Browsing by Author "Castro, Catarina"
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- Achados eletroencefalográficos quantitativos em universitários com sintomas obsessivo-compulsivosPublication . Rosa, Ana; Faria, Miguel; Castro, CatarinaO transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) é um distúrbio psiquiátrico crónico cada vez mais comum . Podemos encontrar na população indivíduos que apresentam sintomas típicos de TOC, que, no entanto, não cumprem critérios de diagnóstico, sendo designados de sintomas obsessivo compulsivos (SOC). O Eletroencefalograma (EEG), com recurso à sua forma quantitativa (qEEG), é um dos métodos já utilizados para estudar os indivíduos com SOC e TOC, apesar dos resultados serem bastante díspares. Outros achados foram encontrados, tais como alterações no controlo inibitório e traços de personalidade específicos, que levam a um aumento da vulnerabilidade para desenvolverem SOC. Os anos universitários constituem um período privilegiado para o primeiro episódio de distúrbios mentais, incluindo o aparecimento de SOC. Logo, o objetivo desta investigação é a aferição de possíveis diferenças no qEEG, na inibição e personalidade, entre um grupo de indivíduos com SOC e um grupo de controlo. Este estudo é observacional, transversal e prospetivo, cuja amostra é aleatória e por conveniência, constituída por estudantes entre os 18 e 25 anos da Escola Superior de Sáude do Porto. A recolha de dados do qEEG será realizada no laboratório de Neurofisiologia da instituição referida e com uso de questionários específicos (Stroop, OCI-R e NEO-FFI). A análise dos dados adquiridos ainda está a decorrer, pelo que ainda não existem resultados efetivos. Os resultados esperados são: alterações na atividade alfa nos elétrodos frontais nos indivíduos com SOC; maior tempo de realização do Stroop e maior número de falhas e correções; grupo de SOC com maior Neuroticismo e Conscienciosidade.
- Electroencephalographic changes in moral decisionsPublication . Castro, Catarina; Tavares, Diana; Jácomo, AntónioHuman morality has been addressed by the neurosciences and neuroethics. However we remain far from realizing how brain works in moral decisions. The decision taken in moral dilemmas can be deontological or utilitarian. In the first one an action is right or wrong for itself, disregarding the consequences of your decision. On the other hand, in utilitarian decisions consequences are the only thing that matters, seeking the best interest to the greatest number of people. This study aims to describe neuronal activity during moral decision-making, thereby contributing both to the location of brain areas involved in this process and for the characterization of neurophysiological changes that take place when moral decisions are made.
- Logistics reorganization and management of the ambulatory pharmacy of a local health unit in PortugalPublication . Castro, Catarina; Pereira, Maria Teresa Ribeiro; Sá, J.C.; Santos, GilbertoThe Hospital Pharmacy of a Local Health Unit (LHU) in greater Oporto plays a major role in the community. In addition to providing medicines to the entire Internal Unit, it has created a service called "Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy", which allows continued hospital treatments at home, in a more comfortable and familiar environment. This is mostly due uderfunding which has hindered recruitment of health professionals as well a growing concern for the comfort of patients as they convalesce. The Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy's main problems are both recurring stock-outs and over-stocks; the fact that medicines's delivery routes are not completed, and that medical staff lacks awareness of the techniques to overcome the logistic issues involved. As a methodology, a context analysis was carried out, KPI's were created to quantify the problems and raise health professionals' awareness of what was happening. Solutions for storage were analysed and visits were made to a central hospital to analyse the solutions adopted to solve the same problems. The most appropriate inventory management policies were considered for the organization of existing and further resources. We chose to create an Advanced Warehouse with Level Replenishment. The levels were defined considering the demand of each medicine and divided into three different classes to use the best strategy for each type of demand. Then, and with the help of the LHU IT team, the inventory management module of the information system was parameterized, so stock replenishment could be done electronically. All these changes resulted in a 30 % reduction in stock-out. At the beginning of the study, stock-outs would reach peaks of 6 %. These were reduced to 4.5 % at a point at which professionals were already more aware of the logistic problem, and finally to 1.5 %, in the final phase, at a time when the proposal had already been implemented. Over-stock was reduced by 66 %. Delivery routes were stipulated, and compliance was verified. A novel service developed to increase the well-being of patients monitored at home which it is intended to improve the service provided to the users and at the same time reduce operational costs. As a contribution to the knowledge, in addition to the case study presented to be a novelty in terms of scientific articles published because it is a service implemented in the distribution of medications to patients at home, mostly with oncologic diseases. Several methods from Lean Thinking were used, such as, Kanban System and Advanced Warehouse for inventory management levelling and optimization techniques, as well as, operational KPIs, with the purpose to reach out the improvement of program planning and evaluation. This approach resulted in some improvements, namely, the increase of the quality of the healthcare services for the population. And, in terms to reduce stock and excess stock-outs, to reduce inventory costs, setting the delivery routes, raising the entire medical team's awareness of the problem and committing to optimization a reality.
- Validity of central pain processing biomarkers for predicting the occurrence of oncological chronic pain: a study protocolPublication . Carrillo‑de‑la‑Peña, M. T.; Fernandes, C.; Castro, Catarina; Medeiros, R.Despite recent improvements in cancer detection and survival rates, managing cancer-related pain remains a significant challenge. Compared to neuropathic and inflammatory pain conditions, cancer pain mechanisms are poorly understood, despite pain being one of the most feared symptoms by cancer patients and significantly impairing their quality of life, daily activities, and social interactions. The objective of this work was to select a panel of biomarkers of central pain processing and modulation and assess their ability to predict chronic pain in patients with cancer using predictive artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. We will perform a prospective longitudinal cohort, multicentric study involving 450 patients with a recent cancer diagnosis. These patients will undergo an in-person assessment at three different time points: pretreatment, 6 months, and 12 months after the first visit. All patients will be assessed through demographic and clinical questionnaires and self-report measures, quantitative sensory testing (QST), and electroencephalography (EEG) evaluations. We will select the variables that best predict the future occurrence of pain using a comprehensive approach that includes clinical, psychosocial, and neurophysiological variables. This study aimed to provide evidence regarding the links between poor pain modulation mechanisms at precancer treatment in patients who will later develop chronic pain and to clarify the role of treatment modality (modulated by age, sex and type of cancer) on pain. As a final output, we expect to develop a predictive tool based on AI that can contribute to the anticipation of the future occurrence of pain and help in therapeutic decision making.