Renato Erothildes Ferreira

Living will: What do healthcare professionals think about it?

The living will is a document in which the patients specify their wishes regarding what treatments should be carried out if they are in terminal condition. As it is a new subject, it has been generating doubts in relation to its diffusion, social acceptance and ethical principles. Our study is aimed at verifying the knowledge of healthcare professionals about this document, and analyzing different aspects related to its legal regulation and applicability. A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was performed in a sample of 351 healthcare professionals, through the application of a survey containing 29 multiple-choice questions, 9 about the sociodemographic profile and 20 about the opinion of the interviewees regarding the document. Among the respondents, 7.98% declared they knew how to write the document, 73.79% felt safer with its regulation, and 61.82% would do it for themselves (p < 0.05). Despite not previously knowing what a living will was, the majority of the sample stated they were in favour of the document and its regulation. This result suggests a need for further discussion and disclosure on the subject in the health sector.

Testamento vital: o que pensam profissionais de saúde?

The living will is a document in which the patients specify their wishes regarding what treatments should be carried out if they are in terminal condition. As it is a new subject, it has been generating doubts in relation to its diffusion, social acceptance and ethical principles. Our study is aimed at verifying the knowledge of healthcare professionals about this document, and analyzing different aspects related to its legal regulation and applicability. A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was performed in a sample of 351 healthcare professionals, through the application of a survey containing 29 multiple-choice questions, 9 about the sociodemographic profile and 20 about the opinion of the interviewees regarding the document. Among the respondents, 7.98% declared they knew how to write the document, 73.79% felt safer with its regulation, and 61.82% would do it for themselves (p < 0.05). Despite not previously knowing what a living will was, the majority of the sample stated they were in favour of the document and its regulation. This result suggests a need for further discussion and disclosure on the subject in the health sector.

Política Nacional de Saúde Integral da População Negra: implementação, conhecimento e aspectos socioeconômicos sob a perspectiva desse segmento populacional

A Politica Nacional de Saude Integral da Populacao Negra tem o objetivo de garantir a equidade na atencao a saude para esse segmento populacional. Tal medida possui um carater compensatorio em virtude das discriminacoes raciais existentes ao longo da historia do Brasil. A populacao negra apresenta maior vulnerabilidade social e economica, o que reflete uma menor expectativa de vida e maior susceptibilidade a agravos. O objetivo do estudo e investigar o conhecimento da populacao negra acerca da politica, seus potenciais beneficios e as dificuldades de acesso a saude. Trata-se de uma pesquisa transversal, descritiva e quantitativa. Foram realizadas entrevistas estruturadas com 391 individuos negros, usuarios do SUS, da cidade de Juiz de Fora. A amostra foi estratificada de acordo com raca (preto e pardo), renda e escolaridade. Cerca de 90% dos entrevistados relataram desconhecer a existencia de uma politica de saude para a populacao negra e 53% declararam uma possivel discriminacao racial. Observou-se tambem associacao positiva entre discriminacao e menor escolaridade e renda. Apesar de desconhecerem a existencia da PNSIPN, a maioria dos entrevistados aprovou seus objetivos, mesmo relatando a possibilidade de discriminacao dela advinda.

Percepção sobre queda e exposição de idosos a fatores de risco domiciliares

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo e descrever a percepcao sobre quedas dos idosos residentes na comunidade; mensurar a exposicao desses individuos a fatores de risco domiciliares relacionados; e avaliar a influencia do conhecimento sobre queda na adocao de medidas preventivas. O questionario FRAQ-Brasil foi aplicado a 473 idosos, juntamente com um questionario sobre exposicao a 20 fatores de risco domiciliares. Associacoes entre as variaveis foram analisadas utilizando o teste qui-quadrado com intervalo de confianca de 95%. A idade variou de 60 a 95 anos, com media de 70,6 anos; os entrevistados foram principalmente do sexo feminino (58,4%), e renda de 2 salarios minimos (46,3%); a media de acertos no questionario FRAQ-Brasil foi de 19,5 em ate 32 pontos e os idosos entrevistados estavam expostos, em media, a 7,8 fatores de risco domiciliares; 180 idosos disseram ja terem recebido informacoes sobre queda. A maioria da populacao idosa apresenta pouco conhecimento sobre queda. Individuos com idade mais avancada e com maior conhecimento sobre queda estao expostos a menos fatores de risco domiciliares, possivelmente pela maior adocao de medidas preventivas atraves da modificacao do ambiente domestico.OBJECTIVES to describe the awareness about falls among elderly people living in their households in communities, to measure the other risks that they are exposed to in their homes and to evaluate the influence that knowledge on falling brings in the adoption of preventative measures. METHOD The FRAQ-Brazil questionnaire was used on 473 elderly people as well as a questionnaire on elderly people being exposed to 20 household risk factors. Associations between the variables were analyzed using the chi-squared test with a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS The age range was between 60 and 95 years with the average being 70.6 years. The majority of those interviewed were female (58.4%) who were earning 2 minimum wages (46.3%). The average amount of correct answers given with the use of the FRAQ-Brazil questionnaire was 19.5 out of 32 points and the elderly participants were, on average, exposed to 7.8 household risk factors. 180 of them stated that they had already received information on falls. CONCLUSION The majority of the elderly population displayed little knowledge on falls and were exposed to a variety of daily risk factors. Individuals who were more advanced in years and who had more knowledge on falls, were exposed to less household risk factors. This may well have been due to the adoption of preventative measures through changing domestic environment.

