Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2015-01"
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- Measuring innovation capability in exporting firms: The INNOVSCALEPublication . Vicente, Margarida; Abrantes, José Luís; Teixeira, Mário SérgioThis study develops a new scale, the INNOVSCALE, which is a measure of innovation capability of exporting firms, and tests its impact on three measures of export venture performance, namely financial, strategic, and achievement.
- Influence of infertility and fertility adjustment on marital satisfactionPublication . Ferreira, Manuela; Antunes, Lina; Duarte, João; Chaves, CláudiaAbstract Background: Infertility requires medical attention and treatment. It is also a disturbing life event with implications in dimensions of the individuals’ and the infertile couples’ lives (personal, relational and social). Research question: What factors influence marital satisfaction in couples with infertility problems? Objectives: Determine the influence of socio-demographic and obstetric variables, as well as personal history in the adjustment to fertility and marital satisfaction; evaluate the influence of infertility and fertility adjustment on marital satisfaction. Methods: It is a quantitative study with a 106 women being followed at the reproductive medicine unit of Center of Portugal. Data collection was through a questionnaire comprising a socio-demographic component, obstetric history, personal history and Fertility Adjustment Scale (Leal, 2010) and Evaluation Scale regarding Marital Life Satisfaction (Narciso & Costa, 1996) scales. Results: The adjustment to fertility is influenced by age and by the existence of previous pregnancies on "Total Adjustment" (p = 0,013 and p = 0,026, respectively) and by the number of services one attends, in "Life on Hold" (p = 0,024). Marital satisfaction, is influenced by education level and the beginning of infertility treatments on "Sexuality" (p = 0,039). Conclusion: In this research, it became clear that the adjustment to fertility may not influence at all marital satisfaction; however it influences very important aspects of the couple’s life. Thus, aspects of marital satisfaction will influence determinants of fertility adjustment, such as “Emotional Intimacy", "Sexuality" and "Communication/Conflict" in "Life on Hold" and "Autonomy" in "Parenting".
- Vivência dos pais durante a hospitalização do recém-nascido prematuroPublication . Fernandes, Nelita Gonçalves Vieira; Silva, Ernestina Maria BatocaEnquadramento: Assiste-se ao aumento do nascimento de bebés prematuros e os pais são confrontados com várias dificuldades e constrangimentos, principalmente se o prematuro requer hospitalização. Objetivos: Identificar os sentimentos vivenciados pelos pais perante o nascimento antecipado de um filho; demonstrar a influência da hospitalização na adaptação à parentalidade. Metodologia: Estudo qualitativo, exploratório-descritivo, numa amostra não probabilística constituída por 12 pais que tiveram o filho internado em cuidados intensivos neonatais. Utilizámos a entrevista semiestruturada e efetuámos análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Emergiram sete categorias: Impacto do nascimento prematuro; Sentimentos/ emoções dos pais; Parentalidade face à hospitalização de um filho; Acontecimentos marcantes para os pais relacionados com o recém-nascido; Apoios recebidos pelos pais; Opinião dos pais face à hospitalização; Aspetos institucionais a melhorar. Conclusão: Acreditamos que os resultados nos ajudam a compreender as dificuldades e significados atribuídos à vivência dos pais, no sentido de se fortalecerem medidas de humanização dos processos de adaptação à doença e promoção da parentalidade, otimizando os cuidados de Enfermagem.
- What Is a Firm’s Life Expectancy? Empirical Evidence in the Context of Portuguese CompaniesPublication . Reis, Pedro; Augusto, MárioIt is a fact that the uncertainty about a firm’s future has to be measured and incorporated into a company’s valuation throughout the explicit analysis period – in the continuing or terminal value within valuation models. One of the concerns that can influence the continuing value of enterprises, which is not explicitly considered in traditional valuation models, is a firm’s average life expectancy. Although the literature has studied the life cycle of a firm, there is still a considerable lack of references on this topic. If we ignore the period during which a company has the ability to produce future cash flows, the valuations can fall into irreversible errors, leading to results markedly different from market values. This paper aims to provide a contribution in this area. Its main objective is to construct a mortality table for non-listed Portuguese enterprises, showing that the use of a terminal value through a mathematical expression of perpetuity of free cash flows is not adequate. We provide the use of an appropriate coefficient to perceive the number of years in which the company will continue to operate until its theoretical extinction. If well addressed regarding valuation models, this issue can be used to reduce or even to eliminate one of the main problems that cause distortions in contemporary enterprise valuation models: the premise of an enterprise’s unlimited existence in time. Besides studying the companies involved in it, from their existence to their demise, our study intends to push knowledge forward by providing a consistent life and mortality expectancy table for each age of the company, presenting models with an explicitly and different survival rate for each year. Moreover, we show that, after reaching a certain age, firms can reinvent their business, acquiring maturity and consequently postponing their mortality through an additional life period.
