Avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de cortadores de cana-de-açúcar nos períodos de entressafra e safra

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de cortadores de cana-de-açúcar. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal em uma usina sucroalcooleira no Oeste do estado de São Paulo de abril (final da entressafra) a outubro (final da safra) de 2010. Foram avaliados 44 cortadores de cana-de-açúcar tabagistas e não tabagistas em três períodos: ao final da entressafra, no fim do terceiro mês de safra e no final da safra. A qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde foi avaliada pelo questionário Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Foram realizados análise de variância para medidas repetidas e teste de Friedman para comparar a qualidade de vida entre os períodos. Utilizou-se o teste de Goodman para identificar a frequência dos trabalhadores cujo escore aumentou nos períodos de safra em comparação com a entressafra (respondedores positivos), considerando-se as variáveis qualitativas dos domínios do SF-36. RESULTADOS: Ao final da entressafra, 23% dos trabalhadores desistiram do trabalho; 27% eram tabagistas. Houve decréscimo significativo no domínio vitalidade no final da safra em comparação com a entressafra. Os desistentes apresentaram maior escore no domínio aspecto social em relação ao grupo que permaneceu no trabalho. Não houve diferença na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde entre tabagistas e não tabagistas. No entanto, observou-se maior percentual de respondedores positivos entre não tabagistas nos domínios aspecto físico, social e emocional nos três meses de safra e nos domínios estado geral de saúde e aspecto social nos seis meses de safra, quando comparados aos tabagistas. CONCLUSÕES: A qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em cortadores de cana-de-açúcar mostrou-se diminuída após o período de safra no domínio vitalidade. Os trabalhadores que permaneceram na safra são os que apresentaram piores aspectos sociais, o que mostra a necessidade de promoção de políticas assistencialistas de saúde a essa população específica, principalmente durante a safra canavieira.

Adaptação e validação de conteúdo da versão brasileira do Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory

OBJETIVO: Realizar a tradução, adaptação e validação de conteúdo da versão brasileira do Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory . MÉTODOS: O processo de tradução e adaptação das instruções iniciais e dos itens do PTCI envolveu cinco etapas: (1) tradução; (2) retradução; (3) correção e adaptação semântica; (4) validação do conteúdo por profissionais da área (juízes); e (5) teste da versão final, por meio de uma escala verbal-numérica. Como indicadores de desempenho para a compreensão, foram computados os escores de tendência central (média) e dispersão (desvio padrão) para cada item na etapa 5. Definiu-se escore médio ≥ 3 para compreensão satisfatória. RESULTADOS: As 36 questões e as instruções iniciais foram traduzidas e adaptadas para compor a versão brasileira do Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory . Quarenta e cinco adultos responderam aos itens do Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory na etapa teste da versão final, mostrando compreensão adequada do instrumento na escala verbal-numérica (M = 4,13; dp = 0,11). CONCLUSÕES: O Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory é um instrumento de fácil compreensão e semanticamente válido. Estudos posteriores são necessários para a verificação e adequação da avaliação de suas propriedades psicométricas na população brasileira.

Estudo de validade do questionário "Lista de Atividades Físicas" em crianças

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a validade concorrente e a equivalência operacional do questionário "Lista de Atividades Físicas" em crianças.MÉTODOS: O estudo complementa o processo de adaptação transcultural do Physical Activity Checklist Interview. Participaram 118 escolares de sete a dez anos matriculados do segundo ao quinto ano do ensino fundamental de São Paulo, SP, em 2009. Foram quantificados o tempo de engajamento em atividades físicas moderadas a vigorosas e em atividades sedentárias, assim como custos metabólicos total e ponderado. Adotou-se o acelerômetro como medida de atividade física. Foram quantificados a atividade física total (counts/min) e o tempo em atividade física moderada a vigorosa. A validade foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson e a equivalência operacional por meio dos dados referentes à duração e avaliação da entrevista.RESULTADOS: Os valores do coeficiente de correlação entre os resultados provenientes do questionário e do acelerômetro variaram de 0,34 a 0,40. O questionário "Lista de Atividades Físicas" superestimou o tempo em atividade física moderada a vigorosa quando comparado ao acelerômetro. A duração média da entrevista foi de 24 minutos (mínima = 13 min; máxima = 41 min; desvio-padrão = 5 min). O item da entrevista com pior resultado foi a habilidade do escolar em estimar tempo (ruim ou regular em 24,8% das entrevistas).CONCLUSÕES: Em relação à versão original, o questionário "Lista de Atividades Físicas" apresenta valores similares de indicadores de validade concorrente e de equivalência operacional, confirmando a adequação do processo de adaptação transcultural.

