Browsing by Author "Mendes, Ana"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ARIA Project – Indoor air biological assessment in primary schoolsPublication . Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Mendes, Ana; Neves, Paula; Teixeira, João PauloChildren are considered a susceptible group due to their particularly vulnerability to the development of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, and also the amount of time they spend inside classrooms, reasons why they deserve priority attention in indoor air quality studies.
- Biological air assessment in primary schools - The ARIA ProjectPublication . Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Mendes, Ana; Neves, Paula; Teixeira, João PauloExposure and sensitization to indoor allergens are important risk factors for asthma and allergic respiratory diseases, playing a key role in triggering and exacerbating allergy and asthma symptoms in children (Salo et al., 2009). While children’s greatest exposure to indoor allergens is at home, other public places where they spend a large amount of time, such as primary schools, may also be sources of significant allergen encounters (Abramson et al. , 2006), such as bacteria and fungi. Children are considered a susceptible group because they are particularly vulnerable to the development of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, and also spend much of their time inside classrooms, in a confined atmosphere, reasons why they should deserve priority attention in indoor air quality (IAQ) studies. In Portugal, this is an increasing and important subject, proved by the development of studies in this area, more sorely since the publication of the national legislation, Ordinance no. 353-A/2013 of December 4th, that establish reference values of maximum concentration for selected indoor air pollutants. The results of this project are part of an ongoing project (ARIA Project), that intend to study the exposure of children to indoor air in 20 public primary schools and investigate the associated respiratory and allergic related health effects in 1600 children’s.
- Biological air contamination in elderly care centers: GERIA ProjectPublication . Aguiar, Lívia; Mendes, Ana; Pereira, Cristiana; Neves, Paula; Mendes, Diana; Teixeira, João PauloHealthcare organizations throughout the world have an increasing concern about how to cope with a quickly aging population (Caley & Sidhu, 2011). This trend explains the increasing demand of long-term care services (Damiani et al ., 2009) such as Elderly Care Centers (ECCs) (Kembel et al ., 2012). In Portugal, the number of ECCs increased 49% between 1998 and 2010. Furthermore, considering that elders often spend a considerable portion of their lives indoors, enhanced by they reduced independency, it is clear that the possibility that adverse indoor climate can influence their health status cannot be ignored (Almeida-Silva et al ., 2014). It has been estimated that older persons spend about 19-20 hours per day indoors and the majority spend all of their time inside the ECCs. Older persons may be particularly at risk of detrimental effects from pollutants, even at low concentrations, due to their common and multiple underlying chronic diseases that increases their susceptibility. It is extremely important to assess elderly exposure to biological pollutants due to the adverse health effects caused by biological agents to this susceptible population present in ECCs, enhanced by the time these people spend indoors.
- Comissão coordenadora dos núcleos académicos: O processo de construção de um projeto lusófonoPublication . Dores, Artemisa Rocha; Ribeiro, Isabel; Mendes, Ana; Steele, Ana; Gonçalves, Daniela; Ruivo, Alice; Rosa, Marlene; Martins, SílviaOs Núcleos Académicos (NAs) da Rede Académica das Ciências da Saúde da Lusofonia (RACS) foram criados por associação livre de docentes e investigadores, e organizados por grandes áreas no âmbito das ciências da saúde. A ação dos NAs ocorre no âmbito da missão, fins e objetivos da RACS e o seu funcionamento regula-se pelos princípios de democraticidade. Até ao momento foram constituídos 17 NAs. No entanto, o seu funcionamento pleno e continuado no tempo, dada a multiplicidade de áreas de conhecimento, membros e países envolvidos, reveste-se de inúmeros desafios. A Comissão Coordenadora dos NAs da RACS (CCNA) criada em janeiro de 2019, tem como missão promover a atividade dos NAs, estimular a sua continuidade e implementar linhas de ação estratégicas que desenvolvam uma política pró-ativa, de incentivo e desenvolvimento dos mesmos. Ainda gerir as políticas de ação geral dos NAs em estreita relação com a Direção da RACS.
