Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
RC IPCB - Repositório Científico
Entradas recentes
Influencia del diseño de packaging en la percepción de calidad del producto. Un estudio sobre alimentos típicos de la zona centro de Portugal
Publication . Raposo, Daniel; Carballo, Fernando Suárez; Neves, João Vasco; Veríssimo, Fátima; Paiva, Teresa; Felgueira, Teresa
Según la literatura científica, el diseño del packaging constituye un factor esencial en la construcción del valor simbólico del producto y, por tanto, condiciona la intención de compra de los consumidores. Partiendo de esta afirmación, el estudio analiza la influencia del envase en la percepción de calidad de alimentos típicos del centro de Portugal (Beira Baixa, Beira Alta y Alto Minho) como el aceite, la miel, el vino, los ahumados y la fruta. El objetivo principal es determinar si la calidad y la innovación del diseño de packaging influyen directamente en la percepción de calidad del producto y analizar la repercusión de varios atributos (forma, material, rótulo, diseño gráfico y otros componentes) en esta valoración. Para ello, la metodología de la investigación combina un panel de siete expertos en diseño gráfico (para una evaluación del diseño de packaging) y una encuesta mixta (cuantitativa y cualitativa) aplicada a consumidores (n = 75). Los resultados revelan una relación significativa entre la calidad del diseño y la calidad atribuida al producto, así como la especial repercusión del diseño gráfico de la etiqueta en estas valoraciones.
Analysis of usability in digital design by integrating Kano, WebQual and QFD models: The case of the interior design Website+
Publication . Raposo, Daniel; Veríssimo, Fátima; Paiva, Teresa; Neves, João Vasco; Felgueira, Teresa
This study proposes a structured, replicable, multimethod framework for evaluating the usability of institutional information systems serving heterogeneous user groups. It adresses the limited integration of expectation–satisfaction analysis, perception-based quality assessment, and technical prioritisation by combining the Kano Model, WebQual 4.0, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and heuristic evaluation within a unified workflow. The framework was applied to the Interior+ platform through a user survey (n = 40) and an expert heuristic inspection (n = 4). Results indicate that usability, responsiveness, and information clarity serve as basic (must-be) attributes, leading to high potential for dissatisfaction when performance is inadequate. In contrast, multimedia content and personalisation emerged as attractive attributes that enhance satisfaction without generating substantial dissatisfaction when absent. The integration of Kano, WebQual, and QFD enabled the systematic prioritisation of technical improvements, while comparison with expert evaluations revealed an 80% convergence between user-derived priorities and heuristic recommendations. The findings also highlight meaningful divergences between users and experts, particularly regarding information clarity, reinforcing the value of triangulated evaluation approaches. The study contributes a practical, operationalised protocol that integrates user perceptions, expert assessments, and decision-support tools to inform evidence-based usability improvements and the development of more inclusive, effective, and user-centred institutional digital platforms.
Editorial: The role of physical education in adolescent life satisfaction and well-being
Publication . Batista, Marco; Galán-Arroyo, Carmen; Castillo-Paredes, Antonio; Rojo-Ramos, Jorge
Adolescence is a critical period of human development, characterised by profound biological, psychological, social and reaviou-as changes that influence health, well-being and quality of life across the lifespan. In this context, the promotion of subjective wellbeing and life satisfaction has gained increasing prominence in international research and is recognised as an important indicator of positive development, social adjustment and mental health (1). At the same time, insufficient levels of physical activity observed among young people remain a global public-health concern, with the World Health Organization (2) warning about the high prevalence of sedentary behaviours during adolescence. Scientific evidence consistently shows that regular participation in physical activity is associated with significant physical, psychological and social benefits, including better mental health, higher self-esteem, lower levels of anxiety and depression, and greater subjective well-being (3, 4). Within this framework, Physical Education occupies a privileged position as an educational context capable of promoting not only motor skills but also the personal, social and emotional development of young people (5). Contemporary perspectives also underscore the relevance of the concept of Physical Literacy, understood as the combination of motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding that enables individuals to value and take responsibility for participating in physical activities throughout life (6). Likewise, SelfDetermination Theory suggests that educational contexts that support autonomy, competence and interpersonal relatedness tend to foster more self-determined forms of motivation and higher levels of well-being (7). It was in this context that the Research Topic The Role of Physical Education in Adolescent Life Satisfaction and Well-being emerged. The eleven articles included in this collection offer a comprehensive perspective on how Physical Education, physical activity, Physical Literacy, family and institutional contexts, and various psychological mechanisms contribute to the promotion of well-being among adolescents and young adults. Despite thematic and methodological diversity, the studies converge on a common message: the effects of Physical Education and physical activity on life satisfaction and well-being are explained by a complex network of motivational, psychological, social and contextual mechanisms.