Percepção sobre queda como fator determinante desse evento entre idosos residentes na comunidade

factors to that, including intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, as well as the awareness about falls, assessed by the Falls Risk Awareness Questionnaire (FRAQ-Brazil). METHOD: It consisted of a quantitative, transversal, and descriptive study, performed with 472 elderly persons through interview. Data were analyzed by the chi-squared test with a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: The average age of the sample was 70.6 years and most of them were female. Among the sample, 55.2% referred previous episodes of fall. The majority of them self-reported having diseases associated with gait disturbance and used medicines that could cause falls. It was observed less falls among elderly with higher level of awareness about risk factors. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of accidental falls and exposure of the elderly persons to several independent and concomitant risk factors were observed. Greater awareness level about falls seems to be a preventive factor, presenting a higher association with falls than level of education and income.

Basic Life Support Knowledge and Interest Among Laypeople

Mailing Address: José Antonio Chehuen Neto Av. Presidente Itamar Franco, 1.495/1.001, Centro. Postal Code: 36016-320. Juiz de Fora, MG – Brazil. E-mail: igorbrum.med@gmail.com Basic Life Support Knowledge and Interest Among Laypeople José Antonio Chehuen Neto, Igor Vilela Brum, Débora Rodrigues Pereira, Letícia Gomes Santos, Silvia Lopes de Moraes, Renato Erothildes Ferreira Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG – Brazil

Atitudes dos pais diante da vacinação de suas filhas contra o HPV na prevenção do câncer de colo do útero

Objective To evaluate public knowledge about HPV through opinion gathering and behavior analysis. Method This is a transversal, exploratory, quantitative study involving individuals who are legal guardians of at least one daughter (under the age of 26 years and 11 months). We conducted 455 structured interviews with sociodemographic valid data, level of information, and opinion about vaccination against HPV. Results Knowledge about the vaccine contemplated 79.3% of the sample, with 92.7% approval of the vaccination policy; knowledge about HPV is adequate mainly among women, Caucasian, residents of the central region, and inadequate knowledge is evident in poorer and unmarried populations. Conclusions The sample agrees with the extension of the age range of the campaign for free distribution of the vaccine, coupled with education to improve knowledge on the effectiveness of vaccines in the underserved populations. However, we have concluded that in the age group proposed by the policy, 9 to 13 years old, parents should be responsible for the decision to vaccinate their daughters.

Testamento vital: ¿lo que piensan profesionales de la salud?

The living will is a document in which the patients specify their wishes regarding what treatments should be carried out if they are in terminal condition. As it is a new subject, it has been generating doubts in relation to its diffusion, social acceptance and ethical principles. Our study is aimed at verifying the knowledge of healthcare professionals about this document, and analyzing different aspects related to its legal regulation and applicability. A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was performed in a sample of 351 healthcare professionals, through the application of a survey containing 29 multiple-choice questions, 9 about the sociodemographic profile and 20 about the opinion of the interviewees regarding the document. Among the respondents, 7.98% declared they knew how to write the document, 73.79% felt safer with its regulation, and 61.82% would do it for themselves (p < 0.05). Despite not previously knowing what a living will was, the majority of the sample stated they were in favour of the document and its regulation. This result suggests a need for further discussion and disclosure on the subject in the health sector.

The medical school: opportunities offered and the affirmative action

Introduction: education produces positive effects for everyone, although it may raise or soften the structures of existing inequalities through the power of individual skills that it originates. Objectives: to assess whether college attendance brings improvements in socioeconomic conditions, highlights which opportunities are created by the University, traces the socioeconomic profile of Medical school students after the introduction of quotas, and elucidates if the program’s objectives are achieved. Methods: original retrospective cohort. The sample was composed of UFJF medical school students approached during the entrance board exams between 2006 and 2010 and during graduation, contemplating students from the 1st to 9th semesters. EPI INFO 3.5.1 was used in the statistical analyses. Results: entrance into the academic life was associated with significant increase in the knowledge of foreign languages, participation in student exchange programs, use of PCs for homework and internet access, high family incomes, homeownership, and maternal ed ucation. Parts of these advances are directly due to the University. The increase in available slots for minorities (affirmative action) was proportionally related to increased entrance of public schools students, who did not use computer/internet, and came from low income families and low parental education. Conclusion: the entrance into Medical school triggers real improvements in living conditions and the high rates of opportunities usage originates progress not only in the student’s individual skills but also for their families. The quota system, in turn, caters to its primary function of inclusion of under-prepared students, graduates of public schools, with less accessibility, family income, and parents’ education.