Vanja Maria Bessa Ferreira

Longitudinal study of acute respiratory diseases in Rio de Janeiro: occurrence of respiratory viruses during four consecutive years

The occurrence of different viruses in nasopharyngeal secretions from children less than 5 years old with acute respiratory infections (ARI) was investigated over a period of 4 years (1982-1985) in Rio de Janeiro. Of the viruses known to be associated with ARI, all but influenza C and parainfluenza types 1, 2 and 4 were found. Viruses were found more frequently in children attending emergency or pediatric wards than in outpatients. This was clearly related to the high incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the more severe cases of ARI. RSV positive specimens appeared mainly during the fall, over four consecutive years, showing a clear seasonal occurrence of this virus. Emergency wards provide the best source of data for RSV surveillance, showing sharp increase in the number of positive cases coinciding with increased incidence of ARI cases. Adenovirus were the second most frequent viruses isolated and among these serotypes 1, 2 and 7 were predominant. Influenza virus and parainfluenza virus type 3 were next in frequency. Influenza A virus were isolated with equal frequency in outpatient departments, emergency and pediatric wards. Influenza B was more frequent among outpatients. Parainfluenza type 3 caused outbreaks in the shanty-town population annually during the late winter or spring and were isolated mainly from outpatients. Herpesvirus, enterovirus and rhinovirus were found less frequently. Other viruses than RSV and parainfluenza type 3 did not show a clear seasonal incidence.

[Evaluation of under-reporting of AIDS cases in the city of Rio de Janeiro based on data from the hospital information system of the Unified Health System].

Data from the Hospital Information System (SIH-SUS) were linked to data from the AIDS Case Reporting System (Sinan) to assess the level of under-reporting of AIDS cases in the city of Rio de Janeiro. A high level of unreported cases(42.7%) was observed for patients treated in hospitals under Brazils Unified Health System in the city of Rio. Bivariate analysis showed an association between reporting to the Sinan and age, principal diagnosis, and type of hospital.

Use of clinical guidelines and the results in primary healthcare for hypertension

This study aimed to identify strategies to implement clinical guidelines for hypertension in a primary healthcare unit, focusing on the effects of the Family Health Program (FHP) and government Pharmaceutical Home Delivery Program (PHDP) on adherence to guidelines by health professionals and the results of care. The data were obtained from a registry of 5,499 hypertensive patients, stratified according to registration in the FHP and PHDP. The random selection procedure resulted in samples of 150 patient charts in three strata and one stratum (without the FHP or PHDP) with only 22 patient charts. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models were obtained, incorporating the structural information from the sample design (sample strata and weight). Based on information recorded on the patient charts, adherence to clinical guidelines was extremely low. A positive effect had been expected from the FHP and PHDP in terms of adherence to clinical guidelines and results of care. A trend towards a positive effect was observed for the PHDP and a slightly favorable performance for the FHP for adherence to clinical guidelines.

Comparação das informações sobre as prevalências de doenças crônicas obtidas pelo suplemento saúde da PNAD/98 e as estimadas pelo estudo Carga de Doença no Brasil

In this study, prevalence estimates of five chronic disease cirrhosis, depression, diabetes, chronic rhenal insufficiency and tuberculosis based on the 1998 PNAD Health Supplement were compared to those obtained by the Brazilian Global Burden of Disease Project. These estimates were based on systematic literature review as well as on available data set of morbidities. The results show that PNAD presented higher number of cases for depression and Chronic rhenal insufficiency while the prevalence rates estimated by Brazilian Global Burden of Disease Project were higher for cirrhosis, diabetes and tuberculosis.

DOTS in primary care units in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Descrever a implantacao e os efeitos do directly-observed treatment short course (DOTS) em centros municipais de saude. METODOS: Foram realizadas entrevistas com profissionais dos nove centros municipais de saude que ofereciam DOTS no Rio de Janeiro, RJ, em 2004-2005. Foram coletados os dados de todos os centros municipais de saude da cidade sobre os tratamentos de tuberculose iniciados em 2004. Analises bivariadas e modelo multinomial foram aplicados para identificar associacoes entre resultados do tratamento e variaveis demograficas e relativas ao processo de tratamento, incluindo estar em DOTS ou terapia auto-administrada (SAT). RESULTADOS: Dos 4.598 casos de tuberculose tratados, 1.118 (24,3%) utilizaram DOTS e 3.480 (75,7%), SAT. As chances de uso de DOTS foram maiores entre pacientes com menos de 50 anos, recidiva de tuberculose, historia previa de abandono ou falencia de tratamento. As chances de morte foram 52,0% maiores entre pacientes em DOTS comparados aqueles em SAT. A modalidade de tratamento com maior sucesso foi DOTS com agentes comunitarios de saude. Foi observada reducao de 21,0% na razao de chances de abandono (vs. cura) entre pacientes em DOTS, comparados a pacientes em SAT, e reducao de 64,0% entre pacientes em DOTS com ACS, comparados aqueles sem. CONCLUSOES: Pacientes com perfil de menor adesao ao tratamento tenderam a ser incluidos em DOTS. Essa estrategia melhora a qualidade da atencao provida a pacientes com tuberculose, ainda que metas propostas nao tenham sido atingidas.

