Browsing by Author "Tavares, Sofia"
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- Home Assistive Robot for Alzheimer's PatientsPublication . Nóbrega, Antónia; Portela, Mariana; Tavares, Sofia; Guimarães, Pedro; Marques, Maria Arcelina; Lázaro Jacob, FredericoWith the increase in the senior population, especially patients with dementia and Alzheimer's, healthcare professionals are increasingly overwhelmed. Existing assistive technologies to improve these patients’ quality of life and their caregivers are scarce given the daily challenges they face. To tackle this issue, a domestic assistive robot was developed for Alzheimer's patients – AlzheimerAlly - which encompasses the functionalities of a service robot, and a companion robot. AlzheimerAlly's functionalities involve tracking continuous monitoring of the patient's anatomical points to detect the type of movement and medication intake. The movement of the robot follows the movement of the patient. Additionally, the graphical interface allows cognitive and stimulation tests to be carried out. The medication dispenser, implemented, contains compartments, each with a LED. Finally, there is a website, which allows you to enter and access relevant data about the medication dispenser and cognitive tests. The functionalities described were thoroughly tested, demonstrating effective implementation. However, the prototype still remains subject to improvements. Although AlzheimerAlly requires improvements, it is already a significant and functional contribution to the area of care for Alzheimer's patients. This robot represents innovation and improvement in the quality of life of patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals.
- Mental health and lifestyle factors among higher education students: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Almeida, Raquel Simões de; Rodrigues, Andreia; Tavares, Sofia; Barreto, João F.; Marques, António; Trigueiro, Maria João; Simões de Almeida, Raquel; Barreto, João Francisco; Pereira da Silva Marques, António José; Trigueiro, Maria JoãoThis study aimed to describe the lifestyle factors and mental health levels among higher education students and identify their predictors. A cross-sectional study with a sample of 745 students was conducted with students from the Polytechnic of Porto using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE)-18, and FANTASTICO Lifestyle Questionnaire. The findings indicate that while students generally exhibited a positive lifestyle, they also experienced mild levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, nearing the moderate threshold. The DASS-21 Depression subscale was a significant predictor of both CORE-18 and FANTASTICO scores, underscoring the strong relationship between depression and overall well-being. Anxiety and stress were also predictors of CORE-18 scores, reflecting the negative impact of stress on students’ psychological well-being. Perceived health status and the male sex were associated with better outcomes on the DASS-21 and CORE-18, while the female sex predicted a healthier lifestyle, as measured by FANTASTICO. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions that address mental health and promote healthy lifestyle choices in educational settings.