Cadernos de saúde pública
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Jan 2014
[Assessment of adherence to the WHO surgical safety checklist in urological and gynecological surgeries at two teaching hospitals in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil].
The WHO surgical safety checklist is a useful tool for decreasing the number of adverse events in hospitals, but its implementation is still a challenge. This study aimed to assess adherence to the checklist in urological and gynecological surgeries at two teaching hospitals in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A cross-sectional observational design was used, elective surgeries were selected, and data were collected from medical charts. ⋯ Of the 375 surgeries reviewed, 61% included a checklist and 4% were correctly filled out. The existence of a checklist was associated with gynecological surgeries (OR = 130.18) and longer operating time (OR = 2.13), while quality of the checklist was related to urological surgeries (β = 26.36). Adherence to the checklist needs to be improved, and the observed differences suggest the influence of distinct implementation strategies at the two institutions.
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Nov 2013
[Institutional violence, medical authority, and power relations in maternity hospitals from the perspective of health workers].
The current article discusses institutional violence in maternity hospitals from the health workers' perspective, based on data from a study in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Eighteen health workers from the public and private sectors were interviewed, including obstetricians, nurses, and nurse technicians. A semi-structured interview was used with questions on professional experience and the definition of violence. ⋯ Examples of such practices cited by interviewees included the use of pejorative slang as a form of "humor", threats, reprimands, and negligence in the management of pain. Such practices are not generally viewed by health workers as violent, but rather as the exercise of professional authority in what is considered a "difficult" context. The institutional violence is thus trivialized, disguised as purportedly good practice (i.e., "for the patient's own good"), and rendered invisible in the daily routine of care provided by maternity services.
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Jul 2013
ReviewShould acellular pertussis vaccine be recommended to healthcare professionals?
The aim of this study was to describe recent changes in the epidemiology of pertussis and existing policies regarding recommended and mandatory occupational vaccinations for healthcare professionals (HCPs). The authors carried out an extensive review of references on the PubMed and SciELO databases and the official sites of the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Brazilian Ministry of Health, using the keywords pertussis, vaccines and healthcare professionals. ⋯ In Brazil, only one publication discussing the risk of pertussis among HCPs was found. Considering the reemergence of pertussis and the great number of associated hospitalizations and deaths registered in 2011, it is necessary to review public policies regarding HCP pertussis vaccination, particularly among workers in frequent contact with young babies.
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Jun 2013
Compliance with clinical trial registration and reporting guidelines by Latin American and Caribbean journals.
The objective of this study was to determine to what extent Latin American and Caribbean biomedical journals have endorsed and complied with clinical trial registration and reporting guidelines. A search of randomized clinical trials was carried out using the LILACS database. The randomized clinical trials identified through the search were assessed to determine whether trial registration and CONSORT guidance was mentioned. ⋯ The ICMJE was mentioned by 68% of the journals and 36% of journals required trial registration. Fewer journals provided advice on reporting guidelines: CONSORT (13%), PRISMA (1.8%), STROBE (1.8%), and the EQUATOR network (3.6%). Wider endorsement of trial registration and adherence to reporting guidelines is necessary in clinical trials conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Apr 2013
[Fear of recurrent falls and associated factors among older adults from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil].
Fear of falling is characterized by anxiety when walking or excessive worry about falling. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with fear of recurrent falls among older adults in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. A total of 266 older adults who had fallen in the previous year were studied based on a population-based cross-sectional survey. ⋯ Among the sample, 57.1% feared recurrent falls. The adjusted analysis yielded a significant association between the outcome and female gender (p = 0.013), less socializing with friends (p = 0.015), diseases of the spinal column (p = 0.022), and limitation of daily activities after the fall (p = 0.001). Thus, campaigns to prevent fear of new falls should particularly target women with limitations due to previous falls and low social interaction.