Browsing by Author "Duarte, Ana"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Abrir “Espaços” à Saúde Mental nas EscolasPublication . Campos, Luísa; Palha, Filipa; Dias, Pedro; Veiga, Elisa; Duarte, Ana
- Abrir espaço à saúde mental - Promoção da Saúde Mental em Adolescentes (12-14 anos ) : Construção do Guião Focus GroupPublication . Campos, Luísa; Palha, Filipa; Veiga, Elisa; Dias, Pedro; Duarte, Ana
- Cariogenic and protective non-cariogenic Streptococcus in orthodontic treatment with clear alignersPublication . Lopes, Pedro; Fernandes, Mónica; Duarte, Ana; Correia, MariaObjectives: The increased demand for orthodontic treatments has popularized clear aligners because of aesthetics and the advantage of being able to remove them to eat, drink and perform daily oral hygiene. The effects of fixed orthodontic appliances on oral health have been previously described and include an increase of bacterial plaque and induction of changes in oral biofilm with consequent risk of periodontal diseases and dental caries. Although scarce, there are studies in literature that compare the impact on periodontal health of aligners versus fixed appliances, but little is known about effects on enamel demineralization. Since caries depend on the imbalance between cariogenic (e.g., S. mutans and S. sobrinus) and commensal species (e.g., S. mitis, S. oralis and S. sanguinis), it is important to understand the impact of treatment with aligners in oral biofilm and consequent susceptibility to caries. This prospective study assesses the fluctuations occurring in oral Streptococci during orthodontic treatment with clear aligners both of cariogenic and protective non-cariogenic species. Methods: Oral biofilm and saliva samples were collected in 35 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with transparent Invisalign aligners at 3 time points: before placing the first aligner (T0), after 1 (T1) and 3 months (T3). We also collected personal data (gender, age, oral health habits) and the DMFT index was determined. DNA was isolated both from biofilm and saliva samples and qPCR used to quantify cariogenic and non-cariogenic species. Results: The relative quantities of streptococci vary between individuals but not significantly between time points for the same individual. Conclusions: While having an impact on the oral microbiome of the individual, there isn’t a significant increase in cariogenic species when aligners are used. The results presented are from 3 time points. Further conclusions will be possible when data from other time points (full treatment and 2 months after treatment) are completed
- Chitosan coated textiles may improve atopic dermatitis severity by modulating skin staphylococcal profile: a randomized controlled trialPublication . Lopes, Cristina; Soares, José; Tavaria, Freni; Duarte, Ana; Correia, Osvaldo; Sokhatska, Oksana; Severo, Milton; Silva, Diana; Pintado, Manuela; Delgado, Luís; Moreira, AndréBackground: Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients may benefit from using textiles coated with skin microbiome-modulating compounds. Chitosan, a natural biopolymer with immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties, has been considered potentially useful. Objective: This randomized controlled trial assessed the clinical utility of chitosan-coated garment use in AD. Methods: Of the 102 patients screened, 78 adult and adolescents were randomly allocated to overnight use of chitosan-coated or uncoated cotton long-sleeved pyjama tops and pants for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was change in disease severity assessed by Scoring Atopic dermatitis index (SCORAD). Other outcomes were changes in quality of life, pruritus and sleep loss, days with need for rescue medication, number of flares and controlled weeks, and adverse events. Changes in total staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus skin counts were also assessed. Comparisons were made using analysis of variance supplemented by repeated measures analysis for the primary outcome. Interaction term between time and intervention was used to compare time trends between groups. Results: Chitosan group improved SCORAD from baseline in 43.8%, (95% CI: 30.9 to 55.9), P = 0.01, placebo group in 16.5%(-21.6 to 54.6); P = 0.02 with no significant differences between groups; Dermatology Quality of life Index Score significantly improved in chitosan group (P = 0.02) and a significant increase of skin Coagulase negative Staphylococci (P = 0.02) was seen. Conclusions: Chitosan coated textiles may impact on disease severity by modulating skin staphylococcal profile. Moreover, a potential effect in quality of life may be considered.
- Development and psychometric properties of a new questionnaire for assessing Mental Health Literacy in young peoplePublication . Campos, Luísa; Dias, Pedro; Palha, Filipa; Duarte, Ana; Veiga, ElisaObjectives: Several instruments assess constructs related to mental health literacy and to the stigma associated with mental health problems. However, most of them have conceptualisations that may limit the assessment of the mental health literacy concept in a more up-to-date and comprehensive perspective. Furthermore, some of the instruments’ structure may limit their use in large scale samples, in a short period of time and with repeated measures. This article presents the development of the Mental Health Literacy questionnaire (MHLq) and the studies to assess its psychometric properties. Methods: After item-pool generation, content validity was assessed by experts and a think aloud procedure. The MHLq was tested in two samples of students (study 1 n=239; aged between 12 and 15 years old; study 2 n=737; aged between 11 and 17 years old) to determine its psychometric properties. Results: Factor analysis procedures favoured a three-factor solution (with 33 items) of the MHLq. The questionnaire showed good internal consistency (total score α=0.84; Factor 1 first aid skills and help seeking - α=0.79; Factor 2 knowledge/stereotypes - α=0.78; Factor 3 self-help strategies - α=0.72); and excellent test-retest reliability, the ICC for the total score of MHLq was 0.88 and for the three dimensions of MHLq was 0.80 (Factor 1), 0.90 (Factor 2) and 0.86 (Factor 3). Conclusions: The MHLq is a practical, valid and reliable tool for identifying gaps in knowledge, beliefs and behavioural intentions, in large samples, allowing the development and evaluation of interventions aimed at promoting mental health in young people.
