Influencing factors of presenteeism among Portuguese workers in a private social solidarity institution in the aftermath of COVID-19

European Psychiatry, Volume 67, Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry, April 2024 , pp. S503.Introduction: In ordinary circumstances, the employed individuals demonstrate significant levels of psychological distress and presenteeism, a situation that has been further intensified by the COVID-19 epidemic. Furthermore, a limited number of studies have examined the phenomenon of presenteeism in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore necessitating the undertaking of the present study. Objectives The goal of this study was to investigate the levels of presenteeism and its related characteristics, as well as job satisfaction and psychological distress, among a sample of employees employed at a Private Social Solidarity Institution (IPSS) in Portugal. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2022 to observe personnel from an IPSS located in the central area of Portugal. The research had a sample size of 71 workers who were provided with a signed authorization. The survey was designed to gather both general and professional information from participants. Additionally, it included the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6), the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (S20/23), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) as measurement tools. Results The occurrence of presenteeism was seen in 32 employees, accounting for 45.1% of the sample, whereas illness absence was reported by 38 workers, representing 54.3% of the sample. The majority of the individual assessments for S20/23 demonstrated a higher degree of satisfaction (mean ≥ 4.5 points.), with the exception of the salary-related issue, which elicited a higher level of discontent (mean = 3.36 ± 1.9 pts.). Approximately 50.7% of the individuals had a high or very high susceptibility to experiencing or developing a mental condition. The correlation matrix revealed a statistically significant moderate positive association between presenteeism and work satisfaction, as well as a statistically significant moderate negative link between presenteeism and psychological distress (p<0.01). The associated factors of presenteeism were found to be marital status, quality of sleep, illness absenteeism, health perception, and psychological distress. The combined effect of these predictors was shown to account for 35.8% of the variance in presenteeism. Conclusions It is expected that the outcomes of our research will stimulate more investigations into the tangible implications of presenteeism in promoting improved health and well-being within the workplace.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Issues around vulnerability among people attended by a Portuguese community-based association: a qualitative secondary analysis

European Psychiatry, Volume 67, Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry, April 2024 , pp. S818.Introduction: Despite vulnerability being a poorly understood concept is a key concept in health and social care disparities. Typically, vulnerable groups include individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities, children, the elderly, members of the lower social classes, and refugees. In Portugal, the pandemic was responsible for worsening inequalities in access to health and social care for the most vulnerable. To the best of our knowledge, there is a dearth of qualitative research on vulnerability from the viewpoint of those who are vulnerable or work with the most vulnerable. Objectives As expressions of vulnerability are strongly influenced by cultural factors, this study aims to examine issues of vulnerability among people who attend and work in a Portuguese community-based association. Methods Secondary analysis of qualitative data from twelve vulnerable people and fifteen professionals who attended these people. The manifestations of the vulnerability reported by participants included being homeless, being a migrant, having an infectious disease, being drug dependent, living with socioeconomic difficulties (unemployment), and experiencing a process of loss and grief. They also reported having a mental or physical health problem, or both. Depression and anxiety were the most often reported mental health disorders. Regarding the academic background of professionals, most of them (n = 12) are from social sciences (e.g., social workers, social mediators, and psychologists). Results Three main themes emerged from the study: (1) meanings of human vulnerability; (2) barriers to vulnerability mitigation; and (3) approaches to addressing vulnerability. Our findings revealed that vulnerability is a very dynamic process of openness to conditions that impact individual outcomes. However, there is a conceptual gap: being vulnerable is perceived as something negative, but vulnerability also has the potential to change priorities in life for the better. Some participants emphasized the importance of self-care to avoid becoming vulnerable themselves, particularly in terms of mental health. Conclusions Understanding the social determinants of vulnerability is necessary to achieve satisfactory care for human groups. Practitioners need to be aware of these larger societal dynamics, understand them, and make sure their services are responsive to cultural differences. In order to develop interventions that promote social and health outcomes, practitioners should be encouraged to share knowledge on best practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evidence-based practice a relevant piece to update knowledge in mental health nursing

