A Estratégia de Saúde da Família e sua proposta de (re)estruturação do modelo assistencial do SUS: a perspectiva de quem molda sua operacionalização

O olhar reflexivo sobre a implementação de programas/projetos de saúde pressupõe a elucidação dos modos pelos quais ocorrem as conexões entre a formulação e suas diretrizes e a operacionalização nos serviços de saúde. Portanto, o presente estudo centra seu olhar investigativo em questões da dimensão avaliativa voltadas para o planejamento e gestão de sistema local de saúde, assim como para a produção de tecnologias de planejamento e avaliação em saúde. Centrado na Atenção Básica, especialmente no Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF), o estudo buscou analisar tal estratégia levando em consideração as quatro grandes dimensões de reestruturação preestabelecidas pelo MS: (re)estruturação do modelo assistencial do SUS; (re)estruturação da demanda para os outros níveis do sistema; (re)estruturação dos processos de trabalho e das práticas em saúde, e (re)estruturação dos gastos no modelo assistencial do SUS. O trabalho define as dimensões de (re)estruturação do modelo assistencial e dos processos de trabalho e das práticas em saúde como objeto de estudo. Para tanto, propõe, inicialmente, compreender o contexto que molda a operacionalização do PSF, para perceber a dinâmica que se coloca, reprodução ou reestruturação da estrutura. Tomando como referencial o modelo de Estratificação do Agente de Giddens (1984), buscamos através de entrevistas com os profissionais das equipes de Saúde da Família perceber a compreensão teórica e a narrativa das práticas sobre alguns pressupostos básicos apontados pelo MS como potencializadores da capacidade de reestruturação do PSF e que são por eles operacionalizados no cotidiano de suas práticas. Os profissionais das equipes estudadas se identificam como agentes de mudança. E sendo agentes deste processo de reestruturação sofrem influencia da estrutura social (PSF e seus princípios) como também a influenciam, enquanto sujeitos que nela operam. Foi possível mapear um cenário de implantação e um universo bastante significativo de necessidades que chamamos de necessidades cognitivas, aspectos que se interagem influenciando na capacidade ou não de reestruturação do PSF. Em relação à capacidade de (re)estruturação do modelo assistencial do SUS, o momento é de transição entre modelos assistenciais, iniciando um processo, ainda que tímido, de mudança de enfoque, da abordagem curativa para uma abordagem que tende, ainda que fragmentada, a propiciar uma assistência integral, incorporando à oferta de ações curativas, ações programáticas em construção. Barreiras estruturais que se localizam no espaço da cultura institucional de organização dos serviços e consequentemente, dos Sistemas Locais de Saúde também dificultam a reestruturação sob a perspectiva do modelo assistencial. A capacidade de reestruturação dos processos de trabalho e das práticas em saúde parece ser incipiente, no contexto das equipes estudadas. A cultura organizacional dos serviços, a experiência acumulada dos profissionais em unidades organizadas de forma tradicional, associada a processos incipientes de educação permanente, dificultam a apreensão de novas práticas potencializadoras de um processo de trabalho que conjuguem o desenvolvimento compartilhado de projetos terapêuticos integrais, assim como de mecanismos gerenciais ordenados sob o enfoque do planejamento estratégico situacional. Mesmo cientes da complexidade que envolve os processos de reestruturação de modelos assistenciais em saúde, partimos da premissa de que a capacidade de reestruturação proposta pela Saúde da Família é possível, porque visa a mudança no modelo de produção da saúde, o qual é definido pelos mecanismos de gestão, mas também pelo modo com os profissionais de saúde operam no cotidiano seus processos de trabalho. Partindo desse pressuposto, o presente estudo optou em tomar como objeto de análise o cotidiano dos processos de trabalho dos profissionais das equipes de Saúde da Família. Num primeiro momento, o estudo buscou compreender o contexto que molda e condiciona a produção da saúde identificando a compreensão teórica e a narrativa da prática dos sujeitos que operam no PSF no cotidiano. O segundo momento do estudo resultou do primeiro, quando foi evidenciada a ausência, nos processos de trabalho das equipes, de um raciocínio programático que as orientasse na organização da oferta de ações de saúde às suas populações adscritas, direcionando para a abordagem das necessidades em saúde, contribuindo no reordenamento das práticas, conjugando as capacidades de trabalho potencial e real das equipes. Sendo assim, foi desenvolvida uma proposta de programação em saúde, ancorada no pressuposto central da programação, ou seja, no cotidiano das equipes de Saúde da Família. Ordenada pelas operações diagnóstica e normativa a proposta trabalhou com a análise das coberturas de produção Ideal (normativa), Real (quantitativo de procedimentos realizados pelo profissional durante um determinado espaço de tempo, oficialmente informada) e Potencial (Semana Típica de produção planejada).

