Spirituality in the Undergraduate Curricula of Nursing Schools in Portugal and São Paulo-Brazil

Spirituality is considered a dimension of nursing care, which is often recognized as being neglected, mainly due to a lack of education. Several studies have addressed nursing students’ perceptions and skills for providing spiritual care, but there is little evidence on how spirituality is addressed in undergraduate nursing curricula. This study comprised Portuguese and Brazilian nursing schools (from São Paulo) and describes how spirituality is addressed in undergraduate nursing curricula. It is descriptive and the survey research was performed in 2014–2015. The questionnaire was composed of closed and open-ended questions and was sent by e-mail. A total of 129 answers were obtained, mostly from Portugal. Results indicated that several curricular units include spirituality, although having different contents. The learning outcomes are consistent with improving nursing students’ integral education, developing the clinical reasoning regarding spirituality, and improving the assessment of the patient across the life span. Nevertheless, it seems that spirituality is poorly addressed in clinical practice. Few nursing schools have courses or curricular units specifically dealing with spirituality, but they do provide some form of teaching on the subject. No standard curriculum exists, but teachers believe that it is a very important subject that should be included in the courses taught.

Motivations to interact with brands on Facebook – Towards a typology of consumer–brand interactions

In recent years, Facebook and other social media have become key players in branding activities. However, empirical research on consumer–brand interactions on Facebook is still in its infancy. Therefore, the aim of this research is to provide additional insights to brand managers on how to adapt their approaches to increase consumers’ interactions with brands on Facebook. In this study, we apply the uses and gratification theory proposed by Katz (1959) to develop a new typology of consumers based on consumer motivations to interact with brands on Facebook, and explore the type and intensity of these interactions. We identify five main motivations that might influence consumers’ interactions with a brand on Facebook: (1) social influence, (2) search for information, (3) entertainment, (4) trust and (5) reward. Building on these five motivations, a classification using clustering techniques reveals four different groups of consumers: (1) “brand detached”, (2) “brand profiteers”, (3) “brand companions” and (4) “brand reliants”. Our results provide valuable and applicable insights for social media marketing activities, which will assist brand managers to develop strategies for effectively reaching and influencing the most desirable groups of consumers.

Analyzing consumer-based brand equity on Facebook: the impact of brand gender

In recent years, Facebook and other social media have become key players in branding activities. However, empirical research is still needed about the way in which consumer-based brand equity is created on social media. The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between masculine and feminine brand personality and brand equity, on Facebook, and to analyze the mediating role of consumer-brand engagement and brand love on this relationship. Data were collected using an online survey with 614 valid responses. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results support 7 of the 11 hypotheses with significant relationship between analyzed constructs. This study confirms the advantages of a clear gender positioning and extends prior research by suggesting that brands with a strong brand gender identity will encourage brand love. Results also highlight that brand love has a mediating role on the relationship between brand gender and overall brand equity.

Inclusão, Inovação e Bem-Estar: a experiência das comunidades escolares de aprendizagem Gulbenkian XXI

No presente texto pretendemos explorar e trazer à discussão outras opções e modos de organização escolar indutoras de abordagens e práticas educativas de caráter predominantemente preventivo por contraponto ao habitual e enraizado uso da reprovação como medida pedagógica remediativa e do seu efeito no risco de abandono e exclusão escolares. Para além da demonstração da falência técnica da medida e da consequente irrazoabilidade da sua aplicação como solução pedagógica sistemática e quase exclusiva no cenário educacional português, dispensando, mesmo nos ciclos iniciais de ensino, outras alternativas e caminhos de possibilidades, os ensinamentos adquiridos ao longo dos dois últimos anos letivos com o projeto 'Comunidades Escolares de Aprendizagem Gulbenkian XXI' vêm confirmar a emergência de outras abordagens e metodologias de trabalho na afirmação do sucesso educativo como condição natural da escola. Na sua base, estão, por um lado, a liderança curricular e pedagógica do professor na promoção e organização de abordagens curriculares abertas e enriquecidas, muito apoiadas em dinâmicas de transversalidade curricular e na diversificação de oportunidades e contextos de aprendizagem suportadas em parcerias de convergência escolar mobilizadoras de outras fontes de conhecimento, de outros atores, de outros recursos educativos, de outras linguagens, de outros espaços e, por outro lado, na criação de ambientes de aprendizagem motivadores, informais, lúdicos e de bem-estar e onde o recurso a ambientes tecnológicos como meio pedagógico-didático e a criação de dinâmicas socioemocionais e criativas parecem ser fortemente potenciadores do desenvolvimento natural de contextos de aprendizagem e bem-estar.