Perinatal care in a northeastern brazilian state: structure, work processes, and evaluation of the components of essential newborn care / Cuidado perinatal em um estado do nordeste brasileiro: estrutura, processos de trabalho e avaliação dos componentes do essential newborn care

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the structure and the processes of care for pregnant women/newborn infants, including the Essential Newborn Care (ENC), in maternity hospitals in Sergipe State, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out between June 2015 and April 2016 in all maternity hospitals of Sergipe with more than 500 deliveries/year (n=11). A questionnaire on the existing structure and work processes was administered to the managers. Subsequently, a representative number of postpartum women from these hospitals were interviewed (n=768). Their medical records, as well as newborn infants' records, were also analyzed. Results: Sergipe has 78 beds of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and 90 beds of Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) to meet spontaneous and programmed demand. Only six maternity hospitals (54.5%) performed the risk classification, and four (36.3%) had protocols for high-risk parturient care. Regarding the ENC components, only 41% (n=315) of the women had early skin-to-skin contact with their babies, 33.1% (n=254) breastfed in the first hour of life, and 18% (n=138) had a companion always during birth. Conclusions: The distribution of NICU beds between capital city and other cities of the State is adequate, considering Brazilian guidelines. However, there was a low adherence to the protocols for hypertensive and hemorrhagic emergencies, and a low coverage of humanization policies, pregnancy risk classification and ENC practices, especially breastfeeding in the first hour of life, and companion always during birth.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a estrutura e os processos de atendimento a gestante/recém-nascido, incluindo os componentes do Essential Newborn Care (ENC), das maternidades de Sergipe, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado entre junho de 2015 e abril de 2016 em todas as maternidades de Sergipe (n=11) com mais de 500 partos/ano. Foi aplicado um questionário aos gestores sobre a estrutura e os processos de trabalhos existentes. Posteriormente, um número representativo de puérperas desses hospitais foi entrevistado (n=768) e seus prontuários, bem como o dos recém-nascidos, foram analisados. Resultados: Sergipe conta com 78 leitos de Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) e 90 de Unidade Intermediária (UI) para atendimento da demanda espontânea e programada. Somente seis maternidades (54,5%) realizam a classificação de risco e quatro (36,3%) possuem protocolos para atendimento das parturientes de alto risco. No que se refere aos componentes do ENC, apenas 41% (n=315) das mulheres tiveram contato pele a pele precoce com seu filho, 33,1% (n=254) amamentaram na primeira hora de vida e 18% (n=138) tiveram a presença do acompanhante em todos os momentos do parto. Conclusões: A distribuição de leitos de UTIN entre capital/interior é adequada no Estado, levando-se em consideração a legislação vigente no país. Entretanto, houve baixa adesão aos protocolos das emergências hipertensivas e hemorrágicas, e baixa cobertura das políticas de humanização, da classificação de risco para a gestante e das práticas do ENC, principalmente quanto à amamentação na primeira hora de vida e à presença do acompanhante na parturição.

Nurses' practices at health basic units in a city in the south of Brazil / Las prácticas de enfermeros en unidades básicas de salud en un municipio del sur de Brasil / Práticas de enfermeiros em unidades básicas de saúde em município do sul do Brasil

On Public Health, nurses can influence the care of the health needs of the population. The objective of this paper is to feature and understand the practices of nurses working at Health Basic Units. It is a qualitative research whereby semi-structured interviews were made with 15 nurses who work at Porto Alegre-Brasil. The treatment of the data was based on analysis of content of the thematic type. Outcomes indicate that the activities performed by nurses are influenced by the Health System and its limitations, especially the lack of nursing workers. Nurses are sought to solve problems that are not always related with their work, demonstrating the diversity of their practices. The conclusion is that the presence of nurses in the daily care and their articulating role contributes to change the realities of health.

En la Salud Colectiva los enfermeros pueden influir efectivamente en la atención de las necesidades de la salud de las poblaciones. El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar y comprender las prácticas de los enfermeros en Unidades Básicas de Salud. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa, en la cual fueron realizadas entrevistas semi-estructuradas con 15 enfermeros actuantes en Puerto Alegre, Brasil. Los datos fueron tratados con base en el análisis de contenido del tipo temático. Los resultados indican que las acciones ejecutadas por los enfermeros son influenciadas por el sistema de la salud y por sus limitaciones, especialmente la falta de trabajadores. Los enfermeros son solicitados para resolver problemas que no siempre presentan una relación con su trabajo, demostrando la diversidad de sus prácticas. Se concluye que la presencia del enfermero en lo cotidiano y su papel articulador contribuyen para modificar las realidades de la salud.

