Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Alexandra"
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- Knowledge sharing in catholic organizations: a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysisPublication . Curado, Carla; Graça, João; Oliveira, Mírian; Fernandes, AlexandraThis study examines knowledge sharing in Catholic organizations. The authors adopt Schein’s organizational culture theory that facilitates, or inhibits, knowledge sharing in organizations. Thus, they address the phenomenon at the three levels: the artifacts, the norms and values, and the underlying assumptions. Considering the chosen settings, they study the contributions of individuals having taken vows, the organizational rituals, the significance, and the sense of community perceived by the organizational members. Data were gathered using a survey and were analyzed by using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The study provides the causal configurations of conditions that lead to tacit, explicit, and total knowledge sharing. They also offer the causal configurations of conditions that lead to the absence of each kind of knowledge sharing. Given that the qualitative results cannot be generalized, the study can still be replicated in organizations without restrictions.
- Necessidades de cuidados e recurso aos serviços na demência : avaliação inicial da coorte portuguesa no estudo ActifcarePublication . Pereira, Manuel Gonçalves; Marques, Maria J.; Balsinha, Conceição; Fernandes, Alexandra; Machado, Ana Sá; Verdelho, Ana; Barahona Corrêa, Bernardo; Bárrios, Helena; Guimarães, João; Grave, Joana; Alves, Luísa; Almeida, Manuel Caldas de; Reis, Teresa Alves; Orrell, Martin; Woods, Bob; De Vugt, Marjolein; Verhey, FransIntroduction: People with dementia and their relatives should have timely access to formal care in the community. The EU-Actifcare project analysed access to and use of formal services, as related to unmet needs for care. We describe the cohort study implementation and baseline results in Portugal, with a focus on needs for care and service use assessments. Material and Methods: Our convenience sample consisted of 66 dyads of community-dwelling people with mild to moderate dementia and no significant use of formal services, and their informal carers. Measures included the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly and Resources Utilization in Dementia. Results: People with dementia had unmet needs (mean 1.1; SD 1.7), mainly regarding company (23%), psychological distress (20%), and daily activities (14%). Family caregivers spent 150 minutes/day (median) providing support, and 44% had psychological distress unmet needs. Problems with access to or use of formal services, when present, were frequently due to attitudes or lack of knowledge of any or both members of the dyad. Discussion: The recruitment process was challenging, since the inclusion criteria were restrictive. Not claiming generalizability, we recruited a typical sample of Portuguese people with mild to moderate dementia and no significant formal community support. Levels and type of unmet needs found in some participants would call for formal support, were it not for problems regarding access or use. Conclusion: There are difficulties regarding timely access and effective use of formal care in dementia, along with relevant unmet needs
- Novel Hydrogel Membranes Based on the Bacterial Polysaccharide FucoPol: Design, Characterization and Biological PropertiesPublication . Araújo, Diana; Martins, Matilde; Concórdio-Reis, Patrícia; Roma-Rodrigues, Catarina; Morais, Maria; Delgado Alves, Vitor; Fernandes, Alexandra; Freitas, FilomenaFucoPol, a fucose-rich polyanionic polysaccharide, was used for the first time for the preparation of hydrogel membranes (HMs) using Fe3+ as a crosslinking agent. This study evaluated the impact of Fe3+ and FucoPol concentrations on the HMs’ strength. The results show that, above 1.5 g/L, Fe3+ concentration had a limited influence on the HMs’ strength, and varying the FucoPol concentration had a more significant effect. Three different FucoPol concentrations (1.0, 1.75 and 2.5 wt.%) were combined with Fe3+ (1.5 g/L), resulting in HMs with a water content above 97 wt.% and an Fe3+ content up to 0.16 wt.%. HMs with lower FucoPol content exhibited a denser porous microstructure as the polymer concentration increased. Moreover, the low polymer content HM presented the highest swelling ratio (22.3 1.8 g/g) and a lower hardness value (32.4 5.8 kPa). However, improved mechanical properties (221.9 10.2 kPa) along with a decrease in the swelling ratio (11.9 1.6 g/g) were obtained for HMs with a higher polymer content. Furthermore, all HMs were non-cytotoxic and revealed anti-inflammatory activity. The incorporation of FucoPol as a structuring agent and bioactive ingredient in the development of HMs opens up new possibilities for its use in tissue engineering, drug delivery and wound care management.
- The prevalence of dementia in a Portuguese community sample : a 10/66 Dementia Research Group studyPublication . Pereira, Manuel Gonçalves; Cardoso, Ana; Verdelho, Ana; Silva, Joaquim Alves da; Almeida, Manuel Caldas de; Fernandes, Alexandra; Raminhos, Cátia; Ferri, Cleusa P.; Prina, A. Matthew; Prince, Martin; Xavier, MiguelBackground: Dementia imposes a high burden of disease worldwide. Recent epidemiological studies in European community samples are scarce. In Portugal, community prevalence data is very limited. The 10/66 Dementia Research Group (DRG) population-based research programmes are focused in low and middle income countries, where the assessments proved to be culture and education fair. We applied the 10/66 DRG prevalence survey methodology in Portugal, where levels of illiteracy in older populations are still high. Methods: A cross-sectional comprehensive one-phase survey was conducted of all residents aged 65 and over of two geographically defined catchment areas in Southern Portugal (one urban and one rural site). Nursing home residents were not included in the present study. Standardized 10/66 DRG assessments include a cognitive module, an informant interview and the Geriatric Mental State-AGECAT, providing data on dementia diagnosis and subtypes, mental disorders including depression, physical health, anthropometry, demographics, disability/functioning, health service utilization, care arrangements and caregiver strain. Results: We interviewed 1405 old age participants (mean age 74.9, SD = 6.7 years; 55.5% women) after 313 (18.2%) refusals to participate. The prevalence rate for dementia in community-dwellers was 9.23% (95% CI 7.80–10.90) using the 10/66 DRG algorithm and 3.65% (95% CI 2.97–4.97) using DSM-IV criteria. Pure Alzheimer’s disease was the most prevalent dementia subtype (41.9%). The prevalence of dementia was strongly age-dependent for both criteria, but there was no association with sex. Conclusions: Dementia prevalence was higher than previously reported in Portugal. The discrepancy between prevalence according to the 10/66 DRG algorithm and the DSM-IV criteria is consistent with that observed in less developed countries; this suggests potential underestimation using the latter approach, although relative validity of these two approaches remains to be confirmed in the European context. We improved the evidence base to raise awareness and empower advocacy about dementia in Portugal, so that the complex needs of frail older people may be met in better ways.