ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3806-438X
Current Organisations
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
,
World Health Organization
,
Administração Regional de Saúde do Norte
,
Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto
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Publications
Towards an In-Depth Understanding of Physical Activity and Eating Behaviours during COVID-19 Social Confinement: A Combined Approach from a Portuguese National Survey
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-08-2021
DOI: 10.3390/NU13082685
Abstract: Rapid worldwide decreases in physical activity (PA), an increase in sedentary behaviour (SB) and poorer dietary patterns have been reported during COVID-19 confinement periods. However, as national variability has been observed, this study sought to describe PA, SB and eating patterns, and to explore their gender as well as other socio-demographic correlates and how they interrelate in a representative s le of Portuguese adults during the COVID-19 first mandatory social confinement. The survey was applied online and by telephone to 5856 adults (mean age = 45.8 years 42.6% women). The majority reported high (46.0%) or moderate (20.5%) PA levels. Men, younger participants, those with higher education levels and a favourable perception of their financial situation reported higher PA levels, with the opposite pattern for SB. Physical fitness activities and household chores were more reported by women, with more strength training and running activities reported by men. Regarding eating behaviours, 45.1% reported changes, positive (58%) and negative (42%), with 18.2% reporting increases in consumption of fruit, vegetables, and fish and other seafood consumption, while 10.8% (most with lower educational level and less comfortable with their income) reported an increase in consumption of ready-to-eat meals, soft drinks, savoury snacks, and take-away and delivered meals. Two clusters—a health-enhancing vs. risky pattern—emerged through multiple correspondence analysis characterized by co-occurrence of high vs. low PA levels, positive vs. negative eating changes, awareness or not of the COVID-19 PA and dietary recommendations, perceived financial situation, higher vs. lower educational level and time in social confinement. In conclusion, while in social confinement, both positive and negative PA and eating behaviours and trends were displayed, highlighting the role of key sociodemographic correlates contributing to healthy vs. risky patterns. Results may inform future health interventions and policies to be more targeted to those at risk, and also advocate the promotion of PA and healthy eating in an integrated fashion.
Questionnaires measuring movement behaviours in adults and older adults: Content description and measurement properties. A systematic review
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-03-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0265100
Abstract: Sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity are constituent parts of a 24h period and there are several questionnaires to measure these movement behaviours, the objective was to systematically review the literature on content and measurement properties of self- and proxy-reported questionnaires measuring movement behaviours in adults and older adults. The databases PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched until April 2021. Articles were included if: the questionnaires were design for adults and older adults the s le size for validity studies had at least 50 participants at least, both validity and test-retest reliability results of questionnaire that were developed specifically to measure the amount of sleep, sedentary behaviour or physical activity, or their combination were reported and articles had to be written in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian or Chinese. Data extraction, results, studies’ quality, and risk of bias were evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. Fifty-five articles were included in this review, describing 60 questionnaires. None of the questionnaires showed adequate criterion validity and adequate reliability, simultaneously 68.3% showed adequate content validity. The risk of bias for criterion validity and reliability were very low in 72.2% and 23.6% of the studies, respectively. Existing questionnaires have insufficient measurement properties and frequent methodologic limitations, and none was developed considering the 24h movement behaviour paradigm. The lack of valid and reliable questionnaires assessing 24h movement behaviours in an integrated way, precludes accurate monitoring and surveillance systems of 24h movement behaviours.
Questionnaires Measuring 24-Hour Movement Behaviors in Childhood and Adolescence: Content Description and Measurement Properties—A Systematic Review
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Date: 2023
Abstract: Background : We aim to systematically review the literature on measurement properties of self- and proxy-reported questionnaires measuring 24-hour movement behaviors in children and adolescents. Methods : PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and EMBASE were searched until June 2021. Studies were included if the s le size for validity studies had 50 participants (minimum) and included, at least, both validity and test–retest reliability results of questionnaires. The review followed an adaptation of the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments guidelines, to evaluate the quality of measurements properties of the questionnaires (content, convergent and criterion validity, reliability, measurement error, and responsiveness), as well as the risk of bias of each measurement property. Results : This review included 29 studies, describing 37 questionnaires. Sixty-eight percent showed “adequate” content validity. None of the questionnaires showed overall “adequate” criterion validity, and the risk of bias was “very low” for 92%. One questionnaire showed “adequate” convergent validity, and 73% of the studies were classified with a “high risk of bias.” Seven questionnaires showed “adequate” reliability, and 27.3% of the studies were rated with a “very low risk of bias.” None of the questionnaires showed “adequate” criterion validity and reliability, simultaneously. Conclusions : Existing questionnaires have insufficient measurement properties, and none considered the 24-hour movement behavior paradigm. These results highlight the need for better questionnaires of movement behavior combinations, to improve the monitoring and surveillance systems of 24-hour movement behaviors in this population.
