Assessing the Hands-on Usability of the Healthy Jeart App Specifically Tailored to Young Users.

BACKGROUND: The widespread adoption of mobile devices by adolescents underscores the potential to harness these tools to instill healthy habits into their daily lives. An exemplary manifestation of this initiative is the Healthy Jeart app, crafted with the explicit goal of fostering well-being. METHODOLOGY: This study, framed within an applied investigation, adopts an exploratory and descriptive approach, specifically delving into the realm of user experience analysis. The focus of this research is a preliminary examination aimed at understanding users' perceived usability of the application. To glean insights, a comprehensive questionnaire was administered to 101 teenagers, seeking their evaluations on various usability attributes. The study took place during 2022. RESULTS: The findings reveal a considerable consensus among users regarding the evaluated usability aspects. However, the areas for improvement predominantly revolve around managing the information density, particularly for a subset of end users grappling with overwhelming content. Additionally, recommendations are put forth to streamline the confirmation process for user suggestions and comments. CONCLUSION: This analysis illuminates both the strengths of the app and areas ripe for refinement, paving the way for a more user-centric and efficacious Healthy Jeart application.

A Comparative Study on the Quality of Life of Survivors of Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases, particularly acute myocardial infarction and strokes, lead to significant fatalities. Survivors often experience profound impacts on various aspects of their lives, making the assessment of their Quality of Life crucial for understanding their condition and adaptation to the illness. METHODS: A community-based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to compare how survivors of stroke and acute myocardial infarction perceive their Quality of Life. The Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of life instrument was administered to 204 acute myocardial infarction and stroke survivors. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were also compared. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were noted in overall, physical, and psychological aspects of Quality of Life between the two groups, with stroke survivors consistently showing lower values in these dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The Quality-of-Life perception of stroke and acute myocardial infarction survivors may be affected by several sociodemographic and clinical factors, and the results support the idea that the vascular event conditions the person's Quality of Life, particularly in variables related to the person's physical condition, functionality, and autonomy.

Assessment of Levels of Anxiety and Fear of Covid-19 in a Population of Pregnant Women in Spain.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the levels of fear and anxiety in the particularly vulnerable population group of women during pregnancy. Methods: Cross-sectional study between March 2022 and July 2022 involving 978 pregnant women aged 16 to 50 years. It was carried out based on the scale for the assessment of fear and anxiety in pregnant women (AMICO_Pregnant) and the collection of sociodemographic data. Normality analysis was performed prior to univariate and bivariate statistical analysis. Results: The sample was composed of a total of 978 pregnant women. The mean of the AMICO_Pregnant scale was intermediate (5.04 points; SD=2.36). The bivariate analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the AMICO_Pregnant scale and the following variables: vaccination schedule status, contact with the disease, weeks of gestation, altered delivery or birth plan. Conclusion: Women with pregnancies closer to term, with no contact with the disease, without a complete vaccination schedule, or who had undergone changes in their delivery or birth plans, showed higher levels of fear and anxiety.

Presenteeism and mental health of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

Background: A large number of workers attend work despite being ill. Attending work during sickness can have a number of consequences for the worker (e.g., worsening of physical and mental condition), for co-workers, and for the company, and for service users. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the factors influencing presenteeism and mental health of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review following the PRISMA format was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycInfo, and ScienceDirect electronic databases in January 2023, using the following key words: Presenteeism, Mental Health, and COVID-19. The eligibility criteria applied were original articles published in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese, workers during the COVID-19 pandemic (data collection date: January 01, 2020 - January 01, 2023), and articles assessing at least one measure of presenteeism and mental health status. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The followed protocol is listed in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with code CRD42023391409. Results: A total of 25 studies were included in this review recruiting a total of 164,274 participants. A number of factors influencing mental health and sickness presenteeism were identified: (1) mental health-related factors (burnout [in 4 studies], stress [in 9 studies], depression [in 1 study], fear of COVID-19 [in 1 study], no well-being [in 2 studies], etc.); (2) individual factors (health status [in 1 study], being young [in 1 study], workers who experienced interrupted medical care [in 2 studies], having a chronic disease [in 1 study], etc.); (3) factors related to the situation caused by COVID-19 (confinement, symptoms, loss of contract, risk of bankruptcy, etc. [in 1 study each one]); and (4) factors derived from working conditions (organisational support [in 1 study], patient care [in 1 study], work functioning or task performance impairment [in 4 studies], work fatigue [in 2 studies], safety climate [in 1 study], workload [in 1 study], etc.). Conclusion: Identifying the key determinants of presenteeism and understanding the phenomena and origins of sickness presenteeism will help to create a safe working environment and optimal organisational systems to protect vulnerable workers in a pandemic context. Systematic review registration: The unique identifier is CRD42023391409.

