João Luís Alves Apóstolo

• phd
• Professor at Nursing School of Coimbra

Objective The objective of this guidance paper is to describe data transformation involving qualitization, including when and how to undertake this process, and to clarify how it aligns with data extraction in order to expand on the current guidance for JBI convergent integrated mixed methods systematic reviews (MMSRs). Introduction The convergent...

Introduction In health care, effective communication enhances teamwork and safety by minimizing adverse events. Evidence suggests that ongoing education should include communication skills training, as interprofessional communication relies on tools that facilitate seamless interaction. Objective This project aimed to improve communication practic...

A number of experiences have demonstrated how digital solutions are effective in improving quality of life (QoL) and health outcomes for older adults. Smart Health Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) is a new concept introduced in Europe since 2017 that combines the concept of Age-Friendly Environments with Information Technologies, supported by heal...

A number of experiences have demonstrated how digital solutions are effective in improving quality of life (QoL) and health outcomes for older adults. Smart Health Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) is a new concept introduced in Europe since 2017 that combines the concept of Age-Friendly Environments with Information Technologies, supported by heal...

A investigação em enfermagem centra-se no desenvolvimento de conhecimento sobre o seu objeto próprio para responder a problemas complexos, de um modo sustentável e socialmente responsável, ao nível da promoção da saúde e do bem-estar, da prevenção da doença ao longo da vida, dos cuidados à pessoa saudável ou doente, no percurso vivencial e em fim d...

Objectives To improve postdischarge telephone follow-up in the context of chronic disease management (peripheral artery disease), in a vascular surgery service. Introduction Patients with chronic diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, present a higher risk of complications and greater constraints regarding their adherence to treatment, leadi...

The global relevance of pressure injury (PI) prevention technologies arise from their impact on the quality of life of people with limited mobility and the costs associated with treating these preventable injuries. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to evaluate the design of a prototype integrating Smart Health Textiles for PI prevention ba...

Background: The Nursing School of Coimbra knows the importance of extension units in the artic-ulation between teaching, research, and extension. For this reason, the School has a Service Provision and Community Extension Activities Coordination Unit (UPSCCAEC).Objective: To describe the work developed by the UPSCCAEC in 2019 and 2020, highlighting...

Pressure injuries (PIs) are a major public health problem and can be used as quality-of-care indicators. An incipient development in the field of medical devices takes the form of Smart Health Textiles, which can possess innovative properties such as thermoregulation, sensing, and antibacterial control. This protocol aims to describe the process fo...

Background In a society increasingly committed to promoting an active life in the community, new resources are needed to respond to the needs of citizens with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The potential of several individual cognitive interventions to be provided by caregivers has been explored in the literature. Objective To sy...

Background: Cognitive stimulation (CS) focuses on the intellectual and social stimulation of people with neurocognitive disorders (NCD or dementia). This intervention is widely disseminated in group settings and may not be accessible or adequate to all people with cognitive impairment. Making a Difference 3 (MD3) is an individual CS program in whic...

Bedridden patients risk presenting several problems caused by prolonged immobility, leading to a long recovery process. There is thus a need to develop solutions that ensure the implementation of physical rehabilitation programs in a controlled and interactive way. In this context, the ABLEFIT project aims to develop a medical device to physically...

The Short Functional Geriatric Evaluation (SFGE) is a multidimensional and short questionnaire to assess biopsychosocial frailty in older adults. This paper aims to clarify the latent factors of SFGE. Data were collected from January 2016 to December 2020 from 8800 community-dwelling older adults participating in the “Long Live the Elderly!” progra...

This study aimed to evaluate a clothing prototype that incorporates sensors for the evaluation of pressure, temperature, and humidity for the prevention of pressure injuries, namely regarding physical and comfort requirements. A mixed-method approach was used with concurrent quantitative and qualitative data triangulation. A structured questionnair...

