Automedicação e guarda de medicamentos por universitários das áreas de saúde e tecnologia

This study aimed to compare self-medication and domestic drug storage among undergraduate students in the areas of health and technology. This is a descriptive study of cross-sectional type and quantitative approach, conducted in a Public University of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The sample consisted of 300 students of the third year of undergraduate courses at the Center for Health Sciences and Technology Center, selected through a simple random sample. The project was authorized by the Ethics Committee of Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (CAAE 0137.0.051.000-10). Data collection lasted twelve months and was conducted during the period of study participants, in the university environment. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions. For data analysis, we used descriptive statistics and applied Fisher s exact test and Chi-square test with adopted level of significance α=5% and 10%. For the variables that correlated with self-medication (p<0.05), we subsequently calculated the odds ratios and confidence intervals. The prevalence of undergraduate students who performed self-medication in the 15 days prior to the collection accounted for 33.7% and, by analyzing each knowledge area, we verified was a higher prevalence of self-medication among students in the technological area (37.3%). The analysis of the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants in this practice revealed a significant difference between the knowledge areas in the income and self-medication variables (p=0.005). General analgesics and antipyretics (N02) represent the therapy group most used in self-medication (57.4%), especially acetaminophen (28.7%), and the main health situations that motivated this practice related to pain, especially headaches (48.5%). Regarding the indication of the drugs used, the majority of students self-medicated themselves on their own (71.3%). As regards to the in-home drug storage, most of the participants had a home pharmacy (88%). By analyzing the socioeconomic characteristics, the variables medical service and home medicine presented a significant difference (p=0.002). General 10 analgesics and antipyretics constituted the medicinal products most found in the home pharmacies, especially acetaminophen. The main room used for the drug storage was the kitchen (36.4%), most students kept these products in boxes of different materials (38.6%) and the medicines stored at home of most of the participants were not easily accessible to children (75%). The results reinforce the need to develop strategies, from the reality found, aiming to encourage and implement educational and preventive activities with undergraduate students on the importance of proper self-medication and in-home drug storage. Despite the sample in our study is relatively small, not representative for the whole country, we believe that, at national level, the panorama of the subject does not present major differences

Enfermagem na atenção primária em saúde no screening de adolescentes com excesso de peso

One of the Primary Health Care strategies for adolescent health is the growth and development follow-up and the early detection of overweight adolescents. Even though the School Health Program in Brazil proposes to evaluate the nutritional state of the school population in the corresponding community health units, not all cities have adhered to the Program and many nurses do not recognize overweight as a problem in their territory. The objective of the study was to identify the nurse´s participation in the screening of overweight adolescent students in their work territory. Cross sectional study conducted in eight state supported schools of the municipality of Natal/RN and in four Primary Health Units. The total student population was 27.277. A stratified sample was statistically calculated based on the student population of the four city geographical zones: 112 North , 74 West; 108 East; and 78 South, totalizing 372 adolescents. The students were selected by a probability process where eight schools were first selected, two per district, until the number per subsample in each district was reached. Four primary health nurses, responsible for the health units were included. Two instruments were used for data collection, a screening questionnaire and a semi-structured interview form for questioning of the nurses. The content of both instruments was validated. Anthropometric and health data were collected from the students and analyzed with descriptive and analytical statistics. Interview data were transcribed and submitted to content analysis. The nursing diagnosis of overweight was identified in 50 (13,5%) of the adolescents and its association with consumption of foods that have cardiovascular risk (canned foods, pasta and fried food). An association of the nursing diagnosis was identified with family history (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and kidney disease). The nurses judged that care of overweight adolescents was important but noted difficulties because of the absence of this population in the health units, because of their work overload, and the lack of school articulation. The nurses do not have impacting actions with this population and delegate the responsibility to other professionals. It is concluded that overweight is a nutritional problem relevant to the adolescent school population in Natal/RN, with a 13,5% prevalence and that it is related to food consumption with cardiovascular risk and family health history. The nurses consider overweight as an important public health problem but do not envision ways to maintain linkage with adolescents and with the school to promote the needed care

Cuidado de enfermagem ao potencial doador de órgãos em morte encefálica: uma reflexão sobre a prática

Despite of the technological advances that favor the transplant process, there are issues of effectiveness of care necessary for the maintenance of potential organ donors with brain death, which contribute to the no realization of transplants of organs and tissues of these patients. It is presupposed that the problems could be related to perceptions and understandings that the professionals of the units of internment have about the care required by the diagnosis of brain death. The aim of this study was to understand the meaning of the nursing care of the potential organ donor with brain death to the nursing staff. Descriptive study with qualitative approach guided by Action Science Theory and the critic-reflexive research methodology accomplished with five nurses and 19 nursing technicians from Operative Rehabilitation Center in a public hospital at Natal / RN, Brazil, between March and May 2013. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with individual reflection about the care and through group interview, after approval by the Ethics and Research Committee, CAAE No.: 04255612.7.0000.5537. The analysis was performed in a thematic way according to Bardin. During the group meeting the participants were driven in a discussion about the need for change and how to perform them. The results indicate that the professionals actions are consistent with those required for maintenance of potential organ donors, although the material and human resources are not adequate. That situation leads the professionals to develop a meaning of care as one labor more, demanding more than they can give. They express beliefs and feelings concerning the hope that their care brings a greater good that is to save lives. The reflection for a possible change of action was difficult to accomplish due to professionals not to be able to self evaluate, what lead to direct your changes suggestions for other team members. It is concluded that the care provided to these patients is a difficult care, evidenced by suffering both death situation of the person cared and pain of their families, as the dehumanizing conditions of work, helping themselves to keep distance from patients to not suffer so much. The knowledge impregnated in their act, are scientific, ethical, aesthetic and personal kind with a predominance of the scientific followed by the personal. The study was also relevant to the practice of nursing in maintaining the potential donor, in that it allowed the identification of the knowledge used by nurses in their care practice and the meaning understanding of the professionals on the care provided, as a good action that brings satisfaction when the transplanting is executed. Other experiences are suggested with the critic-reflexive research methodology, both in research as in teaching nursing