Care for frontline health care workers in times of COVID-19

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has generated the collapse of health care systems and significant impacts on the health of the workers involved in combatting the disease worldwide. METHODS: We conducted an integrative literature review focusing on the alternatives implemented to develop care for frontline health care workers in times of COVID-19. RESULTS: Fifteen articles disclosed the importance of physical and mental care for workers. CONCLUSIONS: A sensitive view of the health care worker's care is urgently needed to maintain the quality of health service offered to the population and preserve the health of frontline workers.

Impacto sobre a capacidade funcional e cognitiva em idosos após um ano de institucionalização / Impact on functional and cognitive capacity in elderly after a year of institutionalization

Objetivo: Acompanhar por um ano as modificações da capacidade funcional e cognitiva de idosos institucionalizados. Métodos: A pesquisa se caracteriza em coorte prospectivo, compreendendo uma amostra de 41 idosos institucionalizados, com idade de 80,0 ±10,6 anos, sendo 32 (78,8%) do sexo feminino. As coletas de dados foram realizadas em uma Instituição de Longa Permanência para Idosos, na cidade de Cachoeira do Sul/RS. O perí­odo de coleta de dados foi entre janeiro de 2016 e fevereiro de 2017. A capacidade cognitiva foi avaliada pelo teste de cognição Mini-Exame de Estado Mental (MEEM) e a capacidade funcional pela Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF). Resultados: Durante o perí­odo de um ano, a capacidade funcional reduziu 7,6% (p = 0,003) e a capacidade cognitiva reduziu 6,7% (p = 0,001). A correlação entre as capacidades funcional e cognitiva no ano de 2016 e 2017 foram respectivamente de r = 0,478 e r = 0,505. A regressão linear demonstrou que durante o perí­odo a capacidade funcional influenciou em 25% (r² = 0,247) na capacidade cognitiva e que para cada 1 ponto da MIF, diminui 0,1 ponto do MEEM (p = 0,001). Conclusão: Durante o perí­odo de um ano, observou-se a redução das capacidades funcional e cognitiva de idosos institucionalizados. (AU)

Objective: To monitor for one year the changes in functional and cognitive capacity of institutionalized elderly. Methods: The study is a prospective cohort of 41 institutionalized elderly, aged 80.0 ± 10.6 years, 32 (78.8%) being female. Data were collected at a Long-Term Care Institution for the Elderly, in the city of Cachoeira do Sul/RS. The data collection period was between January 2016 and February 2017. The cognitive ability was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test and functional capacity by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Results: During the one-year period, functional capacity decreased by 7.6% (p = 0.003) and cognitive capacity decreased by 6.7% (p = 0.001). The correlation between the functional and cognitive capacities in the year 2016 and 2017 were respectively r = 0.478 and r = 0.505. The linear regression showed that functional capacity influenced 25% (r² = 0.247) in cognitive capacity during the period and that for each 1 point of FIM, 0,1 point of MMSE decreased (p = 0.001). Conclusion: During the one-year period, the functional and cognitive abilities of the institutionalized elderly were reduced. (Au)