Background The incidence of diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is increasing worldwide. Therapeutic footwear is usually recommended in clinical practice for preventing foot ulcers in persons with diabetes. The project Science DiabetICC Footwear aims to develop innovative footwear to prevent DFU, specifically a shoe and sensor-based insole, which will a...

Background Prolonged standing environments constitute an occupational risk factor for nurses, particularly for developing foot and ankle disorders. The definitions and potential relationship to hours spent walking or standing are poorly understood. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the main disorders found on nurses’ ankles and feet, their pr...

Atualmente, uma fração elevada e diversificada de conhecimento científico é publicado. Contudo, a publicação dos resultados científicos no campo académico e entre pares não garante que o conhecimento chegue à sociedade. Os cientistas têm o dever de transformar o conhecimento em produtos de fácil consumo, acessíveis às pessoas, no momento em que nec...

A ciência cidadã (CC) assume-se como uma mudança de paradigma na comunicação de resultados científicos à sociedade. A CC tem como propósito produzir conhecimento com a sociedade e promover a sua democratização por meio de abordagens participativas entre investigadores e cidadãos comuns. Visando aproximar-se do cidadão comum, entidades de investigaç...

A scoping review was conducted to map and analyze the concept of telecare services and the trends in telecare use. This scoping review was conducted according to Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. A search was conducted in CINAHL (via EBSCO), ERIC, Academic Search Ultimate, and MEDLINE/PubMed databases. This scoping review considered quantitative (e....

Frailty is a complex interplay between several factors, including physiological changes in ageing, multimorbidities, malnutrition, living environment, genetics, and lifestyle. Early screening for frailty risk factors in community-dwelling older people allows for preventive interventions on the clinical and social determinants of frailty, which allo...

New technologies, namely eHealth platforms, are being used more than ever before. These platforms enable older people to have a more independent lifestyle, enhance their participation, and improve their well-being. Information and communication technologies are expected to be linked to the triad of aging, social inclusion, and active participation,...

Introduction: In increasingly aging societies, the life course towards aging should be a positive experience supported by interventions for promoting healthy lifestyles, namely through social interaction. Technological advancements, such as eHealth platforms, are becoming increasingly available and may facilitate a more autonomous life and promote...

Enquadramento: As revisões sistemáticas ao incluírem diversos estudos, ainda que abordem uma questão semelhante, irão reunir inevitavelmente algum grau de diversidade. Os estudos têm diferentes desenhos, assim como participantes, intervenções/exposições ou mesmo outcomes/ resultados esperados. Essa diversidade é denominada de heterogeneidade e pela...

Bedridden patients usually stay in bed for long periods, presenting several problems caused by immobility, leading to a long recovery process. Thus, identifying physical rehabilitation programs for bedridden patients with prolonged immobility requires urgent research. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to map existing physical rehabilitation prog...

Abstract: Cognitive impairment can represent a predecessor to neuro-degenerative processes; however, evidence suggests that non-pharmacologic interventions such as reminiscence therapy (RT) and cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) can potentially stabilize or reverse this trend. Community-based settings are widely regarded as the key area of interve...

The article describes some of the achievements of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), after eight years in operation. These results were achieved thanks to the collaborative work of the action groups (AGs) and reference sites (RSs). RS regional ecosystems include key organisations committed to investing in...

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is considered a metabolic chronic disease and global epidemic incidence in all age groups. One of the most common and severe complications of DM is diabetic foot ulceration (DFU), resulting in a high number of prolonged hospitalizations and limb amputations. Plantar pressure is considered an important predictor of...

Objective Mixed methods systematic reviews (MMSR) combine quantitative and qualitative evidence within a single review. Since the revision of the JBI Methodology for MMSRs in 2020, there has been an increasing number of reviews published that claim to follow this approach. A preliminary examination of these indicated that authors frequently deviate...

