Health technologies for tackling client absenteeism in primary and secondary care services.

BACKGROUND: Tackling client absenteeism in primary and secondary care settings is crucial to ensure the continuity of care for individuals, families and communities, as well as preventing waste of resources within healthcare systems. METHODOLOGY: This article is an integrative review to identify advancements in health technologies that address client absenteeism in primary and secondary care. The databases Medical Literature and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE/PubMed®), Scientific Electronic Library Online and Virtual Health Library were consulted. The inclusion criteria were as follows: full papers, published between 2013 and 2023, in English, Portuguese or Spanish. The descriptors used were the following: patients, mobile applications, health services management, absenteeism and primary care, and secondary care. Eleven articles published from 2014 to 2021 were included. RESULTS: Most articles were identified in the MEDLINE/PUBMED database, employed a randomized controlled trial methodology (36.36%), and were published between 2019 and 2021 (90.0%) in English (63.7%). The applications had managerial, assistive and/or educational purposes. In addition to absenteeism control, these applications strived to promote client engagement with health services, increase health literacy and tackle structural barriers to care, such as language barriers. CONCLUSION: Efforts are needed to ensure that providers receive training to educate clients on the applications. Moreover, community-based participatory studies to ensure the feasibility of applications are warranted.

An ultrasonic-based experimental model to evaluate the setting time of endodontic sealers.

AIM: To evaluate an ultrasonic-based experimental model (US), to assess the setting time of AH Plus® , Bio-C Sealer® and MTA Fillapex® , and compare the results obtained with ANSI/ADA specifications (2012). METHODS: To determine the setting time according to the ANSI/ADA specification, moulds measuring 10 mm (diameter) × 2 mm (thickness) were used, and for the US tests a transducer (1 MHz) and an oscilloscope were used. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the changes on chemical structure at the different setting times found by the US and ANSI/ADA methods. After checking the normal distribution, setting time data were analysed using unilateral analysis of variance with Tukey-HSD post-test to compare the methods. RESULTS: AH Plus® and Bio-C Sealer® had longer mean setting time values for the US method than for the ANSI/ADA (p < .05), whilst for MTA Fillapex® no significant difference was found between the methods (p < .05). FTIR spectra demonstrated that at the setting time determined by the US method, AH Plus® and Bio-C Sealer® were in a more advanced stage of polymerization than at the ANSI/ADA, whilst there was no significant difference for MTA Fillapex® . CONCLUSIONS: The use of US was effective for setting time determination and measured longer values than ANSI/ADA specification for AH Plus® and Bio-C Sealer® , identifying the entire (and not only superficial) setting of the endodontic sealers.

Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de pessoas com Diabetes Mellitus / Health-related quality of life of people with Diabetes Mellitus

O diabetesmellitusé uma doença que apresenta alta prevalência e está relacionado às elevadas taxas de morbimortalidade. Com este estudo,objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) de pessoas com diabetesmellituse sua relação com sexo, idade, tempo dediagnóstico do diabetes e prática de atividade física. Trata-se de estudo descritivo, tipo transversal, no qual foi utilizado o SF-36 para avaliar aQVRS. Dentre os 170 participantes, 74,1% eram mulheres, 52,9% casados e as médias (desvio-padrão) da idade e do tempo de diagnóstico dadoença foram, respectivamente, 61,8 anos (11,3) e 15,9 anos (7,9). As médias entre os componentes do SF-36 variaram de 46,2 (Capacidadefuncional) a 84,8 (Aspectos sociais). Os homens apresentaram melhor avaliação da QVRS. A prática de atividade física se associou à melhorQVRS. Não se constatou associação entre QVRS, idade, estado civil e anos de diabetes. Concluiu-se que os participantes do estudo apresentarammaior comprometimento nos componentes que avaliam a saúde física.

Diabetes mellitusis a highly prevalent disease that is linked to high rates of morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people with diabetesmellitusand its relation to gender, age, time spent since the diagnosis of diabetes andthe practice of physical activity. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study that evaluates HRQL based on SF-36 questionnaire. Among the 170participants, 74,1% were female, 52,9% were married, and the means (standard deviation) of age and time of diagnosis of the disease wererespectively 61.8 years (11.3) and 15.9 years (7.9). The SF-36 components means ranged from 46,2 (Physical function) to 84,8 (Social function).Men have shown better assessment of HRQOL. The practice of physical activity was associated with a better HRQOL. There was no associationbetween HRQL, age, marital status and years spent since the diagnosis of diabetes. We conclude that the study participants had greater loss incomponents that assess physical health.