Patient-Safety Culture among Emergency and Critical Care Nurses in a Maternal and Child Department.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of healthcare has multiple dimensions, but the issue of patient safety stands out due to the impact it has on health outcomes, particularly on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), expressly SDG3. In the services that we propose to study, the patient-safety culture had never been evaluated. AIM: To evaluate nurses' perceptions of the patient-safety culture in the Emergency and Critical Care Services of the Maternal and Child Department of a University Hospital and to identify strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for improvement. METHODS: This an exploratory, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture as an instrument for data collection. The population were all nurses working in the emergency and critical care services of the maternal and child-health department, constituted, at the time of writing, by 184 nurses, with a response rate of 45.7%. RESULTS: Applying the guidelines from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), only teamwork within units had a score greater than 75%. For this reason, it is considered the strength (fortress) in the study. The lowest-rated were non-punitive responses to errors and open communication. CONCLUSION: The overall average percentage score is below the benchmark of the AHRQ, indicating that issue of patient safety is not considered a high priority, or that the best strategies to make it visible have not yet been found. One of the important implications of this study is the opportunity to carry out a deep reflection, within the organization, that allows the development of a non-punitive work environment that is open to dialogue, and that allows the provision of safe nursing care.

Gender and Tobacco Consumption among University Students.

In 2019, an estimated 155 million people aged between 15 and 24 were smokers. It is also known that 82.6% of current smokers started smoking between 14 and 25 years old. Tobacco uses in adolescents and young adults can lead to the development of serious and potentially life-threatening health problems. The aim of the present investigation is to identify and describe the practices related to the consumption of tobacco products and their distribution according to gender among students at the University of Algarve. This is an exploratory, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. For inferential statistics, a non-parametric analysis (χ2) was performed. The sample consisted of 326 university students, 75.5% female, with an average age of 26.03 years. In this sample, 45% of men and 57.7% of women reported never having smoked. In male students, the pattern of combined consumption is more frequent, with female students preferring conventional cigarettes. Statistically significant differences were found between genders for the pattern of tobacco consumption, the number of colleagues/peers who smoke, the opinion about tobacco-free outdoor spaces and the knowledge about new forms of tobacco/nicotine consumption. The university campus is identified by students as the second space where they most consume tobacco products and where they are most exposed to tobacco smoke. This fact forces a reflection on the strategies to be implemented to develop a healthier university.

Caring behaviours demonstrated to nursing students in the interpersonal relation with the faculty: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students need to experience caring in their educational environment in order to learn how to care for the patients. OBJECTIVE: The present study describes the caring model demonstrated by the faculty to the nursing students through their behaviours, from the perspective of both students and faculty members. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was conducted. PARTICIPANTS: The sample included 286 students and faculty members. METHODS: The Nursing Students' Perceptions of Instructor Caring assessing tool was used to gather the data. RESULTS: After analysing 676 questionnaires, it was revealed a moderately high level of caring perceived by the students. The most appreciated dimension was control versus flexibility, reporting a mean value of 82.29 and a confidence interval from 81.14 to 83.44, and the least valued was appreciation of life's meanings, reporting a mean value of 63.90 and a confidence interval from 62.20 to 65.60. The students' perception of the care demonstrated by the faculty was significantly lower than the care that the latter believed to transmit in all dimensions (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The caring perceived by the student was expressed through behaviours that inspired confidence in them, promoted a climate of learning and support, helped them to recognise the meaning of life, showed them flexibility and fostered their professional autonomy. The findings of this study can help to improve nursing education by providing a view of the interpersonal relations that the students established during their training with the faculty.

