Mónica Antunes

Ms. Mónica Antunes

Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
+1
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

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

Representative Publications

View All Publications
14 October 2023 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMónica Antunes
Mónica Antunes
Carlos LaranjeiraCarlos Laranjeira
Carlos Laranjeira
Ana QueridoAna Querido
Ana Querido
Zaida CharepeZaida Charepe
Zaida Charepe
Hope is a central concept within the nursing literature, which is crucial towards the development of nursing knowledge. Nursing teams play a crucial role in exploring the meaning of hope and promoting hope among patients and their families. This study aims to synthesize concept analysis studies of hope in the context of nursing care and to propose an evidence-based update of the definition of hope in the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®). Method: This is a literature review, involving the synthesis of studies concerning the concept analysis of hope in nursing practice. Peer-reviewed articles with fully accessible Portuguese or English text were considered. As we aimed to include a historical perspective of the concept, no restriction upon the time of publication was set. Articles were selected in March 2022 and updated in July 2023 using the Medline, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. The search terms used were “hope” AND “concept” AND “analysis” AND “nurs*”. Only articles written in English or Portuguese were included. Two reviewers conducted the research synthesis and report independently to minimize the risk of bias in the included studies. This paper adheres to the PRISMA checklist. To clarify the concept of hope as perceived by patients and develop hope as an evidence-based nursing concept, 13 studies were reviewed. The concept of hope, its attributes, antecedents, and consequences, as well as similar concepts, were studied by nurses and synthesized into a definition. The identified antecedents include pivotal life events, stressful stimuli, and experiencing satisfaction with life. The analysis of its attributes, antecedents, and consequences has contributed to understanding its relevance in nursing care and provided a proposed update of hope in the ICNP®. This review provides conceptual clarity on how hope is defined and used in nursing practice and the potential factors that may impact the promotion of hope to provide opportunities for future nursing research.

8 December 2022 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMónica Antunes
Mónica Antunes
Clara Roquette VianaClara Roquette Viana
Clara Roquette Viana
Zaida CharepeZaida Charepe
Zaida Charepe
Background: Pregnancy is a period of transformation, hope, expectation, and worry for women and their families. A high-risk pregnancy refers to a pregnancy in which the mother and/or fetus are at greater-than-normal risk of complications, and it evokes a range of emotional and psychological experiences that largely depend on the care and support provided by health professionals. The purpose of this review is to summarize the existing literature on the lived experience of hope in women facing a high-risk pregnancy related to their own health and/or medical conditions related to the fetus. Methods: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute’s methodology. No limits on a date were applied to the search. Identified titles and abstracts were screened to select original reports and were cross-checked for any overlap of cases. We included studies that emphasized the experience of hope of pregnant women dealing with a pregnancy complication. Main Results: According to the results of the present scoping review, we found two main dimensions: women experiencing a high-risk pregnancy themselves and prenatal diagnosis. In both cases, the women were in a dilemma between hope and hopelessness. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that women facing high-risk pregnancies struggle with multiple fears and concerns about their own health and the fetus’s health. Further research is needed to identify best practices for the care provided to the vulnerable populations.

25 May 2024 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SPSara Palma
Sara Palma
DADiogo Ayres-de-Campos
Diogo Ayres-de-Campos
MAMónica Antunes
Mónica Antunes
RJRicardo Miguel Vieira de São João
Ricardo Miguel Vieira de São João
MPMaria Presado
Maria Presado
Introduction: Contraceptive illiteracy leads to non-adherence, discontinuation, and dissatisfaction with the method. Person-centered contraceptive counseling is based on quality care on a communicative basis that promotes shared decision-making, leading to a choice adapted to the woman’s needs, lifestyle, and health condition. We intend to build and validate an instrument that serves as a guide for quality contraceptive counseling, facilitating decision-making about contraceptive methods. Methods: We used the Delphi method in a total of two rounds. The content was validated through a panel of eighteen experts with experience in teaching, research in contraceptive counseling, and obstetric nursing. To assess the consensus and stability of the responses, two questionnaires were administered and the Content Validity Index and Content Validity Ratio were calculated. Results: The initial version of the guide, consisting of six indicators and thirty-five items, was submitted to the panel of experts to obtain consensus and stability from respondents (first round). The results showed a response rate of 66.0%; thirty-four indicators reached consensus and one did not reach consensus. Suggestions for modifying the indicator were received by the experts and incorporated in the next round. In the second round, the response rate increased to 78.0%. Two indicators were resubmitted, of which one was accepted. This resulted in the final version of the instrument, with six points and thirty-five items. Discussion: The guide proved to be a valid tool for nurse–midwives to provide quality contraceptive advice to women, allowing them to make autonomous and informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health.

