Browsing by Author "Pinto, Sara"
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- Bringing ‘forgiveness’ into the International Classification for Nursing PracticePublication . Caldeira, Sílvia; Aparício, Maria; Pinto, Sara; Silva, Rita Santos
- Cancer, health literacy and happiness: perspectives from patients under chemotehrapyPublication . Pinto, Sara; Caldeira, Sílvia; Martins, José CarlosCancer is a dreaded disease that affects all dimensions of human life. In this context, issues related to the quality of life—as happiness, perception about health status, or health literacy—are important. This study aims to analyze the following topics the perception: the Portuguese cancer patients have about their health status while undergoing chemotherapy, the satisfaction with the information relating to their health, their level of happiness, and their vision of the future. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was developed. Data were collected between May and July 2012 in the day hospital of a central hospital in northern Portugal. The sample was composed of 92 cancer patients who were asked to answer a questionnaire during chemotherapy. The results indicate that, despite this life-threatening disease, patients consider themselves fairly happy and have an optimistic view of the future. Information about their health condition and religious beliefs was important coping mechanisms to help dealing with the suffering caused by the disease. The study highlights the importance of providing care in a holistic way. Nurses must be alert and available to listen, answer questions, provide supporting structures, or refer to other professionals when needed.
- Child’s food consumption and physical exercise: results from a Portuguese descriptive studyPublication . Marques, Goreti; Festas, Constança; Fernandes, Carla Sílvia; Simões, Daniela; Ferreira, Fátima; Pinto, Sara; Jorge, Áurea; Ferreira, GustavoAims: To describe food consumption in Portuguese primary school children, to analyze the influence of food consumption on the body mass index (BMI), and to analyze the relationship between physical exercise and the child's food consumption. Method: A quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 primary schools of the north of Portugal (n = 109 child). The use of a food register for 5 consecutive days and anthropometric evaluation of the children were used. Results: The vast majority of children had a normal weight (65.10%). However, 34.90% of the children presented significant changes in their BMI (14.70% with low weight, 11.90% overweight, and 8.30% with obesity). Children who engage in physical activity drink more water and consume less sugary products. However, they also consume less meat, fish, and eggs than those who do not perform regular physical activity. Conclusions: The study highlights the emergence of new problems, such as the increasing prevalence of underweight children. The prevention of these problems, overweight, or underweight children, should be addressed among healthcare providers, local authorities, families, and teachers.
- Childhood obesity and reduction of hours of sleep: results from cross-sectional studyPublication . Marques, Goreti; Matos, Maria; Afonso, Claúdia; Conceição, Ana Paula da; Martins, Tânia; Pinto, Sara; Festas, Constança; Pinheiro, Ana RitaChildhood obesity is a prevalent condition in modern societies which can negatively impact people’s health during life. Although there are several factors contributing to obesity, sleep duration has been pointed out as an important risk factor. This study, held in the district of Porto, Portugal, aimed to analyze the association between sleep duration and the nutritional status of school-aged children studying in Portugal. 1396 students from 35 and 3 public and private schools, respectively, were contacted, of which 829 participated in this study (9.2±0.38 years old; 50.3% male; 49.7% female). Age, sex, sleep duration, height, weight and body composition were registered trough a questionnaire. According to the obtained z-score for Body Mass Index (BMI), 22.9% of the children were overweight and 15.2% were obese. The mean of sleep duration was 9.7±1.08 hours and z-score for BMI was 0.78±1.21, demonstrating a statistically significant (p<0.01) weak negative correlation (r=-0.15) between sleep duration and z-score of BMI. Results were also stratified and analyzed by sex, and the same finding was observed. Therefore, the results suggest a negative association between sleep duration and overweight/obesity in these children. Although more studies are necessary, this finding highlights the need of a global approach which includes sleep assessment and counselling when promoting an appropriate nutritional status.
- Comfort, well-being and quality of life: discussion of the differences and similarities among the conceptsPublication . Pinto, Sara; Fumincelli, Laís; Mazzo, Alessandra; Caldeira, Sílvia; Martins, José CarlosAim: To analyze the differences and similarities of the concepts of comfort, well-being and quality of life (QoL). Methods: Review of concept analysis research on PubMed, Cinahl (full text) and Scielo, using the search terms “Comfort”, “Well-being”, “Quality of Life” and “Concept Analysis”. Results: Eighteen studies were included. Comfort is a broader holistic concept while well-being is mainly related to psycho-spiritual dimensions. QoL reflects the individual perception of satisfaction with life.Conclusions: The concepts are not surrogate terms, but related concepts sharing common attributes. Caution should be taken in further research, particularly as regards the correct use and framing of the concepts.