The Upshot of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Nursing Assistants: Evaluating Mental Health Indicators in Huelva.

Healthcare professionals who work in front-line situations are among those under the highest risk of presenting negative mental health indicators. We sought to assess the prevalence of low personal realization, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization as well as probable non-psychotic psychiatric pathologies during the pandemic in nursing assistants in the city of Huelva (Spain), and to study the association between these mental health indicators and sociodemographic and professional variables. A cross-sectional descriptive investigation with a quantitative approach was used. A representative sample of these professionals, consisting of 29 men and 284 women, completed the GHQ-12 questionnaire, including sociodemographic data and the MBI-HSS questionnaire, collecting information on situations of contact with SARS-CoV-2. Data analysis was conducted, and correlations were established. We found that emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and probable non-psychotic, psychiatric pathologies were related to contact with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, personal realization, depersonalization and emotional exhaustion were related to just gender. We conclude that nursing assistants from public hospitals in the city of Huelva who had contact with patients with SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace, showed poor mental health indicators than those who did not come into contact with infected individuals.

Work-Family Interaction, Self-Perceived Mental Health and Burnout in Specialized Physicians of Huelva (Spain): A Study Conducted during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The medical staff who work in specialized healthcare are among the professionals with a greater risk of presenting negative indicators of mental health. These professionals are exposed to numerous sources of stress that can have a negative influence on their personal life. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 poses an additional and relevant source of stress. The aim of this study was to identify the interactions between the work and family environments, as well as to analyze self-perceived mental health and burnout in physicians who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, carried out their jobs in public health in Huelva (Spain), also considering a series of sociodemographic variables. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Information from 128 participants was collected using the SWING, MBI-HSS and GHQ-12 questionnaires, along with sociodemographic data and possible situations of contact with SARS-CoV-2. The data were analyzed, and correlations were established. RESULTS: Most of the sample obtained a positive interaction result of work over family. Those who had been in contact with SARS-CoV-2 represented higher percentages of a positive result in GHQ-12, negative work-family interaction, burnout, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. In general, the men showed a worse mental health state than women. CONCLUSIONS: The medical staff of Huelva who had been in contact with situations of SARS-CoV-2 in their work environment presented worse indicators of mental health and greater negative interaction of work over family than those who had not been in contact with these situations.

Nursing Education during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Assessment of Students' Satisfaction with e-Learning Environment.

The disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus led to the disruption of normality with respect to education, public healthcare and new technologies. Education is a fundamental pillar to increase the knowledge and morale of people. However, due to the lockdown implemented to protect the population from an infection of unknown aetiology, the education system decided to switch from face-to-face education to virtual education. This modality has affected the teaching-learning process in the Degree of Nursing, since its competencies and knowledge demand in-presence learning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact that telematic education had on students of the Degree of Nursing who were studying in the final year of said degree, which involves their imminent entry into the labour market. We used the client satisfaction questionnaire of Bob Hayes to gather data and analyse the satisfaction level of the nursing students. As a result, a considerable amount of information was obtained about teaching, which shows the absence of practical activities and the lack of information about safety and protection measures related to the pandemic. Most educators themselves were struggling to understand the implications of the virus and implement appropriate safety measures, since there was quite a bit of conflicting information relating to the effectiveness of personal protective safety equipment and the lifespan of the virus on various media outside of the host. It is, therefore, not surprising that education for students in this regard was lacking. In general, most of the students showed dissatisfaction with the virtual education they received.

An App about Healthy Habits as an Educational Resource during the Pandemic.

