“In the Beginning, It Was Little Whispers...Now, We’re Almost a Roar”: Conceptualizing a Model for Community and Self in LGBTQ+ Health Information Practices

Although LGBTQ+ populations experience significant health challenges, little research exists that investigates their health from an informational perspective. Our study addresses this gap by exploring the health information practices of LGBTQ+ communities in South Carolina, focusing on how sociocultural context shapes these practices. Thirty semi-structured interviews with South Carolina LGBTQ+ community leaders analyzed using open qualitative coding informed the development of a conceptual framework describing their information practices. Findings show that participants engaged in two broad types of practices – protective and defensive – as responses to risks and barriers experienced, which are in turn produced by social and structural factors. Findings advance information practices and marginalization approaches and offer ways for medical professionals to improve service to LGBTQ+ populations

Redes de atenção às urgências e emergências: pré-avaliação das Unidades de Pronto Atendimento (UPAs) em uma região metropolitana do Brasil Urgent and emergency care networks: a pre-evaluation of the First Aid Units (UPAs) in a metropolitan region of Brazil

OBJETIVOS: um estudo avaliativo, exploratório das UPAs na região metropolitana do Recife, no ano de 2011. MÉTODOS: considerou-se a descrição da intervenção, o delineamento do modelo lógico, o envolvimento dos interessados e a construção de perguntas avaliativas. Realizou-se abordagem de três fases interativas, utilizando, para sua operacionalização, a análise documental, entrevistas e Conferência de Consenso. O modelo lógico elaborado subsidiou a construção de matriz com critérios e indicadores, que foi submetida a um comitê de informantes-chave para obtenção do consenso. RESULTADOS: a matriz de critérios e indicadores resultante do consenso é composta de três níveis de análise (assistência à saúde, integração interistitucional e gestão) com 41 critérios e 74 indicadores avaliativos. Com base no modelo lógico, na Conferência de Consenso, na matriz de critérios/indicadores e nas considerações sistematizadas dos inte-ressados, foram elaboradas 14 perguntas avaliativas. CONCLUSÕES: as UPAs encontram-se adequadas à rea-lização de avaliações, pois se verificou que os elementos identificados no modelo lógico são condizentes com as condições que a intervenção possui para alcançar suas metas e objetivos.<br>OBJECTIVES: an exploratory evaluative study of the UPAs in a metropolitan region of Brazil in 2011. METHODS: the intervention was described, the logical model outlined, along with the involvement of stakeholders, and evaluation questions drawn up. The three interactive phases approach was carried out using document analysis, interviews and consensus conferencing. The logical model was based on building up a matrix of criteria and indicators that was submitted to a committee of key informants with a view to obtaining consensus. RESULTS: the matrix of criteria and indicators resulting from the consensus comprises three levels of analysis (health care, inter-institutional interaction and management) with 41 criteria and 74 evaluation indicators. Based on the logical model, the consensus conference, the matrix of criteria and indicators and the systematized considerations of interested parties, fourteen evaluation questions were drawn up. CONCLUSIONS: the UPAs are capable of carrying out evaluations, since it was found that the elements identified in the logical model are conducive to the conditions that the intervention requires in order to meet its aims and objectives