Cuidadores informais de idosos em pós-operatório de cirurgia de fêmur proximal: prevenção de novas quedas

The objectives of this study were to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of informal caregivers of elderly persons who had undergone surgery for hip fractures caused by a fall, explore the level of caregiver's knowledge regarding fall prevention, and assess the relationship between this knowledge and the use of preventative measures in practice. This investigation consists of a cross-sectional study using nonprobability sampling methods conducted over a period of 12 months and involving 89 caregivers. The majority of caregivers were female (76.4%) and sons or daughters of the patients (64%). Environmental modification was the predominant preventative measure used by caregivers (88.2%). 58.1% of caregivers believed it was possible to prevent falls in the elderly and there was a significant association (p = 0,002) between believing it was possible to prevent falls and carrying out modifications in the home and/or to the daily routine of the older person. Informal caregivers with wide or partial knowledge of fall prevention put preventative measures into practice. These findings demonstrate that the number of falls among older persons could be significantly reduced if health care programmes widened their actions to include the guiding principles of the WHO falls prevention model.Os objetivos foram caracterizar sociodemograficamente os cuidadores informais de idosos vítimas de queda seguida por fratura de fêmur proximal e verificar o conhecimento mínimo que possuíam acerca da prevenção de novas quedas, assim como caracterizar a relação entre esse conhecimento e o emprego de medidas preventivas. Trata-se de estudo transversal, com amostragem intencional, realizado em 12 meses, incluindo 89 cuidadores. Predominaram cuidadores do sexo feminino (76,4%) e filhas(os) (64%). A modificação ambiental foi a medida preventiva predominante apontada por eles (88,2%). Houve associação significativa (p = 0,002), entre os 58,1% dos cuidadores que achavam ser possível prevenir quedas e os relatos sobre mudanças na casa e/ou rotina do idoso. Observou-se que cuidadores informais que apresentavam conhecimento sobre prevenção de quedas em idosos, mesmo que incompletos, empregavam medidas de prevenção para novos eventos. Esses achados sinalizam que o número de quedas entre idosos pode ser reduzido significantemente se os programas de atenção à saúde ampliarem suas ações apoiando-as no modelo de prevenção de quedas da Organização Mundial de Saúde.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (FMB), Distrito de Rubião Júnior snº, Centro. 18618-970, Botucatu SP BrasilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Cirurgia e Ortopedia, FBM, Unesp.Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (FMB), Distrito de Rubião Júnior snº, Centro. 18618-970, Botucatu SP BrasilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Cirurgia e Ortopedia, FBM, Unesp

Knowledge of Patients with Mechanical Valve Prostheses Concerning Chronic Oral Anticoagulant Therapy