Educational institutions and their agents play a fundamental role in improving people's health literacy and quality of life. We intend here to describe and justify an educational resource embodied in an application for mobile devices developed through a subsidized project by the Ministry of Health (Government of Andalusia); the purpose of this app is to educate young people in healthy habits. The application was designed to be easily used in both smartphones and tablets with the aim of achieving good physical, psychological and social health. The project comprises several phases and the results we have so far show that, from an early age, health institutions and educational settings must work in partnership, increasing health literacy levels. This cooperative work combined with the use of this innovative approach presents an important potential for change in the lifestyles of younger generations. This type of intervention took on a special role in the pandemic context, allowing for the maintenance of the educational stimulus in a safe context.

Determinants of Quality of Life after Stroke in Southern Portugal: A Cross Sectional Community-Based Study.

INTRODUCTION: the perception of Quality of Life (QoL) has been used to evaluate the treatment and evolution of several pathologies. QoL evaluation allows a better understanding of the patient and his adaptation to the disease. An observational, community-based and descriptive correlational study was carried out to analyze stroke survivors' perception of QoL. METHODS: consecutive case-series of stroke survivors (≥3 months) followed in a single public primary health center ("Tavira Primary Health Centre") from Algarve, southern Portugal. The Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of life instrument was administered in 102 stroke survivors. RESULTS: Perception of QoL was associated (p < 0.05) with specific sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, academic training), economic (monthly family income) and clinical factors (number of vascular risk factors, type of stroke, evolution, chronic mRankin score). On multivariate analysis, chronic mRankin score on physical (R2 = 0.406; F = 8.757; p < 0.001), psychological (R2 = 0.286; F = 5.536; p < 0.001) and general domain (R2 = 0.357; F = 7.287; p < 0.001); and family income (R2 = 0.160; F = 3.156; p < 0.005) on environmental domain, emerged as predictors of QoL. CONCLUSION: Different socio-demographic, economic and health factors are associated with post-stroke QoL. Description of QoL contributes to the overall evaluation of the impact of stroke on health and should be a priority for health professionals.

Qualidade de vida do idoso institucionalizado: realidade vivida na rede nacional de cuidados continuados integrados do Algarve / Quality of life of institutionalized elderly: reality experienced in the national network of integrated continuous care from Algarve

A Qualidade de Vida do idoso institucionalizado é uma temática cada vez mais debatida na sociedade contemporânea. Se por um lado se constata um acréscimo no recurso às instituições por parte dos idosos, por outro surge a necessidade de avaliar sua Qualidade de Vida. Na presente investigação, os objetivos do estudo passam por caracterizar os idosos institucionalizados e identificar as necessidades dos mesmos quanto à condição de idoso na instituição, fundamentando-nos na sua percepção de Qualidade de Vida. Neste projeto participaram 105 idosos internados nas unidades da Rede de Cuidados Continuados Integrados do Algarve. No estudo descritivo, de caráter transversal e de metodologia quantitativa, os dados foram obtidos através da aplicação de dois questionários: sociodemográfico e de caracterização da instituição; e através da aplicação da escala de Qualidade de Vida WHOQOL-BREF. No estudo original, as variáveis foram agrupadas em três categorias: Idoso, Instituição e Idoso na Instituição. Neste artigo apresentamos apenas os resultados referentes à categoria de Idoso na Instituição. Os resultados obtidos revelam diferenças estatisticamente significativas no que se refere à condição física do idoso, presença de suporte social, qualidade das visitas, participação do suporte social nos cuidados, possibilidade de obter períodos temporários de ausência da instituição e grau de autonomia. A condição física do idoso e o grau de autonomia demonstraram ser aspectos fundamentais na boa percepção de Qualidade de Vida do idoso. De igual modo, o suporte social/familiar é um fator importante para o idoso institucionalizado e deve ser preservado, rumo à adequada reintegração social e familiar. (AU)

