Quality of life of medical students in Brazil. A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: VERAS survey multicenter project, carried out in 2011-2012, evaluated the quality of life (QoL) of students from 22 Brazilian medical schools. AIM: To evaluate QoL of undergraduate medical students, taking Veras-q national data as comparison. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the QoL of 197 medical students in a Brazilian private medical school at Salvador, Bahia, Brazil in 2014. Students in the first two years were grouped in Phase I; those in years three and four were grouped in Phase II. Those in the internship (fifth and sixth years) were grouped in Phase III. RESULTS: Students from Phase I group had better QoL averages than those from Phase II. Phase I students presented significantly (p < 0.05) better scores in the Psychological and Use of Time domains. Compared to Phase II students, those in Phase III obtained better scores in the Physical and Environmental domains. Female students had significantly lower (p < 0.01) scores than male students in Physical, Psychological and Use of Time domains. Compared to the national sample survey, these students had higher (p < 0.01) scores in all domains, except for the Physical domain in Phase II (p < 0.4352). CONCLUSIONS: These students had a better quality of life than those surveyed in the national Veras-q study. Female students had lower scores. Adjusted schedules and lower work overload, as consequences of effective interdisciplinarity in curricular components, may have contributed to higher students' QoL.

Novice medical students' perception about bad news training with simulation and spikes strategy.

Objective: To analyze the medical students' perception about simulated consultations before and after training using the SPIKES protocol. Methods: Quasi-experimental study, with a qualitative approach. It counted with the participation of 20 students as Simulated Physicians (SF), and 20 students as Simulated Patients (SP), all belonging to a medical course. Data were obtained from the responses given to a reflective question, applied before and after training with the SPIKES. The treatment and the analysis of the data were guided by the stages of thematic analysis. Results: In the category "Simulated Medical Student's Self-Perception", the subcategories "Nervousness and Insecurity" were predominant after the first consultation, while "Tranquility and Security" after the second consultation after training. In the category "Simulated Medical Student's Perception about the Educational Process", the subcategory "Reflective Learning" emerged in the students' speeches, especially after the second consultation. In the speeches of SP, it was evidenced the improvement of the care provided by SF after training. Conclusion: The strategy used for the development of communication skills showed evidence of short-term effectiveness. Innovation: The research resulted in a teaching protocol for students in pre-clinical stages that involves four stages: simulation, self-assessment, feedback and new simulations.

[Implementation of the Choosing Wisely Program in the General Surgery Residency]. / Implementação do Programa Choosing Wisely no Internato de Cirurgia Geral.

INTRODUCTION: The practice of unnecessary conduct and waste in Health is an important topic, not often addressed during undergraduate training. Medical education has a fundamental role in student and doctors' training concerning cost-conscious attitudes for good health care. The aim of this study was to describe and assess the implementation of the Choosing Wisely campaign within a General Surgery residency program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an interventional study involving residency advisors and specialty residents. Recommendations based on three procedures frequently used in clinical practice, with no benefits and involving unnecessary risks for patients were identified by residency advisors with the use of the Delphi method and were grouped by frequency and by nature according to the Choosing Wisely layout. Educational actions such as workshops and banner advertising in addition to training activities regarding cost-conscious healthcare were carried out. This subject was also included in the theoretical evaluation of the residency program. RESULTS: The leading five recommendations were related to (i) computed tomography overuse (versus ultrasound imaging) in patients with suspected acute appendicitis, (ii) multithreaded computed tomography overuse in patients with low-risk trauma, (iii) longer than recommended antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical patients, (iv) longer than recommended preoperative fasting period and (v) upper gastrointestinal endoscopy overuse in surgical patients without an adequate clinical evidence or without the presence of warning signs. Awareness and reflection among participants were improved, leading to high grades in final evaluation. DISCUSSION: Changes in training regarding quality of care and cost awareness should start throughout undergraduate training, within a learning environment focused on a reflective and evidence-based practice. All the benefits and harms to patients were taken into account in the recommendations that emerged from this study. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of this initiative in the General Surgery residency, involving reflective discussions on campaign recommendations regarding procedures frequently used in clinical practice, with no benefits and involving unnecessary risks for patients may lead to more cost-conscious procedures.

