ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Brain death (BD) is defined as the total and irreversible cessation of brain functions including the brain stem. The team that assists the patient in this situation is made up of higher-level and technical health professionals. Our objective was to analyze the understanding of nursing assistants and technicians of BD. METHODS: Descriptive and exploratory research with a qualitative approach was carried out with nursing assistants and technicians who were members of the Regional Nursing Council of São Paulo, Brazil. After collection, the data were submitted to the thematic-category content analysis technique. RESULTS: From the analysis, the following categories emerged: an understanding of BD; religiosity and hope in the reversal of BD; and "brain death associated with the possibility of organ donation." CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforces the need to train professionals at a technical nursing level on the subject in order to improve nursing care and avoid mistaken beliefs that can negatively influence the process of donating organs and tissues for transplantation.
Subject(s)
Nursing Assistants , Organ Transplantation , Tissue and Organ Procurement , Brain Death , Brazil , HumansABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence and means of elderly suicide in Brazil. METHOD: Epidemiologic, cross-sectional, quantitative, and retrospective study. The data were obtained in a platform maintained by the Ministry of Health and analyzed. The mortality rate was calculated and means and percentages regarding the employed means of suicide were obtained. RESULTS: In this period, 8,977 suicides took place among the population over 60 years. The highest suicide rates were concentrated in the population over 80, which presented a mean 8.4/100,000 for this period, and between 70 and 79 years, with a mean rate of 8.2/100,000. Considering the total elderly population over 60 years, this value reached 7.8/100,000, whereas in the general population this was 5.3/100,000. The values are always higher among the elderly population: the mean rate in the last five years among the elderly is 47.2% higher than the mean for the general population. The main mean of suicide was hanging (68%), followed by firearm (11%), self-intoxication (9%), falling from a high place (5%), and undefined or undetermined means (6%). CONCLUSION: Epidemiologic analyses bring visibility to the dyad aging and suicide, corroborating the pertinence of this theme.
Subject(s)
Suicide , Accidental Falls , Aged , Aging , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the incidence and means of elderly suicide in Brazil. Method: Epidemiologic, cross-sectional, quantitative, and retrospective study. The data were obtained in a platform maintained by the Ministry of Health and analyzed. The mortality rate was calculated and means and percentages regarding the employed means of suicide were obtained. Results: In this period, 8,977 suicides took place among the population over 60 years. The highest suicide rates were concentrated in the population over 80, which presented a mean 8.4/100,000 for this period, and between 70 and 79 years, with a mean rate of 8.2/100,000. Considering the total elderly population over 60 years, this value reached 7.8/100,000, whereas in the general population this was 5.3/100,000. The values are always higher among the elderly population: the mean rate in the last five years among the elderly is 47.2% higher than the mean for the general population. The main mean of suicide was hanging (68%), followed by firearm (11%), self-intoxication (9%), falling from a high place (5%), and undefined or undetermined means (6%). Conclusion: Epidemiologic analyses bring visibility to the dyad aging and suicide, corroborating the pertinence of this theme.
RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la incidencia y los medios de suicidio utilizados por ancianos en Brasil. Método: Estudio epidemiológico, transversal, cuantitativo y retrospectivo. Los datos se obtuvieron de una plataforma del Ministerio de Sanidad y se analizaron. Se calculó el coeficiente de mortalidad y se obtuvieron los promedios y porcentajes de los medios utilizados. Resultados: En el periodo, se produjeron 8.977 suicidios en la población mayor de 60 años. Las tasas de suicidio más elevadas se concentraron en la población mayor de 80 años, que tuvo una media de 8,4/100.000 en el periodo, y entre 70 y 79 años, con una tasa media de 8,2/100.000. Considerando el conjunto de la población anciana mayor de 60 años, la cifra alcanzó el 7,8/100.000, mientras que en la población general fue del 5,3/100.000. Los valores se mantuvieron más altos entre la población anciana: la tasa media de los últimos 5 años entre los ancianos es un 47,2% superior a la media de la población general. El principal medio de suicidio fue el ahorcamiento (68%), seguido de las armas de fuego (11%), la autointoxicación (9%), alturas (5%) y los medios indefinidos o indeterminados (6%). Conclusión: Los análisis epidemiológicos aportan visibilidad al binomio envejecimiento y suicidio, corroborando la relevancia del tema.
RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a incidência e os meios usados no suicídio de idosos no Brasil. Método: Pesquisa epidemiológica, transversal, quantitativa e retrospectiva. Os dados foram obtidos em uma plataforma do Ministério da Saúde e analisados. Calculou-se o coeficiente de mortalidade e foram obtidas médias e percentuais quanto aos meios utilizados. Resultados: No período, ocorreram 8.977 suicídios na população acima de 60 anos. As taxas de suicídio mais elevadas concentram-se na população acima de 80 anos, que apresentou média de 8,4/100.000 no período, e entre 70 e 79 anos, com taxa média de 8,2/100.000. Considerando-se a totalidade da população idosa acima de 60 anos, o valor chegou a 7,8/100.000, enquanto na população geral ficou em 5,3/100.000. Os valores mantêm-se sempre superiores entre a população idosa: a taxa média dos últimos 5 anos entre idosos é 47,2% superior à média da população geral. O principal meio foi enforcamento (68%), seguido por arma de fogo (11%), autointoxicações (9%), precipitação de lugar elevado (5%) e meios indefinidos ou indeterminados (6%). Conclusão: Análises epidemiológicas trazem visibilidade ao binômio envelhecimento e suicídio, corroborando a pertinência do tema.