Assessment of Good Practices in Community-Based Interventions for Physical Activity Promotion: Development of a User-Friendly Tool
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-04-2021
Abstract: Tools to identify good practices in the design, implementation, and evaluation of physical activity community-based interventions (PACIs) are key to address the physical inactivity pandemic. Existing tools tend to be extensive and with limited applicability to assess small-scale PACIs. This work aimed to report the development and preliminary validity results of a simple, practical, and user-friendly tool to evaluate PACIs in local/municipal contexts. Eighty-six good practice characteristics defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint Action Framework on Chronic Diseases (CHRODIS), and an umbrella review of good practice characteristics of diet and physical activity interventions were initially extracted and refined in four rounds of revision from an expert panel using a Delphi-type methodology and rated on their relative importance. A pilot application was conducted, and data on the tool usability and applicability were collected through three semi-structured interviews with specialists and coordinators of local/municipal PACIs. For preliminary validation, the refined tool was applied to five community-based programs mostly aimed at an elderly population. The final tool included thirty-four selected characteristics, with a brief explanation and practical ex les for each, under three main sections: design, evaluation, and implementation. Each characteristic has a rating (i.e., somewhat important, highly important, mandatory) and a percentage weight. Preliminary validation of this tool pointed to an adequate evaluation of good practice characteristics of municipal PACIs in a reliable, practical, and user-friendly way. Given its adequacy, this tool can support the definition of quality standards for PACIs, encouraging their dissemination and adoption at a regional or national level.
“Follow the Whistle: Physical Activity Is Calling You”: Evaluation of Implementation and Impact of a Portuguese Nationwide Mass Media Campaign to Promote Physical Activity
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-11-2020
Abstract: To raise perceived capability (C), opportunity (O) and motivation (M) for physical activity (PA) behaviour (B) among adults, the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health developed a mass media c aign named “Follow the Whistle”, based on behaviour change theory and social marketing principles. Comprehensive formative and process evaluation suggests this media-led c aign used best-practice principles. The c aign adopted a population-wide approach, had clear behavioural goals, and clear multi-strategy implementation. We assessed c aign awareness and initial impact using pre (n = 878, 57% women) and post-c aign (n = 1319, 58% women) independent adult population s les via an online questionnaire, comprising socio-demographic factors, c aign awareness and recall, and psychosocial and behavioural measures linked to the COM-B model. PA was assessed with IPAQ and the Activity Choice Index. The post-c aign recall was typical of levels following national c aigns (24%). Post-c aign measures were higher for key theory-based targets (all p 0.05), namely self-efficacy, perceived opportunities to be more active and intrinsic motivation. The impact on social norms and self-efficacy was moderated by c aign awareness. Concerning PA, effects were found for vigorous activity (p 0.01), but not for incidental activity. Overall the c aign impacted key theory-based intermediate outcomes, but did not influence incidental activity, which highlights the need for sustained and repeated c aign efforts.
How much does it cost to implement a community-based walking football programme for patients with type 2 diabetes?
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2023
DOI: 10.1136/BMJSEM-2023-001549
Abstract: The current study analysed the implementation costs of a community-based walking football exercise programme for patients with type 2 diabetes. The direct costs of a community-based walking football programme for middle-aged and older male patients with type 2 diabetes, designed and tested in Porto (Portugal), were calculated from the payer’s perspective. One season of this programme consists of three sessions per week (60 min per session) for nine months (October to June). Cost calculations were based on two groups of 20 patients and included the sports infrastructure and equipment, human resources, pre-exercise clinical evaluation, medical equipment, technical training and other consumable costs. An economic depreciation of 1 year using the linear method for sports and electronic materials was considered. Cost analysis dated December 2021 and is expressed in international dollars ($). This programme was estimated to have a total implementation cost of $22 923.07 $2547.01/month $573.08 atient $106.13/session $63.68 atient/month and $5.31 atient/session. A community-based walking football programme for patients with type 2 diabetes is affordable and can be scaled up by local communities to promote physical activity and manage type 2 diabetes with the involvement of multiple stakeholders such as the football clubs, municipalities and primary healthcare units.
Related Organisations
Research Center In Sports Sciences, Health Sciences And Human Development
Location: Portugal
Instituto De Saúde Pública Da Universidade Do Porto
Location: Portugal
Related Funding Activities
MOVE24 - Dissemination, Monitoring And Surveillance Of The Portuguese 24-Hour Movement Guidelines: Making The Whole Day Matter.
Start Date: 2023
End Date: 2015
Funder: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
View Funded Activity