Oscar Ribeiro | University of Aveiro (original) (raw)

Papers by Oscar Ribeiro

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology

Objective To explore the effects of a multicomponent training (MT) physical exercise intervention... more Objective To explore the effects of a multicomponent training (MT) physical exercise intervention in the cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life of older adults with major neurocognitive disorder (NCD). Methods Quasi-experimental controlled trial. Thirty-six individuals (25 female) were equally distributed to an exercise group (aged 74.33 ± 5.87 years) or a control group (aged 81.83 ± 6.18 years). The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive (ADAS-Cog), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Quality of Life – Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) tests were performed before and after the intervention. Results There was no clear interaction effect factor of intervention on ADAS-Cog (B = 1.33, 95% CI: -2.61 – 5.28, P = .513), NPI (B = −8.35, 95% CI: −18.48 – 1.72, P = .115), and QoL-AD (B = 2.87, 95% CI: .01 – 5.73, P = .058). Conclusions The 6-month MT physical exercise intervention did not present evidence of slowing down cognitive decline neither imp...

PLOS ONE

Accurate measurement of adherence is crucial to rigorously evaluate interventions aimed at improv... more Accurate measurement of adherence is crucial to rigorously evaluate interventions aimed at improving this outcome in patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis. Previous research has shown great variability in non-adherence rates between studies, mainly due to the use of different direct (e.g., clinical biomarkers) and indirect (e.g., questionnaires) measures. Although self-reported adherence in hemodialysis has been widely explored, it is still unclear which is the most accurate questionnaire to assess this outcome; therefore, the question of how to optimize adherence measurement in research and clinical practice has emerged as a key issue that needs to be addressed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the criterion validity of self-report measures of adherence in hemodialysis established through the association between test scores and clinical biomarkers (the criterion measure). The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (2021 CRD42021267550). The last search wa...

Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) version of successful aging defines avoid- ance of disease and disability,... more Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) version of successful aging defines avoid- ance of disease and disability, maintenance of high physical and cogni- tive function, and sustained engagement in social and productive activ- ities as essential components of aging successfully. The applicability of this model in very advanced age has been questioned and the relative importance of these aspects to well-being is not properly established. In order to analyze the effect of Rowe and Kahn’ criteria on both subjective (hedonic) and psychological (eudaimonic) well-being, 140 individu- als with 100 and more years old from the Oporto Centenarian Study (PT100) were interviewed. The mean age of the sample was 101.18 (SD 1.59); 89.3% women, 76.4% widowed and 57.9% living in the com- munity. The Positive Valuation of Life Scale (Lawton et al., 2001), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) and a questionnaire of health and social information were used for data collection. Descriptive and inferenti...

PLOS ONE

Background Following the active ageing model based on the Health, Lifelong Learning, Participatio... more Background Following the active ageing model based on the Health, Lifelong Learning, Participation and Security pillars, this research has a twofold objective: i) to classify older adults according to active ageing profiles, taking into account the four pillars, and ii) to ascertain the relationship between the profiles and personal and contextual factors, as well as well-being and quality of life in old age. Methods A study sample of 5,566 Spanish older adults who participated in wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) was included. Data were analysed in different steps applying several statistical analyses (Principal Component, Cluster, Discriminant, Multiple Correspondence and bivariate analysis with Pearson chi-square and ANOVA). Results Five older adult profiles were obtained (I: with moderate activity; II: quasi-dependents; III: with active ageing-limiting conditions; IV: with diverse and balanced activity; V: with excellent active ageing condit...

Psicologia, Saúde & Doença

RESUMO: A COVID-19 e respetivas medidas de prevenção e proteção levaram a uma gestão ainda mais c... more RESUMO: A COVID-19 e respetivas medidas de prevenção e proteção levaram a uma gestão ainda mais complexa dos cuidados de saúde em geral, gestão essa que se torna particularmente sensível e rigorosa na prestação de cuidados em diálise, podendo ter impacto nos profissionais de saúde (PS) que atuam nesse contexto. A presente investigação teve como objetivo explorar as experiências e impactos da pandemia COVID-19 em PS que prestam cuidados em hemodiálise (HD), bem como analisar os níveis de burnout dos mesmos. O estudo seguiu uma metodologia mista-qualitativa e quantitativa-assente na realização de uma entrevista semiestruturada e na aplicação de um instrumento de avaliação psicológica: o Maslach Burnout Inventory. Os participantes foram recrutados a partir de um centro de HD e entrevistados por videochamada no primeiro quadrimestre de 2021. Da amostra fizeram parte 25 profissionais: 19 enfermeiros, 4 médicos e 2 farmacêuticos. Da análise das entrevistas emergiram três temas principais: (1) Impactos de trabalhar durante a pandemia; (2) Estratégias para lidar com as adversidades; e (3) Perspetivas futuras sobre o trabalho em hemodiálise. Os resultados referentes ao burnout mostraram que 32% dos PS apresentaram Exaustão Emocional, 4% Despersonalização, e 12% diminuição da Realização Pessoal. Os profissionais entrevistados enfrentaram vários desafios durante a pandemia (sobrecarga de trabalho/horária, etc.), tendo no entanto recorrido a estratégias de coping eficazes, em particular ao suporte de pares. O facto de cerca de um terço dos participantes apresentar exaustão emocional sublinha a necessidade de monitorizar a saúde mental destes profissionais.