22 January 2025 in Frontiers in Global Women's Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMónica Antunes
Mónica Antunes
AGAna Galhanas
Ana Galhanas
AVAna Lúcia Vitorino
Ana Lúcia Vitorino
SPSara Palma
Sara Palma
AFAna Frias
Ana Frias
Background: The decisions of women with high-risk pregnancies to continue or terminate a pregnancy are complex and influenced by various factors. This scoping review synthesises the qualitative literature on the underlying motivations influencing these decisions.Aim: This analysis explores the underlying motivations that influence women's decisions regarding the continuation or termination of pregnancy, considering the challenges and dilemmas this population faces.Methods: This review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology. No date restrictions were applied to the search. Titles and abstracts were screened to select original studies, and cross-checking was performed to avoid case overlap. We included studies that focused on the factors influencing women's decisions to either continue or terminate pregnancies when complications arose.Results: Eighteen studies involving women from different countries and cultural contexts were included. The review identifies four main themes driving these decisions: health considerations, religious convictions, social and political factors and ethical and moral dilemmas. Each theme interlinks to form a complex web of influences that significantly shape women's choices, illustrating how deeply personal, societal, and ethical contexts converge in these critical decisions. Significant emotional and cognitive factors, particularly hope, also play a crucial role. The findings highlight the complexity of the decision-making process and provide a deeper understanding of the personal, social, and spiritual dimensions involved.Conclusions: Multiple factors shape the complex decisions of women with high-risk pregnancies. Understanding these motivations is crucial to providing appropriate support and counselling. This review underscores the need for healthcare professionals to be aware of the diversity of factors involved and to adopt an individualized and context-sensitive approach in their practice, guiding their future actions.

27 April 2026 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CFCatarina Gonçalves Fonseca
Catarina Gonçalves Fonseca
SPSara Palma
Sara Palma
MAMónica Antunes
Mónica Antunes
Background/Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus remains a significant public health challenge, with breastfeeding contributing to the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Although antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces this risk, obstetric nurses face complex challenges in translating evolving guidelines into clinical practice. This scoping review aims to map existing scientific evidence on obstetric nurses’ approaches to evidence-based practice regarding breastfeeding in the context of HIV. Methods: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus and EBSCOhost (MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Nursing & Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive) for studies published in English and Portuguese between 2015 and 2025. Studies were included if they focused on the role of obstetric nurses, nurse-midwives, or midwives in infant-feeding practices for women living with HIV. Results: Eight studies were included, predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa, with additional evidence from Europe and Canada. Findings reveal that infant-feeding counseling is shaped by a complex interplay of clinical protocols and personal beliefs. Significant gaps in knowledge translation were identified. While nurses demonstrate high technical confidence in lactation support, their distinct professional contribution is often obscured by research that aggregates all healthcare providers. Conclusions: The challenge of supporting breastfeeding in the context of HIV extends beyond technical protocol adherence. It points to persistent gaps in knowledge translation, variability in counselling practices, and the influence of contextual and professional factors on guideline implementation. Strengthening care requires sustained investment in profession-specific education, institutional support, and evidence-informed practice frameworks that enable obstetric nurses to exercise informed clinical judgement.

28 February 2025 in Frontiers in Global Women's Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SPSara Palma
Sara Palma
RSRicardo São-João
Ricardo São-João
MAMónica Antunes
Mónica Antunes
HPHelena Presado
Helena Presado
Aim: Contraception aims to protect women from unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. The number of voluntary-terminations-of-pregnancy is an indicator that highlights issues such as difficulty accessing health services and women's lack of knowledge about contraceptives. These factors complicate choosing, adhering to, continuing, and achieving satisfaction with a contraceptive method. Mixed studies have gained prominence in health research with significant implications for care quality, particularly in nursing.Objectives: Analyze the applicability of mixed-method research in promoting contraceptive decision-making for women undergoing voluntary termination of pregnancy.Methods: A theoretical-reflective essay based on a theoretical framework guiding reflections on mixed research. This reflection explores the basic theoretical constructs of mixed methods and their applicability in promoting contraceptive decision-making for women in the process of voluntary pregnancy termination.Results: Categories emerging from qualitative study participants' statements were consolidated with quantitative data from women's responses to questionnaires. Integrating these two data types facilitated a robust analysis, discussion, and inference of results, leading to proposals for future interventions.Conclusions: Due to the advantages of the multimethod approach, we aim to disseminate its use in health research, demonstrating that combining quantitative and qualitative approaches provides greater insights into research phenomena and problems compared to using each method in isolation. This ultimately enhances care quality and contributes to scientific knowledge development.