Edson de Oliveira Andrade

Factorial validity and reliability of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in the Brazilian physician population

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a widely used screening instrument. One- and two-factor structures have been identified in some countries. In Brazil, the best factor structure is still unclear. This study aimed at knowing its factorial validity and reliability, and testing the one-factor and two-factor models. The participants were 7,512 Brazilian physicians. They answered the GHQ-12 and demographic questions. Unrotated (one-factor) and rotated (two-factor) structures of the GHQ-12 were extracted by principal component analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses (ML) were used to compare the one- and two-factor solutions. The two-factor model fitted the data better than the one-factor one. Those two factors were depression and social dysfunction, and they showed themselves to be directly correlated to one another. They also showed adequate reliability coefficients. The two-factor model is remarkably adequate, showing better fit indices, although it is acceptable to admit a common factor, which could be defined as psychological distress.

Fatores de risco e profilaxia para tromboembolismo venoso em hospitais da cidade de Manaus

OBJECTIVE: To identify and classify risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients, as well as to evaluate medical practices regarding prophylaxis for the disease. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study, carried out between January and March of 2006, involving inpatients at three hospitals in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Risk stratification for VTE was based on the criteria established by the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery and by the International Union of Angiology. Clinical, surgical and medication-related risk factors were analyzed. The statistical analysis of the data obtained was conducted, adopting an alpha error of 5% and 95% CI. Qualitative data were analyzed using the chi-square test, whereas quantitative data were analyzed using Students t-test. RESULTS: Of the 1,036 patients included (total number of admissions, 1,051), 515 (49.7%) were male, and 521 (50.3%) were female. A total of 23 risk factors for VTE were identified (total number of occurrences, 2,319). The stratified risk for VTE was 50.6%, 16.6% and 30.8% among the admissions of high-, moderate- and low-risk cases, respectively. In 73.3% of the admissions, nonpharmacological prophylaxis was not employed at any point during the study period. In 74% of those classified as high- or moderate-risk cases, no prophylactic medications were administered. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that, in the population studied, risk factors were common and that prophylactic measures were not employed in patients prone to developing VTE and its complications.

Tratamento cirúrgico de crianças com pneumonia necrosante

OBJECTIVE To describe the results of the surgical treatment of children with necrotizing pneumonia. METHODS A retrospective analysis of the medical charts of 20 children diagnosed with necrotizing pneumonia and submitted to surgical treatment between March of 1997 and September of 2008 in the thoracic surgery departments of two hospitals in the city of Manaus, Brazil. We compiled data regarding age, gender, etiologic agent, indications for surgery, type of surgical resection performed, and postoperative complications. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 30 months. Of the 20 patients studied, 12 (60%) were female. The most common etiologic agents were Staphylococcus aureus, in 5 patients (25%), and Klebsiella sp., in 2 (10%). The indications for surgery were sepsis, in 16 patients (80%), and bronchopleural fistula, in 4 (20%). The types of surgical procedures performed were lobectomy, in 12 patients (60%), segmentectomy, in 7 (35%), and bilobectomy, in 1 (5%). There were 8 patients (40%) who also underwent decortication. The postoperative complications were as follows: bronchopleural fistula, in 4 patients (20%); empyema, in 1 (5%); pneumatocele, in 1 (5%); and phlebitis of the left arm, in 1 (5%). Four (20%) of the patients died. CONCLUSIONS Surgical resection should be considered in patients with evidence of pulmonary necrosis. Resection is indicated in cases of severe sepsis, high output bronchopleural fistula, or acute respiratory failure that are refractory to clinical treatment.

Características de pacientes com câncer de pulmão na cidade de Manaus

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of patients with lung cancer. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study of patients receiving a histopathological diagnosis of lung cancer between 1995 and 2002 in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Data were collected from the medical archives of three hospitals. Statistical analyses were carried out, and survival curves were generated by means of an actuarial estimator. RESULTS: Of the 352 patients selected, 262 (74.4%) were male and 90 (25.6%) were female. The mean age was 62 years. The following histological types were identified: squamous cell carcinoma, 62.8%; adenocarcinoma, 24.7%; small cell carcinoma, 9.1%; and large cell carcinoma, 3.4%. The most common stages were stages IIIB and IV, in 45% and 21.5%, respectively. Of the total sample, 73.4% were submitted to treatment. Of these, 51.4% underwent radiotherapy; 16.6%, surgery; 15.8%, chemotherapy; and 16.2%, radiotherapy in association with chemotherapy. Cumulative survival rates were low: three-year survival was 6.5%, and five-year survival was 3.5%. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of patients with lung cancer, survival rates were considerably lower than those reported in the literature. This might be attributable to the limited access to the specialized health care system and the advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis.

