Long-term care facilities' response to the COVID-19 pandemic: An international, cross-sectional survey.

AIMS: To (i) assess the adherence of long-term care (LTC) facilities to the COVID-19 prevention and control recommendations, (ii) identify predictors of this adherence and (iii) examine the association between the adherence level and the impact of the pandemic on selected unfavourable conditions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: Managers (n = 212) and staff (n = 2143) of LTC facilities (n = 223) in 13 countries/regions (Brazil, Egypt, England, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Turkey) evaluated the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID-19 prevention and control recommendations and the impact of the pandemic on unfavourable conditions related to staff, residents and residents' families. The characteristics of participants and LTC facilities were also gathered. Data were collected from April to October 2021. The study was reported following the STROBE guidelines. RESULTS: The adherence was significantly higher among facilities with more pre-pandemic in-service education on infection control and easier access to information early in the pandemic. Residents' feelings of loneliness and feeling down were the most affected conditions by the pandemic. More psychological support to residents was associated with fewer residents' aggressive behaviours, and more psychological support to staff was associated with less work-life imbalance. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-pandemic preparedness significantly shaped LTC facilities' response to the pandemic. Adequate psychological support to residents and staff might help mitigate the negative impacts of infection outbreaks. IMPACT: This is the first study to comprehensively examine the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID-19 prevention and control recommendations. The results demonstrated that the adherence level was significantly related to pre-pandemic preparedness and that adequate psychological support to staff and residents was significantly associated with less negative impacts of the pandemic on LTC facilities' staff and residents. The results would help LTC facilities prepare for and respond to future infection outbreaks. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.

Promoting workplace retention during global crises: An international survey of the preventive role of psychological support among victims of social discrimination in long-term care facilities.

This international cross-sectional survey examined the potential role of organizational psychological support in mitigating the association between experiencing social discrimination against long-term care (LTC) facilities' healthcare professionals (HCPs) and their intention to stay in the current workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included a convenience sample of 2,143 HCPs (nurses [21.5 %], nurse aids or residential care workers [40.1 %], social workers [12.1 %], and others [26.4 %]) working at 223 LTC facilities in 13 countries/regions. About 37.5 % of the participants reported experiencing social discrimination, and the percentage ranged from 15.3 % to 77.9 % across countries/regions. Controlling for socio-demographic and work-related variables, experiencing social discrimination was significantly associated with a lower intention to stay, whereas receiving psychological support showed a statistically significant positive association (p-value=0.015 and <0.001, respectively). The interaction term between social discrimination and psychological support showed a statistically significant positive association with the intention to stay, indicating a moderating role of the psychological support.

Scale for supported care in primary care: a methodological study. / Escala para o cuidado apoiado na atenção primária: um estudo metodológico.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a predictive scale for determining complications in adults with hypertension and actions for care supported in primary care. METHOD: Methodological research developed in the municipality of Curitiba-PR in 2013 and 2014, carried out in two stages, the first through the collection of data from 387 adults with hypertension through a structured interview and anxiety scales, depression, quality of life, medication adherence and social support. The second step was the construction of the scale from the statistically significant variables in the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The scale consisted of age, sex, smoking, time of diagnosis, and risk classification in the health unit, medications in use and depression. Later, through literature review, actions were suggested for supported self-care. CONCLUSION: The scale enables identification of factors that may predict the development of complications of hypertension and provides actions to supported care.

Lifestyles: social representations construed by patients with myocardial infarction and family members. / Estilos de vida: representações sociais construídas por doentes com infarto do miocárdio e familiares.

OBJECTIVE: The social representations of lifestyles construed by family members and patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction. METHOD: Exploratory qualitative study supported by the theory of social representations, with 70 patients and 70 family members of two Portuguese hospitals, one on the coast and one inland from January to June 2015. Structural analysis was performed using two questionnaires relying on the technique called Free Association of Words. RESULTS: The evocations of patients and family members indicated weak convergence between the two groups in representing Lifestyle, yet showed the existence of knowledge that enhances a healthy lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: The categories Eat and Change were a consensus among the groups. For patients and family members, it was consensual that a poor diet is a harmful lifestyle for health. It was also clear that change is fundamental. Such an assumption makes room for the intervention of health professionals.

Representation of illness in Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy Portuguese Association newspaper: A documental study.

This study explores illness representations within Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy Portuguese Association newspaper . A content analysis was performed of the issue data using provisional coding related to the conceptual framework of the study. All dimensions of illness representation in Leventhal's Common Sense Model of illness cognitions and behaviors are present in the data and reflect the experience of living with this disease. Understanding how a person living with an hereditary, rare, neurodegenerative illness is important for developing community nursing interventions. In conclusion, we suggest an integration of common sense knowledge with other approaches for designing an intervention program centered on people living with an hereditary neurodegenerative illness, such as familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.