Innovation in Aging, 2021

Regular physical activity and exercise have been proposed as non-pharmacological therapeutic appr... more Regular physical activity and exercise have been proposed as non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches to prevent and manage neurocognitive disorders (NCD). Multicomponent training (MT) combining aerobics, strength, postural and balance exercises seem to be effective at improving individuals with NCD in their ability to independently perform activities of daily living (ADL). This quasi-experimental controlled trial aims to analyze the effects of a 6-month MT intervention on functional capacity of individuals diagnosed with NCD. Forty-three subjects (N Major NCD: 36) participated in the Body&Brain Project and were subdivided in exercise group (EG; N: 23; 75.09 ± 5.65 years; age range: 61-83) or a control group (CG; N:20; 81.90 ± 5.95 years; age range: 70-89). The EG was submitted to bi-weekly exercise sessions, and the CG received monthly recreation sessions. At baseline and at post-intervention Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), 6-meters Walk Speed and Handgrip tests were applied to evaluate l...

The major cognitive domains that present changes in depressive disorders include memory, attentio... more The major cognitive domains that present changes in depressive disorders include memory, attention, and executive functions. Several studies have shown that cognitive deficits tend to remain after the remission of other depressive symptoms. Recent research has suggested that computerized cognitive training (CCT) may be an effective treatment option since interventions using technology seem to show more benefits in stimulating cognitive functions and quality of life when compared to traditional training programs. This pilot study evaluates the impact of a CCT using COGWEB® in patients with moderate to severe depression (n=20), namely on humor (severity of depressive symptoms) and on a set of cognitive functions (attention, memory and executive function). A sample of clinical patients was divided into an experimental group, who performed two cognitive training sessions per week (a total of 12 sessions), and a control group, who received no cognitive training. Both groups underwent a p...

Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion, 2020

Background: it is important to standardize the evaluation and reporting procedures across usabili... more Background: it is important to standardize the evaluation and reporting procedures across usability studies to guide researchers, facilitate comparisons, and promote high-quality studies. A first step to standardizing is to have an overview of how experts-based usability evaluation studies are reported across the literature. Objectives: to describe and synthesize the procedures of usability evaluation by experts that are being reported to conduct inspection usability assessments of digital solutions relevant for older adults. Methods: a scoping review of reviews was performed using a five-stage methodology to identify and describe relevant literature published between 2009 and 2020 as follows: i) identification of the research question; ii) identification of relevant studies; iii) select studies for review; iv) charting of data from selected literature; and v) collation, summary, and report of results. The research was conducted on five electronic databases: PubMed, ACM Digital Library, IEEE, Scopus, and Web of Science. The articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified, and data extracted for further analysis, including evaluators, current usability inspection methods, and instruments to support usability inspection methods. Results: a total of 3958 articles were identified. After a detailed screening, 12 reviews matched the eligibility criteria. Conclusion: overall, we found a variety of unstandardized procedures and a lack of detail on some important aspects of the assessment, including a thorough description of the evaluators and of the instruments used to facilitate the inspection evaluation such as heuristics checklists.

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementiasr, 2020

Purpose:This study aims to analyze home confinement impact on individuals with neurocognitive dis... more Purpose:This study aims to analyze home confinement impact on individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCD) through informal caregiver’s perspective and examine how it has affected caregiving burden.Methods:Thirty-six caregivers (64.94 ± 13.54 years, 41.7% female) of individuals with NCD (74.28 ± 6.76 years, 66.7% female) selected from the Body & Brain exercise program were interviewed over the phone. The following instruments were used: Barthel Index (BI) to assess care recipients’ ability to function independently on activities of daily living (ADL), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms, and the CarerQol-7D/ CarerQol-VAS to determine caregiver subjective burden/well-being.Results:Pre and post-confinement comparisons showed that care recipients significantly declined their independence in ADL (p = 0.003) and increased NPI total score (MD = 5.72; 95% CI: 1.19 to 10.25, p = 0.015). As for caregivers, results also showed an increased caregiving ...

