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Understanding PTSD in Portuguese youth: predictors and risk factors in a multi-clinic, treatment-engaged sample
Publication . Barroca, Inês; Pinto, Inês; Carvalho, Paula Saraiva
Introduction: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in childhood and adolescence is common. Studies have focused on a small group of predictors related to the traumatic event and still focus on the adult population. Objective: To explore the prevalence of PTSD and to identify factors that potentially increase the risk for the development of PTSD in a clinical sample of children and adolescents. Eligibility criteria included: experienced at least one traumatic event; age between 7 and 18 years; follow-up period of at least 1 month. Data collection was achieved by using: clinical records to obtain the patients’ clinical data; the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and the Checklist of Potentially Traumatic Events in Children and Adolescents. Results: A total of 101 participants were included. The prevalence of PTSD was 35.6%. For pre-traumatic factors, significant association was found for age (p = 0.033), suggesting increased likelihood of PTSD for older participants. Regarding the type of event, PTSD was significantly associated with interpersonal events (p = 0.001). Participants who were a single intervenient (involved person) had increased odds for PTSD (p = 0.036). It was found that the association with PTSD, in a decreasing manner, occurred with dissociative symptoms, followed by symptoms of Group C (avoidance), Group B (intrusive thoughts), Group E (activation and reactivity) and Group D (cognitions and mood). Dissociative symptoms were significantly associated with PTSD (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The study provides evidence that several factors can predict the development of PTSD in childhood and adolescence. Awareness about these factors, healthcare workers’ specific training, and prevention and intervention strategies are the foundation to promote child well-being throughout life.
Stroke and spinal cord injury induced by psychoactive substance use in drug addiction: a systematic literature review
Publication . Moreira, Diana; Pereira, Celina; Cruz, Marta; Dias, Paulo C.; Leite, Ângela
Introduction: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic brain conditions with significant neurological consequences, yet the specific neurological effects of psychoactive substances remain insufficiently characterized. This systematic review investigates the neurological sequelae and comorbidities associated with psychoactive substance abuse. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we addressed the question: What are the neurological effects and comorbidities of psychoactive substance use in addiction? A search of EBSCO, Web of Science, and PubMed identified 330 articles (1967–2023), with 13 studies meeting inclusion criteria after rigorous screening. Results: Stimulants, opioids, cannabis, and hallucinogens were linked to stroke, with risk modulated by substance purity, administration routes (e.g., intravenous use), and polysubstance combinations. Opioids contributed to ischemic strokes via cardiac arrhythmias and haemorrhagic strokes through vasculitis or hypertension. Current substance users exhibited a 13.8% stroke incidence and higher mortality. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) were associated with pre-injury opioid, alcohol, and cannabis use, worsening post-injury complications such as infections and poor rehabilitation outcomes. Demographically, younger individuals with SCI reported higher cocaine and hallucinogen use, while older adults showed greater tobacco and alcohol dependence. Conclusions: Psychoactive substance use elevates risks of stroke and SCI through neurotoxic, vascular, and behavioral mechanisms. These findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated clinical models that address addiction and neurological comorbidities simultaneously. Multidisciplinary approaches, combining neurology and addiction care, are critical to mitigating long-term disability. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to unravel chronic neurodegenerative outcomes and refine harm-reduction strategies. This work advocates for policy reforms to expand access to evidence-based SUD treatments, particularly in underserved populations.
Responsabilidades e deveres da enfermeira em contexto tropical (1944)
Publication . Esteves, Alexandra; Ferreira, Amélia; Candeias, Analisa
O objetivo principal deste trabalho passa por analisar o manual Tropical Nursing: A Handbook for Nurses and Others Going Abroad, editado em 1944, de Arthur Leslie Gregg, atendendo à especificidade da ação das enfermeiras nos países considerados tropicais. Este manual apresenta algumas considerações sobre as ações devidas às enfermeiras, um aprofundamento teórico acerca das corretas medidas de higiene a aplicar num espaço com clima tropical e sobre doenças tropicais e, ainda, um capítulo direcionado ao cuidado dos olhos. É interessante verificar, no manual em análise, a determinação médica acerca daquilo que era o conhecimento em enfermagem, e a deliberação firme sobre os deveres de uma enfer-meira. Se, por um lado, à enfermeira cabia conhecer cientificamente conceitos e técnicas, por outro lado, cabia-lhe igualmente uma certa dedi-cação vocacional e integral, espelho daquilo que devia ser a obediência.
An overview of instruments to assess vulnerability in healthcare: a scoping review
Publication . Andrade, Filipa; Resende, Ana; Viana, Clara Roquette; Figueiredo, Amélia Simões; Loureiro, Fernanda
Background/Objectives: Vulnerability is a multifaceted concept frequently addressed in healthcare, reflecting individuals’ and families’ conditions that may affect health outcomes. The availability of validated instruments to assess vulnerability is essential for supporting healthcare professionals in delivering tailored care. This scoping review aimed to map the available scientific evidence regarding vulnerability assessment instruments in individuals and/or families in the context of healthcare. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. A comprehensive search was carried out in the databases PubMed, SciELO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as in sources of gray literature, using relevant keywords. Results: A total of 38 studies were included, identifying 13 distinct instruments used to assess vulnerability at the individual and/or family level. These instruments varied widely in terms of dimensions, number of items, target populations, and modes of completion. Some instruments focused on specific aspects such as socioeconomic status, health behaviors, or access to services. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the complexity of the concept of vulnerability and the need to create instruments adapted to specific determinants/factors, such as environmental, biological, and social factors, as well as the specificities of target populations and contexts of assessment and intervention.
Parental satisfaction in short-stay pediatric emergency unit: a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study
Publication . Antunes, Vanessa; Pereira, Paula; Cardoso, Tatiana; Pereira, Célia; Ladeira, Miguel; Antunes, Ricardo; Loureiro, Fernanda
This study evaluated parental satisfaction with nursing care in a pediatric emergency department short-stay unit. Using the Citizen Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale, 205 parents of hospitalized children participated in a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Results showed consistently high satisfaction, regardless of parental sociodemographic characteristics. While parents of newborns and employed parents showed slightly higher satisfaction, differences were not statistically significant. These trends suggest areas for further qualitative research to better understand parental expectations. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing evaluation and structured feedback to maintain high-quality, responsive nursing care in pediatric emergency settings.