Filomena Carnide

Background: Health systems face complex and multifaceted challenges that require health professionals (including clinicians, nurses and other health workers) to be equipped with entrepreneurship and innovation (E&I) competencies. However, the integration of E&I training within health university curricula remains largely underexplored across different countries and educational contexts. This study aimed to identify core E&I competencies and aligned training needs for future health professionals through a structured, multi-stakeholder approach. Methods: Shaped within a value-focused thinking framework (systematically linking competencies as end goals with educational topics as means to achieve competencies), the study comprised three stages: (1) a scoping review (ScR) combined with qualitative content analysis (QCA) to identify and categorise E&I competencies and course topics documented in literature, alongside a value-driven competencies-topics relevance matrix; (2) a 3-round web-Delphi process involving a diverse panel of health stakeholders who validated and refined competencies and course topics lists (presented as pre-built thematic maps within the web-Delphi platform), and assessed course topics’ relevance for developing specific E&I competencies; (3) a facilitated virtual workshop to discuss Delphi results and implications for higher education. Results: The ScR included twenty-nine studies. QCA of these studies produced initial lists of 28 competencies (grouped into five E&I domains of competency) and 34 course topics, organized into thematic maps. Through the responses of 29 Delphi participants, these lists were expanded to a final set of 51 competencies and 55 competency-aligned course topics. Participants rated 91% of topics as at least strongly relevant for developing the respective E&I domain of competency. The workshop provided insights on implementing formal E&I training within health education curricula, with specific reference to the Portuguese context. Conclusions: Results provide educational institutions with a practical starting point for reflecting on and designing profession-specific E&I courses and enhancing existing graduate programs through targeted E&I competency integration. Findings have significant implications for health workforce education and planning, particularly in promoting competency-driven E&I curricula to enhance professionals’ readiness for current and future healthcare system challenges. This study presents an innovative multi-stakeholder collaborative approach for mapping E&I competencies and aligned topics for training health professionals.

This study aims to assess the musculoskeletal risk of military personnel on a Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank crew and to identify associated factors for future prevention and mitigation strategies. A sample of 57 Portuguese military personnel, who are or were part of the Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank crew, answered a questionnaire on their perception of task performance, considering muscle demands, comfort, posture, movements, and associated symptoms. A subsample of four soldiers from the Armoured Squadron of the Portuguese Mechanized Brigade were assessed using an inertial measurement unit system and underwent a whole-body kinematic analysis coupled with a Rapid Entire Body Assessment during a simulated two-hour mission. The results indicate that soldiers accurately perceive their roles within the crew and that, overall, there is a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries in all tasks. However, tasks directly related to the crew’s primary duties carry consistently high risk when considering the time spent on their tasks. This study highlights the need for targeted preventive measures to reduce the incidence and severity of injuries among the crew of the Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank.

Serious Games (SGs) offer significant potential in healthcare for disease assessment and intervention, enhancing patients’ quality of life. Exercise SGs, or Exergames, promote physical activity and mobility in a gamified environment, encouraging tailored exercises based on individual abilities and needs. Here, within the Horizon Europe iPROLEPSIS project that targets Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), we describe the design process of Exergames to address PsA symptoms, including morning stiffness, impaired finger/hand and wrist functionality, and motor asymmetry. From a methodological point of view, the storyboarding technique was adopted to facilitate the visualization of the proposed Exergame scenarios, including the graphical user interface, interactive game elements, narratives, characters, and contexts related to the PsA condition. This approach has been implemented within an agile game development methodology, which includes gathering feedback early on to iteratively refine both the game ideas and prototype. Informed by the results of the game design via two agile sessions incorporating 25 participants (PsA patients, clinicians, technology developers, facilitators/observers), the current efforts are focused on developing the game prototypes and corresponding mock-ups, preparing them for upcoming clinical validation trials. The Exergames development lays the groundwork for an innovative framework to improve gross and fine motor symptoms in PsA patients. This framework could inform healthcare providers and policymakers about its potential inclusion in routine PsA management.

This study aims to perform the cross-cultural adaptation to European Portuguese of the Composite Physical Function Scale and to assess its validity and reliability in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. The scale was translated into European Portuguese, back translated, and piloted in a sample of 16 representative individuals. Its validity and reliability were tested in an independent sample of 114 community-dwelling older adults (52 were tested twice to assess test–retest reliability). The results showed that the scale had good internal consistency (α = .90), construct validity (ρ = .71) and measurement error (78.8% agreement), and excellent test–retest reliability (κ = .98). However, a ceiling effect was found as 28% of the participants achieved the highest possible score. Although the scale has good measurement properties, the presence of ceiling effects is indicative that this tool is not able to distinguish higher levels of intrinsic capacity within community-dwelling older adults.

In athletics sprint events, the block start performance can be fundamental to the outcome of a race. This Systematic Review aims to identify biomechanical factors of critical importance to the block start and subsequent first two steps performance. A systematic search of relevant English-language articles was performed on three scientific databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) to identify peer-reviewed articles published until June 2021. The keywords “Block Start”, “Track and Field”, “Sprint Running”, and “Kinetics and Kinematics” were paired with all possible combinations. Studies reporting biomechanical analysis of the block start and/or first two steps, with track and field sprinters and reporting PB100m were sought for inclusion and analysis. Thirty-six full-text articles were reviewed. Several biomechanical determinants of sprinters have been identified. In the “Set” position, an anthropometry-driven block setting facilitating the hip extension and a rear leg contribution should be encouraged. At the push-off, a rapid extension of both hips and greater force production seems to be important. After block exiting, shorter flight times and greater propulsive forces are the main features of best sprinters. This systematic review emphasizes important findings and recommendations that may be relevant for researchers and coaches. Future research should focus on upper limbs behavior and on the analysis of the training drills used to improve starting performance.