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- Influencing factors of presenteeism among Portuguese workers in a private social solidarity institution in the aftermath of COVID-19Publication . Laranjeira, C.; Maurício, A. C.Introduction: In ordinary circumstances, the employed individuals demonstrate significant levels of psychological distress and presenteeism, a situation that has been further intensified by the COVID-19 epidemic. Furthermore, a limited number of studies have examined the phenomenon of presenteeism in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore necessitating the undertaking of the present study. Objectives The goal of this study was to investigate the levels of presenteeism and its related characteristics, as well as job satisfaction and psychological distress, among a sample of employees employed at a Private Social Solidarity Institution (IPSS) in Portugal. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2022 to observe personnel from an IPSS located in the central area of Portugal. The research had a sample size of 71 workers who were provided with a signed authorization. The survey was designed to gather both general and professional information from participants. Additionally, it included the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6), the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (S20/23), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) as measurement tools. Results The occurrence of presenteeism was seen in 32 employees, accounting for 45.1% of the sample, whereas illness absence was reported by 38 workers, representing 54.3% of the sample. The majority of the individual assessments for S20/23 demonstrated a higher degree of satisfaction (mean ≥ 4.5 points.), with the exception of the salary-related issue, which elicited a higher level of discontent (mean = 3.36 ± 1.9 pts.). Approximately 50.7% of the individuals had a high or very high susceptibility to experiencing or developing a mental condition. The correlation matrix revealed a statistically significant moderate positive association between presenteeism and work satisfaction, as well as a statistically significant moderate negative link between presenteeism and psychological distress (p<0.01). The associated factors of presenteeism were found to be marital status, quality of sleep, illness absenteeism, health perception, and psychological distress. The combined effect of these predictors was shown to account for 35.8% of the variance in presenteeism. Conclusions It is expected that the outcomes of our research will stimulate more investigations into the tangible implications of presenteeism in promoting improved health and well-being within the workplace.
- Dimensions of clinical leadership among pre-registration nursing students: A cross-sectional study between two countriesPublication . Baron, Sue; Grinberg, Keren; Sousa, Joana; Neves, Hugo; Harnett, Gerardina; Bianchi, Monica; Luiking, Marie-Louise; Nilsson, Stefan; Frazer, Kate; Jack, Kirsten; Scammell, Janet; Warshawski, SigalitAims: To explore a) pre-registration students’ self-perceptions of clinical leadership behaviours and b) differences in students’ self-perceptions of leadership behaviours between two countries (UK and Israel). Background: Effective leadership has been associated with high-quality and compassionate care provision in health and social care contexts. This has led to a common acceptance that teaching leadership in nursing education is essential if students are to develop competencies in this area. Worldwide, there is limited research on nursing students’ perception of clinical leadership behaviours as well as on the development of leadership behaviours during the study years. Design and methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used among two convenience samples of UK and Israeli pre-registration nursing students. Closed questionnaires were uploaded in the format of a commercial internet survey provider (Qualtrics.com) and distributed through the virtual learning platforms in the two participating universities. In total 656 students were invited to participate and the response rates were 28.1% (Israel) and 17.9 % (England). Results: Overall, 140 students completed the questionnaires. Significant differences were found between the two sites in the leadership dimensions "Emotional Intelligence" and "Impact and Influence" (p < .05), with UK students scoring higher than Israeli students. Among the Israeli sample, significant differences were found in leadership dimensions according to years of study, with higher scores reported in the 3rd and 4th year students compared with the 1st and 2nd Year students in the referred dimensions (p < .05). Conclusions: Differences in students’ clinical leadership perception exist between the two cohorts examined. Nurse educators should expand international research on this subject to identify possible antecedents in developing clinical leadership behaviours. At the same time, there is a need to continue efforts to enhance the development of clinical leadership behaviours during all study years through curriculum updating to prepare future nurses better to provide quality, safe and person-centered care.
