Maria de Fátima Oliveira dos Santos

Influence of Work-Related Variables on Quality of Life of Anesthesiologists in the City of João Pessoa

Summary Background and objectives Anesthesiologists work under great pressure because they are dealing with disease, pain, suffering, and death. Exposure of these professionals to the effects of fatigue and physical, chemical, and biological factors can cause physical and psychological disorders. The objective of the present study was to understand the influences of work-related variables on anesthesiologists’ quality of life in the city of Joao Pessoa. Methods This is a descriptive, transversal study with a quantitative approach, with 83 physicians who answered a generic questionnaire proposed by the World Health Organization to evaluate quality of life (QOL). Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and mean comparison tests. The level of significance adopted for analyses was 5%. Results Analysis demonstrated that work-related variables, i.e., the total hours of the weekly on-call schedule, working hours, sleep patterns after shifts and at shift intervals, and physical activity are all correlated with QOL. A statistically significant difference was seen between the domains of QOL scale and the number of working hours. On the other hand, monthly income influences QOL (p Conclusions It was observed that work-related variables had a significant correlation with QOL. In addition to expressive statistical difference between the domains of QOL scale and the number of working hours, the same divergence was also observed regarding the environmental domain and monthly income.

Influência de variáveis laborais na qualidade de vida dos anestesiologistas da cidade de João Pessoa

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El anestesiologo trabaja bajo una fuerte presion por tener que lidiar con la enfermedad, el dolor, el sufrimiento y la muerte. Su exposicion a los efectos del cansancio, factores fisicos, quimicos y biologicos puede causar trastornos fisicos y psicologicos. Este estudio intento conocer las influencias de las variables laborales en la CV de los anestesiologos de la ciudad de Joao Pessoa. METODO: Estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal y con un abordaje cuantitativo, compuesto por 83 medicos que respondieron al instrumento generico para evaluar la calidad de vida (CV), propuesto por la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud. Los datos fueron analizados por estadisticas descriptivas y por el test de comparacion de promedio. El nivel de significancia adoptado para los analisis fue de un de 5%. RESULTADOS: Los analisis demostraron que las variables laborales relacionadas con el total de horas de guardias semanales con las horas trabajadas, con el habito de dormir despues de la guardia y en los intervalos de las mismas, junto con la practica de la actividad fisica por parte del profesional, se correlacionaron con la CV. Verificamos tambien, que hay una diferencia estadisticamente significativa entre los dominios de la escala de CV y el numero de horas de trabajo de los participantes. Por otra parte, el salario mensual ejerce una influencia sobre la CV (p < 0,05) solo en el dominio del medio ambiente. CONCLUSIONES: Observamos que las variables laborales se correlacionaron significativamente con la CV. Ademas de haber una diferencia estadistica expresiva entre los dominios de la escala de CV y el numero de horas de trabajo de los participantes, se verifico que tambien existe esa misma divergencia en cuanto al dominio del medio ambiente y al salario mensual.

Injeção intracitoplasmática de espermatozóides: questões éticas e legais

O presente trabalho enfoca a tecnica da fertilizacao in vitro por meio de injecao intracitoplasmatica de espermatozoide (ICSI), abordando seus aspectos tecnicos, bem como, questoes eticas e legais que permeiam tal pratica. Essa tecnica se diferencia das demais por corresponder a injecao de um unico espermatozoide vivo no citoplasma do ovocito, sendo uma das principais alternativas atuais para a infertilidade masculina, principalmente nos casais em que o homem tem uma diminuicao significativa na quantidade ou na motilidade dos espermatozoides. Vale ressaltar, que as tecnicas de reproducao assistida vem se desenvolvendo rapidamente, dando ensejo a questoes polemicas, como as relativas ao inicio da vida embrionaria e a manipulacao genetica, o que implica que se deve refletir sobre este assunto, levando-se em consideracao os limites eticos. Nesse sentido, e preciso, urgentemente regulamentar o tema, mesmo com os progressos alcancados pelo novo Codigo Civil e pela Lei de Biosseguranca.

