Autonomous Region Of Azores Research Articles

Turismo de saúde e bem-estar nos Açores: Caso de turistas seniores

Global demographic aging comes from economic, social, and health policies, in which the individual plays an active role in his or her own health and well-being. The Autonomous Region of the Azores, internationally known for the beauty of its natural landscapes, is recognised as the first archipelago considered a sustainable destination at the world level. This research aimed to explore the concerns, activities/interests, and motivations of seniors who have visited or wish to visit the Azores Region. This article analyzes the profile of the senior “tourist”, explores the motivations and interests for visiting the Azores, investigates differences between the groups, and analyses possible predictors. It is suggested that stakeholders should have greater investment in the quality and (re)creation of health and wellness tourism products.

The “Cosmopolitan” Legislative Regions of Europe: Some comparative lessons from the participation of the REGLEG in Portugal

The present paper is the result of the participation in the Conference on Multilevel Legislative Drafting and Legislative Impact Assessment, held in Lisbon on the 15th of June 2022. The participation of the legislative regions (REGLEG) in the multilevel legislative drafting of the EU was questioned in Portugal over the transposition of Directives by the Autonomous Region of the Azores, in a procedure that was adjudicated by the Portuguese Constitutional Courts. This was the pretext for this presentation, aimed at discussing the legislative role of the REGLEG in the EU, which necessarily happens within the broader context of an increasingly cosmopolitan global legal order in multilevel networks of government.

Climate Change and Extreme Events in Northeast Atlantic and Azores Islands Region

In small island regions, the influence of climate change assumes particular relevance. In the Azores archipelago, made up of nine islands, the geographical circumstances, oceanic condition, territorial dispersion, land use model and other physiographic constraints reinforce and enhance the vulnerability of the islands to changes in current weather patterns. Coupled Model Intercomparison Phase 6 (CMIP6) projections are used for the northeast Atlantic region to evaluate daily extreme climate events in large scale for the Azores region. Results shows changes in the annual maximum number of consecutive dry days, the annual number of wet days, and especially in the annual number of tropical nights. Despite limitations due to the lack of spatial detail, the large-scale framework suggests changes that may be enhanced by topography, particularly with respect to precipitation. The conclusions point to the need to establish standard rules in the processes of design, reviewing and/or amending territorial management instruments at the municipal scale in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, with the goal of adapting to a different climate from the recent past.

Psychological Risk and Protective Factors for Suicidal Ideation: A Study in an Adolescent Sample in an Insular Context.

Adolescents are at risk of suicide. As suicide is a multifactorial process, risk and protective factors are relevant constructs for suicide prediction. This study explored the effects of risk and protective factors on suicidal ideation in adolescents on the island of São Miguel (Azores). A sample of 750 adolescents (male: n=358; 47.7%; mean age=14.67 years; standard deviation=1.85 years) from the island of São Miguel (Azores) completed several measures related to suicidal ideation and associated factors. Using a cross-sectional design, this study conducted descriptive, correlational, predictive, mediation, and moderation analyses. Adolescents generally displayed high levels of risk and protective factors; an indicative proportion exhibited significant suicidal ideation with females presenting the greatest vulnerability. Furthermore, the results highlight that depression is the best predictor of suicidal ideation, however, the association between these variables is mediated. The data corroborate that the suicidal reality of adolescents in the Autonomous Region of the Azores is worrisome. Having substantiated the complexity of the suicidal context in young people in the present research, the need to continue studying risk/protective factors in this area is supported.

