ChatGPT as an item calibration tool: Psychometric insights in a high-stakes examination.

INTRODUCTION: ChatGPT has attracted a lot of interest worldwide for its versatility in a range of natural language tasks, including in the education and evaluation industry. It can automate time- and labor-intensive tasks with clear economic and efficiency gains. METHODS: This study evaluated the potential of ChatGPT to automate psychometric analysis of test questions from the 2020 Portuguese National Residency Selection Exam (PNA). ChatGPT was queried 100 times with the 150 MCQ from the exam. Using ChatGPT's responses, difficulty indices were calculated for each question based on the proportion of correct answers. The predicted difficulty levels were compared to the actual difficulty levels of the 2020 exam MCQ's using methods from classical test theory. RESULTS: ChatGPT's predicted item difficulty indices positively correlated with the actual item difficulties (r (148) = -0.372, p < .001), suggesting a general consistency between the real and the predicted values. There was also a moderate significant negative correlation between the difficulty index predicted by ChatGPT and the number of challenges (r (148) = -0.302, p < .001), highlighting ChatGPT's potential for identifying less problematic questions. CONCLUSION: These findings unveiled ChatGPT's potential as a tool for assessment development, proving its capability to predict the psychometric characteristics of high-stakes test items in automated item calibration without pre-testing in real-life scenarios.

Identifying disparities in Mental Illness and Well-Being across Non-Risk, Risk, and Intersectional Groups during COVID-19 and the Sociodemographic's Role in Mental Health Outcomes.

Few pandemic studies explored positive aspects of mental health and employed an intersectional perspective, which considers the concomitant action of different risk conditions. Our intersectional investigation aimed to identify possible mental illness and well-being differences between groups identified as psychologically vulnerable in the pandemic by the WHO (immigrants, minorities, and people with psychiatric diagnoses) and people without pre-existing risk factors while controlling for sociodemographic variables. A cross-sectional survey involved 1,134 participants (76.1% women) aged 18 to 76. We utilized the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) for mental disorder assessment and the Life Satisfaction and Positive and Negative Affects Scales for well-being evaluation. Since a variable-centered approach, multivariate analysis revealed significant differences between the groups in the variables of mental health, depression [F(2.1131)=72.7, p<.001], anxiety [F(2.1131)=78.0, p<.001], stress [F(2.11 1)=85.9, p<.001], and subjective well-being [F(2.1131)=53.6, p<.001]. The groups also differed when we employed a person-centered approach to analyze the variables jointly using Latent Profile Analysis. We identified six mental profiles composed of different levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being. Risk and intersectional groups were more likely to be characterized by Generalized Suffering [ORrisk=0.85, ORintersec=0.93] and Profound Anguish [ORrisk&intersec=0.97] profiles. Control of demographic variables indicated that mental health disparities were partially attributed to participant risk conditions.

Psychometric properties of the positive mental health questionnaire: short form (PMHQ-SF18) in young adults.

Introduction: Positive Mental Health (PMH) plays a pivotal role in the promoting of mental health. Assessing this phenomenon is essential for early recognition and intervention in mental health. To date, only one tool was validated with 39 items to assess PMH among Portuguese young adults. Method: This study sought to examine the psychometric properties of the short version of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) among Portuguese university students. The PMHQ Short Form was administered to a sample of 3,647 university students via an online platform. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The principal factor solution was employed because some items showed higher levels of kurtosis. Multivariate analysis was tested using the Mardia's Test, Henze-Zirkler, and Royston. Findings of content, construct validity tests, and Cronbach's alfa demonstrated the satisfactory validity and suitable reliability of the PMHQ-Short Form (PMHQ-SF). Results and discussion: The exploratory factor analysis produced six dimensions of the PMHQ-SF with three items in each factor demonstrating adequate internal reliability. The global internal consistency was 0.92, with factors ranging between 0.60 to 0.82. The results suggest that the PMHQ-SF is reliable, easier, and more practical to complete by university students due to the shortening of the number of items. The PMHQ-SF is useful for assessing positive mental health in young adults. The final version of the instrument contains from 32 to 18 items.