Fear of COVID-19 among professional caregivers of the elderly in Central Alentejo, Portugal.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected many institutionalised elderly people. In Portugal, the level of pandemic fear among professional caregivers of the elderly is unknown, as are its predictive factors. This study aimed to investigate predictors of fear of COVID-19 among workers caring for institutionalised elderly people in nursing homes. This is a cross-sectional study using multiple linear regression applied to a population of 652 caregivers located in 14 municipalities in Central Alentejo, Portugal, at March 2021. The criterion variable was the fear of COVID-19. Standardised regression coefficients showed that the higher the level of education, the lower the level of fear (ß = - 0.158; t = - 4.134; p < .001). Other predictors of the level of fear were gender, with women having higher levels (ß = 0.123; t = t = 3.203; p < 0.001), higher scores on COVID-19-like suspicious symptoms (ß = 0.123; t = 3.219; p < 0.001) and having received a flu vaccine (ß = 0.086; t = 2.252; p = 0.025). The model explains 6.7% of the variation in fear of COVID-19 (R2Adj = 0.067). Health literacy can minimise the impact on the physical and mental health of these workers. In Central Alentejo, caregivers of the elderly play a fundamental role in social balance. Further studies are needed to better understand the factors that can improve their personal and professional well-being.

Determinants of socioeconomic factors for quality of life and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older people: A cross-sectional study in Brazil and Portugal.

Our aim was to analyze the association between socioeconomic status and quality of life (QoL) among older people with depressive symptoms treated through the Primary Health Care (PHC) system in Brazil and Portugal. This was a comparative cross-sectional study with a nonprobability sample of older people in the PHC in Brazil and Portugal conducted between 2017 and 2018. To evaluate the variables of interest, the socioeconomic data questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey were used. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to test the study hypothesis. The sample consisted of n = 150 participants (Brazil n = 100 and Portugal n = 50). There was a predominance of woman (76.0%, p = 0.224) and individuals between 65 and 80 years (88.0%, p = 0.594). The multivariate association analysis showed that in the presence of depressive symptoms, the QoL mental health domain was most associated with the socioeconomic variables. Among the prominent variables, woman group (p = 0.027), age group 65-80 years (p = 0.042), marital status "without a partner" (p = 0.029), education up to 5 years (p = 0.011) and earning up to 1 minimum wage (p = 0.037) exhibited higher scores among brazilian participants. The portuguese participants showed an association between the general health status domain and woman group (p = 0.042) and education up to 5 years (p = 0.045). The physical functioning domain was associated with income of up to 1 minimum wage (p = 0.037). In these domains, the portuguese participants exhibited higher scores than the brazilian participants. We verified the association between socioeconomic profile and QoL in the presence of depressive symptoms, which occurred mainly among woman, participants with low levels of education and low income, with QoL aspects related to mental, physical and social health and self-perceived health. The group from Brazil had higher QoL scores than the group from Portugal.

Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older People with Functional and Nutritional Impairment and Depressive Symptoms: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study in Brazil and Portugal.

BACKGROUND: The interaction of quality of life (QoL) with functionality, nutrition and depression has been studied, but few studies have compared different realities. Our objective was to compare the associations of QoL with impaired functionality, nutritional status and depressive symptoms among older people patients treated in primary health care (PHC) in Brazil and Portugal. METHODS: Cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted with primary data from PHC services in Brazil and Portugal with users over 65 years old. Participants' scores were classified as "impaired" and "preserved" for QoL, functional decline, nutrition and depression. We used Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Our sample had a total of 150 PHC users. We found lower QoL scores in Brazil, which were associated with the risk of functional decline for the domains Physical Functioning, General Health Perceptions, Mental Health dimensions and Physical Health. Nutritional impairment in the group from Portugal included the domains of Vitality and Social Role Functioning. For depressive impairment, Portugal showed an association with the domains Mental Health, Vitality and Social Role Functioning. CONCLUSIONS: QoL was associated with functional and nutritional impairment and depressive symptoms, highlighting physical, mental and social characteristics related to the perception of well-being.

[User's representations of chronic diseases and educational practice]. / As representações dos usuários sobre a doença crônica e a prática educativa.