Quality of Life Research, 2021

This study aimed to identify the association between health-related physical indicators—sarcopeni... more This study aimed to identify the association between health-related physical indicators—sarcopenia-related factors, physical fitness, independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and habitual physical activity—and self-rated quality of life (QoL) in people with neurocognitive disorder (NCD). This cross-sectional study included 115 participants (78.22 ± 7.48 years; 74.8% female) clinically diagnosed with NCD. Self-rated QoL was evaluated using The Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD). Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry, handgrip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, and the 6-m Walk test were used to assess sarcopenia-related factors. Senior Fitness Test and One Leg Balance test, Barthel Index, Baecke Modified Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to determine physical fitness, independence in ADL and physical activity, respectively. Regressions analyses were performed to examine associations between these variables and QoL-AD. Data from univariable linear regression analysis revealed that self-rated QoL was associated with sarcopenia-related factors (lower body function, handgrip strength, gait speed, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index—ASMI), physical fitness (upper-and-lower-body strength, agility/dynamic balance, cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index), habitual physical activity and independence in ADL. Results from multivariable regression analysis showed that ASMI (B = 1.846, 95% CI 0.165–3.527, p = 0.032) and lower body function (B = 0.756, 95% CI 0.269–1.242, p = 0.003) were positively associated with self-rated QoL. These variables explained 20.1% of the variability seen in self-rated QoL, controlling for age, sex, marital status and education. Sarcopenia-related factors, namely lower body function and ASMI, should be acknowledged in future research studies as critical health-related indicators associated with QoL in people with NCD. ClinicalTrials.gov—identifier number NCT04095962.

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementiasr, 2020

Novel plant genome editing techniques call for an updated legislation regulating the use of plant... more Novel plant genome editing techniques call for an updated legislation regulating the use of plants produced by genetic engineering or genome editing, especially in the European Union. Established more than 25 years ago and based on a clear distinction between transgenic and conventionally bred plants, the current EU Directives fail to accommodate the new continuum between genetic engineering and conventional breeding. Despite the fact that the Directive 2001/18/EC contains both process-and productrelated terms, it is commonly interpreted as a strictly process-based legislation. In view of several new emerging techniques which are closer to the conventional breeding than common genetic engineering, we argue that it should be actually interpreted more in relation to the resulting product. A legal guidance on how to define plants produced by exploring novel genome editing techniques in relation to the decade-old legislation is urgently needed, as private companies and public researchers are waiting impatiently with products and projects in the pipeline. We here outline the process in the EU to develop a legislation that properly matches the scientific progress. As the process is facing several hurdles, we also compare with existing frameworks in other countries and discuss ideas for an alternative regulatory system. Keywords New plant breeding techniques Á Genome editing Á Genetic engineering Á Regulation Á Site directed nucleases Á CRISPR/Cas9 Á ODM Communicated by T. Cardi. T. Sprink and D. Eriksson contributed equally.

JMIR Human Factors, 2021

Background The assessment of usability is a complex process that involves several steps and proce... more Background The assessment of usability is a complex process that involves several steps and procedures. It is important to standardize the evaluation and reporting of usability procedures across studies to guide researchers, facilitate comparisons across studies, and promote high-quality usability studies. The first step to standardizing is to have an overview of how usability study procedures are reported across the literature. Objective This scoping review of reviews aims to synthesize the procedures reported for the different steps of the process of conducting a user-centered usability assessment of digital solutions relevant for older adults and to identify potential gaps in the present reporting of procedures. The secondary aim is to identify any principles or frameworks guiding this assessment in view of a standardized approach. Methods This is a scoping review of reviews. A 5-stage scoping review methodology was used to identify and describe relevant literature published betw...

Innovation in Aging, 2018

Among the negative effects of chronic diseases, the selfperceptions and the self-confidence of ch... more Among the negative effects of chronic diseases, the selfperceptions and the self-confidence of chronically ill persons deserve more research. This study explored how such persons dealt with the physical, mental and emotional changes brought about by the onset of chronic disease. The specific focus here was the role of social support networks in older patients' emotional coping. This qualitative study was conducted in two state-owned medical institutions in the northcentral part of Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted among 19 purposively selected, chronically ill persons aged 50 years and over who were receiving clinical care. This study revealed that except in extremely dire circumstances, older people with chronic conditions preferred to keep knowledge of their conditions strictly within their close family circles. It is almost a taboo to inform community members, friends and religious groups about one's chronic health difficulties. Reasons for the need to appear healthy to others might have stemmed from the fear of being discriminated against and attempts to maintain some level of normalcy when interacting with others. Moreover, social networks could also have a negative influence on older persons' emotional wellbeing. For example, many of the respondents received negative comments about their physical appearances. These statements resulted in participants having low self-esteem about their body images and consequently affected their participation in social activities. Thus, the supportiveness of social networks cannot be assumed. Outside of close family, social networks appear to be inadequately equipped to understand some of the sensitivities that chronically ill older persons struggle with.