Fiscal attractiveness of Portuguese municipalities

The modeling of the municipalities’ tax burden is one of the most relevant issues, especially in terms of municipal competitiveness. It challenges the definition and delimitation of local authorities’ taxing powers. This study aims to analyze the level of taxation of Portuguese municipalities and how local policies contribute to the definition of a ranking of fiscally more competitive municipalities. The paper applies quantitative methods based on the fiscal information made available by municipalities. It has been determined that it is possible to classify municipalities as more or less competitive through their tax supply, mainly at the level of their ability to set tax rates. In 2021, compared to 2020, the most fiscally competitive municipalities were located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Corvo (95.128%); Vila do Pico (95.128%); Madalena (95.128%); Povoação (95.078%); Santa Cruz das Flores (95.072%); Angra do Heroísmo (95.044%); Nordeste (95.036%); Vila Franca do Campo (95.036%); Horta (95.017%); and Ponta Delgada (95.017%)). The study also verified the maintenance of fiscal competitiveness among the most fiscally attractive municipalities, despite having several types of fiscal attraction policy options at their disposal, always conditioned by national legislation. This means fiscal policy is an instrument of competition for attracting companies, people, and productive investment to local municipalities. The existence of an international dogma favorable to the increasing attribution of administrative and financial autonomy to local authorities mainly supports this phenomenon.

Energy Harvesting on Airport Pavements Ambient Dependent: Ponta Delgada Airport Case Study

Energy transition is an important issue for countries trying to meet their greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets. To achieve this reduction, the Portuguese government has budgeted a total of EUR 116 M to aid energy transition in the Autonomous Region of the Azores by 2029. This work presents a solution for producing electricity using photovoltaic panels (PV) to settle in the top of the airport pavement. In addition to producing sustainable electricity, the implementation of panels in the civil airport infrastructure allows us to address the reduction of emissions in the ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and the Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) program. Currently, PV panels are unable to support the weight of aircraft so the installation must be in the areas of the pavement where there is no regular aircraft traffic. As a result of the study, a production of about 9 GWh/year was achieved with an LCOE of 143 EUR/MWh, reducing emissions to about 6-ton CO2/year.

The viability of Telesurgery Service in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, supported by the 5G Network

5G network technology is considered one of the driving forces behind various societal changes. Among multiple uses, it offers Telesurgery. In situations where the patient needs specialized surgery, but there are no conditions to be transported to where the surgical intervention can be performed, Telesurgery allows access to the procedure with all the security that 5G network technology offers. The Autonomous Region of the Azores (ARA) is considered an outermost region which is an integral part of the EU (despite the thousands of kilometres that separate it from the European continent). Therefore, the EU law applies to these regions with all rights and duties associated. The Support Service to the Displaced Patient (SADD) accompanies annually and under normal conditions an average of more than 1500 patients from the Azores. They travel to the mainland for health reasons. This scenario is applied across islands, where an average of 550 patients moved annually from islands without a hospital to islands with a hospital. As a result, health costs rise in this Region.This paper will use the survey research methodology since it is the most appropriate method when we want to obtain answers/data that express opinions, customs or characteristics of a certain target audience. Therefore, a mixed mode will be used, namely interviews and questionnaires, having as scientific target areas medicine and engineering, in the specialities of gastroenterology and telecommunications, to support the research questions. This paper aims to present research on the viability of Telesurgery in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, supported by the 5G network, as an alternative for travelling patients.

Sports Management Education: A Perspective on the Public Sector

The discussion on the role of the sport managers has gained a growing prominence within the scope of scientific research in sport, and it is crucial that he/she possesses knowledge and essential skills to act efficiently and effectively in increasingly complex and differentiated contexts. This research aimed to identify the sociodemographic profile of the main actors involved in municipal sports management, while exploring their perception of the importance of training in sports management. We followed a simple descriptive quantitative approach, focusing on the 308 municipalities of Mainland Portugal, the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Data were collected through a questionnaire, applied between November 2020 and February 2021, and 443 responses were achieved. The results show a superiority of males in both groups and in both cases they are aged between 41 and 49 years. The average level of qualifications is the bachelor’s degree, however, the number of professionals with academic training in sports management is extremely low. Despite this scenario, the professionals working in municipal sports management considered that it is very important to have training in sports management in order to improve their skills. Theoretical contributions of the research: (i) increases scientific knowledge in the field of municipal sports management and its actors; (ii) updates knowledge on the profile of technicians and those responsible for the promotion and development of municipal sports activity; (iii) establishes the relationship between the importance of training in sports management and the opinion/perception of those who effectively act as sports managers; (iv) explores the indices of training in sports management vs. the academic qualifications of technicians and municipal officials. Keywords: Sports management; portuguese municipalities; sports technicians; competencies; education and training

General Practice/Family Medicine Portuguese doctors: “technicists” or “systemics”?