Participacao crescente de produtos ultraprocessados na dieta brasileira (1987-2009)

OBJETIVO Estimar tendências temporais do consumo domiciliar de itens alimentícios no Brasil, levando em conta a extensão e o propósito do seu processamento industrial. MÉTODOS Os dados analisados são provenientes de Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares realizadas no Brasil em 1987-1988, 1995-1996, 2002-2003 e 2008-2009. Foram analisadas amostras probabilísticas dos domicílios das áreas metropolitanas em todos os períodos mencionados e, nas duas amostras mais recentes, a abrangência foi nacional. As unidades de análise foram registros de aquisições de agregados de domicílios. Os itens alimentícios foram divididos segundo extensão e propósito de seu processamento industrial em: alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados, ingredientes culinários processados e produtos alimentícios prontos para consumo, processados ou ultraprocessados. A quantidade adquirida de cada item foi convertida em energia. Estimaram-se a disponibilidade diária total per capita de calorias e a contribuição dos grupos de alimentos em cada pesquisa. Calcularam-se estimativas por quintos de renda para as pesquisas nacionais. Variações temporais foram testadas por teste de diferença de médias e modelos de regressão linear. RESULTADOS Houve aumento significativo da participação de produtos prontos para o consumo (de 23,0% para 27,8% das calorias), graças ao aumento no consumo de produtos ultraprocessados (de 20,8% para 25,4%) entre 2002-2003 e 2008-2009. Houve redução significativa na participação de alimentos e de ingredientes culinários nesse período. O aumento da participação de produtos ultraprocessados ocorreu em todos os estratos de renda. Observou-se aumento uniforme da participação calórica de produtos prontos para o consumo em áreas metropolitanas, novamente à custa de produtos ultraprocessados e acompanhada por reduções na participação de alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados quanto de ingredientes culinários. CONCLUSÕES Produtos ultraprocessados apresentam participação crescente na dieta brasileira, evidenciada desde a década de 1980 nas áreas metropolitanas e confirmada para todo o País na década de 2000.

Depressive symptoms in institutionalized older adults

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among institutionalized elderly individuals and to analyze factors associated with this condition. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study involving 462 individuals aged 60 or older, residents in long stay institutions in four Brazilian municipalities. The dependent variable was assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Poisson’s regression was used to evaluate associations with co-variables. We investigated which variables were most relevant in terms of presence of depressive symptoms within the studied context through factor analysis. RESULTS Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 48.7%. The variables associated with depressive symptoms were: regular/bad/very bad self-rated health; comorbidities; hospitalizations; and lack of friends in the institution. Five components accounted for 49.2% of total variance of the sample: functioning, social support, sensory deficiency, institutionalization and health conditions. In the factor analysis, functionality and social support were the components which explained a large part of observed variance. CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of depressive symptoms, with significant variation in distribution, was observed. Such results emphasize the importance of health conditions and functioning for institutionalized older individuals developing depression. They also point to the importance of providing opportunities for interaction among institutionalized individuals.

