Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-01-02"
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- Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in GymnasticsPublication . Quito, Geraldine; Jacinto, Miguel; Amaro, Nuno; Monteiro, Diogo; Antunes, Raul; Matos, Rui; Oliveira Diz, Susana Cristina; Leitão Mira, Tânia SoraiaThe practice of physical activity, exercise, and sports brings various benefits to the general population. However, a few intervention programs involving physical activity and sports have been specifically designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of implementing a sports program based on gymnastics (specifically trampolines) on the motor skills of children with ASD. The program ran from September to May 2024 (8 months duration) using the Motor Competence Assessment Battery (MCA) as an evaluation tool. It included three typically developing children and three children with ASD, all aged between 4 and 5 years. The program sessions lasted 45 min and took place twice a week. The MCA Battery was administered to assess motor skills before and after the intervention. After the intervention program, significant differences were found only between moments in the Shuttle Run test (pre-intervention ≠ and post-intervention; Bonferroni correction: t = −2.00; p = 0.043; w = 0.33). Based on these results, we can conclude that practicing a sports program based on gymnastics (namely trampolines) can contribute to improving the motor skills of children with ASD.
- A Complex Intervention to Minimize Medication Error by Nurses in Intensive Care: A Case StudyPublication . Coelho, Fábio; Furtado, Luís; Tavares, Márcio; Pereira, Joana SousaBackground/Objectives: Medication errors are the most frequent and critical issues in healthcare settings, often leading to worsened clinical outcomes, increased treatment costs, extended hospital stays, and heightened mortality and morbidity rates. These errors are particularly prevalent in intensive care units (ICUs), where the complexity and critical nature of the care elevate the risks. Nurses play a pivotal role in preventing medication errors and require strategies and methods to enhance patient safety. This study aims to develop a comprehensive and evidence-based intervention to minimize medication errors by nurses in ICUs. Methods: This qualitative case study forms a part of a broader research project that commenced with a scoping review. Building on the review findings, a complex intervention was designed to address nurses’ medication errors. A focus group of experts was conducted to validate the intervention designed, evaluating its contextual feasibility and relevance. Results: This study led to the development of a complex intervention whose relevance lies in its potential implementation within the studied context. The resulting intervention was structured around four main components—educational interventions, verification and safety methods, organizational and functional modifications, and an error reporting system—meticulously designed to leverage the ICU’s existing resources. Conclusions: In conclusion, the proposed intervention has the potential to positively impact healthcare quality by reducing errors and promoting a culture of safety. Furthermore, this study’s findings provide a relevant foundation for future research and practical applications, driving advancements in healthcare service excellence.
- Unlocking the Power of Ads: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Consumers’ Advertising Value PerceptionsPublication . Crespo, Cátia Fernandes; Ferreira, Alcina Gaspar; Ribeiro, Fábio Matos; Alshevskaya, TatianaThe field of advertising has attracted significant interest from researchers. However, although previous studies suggest that attitudes and behavioral responses to advertising diverge across cultures, cross-cultural research to assess disparities in consumer behavior as a result of the perceived value of advertising is considered to be scarce. Building on the advertising value model and on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework, this study aims to explore cross-cultural similarities and differences in the consumers’ perceptions of the advertising value. We investigate the impact of informativeness, entertainment, credibility, and favorable predisposition toward advertising on the perceived value of an ad, and how this factor, in turn, influences brand image, word-of-mouth, and purchase intention across markets. Data were collected through an online survey addressed to two markets: Belarus and Portugal. A total of 293 valid answers were obtained, 155 from Belarus and 138 from Portugal. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that credibility and favorable predisposition toward advertising leverage the perceived value of an ad in both markets. However, results show that informativeness enhances the perceived value of an ad only in the Belarusian market, while entertainment has a significant positive influence only in the Portuguese market. Across both markets, the perceived value of advertising enhances brand image, which subsequently leverages word-of-mouth and purchase intention.