Conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde bucal sobre o processamento de produtos para saúde / Knowledge of oral health professionals about the processing of health products

Objetivo: avaliar o conhecimento da equipe de saúde bucal sobre o processamento de produtos para a saúde na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Material e Métodos: estudo exploratório-descritivo de abordagem quantitativa, realizado por meio da aplicação de um questionário estruturado. Dos 74 profissionais de saúde bucal alocados nas unidades, 43 participaram da pesquisa, sendo 22 auxiliares de saúde bucal e 21 odontólogos. Resultados: identificou-se que há lacunas no conhecimento da equipe quanto ao processo de esterilização (particularmente no que se refere aos recursos materiais), bem como o uso de indicadores para o monitoramento do processo. O uso de papel Kraft para embalagens foi apontado como correto por 16 (37,20%) dos entrevistados. A ausência de informações impressas disponíveis nas unidades foi apontada por 35 (81,39%) dos profissionais. Conclusão: Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que os profissionais de saúde bucal entrevistados ainda possuem lacunas de conhecimentos sobre o processo de esterilização, bem como sobre a definição e uso do monitoramento através de indicadores de esterilização.

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of oral health professionals about the processing of health products in primary health care. Methods: It was used a descriptive exploratory study of quantitative approach, carried out through the application of a structured questionnaire. Of the 74 dental professionals allocated to the units, 43 participated in the survey, 22 dental assistants and 21 dentists. Results: it was found that there are gaps in staff knowledge about the sterilization process, particularly regarding material resources, as well as the use of indicators for monitoring the process. The Kraft paper used for packaging was appointed as correct for 16 (37.20%) of the respondents. The lack of printed information available in the units was reported by 35 (81.39%) of the professionals. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the interviewed oral health professionals still have knowledge gaps in the sterilization process, as well as in the definition and use of monitoring through sterilization indicators.

Adaptation and validation of indicators concerning the sterilization process of supplies in Primary Health Care services.

OBJECTIVES: to adapt and validate, by expert consensus, a set of indicators used to assess the sterilization process of dental, medical and hospital supplies to be used in PHC services. METHOD: qualitative methodological study performed in two stages. The first stage included a focal group composed of experts to adapt the indicators to be used in PHC. In the second stage, the indicators were validated using a 4-point Likert scale, which was completed by judges. A Content Validity Index of ≥ 0.75 was considered to show approval of the indicators. RESULTS: the adaptations implemented by the focal group mainly referred to the physical structure, inclusion of dental care professionals, inclusion of chemical disinfection, and replacement of the hot air and moist heat sterilization methods. The validation stage resulted in an index of 0.96, which ranged from 0.90 to 1.00, for the components of the indicators. CONCLUSION: the judges considered the indicators after adaptation to be validated. Even though there may be differences among items processed around the world, there certainly are common characteristics, especially in countries with economic and cultural environments similar to Brazil. The inclusion of these indicators to assess the safety of healthcare supplies used in PHC services should be considered.

[Hand hygiene in hospital environments: use of conformity indicators]. / Higienização das mãos em ambiente hospitalar: uso de indicadores de conformidade.

An exploratory descriptive study with a quantitative approach whose objective was to use indicators to evaluate the frequency and infrastructure for hand hygiene, as well as the nursing team's knowledge about the subject. Systematized observation was carried out at hospital in the state of São Paulo, Brazil of the routine activities of 33 participating professionals (nurses and technicians) as well as the application of an individual questionnaire about the subject. 1206 opportunities for hand hygiene were identified, though it was effected in only 481 (39.9%) of them. Alcohol solution was not used at any opportunity. The infrastructure indicatorfor hand hygiene was close to the ideal value (83.30%). The professionals reported a high frequency of hand hygiene, demonstrating knowledge in relation to its importance, yet contradicting the findings of the observation. It was concluded that, despite the adequate infrastructure, hand hygiene was below that expected, requiring actions and strategies to overcomes these barrier and increase the use of alcohol solution.

Life experiences of patients who have completed tuberculosis treatment: a qualitative investigation in southeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Despite being curable, tuberculosis is still a stigmatized disease. Not only is TB patients' suffering due to its clinical manifestations, but also because of society's prejudice, embarrassing situations, and even self-discrimination. This study aims to investigate psychosocial experiences of patients who have completed tuberculosis treatment in São Carlos a municipality in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. METHODS: This study, of a clinical-qualitative nature, sought to understand the meanings provided by the participants themselves. Fifteen individuals, who had successfully completed tuberculosis treatment, participated in this research. The sample size was established using the information saturation criterion. Data were collected by means of interviews with in-depth open-ended questions. Data were treated by categorizing and analyzing content according to themes. RESULTS: Regardless of all progress, this study found that TB still causes patients to suffer from fear of transmission, social prejudice, and death. Despite the fact that the emotional support provided by families and healthcare professionals is considered essential to treatment adherence and completion, participants in this study reveal that friends and colleagues have distanced themselves from them for fear of contagion and/or prejudice. Ignorance about the disease and its transmission modes can be found in the interviewees' statements, which seems to indicate that they have become vectors of transmission of stigma themselves. Patients' medical leave from work during treatment may be due to both their health conditions and their attempt to avoid social/emotional embarrassment. There are accounts that TB has caused psychosocial damage to patients' lives and that they feel more fatigue and lassitude and have begun to pay more attention to their own health. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare workers should be aware of the ways TB treatment affect patients' psychosocial life and develop strategies to mitigate these effects and provide opportunities for them to share their anxiety, suffering, and bio-psychosocial changes. In addition, healthcare professionals should seek to educate and, as a result, empower TB patients and their families with regard to this disease so as to break the existing vicious cycle of misinformation and prejudice.