Introduction: Non-pharmacological intervention options, including individual reminiscence therapy (iRT), have been effective in improving cognitive functioning, mood, and quality of life (QoL) in persons with neurocognitive disorders (NCD). Objectives: A 13-week randomized trial intervention utilizing iRT was conducted on older adults with NCD. We...

This chapter focuses on the use of technology on older adult health promotion. During the ageing process, they experience changes in physical, cognitive, psychological, and social domains. Frailty is the most problematic expression of ageing and entails a high risk of adverse outcomes. In order to prevent it, healthcare professionals must intervene...

In this chapter, the triangulation analysis of connections between older adults, relevant stakeholders, and community will be made in order to acknowledge the challenges resulting from demographic changes, identify the gaps in current health and social policy in the field of geriatric care, and outline the pathways for joint actions to achieve succ...

This observational and descriptive study attempted, within the scope of the ModulEn Research Project, to determine associations between lifestyle-related variables and frailty involving 160 community-dwelling older adults aged between 65 and 80 years living in the Central Region of Portugal. Forty-three percent of the study participants were pre-fr...

Introduction: Deinstitutionalization of individuals with severe mental illness transferred the responsibility of care to the relatives who need to adapt their personal life. Caregivers often develop coping strategies which involve the relationship with oneself, others, or the transcendent/God or nature and may include religious/spiritual practices....

The objective of Working Group (WG) 4 of the COST Action NET4Age-Friendly is to examine existing policies, advocacy, and funding opportunities and to build up relations with policy makers and funding organisations. Also, to synthesize and improve existing knowledge and models to develop from effective business and evaluation models, as well as to g...

Objective: This study aims to assess the feasibility and meaningfulness of a home-based individual cognitive stimulation (iCS) program delivered by caregivers to persons with cognitive impairment (PwCIs). It also aims to assess whether the older adults receiving this program improved their cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and depressive symptoms and qu...

Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a form of cognitive stimulation therapy that incorporates discus-sion of past activities, events, and experiences to stimulate individual memories; it has had some success in treating persons with neurocognitive disorders. This research aims to evaluate the ability of individual RT, using a simple reminiscence format, t...

Bedridden patients usually stay in bed for long periods, presenting several motor problems caused by immobility, such as reductions in muscle mass, bone mineral density and physical impairment, resulting in a long recovery process. Thus, identifying physical rehabilitation programs for bedridden patients with prolonged immobility is a matter of urg...

Resumo Enquadramento: A estimulação cognitiva individual desenvolvida em contexto domiciliar por um cuidador é uma intervenção inovadora. O programa de estimulação cognitiva Fazer a Diferença 3 (FD3) é um exemplo deste tipo de intervenção. Objetivo: Explorar a aceitabilidade e a aplicabilidade do programa FD3 para a população portuguesa. Metodologi...

Background : Frailty is associated with a prodromal stage called pre-frailty, a potentially reversible and highly prevalent intermediate state before frailty becomes established. Despite being widely-used in the literature and increasingly in clinical practice, it is poorly understood. Objective : To establish consensus on the construct and approa...

High-quality health research must involve the citizen, bringing merit, relevance, and value to research and ensuring the transfer of new knowledge or outputs to the community. This theoretical study aimed to conceptualize and discuss the role of Citizen Involvement and Extension to Society in research processes and outcomes, revealing that both con...

Background Pressure ulcers (PUs) are injuries resulting from ischaemia caused by prolonged compression or shear forces on the skin, adjacent tissues and bones. Advanced stages of PUs are associated with infectious complications and constitute a major clinical challenge, with high social and economic impacts in health care. Goals This study aims to...

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine-related side effects have a determinant role in the public decision regarding vaccination. Therefore, this study has been designed to actively monitor the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Methods: A multi-country, three-phase study including a cross-sectional survey to tes...

Musculoskeletal disorders can be significantly disabling, particularly those related to work, when the underlying mechanisms and clinical variables are not well known and understood. Nurses usually remain in standing positions or walk for long periods, thus increasing the risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly on the fo...