Adherence to chronic Oral Anticoagulant Therapy (OAT) is directly related to patients' understanding of the therapy. This study verified the knowledge of patients with mechanical valve prostheses concerning OAT. This is a contemporary cross-sectional study, the sample is composed of patients with mechanical valve prostheses (MVP) in outpatient follow-up. A 10-question instrument was used; answers were ‘know' (1 point), ‘know partially' (half point), or ‘do not know' (zero). Patients were grouped according to the result obtained: ≤ 4 points was considered insufficient knowledge; > 4 ≤ 8 equated to moderate knowledge; and > 8 was considered appropriate knowledge. Of the 110 patients, 61.8% presented moderate knowledge, 40.9% were not able to name at least one factor that may alter the INR (International Normalized Ratio) and 37.3% were not able to report their INR target range. The majority of patients presented moderate knowledge concerning the treatment. Strategies to improve knowledge on the topic should be implemented to minimize risks.El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar el conocimiento de pacientes con prótesis valvular sobre la terapia de anticoagulación oral. La adhesión a la terapia de anticoagulación oral crónica está directamente relacionada al entendimiento del paciente sobre esta terapia. Se trata de un estudio transversal contemporáneo, en el cual se incluyeron pacientes de ambulatorio con prótesis valvular mecánica (PVM). Se aplicó un cuestionario con 10 preguntas; las respuestas fueron "sabe" (1 punto), "sabe parcialmente" (medio punto), "no sabe" (cero puntos). Los pacientes fueron agrupados según la puntuación obtenida: ≤ 4 puntos, conocimiento insuficiente; > 4 ≤ 8 puntos, conocimiento regular; > 8 puntos, conocimiento adecuado. De los 110 pacientes incluidos, el 61,8% demostró conocimiento regular, 40,9% no supieron citar un factor que altera el REI (razón estandarizada internacional) y 37,3% no supieron informar su REI objetivo. Se concluyó que la mayoría de los pacientes demostró conocimiento regular sobre el tratamiento. Se recomienda implantar estrategias para mejorar el conocimiento y minimizar los riesgos de la terapia.A adesão à terapia com anticoagulação oral crônica está diretamente relacionada ao entendimento dos pacientes sobre essa terapia. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o conhecimento dos pacientes, com prótese valvar mecânica, sobre terapia de anticoagulação oral. Como método, usou-se o estudo transversal contemporâneo. Incluem-se pacientes com prótese valvar mecânica (PVM) em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Aplicou-se instrumento com 10 questões. As respostas eram sabe (um ponto), sabe parcialmente (meio ponto), ou não sabe (zero). Os pacientes foram agrupados conforme a pontuação obtida. Considerou-se ≤4 pontos conhecimento insuficiente, >4 ≤8 conhecimento regular e >8 conhecimento adequado. Os resultados mostram que, dos 110 pacientes, 61,8% apresentaram conhecimento regular, 40,9% não souberam citar ao menos um fator que alterasse a razão normatizada internacional (RNI) e 37,3% não souberam informar o seu RNI alvo. Conclui-se que a maioria dos pacientes apresentou conhecimento regular sobre o tratamento. Estratégias devem ser implementadas para melhorar o conhecimento e, consequentemente, minimizar os riscos dessa terapêutica

Efetividade das intervenções individual e em grupo junto a pessoas com diabetes tipo 2 1

OBJETIVO: comparar a efetividade de duas intervenções educativas, utilizadas por uma operadora de saúde, no acompanhamento ao indivíduo com diabetes mellitus Tipo 2 (DM2), quanto ao conhecimento sobre a doença, impacto na qualidade de vida e adoção de ações de autocuidado. MÉTODOS: estudo comparativo, longitudinal, prospectivo, realizado com 150 indivíduos com diabetes tipo 2, analisados conforme a modalidade de participação no programa (individual e/ou em grupo). Os participantes da intervenção individual (II) realizaram consultas de enfermagem a cada seis meses e os da intervenção em grupo (IG), reuniões semanais por três meses. Os dados foram coletados mediante quatro questionários: Questionário de identificação, Questionário de Impacto na Qualidade de Vida em Diabetes (PAID), Questionário de Autocuidado em Diabetes (QAD) e Questionário de Conhecimento do Diabetes (DKN-A). Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se o Teste de Friedman e o Teste de Mann Whitney, considerando significância estatística para p ≤ 0,05. RESULTADOS: verificou-se aumento do conhecimento sobre a doença na II (pOBJECTIVE: to compare the effectiveness of two educational interventions used by a healthcare provider in the monitoring of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), regarding knowledge of the disease, impact on quality of life and adoption of self-care actions. METHODS: comparative, longitudinal, prospective study performed with 150 subjects with type 2 diabetes, analyzed according to the type of participation in the program (individual and/or group). Participants of the individual intervention (II) received nursing consultations every six months and those of the group intervention (GI) took part in weekly meetings for three months. Data were collected through four questionnaires: Identification questionnaire, Problem Areas in Diabetes Questionnaire (PAID), Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire (SDSCA) and the Diabetes Knowledge Scale (DKN-A). Data were analyzed using the Friedman and Mann Whitney tests, considering a statistical significance of p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: there was an increase in knowledge about the disease in the II (pOBJETIVO: comparar la efectividad de dos intervenciones educativas, utilizadas por una operadora de planes de salud, en el acompañamiento al individuo con diabetes mellitus Tipo 2 (DM2), sobre al conocimiento de la enfermedad, impacto en la calidad de vida y adopción de acciones de autocuidado. MÉTODOS: estudio comparativo, longitudinal, prospectivo, realizado con 150 individuos con diabetes tipo 2, analizados conforme la modalidad de participación en el programa (individual y/o en grupo). Los participantes de la intervención individual (II) realizaron consultas de enfermería a cada seis meses y los de intervención en grupo (IG), reuniones semanales por tres meses. Los datos fueron recolectados mediante cuatro cuestionarios: Cuestionario de identificación, Cuestionario de Impacto en la Calidad de Vida en Diabetes (PAID), Cuestionario de Autocuidado en Diabetes (CAD) y Cuestionario de Conocimiento de la Diabetes (DKN-A). Los datos fueron analizados utilizando el test de Friedman y el test de Mann Whitney, considerando significación estadística para p ≤ 0,05. RESULTADOS: se verificó aumento del conocimiento sobre la enfermedad en la II (

