A inovação social nas políticas públicas de proximidade

Este trabalho aborda a inovação social ao nível das iniciativas desenvolvidas pelas Juntas de Freguesia. A inovação social procura encontrar soluções para as necessidades/problemas sociais que, não sendo asseguradas pelo Estado (Governo Central), nem pelo mercado, podem ser implementadas via políticas públicas de proximidade de uma autarquia (Câmara Municipal ou Junta de Freguesia). Com a presente investigação pretende-se, por um lado, conhecer os principais problemas que são colocados às Juntas de Freguesia na sua relação de proximidade com a população, e por outro, descrever e analisar alguns projetos desenvolvidos e os seus impactos na população alvo. Os resultados do estudo mostram que a sensibilidade social dos autarcas é uma condição determinante para o desenvolvimento de projetos sociais. A análise custobenefício simples permite concluir que os projetos sociais desenvolvidos recolhem da população uma apreciação bastante favorável, atendendo quer à importância que lhe atribuem, quer à predisposição para comparticipação; Social Innovation in the Local Public Policies ABSTRACT: This study is concerned with social innovation at the level of the initiatives developed by four town councils [translation of “Juntas de Freguesia”], and it aims to present a global vision on the initiatives of social nature developed by these town councils. The choice of this theme of social innovation is justified by: i) the interest in the new attributions and competences of the Town Councils and their increasing intervention in the social area and ii) to the need to know the process of intervention in the local community. The results of the study point out the social sensitivity of the local authorities as a determining condition for the development of social projects with effective impacts to the real needs and expectations of the population. Through the simple cost-benefit analysis we observe that the developed social projects collect from the population a very favorable appreciation considering both the importance they attribute to it and the predisposition that they demonstrate to share the costs

Lack of knowledge and diagnostics hinders the implementation of sarcopenia in daily practice

Objectives: Sarcopenia is an emerging clinical challenge in an ageing population and is associated with negative health outcomes. Healthcare professionals play a key role in diagnosing and managing sarcopenia. This study aimed to assess the current state of knowledge regarding the definition of sarcopenia, strategy diagnosing it and involved collaborating healthcare professionals among a group of Dutch healthcare professionals attending a lecture cycle on sarcopenia. Methods: The Sarcopenia Road Show comprised lectures and workshops on the pathophysiology of sarcopenia in one session, influencing factors and respective interventions at multiple locations in the Netherlands in 2015. Attending health care professionals were asked to complete a questionnaire (n = 223) before, directly after and after five months. Results: 69.7% of healthcare professionals stated to know the definition of sarcopenia and 82.6% had treated patients with suspected sarcopenia. Only 21.4% indicated to know how to formally diagnose sarcopenia; 47.5% used their clinical view. If diagnostic measures were used, handgrip strength was the most frequent one (33.9%). Five months after attendance, muscle mass was measured by 13.9%, handgrip strength by 50.6% and gait speed by 54.4%. Bottlenecks during the implementation of diagnosing sarcopenia were experienced by 67.1% participants; lack of knowledge among collaborating healthcare professionals, the acquisition of equipment and time constrains to perform the diagnostic tests were most often reported. Conclusions: The concept of sarcopenia is familiar to most and diverse healthcare professionals, however lack of formal knowledge hinders the implementation of diagnostics and intervention of sarcopenia in daily practice; collaboration should be improved

Lack of knowledge and availability of diagnostic equipment could hinder the diagnosis of sarcopenia and its management

10.1371/journal.pone.0185837PLOS ONE121

Diagnostic strategy and management of sarcopenia of healthcare professionals five months after attendance (n = 80).

<p>Diagnostic strategy and management of sarcopenia of healthcare professionals five months after attendance (n = 80).</p

Current occupation and working affiliation of attending healthcare professionals (n = 223).

<p>Current occupation and working affiliation of attending healthcare professionals (n = 223).</p

Current state of knowledge about the concept of sarcopenia and diagnostic strategy of healthcare professionals before and directly after attendance.

<p>Current state of knowledge about the concept of sarcopenia and diagnostic strategy of healthcare professionals before and directly after attendance.</p