Portuguese Journal of Public Health最新文献

{"title":"World Health Organization's Well-Being Index - WHO-5: Psychometric Performance of the Portuguese Version for Adolescents.","authors":"Paula Saraiva Carvalho, Miguel Vieira Martins, Isabel Azevedo, Ricardo Rodrigues, Sofia Ferreira","doi":"10.1159/000543728","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000543728","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The World Health Organization's Well-Being Index (WHO-5) is a five-item scale designed to measure psychological well-being and is considered effective in detecting depressive symptoms. This scale was translated and validated in more than 30 languages and is used in clinical practice and research worldwide. In Portugal, validation of this scale has yet to be done. This study aimed to analyse the psychometric performance of the WHO-5 scale in the setting of a Portuguese adolescent population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An observational cross-sectional survey-based study was carried out to assess the emotional state of adolescents resorting to the WHO-5 scale. A sample of 1,916 elementary and secondary school students from grades 7-12 was used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The WHO-5 median score was 17 [14-20], and the best scores were found in males (<i>p</i> < 0.001), in those with no health issues (<i>p</i> < 0.001), those who slept well (<i>p</i> < 0.001), those who practiced sports (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and those who had no difficulties making friends (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Results from the answers to the WHO-5 questionnaire showed good internal consistency with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.80, and a confirmatory factor analysis supported the unidimensional structure of the questionnaire, which was consistent with a valid scale for the study sample.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study showed that the Portuguese version of the WHO-5 can assess psychological well-being in adolescents. The WHO-5 is a simple and readily useable scale that can be applied in routine consultations for screening the emotional state of adolescents and early detection of signs of mental health problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"43 1","pages":"38-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11957478/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Cancer Knowledge among Health Students in Portugal.","authors":"Ana Barros, Madalena Pereiro, Rita Espanha","doi":"10.1159/000542196","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000542196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and its incidence has been increasing. It is estimated that almost half of all cancer cases could be prevented by lifestyles changes. Cancer knowledge may be key to addressing this growing trend. This study focused on health students and its primary objective was to evaluate students' knowledge and perceptions about cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, the tool \"Students Knowledge and Perceptions about Cancer\" was used to retrieve quantitative data about students' knowledge. Their perceptions were evaluated using a Likert scale that ranged from \"Don't know\" to \"Know almost everything.\" This tool was shared on LinkedIn and Facebook, making the sampling method non-probabilistic.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>From a sample of 170 health students, 72.4% (123) got more than half of the questions right. Lung cancer is the topic with lower knowledge. Overall, there seems to be a positive statistically significant correlation between students' knowledge and their perceptions about their knowledge (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Despite the satisfactory levels of general knowledge about cancer, there should be more campaigns that are appealing to students that emphasise prevention as a mean to reduce cancer incidence. There is still work to be done to have more awareness among health students, especially regarding risk behaviours and screenings related to cancer. New studies with more representative samples should be conducted.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"43 1","pages":"5-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11957474/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DisConnect: Characterisation of Screen Use and Perception of Health Problems in Students from Aveiro, Portugal - A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Fábio Sousa Gomes, José Chen-Xu, Cristina Conceição, Fátima Claro, Emídio Abrantes, Dulce Seabra","doi":"10.1159/000542198","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000542198","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Digitalisation has made technologies an important vehicle for development and learning, especially for children and young people. However, multiple risks of excessive or inappropriate use have been described. This study aimed to characterise the use of screens in young Portuguese students and the association with perceived health problems in the Aveiro municipality.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2019 and April 2020 on students enrolled in schools in the Aveiro municipality of Portugal through a questionnaire applied to 4th, 6th, and 8th graders. A descriptive analysis characterised the screen use, while logistic regressions were utilised to assess association with perceived health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four of the 989 students who responded to the questionnaire (0.4%) reported not using any screen device. Around 57% of students reported not taking any device to school. Screen time spent during weekdays was associated with higher reduction in physical activity (adjOR = 2.54, <i>p</i> = 0.019). Receiving a device between 0 and 5 years old showed positive association with body pain (adjOR = 1.62, <i>p</i> = 0.034), and using screens at school was associated with more problems at home (adjOR = 2.04, <i>p</i> = 0.01). Screen use during meals and having screens in the bedroom during sleep were consistently associated with a more negative perception of health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Literature points to a multitude of possible health consequences regarding inadequate or excessive screen use, but most data are based on small samples and a limited number of observations. This is one of the first studies describing screen use among young schoolgoers in Portugal and the first using a big representative sample of Aveiro students. Our study gives some insight on the screen habits of young people in Portugal and demonstrates that some habits can have impact on important aspects such as physical activity, body pain, and family dynamics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Screen use and screen habits have important consequences in multiple aspects of health. Systematic data collection on screen use and its impact on health, including mental health, among schoolgoers is essential, particularly to understand long-term effects and allow effective prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"43 1","pages":"14-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11957476/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mental Health as a Polysemic Construct? Revisiting the Debate about University Students' Unmet Needs.","authors":"Manuel Gonçalves-Pereira","doi":"10.1159/000542629","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000542629","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"42 3","pages":"165-168"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11649296/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142847733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the Cost-Effectiveness of Chlamydia Screening Strategies: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Emídio Mata, António Angélico-Gonçalves, Ana Rita Leite, Diogo Queiroz Almeida","doi":"10.1159/000542685","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000542685","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cost-effectiveness analyses of preventive screening strategies are paramount for public health to ensure effective resource use, especially for sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia, which lead to significant quality-adjusted life years (QALY) loss.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>This study systematically reviewed EMBASE, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases, from inception to October 2022, Chlamydia infection screening strategies' cost-effectiveness studies analyzing Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) of QALYs versus no screening. Out of 487 studies, six were included, each employing distinct screening approaches, assumptions, and prevalence and incidence rates. The ICERs varied from USD 2,350/QALY gained with annual screening of women aged 15-24 years to EUR 117,529/QALY gained with women and men screening (age 16-29).</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>The results underscore the impact of the different assumptions on ICERs and highlight the importance of precise epidemiology on Chlamydia infections. Studies characterizing the local population are crucial for accurate cost-effectiveness analysis and public health policy formulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"43 1","pages":"47-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11957475/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Food Insecurity in the Community: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Portuguese and Immigrant Population of Amadora.","authors":"Ana Raimundo Costa, Ana Hernando, Joana Sousa","doi":"10.1159/000542686","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000542686","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food, is recognized as a public health problem linked to poor eating habits, chronic diseases, and social inequalities. This study aims to characterize and compare food insecurity status among immigrant and Portuguese populations receiving primary healthcare in Amadora.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted based on interviews with individuals aged 18 and above, living in Amadora for at least 1 year. Sociodemographic and health status variables were collected, and food insecurity was assessed using a Portuguese-adapted version of the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module. Data analysis included binary logistic regression to explore the predictive capacity of variables, with food insecurity as the outcome.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The estimated prevalence of household food insecurity was 29.7%, with 10.5% classified as severely food insecure. Single individuals (OR: 3.090; CI: 1.353-7.059), those with basic education (OR: 3.296; CI: 1.175-9.247); immigrants (OR: 4.358; CI: 2.206-8.611), households with three or more members (OR: 2.686; CI: 1.019-7.079), and incomes below EUR 1,100 (OR: 7.359; CI: 2.613-20.726) were more likely to belong to food insecure households. When Portuguese households were analyzed, low income (OR: 8.730; CI: 2.607-29.232) and smoking habits (OR: 3.375; CI: 1.345-8.469) were found to be potential determinants of food insecurity. As for immigrant households, being single (OR: 6.002; CI: 1.404-25.659), having a household with three or more members (OR: 13.953; CI: 2.119-91.887), and low income (OR: 7.110; CI: 1.257-40.226) increased the risk of food insecurity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of this study show that food insecurity is significantly associated with sociodemographic and health factors, with differences between Portuguese and immigrant populations. Awareness of this problem and the need for monitoring should therefore be raised to prioritize community interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"43 1","pages":"26-37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11957477/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving Access to Mental Health Care through a Stepped Care Approach: Preliminary Results from a University Students' Sample.","authors":"Marisa Marques, Sofia Caetano, Sandra Xavier, Ana Melo, Andreia Ferreira, Joana Martins, Célia Lavaredas, Bruno Silva, Sofia Morais, Diana Moura, Nuno Madeira, António Queirós, Maria João Martins","doi":"10.1159/000540772","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000540772","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Recently, university counseling services have been faced with an increasing number of students seeking psychological support. However, human resources and time constraints limit the services to respond adequately. Recently, national guidelines for Mental Health Services in Higher Education recommended the stepped care approach to increase efficiency. The present study aimed to explore the implementation of a stepped care model in a Portuguese public university, analyzing students' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and presenting the flow of the stepped care approach and the students' waiting periods in each step.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An observational study was conducted in the University of Coimbra's health services between May 2019 and June 2021. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the sample, the flow of the stepped care approach, and students' waiting periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We enrolled 295 students in the present study. The findings of this study revealed that over 40% had a clinical diagnosis of anxiety or depressive disorders. In terms of students' flow within the stepped care model, 82% of students sought psychological help through self-referral. Concerning the implementation of the stepped care model, results have shown that most students wait less than a month to access each step.</p><p><strong>Discussion/conclusions: </strong>Although preliminary, our results suggest that the stepped care model might be a useful service organization, mainly in a community in which accessibility to services and speed of response are particularly important. Most students being self-referred highlight the importance of direct contact between the university community and the health services. Additionally, anxiety and mood disorders were the most prevalent diagnoses in our sample, which also points to the relevance of a stepped care approach, since other studies have highlighted its advantages for this kind of clinical population.