Introdução: A prática de condutas desnecessárias e os desperdícios na saúde são temas importantes e ainda pouco abordados no curso de Medicina. A educação médica tem um papel fundamental na formação de estudantes e médicos com atitudes custo-conscientes para uma boa atenção à saúde. O objectivo deste estudo foi descrever e avaliar a implementação do programa Choosing Wisely - Escolhas Criteriosas em Saúde, no internato de Cirurgia Geral.Material e Métodos: Estudo de intervenção envolvendo orientadores de formação e internos. Utilizando a técnica Delphi, os orientadores de formação identificaram três intervenções frequentemente observadas na prática clínica sem benefício e com potenciais riscos desnecessários para o doente, que geraram recomendações, agrupadas e adaptadas ao formato do programa Choosing Wisely. O tema foi incluido na avaliação do internato, tendo sido desenvolvidas ações de formação e de divulgação em banners personalizados, a par de atividades de aprendizagem reflexiva sobre o programa e da integração da temática na avaliação teórica do internato.Resultados: As cinco principais recomendações referem-se (i) à utilização excessiva de tomografia axial computorizada na abordagem da suspeita de apendicite aguda e (ii) de tomografia axial computorizada de vários segmentos do corpo em traumatismos de baixo grau de gravidade, (iii) profilaxia antibiótica mais prolongada do que o recomendado no doente cirúrgico, (iv) jejum mais prolongado do que o recomendado no pré-operatório de todas as cirurgias e (v) utilização excessiva da endoscopia digestiva alta em doentes cirúrgicos sem sinais clínicos de alarme. As ações de formação geraram um incremento da sensibilização e reflexão, traduzido globalmente por um elevado aproveitamento na avaliação final.Discussão: A formação em escolhas criteriosas em saúde, promovendo uma utilização de cuidados de saúde consciente e de qualidade, sugere que as mudanças devem ocorrer ao longo do curso de Medicina, num ambiente de aprendizagem centrado numa prática reflexiva e baseada na evidência. As recomendações produzidas no estudo tiveram em consideração a totalidade dos benefícios e riscos para o doente.Conclusão: A integração da iniciativa Choosing Wisely no programa de formação em Cirurgia Geral deu origem a um conhecimento e discussão mais reflexivos sobre as recomendações relativas à utilização racional e criteriosa de cuidados de saúde, podendo resultar numa prática médica mais sustentável e sensível aos custos que gera.

Trastornos mentales y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en profesionales de Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos / Mental disorders and health-related quality of life in Intensive Care Units professionals

Resumen Los profesionales de la salud de las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) enfrentan situaciones de sufrimiento humano, competitividad y demanda, que podrían perjudicar su calidad de vida y su salud mental. El objetivo del estudio fue describir los trastornos mentales comunes y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en profesionales de la salud de la UCI en Salvador, Brasil. Este estudio transversal con 195 profesionales utilizó un cuestionario sociodemográfico y laboral, el Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) de trastornos mentales comunes y el 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36v2) de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. El 29.7 % de los profesionales presentaron trastornos mentales comunes, especialmente entre profesionales de enfermería (RP = 2.28; IC 1.19-4.39; p = .007). La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud para todos los profesionales estuvo disminuida, principalmente en función social (44.25 ± 10.15) y rol emocional (45.86 ± 10.58). El SRQ-20 correlacionó fuertemente con los dominios dolor corporal (r = -.502), salud general (r = -.526), vitalidad (r = -.656), función social (r = -.608), salud mental (r = -.631) y el componente de salud mental (r = -.638) del SF-36v2 (p < .01). Los profesionales con trastornos mentales comunes mostraron una calidad de vida relacionada con la salud más deteriorada, esencialmente en dominios del componente de salud mental, y refirieron también dolor corporal. Es necesario discutir e implementar estrategias de evaluación, prevención y promoción de la salud mental entre los profesionales de las UCI para que sean consideradas dentro de las políticas de salud laboral.

Trastornos mentales comunes y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud mental en trabajadores de salud bucal / Common mental disorders and mental health-related quality of life among oral health providers

