Nursing Interventions in Prevention and Healing of Leg Ulcers: Systematic Review of the Literature

Aim: The purpose of this study was to define nursing interventions for patients with venous, arterial or mixed leg ulcers. Methodology: A survey was conducted in EBSCO (CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MEDLINE with Full Text), MedicLatina, Academic Search Complete, with full text articles, published between 2008/01/01 and 2015/01/31, with the following keywords: [(MM "leg ulcer") OR (wound care) OR (wound healing)] AND [(nursing) OR (nursing assessment) OR (nursing intervention)]. Results: The different leg ulcer etiologies require different therapeutic approach to prevention and treatment. Predictive factors were identified associated with healing: patient-centred care, interpersonal relationship, pain control, control of the exudate, education for health self-management, self-care, therapeutic compliance, implementation of guidelines, auditing and feedback on the practices. Conclusion: Evidence-based practice helps to improve efficiency, safety and quality of nursing care directed to people with leg ulcers or at risk of developing this type of wounds.

Expenditure pattern analysis of cultural tourists at World Heritage Sites: an empirical evidence based on CHAID analysis

Nowadays, World Heritage Sites (WHS) have been facing new challenges, partially due to a different tourism consumption patterns. As it is highlighted in a considerable amount of studies, visits to these sites are almost justified by this prestigious classification and motivations are closely associated with their cultural aspects and quality of the overall environment (among others, Marujo et al, 2012). However, a diversity of tourists’ profiles have been underlined in the literature. Starting from the results obtained in a previous study about cultural tourists’ profile, conducted during the year 2009 in the city of Évora, Portugal, it is our intend to compare the results with a recent survey applied to the visitors of the same city. Recognition of Évora by UNESCO in 1986 as “World Heritage” has fostered not only the preservation of heritage but also the tourist promotion of the town. This study compares and examined tourists’ profile, regarding from the tourists’ expenditure patterns in Évora. A total of 450 surveys were distributed in 2009, and recently, in 2015, the same numbers of surveys were collected. Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) was applied to model consumer patterns of domestic and international visitors, based on socio demographic, trip characteristics, length of stay and the degree of satisfaction of pull factors. CHAID allowed find a population classification in groups that able to describe the dependent variable, average daily tourist expenditure. Results revealed different patterns of daily average expenditure amongst the years, 2009 and 2015, even if primarily results not revealed significant variations in socio-demographic and trip characteristics among the visitors’ core profile. Local authorities should be aware of this changing expensive behavior of cultural visitors and should formulate strategies accordingly. Policy and managerial recommendations are discussed.

Expenditure pattern analysis of cultural tourists at World Heritage Sites: empirical evidence based on CHAID analysis

This study investigates tourists’ expenditure patterns in the city of Évora, a world heritage site (WHS) classified by UNESCO. The use of chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) was chosen, allowing the identification of distinct segments based on expenditure patterns. Visitors’ expenditure patterns have proven to be a pertinent element for a broader understanding of visitors’ behaviour at cultural destinations. Visitors’ expenditure patterns were revealed to be increasing within years studied.

Contributos da gestão de qualidade nas práticas em fisioterapia : o caso particular das percepções dos fisioterapeutas que trabalham junto de crianças e jovens com bronquiolite viral aguda

Durante os últimos anos tem sido preocupação dos fisioterapeutas conduzir a investigação para melhorar a eficácia, eficiência e efectividade dos tratamentos que prestam e que conduzam aos melhores resultados possíveis, com base na melhor evidência científica disponível. Esta investigação tinha como objectivo principal perceber qual o contributo que a Gestão da Qualidade dá às práticas em fisioterapia, investigar quais as barreiras e obstáculos, que os fisioterapeutas percepcionam na implementação da prática baseada na evidência na sua prática clínica e examinar as atitudes perante a investigação em fisioterapia. A amostra foi constituída por treze fisioterapeutas e a recolha dos dados feita através de uma entrevista semi-estruturada. Verificou-se que no geral, os fisioterapeutas, revelam atitudes e comportamentos positivos relativos à Prática Baseada na Evidência, tendo ainda dificuldade em usá-la a seu favor. Constatou-se que os principais obstáculos á implementação da Prática Baseada na Evidência são de ordem individual, institucional e organizacional. Sendo que o maior obstáculo se prende com a existência de recursos disponíveis para acesso à informação. /ABSTRACT: During the last years it’s been the physical therapists concern to lead the research to improve efficacy, efficiency e effectiveness of treatments which they provide and that they lead to the best achievable results, based in the best scientific evidence available. This research had as its main goal, understand what contribute does the quality management give to the physiotherapy practice, discover which barriers and obstacles are perceived, by the physical therapists, in the evidence-based practice implementation and analyze their attitudes and behavior towards physiotherapy research. The sample was formed by thirteen physical therapists and the data was collected by a semi- structured interview. The results showed that generally, the physical therapists demonstrated positive attitude and behavior regarding Evidence-Based Practice having, nevertheless, difficulties using it in their profit and benefit. The study revealed that the principle obstacles perceived, in the implementation of Evidence-Based Practice are of individual, institutional and organizational order. The biggest obstacle perceived is the availability of resources to achieve information.

Worldwide Wound Healing - Innovation in Natural and Conventional Methods

The book Worldwide Wound Healing - Innovation in Natural and Conventional Methods develops a set of themes on the healing and treatment of complex wounds through evidence-based practice with innovations in the use of natural and conventional methods. It is an innovative way that promotes the integration of conventional and natural perspectives in wound healing, with a unique focus on the quality of life of the patient.