Alzheimer's & Dementia

IntroductionThere are limited data on prevalence of dementia in centenarians and near‐centenarian... more IntroductionThere are limited data on prevalence of dementia in centenarians and near‐centenarians (C/NC), its determinants, and whether the risk of dementia continues to rise beyond 100.MethodsParticipant‐level data were obtained from 18 community‐based studies (N = 4427) in 11 countries that included individuals ≥95 years. A harmonization protocol was applied to cognitive and functional impairments, and a meta‐analysis was performed.ResultsThe mean age was 98.3 years (SD = 2.67); 79% were women. After adjusting for age, sex, and education, dementia prevalence was 53.2% in women and 45.5% in men, with risk continuing to increase with age. Education (OR 0.95;0.92–0.98) was protective, as was hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 0.51;0.35–0.74) in five studies. Dementia was not associated with diabetes, vision and hearing impairments, smoking, and body mass index (BMI).DiscussionAmong the exceptional old, dementia prevalence remains higher in the older participants. Education was protective...

BACKGROUND Terminology and studies on usability lack common terminology and reporting standards. ... more BACKGROUND Terminology and studies on usability lack common terminology and reporting standards. OBJECTIVE To generate consensus on terms and procedures that should be considered when planning and reporting a study on usability evaluation of health-related digital solutions both by users and experts. METHODS A Delphi study with two rounds was conducted with a panel of 30 international participants experienced in usability evaluation. In the first round, they were asked to comment on definitions and rate the importance of pre-identified procedures using a 9-item Likert scale, and suggest additional procedures. In the second round, experienced participants were asked to reappraise the relevance of each procedure informed by round one results. RESULTS Agreement was achieved on the definitions of a set of usability evaluation-related terms and a total of 38 procedures related to usability evaluation planning and reporting were identified. Consensus on the relevance was achieved for 30 (79%) of the 38 procedures. CONCLUSIONS This work provides an important step towards a more standardized approach in the field of usability evaluation that may contribute to enhancing the quality of planning and reporting usability studies.

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Nov 15, 2022

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology

Objective To explore the effects of a multicomponent training (MT) physical exercise intervention... more Objective To explore the effects of a multicomponent training (MT) physical exercise intervention in the cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life of older adults with major neurocognitive disorder (NCD). Methods Quasi-experimental controlled trial. Thirty-six individuals (25 female) were equally distributed to an exercise group (aged 74.33 ± 5.87 years) or a control group (aged 81.83 ± 6.18 years). The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive (ADAS-Cog), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Quality of Life – Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) tests were performed before and after the intervention. Results There was no clear interaction effect factor of intervention on ADAS-Cog (B = 1.33, 95% CI: -2.61 – 5.28, P = .513), NPI (B = −8.35, 95% CI: −18.48 – 1.72, P = .115), and QoL-AD (B = 2.87, 95% CI: .01 – 5.73, P = .058). Conclusions The 6-month MT physical exercise intervention did not present evidence of slowing down cognitive decline neither imp...

PLOS ONE

Accurate measurement of adherence is crucial to rigorously evaluate interventions aimed at improv... more Accurate measurement of adherence is crucial to rigorously evaluate interventions aimed at improving this outcome in patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis. Previous research has shown great variability in non-adherence rates between studies, mainly due to the use of different direct (e.g., clinical biomarkers) and indirect (e.g., questionnaires) measures. Although self-reported adherence in hemodialysis has been widely explored, it is still unclear which is the most accurate questionnaire to assess this outcome; therefore, the question of how to optimize adherence measurement in research and clinical practice has emerged as a key issue that needs to be addressed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the criterion validity of self-report measures of adherence in hemodialysis established through the association between test scores and clinical biomarkers (the criterion measure). The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (2021 CRD42021267550). The last search wa...

Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) version of successful aging defines avoid- ance of disease and disability,... more Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) version of successful aging defines avoid- ance of disease and disability, maintenance of high physical and cogni- tive function, and sustained engagement in social and productive activ- ities as essential components of aging successfully. The applicability of this model in very advanced age has been questioned and the relative importance of these aspects to well-being is not properly established. In order to analyze the effect of Rowe and Kahn’ criteria on both subjective (hedonic) and psychological (eudaimonic) well-being, 140 individu- als with 100 and more years old from the Oporto Centenarian Study (PT100) were interviewed. The mean age of the sample was 101.18 (SD 1.59); 89.3% women, 76.4% widowed and 57.9% living in the com- munity. The Positive Valuation of Life Scale (Lawton et al., 2001), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) and a questionnaire of health and social information were used for data collection. Descriptive and inferenti...