Elaboração e validação de instrumento avaliador da adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão

OBJETIVO Elaborar e validar instrumento de avaliação da adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial sistêmica, com base na teoria da resposta ao item. MÉTODOS O desenvolvimento do instrumento envolveu procedimentos teóricos, empíricos e analíticos. Os procedimentos teóricos compreenderam a definição do constructo adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial sistêmica, identificação dos domínios intervenientes e a elaboração do instrumento, seguida da análise semântica e conceitual por peritos. O procedimento empírico englobou a aplicação do instrumento a 1.000 usuários com hipertensão arterial sistêmica, atendidos em um centro de referência em Fortaleza, CE, em 2012. A etapa analítica validou o instrumento por meio da análise psicométrica e dos procedimentos estatísticos. O modelo da teoria da resposta ao item usado na análise foi o da resposta gradual de Samejima. RESULTADOS Doze dos 23 itens do instrumento inicial foram calibrados e permaneceram na versão final. O coeficiente alfa (α) de Cronbach foi de 0,81. Os itens referentes ao uso da medicação quando apresenta algum sintoma e o uso de gordura apresentaram bom desempenho, pois tiveram melhor poder de discriminar os indivíduos que aderem ao tratamento. Deixar de tomar a medicação alguma vez e o consumo de carnes brancas apresentaram menor poder de discriminação. Itens referentes à realização de exercício físico e ser rotina seguir o tratamento não medicamentoso tiveram maior dificuldade de resposta. O instrumento mostrou-se mais apropriado para medir a baixa adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial sistêmica do que a alta adesão. CONCLUSÕES O instrumento mostrou-se adequado para avaliar a adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial sistêmica, pois consegue diferenciar os indivíduos com alta adesão daqueles com baixa adesão. Sua utilização pode facilitar a identificação e aferição do cumprimento à terapêutica prescrita, além de viabilizar o estabelecimento de metas a serem alcançadas.

Screening for depressive symptoms in older adults in the Family Health Strategy, Porto Alegre, Brazil

OBJECTIVE To analyze the prevalence of depression in older adults and associated factors. METHODS Cross-sectional study using a stratified random sample of 621 individuals aged ≥ 60 from 27 family health teams in Porto Alegre, RS, Southern Brazil, between 2010 and 2012. Community health agents measured depression using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Scores of ≥ 6 were considered as depression and between 11 and 15 as severe depression. Poisson regression was used to search for independent associations of sociodemographic and self-perceived health with both depression and its severity. RESULTS The prevalence of depression was 30.6% and was significantly higher in women (35.9% women versus 20.9% men, p < 0.001). The variables independently associated with depression were: female gender (PR = 1.4, 95%CI 1.1;1.8); low education, especially illiteracy (PR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.2;2 6); regular self-rated health (OR = 2.2, 95%CI 1.6;3.0); and poor/very poor self-rated health (PR = 4.0, 95%CI 2.9;5.5). Except for education, the strength of association of these factors increases significantly in severe depression. CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of depression was observed in the evaluations conducted by community health agents, professionals who are not highly specialized. The findings identified using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale in this way are similar to those in the literature, with depression more associated with low education, female gender and worse self-rated health. From a primary health care strategic point of view, the findings become still more relevant, indicating that community health agents could play an important role in identifying depression in older adults.

Cross-cultural validity of the demand-control questionnaire: Swedish and Brazilian workers

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cross-cultural validity of the Demand-Control Questionnaire, comparing the original Swedish questionnaire with the Brazilian version. METHODS We compared data from 362 Swedish and 399 Brazilian health workers. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were performed to test structural validity, using the robust weighted least squares mean and variance-adjusted (WLSMV) estimator. Construct validity, using hypotheses testing, was evaluated through the inspection of the mean score distribution of the scale dimensions according to sociodemographic and social support at work variables. RESULTS The confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses supported the instrument in three dimensions (for Swedish and Brazilians): psychological demands, skill discretion and decision authority. The best-fit model was achieved by including an error correlation between work fast and work intensely (psychological demands) and removing the item repetitive work (skill discretion). Hypotheses testing showed that workers with university degree had higher scores on skill discretion and decision authority and those with high levels of Social Support at Work had lower scores on psychological demands and higher scores on decision authority. CONCLUSIONS The results supported the equivalent dimensional structures across the two culturally different work contexts. Skill discretion and decision authority formed two distinct dimensions and the item repetitive work should be removed.

Validation of psychosocial scales for physical activity in university students

OBJECTIVE Translate the Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise questionnaire, adapt it cross-culturally and identify the psychometric properties of the psychosocial scales for physical activity in young university students.METHODS The Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise questionnaire is made up of 39 items divided into constructs based on the social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model. The analyzed constructs were, as follows: behavior change strategy (15 items), decision-making process (10), self-efficacy (6), support from family (4), and support from friends (4). The validation procedures were conceptual, semantic, operational, and functional equivalences, in addition to the equivalence of the items and of measurements. The conceptual, of items and semantic equivalences were performed by a specialized committee. During measurement equivalence, the instrument was applied to 717 university students. Exploratory factor analysis was used to verify the loading of each item, explained variance and internal consistency of the constructs. Reproducibility was measured by means of intraclass correlation coefficient.RESULTS The two translations were equivalent and back-translation was similar to the original version, with few adaptations. The layout, presentation order of the constructs and items from the original version were kept in the same form as the original instrument. The sample size was adequate and was evaluated by the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test, with values between 0.72 and 0.91. The correlation matrix of the items presented r < 0.8 (p < 0.05). The factor loadings of the items from all the constructs were satisfactory (> 0.40), varying between 0.43 and 0.80, which explained between 45.4% and 59.0% of the variance. Internal consistency was satisfactory (α ≥ 0.70), with support from friends being 0.70 and 0.92 for self-efficacy. Most items (74.3%) presented values above 0.70 for the reproducibility test.CONCLUSIONS The validation process steps were considered satisfactory and adequate for applying to the population.

Internal consistency of the self-reporting questionnaire-20 in occupational groups

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the internal consistency of the measurements of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) in different occupational groups. METHODS A validation study was conducted with data from four surveys with groups of workers, using similar methods. A total of 9,959 workers were studied. In all surveys, the common mental disorders were assessed via SRQ-20. The internal consistency considered the items belonging to dimensions extracted by tetrachoric factor analysis for each study. Item homogeneity assessment compared estimates of Cronbach’s alpha (KD-20), the alpha applied to a tetrachoric correlation matrix and stratified Cronbach’s alpha. RESULTS The SRQ-20 dimensions showed adequate values, considering the reference parameters. The internal consistency of the instrument items, assessed by stratified Cronbach’s alpha, was high (> 0.80) in the four studies. CONCLUSIONS The SRQ-20 showed good internal consistency in the professional categories evaluated. However, there is still a need for studies using alternative methods and additional information able to refine the accuracy of latent variable measurement instruments, as in the case of common mental disorders.

Maternal mental health and nutritional status of six-month-old infants

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze if maternal mental health is associated with infant nutritional status at six month of age. METHODS A cross-sectional study with 228 six-month-old infants who used primary health care units of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil. Mean weight-for-length and mean weight-for-age were expressed in z-scores considering the 2006 World Health Organization reference curves. Maternal mental health was measured by the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. The following cutoff points were used: ≥ 3 for common mental disorders, ≥ 5 for more severe mental disorders, and ≥ 9 for depression. The statistical analysis employed adjusted linear regression models. RESULTS The prevalence of common mental disorders, more severe mental disorders and depression was 39.9%, 23.7%, and 8.3%, respectively. Children of women with more severe mental disorders had, on average, a weight-for-length 0.37 z-scores lower than children of women without this health harm (p = 0.026). We also observed that the weight-for-length indicator of children of depressed mothers was, on average, 0.67 z-scores lower than that of children of nondepressed women (p = 0.010). Maternal depression was associated with lower mean values of weight-for-age z-scores (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS Maternal mental health is positively related to the inadequacy of the nutritional status of infants at six months.

Health-related quality of life in patients with Chagas disease

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease (ChD) is a chronic illness related to significant morbidity and mortality that can affect the quality of life (QoL) of infected patients. However, there are few studies regarding QoL in ChD. The objectives of this study are to construct a health-related QoL (HRQoL) profile of ChD patients and compare this with a non-ChD (NChD) group to identify factors associated with the worst HRQoL scores in ChD patients. METHODS: HRQoL was investigated in 125 patients with ChD and 21 NChD individuals using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ). Patients were submitted to a standard protocol that included clinical examination, ECG, Holter monitoring, Doppler echocardiogram and autonomic function tests. RESULTS: HRQoL scores were significantly worse among the ChD group compared to the NChD group in the SF-36 domains of physical functioning and role-emotional and in the MLWHFQ scale. For the ChD group, univariate analysis showed that HRQoL score quartiles were associated with level of education, sex, marital status, use of medication, functional classification and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms. In the multivariate analysis, female sex, fewer years of education, single status, worst functional classification, presence of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms, associated illnesses, Doppler echocardiographic abnormalities and ventricular arrhythmia detected during Holter monitoring were predictors of lower HRQoL scores. CONCLUSIONS: ChD patients showed worse HRQoL scores compared to NChD. For the ChD group, sociodemographic and clinical variables were associated with worst scores.