Effectiveness of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation maintenance programme: the Rehab2Life study protocol.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the bedrock of non-pharmacological treatment for people with COPD. Nonetheless, it is well described in the literature that unless the patient changes his behaviour, the benefits of PR programmes will decline in six to twelve months after finishing the programme. Therefore, maintenance programmes can address the problem of PR programmes' effect loss over time.Community care units can provide multidisciplinary care in the current Portuguese primary health care context. These units have an interdisciplinary team that aims to develop competencies in COPD patients to self-manage the disease.This study aims to test the effectiveness of a 12-month home-based PR programme (Rehab2Life) compared to usual care through a single-blind randomised controlled trial with two parallel groups. The Rehab2Life programme includes two distinct phases. The first is an 8-week PR programme delivered to both groups, and the second is a PR maintenance programme delivered to the intervention group after the initial eight weeks. The control group receive the usual care and regular appointments. The primary outcome is functional capacity, and secondary outcomes are dyspnea, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), number of exacerbations, symptoms burden, anxiety and depression symptoms, and physical activity.We expect to observe that the home-based PR programme brings clinically relevant benefits to the participants at the end of the first eight weeks and that, at 12 months after the maintenance phase of the programme, benefits are less dissipated than in the control group. We expect to identify the characteristics of the patients who benefit the most from home-based programmes.The trial was registered on 7 April 2022 at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05315505).

Characterisation of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) From an Urban Municipality in the Northern Region of Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is formally indicated to all COPD patients in groups B and E. It positively impacts dyspnoea, health-related quality of life and exercise tolerance, reducing admissions among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have had a recent exacerbation and symptoms of anxiety and depression. There is limited access to PR programmes in Portugal, partially due to insufficient resources or referrals. This study aims to characterise COPD patients and assess whether they have criteria for PR programmes. Data from this study may provide strategic information for healthcare organisations to differentiate and innovate their response to COPD patients. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban municipality in the northern region of Portugal. The sample was randomly extracted from the national primary electronic health records. The sample size (n = 339) was determined considering the population of COPD patients in this region (N = 2818), a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 5%. Results In this population, the prevalence of COPD is 1.8%. Furthermore, in this sample, 40% (n = 136) of people diagnosed with COPD have a formal indication to participate in PR programmes, although only 14.2% (n = 48) of these patients had access to PR. Conclusion COPD is probably underdiagnosed in this Portuguese region. Most COPD patients have eligibility criteria to be offered PR programmes, although most of them do not benefit from this vital treatment. Investing in community and home-based programmes may increase PR access, reducing acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) admissions.

Clinical virtual simulation: predictors of user acceptance in nursing education.

BACKGROUND: Using virtual patients integrated in simulators expands students' training opportunities in healthcare. However, little is known about the usability perceived by students and the factors/determinants that predict the acceptance and use of clinical virtual simulation in nursing education. OBJECTIVES: To identify the factors/determinants that predict the acceptance and use of clinical virtual simulation in learning in nursing education. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, analytical study of the use of clinical virtual simulation in nursing to answer the research question: What factors/determinants predict the acceptance and use of a clinical virtual simulator in nursing education? We used a non-probabilistic sampling, more specifically a convenience sample of nursing degree students. The data were collected through a questionnaire adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model 3. In technology and education, the Technology Acceptance Model is a theoretical model that predicts the acceptance of the use of technology by users. RESULTS: The sample comprised 619 nursing students, who revealed mean values of perceived usefulness (M = 5.34; SD = 1.19), ease of use (M = 4.74; SD = 1.07), and intention to use the CVS (M = 5.21; SD = 1.18), in a Likert scale of seven points (1-the worst and 7 the best possible opinion). This study validated the use of Technology Acceptance Model 3 adapted and tested the related hypotheses, showing that the model explains 62% of perceived utility, 32% of ease of use, and 54% of intention to use the clinical virtual simulation in nursing by nursing students. The adequacy of the model was tested by analysis of the direct effects of the relationships between the internal constructs (PU-BI, ß = 0.11, p = 0.012; PEOU-BI, ß = -0.11, p = 0.002) and the direct relations between some of the constructs internal to the Technology Acceptance Model 3 and the external determinants Relevance for learning and Enjoyability. In the proposed model, the external constructs that best predicted perceived usefulness, ease of use, and behaviour intention to use the clinical virtual simulation in nursing were Relevance for learning and Enjoyability. CONCLUSIONS: These study results allowed us to identify relevance for learning and enjoyability as the main factors/determinants that predict the acceptance and use of clinical virtual simulation in learning in nursing.

History of Neonatal Screening of Congenital Hypothyroidism in Portugal.

