Rafaela Soares Rech

Comunicação científica efetiva: reflexões e dicas

Aceito em: Outubro 19, 2017 Trabalho realizado na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS Porto Alegre (RS), Brasil. 1Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS Porto Alegre (RS), Brasil. Fonte de financiamento: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Conflito de interesses: nada a declarar. CARTA AO EDITOR

Conhecimento das equipes médicas e de enfermagem sobre o manejo de medicamentos orais no paciente adulto disfágico hospitalizado

Purpose: To describe the knowledge of healthcare teams about dysphagia, prescription, and administration of oral medications in dysphagic adult patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study that included physicians, nurses, and nursing technicians from Hospitalization and Intensive Therapy Units of a university hospital in southern Brazil. A total of 102 professionals participated and answered an adapted and previously tested survey for this research. Exploratory variables were: sociodemographic data; academic and professional guidance on dysphagia; knowledge about dysphagia; phases of swallowing; signs, symptoms, and comorbidities associated with dysphagia; management, prescription, and administration of medications in the dysphagic patient. Results: 93.5% of the physicians, 100% of the nurses, and 97.8% of the nursing technicians know what dysphagia is. Most recognize the speech therapist as being responsible for swallowing rehabilitation; however they do not identify the signs and symptoms of dysphagia; choking during swallow was the most recognized symptom. For prescription drugs, 58% of the physicians do not consider alternative routes (enteral or intravenous) for administration, and 22.5% advise the nursing staff on how to manage patients with dysphagia. Most nurses and nursing technicians, 50,0% and 68,9% respectively, crush the medicine and mix it with water; and 65,4% and 46,7%, respectively, feel unprepared to administer medications in patients with dysphagia. Conclusion: The knowledge of healthcare teams is still incipient when it comes to the care of the hospitalized adult dysphagic patients and the use of oral medications. Knowledge sharing, investment in permanent education, and qualification during the education of these professionals is fundamental to improve the integral care to the patient.

Dental status, oral prosthesis and chewing ability in an adult and elderly population in southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the factors associated with inadequate chewing in an adult and elderly population of a city in the southern region of Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on a population home-based inquiry (DCH-POP) in southern Brazil. Individuals were interviewed by trained interviewers to create a standardized procedure. In a pilot study, the Questionnaire of Human Communication Disorders (DCH-POP) was created and validated to identify self-reported speech and language, swallowing and hearing disorders. The outcome was dichotomized into either having adequate chewing or not, as assessed by a series of questions about chewing ability. Analyses of absolute and relative frequencies were measured according to the studied variables. A Poisson regression was applied at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: A total of 1,246 people were interviewed. Inadequate chewing was found in 52 (5.6%) individuals, with a higher prevalence in the elderly (11.8%) than in adults (5.2%). In the final model, the following factors were associated with inadequate chewing: being 61 years of age or older (prevalence ratio or PR=9.03; 95% CI: 1.20-67.91), loss of teeth and use of unadjusted prosthesis (PR=3.50; 95% CI: 1.54-7.95), preference for foods of soft consistency (PR=9.34; 95% CI:4.66-8.70) and difficulty in nasal breathing (PR=2.82; 95% CI: 1.31-6.06). CONCLUSION: Age, oral health status through dental prosthesis, preference for foods of soft consistency and difficulty breathing through the nose were factors associated with chewing inability in adults and the elderly.