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- Assessing resilience potentials in management of occupational safety and health in hospitals: Development and validation of a toolPublication . Fernandes, Joana Afonso; Barbosa, Judite Lopes; Arezes, Pedro; Ferreira, María del Carmen Pardo; Rubio-Romero, Juan Carlos; Rodrigues, Matilde A.; Rodrigues, Matilde; Afonso Fernandes, JoanaA resilient Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management system is crucial for effectively addressing potential future public emergencies, ensuring the continuous protection of workers’ safety and health. Therefore, it is essential for organizations, particularly hospitals, to assess their resilient performance and employ tools that are appropriate and tailored to their specific context. This study aims to enhance the understanding of resilience potentials in OSH management within hospital settings. To this end, an assessment tool was developed based on the Resilience Assessment Grid (RAG). A Delphi study involving subject matter experts was conducted to refine the tailored RAG tool. Following this, a pilot test was administered to 404 healthcare professionals across three public hospitals, with subsequent psychometric analysis. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) identified a four- dimensional structure. Goodness-of-fit indices demonstrated acceptable values, confirming the adequacy of the measurement model. Reliability testing indicated that the 29 item assessment tool is both valid and reliable. The tailored RAG tool was successfully validated, enabling the identification of strengths and weaknesses in OSH management.
- Effect of taping on postoperative recovery following SaphenectomyPublication . Guerero, Raquel Michelini; Zordão, Catarina Clápis; Zampieri, Elisa Helena Subtil; Noites, Andreia; Guirro, Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira; Noites, Andreia; Noites, Andreia; Sousa, Andreia S. P.Post-surgical complications are common complications following saphenectomy surgery, and strategies to facilitate its resolution are essential for postoperative recovery. This study evaluated the effects of adhesive elastic taping on edema control in patients undergoing saphenectomy. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 40 patients of both sexes, divided into two groups: intervention (IG), which received taping immediately after surgery combined with standard compression, and a control group, which received standard treatment with compression stockings (CG). Assessments were performed preoperatively and seven days after surgery, including limb volume (indirect calculation), edema (dielectric constant analysis), Skin Elasticity Assessment (durometer), pain (Visual Analog Scale—VAS), limb functionality (Lower Extremity Functional Scale—LEFS), and ecchymosis area (Image J, version 1.51). Both groups showed a significant increase in edema postoperatively (IG: p = 0.003; CG: p = 0.001). The intervention group exhibited a trend toward volume reduction (p = 0.069), better functionality (p = 0.006)—skin elasticity was assessed using a durometer—and fewer ecchymoses (p = 0.002). Only the control group showed a significant increase in tissue firmness (p = 0.012). No significant difference in pain was observed between groups (p = 0.203). The application of taping demonstrated beneficial effects on postoperative functional recovery and ecchymosis control following saphenectomy.
- Development and validation of a Portuguese psychologist's empathy scale: A pilot studyPublication . Cruz, Márcia; Grilo, Ana; Custódio, Susana; Dores, Artemisa R.; Silva, Carina; Alves, Paulo; Dores, ArtemisaThe systematic assessment of empathy is essential for identifying psychologists' competencies and developmental needs, ultimately contributing to more effective clinical practice. Given the multidimensional nature of empathy, comprehensive evaluation requires consideration of its cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions. How ever, no existing instrument is specifically validated to assess psychologists' self-perceived empathy in clinical contexts. To address this limitation, the present pilot study aimed to develop and undertake a preliminarily validation of the Portuguese Psychologists' Empathy Scale (PPES), a self-report instrument designed to assess empathy among psychologists working in Portuguese-speaking contexts across these three components. The study proceeded in two phases: item construction and initial psychometric testing. A total of 106 Portuguese psychologists completed a 57-item Likert-type instrument. Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (χ2 (45) = 811.56, p < .001), and the KMO index (0.73) indicated moderate adequacy for factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three core factors explaining 48% of the total variance, with strong internal consistency. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis supported model refinement, leading to the removal of items with low factor loadings. The final PPES comprises 43 items distributed across cognitive (16), affective (16), and behavioural (11) dimensions. The findings provide encouraging preliminary evidence for the PPES, demon strating robust internal consistency and acceptable initial factorial validity. Nevertheless, further studies using independent samples and external validation procedures are required to fully establish its psychometric soundness and clinical applicability with Portuguese-speaking psychologists.