Terapia comportamental no controle da incontinência urinária da mulher idosa: uma ação de enfermagem na promoção do autocuidado

A incontinência urinária gera implicações negativas nos âmbitos emocional, social e econômico tanto para o indivíduo incontinente, como para seus cuidadores. A terapia comportamental é uma das abordagens não-invasivas para a incontinência urinária. A terapia comportamental é realizada durante as consultas de enfermagem e a atuação do enfermeiro consiste na aplicação de um protocolo de orientações sobre hábitos de vida, medidas de controle da micção, treinamento para realização do diário miccional, treinamento de exercícios perineais e avaliação da resposta da paciente à terapia. O estudo tem como base teórica a Teoria do autocuidado de Dorothea Elisabeth Orem, pois a terapia comportamental visa instrumentalizar o indivíduo a realizar práticas de autocuidado a partir do protocolo de atendimento do ambulatório. O objetivo da pesquisa é avaliar a efetividade da terapia comportamental aplicada pelo enfermeiro para o controle miccional e melhora da qualidade de vida da mulher idosa. Trata-se de um ensaio clínico não-controlado.40 Foram incluídas no estudo mulheres acima de 60 anos que participam do Ambulatório do Núcleo de Atenção ao Idoso com a queixa clínica de perda involuntária de urina encaminhadas para o ambulatório de urogeriatria. A população estudada foi composta por 13 participantes. Os dados da pesquisa foram coletados a partir dos instrumentos de avaliação do ambulatório de urogeriatria que foram arquivados nos prontuários das pacientes: o diário miccional, avaliação de enfermagem na terapia comportamental e o questionário sobre qualidade de vida em mulheres com incontinência urinária chamado de Kings Health Questionnaire. Estes instrumentos foram aplicados antes e depois da terapia comportamental. Foram colhidos dados das pacientes acompanhadas no ambulatório durante o período de abril de 2011 a junho de 2012. Os resultados foram que após a terapia comportamental todas as idosas responderam que ingerem líquidos no período diurno, 92,30% das idosas responderam que estabeleceram um ritmo miccional de 2/2 horas ou de 3/3 horas. Sobre o parâmetro miccional perda de urina ao final da terapia comportamental 75% das idosas apresentaram ausência de perda de urina. Além disso, após a terapia comportamental nenhuma das pacientes teve perda de urina durante a realização dos exercícios e 92,30% apresentaram contração eficiente dos músculos perineais. Deste modo, esta pesquisa demonstrou que as idosas que participaram da terapia comportamental obtiveram melhora do controle urinário e da qualidade de vida. A terapia é um sistema que sofre retroalimentação à medida que o paciente adere às práticas de autocuidado e o enfermeiro reforça as orientações a fim de atingir o objetivo maior que é a sensação de bem estar. A teoria de Dorothea Orem se adequou bem ao estudo, pois a terapia comportamental permitiu aos idosos a assumirem responsabilidade com o seu corpo e se empenharem efetivamente para melhorar a sua condição de saúde e qualidade de vida.

Gaps between assistive technologies and dementia care

A growing number of people are now entering the elderly age category in Japan; this raises the likelihood of more persons with dementia, as the probability of becoming cognitively impaired increases with age. There is an increasing need for caregivers who are well trained and experienced and who can pay special attention to the needs of people with dementia. Technology can play an important role in helping such people and their caregivers. A lack of mutual understanding between caregivers and researchers regarding the appropriate uses of assistive technologies is another problem. We have described the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT), especially assistive technologies, and social issues as a first step towards developing a technology roadmap. © 2012 IEEE.

