Veritati
Repositório Institucional da Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Portuguese translation, validity and psychometric evaluation of the healthcare professional knowledge of radiation protection scale
Publication . Rodrigues, Belinda; Lopes, Pedro; Machado, Cláudia; Flores-Fraile, Javier; Veiga, Nélio
Objectives. This study aimed to validate the Portuguese version of the healthcare professional knowledge of radiation protection (HPKRP) scale to assess knowledge of radiation protection among healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation. The increasing use of radiation in medicine raises concerns about potential side effects, not only for patients but also for professionals operating the equipment. Appropriate and well-constructed instruments are essential to generate structured and interpretable findings and quantifiable outcomes that support improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Methods. A descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was conducted electronically using a Google Forms survey between March 2025 and July 2025. Participants included nurses, doctors, dentists, and radiographers who use a personal dosimeter. The Portuguese version of the HPKRP was developed using translation and back-translation procedures, followed by statistical validation. Internal consistency, item–total correlations, and regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS (version 30). Results. A total of 247 valid responses were analysed. The scale demonstrated very high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.983). Item-total correlations ranged from 0.568 to 0.890, confirming strong internal consistency. Radiographers reported the highest perceived knowledge, while nurses scored lowest. Knowledge gaps were identified particularly in areas related to radiation physics (formulas and units of measurement) and reporting of adverse events. Training in radiation protection was significantly associated with higher scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The Portuguese version of the HPKRP scale demonstrates high internal consistency and provides preliminary evidence of reliability for assessing healthcare professionals’ self-perceived knowledge of radiation protection. However, as a subjective measure, it does not reflect objective knowledge or clinical competence and should be interpreted with caution. The instrument may be useful for identifying perceived knowledge gaps and supporting educational strategies when used in combination with objective assessment methods.
Bridging the gap: evaluating the effectiveness of haptic simulators compared to traditional methods in preclinical dental education
Publication . Lopes, Pedro C.; Lopes, Sara; Rio, Rute; Costa, Hélder; Matos, Adriana B.; Veiga, Nélio; Correia, Maria J.
Background: Haptic simulation technologies are increasingly integrated into preclinical dental education to support procedural skill development. However, the extent to which haptic simulators improve performance compared to traditional phantom-head-based training remains unclear. Our goal is to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of haptic simulators in operative dentistry training, compared with conventional approaches. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane (2015–2025), complemented by manual searching, to identify studies evaluating virtual reality haptic simulators in preclinical operative dentistry education. The search strategy, structured according to the PICO framework, included preclinical undergraduate dental students, interventions with virtual reality haptic simulators, comparisons with conventional methods, and objective assessment of technical performance. Relevant data were extracted in a standardized manner, and the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials was assessed using RoB 2.0, while non-randomized studies were evaluated using ROBINS-I v2. Results: Of the 66 identified articles, 5 studies were included. The use of virtual reality simulators with haptic feedback in preclinical dental students was associated with increased efficiency in cavity preparation, reflected by reduced execution time and improved learning curves, as well as specific technical gains such as depth control. Overall cavity preparation quality was comparable to that achieved with conventional methods, with virtual reality being well accepted as an effective complementary tool in preclinical operative dentistry education. Conclusions: Haptic simulators appear effective for early preclinical skill development in operative dentistry and may complement traditional instruction. Evidence remains insufficient to confirm superiority over conventional methods or long-term clinical benefit. Higher-quality multicenter randomized trials with standardized performance measures are needed to strengthen the evidence base.
Mental healing through immersive play: an umbrella review
Publication . Coelho, Franz; Abreu, Ana Maria
This umbrella review explores the effects of Extended Reality (XR) and Game-Based Interventions (GBI) on anxiety, depression, and stress, covering augmented (AR), virtual (VR), and mixed reality (MR), along with serious games, gamification, game-based learning and training, exergames, and commercial video games. Following PRISMA and AMSTAR 2 guidelines, 201 articles were screened, with 16 reports selected (nine meta-analyses, six systematic reviews, and one scoping review). Findings highlight XR-GBI’s potential as a promising, flexible, and replicable intervention, demonstrating significant preliminary mental health improvement across children, adolescents, adults, and older people. Regarding anxiety, VR aids preoperative and procedural anxiety, promotes distraction and relaxation, and supports VR exposure therapy (VRET), matching Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) effectiveness with higher engagement. For depression, VRET reduces symptoms, while VR exergames combining physical activity and engagement show strong antidepressant effects. Stress management remains less explored, though AR video games enhance cognitive and social well-being, and VRET alleviates stress symptoms. Despite the XR-GBI promise, research is still emerging, with publications only beginning to expand recently, few randomized controlled trials, and methodological limitations. From our findings, we highlight practical and theoretical implications by showing how XR-GBI rely on core technical features and proposing a five-pathway theoretical model (cognitive, emotional, bodily, social, and motivational) that systematizes their potential for mental health, guiding future design, evaluation, and research. Further research should also expand on AR, MR, gamification, game-based learning and training, biofeedback, neurophysiological assessment, and social dynamics, while integrating artificial intelligence, digital mental health literacy, and psychoeducation to enhance XR-GBI’s impact.
Religião digital: reconfiguração das experiências
Publication . Duque, João Manuel; Bustamante, Victoria dos Santos
The proposed directive on multi-territorial licensing for online music: is competition a good idea?
Publication . Silva, Nuno Sousa e