PLOS ONE

Background Following the active ageing model based on the Health, Lifelong Learning, Participatio... more Background Following the active ageing model based on the Health, Lifelong Learning, Participation and Security pillars, this research has a twofold objective: i) to classify older adults according to active ageing profiles, taking into account the four pillars, and ii) to ascertain the relationship between the profiles and personal and contextual factors, as well as well-being and quality of life in old age. Methods A study sample of 5,566 Spanish older adults who participated in wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) was included. Data were analysed in different steps applying several statistical analyses (Principal Component, Cluster, Discriminant, Multiple Correspondence and bivariate analysis with Pearson chi-square and ANOVA). Results Five older adult profiles were obtained (I: with moderate activity; II: quasi-dependents; III: with active ageing-limiting conditions; IV: with diverse and balanced activity; V: with excellent active ageing condit...

Psicologia, Saúde & Doença

RESUMO: A COVID-19 e respetivas medidas de prevenção e proteção levaram a uma gestão ainda mais c... more RESUMO: A COVID-19 e respetivas medidas de prevenção e proteção levaram a uma gestão ainda mais complexa dos cuidados de saúde em geral, gestão essa que se torna particularmente sensível e rigorosa na prestação de cuidados em diálise, podendo ter impacto nos profissionais de saúde (PS) que atuam nesse contexto. A presente investigação teve como objetivo explorar as experiências e impactos da pandemia COVID-19 em PS que prestam cuidados em hemodiálise (HD), bem como analisar os níveis de burnout dos mesmos. O estudo seguiu uma metodologia mista-qualitativa e quantitativa-assente na realização de uma entrevista semiestruturada e na aplicação de um instrumento de avaliação psicológica: o Maslach Burnout Inventory. Os participantes foram recrutados a partir de um centro de HD e entrevistados por videochamada no primeiro quadrimestre de 2021. Da amostra fizeram parte 25 profissionais: 19 enfermeiros, 4 médicos e 2 farmacêuticos. Da análise das entrevistas emergiram três temas principais: (1) Impactos de trabalhar durante a pandemia; (2) Estratégias para lidar com as adversidades; e (3) Perspetivas futuras sobre o trabalho em hemodiálise. Os resultados referentes ao burnout mostraram que 32% dos PS apresentaram Exaustão Emocional, 4% Despersonalização, e 12% diminuição da Realização Pessoal. Os profissionais entrevistados enfrentaram vários desafios durante a pandemia (sobrecarga de trabalho/horária, etc.), tendo no entanto recorrido a estratégias de coping eficazes, em particular ao suporte de pares. O facto de cerca de um terço dos participantes apresentar exaustão emocional sublinha a necessidade de monitorizar a saúde mental destes profissionais.

Innovation in Aging, 2021

Regular physical activity and exercise have been proposed as non-pharmacological therapeutic appr... more Regular physical activity and exercise have been proposed as non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches to prevent and manage neurocognitive disorders (NCD). Multicomponent training (MT) combining aerobics, strength, postural and balance exercises seem to be effective at improving individuals with NCD in their ability to independently perform activities of daily living (ADL). This quasi-experimental controlled trial aims to analyze the effects of a 6-month MT intervention on functional capacity of individuals diagnosed with NCD. Forty-three subjects (N Major NCD: 36) participated in the Body&Brain Project and were subdivided in exercise group (EG; N: 23; 75.09 ± 5.65 years; age range: 61-83) or a control group (CG; N:20; 81.90 ± 5.95 years; age range: 70-89). The EG was submitted to bi-weekly exercise sessions, and the CG received monthly recreation sessions. At baseline and at post-intervention Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), 6-meters Walk Speed and Handgrip tests were applied to evaluate l...

The major cognitive domains that present changes in depressive disorders include memory, attentio... more The major cognitive domains that present changes in depressive disorders include memory, attention, and executive functions. Several studies have shown that cognitive deficits tend to remain after the remission of other depressive symptoms. Recent research has suggested that computerized cognitive training (CCT) may be an effective treatment option since interventions using technology seem to show more benefits in stimulating cognitive functions and quality of life when compared to traditional training programs. This pilot study evaluates the impact of a CCT using COGWEB® in patients with moderate to severe depression (n=20), namely on humor (severity of depressive symptoms) and on a set of cognitive functions (attention, memory and executive function). A sample of clinical patients was divided into an experimental group, who performed two cognitive training sessions per week (a total of 12 sessions), and a control group, who received no cognitive training. Both groups underwent a p...

Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion, 2020

Background: it is important to standardize the evaluation and reporting procedures across usabili... more Background: it is important to standardize the evaluation and reporting procedures across usability studies to guide researchers, facilitate comparisons, and promote high-quality studies. A first step to standardizing is to have an overview of how experts-based usability evaluation studies are reported across the literature. Objectives: to describe and synthesize the procedures of usability evaluation by experts that are being reported to conduct inspection usability assessments of digital solutions relevant for older adults. Methods: a scoping review of reviews was performed using a five-stage methodology to identify and describe relevant literature published between 2009 and 2020 as follows: i) identification of the research question; ii) identification of relevant studies; iii) select studies for review; iv) charting of data from selected literature; and v) collation, summary, and report of results. The research was conducted on five electronic databases: PubMed, ACM Digital Library, IEEE, Scopus, and Web of Science. The articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified, and data extracted for further analysis, including evaluators, current usability inspection methods, and instruments to support usability inspection methods. Results: a total of 3958 articles were identified. After a detailed screening, 12 reviews matched the eligibility criteria. Conclusion: overall, we found a variety of unstandardized procedures and a lack of detail on some important aspects of the assessment, including a thorough description of the evaluators and of the instruments used to facilitate the inspection evaluation such as heuristics checklists.

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementiasr, 2020

Purpose:This study aims to analyze home confinement impact on individuals with neurocognitive dis... more Purpose:This study aims to analyze home confinement impact on individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCD) through informal caregiver’s perspective and examine how it has affected caregiving burden.Methods:Thirty-six caregivers (64.94 ± 13.54 years, 41.7% female) of individuals with NCD (74.28 ± 6.76 years, 66.7% female) selected from the Body & Brain exercise program were interviewed over the phone. The following instruments were used: Barthel Index (BI) to assess care recipients’ ability to function independently on activities of daily living (ADL), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms, and the CarerQol-7D/ CarerQol-VAS to determine caregiver subjective burden/well-being.Results:Pre and post-confinement comparisons showed that care recipients significantly declined their independence in ADL (p = 0.003) and increased NPI total score (MD = 5.72; 95% CI: 1.19 to 10.25, p = 0.015). As for caregivers, results also showed an increased caregiving ...

Quality of Life Research, 2021

This study aimed to identify the association between health-related physical indicators—sarcopeni... more This study aimed to identify the association between health-related physical indicators—sarcopenia-related factors, physical fitness, independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and habitual physical activity—and self-rated quality of life (QoL) in people with neurocognitive disorder (NCD). This cross-sectional study included 115 participants (78.22 ± 7.48 years; 74.8% female) clinically diagnosed with NCD. Self-rated QoL was evaluated using The Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD). Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry, handgrip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, and the 6-m Walk test were used to assess sarcopenia-related factors. Senior Fitness Test and One Leg Balance test, Barthel Index, Baecke Modified Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to determine physical fitness, independence in ADL and physical activity, respectively. Regressions analyses were performed to examine associations between these variables and QoL-AD. Data from univariable linear regression analysis revealed that self-rated QoL was associated with sarcopenia-related factors (lower body function, handgrip strength, gait speed, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index—ASMI), physical fitness (upper-and-lower-body strength, agility/dynamic balance, cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index), habitual physical activity and independence in ADL. Results from multivariable regression analysis showed that ASMI (B = 1.846, 95% CI 0.165–3.527, p = 0.032) and lower body function (B = 0.756, 95% CI 0.269–1.242, p = 0.003) were positively associated with self-rated QoL. These variables explained 20.1% of the variability seen in self-rated QoL, controlling for age, sex, marital status and education. Sarcopenia-related factors, namely lower body function and ASMI, should be acknowledged in future research studies as critical health-related indicators associated with QoL in people with NCD. ClinicalTrials.gov—identifier number NCT04095962.

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementiasr, 2020

Novel plant genome editing techniques call for an updated legislation regulating the use of plant... more Novel plant genome editing techniques call for an updated legislation regulating the use of plants produced by genetic engineering or genome editing, especially in the European Union. Established more than 25 years ago and based on a clear distinction between transgenic and conventionally bred plants, the current EU Directives fail to accommodate the new continuum between genetic engineering and conventional breeding. Despite the fact that the Directive 2001/18/EC contains both process-and productrelated terms, it is commonly interpreted as a strictly process-based legislation. In view of several new emerging techniques which are closer to the conventional breeding than common genetic engineering, we argue that it should be actually interpreted more in relation to the resulting product. A legal guidance on how to define plants produced by exploring novel genome editing techniques in relation to the decade-old legislation is urgently needed, as private companies and public researchers are waiting impatiently with products and projects in the pipeline. We here outline the process in the EU to develop a legislation that properly matches the scientific progress. As the process is facing several hurdles, we also compare with existing frameworks in other countries and discuss ideas for an alternative regulatory system. Keywords New plant breeding techniques Á Genome editing Á Genetic engineering Á Regulation Á Site directed nucleases Á CRISPR/Cas9 Á ODM Communicated by T. Cardi. T. Sprink and D. Eriksson contributed equally.

