Browsing by Author "Carvalho, Susana"
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- Controlo de qualidade de soluções de ciclofosfamida preparadas com agulha ou com spike®: desenvolvimento e aplicação de método por HPLC-DAD para controlo quantitativoPublication . Carvalho, Susana; Cardoso, Andreia; Ferreira, Débora; Moreira, Fernando; Moreira, FernandoA utilização de agulhas para aspiração de fármacos citotóxicos aumenta o risco de exposição ocupacional dos profissionais de farmácia que os preparam, sendo por isso frequentemente substituída por dispositivos de libertação de pressão designados de spikes. Um dos fármacos antineoplásicos mais habitualmente manipulados em preparações de quimioterapia é a ciclofosfamida. Os objetivos deste estudo são: (i) validar um método analítico para controlo de qualidade de soluções de ciclofosfamida; (ii) comparar soluções de ciclofosfamida preparadas com recurso a agulha ou spike.
- Expatriate assignments and career outcomes: career development of portuguese repatriatesPublication . Martins, Dora; Carvalho, Susana; Silva, SusanaThis paper aims to study the expatriation, specifically the career management of Portuguese repatriates. The purpose of this research is to examine how the expatriate assignments may influence the professional career development upon return. This research was carried out using the quantitative methodology. The data collection was done through the application of a questionnaire to 75 repatriates belonging to organizations located in Portugal. The data collected in this study show that repatriates enhance the expatriation experience, regardless of a career progression or not, because they acquire and develop new skills, achieve a richer and more extensive functional content and assume positions with more responsibility and autonomy. The fact that repatriates plan the international assignment as part of a development career process confirms the theoretical perspectives of the new psychological contract, protean career, boundaryless career and intelligent careers. The results show that the completion of international assignments doesn’t have a direct impact on the repatriates’ career development. These findings will be discussed in detail and implications and suggestions for future research will be proposed as well.
- Influence of puncture devices on the accuracy of cyclophosphamide dosing for chemotherapy administrationPublication . Carvalho, Susana; Cardoso, Andreia; Ferreira, Débora; Silva, Diana Dias da; Moreira, Fernando; Moreira, Fernando; Dias da Silva, Diana CristinaCyclophosphamide is one of the most commonly used cytotoxic drugs in chemotherapy protocols. Its preparation in the hospital setting involves handling concentrated solutions, which pose occupational exposure risks and potential variations in the final dose administered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aspiration devices on the concentration of cyclophosphamide in reconstituted solutions. An analytical method was validated using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) for quality control. Cyclophosphamide solutions were prepared and aspirated using either a conventional needle or spike device with or without a filtration system. The validated method demonstrated linearity (R2 = 0.9999), high precision (0.22–4.59%) and accuracy (88.9–99.4%), with a limit of quantification of 4.03 µg/mL. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between samples aspirated with a needle and those aspirated with a spike fitted with a 5 µm filter, with the latter showing lower cyclophosphamide concentrations, suggesting partial retention of the drug. No significant differences were found between the needle and filterless spike preparations. These results suggest that the choice of aspiration device influences the final drug concentration, potentially affecting therapeutic efficacy. Standardisation of preparation techniques and an awareness of device limitations are essential to ensure accurate chemotherapy dosing and patient safety.
- Safeguarding patients, relatives, and nurses: A screening approach for detecting 5-FU residues on elastomeric infusion pumps using HPLC-DADPublication . Cardoso, Andreia; Jesus, Ângelo; Barreiros, Luísa; Carvalho, Daniel; Sá, Maria dos Anjos; Carvalho, Susana; Correia, Patrícia; Moreira, Fernando; Moreira, Fernando; Correia, Patrícia Carla dos Santos ; Barreiros, Luisa; Jesus, ÂngeloThe leakage of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from elastomeric infusion pumps used in cancer therapy poses a potential risk of unintentional exposure to multiple individuals, including patients’ relatives and healthcare professionals, and may also compromise the accurate administration of 5-FU dosages to patients. This study aimed to develop, validate, and apply an analytical method to detect and quantify 5-FU residues on the external surfaces of infusion pumps. A high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was optimized for the quantification of 5-FU contamination across different components of the infusion pump, including the hard casing, infusion tubing, and catheter connection port. A mobile phase containing 5% acetic acid was used to obtain more efficient separation of 5-FU and the detection was performed at 260 nm. The method was evaluated for linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, and stability. The method demonstrated linearity within the range of 0.150 to 3.000 µg/cm2, with limits of detection and quantification of 0.05 µg/cm2 and 0.14 µg/cm2, respectively. Relative standard deviations ranged from 1.8% to 12.7%, and accuracy exceeded 85%. In real sample analysis, detectable residues were found around the catheter connection port. This screening-oriented method addresses an existing gap, as previous contamination reports were based solely on self-reported user observations. The detection of 5-FU residues highlights the critical need for safe handling practices and the consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect healthcare workers, especially nursing staff involved in the removal of the infusion pumps, after treatment.