Validity and reliability of the tuberculosis-related stigma scale version for Brazilian Portuguese.

BACKGROUND: Stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) has been an object of interest in several regions of the world. The behaviour presented by patients as a result of social discrimination has contributed to delays in diagnosis and the abandonment of treatment, leading to an increase in the cases of TB and drug resistance. The identification of populations affected by stigma and its measurement can be assessed with the use of valid and reliable instruments developed or adapted to the target culture. This aim of this study was to analyse the initial psychometric properties of the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale in Brazil, for TB patients. METHODS: The Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale is a specific scale for measuring stigma associated with TB, originally validated in Thailand. It presents two dimensions to be assessed, namely Community perspectives toward tuberculosis and Patient perspectives toward tuberculosis. The first has 11 items regarding the behaviour of the community in relation to TB, and the second is made up of 12 items related to feelings such as fear, guilt and sorrow in coping with the disease. A pilot test was conducted with 83 TB patients, in order to obtain the initial psychometric properties of the scale in the Brazilian Portuguese version, enabling simulation of the field study. RESULTS: As regards its psychometric properties, the scale presented acceptable internal consistency for its dimensions, with values ≥0.70, the absence of floor and ceiling effects, which is favourable for the property of scale responsiveness, satisfactory converging validity for both dimensions, with values over 0.30 for initial studies, and diverging validity, with adjustment values different from 100%. CONCLUSION: The results found show that the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale can be a valid and reliable instrument for the Brazilian context.

Discourses on short-coursetherapy for tuberculosis control. / Discursos sobre a terapia de curta duração para o controle da tuberculose.

OBJECTIVE:: to analyze the meanings produced through the experiences and perceptions of healthcare professionals on the implementation of the strategy of directly observed treatment short course for tuberculosis control. METHOD:: qualitative study carried out in Mozambique with 15 healthcare professionals. Inclusion criteriawerehaving acted in the Tuberculosis Control Program for more than one year, and exercising professional activity at the time of interview. A semi-structured script was used for data collection, and individual interviews were recorded. RESULTS:: three discursive units emerged: patient treatment procedures; community health agent and family roles; difficulties in the application of directly observed treatment short course. CONCLUSION:: treatment of tuberculosis requires constant involvement of the family, community, and especially the State in the creation and implementation of personnel training policies and infrastructure improvement.

Discursos sobre a terapia de curta duração para o controle da tuberculose / Discursos sobre la terapia de corta duración para el control de la tuberculosis / Discourses on short-coursetherapy for tuberculosis control

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar os sentidos produzidos por meio das experiências e percepções dos profissionais de saúde sobre a implementação da estratégia do tratamento diretamente observado de curta duração para o controle da tuberculose. Método: estudo qualitativo realizado em Moçambique com 15 profissionais de saúde. Critérios de inclusão: atuação no Programa de Controle da Tuberculose há mais de um ano e estar em atividade profissional no período da entrevista. Para a coleta de dados foi usado um roteiro semiestruturado e as entrevistas realizadas individualmente foram gravadas. Resultados: emergiram três unidades discursivas: os procedimentos no tratamento do doente; o papel de Agente Comunitário da Saúde e da família; as dificuldades na aplicação do tratamento diretamente observado de curta duração. Conclusão: o tratamento da tuberculose requer um envolvimento constante da família, da comunidade e principalmente do Estado na criação e aplicação de políticas de formação dos recursos humanos e melhoria de infraestruturas.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar los sentidos generados a partir de experiencias y visiones de profesionales de salud sobre la implementación de la estrategia del tratamiento directamente observado de corta duración para el control de la tuberculosis. Método: estudio cualitativo realizado en Mozambique con 15 profesionales de salud. Criterios de inclusión: actuación en Programa de Control de la Tuberculosis mayor a un año y estar activo profesionalmente durante el período de la entrevista. Datos recolectados utilizando rutina semiestructurada; las entrevistas individuales fueron grabadas. Resultados: surgieron tres unidades discursivas: procedimientos en el tratamiento del enfermo; papel del Agente Comunitario de Salud y de la familia; dificultades en aplicación del tratamiento directamente observado de corta duración. Conclusión: el tratamiento de la tuberculosis requiere de constante participación de la familia, la comunidad y, principalmente, del Estado; en la determinación y aplicación de políticas de formación de recursos humanos y mejoras de infraestructura.

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the meanings produced through the experiences and perceptions of healthcare professionals on the implementation of the strategy of directly observed treatment short course for tuberculosis control. Method: qualitative study carried out in Mozambique with 15 healthcare professionals. Inclusion criteriawerehaving acted in the Tuberculosis Control Program for more than one year, and exercising professional activity at the time of interview. A semi-structured script was used for data collection, and individual interviews were recorded. Results: three discursive units emerged: patient treatment procedures; community health agent and family roles; difficulties in the application of directly observed treatment short course. Conclusion: treatment of tuberculosis requires constant involvement of the family, community, and especially the State in the creation and implementation of personnel training policies and infrastructure improvement.