Na Saúde Coletiva, os enfermeiros podem influir efetivamente no atendimento das necessidades de saúde das populações. O objetivo deste estudo é caracterizar e compreender as práticas dos enfermeiros em unidades básicas de saúde. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa, na qual foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 15 enfermeiros atuantes em Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Os dados foram tratados com base na análise de conteúdo do tipo temática. Os resultados indicam que as ações executadas pelos enfermeiros são influenciadas pelo sistema de saúde e suas limitações, especialmente a falta de trabalhadores. Os enfermeiros são procurados para resolver problemas que nem sempre apresentam relação com seu trabalho, demonstrando a diversidade de suas práticas. Conclui-se que a presença do enfermeiro no cotidiano e seu papel articulador contribuem para modificar as realidades de saúde.

A contribuição da atenção domiciliar para a configuração de redes substitutivas de saúde: desinstitucionalização e transformação de práticas / Home care's contribution to alternative health care networks: deinstitutionalization and transformation of practices

OBJETIVO: Identificar o estado da arte da atenção domiciliar no âmbito do sistema público de saúde no Brasil, analisar o seu potencial de inovação no sentido da integralidade e da humanização da atenção e indicar pistas para a sua ampliação. MÉTODOS: Sete experiências de cuidado domiciliar em cinco municípios brasileiros foram analisadas por meio de estudos de caso, com base em entrevistas com os cinco gestores municipais e os sete coordenadores dos serviços, com todos os componentes das equipes de atenção domiciliar e com os usuários e os familiares dos 27 casos selecionados. Todas as entrevistas foram gravadas e depois transcritas. Foram ainda analisados documentos produzidos pelos serviços (proposta política, relatórios de gestão, relatórios de avaliação, rotinas e protocolos de atenção), observados atendimentos (ao menos um de cada uma das equipes em todos os sete serviços) e analisados os casos traçadores. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados os seguintes tipos de atendimento domiciliar: cuidado paliativo, cuidado a pacientes com AIDS, cuidado a portadores de feridas e lesões de pele, acompanhamento de bebês prematuros, acompanhamento de acamados crônicos, antibioticoterapia endovenosa como complementação do tratamento para infecções agudas. São aspectos a destacar: a qualidade e a humanização da atenção, o trabalho em equipe, o desenvolvimento de vínculo e a responsabilização por parte dos trabalhadores e a participação efetiva dos cuidadores e das famílias na produção dos projetos terapêuticos. CONCLUSÃO: As iniciativas examinadas mostraram que a atenção domiciliar é possível até em ambientes economicamente precários e que pode contribuir efetivamente para a produção de integralidade e de continuidade do cuidado, devendo ser ampliada no âmbito do sistema público de saúde.

OBJECTIVE: To identify state-of-the-art home care within Brazil's public health system, evaluate its potential for improving the comprehensiveness and humanization of care, and identify areas for expanding this care modality. METHODS: Seven home care initiatives were examined and cases were analyzed through interviews with five municipal services managers, seven service coordinators, all home-care team members, and with the service recipients, as well as the family members of the 27 cases selected. All of the interviews were recorded and transcribed. We also analyzed documents created by the home care services (policy manuals, management reports, evaluation reports, and care protocols), observed each team providing care (at least once for each of the seven service types), and analyzed the selected cases. RESULTS: The following types of home care were identified: palliative, AIDS, skin lesions/wounds, premature infant, bedridden patient, and supplemental intravenous antibiotic therapy for acute infection. The following positive aspects should be highlighted: the quality and humanization of care, team work, the bond developed with patients and family, the sense of responsibility taken on by the health workers, and the effective participation of caretakers and families in carrying out therapy plans. CONCLUSION: The initiatives examined show that home care is possible even in economically disadvantaged environments and that it may effectively contribute to providing integrated and continued care. Home care should be expanded in the context of the public health system.

