Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: In Brazil, older adults frequently participate in community groups. However, the influence of this participation on physical activity levels has not been fully investigated. It is known that both regular physical activity and social support are beneficial for health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between participation in community groups and physical activity among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1062 adults with a mean age of 71.9 (±7.6) years. Among these individuals, 293 subjects participated in community groups and 769 did not. A questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used for the assessment. RESULTS: The prevalence of active older adults was 66.6 percent among participants in community groups and 58.4 percent among non-participants. Participation in these groups was significantly associated with being more physically active in the transportation and domestic domains, but with being less physically active in the leisure-time domain. Some changes in these associations were observed when the sample was stratified by age, gender, body mass index, and health status. With respect to total physical activity, participation in community groups was associated with being more physically active in only two strata (subjects younger than 70 years and women). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that older adults who participate in community groups are characterized by a greater probability of being more physically active. However, longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether participation in community groups facilitates the adoption of physically active behavior.

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.

Red asistencial extrapsiquiátrica: tratamiento de pacientes psicóticos de evolución prolongada / Extrapsychiatric assistance net: treatment of psychotic patients of prolonged evolution

El trabajo da cuenta de la experiencia adquirida por la unidad de psicofármacos del Servicio de Psiquiatría de Valdivia al implantar en el curso de una década (1986-1996) una red asistencial extrapsiquiátrica para la mantención del tratamiento de sostén con neurolépticos de depósito de pacientes psicóticos de larga evolución. La consideración de las características geográfico-climatológicas y viales de la provincia de Valdivia, centros de atención del nivel primario de salud, subcentrales de neurolépticos de depósito, atención ambulatoria constituyen los fundamentos de la puesta en práctica y desarrollo de un modelo de atención descentralizado