For comparison purposes, similar formulations were prepared with high shear homogenization and sonication. Additional optimization studies were conducted with polymers of different quality specifications in a wide range of pH values, and with three different cryoprotectors. Particle morphology, size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, surface charge, physicochemical properties and biocompatibility were assessed. Particles exhibited a micrometer size and a spherical morphology. Chitosan addition to BCG shifted the bacilli surface charge from negative zeta potential values to strongly positive ones. Chitosan of low molecular weight produced particle suspensions of lower size distribution and higher stability, allowing efficient BCG encapsulation and biocompatibility. Particle formulation consistency was improved when the availability of functional groups from alginate and chitosan was close to stoichiometric proportion. Thus, the herein described microparticulate system constitutes a promising strategy to deliver BCG vaccine by the intranasal route