To study if the consultation's problems classification of a fictitious case by General and Family Medicine doctors, showed the characteristics of being a mechanistic or a systemic approach. Exploratory cross-sectional observational study in a convenience sample of the General Practice/Family Medicine population, internees included, in April 2020, applying a modified real world clinical case. Central Portugal and the Autonomous Region of Azores. General Practice/Family Medicine specialists and internees. Electronic Doctors invitation to participate, anonymously, in specific doctor's social networks. A self-fulfilling questionnaire was used to verify the classification of a clinical case in Subjective, Assessment and Plan (from the SOAP methodology) with the response options of the International Classification of Primary Health Care (ICPC2) in chapters P (Psychological) and Z (Social) possible for this case. “Technicists” doctors, only classifying “P” codes and “Systemics” classifying “P+Z” or only “Z” ICPC2 codes were defined. Differences between genders, work place, being an internee or specialist and being a tutor in specialized formation were studied. A sample of 227 30% (n=68) males, specialists represented 66% (n=149), of whom 49% (n=73) were internee's tutors and 34% (n=78) were internees, was studied. In the Subjective chapter of the SOAP methodology, 44.1% (n=100) were “technicists”, for Assessment n=93 (40.8%) were “technicists” and for P chapter classification 56.8% were “technicists”. For S, A and P chapters classification there was no significant difference between the considered variables. In this sample General Practice/Family Medicine Portuguese doctors were more “systemic” for the S and A chapters of the SOAP model, And “technicists” in the P chapter.

The Impact of Portuguese Economic and Financial Assistance Program on the Employability of the Azorean Nurse after the Financial Crisis of 2009-2010

The economic crisis that followed the financial crisis that began in the United States of America in 2008 quickly spread to the whole world, leaving structural problems in several countries unveiled, particularly in those that, due to successive deficits and high external indebtedness, were in a more fragile situation. In the Portuguese case, external assistance was needed, made available in exchange for structural reforms and the abrupt, and severe reduction in public expenditure. The applied austerity had repercussions throughout society, but the public sector felt the weight of the used measures concretely, with health services being no exception. The shock waves caused by public expenditure containment policies were particularly felt in the Azores, an ultra peripheral region marked by geographical discontinuity. These are significant asymmetries at various levels from island to island and across several sectors. The public sector is the primary employer. This paper focuses on understanding if the Portuguese Economic and Financial Assistance Program, implemented between 2011 and 2014, affected the employability and dynamics of the labour market of new graduate nurses in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. This quantitative study used descriptive, inferential, and correlation statistics to establish relations with a statistical value between the sample's employability dimensions and the Portuguese Economic and Financial Assistance Program. From the analysis carried out, the study revealed that the restrictions imposed due to the external assistance program led to an increase in precariousness among new graduate nurses and, among other conclusions, a strong contraction in the capacity of hiring nurses by the public health services. As a limitation to the study, there is the need to emphasise that data on unemployment reflected the reality when the questionnaire was applied (May 2019), and the fact that the study did not explore the reasons underlying the unemployment rate found among the participants (although residual).

Educational Approximations Between Preschool and Primary School: The Perspective of Kindergarten and Primary School Teachers

This article aims to understand how a group of preschool and primary school teachers view the process of educational transition between these two educational contexts, considering the consequences that these moments have on the children's school career and on their own personal and social experience, and that teachers play a key role as links between both. Methodologically, this research is based on the collection of information through a questionnaire survey, with open and closed questions, filled in by 20 preschool educators and 20 primary school teachers from the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal. The collected data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results obtained allow us to conclude that there are specific differences in the way preschool teachers and primary school teachers look at educational transition, although both consider it as an important aspect of the children's educational path, highlighting the need for a closer relationship between both in the construction of a process that is intended to be continuous and smooth. Received: 8 April 2021 / Accepted: 5 June 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021

Validation of the Psychometric Properties of the Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index in Primary Health Care in Portugal.