Urinary tract infections in Portugal: A decade of evidence on uropathogens and antimicrobial resistance — A systematic review
Publication . Rodrigues, Francisco; Coelho, Patricia; Mateus, Sónia; Eideh, Hatem; Castelo-Branco, Miguel
Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide and represent a significant public health concern due to their high
prevalence and increasing antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to systematically review the epidemiology, uropathogens, and resistance patterns of UTIs in Portugal over
the last decade.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A literature search was performed in April 2026. A total of 425 records were identified. After removal of duplicates and preliminary exclusions, 121 records were screened by title and abstract. Following application of eligibility criteria, 41 full-text articles were assessed, of which 13 met the criteria for detailed eligibility assessment. Six studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final qualitative synthesis. Results: The included studies consistently reported a higher prevalence of UTIs in females and, in some cases, in older populations. Escherichia coli was identified as the predominant uropathogen across all studies, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus spp., and Enterococcus spp. A consistently high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was observed, particularly against commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. The presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains was also reported, especially in healthcare-associated infections, which exhibited higher resistance profiles compared to community-acquired infections. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that UTIs in Portugal are predominantly caused by enterobacteria, particularly Escherichia coli. However, the limited number and heterogeneity of studies highlight the need for cautious interpretation. Further multicenter and methodologically robust studies are required to better characterize national epidemiological patterns and antimicrobial resistance trends.
Emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between sport type and social anxiety in adolescents
Publication . Fernandes, Helder Miguel; Costa, Henrique; Esteves, Pedro Tiago; Fonseca, Teresa de Jesus; Honório, Samuel; Rodrigues, Aristides M. Machado; Frontiers
Background: Adolescence is a developmental period marked by heightened social anxiety vulnerability. Organized sport may protect mental health, but the psychological mechanisms linking sport type to social anxiety remain unclear.
Objective: This study examined whether specific emotional intelligence dimensions mediate the association between sport type and social anxiety among adolescents, and whether sex or age moderates these relationships.
Methods: The sample comprised 1036 adolescents (603 girls and 433 boys), aged 12-17 years. Participants completed self-report measures assessing sport participation (no sport = 684; individual 24 = 156; and team = 196), emotional intelligence, and social anxiety. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted using bootstrapped regression models.
Results: The use of emotion emerged as the most consistent mediator between sport participation and lower levels of social anxiety. Both individual and team sports were indirectly associated with lower fear of negative evaluation, reduced social avoidance and distress through a greater use of emotion. Team sport participation also showed a direct positive association with fear of negative evaluation, indicating inconsistent mediation. Sex showed no significant moderation effect. Age influenced certain direct and indirect pathways, with team sport participation showing a transient positive association with fear of negative evaluation during early adolescence, buffered by stable protective indirect effects of use of emotion across ages.
This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article. Conclusions: These findings indicate that sport participation types were indirectly 34 associated with lower social anxiety in adolescents through adaptive use of emotion, while also suggesting that team sport contexts may amplify evaluative pressures that increase fear of negative evaluation during early adolescence.