Percorrer por autor "Henriques, Maria"
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- Fall Prevention and Geriatric NursingPublication . Baixinho, Cristina Lavareda; Henriques, Maria; Costa, Andreia1. Introduction Falls among older people remain one of the most pressing and persistent public health challenges worldwide [1]. Given the increased life expectancy, and prevalence of disability, dependency, and comorbidities in this ageing population, there is a high risk that this will become a pandemic. On the other hand, as populations age the consequences of falls increase, ranging from physical injury and loss of functional independence to psychological distress, fear of falling, social isolation, and increased mortality, posing significant challenges not only to individuals and families but also to healthcare systems and societies [2,3]. Falls are a leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among older persons and contribute substantially to escalating healthcare costs, long-term care admissions, and diminished quality of life [2]. The growing proportion of older adults, many living with multimorbidity, frailty, cognitive impairment, and social vulnerability, demands a critical rethinking of health, social, and urban policies to support healthy ageing [2,3,4]. While fall prevention is often framed as an individual responsibility, this perspective risks overlooking structural, educational, and systemic barriers that limit older adults’ capacity to engage in effective prevention strategies, such as low health literacy, unequal access to preventive services, and environments that are not age-friendly [4].
- Fall Risk Management in Nursing Homes: A Scoping ReviewPublication . Gaspar, Cecília; Pedreira, Larissa; Reis, Neuza; Costa, Andreia; Ferreira, Ricardo; Henriques, Maria; Baixinho, Cristina LavaredaBackground: Population aging represents a growing public health challenge, with falls being one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and loss of autonomy among older adults. In nursing homes, the risk is exacerbated by physical, cognitive, and environmental factors, yet which interventions are most actionable in nursing homes remains unclear, requiring effective and evidence-based prevention strategies. Objective: We aimed to map the evidence on interventions in fall risk management among institutionalized older adults, highlighting assessment, exercise, environmental, and educational strategies. Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to JBI guidelines. The search was carried out in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The review included studies, published between 2019 and 2024, involving older adults (≥65 years) in nursing homes, focusing on nursing interventions for fall risk management. Results: The initial search identified 1146 records across electronic databases and gray literature sources. After removing duplicates and screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (i) fall risk assessment, using functional and clinical scales such as the Timed Up and Go (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Morse Fall Scale, to identify predisposing factors; (ii) exercise programs, such as the Otago Exercise Program and multicomponent training, which demonstrated benefits in strength, balance, and mobility; (iii) environmental modifications, aimed at reducing extrinsic risks and promoting safer surroundings; and (iv) educational programs, targeting professionals, residents, and families, with positive effects on adherence to preventive practices and on strengthening the safety culture. Conclusions: Effective fall risk management in nursing homes requires an integrated, multidisciplinary, and person-centered approach, with nurses playing a central role in assessment, coordination, and implementation of interventions. However, gaps remain regarding standardization, validation of assessment tools specific to the institutional context, and evaluation of long-term outcomes.
- Recovery and evaluation of cellulose from agroindustrial residues of corn, grape, pomegranate, strawberry-tree fruit and favaPublication . Vallejo, Mariana; Cordeiro, Rachel; Dias, Paulo A. N.; Moura, Carla; Henriques, Maria; Seabra, Inês J.; Malça, C.; Morouço, PedroConsidering the expected increasing demand for cellulose fbers in the near future and that its major source is wood pulp, alternative sources such as vegetable wastes from agricultural activities and agro-food industries are currently being sought to prevent deforestation. In the present study, cellulose was successfully isolated from six agroindustrial residues: corncob, corn husk, grape stalk, pomegranate peel, marc of strawberry-tree fruit and fava pod. Cellulose fb ers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Despite the evident morphological diferences among the extracted celluloses, results revealed similar compositional and thermal properties with the wood-derived commercial microcrystalline cellulose used as a control. Trace amounts of lignin or hemicellulose were detected in all cellulose samples, with the exception of corncob cellulose, that exhibited the greatest extraction yield (26%) and morphological similarities to wood-derived microcrystalline cellulose, visible through SEM. Furthermore, corncob cellulose was found to have ther mal properties (TOnset of 307.17 °C, TD of 330.31 °C, and ΔH of 306.04 kJ/kg) suitable for biomedical applications