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) leads to growth and development delays and is preventable with early treatment. Neonatal screening for CH was initiated in Portugal in 1981. This study examines the history of CH screening in the country. Data were obtained from annual reports and from the national database of neonatal screening laboratory. The CH screening strategy primarily relies on the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), followed by total thyroxine measurement as the second tier for confirmation. The TSH cutoff started at 90 mIU/L, decreasing to the actual 10 mIU/L. The coverage of the screening program has increased rapidly; although voluntary, it reached about 90% in 6 years and became universal in 10 years. Guideline and cutoff updates led to the identification of over 200 additional cases, resulting in specific retesting protocols for preterm and very-low-birth-weight babies. The actual decision tree considers CH when TSH levels are above 40 mIU/L. Data from the CH screening also provide an indication of the iodine status of the population, which is presently indicative of iodine insufficiency. The Portuguese neonatal screening for CH is a history of success. It has rapidly and continuously adapted to changes in knowledge and has become a universal voluntary practice within a few years.

Stress, anxiety, and depression trajectories during the "first wave" of the COVID-19 pandemic: what drives resilient, adaptive and maladaptive responses in the Portuguese population?

Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak and the community mitigation strategies implemented to reduce new SARS-CoV-2 infections can be regarded as powerful stressors with negative consequences on people's mental health. Although it has been shown that negative emotional symptoms subside during lockdown, it is likely the existence of inter-individual differences in stress, anxiety and depression trajectories throughout lockdown. Objectives: We aimed to cluster participants' according to their trajectories of stress, anxiety and depression scores throughout lockdown, and identify the sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors that may distinguish the subjects included in the different clusters. Methods: From March 23, 2020, to May 31, 2020, participants completed weekly online questionnaires on sociodemographic information (age, sex, education level, and employment status), psychological functioning (DASS-21, NEO-FFI-20), and clinical data (psychiatric disorders, psychiatric medication, physical disorders). Data regarding smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and time spent daily looking for COVID-19-related information were also collected. Stress, anxiety and depression trajectories were determined using latent class mixed models. Results: A total of 2040 participants answered the survey at baseline and 603 participants answered all surveys. Three groups ("Resilient," "Recovered," and "Maladaptive") with distinct mental health trajectories were identified. Younger participants, women, participants with lower education level, not working, studying, diagnosed with a mental disorder, taking psychiatric medication, smokers, those who spent more time consuming COVID-19-related information and those with higher neuroticism tended to cluster in the "Maladaptive" group, placing them at higher risk of persistent negative emotional symptoms during compulsory confinement. Conclusion: Accordingly, a tailored approach to emotional suffering for vulnerable subjects during the COVID-19 and future pandemics must be devised.

Iodineminho Study: Iodine Supplementation and Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency in Pregnant Women.

CONTEXT: Iodine is necessary for the proper brain development. The prevalence of iodine deficiency in Portuguese pregnant women led the health authorities, in 2013, to recommend iodine supplementation for women in preconception, throughout pregnancy and during lactation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of iodine supplementation initiated in the preconception or the first trimester of pregnancy on the prevalence of iodine deficiency and maternal thyroid status. METHODS: An observational prospective cohort study that follows thyroid function and iodine status of women recruited in preconception or in the first trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was significantly higher among women taking iodine supplements (no-supplement group UIC=63µg/L; supplement group UIC =100µg/L, p = 0.002) but still below the levels recommended by the World Health Organization. Only 15% of pregnant women had adequate iodine status and 17% showed UIC < 50 µg/l. There was no influence of whether iodine supplementation started in preconception or in the 1st trimester of gestation (UIC preconception group: 112µg/L vs UIC pregnancy group: 91µg/L, p = 0.569). In the 1st trimester of pregnancy, total thyroxine levels were lower and free triiodothyronine levels were higher in non-supplemented women. Thyroglobulin levels were lower in women who started iodine supplementation in preconception compared to non-supplemented women and women who started iodine supplementation during gestation. CONCLUSION: In the Minho region of Portugal, fertile women have insufficient iodine intake. Additional public health measures are needed since the current recommendations for iodine supplementation for pregnancy are unsatisfactory to achieve an adequate iodine status.