E-Poster Presentation.Introduction Web Journal Club as a collaborative learning method, is an effective method to enhance the knowledge base of nursing students, their presentation skills, problem-solving skills and ability to critically appraise literature. Objectives To describe the experience of a online journal club on education of MHN undergraduate students. Methods We implemented a journal club in the online classroom with a total of 24 portuguese undergraduate students enrolled in clinical training of MHN (sixth semester). Over a two-week period, five 2-hour online journal club sessions were conducted in April 2020. During each session, five journal articles were presented synchronously to a live online audience via the Zoom Classroom technology. After all sessions, students were invited by e-mail to complete an anonymous and voluntary online questionnaire via Google Forms. Results All students were all very positive about the journal club sessions and found the opportunity to discuss and reflect on practice issues in depth very helpful. They found the sessions supportive, they helped to bond the group, they learnt a great deal from each others experiences, and they felt that they gained in confidence as a group. Survey results also indicated that few participants experienced technical difficulties during sessions. Conclusions This pedagogical practice enhances gains in the various actors involved: 1) in students, contributing to their learning process and acquisition of competences, articulating research and clinical practice; and 2) lastly, even more indirectly, in people receiving care, since a evidence-based practice ensures safe and quality of nursing care delivery.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mental Health Status and Fear of COVID-19 in Young Adult Male Inmates in Portugal

Introduction Incarcerated individuals are subject to a heightened risk of both mental and physical ailments. Hence, it is important to conduct regular assessments of their mental well-being and other potential health hazards. Objectives The aim of this study is to examine the subjective experience of fear related to COVID-19 and the psychological consequences of the pandemic among a cohort of young adult male convicts. Methods A research design using an institutional-based quantitative cross-sectional approach was used. The data collecting period was from July to September 2022, during which data was gathered at a juvenile correctional facility located in the center area of Portugal. The researchers used questionnaires to gather data pertaining to demographic and health attributes, fear related to COVID-19, as well as measures of depression, anxiety, stress, and resilient coping. Results The study included a cohort of 60 incarcerated males who had been imprisoned for a duration exceeding 2 years. The prevalence of stress was found to be the highest among offenders, with around 75% reporting this symptom. Anxiety was the second most often reported symptom, with 38.3% of inmates experiencing it, followed closely by depression, which was reported by 36.7% of the inmate population. The average score on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 17.38 ± 4.80, suggesting that participants generally reported mild levels of fear. A total of 38 subjects, accounting for 63.3% of the sample, had low scores in resilience. The participants’ responses indicated that their perceptions of mental health were within a fairly high range, with an average score of 3.62 ± 0.87. Similarly, their perceptions of physical health were also moderately high, with an average score of 3.73 ± 0.95. In terms of global health, participants reported a slightly lower average score of 3.27 ± 0.82 for the preceding month. The Pearson correlation matrix revealed statistically significant associations between fear of COVID-19 and characteristics linked to mental health, with the strength of these associations ranging from moderate to high (p < 0.001). The identification of predictive variables for fear of COVID-19 was accomplished by the use of a multiple linear regression model. Four predictors were identified in the study, namely age, perception of mental health, and overall levels of anxiety and stress. These predictors together account for about 49.7% of the variance in the outcome variable. Conclusions The findings of our research indicate a significant prevalence of stress among incarcerated individuals, accompanied by moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Our research has the potential to provide valuable insights for policymakers, mental health professionals, public health specialists, and other relevant stakeholders in the identification and effective management of pandemic-induced anxieties and mental health symptoms.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Used food oils: physical-chemical indicators of quality degradation