Artesunate + amodiaquine versus artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Colombian Pacific region: a noninferiority trial

INTRODUCTION: In Colombia, there are no published studies for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria comparing artemisinin combination therapies. Hence, it is intended to demonstrate the non-inferior efficacy/safety profiles of artesunate + amodiaquine versus artemether-lumefantrine treatments. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, open-label, noninferiority (Δ≤5%) clinical trial was performed in adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria using the 28‑day World Health Organization validated design/definitions. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either oral artesunate + amodiaquine or artemether-lumefantrine. The primary efficacy endpoint: adequate clinical and parasitological response; secondary endpoints: - treatment failures defined per the World Health Organization. Safety: assessed through adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients was included in each group: zero censored observations. Mean (95%CI - Confidence interval) adequate clinical and parasitological response rates: 100% for artesunate + amodiaquine and 99% for artemether-lumefantrine; the noninferiority criteria was met (Δ=1.7%). There was one late parasitological therapeutic failure (1%; artemether-lumefantrine group), typified by polymerase chain reaction as the MAD20 MSP1 allele. The fever clearance time (artesunate + amodiaquine group) was significantly shorter (p=0.002). Respectively, abdominal pain for artesunate + amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine was 1.9% and 3.8% at baseline (p=0.68) and 1% and 13.3% after treatment (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria treatment with artesunate + amodiaquine is noninferior to the artemether-lumefantrine standard treatment. The efficacy/safety profiles grant further studies in this and similar populations.

Sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction in chronic hepatitis C patients

IntroductionThe prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) and dissatisfaction with sexual life (DSL) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (CHC) was jointly investigated via a thorough psychopathological analysis, which included dimensions such as fatigue, impulsiveness, psychiatric comorbidity, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.MethodsMale and female CHC patients from an outpatient referral center were assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the Barrat Impulsiveness Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Structured psychiatric interviews were performed according to the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. SD was assessed based on specific items in the BDI (item 21) and the HAM-A (item 12). DSL was assessed based on a specific question in the WHOQOL-BREF (item 21). Multivariate analysis was performed according to an ordinal linear regression model in which SD and DSL were considered as outcome variables.ResultsSD was reported by 60 (57.1%) of the patients according to the results of the BDI and by 54 (51.4%) of the patients according to the results of the HAM-A. SD was associated with older age, female gender, viral genotype 2 or 3, interferon-α use, impulsiveness, depressive symptoms, antidepressant and benzodiazepine use, and lower HRQL. DSL was reported by 34 (32.4%) of the patients and was associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, antidepressant use, and lower HRQL.ConclusionsThe prevalence of SD and DSL in CHC patients was high and was associated with factors, such as depressive symptoms and antidepressant use. Screening and managing these conditions represent significant steps toward improving medical assistance and the HRQL of CHC patients.

Factors associated with non-adherence to the treatment of vivax malaria in a rural community from the Brazilian Amazon Basin

Abstract: INTRODUCTION We investigated the association between demographic and behavioral factors and non-adherence to antimalarial therapy. METHODS A demographic questionnaire and 5-item self-reported questionnaire regarding non-adherence were completed by 135 patients after treatment for Plasmodium vivax. RESULTS Treatment interruption, but not demographic factors, was significantly associated with non-adherence to therapy. The likelihood of non-adherence was 5.16 times higher when the patients felt better than when they felt worse. The relative risk of parasitic resurgence was 3.04 times higher in non-adherent patients. CONCLUSIONS Treatment interruption is significantly associated with treatment adherence.