Representaciones del Cáncer en Estudiantes de Medicina: Implicaciones para la Práctica y la Enseñanza / Representing cancer in undergraduate medical students: implications for practice and teaching

Objetivo: Como parte de un estudio a largo plazo el objetivo del presente estudio fue reconstruir las representaciones sociales de una parte del personal de salud -estudiantes de medicina- en torno al cáncer y la manera como estas representaciones afectan la relación con los pacientes y familiares y su práctica médica. Métodos: La investigación integró métodos cualitativos propios de la psicología social y la antropología, en la educación médica. Para el desarrollo de esta fase se aplicaron cuatro grupos focales conformados por estudiantes de medicina, a lo largo de los años 2003 y 2004. Resultados: Para los estudiantes de medicina de primer semestre el cáncer se construye como un ente independiente de la persona que la padece y adquiere cualidades antropomórficas o zoomórficas, asociadas a la pérdida de límites y control. Los pacientes de cáncer son representados como personas sin futuro que pierden sus lazos sociales y afectivos. Discusión: En nuestro contexto es necesario pensar la posibilidad de cambio de las representaciones sociales, permitiendo nuevas maneras de relación con los pacientes de cáncer en los servicios médicos.

Objective: This study was aimed at reconstructing social representations regarding cancer formed by a group of health personnel (medical students) as part of a long-term study and how such representations affect relationships with patients and family members and their medical practice. Methods: The investigation integrated qualitative methods from social psychology and anthropology in medical education. Four focal groups formed by medical students were applied throughout 2003 and 2004 for developing this phase. Results: For first semester medical students cancer was seen as being an entity independent of the person being afflicted by it, acquiring anthropomorphic or zoomorphic qualities, associated with a loss of limits and control. Cancer patients were represented as being people without a future who would lose their social and affective links. Discussion: Social representations must become changed in our immediate setting, leading to new ways of relating to cancer patients in medical services.

Obstetric practices related to HIV in Kerala.

This survey of obstetricians' knowledge and practices in two districts in Kerala, India, finds a number of unethical practices: most providers are unaware of the value of the rapid screening test for HIV, they do not give pregnant women the option to refuse testing; testing is done without counselling, private doctors refer pregnant women who test positive to government hospitals, and some health services have separate facilities for pregnant women who test positive.

Patients' perspectives on medical information: results of an informal survey.

The autonomy of patients in making medical decisions is increasingly recognised globally, but is not fully adhered to in India. Information is the first step for a patient to be able to make a decision on his or her health care. The objective of this survey was to ascertain patients' perspectives on the amount of information given to them by health professionals. The results of interviews with 222 patients show that perspectives vary, often according to the diagnosis. The amount of information given and the manner in which it is given are often not acceptable to the patient.

Antenatal care providers' practices and opinions on the services of antenatal syphilis screening in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The objectives of this study were to review antenatal syphilis screening and to assess antenatal care providers' practices and opinions in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. A cross-sectional study on antenatal syphilis screening was conducted. The study settings were all 16 antenatal care clinics, and a random selection of 30 family units from six districts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Interviews were conducted with 150 antenatal care providers and 27 antenatal care heads/leaders. Antenatal syphilis screening in Ulaanbaatar was complex. Most pregnant women had antenatal care at family units or antenatal clinics, but syphilis blood testing could be performed only in some district general hospitals. Syphilis positive-screening cases were referred to the venereologists for confirmation of results, appropriate treatment, contact tracing, and follow-up. The providers agreed with the need for syphilis screening in pregnant women but identified as constraints the limited time for performing the screening due to late antenatal visit, women's lack of knowledge, poverty, and geographic barriers. The practice of providers varied, and the opinion on a one-stop service was positive. The main conclusions concerning the failure of universal antenatal syphilis screening were limited accessibility and feasibility of the service, and the ignorance of both women and providers on the importance of screening. It was agreed that decentralization of antenatal syphilis screening would improve the system.

