Paulo Adão de Medeiros

Participação masculina em modalidades de atividades físicas de um Programa para idosos: um estudo longitudinal

The article seeks to describe male participation on a physical activity program for the elderly in the south of Brazil over a ten-year period (2003-2013). The data of the study were extracted from a database and assessed using descriptive and inferential statistics and assessment of the thematic content. The first phase of the study was longitudinal (from 2003 to 2013) with 163 elderly participants, while the second phase was cross-sectional for the year of 2013 with 45 elderly individuals. Male participation was, on average, 3.5 times lower than female participation for all years assessed, and the activity most practiced was swimming. In the year 2013, the average age of the elderly men was 68 ± 7.8 years. Most of them are married, have tertiary education, good acquisitive power, positive self perception of health, one or more diagnosed diseases, and do not participate in any other physical activity outside the program. According to the elderly, the reasons for participating most cited was the search for quality of life and health and, for continuing to exercise, acquiring the taste for the physical activity. Understanding the profile of these individuals and of the reasons that motivate them are important tools to comprehend the issue and help to define public politics directed at this population group.

CONDIÇÕES DE SAÚDE ENTRE PROFISSIONAIS DA ATENÇÃO BÁSICA EM SAÚDE DO MUNICÍPIO DE SANTA MARIA - RS

Objective: To evaluate the health conditions and quality of life of primary healthcare professionals from Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in six primary healthcare units. The sample was composed by 42 professionals who responded a semi-open questionnaire and one healthcare facility was randomly selected to participate of a focus group. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis, respectively. Results: 60% of the sample presented pain or physical complaints, particularly musculoskeletal problems and headache. In addition, 48% of the professionals reported having had depressive episodes and not having looked for help; 55% of respondents considered themselves stressed out, while 50% and 40% of them did not perform physical or leisure activities, respectively. A total of 72% of the professionals reported that work affects their health and quality of life and 62% reported that their health influences the performance of their work in primary care. Conclusions: Primary healthcare professionals presented physical and emotional fatigue and showed low practice of healthy behaviors. This may be a result of their work routine, which compromises their quality of life. Despite providing a low-technology assistance, primary healthcare brings a great demand of workload, suggesting that the government policy focused on the workers’ health should have a special look into primary healthcare professionals. DESCRIPTORS Health Status. Health Personnel. Primary Health Care.

Instrumentos desenvolvidos para o gerenciamento e cuidado de idosos em instituições de longa permanência: uma revisão sistemática

The demand for long-stay care institutions for the elderly (ILPIs) is increasing and it is relevant for public health systems to discuss the process of assessing the health status of its residents. The study aimed to identify measurement tools built specifically for the management and care of elderly residents in long-stay care facilities. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA recommendations in Medline and CINAHL databases since their creation to May 2013 using the Medical Subject Headings terms suitable for the search. A total of 1858 articles were located, of which 30 were selected and 28 instruments were identified in the studies. The United States was the country that created most instruments geared to this population and the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) was the one most used in the studies of this review. The variables most frequently evaluated by the instruments were depression, cognition and functional capacity. The reformulation of public policies that ensure a standardized assessment system for residents in ILPIs in Brazil is urgently needed and the challenge is to ensure that the instruments developed are disseminated and effectively implemented in the daily tasks of the professionals working in these institutions.The demand for long-stay care institutions for the elderly (ILPIs) is increasing and it is relevant for public health systems to discuss the process of assessing the health status of its residents. The study aimed to identify measurement tools built specifically for the management and care of elderly residents in long-stay care facilities. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA recommendations in Medline and CINAHL databases since their creation to May 2013 using the Medical Subject Headings terms suitable for the search. A total of 1858 articles were located, of which 30 were selected and 28 instruments were identified in the studies. The United States was the country that created most instruments geared to this population and the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) was the one most used in the studies of this review. The variables most frequently evaluated by the instruments were depression, cognition and functional capacity. The reformulation of public policies that ensure a standardized assessment system for residents in ILPIs in Brazil is urgently needed and the challenge is to ensure that the instruments developed are disseminated and effectively implemented in the daily tasks of the professionals working in these institutions.