- Task demand effects on Visual and Auditory MMN across autistic and schizotypal traitsPublication . Mazer, Prune; Pasion, Rita; Rao, Zohra Kamran; Silveira, Celeste; Santos, Fernando Ferreira; Mazer, PruneMismatch negativity (MMN) is an event-related potential component automatically elicited by violations of sensory predictions and is widely interpreted, within the Predictive Processing framework, as a neural correlate of prediction error. Disruptions in prediction error signaling have been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying the diverse cognitive and perceptual profiles observed in autism and schizophrenia spectrum conditions. In this study, 122 community participants completed auditory and visual oddball tasks with two levels of target detection difficulty while undergoing EEG recording, alongside self-report measures of autistic and schizotypal traits. We found that increased task difficulty significantly reduced MMN amplitude in both modalities, with large effect sizes for auditory (d = 1.826) and visual (d = 1.005) MMN, indicating robust modulation by perceptual load. Although associations between MMN amplitude and trait dimensions were limited, emerging patterns suggest a potential dissociation between social and non-social autistic traits. These findings address key gaps in the literature, particularly the underrepresentation of visual MMN, and highlight the importance of multidimensional, cross-modal approaches to investigating prediction error mechanisms in neurodiverse populations.
- Pharmacy technicians in Europe: exploring the diversity in training, roles, and regulationPublication . Valeiro, Carolina; Silva, Vitor; Jesus, Ângelo; Joaquim, João; Matos Cristiano; Jesus, ÂngeloPharmacy technicians are increasingly recognized as essential healthcare professionals who contribute significantly to the delivery of pharmacy services. However, in Europe, the education, training, and regulatory frameworks governing pharmacy technicians vary substantially, influencing their scope of practice and integration within healthcare systems. This review maps the education, qualifications, and scope of practice of PTs across Europe, highlighting differences in professional titles and regulatory approaches. A review was conducted using publicly available data from the EU Regulated Professions Database and data collected from national organizations representing pharmacy technicians across Europe. Data on professional titles, qualification levels, regulations, program duration, and role delineation were extracted and summarized for comparison. Findings from 28 European countries revealed significant variability in pharmacy technician qualification levels (EQF 4–6), training duration (2–4.5 years), and national regulation. Regulation ranges from mandatory licensing with protected titles to a lack of regulation. The scope of practice differs, from basic dispensing and inventory tasks to broader clinical and technical responsibilities. The landscape of pharmacy technician education and regulation in Europe remains fragmented. Although PTs share core responsibilities, qualification levels, program durations, and regulatory protections vary widely, limiting professional identity, mobility, and workforce planning. Developing a shared European framework for education and professional recognition could facilitate professional mobility, reduce professional and skill disparities, and support safe, high-quality pharmacy services, ultimately optimizing the contribution of PTs to healthcare systems.
- Rare but relevant: MDMA and hyponatraemiaPublication . Garcia, Maria Rita; Gomes, Nelson G. M.; Silva, Diana Dias da; Dias da Silva, Diana CristinaConventionally used for its stimulant, empathogenic and entactogenic effects,3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is one of the most commonlyused psychoactive drugs, specifically among young adults and in nightlife and recrea-tional party contexts. Often perceived as a safe drug, MDMA can display an array oftoxic effects on multiple organs, with hyponatraemia (a low blood sodium concentrationthat can cause an altered mental state) being increasingly reported. Although hypona-traemia per se is among the most common electrolyte disorders encountered in clinicalcare, acute MDMA-induced hyponatraemia was first described in 1993 and constitutes alife-threatening condition if left untreated, particularly among women, who presenthigher incidence rates and increased odds of developing severe clinical effects. The pre-sent review outlines the main clinical manifestations and prevalence of MDMA-inducedhyponatraemia, its pathophysiological mechanisms and the therapeutical approaches tocorrect this electrolyte imbalance.
- Sistema de Gerenciamento de Pavimentos Asfálticos Urbanos: Proposta de Matriz de Decisão de Manutenção Fundamentada na Avaliação de PatologiasPublication . SCHWANDT, VICTOR CELESTINO; Oliveira, Maria do Rosário SantosFrente à grande importância que a malha rodoviária apresenta para o Brasil e sua crescente deterioração, justificam-se os investimentos substanciais realizados para a construção e manutenção de vias pavimentadas. Contudo, é necessário avaliar as prioridades e analisar as intervenções necessárias de forma eficiente para um melhor resultado. Para isso, existem os sistemas de gerenciamento de pavimentos, que são ferramentas que auxiliam na gestão e conservação de vias, fornecendo informações e recursos para a tomada de decisões relacionadas aos pavimentos. O objetivo deste trabalho é propor um sistema de gerenciamento para pavimentos adaptado para a realidade urbana, baseado na avaliação de patologias para obter, a partir da análise, métodos de manutenção e reabilitação de forma mais eficiente e adequada. Entende-se que a matriz proposta é capaz de fornecer as técnicas de manutenção e reabilitação mais assertivamente para aplicações urbanas, devido a ponderação das características dos defeitos na análise final.