JMIR Human Factors, 2021

Background The assessment of usability is a complex process that involves several steps and proce... more Background The assessment of usability is a complex process that involves several steps and procedures. It is important to standardize the evaluation and reporting of usability procedures across studies to guide researchers, facilitate comparisons across studies, and promote high-quality usability studies. The first step to standardizing is to have an overview of how usability study procedures are reported across the literature. Objective This scoping review of reviews aims to synthesize the procedures reported for the different steps of the process of conducting a user-centered usability assessment of digital solutions relevant for older adults and to identify potential gaps in the present reporting of procedures. The secondary aim is to identify any principles or frameworks guiding this assessment in view of a standardized approach. Methods This is a scoping review of reviews. A 5-stage scoping review methodology was used to identify and describe relevant literature published betw...

Innovation in Aging, 2018

Among the negative effects of chronic diseases, the selfperceptions and the self-confidence of ch... more Among the negative effects of chronic diseases, the selfperceptions and the self-confidence of chronically ill persons deserve more research. This study explored how such persons dealt with the physical, mental and emotional changes brought about by the onset of chronic disease. The specific focus here was the role of social support networks in older patients' emotional coping. This qualitative study was conducted in two state-owned medical institutions in the northcentral part of Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted among 19 purposively selected, chronically ill persons aged 50 years and over who were receiving clinical care. This study revealed that except in extremely dire circumstances, older people with chronic conditions preferred to keep knowledge of their conditions strictly within their close family circles. It is almost a taboo to inform community members, friends and religious groups about one's chronic health difficulties. Reasons for the need to appear healthy to others might have stemmed from the fear of being discriminated against and attempts to maintain some level of normalcy when interacting with others. Moreover, social networks could also have a negative influence on older persons' emotional wellbeing. For example, many of the respondents received negative comments about their physical appearances. These statements resulted in participants having low self-esteem about their body images and consequently affected their participation in social activities. Thus, the supportiveness of social networks cannot be assumed. Outside of close family, social networks appear to be inadequately equipped to understand some of the sensitivities that chronically ill older persons struggle with.

Alzheimer's & Dementia

IntroductionThere are limited data on prevalence of dementia in centenarians and near‐centenarian... more IntroductionThere are limited data on prevalence of dementia in centenarians and near‐centenarians (C/NC), its determinants, and whether the risk of dementia continues to rise beyond 100.MethodsParticipant‐level data were obtained from 18 community‐based studies (N = 4427) in 11 countries that included individuals ≥95 years. A harmonization protocol was applied to cognitive and functional impairments, and a meta‐analysis was performed.ResultsThe mean age was 98.3 years (SD = 2.67); 79% were women. After adjusting for age, sex, and education, dementia prevalence was 53.2% in women and 45.5% in men, with risk continuing to increase with age. Education (OR 0.95;0.92–0.98) was protective, as was hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 0.51;0.35–0.74) in five studies. Dementia was not associated with diabetes, vision and hearing impairments, smoking, and body mass index (BMI).DiscussionAmong the exceptional old, dementia prevalence remains higher in the older participants. Education was protective...

BACKGROUND Terminology and studies on usability lack common terminology and reporting standards. ... more BACKGROUND Terminology and studies on usability lack common terminology and reporting standards. OBJECTIVE To generate consensus on terms and procedures that should be considered when planning and reporting a study on usability evaluation of health-related digital solutions both by users and experts. METHODS A Delphi study with two rounds was conducted with a panel of 30 international participants experienced in usability evaluation. In the first round, they were asked to comment on definitions and rate the importance of pre-identified procedures using a 9-item Likert scale, and suggest additional procedures. In the second round, experienced participants were asked to reappraise the relevance of each procedure informed by round one results. RESULTS Agreement was achieved on the definitions of a set of usability evaluation-related terms and a total of 38 procedures related to usability evaluation planning and reporting were identified. Consensus on the relevance was achieved for 30 (79%) of the 38 procedures. CONCLUSIONS This work provides an important step towards a more standardized approach in the field of usability evaluation that may contribute to enhancing the quality of planning and reporting usability studies.

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Nov 15, 2022

Vítimas de Crime e Violência: Práticas de Intervenção, 2014

Elder mistreatment has been one of the latest forms of family violence to be recognized. Despite ... more Elder mistreatment has been one of the latest forms of family violence to be recognized. Despite the increased research for the past thirty years, there is still a lack of development, especially in the intervention area. This chapter begins by discussing how elder mistreatment has been conceptualized and the impact of the theoretical positioning on intervention models and strategies. Five existing models which might be used in intervention with elder mistreatment are identified: adult protection programs; risk model; advocacy model; domestic violence model and case management model. Focusing on the case management model, an evidence-based practice with a mistreated older adult is presented. The case management approach refers to coordinating services by a specialized professional and implies comprehensive assessments of the older person and the development of an intervention which answers to different needs, even if these fall outside the scope of traditional victim support services. Particular attention is given to the decision making process of the older adult and the difficult balance between promoting safety and promoting autonomy. The case study is developed within a clinical approach and involves four steps: assessment, planning, intervention, and follow-up. Even though the case management perspective involves a unique set of knowledge, from different disciplines and areas, the described case study attempts to point out general considerations that can apply universally.