Validation of the Chinese version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: evidence from a three-wave longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The 10-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is a widely used tool for individuals to self-report their self-esteem; however, the factorial structures of translated versions of the RSES vary across different languages. This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the RSES in the Chinese mainland using a longitudinal design. METHODS: A group of healthcare university students completed the RSES across three waves: baseline, 1-week follow-up, and 15-week follow-up. A total of 481 valid responses were collected through the three-wave data collection process. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the baseline data to explore the potential factorial structure, while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on the follow-up data to determine the best-fit model. Additionally, the cross-sectional and longitudinal measurement invariances were tested to assess the measurement properties of the RSES for different groups, such as gender and age, as well as across different time points. Convergent validity was assessed against the Self-Rated Health Questionnaire (SRHQ) using Spearman's correlation. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients, while test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results of EFA revealed that Items 5, 8, and 9 had inadequate or cross-factor loadings, leading to their removal from further analysis. Analysis of the remaining seven items using EFA suggested a two-factor solution. A comparison of several potential models for the 10-item and 7-item RSES using CFA showed a preference for the 7-item form (RSES-7) with two factors. Furthermore, the RSES-7 exhibited strict invariance across different groups and time points, indicating its stability and consistency. The RSES-7 also demonstrated adequate convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, which further supported its robustness as a measure of self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the RSES-7 is a psychometrically sound and brief self-report scale for measuring self-esteem in the Chinese context. More studies are warranted to further verify its usability.

Designing and building OSCEBot ® for virtual OSCE - Performance evaluation.

With AI's advancing technology and chatbots becoming more intertwined in our daily lives, pedagogical challenges are occurring. While chatbots can be used in various disciplines, they play a particularly significant role in medical education. We present the development process of OSCEBot ®, a chatbot to train medical students in the clinical interview approach. The SentenceTransformers, or SBERT, framework was used to develop this chatbot. To enable semantic search for various phrases, SBERT uses siamese and triplet networks to build sentence embeddings for each sentence that can then be compared using a cosine-similarity. Three clinical cases were developed using symptoms that followed the SOCRATES approach. The optimal cutoffs were determined, and each case's performance metrics were calculated. Each question was divided into different categories based on their content. Regarding the performance between cases, case 3 presented higher average confidence values, explained by the continuous improvement of the cases following the feedback acquired after the sessions with the students. When evaluating performance between categories, it was found that the mean confidence values were highest for previous medical history. It is anticipated that the results can be improved upon since this study was conducted early in the chatbot deployment process. More clinical scenarios must be created to broaden the options available to students.

Aerobic and resistance exercise in heart failure inpatients: a scoping review.

Exercise performance is an essential tool for managing heart failure. Although the benefits of exercise are well documented for people with chronic and stable heart failure, there is still no consensus on their prescription in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure undergoing clinical stabilization. The aim of this study is to identify the literature on exercise programs encompassing the components of aerobic and resistance training for hospitalized patients admitted for acute heart failure. A scoping review was conducted according to the proposed methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Studies with adults over 18 years old, hospitalized, and diagnosed with acute heart failure who participated in aerobic and resistance exercise training programs during their hospital stay were included. Three studies met the inclusion criteria. One was a retrospective, observational analytical cohort study, in which the main outcome of the exercise program was improvement in the previous disabilities of the participants. The other two were multicenter randomized controlled studies that showed greater improvement in physical function, functional capacity, depression, quality of life, and frailty status in the intervention groups. The exercise prescriptions differed according to the principles of the exercise prescription-frequency of exercise, intensity of exercise, exercise time (duration), type (mode), exercise volume, and progression. It is too early to make recommendations based on evidence of the type structure of an exercise program with aerobic and strength-training components in this population. However, in the exercise programs of the reviewed studies, the predominance of light to moderate intensity and the importance of progressively increase the frequency and duration of the training sessions were demonstrated, with bicycle ergometers and walking being the most common types of aerobic exercises. It is recommended that investment and research in this area should continue with more methodologically robust studies.

Empirical validation study and psychometric evaluation of the properties of the populist attitudes scale for the portuguese population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent developments in Europe and Portugal provide a fertile ground for the rise of populism. Despite the growing interest in the topic, there is no reliable tool to gauge Portuguese citizens' populist attitudes to date. The Populist Attitudes Scale (POP-AS), developed by Akkerman et al. [1], is one of the best-known instruments for measuring populist attitudes. However, no version for use in the Portuguese population is available. This paper describes the psychometric validation of the POP-AS for the Portuguese population. METHODS: Trustworthy measures of validity suggested by Boateng et al. [2] to address the psychometric features of the POP-AS were approached. A robust psychometrical pipeline evaluated the reliability, construct validity, cross national/educational validity, and internal validity of the POP-AS. RESULTS: The Portuguese version of the POP-AS exhibited sound internal consistency and demonstrated adequate properties of validity: a one-factor model was obtained, revealing evidence of construct validity; invariance was ensured for education and partially ensured for the country; All the items of the POP-AS revealed relatively good values of discrimination and contributed adequately to the total score of the scale, ensuring evidence of internal validity. CONCLUSION: Psychometric analysis supports the POP-AS as a valid and reliable instrument for measuring populist attitudes among Portuguese citizens. A validation framework for measurement instruments in political science was proposed. Implications of the findings are discussed.

