Sofia Almeida

Sofia Almeida


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

18Years (2009-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 May 2024 in Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Paulo Jorge Marcos CruchinhoPaulo Jorge Marcos Cruchinho
Paulo Jorge Marcos Cruchinho
MLMaría Dolores López-Franco
María Dolores López-Franco
MCManuel Luís Capelas
Manuel Luís Capelas
SASofia Almeida
Sofia Almeida
PBPhillippa May Bennett
Phillippa May Bennett
FGFilomena Gaspar
Filomena Gaspar
Cross-cultural validation of self-reported measurement instruments for research is a long and complex process, which involves specific risks of bias that could affect the research process and results. Furthermore, it requires researchers to have a wide range of technical knowledge about the translation, adaptation and pre-test aspects, their purposes and options, about the different psychometric properties, and the required evidence for their assessment and knowledge about the quantitative data processing and analysis using statistical software. This article aimed: 1) identify all guidelines and recommendations for translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation within the healthcare sciences; 2) describe the methodological approaches established in these guidelines for conducting translation, adaptation, and cross-cultural validation; and 3) provide a practical guideline featuring various methodological options for novice researchers involved in translating, adapting, and validating measurement instruments. Forty-two guidelines on translation, adaptation, or cross-cultural validation of measurement instruments were obtained from “CINAHL with Full Text” (via EBSCO) and “MEDLINE with Full Text”. A content analysis was conducted to identify the similarities and differences in the methodological approaches recommended. Bases on these similarities and differences, we proposed an eight-step guideline that includes: a) forward translation; 2) synthesis of translations; 3) back translation; 4) harmonization; 5) pre-testing; 6) field testing; 7) psychometric validation, and 8) analysis of psychometric properties. It is a practical guideline because it provides extensive and comprehensive information on the methodological approaches available to researchers. This is the first methodological literature review carried out in the healthcare sciences regarding the methodological approaches recommended by existing guidelines.

10 March 2010 in Environmental Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SASofia Almeida
Sofia Almeida
ECElsa Casimiro
Elsa Casimiro
JCJose Calheiros
Jose Calheiros
Evidence that elevated temperatures can lead to increased mortality is well documented, with population vulnerability being location specific. However, very few studies have been conducted that assess the effects of temperature on daily mortality in urban areas in Portugal.

1 January 2014 in European Journal of Internal Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
JFJoao Pedro Ferreira
Joao Pedro Ferreira
MSMário Santos
Mário Santos
SASofia Almeida
Sofia Almeida
IMIrene Marques
Irene Marques
PBPaulo Bettencourt
Paulo Bettencourt
HCHenrique Carvalho
Henrique Carvalho

2 November 2023 in BMC Nursing
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PLPedro Lucas
Pedro Lucas
EJElvio HENRIQUES Jesus
Elvio HENRIQUES Jesus
SASofia Almeida
Sofia Almeida
BABeatriz Rodrigues Araújo
Beatriz Rodrigues Araújo
Background: Nursing practice environment has impact on the quality of nursing care and on patients’ and nurses’ outcomes, namely better performances of these healthcare workers. Improving the nursing practice environment is a low-cost organizational strategy to achieve better patients’ outcomes and retain qualified nurses, thus improving nursing care of units, healthcare organizations and healthcare system. This study aims to analyse the relationship between nursing practice environment and the nurses` perception of quality of care, patient safety, and safety culture in Primary Health Care in Portugal. Methods: We conducted a descriptive, analytical, and cross-sectional study using data from RN4CAST Portugal. The sample was composed of 1059 nurses from 55 Health Center Groups of the mainland Portugal, 15 Health Centers of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and 6 Health Centers of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Multivariate analysis and correlation analysis methods were used for data processing. Results: Nurses consider that, in the Portuguese Primary Health Care, there is a mixed and unfavourable nursing practice environment, with a perception of a good quality of care, and both acceptable patients’ safety and safety culture. The Collegial Nurse-Physician Relations and Nursing Foundations for Quality of Care dimensions to have the best ratings. The perception of Primary Health Care nurses on the dimension Nurse Participation in Organization Affairs was the one that showed the lowest score, followed by Staffing and Resource Adequacy and Nurse Manager Ability, Leadership, and Support of Nurses. Based on perception of nurses, the relationship between the nursing practice environment and the safety culture is higher, followed by the quality of care and patients’ safety. Conclusions: The perception of Primary Health Care nurses is that there is an unfavourable and mixed nursing practice environment, with good quality of care, and acceptable patient safety and safety culture. The quality of the nursing practice environments is associated to better quality and safety of care. Thus, improving the nursing practice environments in healthcare organizations is a low-cost organizational strategy to achieve greater patients and nurses’ outcomes, improving the quality of nursing care to patients in the Primary Health Care units.

1 April 2011 in Environmental Research
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SASofia Almeida
Sofia Almeida
ECElsa Casimiro
Elsa Casimiro
JCJose Calheiros
Jose Calheiros

PLPedro Lucas
Pedro Lucas
EJElvio Jesus
Elvio Jesus
SASofia Almeida
Sofia Almeida
BABeatriz Rodrigues Araújo
Beatriz Rodrigues Araújo
Studies related to the work environment in primary health care are scarce in the literature. The present study aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) in primary health care (PHC) and to evaluate its construct validity through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in a sample of Portuguese nurses. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and validation study design was implemented. Methods: The sample consisted of 1059 nurses from the PHC units of all 55 health center groups (HCGs) in mainland Portugal, 15 health centers in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and 6 health centers in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The study tested different structural models using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques. The reliability of the scale was tested by determining Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: The internal consistency of the PES-NWI was 0.91. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the PES-NWI model in PHC with five factors: NPOA, NFQC, NMALSN, SRA, and CNPR. The results show that the scale presents acceptable fit quality indexes in the final factorial solution and adequate convergent validity. Conclusion: The PES-NWI in PHC has an adequate, robust, and reliable five-factor structure. The scale is valid and can be used in clinical practice, nursing management, and PHC research.