Studies related to the work environment in primary health care are scarce in the literature. The present study aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) in primary health care (PHC) and to evaluate its construct validity through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in a sample of Portuguese nurses. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and validation study design was implemented. Methods: The sample consisted of 1059 nurses from the PHC units of all 55 health center groups (HCGs) in mainland Portugal, 15 health centers in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and 6 health centers in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The study tested different structural models using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques. The reliability of the scale was tested by determining Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: The internal consistency of the PES-NWI was 0.91. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the PES-NWI model in PHC with five factors: NPOA, NFQC, NMALSN, SRA, and CNPR. The results show that the scale presents acceptable fit quality indexes in the final factorial solution and adequate convergent validity. Conclusion: The PES-NWI in PHC has an adequate, robust, and reliable five-factor structure. The scale is valid and can be used in clinical practice, nursing management, and PHC research.

Sustainability economic study of the islands of the Azores archipelago using photovoltaic panels, wind energy and storage system

Currently, the nine islands of the Autonomous Region of the Azores have fossil fuel-fired power stations as the main source of electric power. Each island has an independent electrical system classified as an isolated micro-system, given its size and location. The aim of this paper is to analyse the best set of technologies to have nine sustainable hybrid systems. For this purpose, some factors will be considered, such as actual data production of the island, economic scenarios, growth perspectives of consumption and reliability of supply. The results of these studies will allow us to conclude on the applicability of these systems and to quantify the consequent socio-economic, environmental and fossil energy-saving benefits. A system is projected to the archipelago, in order to reduce the energy production due to non-renewable energies, budgeted on 783.28 million euros, which intend to instal wind farms and photovoltaic parks (using polycrystalline and cadmium telluride technologies).

Uncertainty and flexibility in infrastructure investments: Application of real options analysis to the Ponta Delgada airport expansion

Ponta Delgada airport is the most important air transport infrastructure in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The increase in airport activity that resulted from the partial liberalization of the air transport sector has increased the pressure on its capacity. This study used Smit (2003) framework to evaluate the Ponta Delgada airport expansion, taking into consideration the future growth opportunities that come from an increase in tourism activity. Minor extensions were made to accommodate multistage investments. It was possible to capture the growth option value, since the decision to invest only occurs if add value to investor. The results show an option value higher than zero, whether the investment is deployed in one or two phases. Our paper aims to contribute to real options analysis field with an empirical application, allowing practitioners and business managers to better understand this framework.

Satisfação Profissional dos Professores em Pré-Reforma

A docência é uma das profissões que tem sofrido alterações tanto ao nível do ensino como da carreira. Com as diversas modificações que têm sido efetuadas, os professores veem-se confrontados com uma panóplia de fatores que influenciam o seu desempenho profissional e que poderão influenciar a sua satisfação profissional. A partir de uma amostra de 114 professores dos ensinos básico e secundário da Região Autónoma dos Açores (RAA), dos quais 73 são do género feminino (64%) e 41 do género masculino (46%), com idades compreendidas entre os 50 e os 65 anos, pretendeu-se analisar os níveis de satisfação profissional dos professores, saber se a satisfação profissional se altera em função da preparação para a reforma e de variáveis sociodemográficas. Para a recolha de dados foram utilizados três questionários, que permitem estudar as variáveis sociodemográficas dos participantes, a sua satisfação profissional e a sua preparação para a reforma. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a maioria dos professores do ensino básico e secundário da amostra não prepara a sua reforma, que as escolas básicas e secundárias da RAA não desenvolvem programas de preparação para a reforma, que os docentes estão relativamente satisfeitos com a sua profissão e que a satisfação profissional varia em função da idade, numa relação diretamente proporcional. O estudo evidencia a necessidade de uma intervenção organizada no âmbito da preparação para a reforma, junto dos professores do ensino básico e secundário da Região, muito embora se verifique que os docentes estão relativamente satisfeitos com o seu trabalho. Sugere-se, ainda, o desenvolvimento de novos estudos, no sentido de verificar se o facto de os professores estarem relativamente satisfeitos com a profissão influencia a falta de preparação a reforma.