A suggestive approach for assessing item quality, usability and validity of Automatic Item Generation.

Automatic Item Generation (AIG) refers to the process of using cognitive models to generate test items using computer modules. It is a new but rapidly evolving research area where cognitive and psychometric theory are combined into digital framework. However, assessment of the item quality, usability and validity of AIG relative to traditional item development methods lacks clarification. This paper takes a top-down strong theory approach to evaluate AIG in medical education. Two studies were conducted: Study I-participants with different levels of clinical knowledge and item writing experience developed medical test items both manually and through AIG. Both item types were compared in terms of quality and usability (efficiency and learnability); Study II-Automatically generated items were included in a summative exam in the content area of surgery. A psychometric analysis based on Item Response Theory inspected the validity and quality of the AIG-items. Items generated by AIG presented quality, evidences of validity and were adequate for testing student's knowledge. The time spent developing the contents for item generation (cognitive models) and the number of items generated did not vary considering the participants' item writing experience or clinical knowledge. AIG produces numerous high-quality items in a fast, economical and easy to learn process, even for inexperienced and without clinical training item writers. Medical schools may benefit from a substantial improvement in cost-efficiency in developing test items by using AIG. Item writing flaws can be significantly reduced thanks to the application of AIG's models, thus generating test items capable of accurately gauging students' knowledge.

Iodine Availability through Iodized Salt in Portugal: 2010-2021 Sales Evolution and Distribution.

Salt iodization programs are considered the most cost-effective measures to ensure adequate iodine intake in iodine-deficient populations. Portuguese women of childbearing age and pregnant women were reported to be iodine-deficient, which led the health authorities, in 2013, to issue a recommendation for iodine supplementation during preconception, pregnancy and lactation. In the same year, iodized salt became mandatory in school canteens. Of note, no regulation or specific programs targeting the general population, or the impact of iodized salt availability in retailers, are known. The present study analyzed iodized salt supermarket sales from 2010 to 2021 from a major retailer, identifying the proportion of iodized salt in total salt sales and its distribution in mainland Portugal. Data on iodine content were collected through the nutritional label information. Of a total of 33 salt products identified, 3 were iodized (9%). From 2010 to 2021, the weighted sales of iodized salt presented a growing tendency, reaching the maximum of 10.9% of total sales (coarse plus fine salt) in 2021. Iodized salt reached a maximum of 11.6% of total coarse salt in 2021, a maximum of 2.4% of the total fine salt in 2018. The overall sales of iodized salt and their contribution to iodine intake are extremely low, prompting additional studies to understand the consumer's choice and awareness of the benefits of iodized salt.

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 is characterized by diminished peripheral CD8+ß7 integrin+ T cells and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA response.

Several millions of individuals are estimated to develop post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 condition (PASC) that persists for months after infection. Here we evaluate the immune response in convalescent individuals with PASC compared to convalescent asymptomatic and uninfected participants, six months following their COVID-19 diagnosis. Both convalescent asymptomatic and PASC cases are characterised by higher CD8+ T cell percentages, however, the proportion of blood CD8+ T cells expressing the mucosal homing receptor ß7 is low in PASC patients. CD8 T cells show increased expression of PD-1, perforin and granzyme B in PASC, and the plasma levels of type I and type III (mucosal) interferons are elevated. The humoral response is characterized by higher levels of IgA against the N and S viral proteins, particularly in those individuals who had severe acute disease. Our results also show that consistently elevated levels of IL-6, IL-8/CXCL8 and IP-10/CXCL10 during acute disease increase the risk to develop PASC. In summary, our study indicates that PASC is defined by persisting immunological dysfunction as late as six months following SARS-CoV-2 infection, including alterations in mucosal immune parameters, redistribution of mucosal CD8+ß7Integrin+ T cells and IgA, indicative of potential viral persistence and mucosal involvement in the etiopathology of PASC.