Comunicação apresentada em 11th Baltic Conference on Food Science and Technology “Food science and technology in achanging world” FOODBALT 2017 Conference Proceedings. Jelgava, LLUUsed food oil (UFO), designated as frying oil, is a residue. Degradation by reuse or during storage, may occur by contacting, chemical, enzymatic and microbiological pathways, but oxidation is a major concern of the industry, as it affects sensory and nutritional quality of edible oils, with potentially toxic compounds formation. In Portugal, UFO's main destination still is the sewerage system, an environmental problem and waste of raw material, which can be re-qualified for non-food uses. However, quality control applied to UFO's, often results into expensive analysis inappropriate for small laboratories and catering industry. This project, developed with the Musketeers Group Portugal co-promotion (2012-2016), aimed to identify low-cost physicochemical parameters for further implementation as UFO's Quality Degradation Indicators (QDI) indicating defects quickly and accurately. UFO's analysis was tested on the use, for industrial frying, and by degradation induced in the laboratory (frying and heat stability tests) by applying following parameters: moisture, water activity (a(w)), total acidity, peroxide index, iodine index, colour (CIE, CIE Lab), UV absorbency, total polar compounds and microbiological indicators. Internal procedures (ESAS) were validated, redefining working ranges and test conditions, as standards procedures did not provide reliable results for the entire life cycle of oils, whose profile changes with time and reuse. Results demonstrate significant differences with quick response parameters as Total Acidity, Peroxide Index and CIE Lab colour, outlined as QDI's. Moisture, aw and CIE Lab colour proved to be inadequate for this purpose. Iodine Index and UV Absorbency are more complex and time-consuming and were profiled as reference methods.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Psychometric Properties of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) in a Portuguese Sample during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic

European Psychiatry , Volume 67 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2024 , pp. S149.Introduction The COVID-19 global crisis has resulted in significant disruptions in the lives of students in higher education, leading to negative consequences for their academic achievements and general psychological well-being. Objectives In this study, we sought to examine the psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) among students in Portuguese higher education institutions during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and its efficacy in capturing mental health symptoms due to a global health crisis. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sampling method was used to enlist a total of 1522 participants. The sample consisted of 75.1% women and 79.2% undergraduate students. Participants completed an electronic survey that was designed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) — a self-report instrument measuring anxiety, depression, and stress. Results The findings of the study indicated a significant occurrence of depressive symptoms [≥10] (N = 434, 28.5%), anxiety symptoms [≥7] (N = 551, 36.2%), and stress symptoms [≥11] (N = 544, 35.7%). Based on the collected data, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted in order to examine the factor structure of the scale. The analysis revealed a three-factor solution that corresponded to the three subscales of the DASS-21. The Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) correlation ratio was then used to assess the discriminant validity, with good results. Results showed that the DASS21 has satisfactory reliability indexes (Cronbach’s α > 0.90). Conclusions In light of the notable changes in living conditions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the present study has shown that the DASS-21 instrument has maintained its reliability and validity. Consequently, this finding supports the appropriateness of using the DASS-21 as a screening tool for assessing mental health among students in Portugal. Moreover, it is recommended that academics and healthcare practitioners use the DASS-21 as a tool for assessing the levels of psychological distress experienced by students. Additional validation studies of this scale are required, using bigger and more representative populationsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identifying predictors of resilient coping in students during COVID-19 lockdown

