Research involving ISMT lecturers on Age-Friendly Cities published by the WHO

Research involving ISMT lecturers on Age-Friendly Cities published by the WHO

Research involving ISMT lecturers on Age-Friendly Cities published by the WHO

2026-07-01

The Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ-PT) has been validated for Portugal with the collaboration of ISMT lecturers, and the results are available on the World Health Organization website.

Two lecturers from the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (ISMT) in Coimbra are part of the research team responsible for validating the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ) for Portugal. This work, which is part of a project coordinated by The Hague University of Applied Sciences with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), is shared on the official WHO communication channels.

The research included the participation of lecturers Maria João Barata and Fernanda Daniel, who are co-authors of the study focusing on the city of Coimbra. The research team brings together members from ISMT, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra.

The translation and validation process of the Questionnaire for the national context (AFCCQ-PT) involved a sample of 242 residents in the municipality of Coimbra, aged 65 and over. The results showed that the AFCCQ-PT is a reliable and valid instrument to assess the suitability of urban centres, based on the perspective and daily experience of older adults.

Within the domains analysed in Coimbra, housing received the most favourable evaluations from the respondents. In contrast, outdoor spaces and buildings were the components that registered the least positive ratings. The AFCCQ-PT allows for the collection of older adults' perceptions regarding the quality of the urban environment in a standardised and comparable way. It therefore constitutes an instrument to directly support public policies and urban planning aimed at promoting environments adapted to active ageing in the community.

Following this publication on the "Age-Friendly World" platform, Manuel Castelo Branco, President of the ISMT Board of Directors, expresses his recognition of the researchers: "I am proud of the work of our lecturers. This result reflects the close support we provide to those researching at ISMT, undertaking a constructive commitment to science that transforms lives, whether in our Region, our Country, Europe, or the World."

The Portuguese version of the AFCCQ can be consulted here:
https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AFCCQ-PT.pdf

The article regarding the validation can be consulted here:
https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-Barata-et-al.-Is-Coimbra-an-Age-Friendly-City-AFCCQ-PT.pdf