Lexical analysis of the Code of Medical Ethics of the Federal Council of Medicine

INTRODUCTION The Code of Medical Ethics (CME) of the Federal Council of Medicine is the legal document that exposes the moral discourse of Brazilian physicians to society and the profession. It is a set of propositions based on which doctors say they are committed to values of conduct aimed at fair and proper professional practice. OBJECTIVES To verify through lexical analysis of the CME corpus if the goals presented in the arguments of the resolution that established the code are properly addressed in these regulations. METHODS This is a quantitative and qualitative study of descriptive nature, aiming at a lexical analysis of the CME. The lexical analysis was performed using a method of Top-Down Hierarchical Classification of vocabulary, as described by Reinert in 1987, assuming that words used in similar contexts are associated with a single lexical world. In addition to the analysis of results, an improved representation of the charts related with Factorial and Similitude Analyses was made. RESULTS Six clusters were extracted, leading to the identification of three major branches: health care, professional practice and research. These branches revolve around the figures of physician and patient. The similitude analysis revealed a complementarity status between these two figures. CONCLUSION The lexical analysis showed that the purposes contained in the resolution that established the CME were adequately represented in the document body.

Índice de desenvolvimento em saúde: conceituação e reflexões sobre sua necessidade

This article aimed to review the concept of social indices by focusing on their practical use and need in the health setting. For this purpose, the initial consideration was how these indices are defined, their possible use, and the importance they have as a means of depicting the real world. Thus, a wide concept of health, consistent with the current view, was adopted. Health was further described within international and national settings, emphasizing indicators that can be employed to estimate health problems in the population were highlighted. Finally, as no specific social index describing health in a Brazilian setting has been developed, the need to rely on the Health Development Index was indicated. This index will serve as a tool for managers, inspection agents, and the general population to follow-up the developments reached and the shortcomings that should be addressed to ensure a better health status for the majority of the population.

Index of Health Development: conceptualization and reflections on its need

This article aimed to review the concept of social indices by focusing on their practical use and need in the health setting. For this purpose, the initial consideration was how these indices are defined, their possible use, and the importance they have as a means of depicting the real world. Thus, a wide concept of health, consistent with the current view, was adopted. Health was further described within international and national settings, emphasizing indicators that can be employed to estimate health problems in the population were highlighted. Finally, as no specific social index describing health in a Brazilian setting has been developed, the need to rely on the Health Development Index was indicated. This index will serve as a tool for managers, inspection agents, and the general population to follow-up the developments reached and the shortcomings that should be addressed to ensure a better health status for the majority of the population.

Relação médico-paciente na oncologia: estudo a partir da perspectiva do paciente

The peculiarities of cancer diagnosis require the doctor to adopt a different approach and make the study of the psychosocial aspects of the patient and communication techniques necessary to avoid iatrogenesis. This paper aims to study the relationship between the doctor and the cancer patient in a public oncology reference center. A qualitative and descriptive exploratory study was performed involving 17 patients diagnosed with cancer at Fundacao Centro de Controle de Oncologia do Estado do Amazonas (Amazonas State Oncology Control Center Foundation), Brazil. The patients interviewed expressed a wide variation of feelings; they wanted greater sincerity and clarity from doctors during diagnosis; they questioned the difficulty of access to health care; they complained about the effects of treatment and the emotional and physical limitations experienced during the process; and finally they emphasized the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. In conclusion, it was noted that patients recognized important aspects of the diagnostic process and the treatment of cancer, which, when duly contextualized, serve as a basis for rethinking medical practice and the doctor-patient relationship.The peculiarities of cancer diagnosis require the doctor to adopt a different approach and make the study of the psychosocial aspects of the patient and communication techniques necessary to avoid iatrogenesis. This paper aims to study the relationship between the doctor and the cancer patient in a public oncology reference center. A qualitative and descriptive exploratory study was performed involving 17 patients diagnosed with cancer at Fundação Centro de Controle de Oncologia do Estado do Amazonas (Amazonas State Oncology Control Center Foundation), Brazil. The patients interviewed expressed a wide variation of feelings; they wanted greater sincerity and clarity from doctors during diagnosis; they questioned the difficulty of access to health care; they complained about the effects of treatment and the emotional and physical limitations experienced during the process; and finally they emphasized the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. In conclusion, it was noted that patients recognized important aspects of the diagnostic process and the treatment of cancer, which, when duly contextualized, serve as a basis for rethinking medical practice and the doctor-patient relationship.