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"42 3","pages":"221-230"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12215101/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144555198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Local Climate Change Adaptation under the Lenses of Public Health: A Case Study from Porto, Portugal.","authors":"José Pedro Silva, Gloria Macassa, Henrique Barros, Ana Isabel Ribeiro","doi":"10.1159/000540747","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000540747","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Climate change is a pressing public health issue. Urban populations, especially in coastal areas, are highly vulnerable. As climate change progresses, local adaptation becomes increasingly important. We present a case study about the inclusion of public health concerns in local climate change adaptation in Porto (Portugal).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed two local adaptation plans using qualitative content analysis and conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 6 key stakeholders with different profiles. We did a qualitative content analysis of the respective transcripts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Porto is undergoing health-relevant consequences of climate change, which are expected to worsen further in the future. Porto's geographical and demographic characteristics and urban environment make its population highly vulnerable to climate change-related health risks. Public health is recognized as a central element in local adaptation efforts. Drivers for integrating health concerns include growing climate change awareness, a sense of urgency, social capital, institutional networks, access to resources, and political commitment. Nevertheless, challenges like data limitations, resource constraints, climate knowledge gaps, communication issues, and political cycles hinder both local adaptation and the integration of health considerations.</p><p><strong>Discussion/conclusion: </strong>In Porto, health seems both a powerful mobilizing issue and a central topic concerning local adaptation. However, the complex and long-term nature of climate change and the associated uncertainty hinder adaptation efforts. High-quality data about both the local climate and population health are thus essential. The transversal nature of risk is recognized and multi-sectorial approaches, public participation, mainstreaming, and policy integration are necessary to prevent imbalances. Local adaptation efforts, including health-related efforts, are shaped by the international (belonging to the European Union), national, and local contexts. Successful local adaptation and inclusion of health aspects require mainstreaming and policy integration across different areas and involvement of multiple stakeholders, including the population, in order to maximize resources and avoid undesired trade-offs.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"42 3","pages":"169-183"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12215102/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144555199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Digital Interventions in Reducing Occupational Stress: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Bima Indra, Valie Palmasutra, Febry Afrianto Setyawan","doi":"10.1159/000540748","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000540748","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Occupational stress is the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities, challenging their ability to cope. It is a pervasive concern in modern work environments, impacting workers' well-being and organizational productivity. Current available methods to manage workers' stress include providing psychologist consultations and using digital intervention. Digital interventions, including smartphone apps and website programs, have emerged as accessible tools for stress reduction. However, there is a need to assess their effectiveness systematically. A systematic review encompassed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the inception to May 2024. A comprehensive search in four electronic databases identified 15 eligible RCTs. Of a total of 15 included studies, all studies demonstrated a significant reduction in occupational stress with the use of digital interventions. Interventions varied in duration, frequency, and delivery platforms, with smartphone-based applications being predominant. Common intervention components included meditation, coping stress management, and nutritional and exercise content. Positive effects on worker mental health were observed to persist for up to 3-12 months post-intervention. The findings underscore the potential of digital interventions to promote employee well-being and contribute to healthier and more productive work environments. Digital interventions offer promising avenues for addressing occupational stress and promoting worker well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"42 3","pages":"252-265"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12215113/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144555246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Motivational Interviewing to Address Vaccine Hesitancy: Insights from an Intervention in Portugal.","authors":"Joana Mendonça, Ana Patrícia Hilário, Luís Gouveia","doi":"10.1159/000539600","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000539600","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research, to date, suggests the need for healthcare professionals to adapt their communication style to the needs and characteristics of parents when discussing childhood vaccination. Motivational interviewing (MI) has been recognized as an important communication style, based on a patient-centred model of care, leading to the responsibility and motivation to change in cases of vaccine hesitancy. The current study intended to assess the attainment of MI competencies by healthcare professionals in Portugal who may interact with vaccine-hesitant parents. The pre- and post-training survey results showed a significant increase in the participants' scores in all three pre-defined dimensions: acquisition of knowledge, perception of skills application, and sense of confidence. Our results suggest that integrating MI training into healthcare professionals' curriculum appears to be a promising avenue to pursue to foster their immunization-related communication skills in Portugal and elsewhere.</p>","PeriodicalId":37244,"journal":{"name":"Portuguese Journal of Public Health","volume":"42 3","pages":"195-205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12215105/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144555200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}