[The coordination of care for tuberculosis control]. / A coordenação da assistência no controle da tuberculose.

This descriptive epidemiological study analyzed the coordination of tuberculosis (TB) patient care in primary healthcare services according to 23 patients, 16 professionals, and 17 administrators from Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, using an instrument adapted to evaluate TB. According to the informants, the coordination of healthcare provided to patients under the treatment of the Tuberculosis Control Program team was considered satisfactory; however, when there is a need to refer the patient to other care units there are weak points in the coordination of healthcare, which include: interruption of communication flow; and patients' incipient participation in the care process, with a need to increase the sense of responsibility for patient care and encourage patients to become active agents in the process.

Atraso no diagnóstico da tuberculose em sistema prisional: a experiência do doente apenado / Delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in prisons: the experience of incarcerated patients / Retraso en el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis en la cárcel: la experiencia de los enfermos reclusos

O estudo analisou as causas de atraso no diagnóstico da tuberculose em sistema prisional, segundo a experiência do doente apenado. Utilizou-se o referencial teórico-metodológico da análise de discurso de matriz francesa, que busca a compreensão dos processos de produção de sentidos, na relação da linguagem com a ideologia e de constituição de sujeitos em suas posições. Foram realizadas entrevistas semidirigidas com sete doentes de tuberculose apenados em um hospital de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil, no período de agosto a outubro de 2009. O atraso no diagnóstico da tuberculose relaciona-se à naturalização da desassistência ao sujeito preso, à interpretação do presídio como um lugar de morte e sofrimentos e à privação do direito à saúde para detentos em decorrência de sua posição nas relações assimétricas de poder e efeitos ideológicos.

This study analyzed the causes of delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the prison system, according to the experience of incarcerated patients. The theoretical and methodological framework of the French school of discourse analysis was used, which seeks to comprehend the processes of meaning production, in the relationship of language with ideology and the development of subjects in their positions. Semi-directed interviews were conducted with seven incarcerated tuberculosis patients in a hospital of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, between August and October 2009. The delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis was related to the naturalization of the lack of care for the prisoner, to the interpretation of the prison as a place of death and suffering and to the deprivation of the right to health for the detainees as a result of their position in the asymmetric power relationships and ideological effects.

Este estudio analizó las causas del retraso en el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis en las cárceles, de acuerdo con la experiencia de los reclusos enfermos. Se utilizó el marco teórico y metodológico del análisis del discurso francesa, que busca comprender los procesos de producción de sentidos, en la relación del lenguaje con la ideología y del desarrollo de los sujetos en sus posiciones. Entrevistas semi-dirigidas fueron realizadas con 07 enfermos con tuberculosis reclusos en un hospital en João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil, entre agosto y octubre de 2009. El atraso en el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis estaba relacionado a que se entendía como natural la falta de atención al prisionero, a la interpretación de que la prisión es un lugar de muerte y sufrimiento y la privación de los derechos a la salud de los prisioneros como resultado de su posición en las relaciones asimétricas de poder y efectos ideológicos.

A coordenação da assistência no controle da tuberculose / The coordination of care for tuberculosis control / La coordinación de la atención en el control de la tuberculosis

Estudo epidemiológico descritivo que analisa a coordenação da assistência ao doente de Tuberculose em Serviços de Atenção Primária segundo 23 doentes, 16 profissionais e 17 gestores em Ribeirão Preto-SP, através de instrumento adaptado para avaliar a tuberculose. De acordo com os informantes, a coordenação da assistência ao doente em tratamento pela equipe do programa de controle da tuberculose foi considerada satisfatória. No entanto, quando há necessidade de encaminhar o doente a outros pontos de atenção, a coordenação da assistência apresenta pontos deficientes como descontinuidade do fluxo de comunicação e participação incipiente do doente no processo de atenção, havendo necessidade de aumentar a responsabilização pelo cuidado do doente e estimulá-lo como agente ativo do processo.

This descriptive epidemiological study analyzed the coordination of tuberculosis (TB) patient care in primary healthcare services according to 23 patients, 16 professionals, and 17 administrators from Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, using an instrument adapted to evaluate TB. According to the informants, the coordination of healthcare provided to patients under the treatment of the Tuberculosis Control Program team was considered satisfactory; however, when there is a need to refer the patient to other care units there are weak points in the coordination of healthcare, which include: interruption of communication flow; and patients' incipient participation in the care process, with a need to increase the sense of responsibility for patient care and encourage patients to become active agents in the process.

