Browsing by Author "Monteiro, Sara"
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- Assessing fear of cancer recurrence among adolescents and young adults: the portuguese validation and psychometric assessment of the “Fear of Cancer Recurrence 7” scalePublication . Neves, Maria Carolina; Sales, Célia; Oliveira, Joana; Bártolo, Ana; Prins, Judith; Monteiro, SaraIntroduction: Adolescents and young adults with cancer experience high levels of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), negatively impacting their lives. However, no measure has been validated worldwide to assess FCR levels among these young people. This study aims to validate the FCR7, a scale that measures FCR, for the Portuguese population of adolescents and young adults. Methods: Ninety-two participants were recruited online. They were primarily women (83.7%) with a mean age of 26.01 years at recruitment and 19.38 years at cancer diagnosis, with a variety of cancer diagnoses and previous treatments. Most participants were no longer under active treatment (75%), and approximately 75.1 months had passed since their diagnosis. Fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety and depression levels, and quality of life were as-sessed.Results: The results showed that FCR7 has good model fit and reliability. Concurrent and divergent validity were also confirmed, with FCR being posi-tively related to anxiety and negatively associated with quality of life. A cut-off score was found, discriminating between clinical and non-clinical levels of FCR. Almost 70% of the participants experienced clinical levels of FCR. We conclude that FCR7 is a valid unidimensional scale to assess FCR levels among Portuguese adolescents and young adults. Conclusion: More research should be conducted to validate FCR measures to be used among adolescents and young adults across the globe. The existence of a valid and brief measure to assess FCR among this population in Portugal is an asset for national health professionals and researchers.
- Attentional bias toward reproduction-related stimuli and fertility concerns among breast cancer survivorsPublication . Bártolo, Ana; Santos, Isabel M.; Guimarães, Raquel; Reis, Salomé; Monteiro, SaraThe current study examined whether an attentional bias exists for reproduction-related visual cues among breast cancer survivors and its relationship with fertility concerns and emotional distress. Breast cancer survivors (n ¼ 38) aged 18–40 were compared to 37 healthy women recruited from the general population. Attentional bias was investigated using a visual dot-probe task and response times (RT) were measured. Participants also completed several questionnaires, including the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale (RCACS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Biased cognitive processing toward reproduction-related stimuli was observed for all young women. However, attentional bias was a significant predictor of concerns about partner disclosure of fertility status, with higher bias scores associated with higher levels of concern only for breast cancer survivors. The desire to have a (or another) biological child was also a significant predictor of higher concerns related with fertility potential for all young women. Higher vigilance regarding reproduction-related cues seems to lead to higher concerns among women with breast cancer history whose fertility is threatened. This result may have important research and clinical implications. Interventions focused on goal-oriented attention self-regulation and problemsolving can help to manage fertility concerns and distress in the course of the disease.
- Avaliação em psico-oncologia: uma ferramenta para a prática clínicaPublication . Monteiro, Sara; Bártolo, Ana; Santos, Isabel M.
- CanCOG®: cultural adaptation of the evidence-based UCLA cognitive rehabilitation intervention program for cancer survivors in PortugalPublication . Oliveira, Ana F.; Sosa-Napolskij, Milaydis; Torres, Ana; Queiroz, Diâner Felipe; Bártolo, Ana; Sousa, Helena; Monteiro, Sara; Van Dyk, Kathleen; Ercoli, Linda M.; Santos, Isabel M.Cognitive difficulties are highly prevalent and negatively impact cancer survivors' quality of life. The UCLA Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention Program (in short, UCLA program) is an evidence-based intervention developed and tested in the US to address the cognitive complaints of cancer survivors. Since there are no cognitive rehabilitation programs available for Portuguese cancer-related settings, this study aimed to culturally adapt the UCLA program to Portugal. Nine steps were implemented for this cultural adaptation: needs assessment, initial contacts, translation, cultural adaptation, independent review by a panel of experts (n = 6), focus group discussions with cancer survivors (n = 11), systematization of inputs and improvement of the final materials, fidelity check, and preliminary acceptability assessment. The findings suggested that changes to the original materials were needed. A Portuguese name, "CanCOG®-Reabilitação Cognitiva no Cancro" (in English "CanCOG®-Cognitive Rehabilitation in Cancer"), and a logo were created to make it more memorable and appealing for the Portuguese population. The language was adjusted to ensure content accessibility and semantic and conceptual equivalence. Finally, references to several cultural aspects, such as habits, customs, and traditions, were adapted to fit the new cultural context. The UCLA program may be a promising tool to help alleviate the cognitive difficulties reported by cancer survivors in different cultural contexts. Future research is needed to confirm the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of its Portuguese version, "CanCOG®-Reabilitação Cognitiva no Cancro".
- Effectiveness of psycho-educational interventions with telecommunication technologies on emotional distress and quality of life of adult cancer patients: a systematic reviewPublication . Bártolo, Ana; Pacheco, Emelda; Rodrigues, Fabiana; Pereira, Anabela; Monteiro, Sara; Santos, Isabel M.Purpose: To provide a comprehensive review of psycho-educational interventions using telecommunication technologies developed for adult cancer patients, assessing their effectiveness in reducing emotional distress and improving quality of life (QoL). Materials and methods: A narrative approach was used for extraction and synthesis of the data. Relevant studies were identified through the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (through EBSCOhost), and CENTRAL. Results: Eight studies involving 1016 participants met inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies included (n¼6) used a randomized design and were published between 2007 and 2016. Interventions used a variety of delivery resources, such as telephone, e-mail and websites, but all were aiming to respond to information needs and develop stress control skills. A trend toward reducing distress and improving QoL was found, but estimated effect sizes were typically small (d<0.5). Telephonically delivered psycho-educational interventions presented the highest between-group effects on these outcomes during survival, but were limited by sample size. Conclusions: The efficacy of interventions using distance approaches in the cancer setting is still not wellestablished. Further research should be conducted through well-designed studies with more interactive features that minimize the lack of face-to-face interaction.