Objective structured assessment ultrasound skill scale for hyomental distance competence - psychometric study.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound assessment of the airway recently integrates the point-of-care approach to patient evaluation since ultrasound measurements can predict a difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Because ultrasonography is performer-dependent, a proper training and assessment tool is needed to increase diagnostic accuracy. An objective, structured assessment ultrasound skill (OSAUS) scale was recently developed to guide training and assess competence. This work aims to study the psychometric properties of OSAUS Scale when used to evaluate competence in ultrasound hyomental distance (HMD) measurement. METHODS: Prospective and experimental study. Volunteers were recruited and enrolled in groups with different expertise. Each participant performed three ultrasonographic HMD evaluation. The performance was videorecorded and anonymized. Five assessors blindly rated participants' performance using OSAUS scale and a Global Rating Scale (GRS). A psychometric study of OSAUS scale as assessment tool for ultrasound HMD competence was done. RESULTS: Fifteen voluntaries participated on the study. Psychometric analysis of OSAUS showed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.916) and inter-rater reliability (ICC 0.720; p < 0.001). The novice group scored 15.4±0.18 (mean±SD), the intermediate 14.3±0.75 and expert 13.6±0.1.25, with a significant difference between novice and expert groups (p = 0.036). The time in seconds to complete the task was evaluated: novice (90±34) (mean±SD), intermediate (84±23) and experts (83±15), with no significant differences between groups. A strong correlation was observed between OSAUS and global rating scale (r = 0.970, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated evidence of validity and reliability. Further studies are needed to implement OSAUS scale in the clinical setting for training and assessment of airway ultrasound competence.

Promoting Digital Proficiency and Health Literacy in Middle-aged and Older Adults Through Mobile Devices With the Workshops for Online Technological Inclusion (OITO) Project: Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Digital inclusion and literacy facilitate access to health information and can contribute to self-care behaviors and informed decision-making. However, digital literacy is not an innate skill, but rather requires knowledge acquisition. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to develop, conduct, and measure the impact, on digital and health literacy, of a digital inclusion program aimed at community dwellers. METHODS: The program targeted the recruitment of people aged 55 and older that owned mobile devices with an internet connection in 3 cities in northern Portugal (Paredes de Coura, Guimarães, and Barcelos). The program was titled the Workshops for Online Technological Inclusion (OITO) project and, in each city, was promoted by the coordinator of municipal projects and organized as an in-person 8-workshop program, using mobile devices, smartphones, or tablets. A quasi-experimental design was used with a nonrandomized allocation of participants in each set of 8 workshops. Sociodemographic, health status, and mobile use information were collected at baseline. Digital and health literacy were measured via the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire and the Health Literacy Scale questionnaires, respectively, at baseline (T1), program completion (T2), and a 1-month follow-up (T3). A self-reported measure of autonomy was evaluated at T1 and T2 using a visual scale. RESULTS: Most participants were women with primary schooling (up to 4 years) aged between 65 and 74 years and retired. The intervention had an 81% (97/120) recruitment rate, 53% (43/81) adherence, and 94% (67/71) satisfaction rate, with 81 participants completing the entire 8-workshop program. Most participants had owned their mobile device for more than one year (64/81, 79%), were frequent daily users (70/81, 86%), and had received their mobile device from someone else (33/64, 52%). Over 80% (71/81) of the participants who completed the intervention used Android smartphones. At baseline, participants had low baseline scores in digital literacy, but medium-high baseline scores in health literacy. They showed significant improvement in digital literacy at T2 and T3 compared to T1, but without a significant difference between T2 and T3, regardless of sex, age, or schooling. A significant improvement in self-reported autonomy was observed at T3 compared with baseline. Regarding health literacy, no significant differences were found at T2 or T3 compared to the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility indicators showed that the OITO project methodology had a substantial rate of recruitment and satisfaction. Program participants had significant improvement in digital literacy after 8 workshops and maintained their score 1 month after completing the intervention. There was no significant change in health literacy during the project period.

The relation between lifestyles and positive mental health in Portuguese higher education students.

