Francine Pereira Andrade

O impacto da incontinência urinária e seus fatores associados em idosas

OBJECTIVE: Identify the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and associated factors in elderly women of the community. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in which elderly women aged 60 or more who attended a center dedicated exclusively to elderly in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, were interviewed. The instruments used were the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and a questionnaire with additional information on associated factors for urinary incontinence. Besides descriptive statistics, Students t test was used to compare the means of quantitative variables. RESULTS: The study evaluated 132 elderly women aged 60-91 years with mean age of 68.56 years (SD±6.24). Regarding urine loss, the prevalence found was 40.91% (95% IC = 32.6-49.2). Of all women interviewed it was found a body mass index (BMI) of 25.7 kg/m2 (SD±4,06), and among elderly women considered incontinent, 59.2% had BMI ≥ 27kg/m2, that is, overweight. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of UI (40.91%) found is within the registered parameters for this age group. Other relevant data is that the number of pregnancies increased UI, and elderly women with three or more pregnancies were proportionally more affected. The UI impact on the quality of life was considered absent or mild by most elderly women, probably showing that UI was in initial stage and did not interfere significantly in the everyday life of those women. It is still worth highlighting that early diagnosis allows appropriate treatment in a timely manner, avoiding major compromises and improving the quality of life.

Medicinal plants used for cancer survivors in the treatment and prevention of this disease

Objective: to investigate medical plants used by cancer survivors. Method: it is a descriptive study of qualitative approach. It has been conducted from the data of the research “Resilience as a Strategy of Confrontation for Cancer Survivor”, which it has been approved by the Comitê de Ética em Pequisa da Faculdade de Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) under the process No. 36/2009. The individuals of this research were three cancer survivors seen at UFPel School Hospital, who are undergoing medical evaluation after the end of treatment, except for hormone therapy. Results: the interviewed individuals mentioned seven medicinal plants used in the treatment and in the prevention of cancer: babosa (Aloe vera sp), erva-de-lagarto (Casearia sylvestris), noz-pecã (Caraya illionensis), quebrapedra (Phyllanthus niuri), cocão (Erythroxylum argentinum), madressilva (Lonicera sp) and carrapicho-rasteiro (Acanthospermum australe). Conclusion: it has been proved the importance of amplify studies in human beings which can confirm or not the benefits of medical plant in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Besides, it is necessary that the population, the users, the researchers, the health professionals, emphasizing the nurses, get to know in a more detailed and profound way the use of medical plants. Descriptors: plants, medicinal; neoplasms; nursing; patients; oncology service, hospital.

Nurse’s perception on birth squatting

ABSTRACT Objective : to know the nurse’s perception on birth squatting. Methodology : this is about a descriptive and exploratory study, from qualitative approach in which participated four nurses of a hospital in Porto Alegre/RS. Interviews were semi-structured. After collecting the data were analyzed by subject, from which emerged the following themes: knowledge about the birth squatting and investigation of the physiological delivery vertical to horizontal. The survey was conducted in 2004, implementing to the Ethical Principles in accordance with Resolution 196/96 of the National Health and with Research Ethics Committee of the institution under study, in which the research project was approved in its respective protocol number 064/04. Results : it was noted that half of the respondents showed an interest in working with birth squatting because this mode allows a woman to be the center of the parturition process, since its the same person driving the delivery, identifying the movements and know what the best position. Conclusion : i t was also found that all subjects have little experience with birth squatting. Therefore, it is believed that health professionals should give the mothers the freedom to choose the position that suit every moment of his birth. Descriptors : nursing; natural childbirth; humanizing delivery; nurses role. RESUMO Objetivo : conhecer a percepcao do enfermeiro acerca do parto de cocoras. Metodologia : estudo descritivo e exploratorio, de abordagem qualitativa, no qual participaram quatro enfermeiras de um hospital em Porto Alegre/RS. Utilizaram-se entrevistas semiestruturadas. Apos a coleta os dados foram tratados por analise tematica, da qual emergiram os seguintes temas: conhecimento acerca do parto de cocoras e averiguacao do processo fisiologico do parto vertical em relacao ao horizontal. Foram cumpridos os Principios Eticos de acordo com a Resolucao 196/96 do Conselho Nacional de Saude e com o Comite de Etica em Pesquisa da instituicao em estudo, no qual o projeto de pesquisa foi aprovado sob o respectivo numero de protocolo 064/04. Resultados : percebeu-se que metade das entrevistadas revelou ter interesse em trabalhar com o parto de cocoras porque esta modalidade permite que a mulher seja o centro do processo de parturicao, pois, e a mesma quem conduz o parto, identifica os movimentos e sabe qual a melhor posicao. Conclusao : constatou-se que todos os sujeitos tem pouca experiencia com parto de cocoras. Portanto, acredita-se que os profissionais de saude, devem proporcionar as parturientes a liberdade de escolher a posicao que convem a cada momento do seu parto. Descritores : enfermagem; parto normal; parto humanizado; papel do profissional de enfermagem. RESUMEN Objetivo : conocer la percepcione de lo enfermero sobre el parto en cuclillas. Metodologia : estudio descriptivo y exploratorio con enfoque cualitativo, en la que participaron cuatro enfermeras de un hospital en Porto Alegre - RS. Las entrevistas fueron semi-estructuradas. Despues de recoger los datos se analizaron por temas, de la que surgieron los siguientes: conocimientos sobre el parto en cuclillas y la investigacion de la entrega fisiologica vertical a horizontal. Se cumple con los principios eticos de acuerdo con la Resolucion 196/96 del Consejo Nacional de Salud y con el Comite de Etica en la Investigacion de la institucion en estudio, en el que se aprobo el proyecto de investigacion bajo el respectivo numero de protocolo 064/04. Resultados : se observo que la mitad de los encuestados mostro su interes en trabajar con el parto en cuclillas , porque de este modo permite a la mujer a ser el centro del proceso de parto, ya que es la misma persona la conduccion de la entrega, la identificacion de los movimientos y saber cual es la mejor posicion. Conclusion : tambien se constato que todos los sujetos tienen poca experiencia con la usurpacion de nacimiento. Por lo tanto, se cree que los profesionales de la salud deben dar a las madres la libertad de elegir la posicion que cada momento demanda de su parto. Descriptores : enfermeria; parto normal; parto humanizado; rol de la enfermera.