Pharmaceutical services for endemic situations in the Brazilian Amazon: organization of services and prescribing practices for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum non-complicated malaria in high-risk municipalities

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In spite of the fact that pharmaceutical services are an essential component of all malaria programmes, quality of these services has been little explored in the literature. This study presents the first results of the application of an evaluation model of pharmaceutical services in high-risk municipalities of the Amazon region, focusing on indicators regarding organization of services and prescribing according to national guidelines.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A theoretical framework of pharmaceutical services for non-complicated malaria was built based on the Rapid Evaluation Method (WHO). The framework included organization of services and prescribing, among other activities. The study was carried out in 15 primary health facilities in six high-risk municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon. Malaria individuals ≥ 15 years old were approached and data was collected using specific instruments. Data was checked by independent reviewers and fed to a data bank through double-entry. Descriptive variables were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A copy of the official treatment guideline was found in 80% of the facilities; 67% presented an environment for receiving and prescribing patients. Re-supply of stocks followed a different timeline; no facilities adhered to forecasting methods for stock management. No shortages or expired anti-malarials were observed, but overstock was a common finding. On 86.7% of facilities, the average of good storage practices was 48%. Time between diagnosis and treatment was zero days. Of 601 patients interviewed, 453 were diagnosed for <it>Plasmodium vivax</it>; of these, 99.3% received indications for the first-line scheme. Different therapeutic schemes were given to <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>patients. Twenty-eight (4.6%) out of 601 were prescribed regimens not listed in the national guideline. Only 5.7% individuals received a prescription or a written instruction of any kind.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results show that while diagnostic procedure is well established and functioning in the Brazilian malaria programme, prescribing is still an activity that is actually not performed. The absence of physicians and poor integration between malaria services and primary health services make for the lack of a prescription or written instruction for malaria patients throughout the Brazilian Amazon. This fact may lead to a great number of problems in rational use and in adherence to medication.</p

Treinamento físico intervalado como ferramenta na terapia cognitivo-comportamental do transtorno de pânico

Este trabalho consiste no relato da utilização de um programa de exercícios físicos aeró-bicos intervalados no contexto da terapia cognitivo-comportamental em um caso de transtorno de pânico e agorafobia. São descritos os procedimentos utilizados, bem como os resultados positivos obtidos na redução da ansiedade cardíaca e na ansiedade cotidiana em relação a situações que exigem esforço físico

Barreiras ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial

Objetivou-se descrever as barreiras encontradas pelas pessoas portadoras de hipertensão arterial para a não adesão ao tratamento e controle dos níveis de sua pressão arterial. Estudo descritivo e transversal realizado em seis unidades básicas de saúde em Fortaleza-Ceará, Brasil, com 246 pessoas inscritas no Programa de Controle de Hipertensão Arterial há, no mínimo, um ano. Coletaram-se dados com entrevista estruturada e no prontuário eletrônico. Identificaram-se 69 pesquisados com níveis pressóricos normalizados. As principais barreiras apontadas foram: baixas condições financeiras, tratamento contínuo com muitos remédios e prática de atividade física. Concluiu-se que as barreiras ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo compreendem a pessoa adoecida, seu ambiente de vida e acesso aos cuidados de saúde

Recommendations for physical activity and recreational sports participation for young patients with genetic cardiovascular diseases

Abstract A group of relatively uncommon but important genetic cardiovascular diseases (GCVDs) are associated with increased risk for sudden cardiac death during exercise, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long-QT syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. These conditions, characterized by diverse phenotypic expression and genetic substrates, account for a substantial proportion of unexpected and usually arrhythmia-based fatal events during adolescence and young adulthood. Guidelines are in place governing eligibility and disqualification criteria for competitive athletes with these GCVDs (eg, Bethesda Conference No. 26 and its update as Bethesda Conference No. 36 in 2005). However, similar systematic recommendations for the much larger population of patients with GCVD who are not trained athletes, but nevertheless wish to participate in any of a variety of recreational physical activities and sports, have not been available. The practicing clinician is frequently confronted with the dilemma of designing noncompetitive exercise programs for athletes with GCVD after disqualification from competition, as well as for those patients with such conditions who do not aspire to organized sports. Indeed, many asymptomatic (or mildly symptomatic) patients with GCVD desire a physically active lifestyle with participation in recreational and leisure-time activities to take advantage of the many documented benefits of exercise. However, to date, no reference document has been available for ascertaining which types of physical activity could be regarded as either prudent or inadvisable in these subgroups of patients. Therefore, given this clear and present need, this American Heart Association consensus document was constituted, based largely on the experience and insights of the expert panel, to offer recommendations governing recreational exercise for patients with known GCVDs

Noise at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and inside the incubator Ruido en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal y en el interior de la incubadora Ruído na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal e no interior da incubadora

The goal was to identify sound pressure level (SPL) at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and inside the incubator of a teaching hospital of a public university from São Paulo - SP, Brazil. SPL inside the NICU and the incubator were measured using four dosimeters in January/2010. SPL at the NICU varied from 52.6 dBA to 80.4 dBA and inside the incubator, from 45.4 dBA to 79.1 dBA. SPL both at the NICU and inside the incubator are above the recommended values, but levels were higher at the NICU than inside the incubator. Although there are some specific factors related to SPL inside the incubator, the NICU and incubator acoustic features present a system: an increase/decrease in SPL at the NICU usually tends to increase/decrease SPL inside the incubator. The study points to the need for simultaneous monitoring of SPL at the NICU and inside the incubator.<br>Se tuvo por objetivo identificar el nivel de presión sonora (NPS) de la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) y del interior de la incubadora de un hospital escuela de una universidad pública de Sao Paulo-SP, Brasil. El NPS de la UTIN y de la incubadora fueron obtenidos por cuatro dosímetros en enero de 2010. El NPS de la UTIN varió entre 52,6 dBA y 80,4 dBA y el del interior de la incubadora fue de 45,4dBA a 79,1dBA. Tanto el NPS de la UTIN como el del interior de la incubadora son mayores que lo que recomendado, siendo más altos en la UTIN que en la incubadora. A pesar de que existen algunos factores específicos relacionados al NPS en el interior de la incubadora, los perfiles acústicos de la UTIN y de la incubadora son como un sistema, es decir: la elevación/reducción del NPS de la UTIN generalmente tiende a elevar/reducir el NPS en el interior de la incubadora. Se concluye que muy importante la monitorización simultánea del NPS de la UTIN y del interior de la incubadora.<br>Este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar o nível de pressão sonora (NPS) da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) e do interior da incubadora de um hospital escola de uma universidade pública de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Como método para essa identificação, tanto do NPS da UTIN como do NPS da incubadora, foram utilizados quatro dosímetros, em janeiro de 2010. Os resultados obtidos apontam que o NPS da UTIN variou entre 52,6 dBA e 80,4 dBA, e que o NPS do interior da incubadora foi de 45,4dBA a 79,1dBA. Evidenciou-se que tanto o NPS da UTIN como o do interior da incubadora estão acima dos recomendados, sendo mais altos na UTIN do que na incubadora. Embora haja alguns fatores específicos relacionados ao NPS no interior da incubadora, perfis acústicos da UTIN e da incubadora são como sistema: elevação/redução do NPS da UTIN, geralmente, tende a elevar/reduzir o NPS no interior da incubadora. Portanto, pode-se concluir que o presente estudo aponta para a importância do monitoramento simultâneo dos NPS da UTIN e do interior da incubadora