Corporal and testicular biometry in wild boar from birth to 12 months of age

The aim of this tudy was to evaluate corporal and testicular development in wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) from birth to 12 months of age, evaluating body weight, biometric testicular parameters, and gonadosomatic index. Thirty-nine male wild boars from a commercial farm licensed by IBAMA were used in the study. The animals were weighed and assigned to 13 experimental groups. The testes were recovered through unilateral orchiectomy, weighed on an analytical balance and measured for length, width and thickness. Body weight and testicular measures increased with the age, up to 12 months, and were more accelerated in the first and ninth months. Initially the testicular growth pattern, between zero and nine months, followed the body growth, and the gonadosomatic index varied from 0.07 to 0.09%. Between 9 and 11 months, the testicular growth was superior to the body growth, and the gonadosomatic index varied from 0.09 to 0.16%. Finally, after 11 months of age, testicular and body growth had a similar behavior. In conclusion, body weight, testicular biometry, and gonadosomatic index development accelerated in the ninth month

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in cystic fibrosis patients: do we need to care? A cohort study

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of a variety of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in cystic fibrosis patients, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has increased over the past decade. Given the increasing prevalence of MRSA and the few data available in the literature, better understanding of the clinical repercussions of colonization by this bacterium in cystic fibrosis patients becomes essential. This study aimed to evaluate the repercussions of chronic colonization by MRSA in cystic fibrosis patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cohort study from January 2004 to December 2013 in a cystic fibrosis reference center. METHODS: Each patient with cystic fibrosis was evaluated for nutritional status (body mass index, BMI, and BMI percentile), pulmonary function and tomographic abnormalities (modified Bhalla scores) at the time of chronic colonization by MRSA or methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and throughout the study period. RESULTS: Twenty pairs of patients were included. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding nutritional characteristics. Spirometric data showed a trend towards greater obstruction of the airways in patients with MRSA. Patients with MRSA presented greater structural damage to their lungs, demonstrated not only by the total Bhalla score but also by its parameters individually. CONCLUSIONS: Patients colonized by MRSA presented greater functional and structural respiratory impairment at the time of chronic colonization. Disease progression was also faster in patients chronically colonized by MRSA than in those with MSSA. This was shown through comparisons that avoided possible confounding variables

Neural complications and physical disabilities in leprosy in a capital of northeastern Brazil with high endemicity