Background: The use of simulation in the training of nurses has increased in the last decades, allowing the acquisition and development of several competencies. Objective: Understand the experiences of nursing students who used the aged simulation suit. Methodology: Qualitative study of a phenomenological nature. The participants were nursing...

Objective: The objective of this paper is to outline the updated methodological approach for conducting a JBI mixed methods systematic review with a focus on data synthesis, specifically, methods related to how data are combined and the overall integration of the quantitative and qualitative evidence. Introduction: Mixed methods systematic revie...

Aims To describe the undergraduate nursing students’ and nursing educators' evidence-based practice beliefs, their extent of evidence-based practice implementation and their perspectives regarding organizational culture for evidence-based practice. To identify any relationship between the mentioned variables. Background The integration of evidence...

Background: Recognizing the importance of assessing quality of life in older adults, the World Health Organization introduced in 2006 the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-OLD) scale, which has been adapted to several international settings. Given the need to comprehensively assess older adults in this domain,...

Early detection of frailty may prevent or delay adverse health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. In Portugal, there are currently no valid multidimensional frailty screening tools. SUNFRAIL is a user-friendly multidimensional tool for frailty screening that can be used in primary care. Aims: (i) to determine the validity and reliabilit...

Background The Fresno Test was originally identified as an instrument to assess evidence-based practice knowledge and skills through cognitive testing and performance assessment in medical students. Further studies have been recommended to establish the measurement properties of the Fresno Test in different learner populations. Objectives To perfo...

Background: This study aimed to translate and adapt the Quality of the Carer–Patient Relationship (QCPR) scale into Portuguese and analyse both its psychometric properties and correlation with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Methods: Phase (1) Translate and culturally adapt the scale. Phase (2) Assess the scale’s confirmatory factorial ana...

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a 13-week individual reminiscence therapy (RT) intervention on cognition, memory, executive function, mood, and quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Method: Non-protocolized analysis using data from a larger multicenter, single-blind, randomized, parallel two-arm RCT...

Evidence-based practice (EBP) prevents unsafe/inefficient practices and improves healthcare quality, but its implementation is challenging due to research and practice gaps. A focused educational program can assist future nurses to minimize these gaps. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an EBP educational program on undergraduate nursin...

Given the rapidly growing older adult population, future nurses should increase their knowledge and skills in gerontological nursing to deliver high-quality care to older adults. The aim of this national survey (n=40 nursing schools) was to analyse the status of gerontology education in Portuguese baccalaureate nursing programmes. Data were collect...

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of educational programs using Diabetes Conversation Map™ on health outcomes of people with type 2 diabetes. Introduction: Diabetes Conversation Map™ has been used in the context of diabetes self-management education as a resource for managing type 2 diabetes. There is a need to determine the effectivenes...

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a 13-week individual Reminiscence Therapy intervention to improve the overall cognitive function, memory, executive function, mood, and quality of life of people with neurocognitive disorders. Methods: A single-blind, multicentre, randomised parallel two-arm controlled trial recruited 251 people with neu...

Background: Promoting successful aging in the community is a societal priority. Cognitive stimulation is one of the interventions with a positive impact on older adults’ health and well-being, as it preserves cognitive functioning, contributing to the maintenance of autonomy and quality of life. Objective: To culturally adapt the Making a Differen...

Among the non-pharmacological interventions frequently implemented in older adults with dementia, group-based Reminiscence therapy (RT) emerges in the literature due to its efficacy in enhancing older adults' cognition and quality of life, while decreasing the incidence of depressive symptomatology. In parallel, there is a growing interest on the p...

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs) are the main cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Demographic aging has resulted in older populations with more complex healthcare needs. This necessitates a multilevel rethinking of healthcare policies, health education and community support systems with digitalization of technologies playing a centr...