Uma boa prática médica / Good clinical practice

São abordadas as diretrizes para a condução de um estudo clínico em seres humanos. Esta revisão discute e apresenta as novas orientações internacionais para o desenvolvimento e acompanhamento de um ensaio clínico destacando as funções e responsabilidades de todos os envolvidos no processo

[Knowledge and practice of doctors and midwives working in primary health care regarding screening for cervical and breast cancers]

We assessed the knowledge and practices of breast and cervical cancer of 286 physicians and 126 midwives working in primary health care in Tunis who responded to an anonymous questionnaire. Questions were related to knowledge of the epidemiology and survival rates in the early stages of breast and cervical cancers, to training in this domain and to the degree of involvement in this screening. The knowledge of the two cancers was relatively modest among both physicians and midwives. The systematic practice of Pap smear was significantly more frequent among midwives than physicians.The same result was observed for systematic clinical breast examination. Lack of training about carrying out Pap smears and the large number of consultations were the main factors negatively associated with systematic Pap smear and clinical breast examination practice

Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment practices of private physicians in Karachi, Pakistan

In a densely populated urban area of Karachi, Pakistan, a questionnaire survey was made of the knowledge and practices of 120 private general practitioners about the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis [TB]. The majority knew that cough, fever and weight loss were the main symptoms of TB, but less than half knew that blood in sputum, poor appetite and chest pain were associated with the disease. Only 58.3% of physicians used sputum microscopy for diagnosing TB and 35.0% used it as a follow-up test. Only 41.7% treated TB patients themselves, the remaining referring their patients to specialists. Around 73.3% of the doctors were aware of the 4 first-line anti-TB drugs. Efforts to improve the knowledge of private practitioners, and strategies to enhance public-private collaboration for TB control in urban areas are urgently required

[Attitudes of general practitioners to pharmaceutical sales representatives in Sousse]

The therapeutic knowledge of physicians is the corner stone to the rational use of medicines; however information about medicines is generally obtained from the pharmaceutical industry via their sales representatives [reps]. We aimed to identify general practitioners' [GPs] attitudes to pharmaceutical reps and the information they provide. We surveyed 140 GPs using a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 78% [72 GPs from the public sector and 68 from the private sector]. About 10% of the GPs said they received daily visits from pharmaceutical reps; 84% of GPs considered them an efficient source of information and 31% said they might change their therapeutic prescribing following visits from these reps. Because of their positive perception of pharmaceutical reps, GPs are susceptible to the information they provide. Controlling the validity of the therapeutic information imparted by the pharmaceutical industry is thus a fundamental component of the programme for the rational use of medicines

Reasons for underreporting of notifiable diseases by Syrian paediatricians

We investigated reasons for underreporting of notifiable diseases among Syrian paediatricians. Self-administered questionnaires and self-addressed envelopes were sent to all paediatricians listed in the recent records of the Syrian Medical Association. Of 723 questionnaires, 55 were returned by the post office due to an incorrect address. Only 160 questionnaires [23.9%] were answered. Approximately 50% of paediatricians gave two reasons for underreporting: lack of reporting forms and ignorance of reporting telephone numbers. Nearly 70% indicated that the most important improvements would be the availability of easy reporting forms and a condensed and feasible list of notifiable diseases

Análisis de la relación terapeuta-paciente en la práctica de la atención primaria / Analysis of physician-patient relation in primary health care

La capacitación de los equipos de atención primaria para el abordaje y resolución de los problemas de salud mental que contituyen una elevada proporción de su práctica, debe apoyarse de preferencia en un enfoque comprensivo de esos problemas, que supere el reduccionismo biomédico tradicional. El análisis de la relación terapeuta-paciente permite señalar dónde y cómo aparecen los aspectos psicológicos y socioculturales involucrados en esa práctica, los que a veces se traducen en situaciones conflictivas entre el terapeuta y su paciente. Se plantean las ventajas de trabajar la relación terapeuta-paciente como un primer paso dentro de un proceso de capacitación más amplio

Pericia medica em Blumenau / Medical expert examination in Blumenau

Os beneficios dos segurados na Pericia Medica da Agencia de Blumenau do Instituto Nacional de Seguridade Social sao analisados. O periodo de estudo compreendeu os meses de maio a outubro de 1990, com enfase as patologias responsaveis pelo auxilio-doenca, idade dos segurados e o ano do inicio do beneficio. A Pericia Medica e procedimento geralmente publico, que visa julgar a capacidade laborativa do empregado. A Pericia Medica da Previdencia Social Nacional esta ligada ao Instituto Nacional da Seguridade Social, que faz, hoje, parte do Ministerio do Trabalho.