Ethical aspects considered in doctor-patient relations: experiences of anesthesiologists

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Ethical principles guide professional conduct, particularly in establishing the doctor-patient relationship and, therefore, require constant reflection. The purpose of this study is to analyze ethical experiences of anesthesiologists in their interaction with the patient under their care. METHOD This was an exploratory study involving 16 active anesthesiologists at a university hospital in João Pessoa, Paraíba. We collected data through semi-structured interviews and analyzed qualitatively using the content analysis technique. RESULTS The study findings show that the classification of ethical experiences of the study participants regarding the doctor-patient relationship were classified into five categories: respect for the patient, humane treatment, equal treatment, professional secrecy, and respect for patient autonomy. CONCLUSION We conclude that respondents recognize the ethical and humanistic values that should guide the relationship with their patients.

Aspectos éticos considerados na relação médico-paciente: vivências de anestesiologistas

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Ethical principles guide professional conduct, particularly in establishing the doctor-patient relationship and, therefore, require constant reflection. The purpose of this study is to analyze ethical experiences of anesthesiologists in their interaction with the patient under their care. METHOD This was an exploratory study involving 16 active anesthesiologists at a university hospital in João Pessoa, Paraíba. We collected data through semi-structured interviews and analyzed qualitatively using the content analysis technique. RESULTS The study findings show that the classification of ethical experiences of the study participants regarding the doctor-patient relationship were classified into five categories: respect for the patient, humane treatment, equal treatment, professional secrecy, and respect for patient autonomy. CONCLUSION We conclude that respondents recognize the ethical and humanistic values that should guide the relationship with their patients.

Bioethics and Anesthesia: A Reflexive Study of Reports Published in the Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology

Summary Background and objectives There is a great lack of theoretical subsidies to guide ethical principles, specifically in the case of Anesthesiology. The objective of the present study was to analyze the bibliographic production regarding Bioethics in studies published by the Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology between 1999 and 2009. Methods Three studies published between 1999 and 2009 by the Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology were selected. Those studies covered bioethical issues in Anesthesiology or correlated anesthesia and Bioethics. A content analysis was used, according to the model of Bardin. Results It was observed that Bioethical ideals were the most predominant issue, especially Principialism (f 23; 23.5%). On the other hand, the class that defines ethics as the cradle of Bioethics obtained the lowest amount of elementary context Units (CU) (f 15, 15.3%). Conclusions In the studies mentioned, Bioethics is considered an ideal to be achieved, facing difficulties to be applied in daily Anesthesia practice. The need of studies that focus on anesthesia and Bioethics more specifically, reflecting problems regarding both subjects, should be emphasized.

Bioética e anestesia: um estudo reflexivo de publicações da Revista Brasileira de Anestesiologia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is a great lack of theoretical subsidies to guide ethical principles, specifically in the case of Anesthesiology. The objective of the present study was to analyze the bibliographic production regarding Bioethics in studies published by the Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology between 1999 and 2009. METHODS: Three studies published between 1999 and 2009 by the Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology were selected. Those studies covered bioethical issues in Anesthesiology or correlated anesthesia and Bioethics. A content analysis was used, according to the model of Bardin. RESULTS: It was observed that Bioethical ideals were the most predominant issue, especially Principialism (f 23; 23.5%). On the other hand, the class that defines ethics as the cradle of Bioethics obtained the lowest amount of elementary context Units (CU) (f 15, 15.3%). CONCLUSIONS: In the studies mentioned, Bioethics is considered an ideal to be achieved, facing difficulties to be applied in daily Anesthesia practice. The need of studies that focus on anesthesia and Bioethics more specifically, reflecting problems regarding both subjects, should be emphasized.

Avaliação do conhecimento dos anestesiologistas sobre cuidados paliativos

Evaluation of knowledge among anesthesiologists about palliative care To assess anesthesiologists’ knowledge about palliative care through an individual questionnaire. The sample was 95, with 65 male and 30 female. Sixty-two of the anesthesiologists reported quality of life as the term that best expresses the palliative care, and 53 consider the combination of home care/ hospital the most convenient for the treatment of a patient who requires palliative care. It was observed that 83.2% of the in terviewed (n = 79) have not been prepared for patients who require palliative care and that 88.4% mention to a colleague when a patient dies (n = 84). Most respondents (n = 46) disagreed with the practice of euthanasia. As for the perception of palliative care on a scale of 0 (no knowledge) to 10 (full knowledge), there was a majority of the average response of 5 (n = 28). It shows the need to reflect about care in the filed of anesthesiology.