RS virus diagnosis: comparison of isolation, immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay

Two techniques for rapid diagnosis, immunofluorescence (IFAT) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), have been compared with virus isolation in tissue culture for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in specimens of nasopharyngeal secretions. The specimens were obtained from children under five years of age suffering from acute respiratory illness, during a period of six months from January to June 1982. Of 471 specimens examined 54 (11.5%) were positive by virus isolation and 180 (38.2%) were positive by immunofluorescence. The bacterial contamination of inoculated tissue cultures unfortunately prevented the isolation of virus from many samples. Specimens from 216 children were tested to compare enzyme immunoassay and immunofluorescence. Of these 60 (27%) were positive by EIA and 121 (56%) were positive by IFAT. Our results suggest that the EIA technique although highly specific is rather insensitive. This may be because by the time these tests were done the original nasopharyngeal secretions were considerably diluted and contained more mucus fragments than the cell suspension used for IFAT. Of the three techniques, IFAT gives the best results although EIA may be useful where IFAT is not possible.

Tuberculosis Control Program and patient satisfaction, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJECTIVE To evaluate factors associated with users’ satisfaction in the Tuberculosis Control Program. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 295 patients aged ≥ 18 years, with two or more outpatient visits in the Tuberculosis Control Program, in five cities in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Southeastern Brazil, in 2010. Considering an estimated population of 4,345 patients, the sampling plan included 15 health care units participating in the program, divided into two strata: units in Rio de Janeiro City, selected with probability proportional to the monthly average number of outpatient visits, and units in the other four cities. In the units, four temporal clusters of five patients each were selected with equal probability, totaling 300 patients. A questionnaire investigating the users’ clinical and sociodemographic variables and aspects of care and service in the program relevant to user satisfaction was applied to the patients. Descriptive statistics about users and their satisfaction with the program were obtained, and the effects of factors associated with satisfaction were estimated. RESULTS Patients were predominantly males (57.7%), with a mean age of 40.9 and with low level of schooling. The mean treatment time was 4.1 months, mostly self-administered (70.4%). Additionally, 25.8% had previously been treated for tuberculosis. There was a high level of satisfaction, especially regarding medication provision, and respect to patients by the health professionals. Patients who were younger (≤ 30), those on self-administered treatment, and with graduate level, showed less satisfaction. Suggestions to improve the services include having more doctors (70.0%), and offering exams in the same place of attendance (55.1%). CONCLUSIONS Patient satisfaction with the Tuberculosis Control Program was generally high, although lower among younger patients, those with university education and those on self-administered treatment. The study indicates the need for changes to structural and organizational aspects of care, and provides practical support for its improvement.

Utilização de diretrizes clínicas em cardiologia na saúde suplementar no Brasil

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to present cardiovascular results of a national study about the implementation of clinical guidelines and other instruments and practices for clinical care management among health plan operators in Brasil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of the 1,573 Brazilian health plan operators, stratified by macro region and market segment. Each stratum was subdivided in take-all and take-some strata by Hedlins method, with equiprobability selection in each take-some stratum. The resulting sample size was of 90 health plan operators who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The study had a descriptive nature and, to obtain estimates for percents and total number of health plan operators relative to a population size of N=1572., sample weights were taken into account. RESULTS: Of the health plan operators, 61.2% considered that the implementation of clinical guidelines should be conducted by administrative and regulatory government organizations, involving a partnership with health plan operators, health service providers and medical societies. It was shown that only 32.3% of the health plan operators in the country enforce clinical guidelines. With regard to cardiovascular disease, the reported utilization of guidelines was one of the highest among all diseases analyzed. The percentages for acute myocardial infarction (87%), congestive heart failure (85%) and the use of invasive procedures (81.1%) were higher than for arterial hypertension (74.1%) and cerebrovascular disease (72.2%). CONCLUSION: This study indicated the incipient utilization of clinical guidelines among health plan operators in the Brazilian health system. In general, the cardiovascular area showed one of the highest rates of utilization reported in the study.

Diretrizes clínicas e outras práticas voltadas para a melhoria da qualidade assistencial em operadoras de planos de saúde sob a perspectiva dos seus dirigentes, no Brasil

This study aimed to characterize the implementation of clinical guidelines and other instruments and practices for health care quality improvement among health plan operators in Brazil. It was a national cross-sectional descriptive study, initially considering 1,573 health plan operators registered in the National Agency for Supplementary Health Care. The sample design was complex, stratified by macro-region, market segment, and number of beneficiaries. Ninety health plan operators agreed to participate and were interviewed. To obtain estimates for the universe of health plan operators, a sample expansion factor attributed per stratum was considered. Only 32.3% of the health plan operators implemented clinical guidelines, with important variation across regions and market segments. Clinical governance practices are still in the very initial stages. Challenges are presented with regard to health care incorporation as a dimension of management within health care organizations, including health plan operators. Initiatives to improve quality of care need to be integrated and conducted at the organizational level.

Fatores associados ao uso de diretrizes clínicas em operadoras de planos de saúde e prestadores de serviços hospitalares no campo da Saúde Suplementar no Brasil

This paper is aimed at identifying factors related to the use of clinical guidelines by health plan operators and their inpatient care providers in the supplementary care sector in Brazil from the viewpoint of managers. The study is based on two national surveys: one involving 90 health plan operators randomly selected from a universe of 1573, oriented towards characterizing the implementation of clinical guidelines and other tools of clinical governance; and another involving 74 hospitals, selected from a universe of 3817 inpatient care providers, aimed at capturing micro-regulation mechanisms applied by health plan operators and their repercussions on hospital practices. Use of clinical guidelines was reported by 32.3% of the health plan operators, and 51.6% of the hospitals interviewed. Among the first, geographical location, type and size of the organization were independently associated with use of clinical guidelines while among the hospitals size, complexity and use of other tools of clinical governance were independently associated with the dependent variable. The results show how incipient and unsatisfactory the intervention of the health plan and hospital managements still is with regard to the quality of health services offered to the beneficiaries.