Healthy lifestyles are commonly associated with improved physical and mental health. Sleep patterns, nutrition, physical exercise, consumption of psychoactive substances, among others, can strongly influence positive mental health. The aims are: characterize lifestyles based on positive mental health clusters, considering the cross-sectional cohort sample of higher education students, and analyse the lifestyles associated with positive mental health. A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational and multicentric study of quantitative approach was conducted. The Positive Mental Health Questionnaire was applied. Through the k-means method, four clusters were obtained based on positive mental health levels. The sample of 3647 higher education students was mostly female (78.8%), single (89.5%), with an average age of 23 years (SD = 6.68). Differences were found between clusters based on the sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyles. Findings in Cluster 1 were highlighted because they included students with a higher level of positive mental health, which was associated with greater satisfaction in affective relationships, higher recreational and sports activities, better sleep quality, a healthy diet, and lower medication and illicit drugs consumption. These key findings emphasize the promotion of healthy lifestyles and highlight the importance of positive mental health in promoting the health of higher education students.

Conhecimento e utilização de direito à saúde por usuários com diabetes: pesquisa de métodos mistos / Conocimiento y uso del derecho a la salud por usuarios con diabetes: investigación de métodos mixtos / Knowledge and use of the right to health by users with diabetes: mixed methods research

Resumo Objetivos verificar os fatores relacionados ao nível de utilização de direitos à saúde de usuários com diabetes mellitus tipo 1 e 2 e compreender o conhecimento e a utilização de direito à saúde desses usuários. Métodos estudo de métodos mistos, do tipo convergente, realizado com 206 participantes entre novembro de 2020 a abril de 2021. A análise dos dados teve como suporte a utilização dos softwares SPSS® e IRAMUTEQ® bem como a adoção das orientações do referencial teórico-metodológico de Bardin. Resultados constatou-se relação entre o escore do nível de utilização de direitos à saúde com renda familiar mensal e cor da pele autorreferida; e verificou-se que, quanto mais vulnerável economicamente uma população, mais se busca pelos direitos, além de ficar evidente a disparidade relacionada aos grupos étnicos e ao acesso aos direitos em saúde. Conclusão e implicações para a prática a combinação entre os dados quantitativos e qualitativos possibilitaram uma visão ampliada sobre o conhecimento e utilização dos direitos à saúde pelos indivíduos com diabetes. Logo, espera-se que os dados obtidos possam contribuir para uma reflexão mais aprofundada sobre a temática, favorecendo uma assistência qualificada, informativa e humanitária como forma de garantia dos direitos à saúde.

Resumen Objetivo verificar los factores relacionados con el nivel de utilización de los derechos a la salud de los usuarios con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 y 2 y comprender el conocimiento y la utilización de los derechos a la salud de estos usuarios. Método estudio de métodos mixtos, de tipo convergente, realizado con 206 participantes entre noviembre de 2020 y abril de 2021. El análisis de los datos se apoyó en el uso de los softwares SPSS® e IRAMUTEQ®, así como en la adopción de los referenciales teórico-metodológicos de Bardin. Resultados hubo relación entre el puntaje del nivel de uso de los derechos a la salud con el ingreso familiar mensual y el color de piel autoinformado; y se encontró que cuanto más vulnerable económicamente es una población, mayor es la búsqueda de derechos, además de ser evidente la disparidad relacionada con las etnias y el acceso a los derechos de salud. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica La combinación de datos cuantitativos y cualitativos permitió una visión más amplia sobre el conocimiento y el uso de los derechos a la salud por parte de las personas con diabetes. Por lo tanto, se espera que los datos obtenidos puedan contribuir a una reflexión más profunda sobre el tema, promoviendo una asistencia cualificada, informativa y humanitaria como forma de garantizar los derechos a la salud.

Abstract Objectives to verify the factors related to the level of use of the right to health of users with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus and understand the knowledge and the use of rights to health of these users. Methods mixed methods study, convergent type, conducted with 206 participants between November 2020 and April 2021. Data analysis was supported using SPSS® and IRAMUTEQ® software, as well as the adoption of Bardin's theoretical-methodological reference guidelines. Results a relationship was found between the score of the level of use of the right to health with monthly family income and self-reported skin color; and it was verified that the more economically vulnerable a population, the more they seek for rights, besides being evident the disparity related to ethnic groups and access to the right to health. Conclusion and implications for practice the combination of quantitative and qualitative data allowed a broader view of the knowledge and use of the right to health by individuals with diabetes. Thus, it is expected that the data obtained can contribute to a deeper reflection on the subject, favoring a qualified, informative and humanitarian assistance as a way to guarantee the right to health.