The quality of life of the institutionalized elderly is an increasingly debated topic in contemporary society. If, on one hand, it turns out an increase in the use of institutions by the elderly, on the other emerges the need to assess the quality of life of this population. In this research study, the objectives are to characterize the institutionalized elderly and identify their needs face to the condition of elderly at the institution, basing ourselves in their perception of quality of life. This project involved 105 elderly patients hospitalized in units of the Integrated Continuous Care Network from Algarve. In the descriptive study, of transversal character and quantitative methodology, the data harvest was done through two questionnaires: sociodemographic and of the institution’s characterization; and also by the application of the Quality of Life scale WHOQOL-BREF. In the original study, the variables were grouped into three categories: Elderly, Institution and Elderly at the Institution. In this paper we present only the results for the category Elderly at the Institution. The results show statistically significant differences regarding to the physical condition of the elderly, presence of social support, quality of visits, participation of social support in the care, ability to obtain temporary periods of absence from the institution and degree of autonomy. The physical condition of the elderly and the degree of autonomy proved to be key issues in the perception of good quality of life for the elderly. Similarly, social/familial support is an important factor for the institutionalized elderly and should be preserved, towards proper social and family reintegration. (AU)

Qualidade de vida do idoso institucionalizado: realidade vivida na rede nacional de cuidados continuados integrados do Algarve / Quality of life of institutionalized elderly: reality experienced in the national network of integrated continuous care from Algarve

A Qualidade de Vida do idoso institucionalizado é uma temática cada vez mais debatida na sociedade contemporânea. Se por um lado se constata um acréscimo no recurso às instituições por parte dos idosos, por outro surge a necessidade de avaliar sua Qualidade de Vida. Na presente investigação, os objetivos do estudo passam por caracterizar os idosos institucionalizados e identificar as necessidades dos mesmos quanto à condição de idoso na instituição, fundamentando-nos na sua percepção de Qualidade de Vida. Neste projeto participaram 105 idosos internados nas unidades da Rede de Cuidados Continuados Integrados do Algarve. No estudo descritivo, de caráter transversal e de metodologia quantitativa, os dados foram obtidos através da aplicação de dois questionários: sociodemográfico e de caracterização da instituição; e através da aplicação da escala de Qualidade de Vida WHOQOL-BREF. No estudo original, as variáveis foram agrupadas em três categorias: Idoso, Instituição e Idoso na Instituição. Neste artigo apresentamos apenas os resultados referentes à categoria de Idoso na Instituição. Os resultados obtidos revelam diferenças estatisticamente significativas no que se refere à condição física do idoso, presença de suporte social, qualidade das visitas, participação do suporte social nos cuidados, possibilidade de obter períodos temporários de ausência da instituição e grau de autonomia. A condição física do idoso e o grau de autonomia demonstraram ser aspectos fundamentais na boa percepção de Qualidade de Vida do idoso. De igual modo, o suporte social/familiar é um fator importante para o idoso institucionalizado e deve ser preservado, rumo à adequada reintegração social e familiar.

The quality of life of the institutionalized elderly is an increasingly debated topic in contemporary society. If, on one hand, it turns out an increase in the use of institutions by the elderly, on the other emerges the need to assess the quality of life of this population. In this research study, the objectives are to characterize the institutionalized elderly and identify their needs face to the condition of elderly at the institution, basing ourselves in their perception of quality of life. This project involved 105 elderly patients hospitalized in units of the Integrated Continuous Care Network from Algarve. In the descriptive study, of transversal character and quantitative methodology, the data harvest was done through two questionnaires: sociodemographic and of the institution’s characterization; and also by the application of the Quality of Life scale WHOQOL-BREF. In the original study, the variables were grouped into three categories: Elderly, Institution and Elderly at the Institution. In this paper we present only the results for the category Elderly at the Institution. The results show statistically significant differences regarding to the physical condition of the elderly, presence of social support, quality of visits, participation of social support in the care, ability to obtain temporary periods of absence from the institution and degree of autonomy. The physical condition of the elderly and the degree of autonomy proved to be key issues in the perception of good quality of life for the elderly. Similarly, social/familial support is an important factor for the institutionalized elderly and should be preserved, towards proper social and family reintegration.