- Efficacy and safety of chitosan coated garments on atopic dermatitis management: a randomized controlled trialPublication . Lopes, Cristina; Soares, José; Tavaria, Freni; Severo, Milton; Duarte, Ana; Correia, Osvaldo; Pintado, M. E.; Delgado, Luis; Moreira, Andre M.
- Finding space to mental health : promoting mental health in adolescents (12 to 14 year olds) : preliminary results of the intervention's effectivenessPublication . Campos, Luísa; Dias, Pedro; Palha, Filipa; Duarte, Ana; Veiga, ElisaMental health and well-being are fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, to feel emotions, to form and maintain relationships, to study, to pursue leisure interests, to make day-to-day decisions and to enjoy a fulfilling life. A healthy adolescence is a prerequisite for a healthy adulthood. However, the current reality presents a concerning picture. The formation of individual and collective mental capital – especially in the earlier stages of life – is being held back by a range of avoidable risks to mental health (World Health Organization [WHO], 2013). Adolescents from Southern Europe (region that has been more severely hit by the financial crisis; e.g., Portugal) are pointed out as an extremely vulnerable group, as their mental health might easily be influenced by their parents’ economic difficulties and by the lack of social solidarity (European Parliament, 2012). Adolescents’ mental health promotion is regarded as a vital concern (WHO, 2005a, 2013). Interventions focused on mental health literacy promotion have revealed important advantages in preventing, recognising, early intervening and reducing stigma (Pinfold, Stuart, Thornicroft & Arboleda-Florez, 2005; Pinfold, Toulmin, Thornicroft, Huxley, Farmer & Graham, 2003; Schulze, Richter-Werling, Matschinger & Angermeyer, 2003; Stuart, 2006). Consistent with mental health promotion frameworks proffered by the World Health Organization (2005a), we must engage with young people in environments where they interact (Burns, 2011). Schools are implicitly one of the most important settings for promoting the mental health of adolescents (Barry, Clarke, Jenkins & Patel, 2013; WHO, 2001). The “Finding Space to Mental Health: Promoting mental health in adolescents (12- to 14 year olds)” project aims at increasing young people’s mental health literacy. During the first year, an assessment instrument – Mental Health Literacy questionnaire (MHLq) - and a two-day intervention were developed. The intervention is composed by 2 sessions at one-week intervals, lasting 90 minutes each. Sessions follow an interactive methodology, using group dynamics, music and videos and group discussions regarding participants’ emotional well-being. The study of the intervention’s effectiveness is conducted through a pretest-postest design using the MHLq in both an experimental group and a control group. This article presents the preliminary results regarding the effectiveness of the intervention aimed at enhancing mental health literacy in a sample of 100 Portuguese adolescents (12- to 14-year-olds). The postest showed students’ increased levels of knowledge and self-help strategies. These results suggest that the intervention developed appears to be adequate to the proposed goal, and they strengthen the belief that targeting young people in systematic and sustainable school-based intervention is a promising approach for the promotion of mental health literacy (Rickwood, Deane, Wilson & Ciarrichi, 2005; Schulze et al., 2003; WHO, 2010).
- Finding space to mental health promoting mental health in adolescents (12-14 year-olds) preliminary results of the pilot studyPublication . Campos, Luísa; Palha, Filipa; Dias, Pedro; Veiga, Elisa; Duarte, Ana
- Is it possible to “find space for mental health” in young people? effectiveness of a school-based mental health literacy promotion programPublication . Campos, Luísa; Dias, Pedro; Duarte, Ana; Veiga, Elisa; Dias, Claudia Camila; Palha, FilipaLack of knowledge regarding, and the stigma associated with, mental disorders have been identified as major obstacles for the promotion of mental health and early intervention. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention program focused on the promotion of mental health literacy (MHL) in young people (“Finding Space for Mental Health”). A sample of 543 students (22 classes), aged between 12 and 14 years old, participated in the study. Each class of students was randomly assigned to the control group (CG; n = 284; 11 classes) or the experimental group (EG; n = 259; 11 classes). MHL was assessed using the Mental Health Literacy questionnaire (MHLq), which is comprised of three dimensions—Knowledge/Stereotypes, First Aid Skills and Help Seeking, and Self-Help Strategies. The scores on these dimensions can also be combined to give an overall or total score. Participants from the EG attended the MHL promotion program (two sessions, 90 min each) delivered at one-week intervals. Sessions followed an interactive methodology, using group dynamics, music, and videos adapted to the target group. All participants responded to the MHLq at three points in time: pre-intervention assessment (one week prior to the intervention), post-intervention assessment (one week after the intervention) and follow-up assessment (six months after the intervention). The intervention effectiveness and the differential impact of sociodemographic variables on the effectiveness of the program were studied using a Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE). Results revealed that participants from the EG demonstrated, on average, significantly higher improvement in MHL from pre-intervention to follow-up when compared to participants from the CG. Different sociodemographic variables affected the effectiveness of the program on distinct dimensions of the MHLq. Overall, “Finding Space for Mental Health” showed efficacy as a short-term promotion program for improving MHL in schools.
- School-based innovative practices for the promotion of social, emotional and learning skills in PortugalPublication . Campos, Luísa; Palha, Filipa; Lima, Vânia Sousa; Dias, Pedro; Duarte, Ana