- Determinants of the use of health and fitness mobile apps by patients with asthma: secondary analysis of observational studiesPublication . Neves, Ana Luísa; Jácome, Cristina; Taveira-Gomes, Tiago; Pereira, Ana Margarida; Almeida, Rute; Amaral, Rita; Alves-Correia, Magna; Mendes, Sandra; Chaves-Loureiro, Cláudia; Valério, Margarida; Lopes, Cristina; Carvalho, Joana; Mendes, Ana; Ribeiro, Carmelita; Prates, Sara; Ferreira, José Alberto; Teixeira, Maria Fernanda; Branco, Joana; Santalha, Marta; Vasconcelos, Maria João; Lozoya, Carlos; Santos, Natacha; Cardia, Francisca; Moreira, Ana Sofia; Taborda-Barata, Luís; Pinto, Cláudia Sofia; Ferreira, Rosário; Silva, Pedro Morais; Ferreira, Tânia Monteiro; Câmara, Raquel; Lobo, Rui; Bordalo, Diana; Guimarães, Cristina; Santo, Maria Espírito; Oliveira, José Ferraz de; Augusto, Maria José Cálix; Gomes, Ricardo; Vieira, Inês; Silva, Sofia da; Marques, Maria; Cardoso, João; Morete, Ana; Aroso, Margarida; Cruz, Ana Margarida; Nunes, Carlos; Câmara, Rita; Rodrigues, Natalina; Abreu, Carmo; Albuquerque, Ana Luísa; Vieira, Claúdia; Santos, Carlos; Páscoa, Rosália; Chaves-Loureiro, Carla; Alves, Adelaide; Neves, Ângela; Marques, José Varanda; Reis, Bruno; Ferreira-Magalhães , Manuel; Fonseca, João AlmeidaHealth and fitness apps have potential benefits to improve self-management and disease control among patients with asthma. However, inconsistent use rates have been reported across studies, regions, and health systems. A better understanding of the characteristics of users and nonusers is critical to design solutions that are effectively integrated in patients’ daily lives, and to ensure that these equitably reach out to different groups of patients, thus improving rather than entrenching health inequities.
- Feasibility and acceptability of an asthma app to monitor medication adherence: mixed methods studyPublication . Jácome, Cristina; Almeida, Rute; Pereira, Ana Margarida; Amaral, Rita; Mendes, Sandra; Alves-Correia, Magna; Vidal, Carmen; Freire, Sara López; Brea, Paula Méndez; Araújo, Luís; Couto, Mariana; Antolín-Amérigo, Darío; Caballer, Belén de la Hoz; Castro, Alicia Barra; Gonzalez-De-Olano, David; Bom, Ana Todo; Azevedo, João; Pinto, Paula Leiria; Pinto, Nicole; Neves, Ana Castro; Palhinha, Ana; Bom, Filipa Todo; Costa, Alberto; Loureiro, Cláudia Chaves; Santos, Lilia Maia; Arrobas, Ana; Valério, Margarida; Cardoso, João; Emiliano, Madalena; Gerardo, Rita; Rodrigues, José Carlos Cidrais; Oliveira, Georgeta; Carvalho, Joana; Mendes, Ana; Lozoya, Carlos; Santos, Natacha; Menezes, Fernando; Gomes, Ricardo; Câmara, Rita; Alves, Rodrigo Rodrigues; Moreira, Ana Sofia; Bordalo, Diana; Alves, Carlos; Ferreira, José Alberto; Lopes, Cristina; Silva, Diana; Vasconcelos, Maria João; Teixeira, Maria Fernanda; Ferreira-Magalhães, Manuel; Taborda-Barata, Luís; Cálix, Maria José; Alves, Adelaide; Fonseca, João AlmeidaPoor medication adherence is a major challenge in asthma, and objective assessment of inhaler adherence is needed. The InspirerMundi app aims to monitor adherence while providing a positive experience through gamification and social support. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the InspirerMundi app to monitor medication adherence in adolescents and adults with persistent asthma (treated with daily inhaled medication). A 1-month mixed method multicenter observational study was conducted in 26 secondary care centers from Portugal and Spain. During an initial face-to-face visit, physicians reported patients’ asthma therapeutic plan in a structured questionnaire. During the visits, patients were invited to use the app daily to register their asthma medication intakes. A scheduled intake was considered taken when patients registered the intake (inhaler, blister, or other drug formulation) by using the image-based medication detection tool. At 1 month, patients were interviewed by phone, and app satisfaction was assessed on a 1 (low) to 5 (high) scale. Patients were also asked to point out the most and least preferred app features and make suggestions for future app improvements. A total of 107 patients (median 27 [P25-P75 14-40] years) were invited, 