Sílvia Caldeira

Sílvia Caldeira is Associate Professor with Agregação at Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), Lisbon, affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing and the Lisbon Nursing School. She is an integrated researcher at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS) and coordinates the PhD in Nursing program at UCP. Caldeira is also a key figure in NANDA-I, serving on the Diagnosis Development Committee and leading the NANDA-I Portugal Network Group.

Education:

• Agregação in Nursing, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2024)
• PhD in Nursing, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2013)
• Master in Bioethics (Spirituality in Care: an ethical imperative), University of Lisbon (2008)

Her research focuses on nursing diagnoses, particularly spiritual distress, spiritual care, resilience, and forgiveness, using methodologies such as Q-methodology, mixed methods, RCTs, and evidence synthesis. She has led multiple research projects, including digital spiritual care tools (e.g., STEP app), pain assessment in oncology, and interdisciplinary studies on public theology. Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward integrating spirituality into digital health and oncology care, with increasing use of scoping reviews and pilot interventions. Caldeira has published over 400 research outputs and received 39 distinctions, including multiple best poster awards.

Scientific Awards:

• 1 out of 3 of the best posters in spirituality category (2019)
• Avaliação da Autocompaixão como promotora de Saúde Mental em estudantes de Enfermagem brasileiros (2024)
• Best poster (2018, 2021)
• Coal Tar (2018)
• Religioso (2018)
• Concept Analysis (2021)

She has supervised doctoral and master’s students, served on editorial boards (e.g., International Journal of Nursing Knowledge), and participated in numerous research grants. Her leadership roles include Principal Investigator and Project Coordinator in multiple funded projects. Caldeira is also active in knowledge dissemination through press/media contributions and public impact initiatives, including workshops and community health programs focused on spiritual care, hypertension, and youth nursing consultation.

Labs and Research Teams:

• Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS)
• NANDA-I Portugal Network Group
• PhD in Nursing program team at UCP
• Collaborations with Trinity College Dublin and international researchers