- Mental Health Status and Fear of COVID-19 in Young Adult Male Inmates in PortugalPublication . Laranjeira, C.; Baccon, W.; Mendes, R.Introduction Incarcerated individuals are subject to a heightened risk of both mental and physical ailments. Hence, it is important to conduct regular assessments of their mental well-being and other potential health hazards. Objectives The aim of this study is to examine the subjective experience of fear related to COVID-19 and the psychological consequences of the pandemic among a cohort of young adult male convicts. Methods A research design using an institutional-based quantitative cross-sectional approach was used. The data collecting period was from July to September 2022, during which data was gathered at a juvenile correctional facility located in the center area of Portugal. The researchers used questionnaires to gather data pertaining to demographic and health attributes, fear related to COVID-19, as well as measures of depression, anxiety, stress, and resilient coping. Results The study included a cohort of 60 incarcerated males who had been imprisoned for a duration exceeding 2 years. The prevalence of stress was found to be the highest among offenders, with around 75% reporting this symptom. Anxiety was the second most often reported symptom, with 38.3% of inmates experiencing it, followed closely by depression, which was reported by 36.7% of the inmate population. The average score on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 17.38 ± 4.80, suggesting that participants generally reported mild levels of fear. A total of 38 subjects, accounting for 63.3% of the sample, had low scores in resilience. The participants’ responses indicated that their perceptions of mental health were within a fairly high range, with an average score of 3.62 ± 0.87. Similarly, their perceptions of physical health were also moderately high, with an average score of 3.73 ± 0.95. In terms of global health, participants reported a slightly lower average score of 3.27 ± 0.82 for the preceding month. The Pearson correlation matrix revealed statistically significant associations between fear of COVID-19 and characteristics linked to mental health, with the strength of these associations ranging from moderate to high (p < 0.001). The identification of predictive variables for fear of COVID-19 was accomplished by the use of a multiple linear regression model. Four predictors were identified in the study, namely age, perception of mental health, and overall levels of anxiety and stress. These predictors together account for about 49.7% of the variance in the outcome variable. Conclusions The findings of our research indicate a significant prevalence of stress among incarcerated individuals, accompanied by moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Our research has the potential to provide valuable insights for policymakers, mental health professionals, public health specialists, and other relevant stakeholders in the identification and effective management of pandemic-induced anxieties and mental health symptoms.
- Issues around vulnerability among people attended by a Portuguese community-based association: a qualitative secondary analysisPublication . Laranjeira, C.; Querido, A. I.Introduction: Despite vulnerability being a poorly understood concept is a key concept in health and social care disparities. Typically, vulnerable groups include individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities, children, the elderly, members of the lower social classes, and refugees. In Portugal, the pandemic was responsible for worsening inequalities in access to health and social care for the most vulnerable. To the best of our knowledge, there is a dearth of qualitative research on vulnerability from the viewpoint of those who are vulnerable or work with the most vulnerable. Objectives As expressions of vulnerability are strongly influenced by cultural factors, this study aims to examine issues of vulnerability among people who attend and work in a Portuguese community-based association. Methods Secondary analysis of qualitative data from twelve vulnerable people and fifteen professionals who attended these people. The manifestations of the vulnerability reported by participants included being homeless, being a migrant, having an infectious disease, being drug dependent, living with socioeconomic difficulties (unemployment), and experiencing a process of loss and grief. They also reported having a mental or physical health problem, or both. Depression and anxiety were the most often reported mental health disorders. Regarding the academic background of professionals, most of them (n = 12) are from social sciences (e.g., social workers, social mediators, and psychologists). Results Three main themes emerged from the study: (1) meanings of human vulnerability; (2) barriers to vulnerability mitigation; and (3) approaches to addressing vulnerability. Our findings revealed that vulnerability is a very dynamic process of openness to conditions that impact individual outcomes. However, there is a conceptual gap: being vulnerable is perceived as something negative, but vulnerability also has the potential to change priorities in life for the better. Some participants emphasized the importance of self-care to avoid becoming vulnerable themselves, particularly in terms of mental health. Conclusions Understanding the social determinants of vulnerability is necessary to achieve satisfactory care for human groups. Practitioners need to be aware of these larger societal dynamics, understand them, and make sure their services are responsive to cultural differences. In order to develop interventions that promote social and health outcomes, practitioners should be encouraged to share knowledge on best practices.