92.5% (99/107) installed the app, and 73.8% (79/107) completed the 1-month interview. Patients interacted with the app a median of 9 (P25-P75 1-24) days. At least one medication was registered in the app by 78% (77/99) of patients. A total of 53% (52/99) of participants registered all prescribed inhalers, and 34% (34/99) registered the complete asthma therapeutic plan. Median medication adherence was 75% (P25-P75 25%-90%) for inhalers and 82% (P25-P75 50%-94%) for other drug formulations. Patients were globally satisfied with the app, with 75% (59/79) scoring ≥4,; adherence monitoring, symptom monitoring, and gamification features being the most highly scored components; and the medication detection tool among the lowest scored. A total of 53% (42/79) of the patients stated that the app had motivated them to improve adherence to inhaled medication and 77% (61/79) would recommend the app to other patients. Patient feedback was reflected in 4 major themes: medication-related features (67/79, 85%), gamification and social network (33/79, 42%), symptom monitoring and physician communication (21/79, 27%), and other aspects (16/79, 20%). The InspirerMundi app was feasible and acceptable to monitor medication adherence in patients with asthma. Based on patient feedback and to increase the registering of medications, the therapeutic plan registration and medication detection tool were redesigned. Our results highlight the importance of patient participation to produce a patient-centered and engaging mHealth asthma app.
- Feasibility of a mobile app to improve inhaler adherence in real‐world patients with asthma: A multicentre observational study in Portugal and SpainPublication . Jácome, Cristina; Rute, Almeida; Amaral, Rita; Pereira, Ana Margarida; Vidal, Carmen; Freire, Sara Lopéz; Mendez Brea, Paula; Antolín- Amerigo, Dario; De La Hoz Caballer, Belen; Barra Castro, Alicia; González de Olano, David; Todo-Bom, Ana; Azevedo, João; Pinto, Paula Leiria; Neuparth, Nuno; Todo-Bom, Filipa; Costa, A.; Loureiro, Cláudia Chaves; Maia Santos, L.; Arrobas, Ana Maria; Valério, M.; Cardoso, João; Emiliano, Madalena; Gerardo, Rita; Cidrais Rodrigues, J. C.; Oliveira, G.; Carvalho, J.; Mendes, Ana; Lozoya, Carlos; Santos, Natacha; Menezes, F.; Gomes, Ricardo; Câmara, R.; Rodrigues Alves, Rodrigo; Moreira, Ana Sofia; Bordalo, Diana; Alves, C.; Coelho, D.; Ferreira, J. A.; Lopes, Cristina; Vasconcelos, M. J.; Teixeira, M. F.; Taborda-Barata, L.; Cálix, M. J.; Alves, A.; Almeida Fonseca, J.InspirerMundi app aims to transform adherence into a positive experience through gamification and social support, while allowing objective monitoring of inhaler adherence. This study assessed the feasibility of the app in adolescents and adults with persistent asthma.
- Geotechnical Hazards in Rocky Slopes (Northern Portugal): Focused on MethodologyPublication . Trigo, José Filinto; Pacheco, Carlos; Fernandes, João; Ferraz, Pedro; Sousa, Jorge; Machado, Rui; Duarte, Sara; Mendes, Ana; Freitas, Liliana; Teixeira, José; Ramos, Luís; Afonso, Maria José; Chaminé, Helder I.Interdisciplinary studies of rocky slopes stability have been performed on Northern Portugal, that allowed to establish a design methodology. This approach carries together the use of more traditional techniques, with the application of more recent technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles. This work presents a set of procedures that have been applied successfully in several case studies, describing the different stages, with an emphasis on the production of a ground three-dimensional model. This model is generated from photographs obtained with successive drone flights, with overlapping. It is the support for the development of subsequent stages, especially for the characterisation of the trajectories of rockfalls and modelling, the development of susceptibility mapping and of rock slope hazard. In this context, the Natural Slope Quality Index (N-SQI ), an adaptation of the Slope Quality Index (SQI), orientated to natural slopes, is presented. The Block Gravity Number (BGN), created in order to hierarchise rock blocks, selecting them for modelling, is also proposed.