Género e Saúde. Novas (In)Visibilidades, 2013

This paper provides a brief overview of the main challenges (instrumental, health related and soc... more This paper provides a brief overview of the main challenges (instrumental, health related and socio emotional) elderly men face as informal care providers. It highlights the need for a greater attention to this experience by showing its increased numeric expression and by highlighting how the gender lens has compromised its scientific analysis. Psychosocial demands and consequences of a non-conventional masculine role are presented with the ultimate aim of exemplifying the complexity of the older men’s gendered lives and the need of including them both in the ethnographic moment that currently characterizes men’s studies, and in the gender mainstreaming of health discourses on ageing.

Aging in European Societies, 2012

In parallel with the remarkable rise of life expectancy, happiness become a major issue for peopl... more In parallel with the remarkable rise of life expectancy, happiness become a major issue for people who live long lives The aging process encompasses some declines that challenge the well-being of people. The present study had four purposes: i) to know the prevalence of happiness in old people living in the community; ii) to analyze the proportion of happy people in different age groups of old people, iii) to determine the predictors of happiness and iv) to suggest interventions to increase happiness. We study a sample (N= 1266) of people living in the community (55+ years old) using an extensive protocol that includes, beside socio-demographic variables, cognitive functioning, social network, self perception of health, the amount of health problems and its probable interference with activities of daily living. Data show that being men, married, more educated and wealthy, with a larger social network and cognitively intact, with a better self perceived health, less number of diagnosis, and without health problems interfering with daily life, rises happiness. When controlling for all the variables in the model, only age, education and health perception remain significant predictors of happiness. We suggest interventions to promote a more positive perception of health and life as a whole, to reformulate goals and engage in its achievement through volition activities in order to increase happiness in old age.

Manual de Gerontologia. Aspetos biocomportamentais, psicológicos e sociais do envelhecimento, 2012

Manual de Envelhecimento Activo, 2011

Gênero & Saúde: Diálogos Ibero-Brasileiros , 2010

New Perspectives on Women and Depression, 2008

Maculinity: gender roles, characteristics and coping, 2008

Few studies have focused on male caregiving within the formal context of a long-term care facilit... more Few studies have focused on male caregiving within the formal context of a long-term care facility. This brief report explores the experience of a group of men who had been primary, at-home carers for their dependent wives, and had continued the care provision after entering as a couple in a long term care facility. Four men aged between 81 and 88 years old were interviewed on their adjustment to that transitional event and on the respective changes in their involvement with care work. Transcribed interviews were analysed using a qualitative constructivist approach. Main findings indicate that these men’s transition was marked by a strong continuity of their involvement with caregiving responsibilities and that this was shaped by the wish to keep the emotional tie to their wives. Due to the new contextual circumstances and shared responsibilities with the formal helpers, these husbands underwent a process of redefining their role as carers based upon supervision and protectiveness. Discussion examines how these findings express the manner in which these men embody their masculinity in the caregiving role.

Families in later life: emerging themes and …, 2009

Elderly men on ageing families constitute a recent focus of research. Since gender and families i... more Elderly men on ageing families constitute a recent focus of research. Since gender and families in later life have been mostly studied in view of women’s experiences, scientific reflections addressing older men’s family roles, their sense of maleness and the relationships they establish with relatives are still scarce and demanding greater awareness. This chapter focuses on issues involving older men and late-life masculinities, and aims to make contributions to the ongoing debate on gender and ageing by reframing traditional research themes as that of caregiving relationships. At the outset, it takes a glance at older men’s gendered lives, exploring the seemingly incompatibility of “old men” and “masculinity”, and focus on the way the salience of gender ideology is revealed in specific live events as retirement, widowhood and caring for a dependent family member. Secondly, allowing for this last experience’s relevance in contemporary ageing families, the chapter presents some findings from a qualitative study that looks carefully at the features that characterize the willingness of a group of men aged 65 and over to assume the “non-traditional” caregiving role and the masculinity negotiations underneath its enactment. As spouse carers differ from other family caregivers on many dimensions, particularly on the extent to which caring for an ill partner may be a “normative” part of the marriage contract and entail necessary tasks for sustaining the quality of the relationship (maintaining the independence as a couple), the significance ascribed to the experience within the marital dynamics is emphasised.

Envelhecer em Portugal, 2005