- Identifying predictors of resilient coping in students during COVID-19 lockdownPublication . Laranjeira, C.; Querido, A. I.; Dixe, M. A.Introduction Although increasing resilient coping throughout life is beneficial, it is particularly important in young people. To prevent the development of mental health problems, it is crucial to understand the factors associated with resilience. However, among university students, the characteristics considered conducive to resiliency have not been sufficiently studied, particularly during pandemic times. Objectives The present study examined factors associated with resilient coping in Portuguese higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data were collected from an opportunity large sample of participants during the academic year 2020/2021. Four self-report measures were utilized within the study: Herth Hope Index, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 items, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Additionally, a demographic questionnaire was used to collect data including age, gender, have children, education level, and study area. Ethics clearance was obtained. In order to test the research question, a multiple regression was conducted (using SPSS 28), with resilient coping as the dependent variable and the other variables entered as potential predictor variables. Results A total of 1522 students (75.1% women and 24.9% men) took part in this study. Most participants were single (91.2%), had no children (93%), and the ages ranged from 18 to 59, with a mean age of 22.88±6.93 years. In terms of study level, the majority of students (73.7%) are at the undergraduate level and are not working (76.6%). Among the participants, 35.7%, 36.2%, and 28.5% had symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression above the normal range, respectively. High resilience scores were found in 215 participants (14.1%). The mean hope (HHI) was 35.53 (SD = 5.92). Our results also demonstrated that hope is the only predictor of resilient coping (p<0.001). A higher level of hope is expected to affect people’s psychological adjustment by influencing both their appraisal of, and their coping with, the stressors confronted by them. Conclusions Establishing and improving protective factors should increase the likelihood of the individual successfully avoiding negative outcomes and increase their ability to function normally, thus promoting resilient outcomes. We were able to draw practical implications for developing resilience-promoting methods in a university context. These results can be used to help students build resilience by preparing for future problems.
- Psychometric Properties of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) in a Portuguese Sample during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemicPublication . Laranjeira, C.; Dixe, M. A.; Querido, A. I.Introduction The COVID-19 global crisis has resulted in significant disruptions in the lives of students in higher education, leading to negative consequences for their academic achievements and general psychological well-being. Objectives In this study, we sought to examine the psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) among students in Portuguese higher education institutions during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and its efficacy in capturing mental health symptoms due to a global health crisis. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sampling method was used to enlist a total of 1522 participants. The sample consisted of 75.1% women and 79.2% undergraduate students. Participants completed an electronic survey that was designed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) — a self-report instrument measuring anxiety, depression, and stress. Results The findings of the study indicated a significant occurrence of depressive symptoms [≥10] (N = 434, 28.5%), anxiety symptoms [≥7] (N = 551, 36.2%), and stress symptoms [≥11] (N = 544, 35.7%). Based on the collected data, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted in order to examine the factor structure of the scale. The analysis revealed a three-factor solution that corresponded to the three subscales of the DASS-21. The Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) correlation ratio was then used to assess the discriminant validity, with good results. Results showed that the DASS21 has satisfactory reliability indexes (Cronbach’s α > 0.90). Conclusions In light of the notable changes in living conditions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the present study has shown that the DASS-21 instrument has maintained its reliability and validity. Consequently, this finding supports the appropriateness of using the DASS-21 as a screening tool for assessing mental health among students in Portugal. Moreover, it is recommended that academics and healthcare practitioners use the DASS-21 as a tool for assessing the levels of psychological distress experienced by students. Additional validation studies of this scale are required, using bigger and more representative populations
- Lidocaine supplementation in clove-oil and 2-phenoxyethanol anesthesia for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)Publication . Tchobanov, Carolina F.; Vaz, Mariana; Pires, Damiana; Passos, Ricardo; Antunes, Luís M.; Baptista, TeresaAnimal welfare and reducing stress during procedures are key objectives for success in animal production. Anesthesia has been used for procedures to reduce animal stress and its negative impact on welfare. This study aimed first to refine the concentrations of the anesthetic clove-oil (CO) and lidocaine (L) in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles (56.0 ± 15.09 g) and then combine clove-oil and 2-phenoxyethanol (2PHE) with the refined concentration of lidocaine. The concentrations of clove-oil (30, 45, and 60 mg L− 1), and the concentrations of lidocaine (2.5, 5, and 7.5 mg L− 1), were evaluated in the refinement trial. Based on these results, a second trial was performed with 45 mg L− 1 CO or 0.4 mL L− 1 2PHE as anesthetics alone or combined with 2.5 mg L− 1 of lidocaine. Results from this work showed an improvement in induction times for 2-phenoxyethanol when lidocaine was added (2PHE 179.53 ± 63.21 s; 2PHE + L 130.65 ± 40.16 s). Recovery time also showed a reduction for clove-oil when lidocaine was used (CO 349.90 ± 123.69 s; CO + L 250.11 ± 51.99 s). The use of lidocaine showed better results, reducing lactate and histological progressive alterations. Lidocaine showed stress-induced oxidative alterations when it was combined with 2-phenoxyethanol. Lidocaine exposure increased ALT, AST, histological regressive alterations for both anesthetics, and gene expression of hsp70 in the gills when clove-oil was used. Further studies are necessary to comprehend the synergistic effects of lidocaine when combined with synthetic and natural anesthetics and to discern potential acute or chronic toxic responses in fish. These insights will be crucial for refining anesthesia protocols and ensuring the well-being of aquatic species in aquaculture practices and research settings.