Introducción: Existen pocos estudios sobre los trastornos mentales comunes y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud mental en trabajadores de salud bucal. Objetivo: Describir los trastornos mentales comunes y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud mental en trabajadores de equipos de salud bucal en atención primaria de salud del Sistema Único de Salud de la Región Metropolitana de Salvador de Bahía, Brasil. Métodos: Estudio transversal y descriptivo, que utilizó el Cuestionario de declaración de síntomas para evaluar trastornos mentales comunes, el Cuestionario de salud para calidad de vida relacionada con la salud y un cuestionario de caracterización sociodemográfica. Resultados: Conformaron la muestra 161 profesionales (59,6 por ciento odontólogos y 40,4 por ciento auxiliares de salud bucal). El promedio de la puntuación para Cuestionario de declaración de síntomas fue mayor para los odontólogos (p = 0,032). Los dominios de salud mental del Cuestionario de salud fueron menores y significativos en odontólogos. Tres factores del Cuestionario de declaración de síntomas presentaron alta correlación negativa con los dominios de salud mental del Cuestionario de salud. Conclusiones: Los odontólogos presentaron mayores síntomas de trastornos mentales comunes y deterioro de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud mental que los auxiliares de salud bucal, siendo necesarias estrategias de promoción de la salud mental para trabajadores de los equipos de salud bucal(AU)

Introduction: Few studies are available about common mental disorders and mental health-related quality of life among dental healthcare providers. Objective: Describe the common mental disorders and the mental health-related quality of life of members of oral health teams from the primary health care section of the Unified Health System in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted based on the Symptom reporting questionnaire for the evaluation of common mental disorders, the Health questionnaire about health-related quality of life, and a sociodemographic characterization questionnaire. Results: The study sample was composed of 161 professionals, of whom 59.6 percent were dentists and 40.4 percent were dental auxiliaries. Dentists obtained a higher average score in the Symptom reporting questionnaire (p = 0.032), whereas their scores in the mental health domains of the Health questionnaire were lower and significant. Three factors in the Symptom reporting questionnaire exhibited a high negative correlation with the mental health domains of the Health questionnaire. Conclusions: Dentists presented greater symptoms of common mental disorders and mental health-related quality of life deterioration than dental auxiliaries. It is therefore necessary to implement mental health promotion strategies aimed at members of oral health teams(AU)

Quality of life of medical students in Brazil: a comparative study / Calidad de vida de estudiantes de medicina en Brasil: un estudio comparativo

ABSTRACT Background: VERAS survey multicenter project, carried out in 2011-2012, evaluated the quality of life (QoL) of students from 22 Brazilian medical schools. Aim: To evaluate QoL of undergraduate medical students, taking Veras-q national data as comparison. Material and Methods: We evaluated the QoL of 197 medical students in a Brazilian private medical school at Salvador, Bahia, Brazil in 2014. Students in the first two years were grouped in Phase I; those in years three and four were grouped in Phase II. Those in the internship (fifth and sixth years) were grouped in Phase III. Results: Students from Phase I group had better QoL averages than those from Phase II. Phase I students presented significantly (p < 0.05) better scores in the Psychological and Use of Time domains. Compared to Phase II students, those in Phase III obtained better scores in the Physical and Environmental domains. Female students had significantly lower (p < 0.01) scores than male students in Physical, Psychological and Use of Time domains. Compared to the national sample survey, these students had higher (p < 0.01) scores in all domains, except for the Physical domain in Phase II (p < 0.4352). Conclusions: These students had a better quality of life than those surveyed in the national Veras-q study. Female students had lower scores. Adjusted schedules and lower work overload, as consequences of effective interdisciplinarity in curricular components, may have contributed to higher students' QoL.

Antecedentes: El proyecto multicéntrico VERAS evaluó la calidad de vida de estudiantes de medicina en los años 2011-2012. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida de un grupo de estudiantes de medicina y compararla con los datos del proyecto VERAS. Material y Métodos: Se evaluó calidad de vida en 197 estudiantes de medicina de universidades privadas de Salvador, Bahía, Brasil en 2014. Los estudiantes de los dos primeros años fueron agrupados en la fase I, aquellos de tercer y cuarto año en fase II y los del internado en fase III. Resultados: Los estudiantes en fase I tuvieron mejor calidad de vida que aquellos en fase II. Los estudiantes en fase I tuvieron mejores puntajes en los dominios psicológico y uso del tiempo. Los estudiantes en fase III tuvieron mejores puntajes en los dominios físico y ambiental que los estudiantes en fase II. Las mujeres obtuvieron menores puntajes en los dominios físico, psicológico y uso del tiempo, que los hombres. Al comparar con el estudio nacional, estos estudiantes tuvieron mejores puntajes en todos los dominios, excepto el físico en estudiantes en fase II. Conclusiones: Estos estudiantes tuvieron mejor calidad de vida que sus pares estudiados previamente. Las mujeres tuvieron puntajes más bajos que los hombres. Una menor carga de trabajo, como consecuencia de un currículo multidisciplinario, puede haber influido en esta mejor calidad de vida.