Economic Sustainability Study of São Miguel Island in the Azores Using Photovoltaic Panels and Wind Turbines

Currently, the nine islands of the Autonomous Region of the Azores have fossil fuel power stations as their main source of electric power. Each island has an independent electrical system classified as an isolated micro-system, given its size and location. The goal of this study is to analyze the best set of technologies for a sustainable hybrid system. This study will be applied first on São Miguel to make the largest island of the archipelago 100% renewable. We will consider factors such as the island’s actual data production, economic scenarios, growth perspectives of consumption and reliability of supply.

A perceção dos stakeholders sobre o desenvolvimento turístico - o caso da ilha de São Miguel, Açores

Tourism in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and especially in the island of Sao Miguel, has suffered in recent years a significant increase with repercussions on economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts. Strategic planning of the activity becomes even more challenging in small island territories. In this context, the present study aims to know the perceptions of different stakeholders about the impacts of tourism development; the identification of the main drivers of the competitiveness of the destination; and the characterization of the level of involvement and participation of local stakeholders in the planning process. Methodologically, we chose semi-directive interviews and content analysis from a sample of stakeholders from the island of S. Miguel. The results show that the positive economic impacts are the most noticeable, as one would expect in a destination in the growth phase, and a level of public participation still scarce.

Fast or Slow? Decision Making Styles in Small Family and Nonfamily Firms

The purpose of this study is to explore differences in the decision making styles between family and nonfamily firms, while assessing how family participation relates to the use of decision making styles in family firms. The empirical evidence is provided by a sample of 155 firms, located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal, 82 family-controlled and 73 nonfamily-controlled firms. Results suggest that there are no differences in the use of rational decision making between family and nonfamily firms. However, nonfamily firms show higher levels of experiential decision making than family firms. Results also show that family participation plays a key role in guiding the decisional process, by promoting the use experiential decisions and inhibiting the adoption of a rational decision making style in family firms. From an applied perspective, assessing the influence of family participation in the adoption of a decisional style is potentially valuable for practitioners as well as for owners and managers. Providing them with clues that may help them better understand the basis of their decisions which can benefit their relations with other family members, as with customers, partners and suppliers that play a key role in the firm’s growth, profitability and adaptability. This study responds to a gap in the literature, by exploring the use of experiential versus rational decision making styles in small family and nonfamily firms. This study also contributes to the understanding of the decision making within family firms, by assessing the role of family participation in the decisional process.

Entrepreneurial Orientation in Family Firms: Looking at a European Outermost Region

This study addresses a current debate in the family business literature involving the extent to which the family business context hinders or promotes entrepreneurial behavior. The empirical evidence is provided by 155 small-sized firms, 82 family-controlled and 73 nonfamily-controlled, operating in an outermost region, the Autonomous Region of the Azores. This study analyzes the differences between family and nonfamily firms in regard to entrepreneurial orientation and how it is influenced by family participation. Results show that there are differences in entrepreneurship orientation and in two of its three dimensions, while revealing that family participation is negatively associated with entrepreneurial orientation and its three dimensions.

Profiling Family Firms in the Autonomous Region of the Azores

Este estudo tem como objetivo traçar o perfil das empresas familiares localizadas na Região Autónoma dos Açores. Recorrendo a uma amostra de 82 empresas familiares, são analisados vários aspetos importantes na caracterização de empresas familiares, como a propriedade e administração, a gestão e experiência e a cultura organizacional. Outros indicadores são, igualmente, tidos em conta: setor de atividade, anos em operação, número de colaboradores e volume de negócios do último ano. Os resultados obtidos revelam que estas empresas são detidas e controladas exclusivamente pela família e os proprietários e gerentes são a geração fundadora. Atuam no setor do retalho, contam com menos de 10 colaboradores, encontram-se em atividade há mais de 30 anos e têm um volume de negócios inferior a €500.000 por ano. Os membros da família mostram ter orgulho, empenho e identificam-se com as empresas, considerando, ainda, que a família tem uma importante influência no negócio.