- Wastewater as a nutrient source for hydroponic production of lettuce: Summer and winter growthPublication . Santos, Ounísia; Vaz, Daniela; Sebastião, Fernando; Sousa, Helena; Vieira, JuditeSolutions combining soilless cropping systems with wastewater reuse can offer benefits in the agriculture sector, reducing pressure on water resources, promoting sustainable production, and reclaiming wastewater. However, assessing the sanitary risks associated with wastewater reuse is of utmost importance. This study aimed to investigate the hydroponic growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) in wastewater from an urban treatment plant with different levels of treatment and evaluate potential sanitary risks. Crop growth took place in a greenhouse, during summer and winter periods, using wastewater after primary (PTW) or secondary (STW) treatment, and a nutrient solution (NS), as control. Physical and chemical water quality parameters, morphological crop growth parameters, and environmental conditions inside the greenhouse were monitored. Toxicity analyses were carried out through cell viability assays with the Caco-2 cell line and total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were determined. Wastewater-grown plants achieved acceptable growth, even though presenting lower fresh weight than NS-plants. STW-plants’ growth was limited essentially by nutrient deficiency, and PTW-plants were affected by nutrient deficiency, pH values, solid load, and N-NO2 concentration. Higher temperatures in summer led to faster crop growth, and lower temperatures in winter allowed better nutrient uptake by the crop. Wastewater-grown plants did not evidence toxicity in leaf extracts up to 1 % w/v. Coliform enumeration data indicated an accumulation in plant roots, with high removal from the wastewater. E. coli was not detected on plants’ leaves and total coliforms were within acceptable limits. Furthermore, the results point to an improvement in the wastewater quality, with minimum removal values of 75.2 % BOD5, 83.1 % COD, 43.4 % P, 44.9 % N, and 90.4 % K. The results demonstrated the viability of wastewater reuse for hydroponic production allowing a better understanding of its processes and contributing to mitigating water scarcity for food production, and the impacts of treated wastewater discharge in freshwater courses, particularly those associated with nutrient delivery to aquatic systems.
- Mapping Corporate Tax Planning and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Hybrid Method of Category AnalysisPublication . Araújo, Lurdes; Cruz, Sérgio Ravara; Lima Santos, Luís; Cardoso, LucíliaThe relationship between corporate tax planning (CTP) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is complex, with various perspectives, and a detailed scientific analysis of this relationship is required. This complexity arises from the conflicting interests of maximizing shareholder value through tax strategies while meeting societal expectations of ethical behaviour and transparency. So, the main objective of this research is to reveal the state of the art regarding the relationship between these two concepts. To achieve this goal and map the scientific literature relating to CTP and CSR, the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases were used, resulting in a screening process identifying 47 relevant articles. The methodology employed is hybrid, combining a systematic review and category analysis. The main results reveal a strong relationship between corporate tax planning and CSR. Tax avoidance is the focus, followed by tax aggressiveness due to the conflict between shareholder benefits and social obligations. In addition, the most tested theory is risk management. This study highlights the interdisciplinary nature of CTP and CSR research, integrating accounting, business ethics, and management for a holistic understanding of corporate behaviour. The focus on tax avoidance underscores its key role in the CTP-CSR relationship, reinforcing theories that link tax practices to corporate ethics and suggesting aggressive tax strategies can undermine CSR efforts. As the main practical implication, the study suggests that policymakers should promote transparency in companies’ tax practices and encourage CSR activities, aligning companies’ behaviour with society’s expectations and improving compliance with tax obligations
- A matemática no brincar heurístico: uma pesquisa em crechePublication . Dias, Isabel SimõesEste trabalho visa i) identificar ações das crianças/ideias matemáticas no brincar heurístico de 10 crianças com idades compreendidas entre os 13 e os 24 meses em contexto de creche e ii) refletir sobre o papel do adulto-educador e do brincar heurístico na emergência de ideias matemáticas nos primeiros anos. Adotando uma abordagem qualitativa, de natureza interpretativa e de índole exploratória, este estudo sustentou-se na observação através do registo videográfico. Os resultados identificaram ações das crianças (fazer) que revelaram ideias matemáticas (saber) ao nível das formas, posições, direção e distância. Neste processo de aprendizagem que é o brincar heurístico, o adulto-educador observou e escutou as crianças, modelou comportamentos e deu informação sobre a localização dos objetos, acompanhando -as nas suas brincadeiras livres. Estas evidências levam-nos a inferir o brincar heurístico como uma proposta de exploração potenciadora da emergência de ideias matemáticas e a refletir sobre a importância do adultoeducador na educação matemática nos primeiros anos.
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