- Escala de preocupações reprodutivas após o cancro (RCACS)Publication . Bártolo, Ana; Santos, Isabel; Valério, Elisabete; Costa, Antónia; Reis, Salomé; Raposo, Sofia; Monteiro, SaraCom este trabalho, pretende-se dar a conhecer as instruções de administração e o estudo de validação da versão portuguesa da Escala de Preocupações Reprodutivas Após o Cancro (RCACS). Os resultados sugerem que a versão portuguesa da RCACS apresenta adequadas propriedades psicométricas, demonstrando ser uma medida confiável e válida para a avaliação de preocupações relacionadas com a fertilidade e a maternidade em mulheres jovens sobreviventes de cancro.
- Exploring Lifestyle Factors and Treatment Adherence among Older Adults with Hypertension Attending a Mobile Health Unit (MHU) in a Rural Area of Central PortugalPublication . Pinto, Cátia; Chaves, Cláudia; Duarte, João; Raposo, António; Zandonadi, Renata; Monteiro, Sara; Lemos, Edite TeixeiraThis cross-sectional and analytical study aimed to characterize a sample of hypertensive older adults attending a Mobile Health Unit (MHU) in a rural area of central Portugal according to their lifestyle and to analyze the impact of lifestyles on treatment adherence. The sample comprised 235 Portuguese hypertense patients, mainly females (63.8%) with a mean age of 75 years (±8.14 years) and low level of education. The data collection was carried out through a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic questions, dietary variables, an Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short Version), a Nutrition Health Determination Questionnaire, a Self-Care with Hypertension Scale, and an Adherence to Treatments Measurement Scale. Only 34.5% of the hypertensive patients have controlled blood pressure values (28.2% men and 38% women). However, more than half (56.2%) of the hypertensive patients are classified as adherent to therapeutic measures. The hypertensive individuals, who present higher levels of adherence to the treatment, do not present alcohol dependence, are frequent consumers of aromatic herbs, sporadically consume salt, present good nutritional health, and practice moderate physical activity. The predictor variables for treatment adherence are the self-care dimensions general dietary (p = 0.001), specific dietary (p = 0.034), physical activity (p = 0.031), and antihypertensive medication intake (p < 0.001). Hypertensive patients with healthier lifestyles present better levels of treatment adherence. Therefore, promoting physical activity and healthy dietary practices is necessary to improve treatment adherence and increase antihypertensive treatment’s effectiveness.
- Fear of cancer recurrence, distress, and quality of life in adolescent and young adult cancer survivorsPublication . Oliveira, Joana; Neves, Maria Carolina; Bártolo, Ana; Sales, Célia; Monteiro, SaraAdolescents and young adult cancer survivors often experience high levels of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), which significantly impacts their emotional well-being and quality of life. The lack of studies on this target population in Portugal leads to a gap of knowledge that informs the development of interventions and solutions aimed at AYA cancer survivors. This study aimed to analyze the moderating effect of FCR on the relationship between emotional distress and quality of life in AYA surviving cancer. This is a cross-sectional study including 96 participants between the ages of 15 and 25 at the time of diagnosis. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics were collected through a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the FCR7 scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). We analyzed correlations between FCR and clinical, sociodemographic factors and tested the direct and indirect relationships between FCR, distress, and quality of life. The results indicated that high levels of FCR were associated with lower emotional functioning, and gender was the only sociodemographic variable significantly associated with FCR. Although anxiety was found to influence emotional functioning in AYAs, FCR did not moderate the relationship between anxiety and emotional functioning. This study allows us to gain more knowledge about the psychological impact of the disease on this population.
- Informed consent and adolescents with cancer: challenges and tools in online studiesPublication . Neves, Maria Carolina; Monteiro, Sara; Prins, Judith; Sales, Célia
- Intervention programs targeting burnout in health professionals: a systematic reviewPublication . Araújo, Diana; Bártolo, Ana; Fernandes, Cláudia; Pereira, Anabela; Monteiro, SaraBackground: Burnout is an occupational syndrome, with a higher prevalence in professionals whose close involvement with other people is significant. There is a great diversity of professionals at risk of burnout, and therefore the implementation of intervention programs is relevant, as helping people to maintain their mental and emotional health enables them to become more meaningfully involved in their communities and become more effective and active global citizens. We aimed to review systematically the characteristics of interventions targeting burnout in health professionals. Methods: The search was conducted in three databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, following the PRISMA model, and 16 eligible articles were identified between 2012 and 2023. Results: Mindfulness showed great efficacy in preventing burnout, by reducing stress levels and promoting empathy. In addition, relaxation and breathing techniques, yoga, and music therapy showed to improve burnout and occupational stress levels. Balint groups have also helped slow the progression of burnout. Implications about the need for future research to foster the promotion of well-being and mental health of health professionals are mentioned. Conclusion: Mindfulness, relaxation and breathing techniques, yoga, music therapy and balint groups proved to be effective in preventing burnout.
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