Estudio epidemiológico descriptivo que analiza la coordinación de la atención al enfermo de tuberculosis en Servicios de Atención Básica, según 23 enfermos, 16 profesionales y 17 gestores en Ribeirão Preto-SP, mediante instrumento adaptado para evaluar la tuberculosis. Según los informantes, la coordinación de la atención al enfermo en tratamiento por parte del equipo del programa de control de la tuberculosis fue considerada satisfactoria. Sin embargo, cuando existe necesidad de derivar al enfermo a otros puntos de atención, la coordinación de la atención exhibe signos deficientes, como discontinuidad del flujo de comunicación y participación incipiente del enfermo en el proceso de atención, habiendo necesidad de aumentar el grado de responsabilidad por la atención del enfermo y estimularlo para ser agente activo en tal proceso.

[Pensioners with type 2 diabetes in the family health program in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil]. / Aposentados com diabetes tipo 2 na Saúde da Família em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brasil.

The objective of the present study was to characterize aged pensioners with type 2 diabetes, users of a primary health care service. Participants were 43 individuals selected according to the inclusion criteria. Data was obtained from primary and secondary sources, and analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software. The average age was 75.3 years. There was little participation in community groups and in physical activities. Seventeen aged individuals used the primary healthcare service. Twelve men were retired and twelve women received pension. The average arterial blood pressure was 130 x 80 mmHg and the average glucose level was 141 mg/dl. Diet orientations were given mostly by physicians. Further studies are necessary to analyze the cause of the little adherence to the groups and to physical activity. Health teams should have an effective participation in diabetes control and should encourage the family to participate in the care process, as this diseases requires long-term management.

Aposentados com diabetes tipo 2 na Saúde da Família em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brasil / Jubilados con diabetes tipo 2 en la salud de la familia en Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brasil / Pensioners with type 2 diabetes in the family health program in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brazil

O estudo objetivou caracterizar idosos aposentados com Diabetes tipo 2, usuários de um serviço de atenção primária, e contou com 43 sujeitos que atenderam a critérios de inclusão. Os dados foram obtidos em fontes primárias e secundárias, e analisados no programa SPSS 15.0. A média de idade foi 75,3 anos. Houve pouca participação em grupos comunitários e na prática de atividade física. Dezessete idosos utilizam a atenção primária. Doze homens aposentaram-se por tempo de serviço, e 12 mulheres recebem pensão. Níveis pressóricos apresentaram média de 130x80 mmHg e a Glicemia, média de 141 mg/dl. Orientações sobre dieta foram realizadas na sua maioria pelos médicos. São necessários novos estudos para avaliar os motivos que levam a baixa adesão a grupos e prática de atividade física. Sugere-se participação efetiva da equipe no controle do Diabetes e no incentivo à participação da família nos cuidados, visto que essa doença demanda gerenciamento de longo prazo.

The objective of the present study was to characterize aged pensioners with type 2 diabetes, users of a primary health care service. Participants were 43 individuals selected according to the inclusion criteria. Data was obtained from primary and secondary sources, and analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software. The average age was 75.3 years. There was little participation in community groups and in physical activities. Seventeen aged individuals used the primary healthcare service. Twelve men were retired and twelve women received pension. The average arterial blood pressure was 130x80 mmHg and the average glucose level was 141 mg/dl. Diet orientations were given mostly by physicians. Further studies are necessary to analyze the cause of the little adherence to the groups and to physical activity. Health teams should have an effective participation in diabetes control and should encourage the family to participate in the care process, as this diseases requires long term management.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo caracterizar ancianos jubilados afectados por diabetes tipo 2, usuarios de un servicio de atención primaria. Contó con 43 sujetos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Los datos fueron obtenidos en fuentes primarias y secundarias, y analizados en el Programa Estadístico SPSS 15.0. La media de edad fue de 75,3 años. Se verificó escasa participación de los sujetos en grupos comunitarios y en la práctica de actividad física. Diecisiete ancianos utilizan la atención primaria. Doce hombres se jubilaron por tiempo de servicio y 12 mujeres reciben pensión. Los niveles de presión arterial se ubicaron en un promedio de 130 x 80 mmHg y la glucemia media fue de 141 mg/dl. Orientaciones sobre dieta fueron realizadas en su mayoría por los médicos. Se necesita de nuevos estudios para evaluar los motivos que originan la baja adhesión a grupos y a la práctica de actividad física. Se sugiere participación del equipo de salud en el control de la diabetes y en la motivación para la participación de la familia en el cuidado del anciano, entendiéndose que esta enfermedad demanda tratamiento de largo plazo.