[Home care: health professionals at risk for biological exposure]. / Internação domiciliar: risco de exposição biológica para a equipe de saúde.

This prospective, exploratory study was performed using a quantitative approach with the objective of characterizing the healthcare tasks that involved biological risk for professionals working with the Home Care Service of the São Carlos Municipal Hospital (São Carlos, SP, Brazil). We followed 159 visits from June 2008 to January 2009. A total of 347 procedures were considered to present risks for biological exposure, categorized as follows: dressings (31.1%), capillary blood glucose monitoring (14.4%); and vascular access (3.1%). Of all subjects, 21.5% complied with hand cleansing prior to performing a procedure, 66.3% wore gloves and 83.5% disposed of sharps appropriately. In conclusion, these professionals are subject to biological risks similar to those found in the hospital environment, because they are also exposed to blood and sharps often and have a poor adherence to the standard preventive measures. Further studies to evaluate the influence of the features of the household on the referred risk should be encouraged.

Biological risk in nursing care provided in family health units.

There is very frequent exposure to potentially contaminated material in procedures performed by nursing professionals. This exploratory and descriptive study characterizes the potential risk of biological exposure in procedures performed by nursing professionals in ten Family Health units in São Carlos-SP, Brazil. We observed 238 procedures involving potential risk of contact with biological material, in which more than 90% involved the use of needles. The average rates of adherence to standard precautions were: 27.9% hand washing prior to procedures; 41.4% use of gloves; and 88.8% adequate disposal of piercing and cutting instruments. These professionals are subject to risks similar to those which hospital workers are also subjected, because they have a high risk of blood exposure and the frequency with which they handle needles is very high.

Adherence to standard precaution in the peripheral vascular access.

This prospective and quantitative study was carried out in a small private general hospital, where the adherence to standard precaution in the peripheral vascular access was evaluated. The data were collected through a questionnaire aiming to characterize the nursing team's knowledge and opinion about standard precautions and the availability of materials. In addition, a systemized observation of the procedures of vein puncture and medicine administration was performed. It was identified that 84.4% of the punctures had been carried out without gloves or previous hand washing; in 29.7% of the procedures, needles were recapped and 93.2% of the professionals reported adequate material supply. Concluding, the professionals expose themselves and patients to unnecessary risks of infection. The nursing team must be the focus of continuous interventions and future actions in order to minimize the risk of infection in the procedure of peripheral vascular access.

[Characterization of knowledge production on the patient care system in Brazil]. / Caracterização da produção do conhecimento sobre sistematização da assistência de enfermagem no Brasil.

This is a bibliographical study that has as its aim characterizing the Brazilian scientific production on the "Patient Care System" and visualizing its trends. A retrospective bibliogra-phical study (1990-2002) was carried out taking into consideration the items: date, title of the journal, type of research and approach of the publication. Production average was 13.4 publications/ year and articles were distributed among 23 journals, with a majority of them dealing with hospitals (63.2%). Cardiology was the theme of 17.6% of the articles, and 78.6% of them were focused on the implementation, development and evaluation of SAE models. NANDA taxonomy was men-tioned in 40.2% of the production, and Wanda Horta in 40.5%. There are still some blanks in this area of knowledge, but the increasing availability of the scientific production on this subject may help professionals in the implementation of the patient care system.

[Adherence to the antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS]. / Adesãao á terapia antiretroviral para HIV/AIDS.

The non-adherence to the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is considered one of the most threatening risks for the effectiveness of the treatment of the person with HIV/AIDS on the individual plan and for the resistance-virus dissemination on the collective plan. The objective of this study was to analyze, through a literature review, the predicting factors of non-adherence to the HAART, as well as to assemble and relate them to the person in treatment, the disease, the treatment and the health and social support service. The literature points to the need for studies that evaluate social-cultural aspects, beliefs, quality of the service and the relationship of the patient with the multi-professional team, as well as others related to race and to the side effects of the antiretroviral agents. These studies aim at favoring the creation of strategies that improve the adherence of patients to the HAART, contributing at the same time for the development and the exercise of citizenship.