La diabetesmellituses una enfermedad muy frecuente y está asociada a altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluarla calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) de personas con diabetesmellitusy su relación con género, edad, momento de diagnóstico dela diabetes y práctica de actividad física. Es un estudio descriptivo transversal que utilizó el cuestionario SF-36 para evaluar la CVRS. Entre los 170participantes, 74,1% eran mujeres, 52,9% casados, y las medias (desviación estándar) de edad y tiempo de diagnóstico de la enfermedad fueronrespectivamente 61.8 años (11,3) y 15.9 años (7,9). El promedio de los componentes del cuestionario SF-36 osciló entre 46,2 (capacidad funcional)y 84,8 (aspectos sociales). Los hombres mostraron mejor evaluación de la CVRS. La práctica de actividad física fue asociada a mejor CV. Nohubo asociación entre la CVRS, edad, estado civil y años de diabetes. Llegamos a la conclusión de que en los participantes del estudio hubo peordesempeño de componentes que evalúan la salud física.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida de portadores de diabetes utilizando a medida específica b-paid / Quality of life evaluation in patients with diabetes using the paid scale / Evaluación de la calidad de vida de portadores de diabetes utilizando la medida específica b-paid

O diabetes é uma doença crônica que pode interferir na qualidade de vida (QV). Com este estudo, objetivou-se avaliara QV dos diabéticos tipo 2 e sua relação com as variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas. Trata-se de estudo descritivo,transversal, no qual se utilizou o Problem Areas in Diabetes (B-PAID) e o Medical Outcomes Study 36 – Item Short FormHealth Survey (SF-36) – para avaliar a QV. Observou-se que 37,6% dos participantes apresentaram escore do B-PAIDtotal igual ou maior a 40. Houve correlação negativa entre B-PAID total e quatro dos oito componentes do SF-36: dor,saúde mental, aspectos sociais e estado geral de saúde. Os homens apresentaram melhor avaliação na subdimensão“Problemas relacionados com a alimentação do B-PAID”, enquanto as mulheres, na subdimensão “Problemas relacionadosao tratamento”, sendo estatisticamente significante a diferença apenas em relação a esta última associação. A prática deatividade física se associou à melhor QV. Concluiu-se que poucos participantes apresentaram alto nível de sofrimentoemocional e a atividade física sugere ser uma aliada na diminuição desse sofrimento.

Diabetes is a chronic disease which might interfere in people's quality of life (QOL). The present study aimed at evaluating the QOL of individuals with Type 2 diabetes (DM2) and its relation to socio-demographic and clinical variables. It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study which used the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID scale) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate QOL. The study demonstrated that 37. 6% of the participants scored a PAID total equal or higher than 40. There was a negative correlation between total PAID score and four out of eight components of SF-36: pain, mental health, social aspects, and general state of health. Men presented a better evaluation in the domain "food-related problems", whereas women in the domain "treatment problems". Only the difference in relation to the latter association was statistically significant. Physical activity was associated with a better QOL. The study concluded that few participants showed a high level of emotional distress, and that physical activity seems to contribute to lessen such distress.

La diabetes es una enfermedad crónica que puede interferir en la calidad de vida (CV) de las personas. El presente estudio busca evaluar la CV de los diabéticos tipo 2 y su relación con las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, transversal que utilizó el Problem Areas in Diabetes (B-PAID) y el Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) para evaluar la CV. Fue observado que el 37,6% de los participantes presentó puntuación de B-PAID total igual o mayor a 40. Hubo correlación negativa entre el B-PAID total y cuatro de los ocho componentes de SF-36 dolor, salud mental, aspectos sociales y estado general de salud. Los varones presentaron mejor evaluación en la subdimensión"Problemas relacionadosa laalimentación delB-PAID"y lasmujeresen la subdimensión"Problemas relacionados al tratamiento". La diferencia apenas en relación con esta última asociación es estadísticamente significativa. La práctica de actividad física está asociada a mejor CV. Se concluye que pocos participantes presentaron alto nivel de sufrimiento emocional y que la actividad física es una buena aliada en la disminución de este sufrimiento.