- Profiling persistent asthma phenotypes in adolescents: A longitudinal diagnostic evaluation from the INSPIRERS StudiesPublication . Amaral, Rita; Jácome, Cristina; Almeida, Rute; Pereira, Ana M.; Alves-Correia, Magna; Mendes, Sandra; Rodrigues, José C.; Carvalho, Joana; Araújo, Luís; Costa, Alberto; Silva, Armandina; Teixeira, Maria F.; Ferreira-Magalhães, Manuel; Alves, Rodrigo R.; Moreira, Ana S.; Fernandes, Ricardo M.; Ferreira, Rosário; Pinto, Paula L.; Neuparth, Nuno; Bordalo, Diana; Bom, Ana T.; Cálix, Maria J.; Ferreira, Tânia; Gomes, Joana; Vidal, Carmen; Mendes, Ana; Vasconcelos, Maria J.; Silva, Pedro M.; Ferraz, José; Morête, Ana; Pinto, Claúdia S.; Santos, Natacha; Loureiro, Carla C.; Câmara, Raquel; Vieira, Inês; Silva, Sofia D.; Silva, Eurico; Rodrigues, Natalina; Fonseca, João A.We aimed to identify persistent asthma phenotypes among adolescents and to evaluate longitudinally asthma-related outcomes across phenotypes. Adolescents (13–17 years) from the prospective, observational, and multicenter INSPIRERS studies, conducted in Portugal and Spain, were included (n = 162). Latent class analysis was applied to demographic, environmental, and clinical variables, collected at a baseline medical visit. Longitudinal differences in clinical variables were assessed at a 4-month follow-up telephone contact (n = 128). Three classes/phenotypes of persistent asthma were identified. Adolescents in class 1 (n = 87) were highly symptomatic at baseline and presented the highest number of unscheduled healthcare visits per month and exacerbations per month, both at baseline and follow-up. Class 2 (n = 32) was characterized by female predominance, more frequent obesity, and uncontrolled upper/lower airways symptoms at baseline. At follow-up, there was a significant increase in the proportion of controlled lower airway symptoms (p < 0.001). Class 3 (n = 43) included mostly males with controlled lower airways symptoms; at follow-up, while keeping symptom control, there was a significant increase in exacerbations/month (p = 0.015). We have identified distinct phenotypes of persistent asthma in adolescents with different patterns in longitudinal asthma-related outcomes, supporting the importance of profiling asthma phenotypes in predicting disease outcomes that might inform targeted interventions and reduce future risk.
- Sustainable Food Production Through Vermicomposting – An EPS@ISEP 2021 ProjectPublication . Mendes, Ana; Tatuc, Elena; Joos, Fien; Wyka, Jakub; Petrevski, Kris; Malheiro, Benedita; Ribeiro, Cristina; JUSTO, Jorge; Silva, Manuel F.; Ferreira, Paulo; Guedes, PedroThe European Project Semester (EPS) is a multicultural, multidisciplinary teamwork and project-based learning framework offered to engineering, business and product design undergraduates by a network of European Higher Education institutions, including the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP). In the spring of 2021, five EPS@ISEP students from distinct countries and fields of study joined efforts to address the smart and sustainable food production issue. This paper reports their research and development of Wormify, a solution based on vermicomposting. The main goal of the project was to design, simulate, test and build a prototype following ethical and sustainable practices. Wormify aims to minimize the problem of feeding the growing global population, and to prevent food waste from going to landfills. These objectives were pursued by designing a smart modular system for urban rooftops or small balconies. Several modules can be connected to form a place for residents to meet and socialize. The smart system allows monitoring through an app/website. This paper presents the background studies, the concept and design, the development and final results.