European Psychiatry, Volume 67, Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry, April 2024, pp. S105 - S106.Introduction Although increasing resilient coping throughout life is beneficial, it is particularly important in young people. To prevent the development of mental health problems, it is crucial to understand the factors associated with resilience. However, among university students, the characteristics considered conducive to resiliency have not been sufficiently studied, particularly during pandemic times. Objectives The present study examined factors associated with resilient coping in Portuguese higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data were collected from an opportunity large sample of participants during the academic year 2020/2021. Four self-report measures were utilized within the study: Herth Hope Index, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 items, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Additionally, a demographic questionnaire was used to collect data including age, gender, have children, education level, and study area. Ethics clearance was obtained. In order to test the research question, a multiple regression was conducted (using SPSS 28), with resilient coping as the dependent variable and the other variables entered as potential predictor variables. Results A total of 1522 students (75.1% women and 24.9% men) took part in this study. Most participants were single (91.2%), had no children (93%), and the ages ranged from 18 to 59, with a mean age of 22.88±6.93 years. In terms of study level, the majority of students (73.7%) are at the undergraduate level and are not working (76.6%). Among the participants, 35.7%, 36.2%, and 28.5% had symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression above the normal range, respectively. High resilience scores were found in 215 participants (14.1%). The mean hope (HHI) was 35.53 (SD = 5.92). Our results also demonstrated that hope is the only predictor of resilient coping (p<0.001). A higher level of hope is expected to affect people’s psychological adjustment by influencing both their appraisal of, and their coping with, the stressors confronted by them. Conclusions Establishing and improving protective factors should increase the likelihood of the individual successfully avoiding negative outcomes and increase their ability to function normally, thus promoting resilient outcomes. We were able to draw practical implications for developing resilience-promoting methods in a university context. These results can be used to help students build resilience by preparing for future problems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adjustment strategies adopted by higher education students during COVID-19 pandemic: focus group discussions

Introduction: With the closure of higher education institutions during the COVID-19 sanitary crisis, students have experienced problems such as interruptions to their education, loss of peer support networks, and mental health issues. Objectives: This study aimed to explore adjustment patterns used by students to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods:A qualitative descriptive study was developed by carrying out Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Portuguese students enrolled in education levels above high school, including undergraduate and graduate programs, were considered eligible. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Each FGD took approximately 60–90 min. Results: Twelve students were participated in 2 FGDs, each one with 6 participants. Mostly were undergraduate students (Bachelor’s degree), in the field of health area. The thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first theme was related to the personal sphere and included most of adjustment strategies used, namely: pandemic as a “window of opportunity” to be involved in new academic and professional projects; work-life balance by organizing and separating work from private life; selfcare through the adoption of healthy lifestyles; being compassionate with others and compliance with sanitary measures. In the social sphere, students evoked new ways of communicating via digital networking to compensate for the lack of physical proximity and stay in safe contact with friends and relatives. In the contextual sphere, students talked about the importance of adapting the “teaching/learning” environment. Tailored teaching support was a significant strategy, especially in maintaining their motivation. Conclusions: Several strategies were pointed by students to stay mentally healthy and mitigate delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, positive coping and hope should be integrated into the standard training of students across all study areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Infeções e resistências a antibióticos num serviço de medicina

Atualmente, a resistência bacteriana aos antibióticos é um dos maiores desafios de saúde, particularmente nos Serviços de Medicina. Neste serviço você vai encontrar o maior número de pacientes com doença infecciosa, que é uma das principais causas de hospitalização. Objectivos: Pretende-se determinar as taxas de infectividade, a etiologia das infecções e padrões de susceptibilidade antimicrobiana no serviço de Medicina do Centro Hospitalar do Nordeste (CHNE)-Unidade Hospitalar de Bragança. Métodos: Durante o período compreendido entre 1 de Janeiro e 31 de Dezembro do ano 2008, foram recebidas no exame bacteriológico hospitalar laboratório 3547, dos quais 363 com resultados positivos. Resultados: Na urina culturas identificadas uma taxa de infectividade de 9,04%, observando que estes 64,15% são devido a E. coli. Tal como para as culturas de expectoração, houve uma taxa de infecciosidade de 19,68%, sendo que, destes 23,23% foram Staphylococcus aureus. As culturas de sangue identificada uma taxa de infecciosidade de 5,66%, esta deve ser, principalmente, à presença de Staphylococcus aureus (25,00%). Conclusões: Gram-negativos (P. aeruginosa, E. coli e Klebsiella pneumoniae) mostrou que a maioria da resistência à Penicilins e cefalosporinas, pertencem ao grupo de antibióticos b-lactâmicos. Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina foram, uma cepa MRSA