ABSTRACT
PURPOSE--Characterization of the population using the emergency unit of the Instituto do Coração--HCFMUSP. METHODS--The investigation was carried out in a randomly selected population of 225 people between January and April/93. To determine demographic profile, involvement of the accompanying people with the patient, the nosologic profile and patient's level of knowledge about the Social Health Security (SHS), a questionnaire was applied to the accompanying people. RESULTS--Of the 225 patients, 52.4 were males; age ranged from 1 day to 93 years (45.5 over 60 years old); 61 were living in the state of São Paulo; 17 were professionally active; 52 were beneficiaries of Social Security; 92.4 were users of SHS; 47.3 were illiterate; 67 presented with acute cardiovascular diseases and 33 with a noncardiologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION--This is an old population with a low level of instruction, coming from all regions of the country. Because SHS medical services and hospitals does not work well, including cardiology services, this population asked for care in our emergency unit.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Heart Diseases , Emergency Service, Hospital , Aged, 80 and over , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Foram entrevistados por assistente social e enfermeira 398 individuos, de idade entre 5 e 84 (media 48) anos, 232 (58 por cento) mulheres e 116 (42 por cento) homens, no periodo de julho a setembro de 1989. Duzentos e vinte e quatro (62 por cento) residiam na Capital, 140 (38 por cento) em municipios deo Estado de Sao Paulo e em outros Estados. Oitenta e seis casos (22 por cento) foram encaminhados pelo Pronto Socorro do Instituto Central; 334 (84 por cento) buscaram consulta medica; 271 (68 por cento) procuravam o Hospital pela primeira vez; 159 (40 por cento) nao procuraram atendimento previo na rede basica de saude; 287 (72 por cento ) informaram nao conhecer recurso de cardiologia proximo a sua residencia. A expectativa de atendimento em hospital de referencia para atencao a saude em niveis terciario e quaternario em cardiologia, frequentemente engloba aspectos passiveis de atendimento na rede basica de saude, nem sempre procurada previamente.