- Sensor monitoring of thermal and vascular changes during neoadjuvant treatmentPublication . Zordão, Catarina C.; Flórido, Andrezza M.; de Almeida, Tamires C.; Carrara, Hélio H. A.; Noites, Andreia; Guirro, Rinaldo R. J.; Guirro, Elaine C. O.; Noites, AndreiaThe physiological impact of neoadjuvant therapy on vascular and thermal responses in breast cancer patients remains poorly understood, despite its clinical relevance for predict‑ ing treatment outcomes and managing therapy‑related side effects. Sensor‑based monitor‑ ing technologies, such as thermography and Doppler ultrasound, provide non‑invasive approaches to assess circulatory and thermal changes, potentially serving as predictive biomarkers of therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate vascular impairment and correlate circulatory alterations with skin surface temperature in women undergoing neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer. A total of 38 women were enrolled and distributed into two groups: patients receiving eight cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and healthy controls. Thermographic imaging was employed to measure upper‑limb surface temper‑ ature, while Doppler ultrasound assessed arterial and venous blood flow in the cubital fossa. Paired Student’s t‑tests compared experimental moments (C1, C5, C8), with normal‑ ity assessed from difference scores (∆) and results expressed as mean differences with 95% CIs (p < 0.05, two‑tailed). Associations between surface temperature and arterial blood flow were examined using simple linear regression (R2 , F‑statistic, β, p‑values). Analyses were performed in SPSS 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Significant increases in sur‑ face temperature (p < 0.001) and blood flow velocity (p < 0.004) were observed in patients compared with controls prior to therapy, suggesting pre‑existing vascular and thermal dysregulation. Neoadjuvant therapy significantly altered thermal and vascular dynamics, reinforcing the utility of sensor‑based monitoring to capture subtle physiological responses during treatment.
- A memória como “Raiz”: o peso do cinema documental na materialização da biografia pessoalPublication . Pereira, Ângela Filipa Rodrigues; Baptista, AdrianaA identidade é edificada em torno do conjunto de aprendizagens adquiridas ao longo do tempo, que vão desde informações básicas, como o próprio nome ou o de familiares, necessárias a longo prazo, até informações cuja pertinência é apenas provisória. A memória é um processo complexo, responsável pela retenção e acesso a esses conteúdos. Não se pode considerar fidedigna ou objetiva, pois está sujeita a fatores como interpretação, estado emocional ou estímulos externos, mas, ainda assim, contribui para a atribuição de significado aos elementos envolventes, tornando-se um dos pilares da existência humana. Na arte, a chave para a singularidade, conexão e imersividade é a expressão individual. Como tal, a identidade, e por consequência a memória, são basilares para a criação artística. O cinema, e em especial o cinema documental, pelo seu cariz autêntico, transcende o entretenimento. Atua como reflexo social, cultural e ideológico, podendo preocupar-se com transmitir uma mensagem, mas estando a mesma sempre sujeita ao enviesamento da perspetiva do realizador. É um organismo vivo de preservação, estando constantemente encarregue de analisar e representar arquivo para reconstruir o passado e de produzir novos registos, que levarão o presente para gerações futuras. Este projeto pretende iniciar uma reflexão sobre o papel do cinema documental na preservação identitária, coletiva e individual. Sendo a memória um elemento crucial para a noção de identidade, considera-se que é a base, ou a raiz, da materialização biográfica e da subsequente produção artística. Para apurar estas questões, foram realizadas entrevistas a especialistas nas áreas da memória e das artes, a par de revisão de literatura relevante sobre os temas salientados (e adjacentes). Foram igualmente analisados filmes (ficcionais e não-ficcionais) que tratassem a aplicação prática da memória como fonte narrativa. Finalmente, foi realizado um documentário, centrado numa única personagem, que dá voz a memórias geracionais e representa uma comunidade.
- Impact of shoulder pain on upper limb function: An observational study in post-stroke individualsPublication . Lopes, Sofia; Fernandes, Ângela; Lopes, Sofia; Fernandes, ÂngelaShoulder pain is a frequent complication after stroke, often associated with reduced arm function, decreased independence, and poorer quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between post-stroke shoulder pain, motor performance, functional outcomes, and spasticity to provide clinically relevant evidence for rehabilitation. We conducted an observational study including individuals who had experienced a stroke and were undergoing neurorehabilitation. Pain severity and its interference with daily activities were measured through structured clinical evaluation. Motor outcomes were assessed with standardized functional and strength tests, and spasticity was measured using a validated clinical scale. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, including time since stroke and stroke type, were also collected. The mean pain severity score was 4.82 (standard deviation 1.72). Pain severity correlated strongly with pain interference, although neither was significantly associated with motor or functional performance. Motor and functional variables were interrelated: motor recovery scores correlated positively with functional independence and grip strength, and negatively with spasticity. Time since stroke influenced outcomes, with poorer motor and functional results in participants more than two years post-event. Stroke type influenced pain, with greater interference reported in patients with ischemic stroke. No significant differences were observed between sexes. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of shoulder pain after stroke and emphasize the importance of early and individualized rehabilitation strategies. Addressing pain, spasticity, and functional limitations together may improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with the consequences of stroke.