Evaluation of a national evidence-based health care course via teleconference in a developing country

Rationale, aims and objectives Continuing health education is essential but challenged. in 2006, the Brazilian Cochrane Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, launched a mass teaching initiative in evidence-based health care (EBH) for public-sector professionals via teleconferencing. This 152-hour, interactive EBH course has enrolled over 4500 professionals. This study aimed to assess the acquisition EBH knowledge and skills, as well as the attitudes and perceptions of a sample of students enrolled in the 2009 course via teleconferencing.Methods This prospective cohort study analyzed three aspects of this 152-hour EBH course that recruited 1040 volunteer participants, all public health sector employees working in 131 different hospitals or health agencies. Pre- and post-course tests using a modified version of the Berlin questionnaire with 20 multiple-choice questions were used to examine knowledge acquisition in a sample of 297 students. Tests were completed upon registration and at course completion. the research projects submitted by 872 participants were evaluated to assess skill acquisition. Answers to an anonymous survey assessed the attitudes and perceptions of 914 participants.Results There was a significant increase in knowledge from baseline to course completion (mean scores 8.2 +/- 3.3 versus 13.7 +/- 3.0, P < 0.001). Over 90% of the research projects were judged to be of adequate quality (appropriate rationale for the study, well-formulated research question and feasible execution); over 95% of the participants were satisfied with the course.Conclusion the Brazilian EBH course via teleconference improved the knowledge and skills of public-sector health professionals and was approved by the vast majority of students.

The quality of diabetes care in the community: practice, policy and culture

Aim: Diabetes is an important barometer of health system performance. This chronic condition is a source of significant morbidity, premature mortality and a major contributor to health care costs. There is an increasing focus internationally, and more recently nationally, on system, practice and professional-level initiatives to promote the quality of care. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the ‘quality chasm’ around the organisation and delivery of diabetes care in general practice, to explore GPs’ attitudes to engaging in quality improvement activities and to examine efforts to improve the quality of diabetes care in Ireland from practice to policy. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. As part of a mixed methods sequential design, a postal survey of 600 GPs was conducted to assess the organization of care. This was followed by an in-depth qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 31 GPs from urban and rural areas. The qualitative methodology was also used to examine GPs’ attitudes to engaging in quality improvement. Data were analysed using a Framework approach. A 2nd observation study was used to assess the quality of care in 63 practices with a special interest in diabetes. Data on 3010 adults with Type 2 diabetes from 3 primary care initiatives were analysed and the results were benchmarked against national guidelines and standards of care in the UK. The final study was an instrumental case study of policy formulation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 members of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) for Diabetes. Thematic analysis was applied to the data using 3 theories of the policy process as analytical tools. Results: The survey response rate was 44% (n=262). Results suggested care delivery was largely unstructured; 45% of GPs had a diabetes register (n=157), 53% reported using guidelines (n=140), 30% had formal call recall system (n=78) and 24% had none of these organizational features (n=62). Only 10% of GPs had a formal shared protocol with the local hospital specialist diabetes team (n=26). The lack of coordination between settings was identified as a major barrier to providing optimal care leading to waiting times, overburdened hospitals and avoidable duplication. The lack of remuneration for chronic disease management had a ripple effect also creating costs for patients and apathy among GPs. There was also a sense of inertia around quality improvement activities particularly at a national level. This attitude was strongly influenced by previous experiences of change in the health system. In contrast GP’s spoke positively about change at a local level which was facilitated by a practice ethos, leadership and special interest in diabetes. The 2nd quantitative study found that practices with a special interest in diabetes achieved a standard of care comparable to the UK in terms of the recording of clinical processes of care and the achievement of clinical targets; 35% of patients reached the HbA1c target of <6.5% compared to 26% in England and Wales. With regard to diabetes policy formulation, the evolving process of action and inaction was best described by the Multiple Streams Theory. Within the EAG, the formulation of recommendations was facilitated by overarching agreement on the “obvious” priorities while the details of proposals were influenced by personal preferences and local capacity. In contrast the national decision-making process was protracted and ambiguous. The lack of impetus from senior management coupled with the lack of power conferred on the EAG impeded progress. Conclusions: The findings highlight the inconsistency of diabetes care in Ireland. The main barriers to optimal diabetes management center on the organization and coordination of care at the systems level with consequences for practice, providers and patients. Quality improvement initiatives need to stimulate a sense of ownership and interest among frontline service providers to address the local sense of inertia to national change. To date quality improvement in diabetes care has been largely dependent the “special interest” of professionals. The challenge for the Irish health system is to embed this activity as part of routine practice, professional responsibility and the underlying health care culture.