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to examine and map interventions of palliative rehabilitation that are implemented and evaluated in palliative care. Introduction: Palliative rehabilitation is defined as the process of helping an individual with a progressive, frequently advanced and/or incurable disease reach their physical, p...

Enquadramento: A literatura sugere que a terapia de reminiscência (TR) é uma das terapias não-farmacológicas com melhores evidências na população idosa com perturbação neurocognitiva (PNC), permitindo estimular a neuroplasticidade e a reserva cognitiva, podendo ter um efeito protetor na pessoa com PNC. Objetivo: Apresentar de forma pormenorizada a...

In reply: W e are grateful to Leroi and Vatter for their comments regarding our recent review. We are pleased to share a similar field of interest, given the benefits that such interventions can hold in various cognitive domains such as memory, attention...

Enquadramento: O modelo teórico de Travelbee influenciou significativamente o movimento de cuidados paliativos. Segundo Travelbee, a Relação Pessoa-a-Pessoa é o meio através do qual o objetivo da enfermagem é cumprido. Neste sentido, os enfermeiros são desafiados à implementação de uma prática mais reflexiva, pautada pela compaixão e pela simpatia....

Objective: The objective of this review is to map the nature and extent of forgiveness facilitation intervention implemented and evaluated in palliative care contexts. Introduction: Spiritual beliefs often include reconciliation and forgiveness, which are critical to patients and families in palliative care. Forgiveness facilitation can represen...

Focusing on frailty: applying a person-centered, integrated approach to a multidimensional condition

Objective: The objective of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of caregiver-provided individual cognitive interventions for improving cognition, social functioning and quality of life in older adults with major neurocognitive disorders. Introduction: A large number of people with major neurocognitive disorders live in their homes, req...

In recent years we may observe increasing interest in the development of social innovation both regarding theory as well as the practice of responding to social problems and challenges. One of the crucial challenges at the beginning of the 21st century is population ageing. Various new and innovative initiatives, programs, schemes, and projects to...

Objective: To determine the number of elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI); to determine the relationship of sociodemographic and clinical variables by group of individuals with or without MCI and to determine the relationship between MCI assessed by 6CIT and the cognitive domains assessed by the MoCA. Methods: A correlational study...

There is a growing need to implement and evaluate technological solutions that allow early detection of age-related adverse outcomes, like frailty, and enable assessment of lifestyle habits that can be maintained or improved to prevent such adverse outcomes. In this study, the sample is composed by older adults aged 65–80 years, recruited from the...

Background: Reminiscence therapy (RT) emerges in the literature as a non-pharmacological intervention commonly implemented in groups of older adults with dementia, and which has significant positive results in outcomes such as cognition and depressive symptomatology. Simultaneously, we witness the gradual addition of innovative technologies in non-...

There is an urgent need for efficient solutions that can promote healthy aging, with quality of life and well-being. Technological solutions might be strong allies in the promotion of active aging, to allow for the older adult to adapt and fulfill daily living activities at home. When applying technology to healthcare, particularly in the older pop...

Objective: The objective of the proposed systematic review is to determine the barriers and enablers (or facilitators) to the implementation of pressure injury prevention among adults receiving care in the hospital setting. Introduction: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries are preventable; however, they remain an ongoing safety and quality healt...

Context: Flushing of peripheral venous catheters (PVC) during intravenous administration is described as a preventive procedure for PVC-related complications. However, this practice is not adequately covered by international guidelines in terms of flushing volume, frequency and technique. Objectives: To map the existing evidence within the scope of...

The objective of this study is to translate and culturally adapt to European Portuguese “EBP Beliefs Scale for Educators” (EBPB-E), “EBP Implementation Scale for Educators” (EBPI-E) and “Organizational Culture & Readiness for School-wide Integration of Evidence-based Practice Survey” for Educators (OCRSIEP-E); and to provide preliminary validation...