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is an infectious disease whose etiologic agent is Mycobacterium leprae, manifested by dermatological and neurological signs and symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To investigate neural changes and the degree of physical disability in the eyes, hands and feet before and after treatment, as well as sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients affected by leprosy. METHOD: A longitudinal epidemiological study comprising 155 patients with leprosy, from a spontaneous demand, diagnosed between March 2010 and February 2011, and treated with multidrug therapy (MDT) between March 2010 and July 2012 in a program for leprosy eradication in São Luis (MA), Brazil. RESULTS: Before treatment, 46.5% of patients were considered as borderline, 51.6% had some alteration in the eyes and 52.3% in the feet, and the radial nerve (18.7%) was the most affected. There was a statistically significant difference between the changes in the radial nerve at the beginning of and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis points to late diagnosis, as some patients have had abnormal neural and physical disabilities before treatment

Estudo comparativo das representações sociais sobre diabetes mellitus e pé diabético

The study aimed to investigate social representations of the terms diabetes and diabetic foot in different populations. Participants were divided into groups: diabetics (GD); non- diabetics (GN); and non-diabetic healthcare professionals (GP). Personal data were collected, and subjects answered two questions that were expected to evoke five words that came to mind when they thought of diabetes and then diabetic foot. The evoked material was analyzed with the software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant l'Analyse dês Èvocations. A total of 161 subjects participated, including GD (n = 72) with a mean age of 56.12 ± 5.49 years; GN (n = 38) with a mean age of 54.29 ± 7.91 years; and GP (n = 51) with 34.95 ± 7.52 years. The term diabetes evoked 297 words in GD, 172 in GN, and 235 words in GP. The term diabetic foot evoked 180 words in GD, 90 in GN, and 236 in GP. The groups proved to be anxious for more information, thus confirming the need for awareness-raising and educational programs on diabetes, covering comprehensive issues concerning the disease.O estudo objetivou investigar a representação social dos termos diabetes e pé diabético em diferentes populações. Os participantes foram divididos em grupos: diabético (GD); não-diabético (GN); e profissional da área da saúde nãodiabético (GP). Foram coletados os dados pessoais e os sujeitos responderam a duas perguntas nas quais deveriam evocar cinco palavras que viessem à mente quando pensassem em diabetes e, depois, em pé diabético. O material evocado foi analisado pelo software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant l'Analyse dês Èvocations. Participaram 161 sujeitos, sendo GD (n = 72) com idade média de 56,12 ± 5,49 anos; GN (n = 38) com 54,29 ± 7,91 anos; e GP (n = 51) com idades de 34,95 ± 7,52 anos. Para a representação social do termo diabetes foram evocadas 297 palavras no GD, 172 no GN e 235 palavras no GP. Para o termo pé diabético foram evocadas 180 palavras no GD, 90 no GN e 236 no GP. Os grupos mostraram-se sedentos por maiores informações, confirmando a necessidade de programas de conscientização e educação em diabetes, que contemplem questões globalizantes acerca da doença.Se realizó un estudio para investigar la representación social de los términos diabetes y pie diabético en diferentes poblaciones. Los participantes fueron divididos en grupos: diabéticos (GD), no diabéticos (GN), y profesional de la salud no diabéticos (GP). Se recogieron datos de carácter personal y los sujetos respondieron a dos preguntas en las que cinco evocan las palabras que vienen a la mente cuando se piensa en diabetes y luego en pie diabético. El material se analizó mediante software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant l'Analyse dês Èvocations. Participaron 161 sujetos con GD (n = 72) con una edad media de 56,12 ± 5,49 años, GN (n = 38) con 54,29 ± 7,91 años y GP (n = 51) de 34 años 95 ± 7,52 años. Para la representación social del término diabetes se evocaron en GD 297 palabras, 172 y 235 en el GP GN. Pie diabético se mencionó en los GD 180 palabras, 90 y 236 en el GP GN. Los grupos solicitaban más información, lo que confirma la necesidad de programas de sensibilización y educación sobre la diabetes, que tienen preguntas sobre la globalización de la enfermedad.União Nacional das Instituições de Ensino Superior Privadas Faculdade de Presidente VenceslauUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologi