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Projeto de investigação
Health information of Portuguese population: Knowledge and perceived quality and accessibility of health information sources
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Publicações
Obesity-related knowledge and body mass index : a national survey in Portugal
Publication . Henriques, A.; Azevedo, A.; Lunet, N.; Moura-Ferreira, P.; Carmo, Isabel Do; Silva, S.
Purpose:
Obesity-related knowledge predicts weight control but previous studies only comprise individuals with excessive weight and assess very specific aspects of knowledge. This study aims to evaluate several domains of obesity-related knowledge according to the body mass index (BMI) in a representative sample of Portuguese-speaking dwellers in mainland Portugal.
Methods:
A sample of 1624 participants aged 16–79 years was analyzed. Eighteen questions comprising eight obesity domains were asked: prevalence, physical activity, number of calories, adiposity location, causes, diagnosis, treatment and consequences; each one was dichotomized into correct/incorrect knowledge.
Results:
The majority of Portuguese-speaking dwellers recognized the benefits of physical activity, the risks of abdominal obesity and most consequences of excessive weight, independently of their BMI. However, knowledge gaps were identified regarding prevalence, calories and BMI diagnosis. BMI influenced specific obesity-related knowledge: participants with a normal BMI knew the BMI formula more often, identified 22 as normal BMI more frequently and had the highest proportion of correct knowledge regarding the number of calories an adult should eat; obese individuals identified natural products as not being good treatments for obesity more often. After adjusting for age, sex and educational level, obese individuals identified natural products and supplements as not being good obesity treatments more often.
Conclusions:
Obesity-related knowledge gaps (prevalence, calories, and diagnosis) were identified among Portuguese adults. Moreover, correct knowledge does not necessarily translate into a healthier BMI. Besides the dissemination of accurate information, public health interventions should focus on the transfer of knowledge to behaviors that will guarantee better weight management.
Evidence-based medicine rankings:
Level V: Opinions of respected authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.
Cancer screening in Portugal: sex differences in prevalence, awareness of organized programmes and perception of benefits and adverse effects
Publication . Costa, Ana Rute; Silva, Susana; Moura-Ferreira, Pedro; Cabral, Manuel Villaverde; Santos, Osvaldo; Carmo, Isabel Do; Barros, Henrique; Lunet, Nuno
BACKGROUND:
Cancer screening has contributed to downward trends in cancer mortality, but is also associated with adverse effects, which highlights the importance of promoting the participation based on informed decisions.
OBJECTIVES:
We aimed to describe the use of cancer screening (either in organized programmes or as opportunistic screening), awareness of organized programmes and perception of its potential benefits and adverse effects, depicting possible sex differences.
DESIGN AND METHODS:
We evaluated 1624 Portuguese-speaking dwellers, aged between 16 and 79 years, through face-to-face interviews. To quantify sex differences, adjusted prevalence ratios and respective 95% confidence intervals were computed using Poisson regression.
RESULTS:
Among eligible age groups, the lifetime prevalence of screening for breast and cervical cancers was 89.8 and 71.9%, respectively. The prevalence was 23.7% for colorectal cancer and no significant sex differences were observed. Prostate cancer screening was reported by 63.8% of men. Over half of the participants referred that cancers such as prostate, skin, lung and stomach should be screened for, in addition to those for which organized programmes are recommended. Reassurance by negative results was identified as the main potential benefit of screening by nearly one-third of men and women. Anxiety while waiting for results was the most mentioned potential adverse effect (60.4%); men refer less often this and financial costs, although statistical significance of these results was borderline.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides a benchmark to plan and monitor the effects of awareness-raising interventions, as well as for international comparisons across countries with different cancer prevention and control structures.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the health literacy assessment tool METER in the Portuguese adult population
Publication . Paiva, Dagmara; Silva, Susana; Severo, Milton; Ferreira, Pedro; Santos, Osvaldo; Lunet, Nuno; Azevedo, Ana
OBJECTIVE:
We aimed to culturally adapt and validate METER in the Portuguese population, and to define cut-off values for adequate health literacy.
METHODS:
We used the standard procedure for the adaptation of the words and surveyed health professionals to select the non-words. The instrument was administered to a total sample of 249 participants and retested in a sub-sample of 45 after three months. Cut-offs were defined using the modified Angoff procedure. Construct validity was assessed through association with educational attainment and health-related occupation.
RESULTS:
Exploratory factor analysis revealed two dimensions of the instrument, one for words and another for non-words. METER showed a high degree of internal consistency, and acceptable test-retest reliability. Adequate health literacy was defined as scoring at least 35/40 in words and 18/30 in non-words. Physicians scored higher than any other group, followed by health researchers, researchers from other areas and by people with progressively lower levels of education (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION:
We culturally adapted a brief and simple instrument for health literacy assessment, and showed it was valid and reliable.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:
The Portuguese version of METER can be used to assess health literacy in Portuguese adults and to explore associations with health outcomes.
Knowledge about cardiovascular disease in Portugal
Publication . Andrade, Nelson; Alves, Elisabete; Costa, Ana Rute; Ferreira, Pedro Moura; Azevedo, Ana; Lunet, Nuno
To characterize specific knowledge on cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke and myocardial infarction (MI), and its relationship with sociodemographic factors, health literacy and clinical history, among the Portuguese population.
Functional health literacy : psychometric properties of the newest vital sign for Portuguese adolescents (NVS-PTeen)
Publication . Santos, Osvaldo; Stefanovska, Miodraga; Virgolino, Ana; Miranda, Ana Cristina; Costa, Joana; Fernandes, Elisabete; Cardoso, Susana; Carneiro, António Vaz
Self-management of health requires skills to obtain, process, understand, and use health-related information. Assessment of adolescents’ functional health literacy requires valid, reliable, and low-burden tools. The main objective of this study was to adapt and study the psychometric properties of the Newest Vital Sign for the Portuguese adolescents’ population (NVS-PTeen). Classic psychometric indicators of reliability and validity were combined with item response theory (IRT) analyses in a cross-sectional survey, complemented with a 3-month test-retest assessment. The NVS-PTeen was self-administered to students enrolled in grades 8 to 12 (12 to 17 years old) in a school setting. Overall, 386 students (191 girls) from 16 classes of the same school participated in the study (mean age = 14.5; SD = 1.5). Internal reliability of the NVS-PTeen was α = 0.60. The NVS-PTeen total score was positively and significantly correlated with Portuguese (r = 0.28) and mathematics scores (r = 0.31), school years (r = 0.31), and age (r = 0.19). Similar to the original scale (for the U.S.), the NVS-PTeen is composed of two dimensions, reading-related literacy and numeracy. Temporal reliability is adequate, though with a learning effect. IRT analyses revealed differences in difficulty and discriminative capacity among items, all with adequate outfit and infit values. Results showed that the NVS-PTeen is valid and reliable, sensible to inter-individual educational differences, and adequate for regular screening of functional health literacy in adolescents.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
3599-PPCDT
Número da atribuição
HMSP-IISE/SAU-ICT/0004/2009