Assessment of quality of life, anxiety, socio-economic factors and caries experience in Brazilian children with overweight and obesity

Purpose: This study evaluated the association between excess weight and quality of life (QoL), symptoms of anxiety, caries experience and socio-economic factors in a representative sample of 8- to 10-year-old children from three public schools of Piracicaba (SP, Brazil). Materials and methods: The Autoquestionnaire Qualite de Vie Enfant Image was applied to explore family and social relations, activities, health, body functions and separation domains, and, by means of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, symptoms of anxiety were screened. Clinical examination was performed using DMFT/dmft indexes to assess oral health and caries experience. Medical and nutritional history, parents' schooling, monthly income and ownership of household goods and services were also evaluated. Results: Of the 313 subjects included, four subjects were underweight, 188 normal weight, 67 overweight and 54 presented obesity (38.7% with excess weight). Measures of QoL, anxiety scores and caries experience did not differ between groups. The regression model showed a significant association between excess weight and the ownership of household goods and services (OR = 5.4/CI = 1.6-18.3). Conclusions: High prevalence of excess weight was observed among prepubertal children, emphasizing the need for continued health programmes to limit risk factors for obesity. QoL, anxiety scores and caries experience did not differ between subjects with different body weights, although children from public schools with higher ownership of goods and services were more likely to present excess weight.State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil)Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Pediat Dent, Piracicaba Dent Sch, Piracicaba, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, Diadema, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/15621-5FAPESP: 2012/04492-2Web of Scienc

Compreensão das prescrições pediátricas de antimicrobianos em Unidades de Saúde em um município do sul do Brasil Understanding of pediatric antimicrobial prescriptions at health units in a Southern Brazil city

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a compreensão da prescrição de antimicrobianos por acompanhantes de crianças após consulta pediátrica, descrevendo seu perfil de prescrição em Unidades de Saúde, em um município do sul do Brasil. Trata-se de um delineamento transversal, no qual a população-alvo foram acompanhantes das crianças que tiveram prescrição de antimicrobianos (n = 209) entre maio e julho de 2007. Foi gerado um escore de compreensão (4-12 pontos) embasado em afirmativas corretas, incorretas ou ignoradas, relativas às informações da prescrição. A compreensão foi considerada adequada quando o valor do escore foi menor do que 6,5 pontos. Verificou-se que a escolaridade (p = 0,05), renda (p = 0,03), cor da pele (p = 0,007) do acompanhante e o tempo de consulta (p = 0,05) estiveram diretamente associados com a melhor compreensão da prescrição. A compreensão adequada representou 58,9% das prescrições. Os antimicrobianos mais prescritos foram a amoxicilina e a associação de sulfametoxazol/trimetoprima. Os resultados do estudo apontam a necessidade da padronização da informação escrita por prescritores e implantação de medidas educativas aos acompanhantes das crianças, tais como o fornecimento de orientações verbais e escritas quanto ao correto uso dos antimicrobianos. Assim, assegura-se uma melhor compreensão da prescrição, o que favorece o sucesso do tratamento, evitando também o fenômeno de resistência microbiana.<br>The aim of the study was to evaluate the understanding of antimicrobial prescriptions by adults accompanying children, describing the medicine utilization profile at Health Units in a South Brazilian city. A cross-sectional study was carried out with adults accompanying children during appointments that resulted in antimicrobial prescription (n=209), from May to June 2007. A score (4-12) was generated to evaluate the understanding based on correct and incorrect/unknown statements about the prescription. Understanding was considered appropriate when the score was below 6.5. Schooling (p=0.05), income (p=0.03), skin color (p=0.007) of accompanying person and length of the visit in minutes (p=0.05) were associated with better understanding of prescriptions. Appropriate understanding represented 58.9% of prescriptions. The most prescribed antimicrobials were amoxicillin and the Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole association. The results point toward the need for standardization of written information and educational measures such as oral and written orientation to assure a better understanding of prescriptions. In this way, better understanding of prescriptions can be assured, which in turn helps treatment to succeed, and also avoids microbial resistance