- Cultural adaptation and validation of the Portuguese End of Life Spiritual Comfort Questionnaire in Palliative Care patientsPublication . Pinto, Sara; Caldeira, Sílvia; Martins, José Carlos; Kolcaba, KatharineBackground: Holistic comfort is an important outcome in palliative care and an important goal for patients, relatives and healthcare workers. Holistic comfort considers one’s acceptance of life circum- stances, support from loved ones and health care professionals, and peaceful resolution of relationships during stressful situations. However, this type of comfort is still difficult to measure, particularly in pal- liative care patients, as there is a lack of instruments available, especially in the Portuguese language. This study aims to provide an accurate and sensitive instrument to assess the spiritual comfort of Portuguese palliative care patients. Objective: To perform the cultural adaptation and validation of a Portuguese version of the End of Life Comfort Planning Questionnaire in Palliative Care patients. Methods: Methodological research, with analytical approach. The translation, synthesis, back translation, review, pretest, semantic evaluation and analysis of the psychometric properties were performed. A total of 141 palliative care patients from acute medical-surgical settings at a central hospital in the north of Portugal were recruited. The Ethics Committee approved the research. Results: The internal consistency analysis of the adapted instrument resulted in a global alpha value of 0.84 and the factor analysis presented a solution with five factors with rational meaning. The Portuguese version comprised 20 items. Conclusions: The instrument has good psychometric properties. It was reliable, valid and sensitive to the existence of the spiritual comfort of palliative care patients, and appropriate for further research.
- Defining comfort: a concept analysis researchPublication . Pinto, Sara; Caldeira, Sílvia; Rodgers, Beth; Martins, José Carlos
- A esperança da pessoa com cancro: estudo em contexto de quimioterapiaPublication . Pinto, Sara; Caldeira, Sílvia; Martins, José CarlosContexto: a esperança é um conceito que ajuda a pessoa a lidar com a crise de uma forma mais eficaz. A evidência científica evoca a sua importância no âmbito dos cuidados paliativos, defendendo que esperanças realistas ajudam a pessoa a viver o tempo que resta da melhor forma possível. Objetivos: analisar o índice de esperança de uma amostra de doentes submetidos a quimioterapia e compreender a influência de algumas variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas e religiosas sobre o mesmo. Metodologia: estudo observacional, transversal, do tipo exploratório, descritivo-correlacional, numa amostra de 92 doentes oncológicos em quimioterapia. Utilizou-se o Herth Hope Index-PT e os dados foram analisados pelo programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, versão 18. Resultados: os inquiridos apresentam índices de esperança elevados (média=29.61 pontos). O tempo de diagnóstico e o tempo em quimioterapia influenciam a esperança (p < 0.01 e p < 0.05, respetivamente). As relações encontradas são fracas e inversas. Conclusão: o avanço do tempo parece fazer diminuir a esperança dos doentes em quimioterapia, o que vem sustentar a necessidade de promovê-la continuamente. A informação adequada às necessidades da pessoa e objetivos realistas atuam como promotores e ajudam a pessoa a restaurar o sentido da vida.
- A qualitative study about comfort perceptions in palliative care patientsPublication . Pinto, Sara; Caldeira, Sílvia; Martins, José Carlos
- A qualitative study about palliative care patients’ experiences of comfort: implications for nursing diagnosis and interventionsPublication . Pinto, Sara; Caldeira, Sílvia; Martins, José CarlosBackground and objective:Comfort is a complex experience, particularly important to palliative care patients. Although it is listed in nursing classifications and taxonomies there is a gap between theory and practice. Thus, little research has been done about patient’s perceptions and experiences in this context of care. This paper aims to analyze palliative care patients’ experiences about comfort.Methods:Qualitative study with fifteen participants, using in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews, tape-recorded,transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretative content analysis.Results:Five main themes have been identified. Holistic comfort may be a difficult outcome for many end-of-life patients but the context of provision of care, the presence of family, the way information is managed, the search for meaning in life, and the need to keep life under control were perceived as important determinants for comfort.Conclusions:This study provides a general overview about comfort experiences and the main discomforts of hospitalized patients who are suffering from chronic and incurable diseases. Findings highlight comfort as a complex intervention within multidisciplinary palliative care team and this is supporting the nursing diagnosis “Impaired Comfort” as a syndrome. The study adds a contribution to the accuracy and completeness of nursing classifications and nursing practice in palliative care.