João Luís Apóstolo, professor of the Nursing School of Coimbra, has
presented his doctoral thesis in Nursing Sciences at the Biomedical Sciences
Institute Abel Salazar of the
Overall the study of Professor João Apóstolo focused on the elaboration
of an instrument for the assessment of the levels of depression, anxiety and
stress – but also for the assessment of comfort of hospitalised psychiatric
patients.
In this same study, it was also elaborated an instrument which allows
for an intervention on these patients resorting to mental images. Essentially,
it consists of stimulating the imagination of the mental patient in a positive
way.
Finally it was also conducted a study to assess the effects of the
intervention with mental images on depressed patients.
The members of the jury were: Corália Vicente (president), Constança
Paúl and Zaida Azeredo (professors of the Biomedical Sciences Institute Abel
Salazar), as well as professors Teresa Calvário Antunes and Aida Mendes (of the
ESEnfC).
The arguer was Professor Wilson Abreu from the Nursing School of Oporto.
According to Professor Aida Mendes, the jury considered it an innovative
thesis with quality, pointed out the accuracy and scientific curiosity of the
candidate and emphasized the contribution of the thesis to the Nursing Sciences
and to the Mental Health area.
The thesis of João Apóstolo contributes to the “development of an
autonomous Nursing intervention, which is useful for the improvement of the
comfort of hospitalised patients and for the reduction of the symptoms
connected with depression, anxiety and stress”, as Professora Aida Mendes
states.
Professor João Apóstolo is very pleased with the evaluation of his
doctoral thesis and hopes that the conclusions of this study will be adopted as
a good practice guide.