- Interpretation, history and heritage tourism: Evidences from Lamego cathedrals’ pórticoPublication . Fernandes, Didiana; Vieira, Isabel; Rodrigues, Ana PaulaThis study aims to show the approximation between the training of History and Tourism. A multidisciplinary team has researched the intersections between these scientific areas in an historic city in the north of Portugal (city of Lamego ). Was created an interpretive speech for the Pórtico of one of the most emblematic monuments of this historic city (Cathedral) and in-depth interviews were applied to 15 visitors. We conclude that the interpretation of the historic resources allows the construction of a patrimonial tourist product. Through closer link between the historical discourse, interpretation and tourism is possible to create a differentiation of the patrimonial product making it a unique product and thus more attractive to the various segments. In the construction of the discourses of the patrimonial elements, having as an end the presentation for the potential visitors, we discovered that both the historic and the touristic discourses have similarities, differing, mostly, in the language type that is used. Teaching history deposits in the narrative construction an opportunity to cultivate the history training of the students, in order to achieve historic consciousness. The narratives carved by tourism do not deny the historic ones, but their intention passes by the aggregation of modern values and interpretations that differentiate the heritage.
- Attitudes of women regarding the voluntary interruption of pregnancyPublication . Ferreira, Manuela; Fernandes, Bruno; Duarte, João; Chaves, CláudiaAbstract: Problem Statement: The voluntary interruption of pregnancy has been a controversial topic in economically developed societies, covering multiple perspectives and mobilizing human, ethical, social, psychological, political, technical and economic. Research Questions: What are the attitudes of women regarding the voluntary interruption of pregnancy? Purpose of the Study: Analyse the influence of socio-demographic variables on attitudes, obstetric variables and attitudes regarding the voluntary interruption of pregnancy; Investigate the influence of self-esteem in attitudes regarding the voluntary interruption of pregnancy; Relate the variables of family and social context with attitudes regarding the voluntary interruption of pregnancy. Research Methods: A quantitative study, with 101 women who voluntarily interrupted their pregnancy in Portugal. Data collection through a questionnaire with socio-demographic and obstetric history component and Family Functionality (Smilkstein 1978, Azevedo & Matos, 1989); Self Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965, Santos & Maia, 1999, 2003); Satisfaction with Social Support (Ribeiro, 1999); Satisfaction in Areas of Conjugal Life (Narciso & Costa, 1996). Findings: The women's ages ranged between 16 and 49 years, 61.4% were single / divorced, 48.3% are in their second pregnancy. In Social Support, “full intimacy”, “total social support” and Satisfaction in areas of conjugal life, “sexuality” and “full autonomy”, have predictive power (p < 0.05) over the attitudes of women regarding the voluntary interruption of pregnancy. Conclusions: The knowledge of the attitudes of women regarding the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, will produce reflections in the specialized care, in the context of family planning and preconception and psychological support, aiming for excellence of the practices in maternal health, obstetrics and gynaecology.