Establishing a regional, multisite database for quality improvement and service planning in community-based palliative care and hospice.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient palliative care, an evolving delivery model, seeks to improve continuity of care across settings and to increase access to services in hospice and palliative medicine (HPM). It can provide a critical bridge between inpatient palliative care and hospice, filling the gap in community-based supportive care for patients with advanced life-limiting illness. Low capacities for data collection and quantitative research in HPM have impeded assessment of the impact of outpatient palliative care. APPROACH: In North Carolina, a regional database for community-based palliative care has been created through a unique partnership between a HPM organization and academic medical center. This database flexibly uses information technology to collect patient data, entered at the point of care (e.g., home, inpatient hospice, assisted living facility, nursing home). HPM physicians and nurse practitioners collect data; data are transferred to an academic site that assists with analyses and data management. Reports to community-based sites, based on data they provide, create a better understanding of local care quality. CURRENT STATUS: The data system was developed and implemented over a 2-year period, starting with one community-based HPM site and expanding to four. Data collection methods were collaboratively created and refined. The database continues to grow. Analyses presented herein examine data from one site and encompass 2572 visits from 970 new patients, characterizing the population, symptom profiles, and change in symptoms after intervention. CONCLUSION: A collaborative regional approach to HPM data can support evaluation and improvement of palliative care quality at the local, aggregated, and statewide levels.

The life of leaders: an intensive health program for clergy.

Clergy suffer from chronic disease rates that are higher than those of non-clergy. Health interventions for clergy are needed, and some exist, although none to date have been described in the literature. Life of Leaders is a clergy health intervention designed with particular attention to the lifestyle and beliefs of United Methodist clergy, directed by Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare Center of Excellence in Faith and Health. It consists of a two-day retreat of a comprehensive executive physical and leadership development process. Its guiding principles include a focus on personal assets, multi-disciplinary, integrated care, and an emphasis on the contexts of ministry for the poor and community leadership. Consistent with calls to intervene on clergy health across multiple ecological levels, Life of Leaders intervenes at the individual and interpersonal levels, with potential for congregational and religious denominational change. Persons wishing to improve the health of clergy may wish to implement Life of Leaders or borrow from its guiding principles.

Reduced length of hospital stay in colorectal surgery after implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal approach to perioperative care that combines a range of interventions to enable early mobilization and feeding after surgery. We investigated the feasibility, clinical effectiveness, and cost savings of an ERAS program at a major U. S. teaching hospital. METHODS: Data were collected from consecutive patients undergoing open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery during 2 time periods, before and after implementation of an ERAS protocol. Data collected included patient demographics, operative, and perioperative surgical and anesthesia data, need for analgesics, complications, inpatient medical costs, and 30-day readmission rates. RESULTS: There were 99 patients in the traditional care group, and 142 in the ERAS group. The median length of stay (LOS) was 5 days in the ERAS group compared with 7 days in the traditional group (P < 0.001). The reduction in LOS was significant for both open procedures (median 6 vs 7 days, P = 0.01), and laparoscopic procedures (4 vs 6 days, P < 0.0001). ERAS patients had fewer urinary tract infections (13% vs 24%, P = 0.03). Readmission rates were lower in ERAS patients (9.8% vs 20.2%, P = 0.02). DISCUSSION: Implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol for colorectal surgery at a tertiary medical center was associated with a significantly reduced LOS and incidence of urinary tract infection. This is consistent with that of other studies in the literature and suggests that enhanced recovery programs could be implemented successfully and should be considered in U.S. hospitals.

When the library is located in prime real estate: a case study on the loss of space from the Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives.

The Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives is located in the heart of the Duke Medicine campus, surrounded by Duke Hospital, ambulatory clinics, and numerous research facilities. Its location is considered prime real estate, given its adjacency to patient care, research, and educational activities. In 2005, the Duke University Library Space Planning Committee had recommended creating a learning center in the library that would support a variety of educational activities. However, the health system needed to convert the library's top floor into office space to make way for expansion of the hospital and cancer center. The library had only five months to plan the storage and consolidation of its journal and book collections, while working with the facilities design office and architect on the replacement of key user spaces on the top floor. Library staff worked together to develop plans for storing, weeding, and consolidating the collections and provided input into renovation plans for users spaces on its mezzanine level. The library lost 15,238 square feet (29%) of its net assignable square footage and a total of 16,897 (30%) gross square feet. This included 50% of the total space allotted to collections and over 15% of user spaces. The top-floor space now houses offices for Duke Medicine oncology faculty and staff. By storing a large portion of its collection off-site, the library was able to remove more stacks on the remaining stack level and convert them to user spaces, a long-term goal for the library. Additional space on the mezzanine level had to be converted to replace lost study and conference room spaces. While this project did not match the recommended space plans for the library, it underscored the need for the library to think creatively about the future of its facility and to work toward a more cohesive master plan.

