The comparative responsiveness of Hospital Universitario Princesa Index and other composite indices for assessing rheumatoid arthritis activity

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness in terms of correlation of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) comparatively to the traditional composite indices used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare the performance of HUPI-based response criteria with that of the EULAR response criteria. Methods Secondary data analysis from the following studies: ACT-RAY (clinical trial), PROAR (early RA cohort) and EMECAR (pre-biologic era long term RA cohort). Responsiveness was evaluated by: 1) comparing change from baseline (Delta) of HUPI with Delta in other scores by calculating correlation coefficients; 2) calculating standardised effect sizes. The accuracy of response by HUPI and by EULAR criteria was analyzed using linear regressions in which the dependent variable was change in global assessment by physician (Delta GDA-Phy). Results Delta HUPI correlation with change in all other indices ranged from 0.387 to 0.791); HUPI's standardized effect size was larger than those from the other indices in each database used. In ACT-RAY, depending on visit, between 65 and 80% of patients were equally classified by HUPI and EULAR response criteria. However, HUPI criteria were slightly more stringent, with higher percentage of patients classified as non-responder, especially at early visits. HUPI response criteria showed a slightly higher accuracy than EULAR response criteria when using Delta GDA-Phy as gold standard. Conclusion HUPI shows good responsiveness in terms of correlation in each studied scenario (clinical trial, early RA cohort, and established RA cohort). Response criteria by HUPI seem more stringent than EULAR''s

Tradução, equivalência semântica e adaptação cultural do Marijuana Expectancy Questionnaire (MEQ) Translation, semantic equivalence and cultural adaptation of Marijuana Expectancy Questionnaire (MEQ)

O objetivo desse estudo foi traduzir, adaptar culturalmente e verificar a equivalência semântica do Marijuana Expectancy Questionnaire (MEQ), o qual avalia as crenças em relação ao uso de maconha, podendo ser importante no tratamento e prognóstico dos dependentes químicos desta substância. O MEQ foi traduzido do inglês para o português, aplicado em 10 sujeitos e submetido ao brainstorming num grupo de 4 sujeitos para reprodução individual e verbal, item a item. Realizou-se o back-translation, uma versão para o idioma de origem, a partir da primeira tradução e do brainstorming. Logo após, traduziu-se novamente para o português. Todo o processo foi analisado por um comitê de juízes especialistas, os quais emitiram pareceres com as observações pertinentes. Realizou-se a análise descritiva interjuízes, verificando-se freqüências e porcentagens. Considerando-se os pareceres dos especialistas, construiu-se então a versão final do MEQ - adaptação brasileira.<br>The objective of this study was to translate, to adapt culturally and verify the semantic equivalence of the Marijuana Expectancy Questionnaire (MEQ), which evaluates the beliefs to the marijuana&#8217;s use, which may be important in the treatment and prognostic of the chemical dependents of this substance. The MEQ was firstly translated from English to Portuguese, administered to 10 persons, and then submitted to brainstorming in a group of 4 persons for individual and verbal reproduction, item by item. Back-translation was executed based on first translation and from brainstorming to the origin language. Soon after, it was translated again into Portuguese. All the process was analyzed by a committee of specialists, which emitted a decision and the pertinent comments. The descriptive judges&#8217; analysis was done verifying frequencies and percentages. Considering the decision of the specialists, the final version of the MEQ (Brazilian Adaptation) was constructed

Identificação do enfermeiro de saúde pública na força de trabalho de Enfermagem de Saúde Pública no Departamento Regional de Saúde-6 de Ribeirão Preto, SP (Brasil) Identification of the public health nurse within the public health work force in a Regional Health Department

Objetivou-se identificar o enfermeiro na força de trabalho de Enfermagem em Saúde Pública, no Departamento Regional de Saúde - 6 de Ribeirão Preto da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, destacando e analisando alguns aspectos que o caracterizam. Utilizou-se, como fonte primária e direta de coleta de dados, questionário contendo dados de identificação, nível de formação, progressão funcional, funções, expectativas futuras quanto ao exercício profissional e filiação a órgãos de classe. O total do grupo estudado foi de 35 indivíduos do sexo feminino, predominando: grupo etário de 20 a 30 anos (40,0%); casados (51,5%); tempo de serviço entre zero e 15 anos (77,2%). Com referência à sua interproporcionalidade com as demais categorias, as enfermeiras se distribuíam nas seguintes relações: 1 enfermeira/13,5 pessoal auxiliar e 1 enfermeira/9,1 médicos. Quanto à formação profissional, 71,5% realizaram habilitação em Enfermagem em Saúde Pública e 8,6% Especialização em Saúde Pública. Não havia para as enfermeiras carreira nem quadro e seus vencimentos estavam entre 2 e 7 salários mínimos e apenas uma com 10. A função administrativa é exercida por todas as enfermeiras com predomínio de freqüência entre as inspetoras e de CS, 68,5%. As enfermeiras sentem-se preparadas para participar dos programas de assistência primária e 84,3% delas pretendem permanecer em exercício até sua aposentadoria.<br>The general purpose of this study was the identification of the nurse within the public health work force in the Regional Health Department of Ribeirão Preto of the State Health Secretariat of S. Paulo. A questionnaire the options of which included: identification, level of training, progress in career, function, future professional expectations and membership of professional associations, was the chief data source. Of the group studies 35 were female, 40% of whom were between 20 and 39 years old, 51.5% were married and 77.2% had been in service for from zero to fifteen years. Regarding the other categories, distribution was as follows: 1 nurse per 13.5 assistants; 1 nurse per 9.1 doctors. Concerning professional training, 71.5% were qualified in Public Health Nursing and 8.6% specialized in Public Health. No career opportunities were available in the nursing profession and their salaries ranged from two to seven minimum salaries, only one receiving ten. All condemned the system of performance assessment. All nurses performed largely administrative services and the inspectors did so for some 65% of their time. Among nursing assistants this percentage rose to 73.3% for those in charge. The nurses were prepared to participate in primary care programmes and 84.3% intended to continue working until retirement