- Educational intervention for oral healthPublication . Bica, Isabel; Cunha, Madalena; Reis, Margarida; Costa, Patrícia; Costa, José; Albuquerque, CarlosIntroduction: Implementation and development of promotional and educational oral health programs, it is critical to identify and intervene on the risk factors for oral health in adolescents. Research Question: Does the oral health status of adolescents in particular DMFT index, plaque index, oral health risk and oral hygiene habits, suffer modification after participation in an educational program ProSorriso? Purpose of the Study: Implement a program of oral health education, to evaluate its effectiveness in improving the oral health of adolescents. Methods: Experimental analytical study-before and after the intervention program on the risk factors for oral health. A sample of 200 adolescents attending schools of Portugal, aged 11-16 years (x=13.21±1.014). Material: Risk Quantifiers in Oral Health assessed before and after participation in "ProSorriso" program. This aims at the promotion and education for oral health: oral health, diet and oral hygiene. Results: In the evaluation after the program ProSorriso: adolescents decreased the percentage of decayed teeth 50,5% to 38,5%;improved eating habits (Z=- 1,325,p=0,185); had higher percentage of teeth without plaque (Z=-5,465,p=0,000). There were more adolescents to brush their teeth twice a day (Z=-2,562,p=0,010). The assessment of risk classification showed that before the educational program ProSorriso had a higher percentage of adolescents who were at high risk of developing oral problems (p=0,001). Conclusion: The intervention "ProSorriso" shown to produce effect in changing behaviors that promote healthier life styles and to be determinant of oral health status.
- Quality of life of women with infertilityPublication . Ferreira, Manuela; Vicente, Sandra; Duarte, João; Chaves, CláudiaAbstract Background: Procreation and the wish to start a family is one of the natural needs of human beings and one of the important pillars of their quality of life. It is subject to emotional and marital impacts which may contribute to pregnancy failure. Objectives: To identify determinants that influence the quality of life; to determine whether socio demographic variables impact the quality of life of women with infertility; to verify the influence of contextual variables of infertility on the quality of life of women. Methods: A quantitative study with 106 women with a diagnosis of infertility. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire consisting of a socio-demographic component, obstetric history and a scale WHOQOL - Brief (Abbreviated Instrument for Assessment of the Quality of Life of the World Health Organization). Results: The average age was 33 years; 62.3 %have never been pregnant and 51.9% have been trying to get pregnant for more than 3 years. There is a relationship (p<0.05) between age, schooling, number of previous pregnancies, type of treatment used in case of missed abortion, duration of menstruation, infertility and quality of life. Conclusion: Updating knowledge has become increasingly important for health professionals, aiming for the improvement of the quality of life of women confronted with a diagnosis of infertility. These results are consistent with those obtained by other studies that validate the change in quality of life, according to several socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history and infertility diagnosis.
- Disclosing Paths for Multi-channel Service Research: A Contemporaneous Phenomenon and Guidelines for Future InvestigationsPublication . Reis, João; Amorim, Marlene; Melão, NunoThe present paper reports on the findings of a systematic literature review on multi-channel services. In doing so, it uses an affinity diagram to show the results of a content analysis regarding the issues addressed by the existing literature in the field. This enables to understand areas of interest in the contemporary subject of research, find gaps in the literature and, lastly, to uncover guidelines for future research. The results suggest that future investigations should focus on the integration of traditional and virtual services, on quality issues and customer behaviour towards the use of multi-channel services. Previous research also suggests that multi-channel services are largely unaddressed, regarding issues as back-office processes, within the scope of operations management. Subsequently, since multi-channel services are multidisciplinary in nature, these guidelines represent a fruitful opportunity for future research to involve other disciplines.
- Wastewater reuse in irrigation: A microbiological perspective on implications in soil fertility and human and environmental healthPublication . Becerra-Castro, Cristina; Lopes, Ana Rita; Vaz-Moreira, Ivone; Silva, Elisabete; Manaia, Célia; Nunes, OlgaThe reuse of treated wastewater, in particular for irrigation, is an increasingly common practice, encouraged by governments and of fi cial entities worldwide. Irrigation with wastewater may have implications at two different levels:alterthephysicochemicalandmicrobiologicalpropertiesofthesoiland/orintroduceandcontributetothe accumulation of chemical and biological contaminants in soil. The fi rst may affect soil productivity and fertility; the second may pose serious risks to the human and environmental health. The sustainable wastewater reuse in agriculture should prevent both typesofeffects,requiring a holisticand integratedrisk assessment. Inthis article wecriticallyreviewpossible effects of irrigation with treatedwastewater, with special emphasison soil microbi- ota. The maintenance of a rich and diversi fi ed autochthonous soil microbiota and the use of treated wastewater with minimal levels of potential soil contaminants are proposed as sine qua non conditions to achieve a sustain- able wastewater reuse for irrigation.
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