In this chapter, the triangulation analysis of connections between older adults, relevant stakeholders, and community will be made to acknowledge the challenges resulting from demographic changes, identify the gaps in current health and social policy in the field of geriatric care, and outline the pathways for joint actions to achieve successful ag...

Aim: To explore undergraduate student's preparation for leadership roles upon registration. Background: Effective leadership is vital when promoting positive workplace cultures and high-quality care provision. However, newly registered nurses are not always well-prepared for leadership roles. Evaluation: A scoping review of primary research pu...

Objective: To synthesize and integrate the best available evidence on the experiences and effectiveness of canine-assisted interventions (CAIs) on the health and well-being of older people residing in long-term care. Introduction: Canine-assisted interventions (CAIs) are commonly used as an adjunct therapy to enhance health and well-being and ar...

This chapter focuses on the use of technology on older adult health promotion. During the ageing process, they experience changes in physical, cognitive, psychological, and social domains. Frailty is the most problematic expression of ageing and entails a high risk of adverse outcomes. In order to prevent it, healthcare professionals must intervene...

RESUMEN Las personas mayores, diagnosticadas tardíamente, tienen un mayor riesgo de desarrollar SIDA. Con un recuento de CD4 de menos de 200 células/ml3, tienen en promedio más probabilidades de morir en el primer año después del diagnóstico. El objetivo de esta revisión de alcance es mapear las evidencias relacionadas con los factores asociados y...

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the group Reminiscence Therapy (RT) on cognition, depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in older adults recruited in nursing homes. Methods: A pilot study with a one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted between September 2017 and March 2018 in five nursing homes from central Po...

Background: The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in clinical contexts is recommended due to its positive impact on health, but it remains under the desirable. The training of undergraduate nursing students in the use of EBP is crucial, and, for that, there must be valid and reliable measures of EBP learning. Objective: To translate a...

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever a metodologia e as estratégias do plano educacional do ensino clínico de Fundamentos de Enfermagem na comunidade que, por meio do estudo de determinantes de saúde com pessoas idosas, tem como meta a formação de competências e capacidades dos estudantes do curso de Licenciatura em Enfermagem. Método: trata-se de um estudo...

La terapia de remniscencia (TR) es una de las TNF con más tradición y mejor valoradas por los participantes. En este póster se presenta el protocolo de estudio de un proyecto de investigación que pretende evaluar el efecto de la terapia de reminiscencia (TR) individual sobre la función cognitiva global de personas con trastorno neurocognitivo que f...

Background: Age-related frailty is a multidimensional dynamic condition associated with adverse patient outcomes and high costs for health systems. Several interventions have been proposed to tackle frailty. This correspondence article describes the journey through the development of evidence- and consensus-based guidelines on interventions aimed...

Background: Aging is associated with acute and chronic problems that interfere with older adults’ mobility and independence. There are several types of walkers available in the market with different functional performance profiles of older people which aim to compensate for physical limitations and prevent falls. Objective: To compare the functio...

Aim: To develop and validate a physical exercise programme aimed at delaying the functional decline in frail older adults. Design: The revised guideline of Criteria for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in health care was followed. Methods: The physical exercise programme was designed and validated by exercise s...

https://www.esenfc.pt/pt/page/100004264

As pessoas idosas, diagnosticadas tardiamente, tem maior risco de desenvolver AIDS. Com a contagem de CD4 inferior a 200 células/ml3, elas apresentam em média mais chances de morrer no primeiro ano após o diagnóstico. Neste sentido, o objetivo desta revisão de escopo é mapear evidências relativas aos fatores associados e de risco do diagnóstico tar...

O objetivo deste estudo é identificar ações desenvolvidas por enfermeiros nos cuidados primários, com base no referencial de competências do enfermeiro de cuidados gerais da Ordem dos Enfermeiros Portuguesa. Estudo exploratório descritivo, em uma amostra de 46 enfermeiros de cuidados gerais, que trabalham em cuidados de saúde primários. As ações ma...