Physical activity-related and weather-related practices of child care centers from 2 states

© 2015 Human Kinetics, Inc.Background: Young children's physical activity (PA) is influenced by their child care environment. This study assessed PA practices in centers from Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI), compared them to best practice recommendations, and assessed differences between states and center profit status. We also assessed weather-related practices. Methods: Sixty percent of MA and 54% of RI directors returned a survey, for a total of 254. Recommendations were 1) daily outdoor play, 2) providing outdoor play area, 3) limiting fixed play structures, 4) variety of portable play equipment, and 5) providing indoor play area. We fit multivariable linear regression models to examine adjusted associations between state, profit status, PA, and weather-related practices. Results: MA did not differ from RI in meeting PA recommendations (β = 0.03; 0.15, 0.21; P = .72), but MA centers scored higher on weather-related practices (β = 0.47; 0.16, 0.79; P = .004). For-profit centers had lower PA scores compared with nonprofits (β = -0.20; 95% CI: -0.38, -0.02; P = .03), but they did not differ for weather (β = 0.12; -0.19, 0.44; P = .44). Conclusions: More MA centers allowed children outside in light rain or snow. For-profit centers had more equipment-both fixed and portable. Results from this study may help inform interventions to increase PA in children.

Is screening for Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin G20210A Mutations in Renal Transplantation worthwhile? Results of a large single-center U.K. study

This single center study is the largest series of renal transplant recipients and donors screened for the commonest prothrombotic genotypes. A total of 562 transplant recipients and 457 kidney donors were genotyped for the factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutations. The prevalence of heterozygous factor V Leiden was 3.4% and 2.6% and prothrombin G20210A was 2.0% and 1.1% in recipients and donors, respectively, similar frequencies to that of the general U.K. population. The 30-day and 1-year graft survival rates in recipients with thrombophilic mutations were 93% and 93%, compared with 88% and 82% in patients without these mutations (log-rank P =0.34). Thrombophilia in recipients (odds ratio 0.55; confidence interval 0.06-2.29; P =0.56) or in donors (odds ratio 1.53; confidence interval 0.27-5.74; P =0.46) did not correlate with graft loss at 30 days after transplantation. In contrast to recent reports, this study did not demonstrate an association between thrombophilia and renal allograft loss, and routine screening is not recommended.

‘Care just changes your life’: Factors impacting on the mental health of children and young people in care in Northern Ireland.

This paper represents one element of a research project carried out into the mental health needs of children and young people with experiences of care in Northern Ireland. Focusing exclusively on qualitative data collected from 51 young people in care and aftercare, it discusses in the first instance how the challenges and difficulties faced by young people can manifest themselves in feelings and behaviours that may exemplify poor mental well-being. In doing so it provides an understanding of mental health in the context of these young people’s lives. Through offering a more detailed account of some of the specific issues that put these young people at increased risk, it highlights areas for further work and consideration as a means of protecting them against these risks. These include: dealing with experiences prior to care; easing and ‘‘normalising’’ the experience of living in care; and enhancing ‘‘safety nets’’ after care. A key objective of the research is to inform policy and practice through the accounts of children and young people. It is argued that more work needs to be done to find creative ways of enhancing the day-to-day experiences of young people while in care and when leaving care.

Moral distress experienced by health care professionals who provide home-based palliative care

Health care providers regularly encounter situations of moral conflict and distress in their practice. Moral distress may result in unfavorable outcomes for both health care providers and those in their care. The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of moral distress from a broad range of health care occupations that provide home-based palliative care as the initial step of addressing the issue. A critical incident approach was used in qualitative interviews to elicit the experiences on moral distress from 18 health care providers drawn from five home visiting organizations in south central Ontario, Canada. Most participants described at least two critical incidents in their interview generating a total of 47 critical incidents. Analyses of the critical incidents revealed 11 issues that triggered moral distress which clustered into three themes, (a) the role of informal caregivers, b) challenging clinical situations and (c) service delivery issues. The findings suggest that the training and practice environments for health care providers need to be designed to recognize the moral challenges related to day-to-day practice.