This is a qualitative research study held between October, 2008, and March, 2009, with 45 users over 60 years of age from a Health Unit, which aimed to identify their representations of chronic disease. Inerviews were carried out to collect chronic disease's representation. Three team meetings were also carried out, with an average of 8 users. Twenty-four (24) users participated in this step. The themes brought out of their discourses were: "The arrival of the disease: explanatory factors"; "The mystery of the bodyly changes: an obligation to change", and "The importance of learning and sharing the experience". Participants recognized the factors related to the disease onset and their commitments, the changes necessary to keep living and put off complications, and they also valued the exchange of experiences through dialogue in educational activities.

Depression and quality of life in Brazilian and Portuguese older people communities: Analysis of association.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to compare the association of depression with aspects of quality of life (QoL) among older people users of primary health care (PHC) living in Brazil and Portugal.We carried out an observational, cross-sectional and comparative study with a quantitative approach in the PHC scope in Brazil and Portugal, where we obtained a nonrandom sample of 150 participants aged 65 years or older (100 Brazilians and 50 Portuguese). We used the socioeconomic and health data questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey QoL (SF-36) questionnaire and the Beck Inventory.Among the socioeconomic profiles, most were females aged between 65 and 80 years in both countries. There was a significant difference between groups in the income variable, with 100.0% of Portuguese people earning up to 1 minimum wage (P value <.001), and the presence of chronic diseases in 92.0% of respondents in Portugal (P value = .033). In the association analysis, most aspects of QoL had a higher median score (>50.0) within the categorical variables of "absent" and "mild" depression. The Emotional role functioning, Physical role functioning, Physical functioning, Mental health, Total score domains and the Mental health and Physical health summary measures stood out with this behavior in Brazil and in Portugal, where these latter 2 presented moderate to strong correlation values (ρ > 0.400) in Portugal. Greater associations of depression on QoL were revealed in Portugal than in Brazil. Among their most expressive associations, the Physical role functioning (odds ratio [OR] = 4.776; 95.0% confidence interval [CI]: 2.41-9.43), Physical functioning (OR = 3.037; 95.0% CI: 3.037), Vitality (OR = 6.000; 95.0% CI: 1.56-23.07) and Total score (OR = 3.727; 95.0% CI: 2.24-6.17) domains and the Mental health summary measure (OR = 3.870; 95.0% CI: 2.13-7.02) stood out.Aspects related to the emotional, physical, functional and mental health components stood out. The association and correlation with depression were more expressive in Portugal compared to Brazil. However, similar results were obtained in Brazil but with less relevance.

[Current dynamics of nursing in Portugal: nurses' representations]. / Dinâmicas atuais da enfermagem em Portugal: a representação dos enfermeiros.

This research study, with a qualitative approach was carried out aiming to identify nurses' representation on current professional dynamics, evolutionary landmarks and the future outlook for Portuguese nursing with twenty nurses from Evora, Portugal, in April / May of 2009, through narrative testimony. Qualification obtained along the years as well as the Nurses' Association were mentioned as the central representative pillars in order to build up professional identity. Autonomy is part of daily caring routine, however hegemonic power issues in the health team still ground nurses' action and underpin their self and peer professional and social recognition. Future outlook addresses issues such as employment, career uncovering hope for some and uncertainty for others.

Contextual analysis of health care at discharge in leprosy: an integrative review. / Análise contextual da atenção à saúde na alta em hanseníase: uma revisão integrativa.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze contextual relations of health care in the discharge of leprosy. METHOD: An analytical, reflexive study based on the theoretical framework of context analysis, elaborated through an integrative review of literature in the databases SCOPUS, PUBMED, LILACS, SCIELO and BDENF, with uncontrolled descriptors Leprosy and Patient Discharge, obtaining 14 publications. RESULTS: The immediate context addresses health care at discharge in leprosy; the specific context treats leprosy as a public health problem; the symbolic conceptions and marks involving leprosy are encompassed by the general context; and in the metacontext are described the health programs and policies that subsidize the care of leprosy patients. CONCLUSION: The contextual elements emphasize the need to guarantee universal coverage of cases of leprosy, from diagnosis to the post-discharge, reinforcing leprosy as a public health problem. Despite the limitations of the bibliographic studies, these have relevance for the health area.

[The influence of activities on the quality of life of the elderly: a systematic review]. / Influencia de las actividades en la calidad de vida de los ancianos: revisión sistemática.

The scope of this study was to identify which activities or interventions cause changes in the quality of life of the elderly. It involved a systematic review of the literature in the Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Scielo, Lilacs, BDenf and PubMed databases. The key word for the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) used was "quality of life," in combination with the terms of greatest interest: "elderly, motor activity, education." The research was conducted between July and August 2015 and included original works published between 2010 and 2015 in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The Cochrane strategy was also adopted for the preparation of the review. Twenty-seven articles were studied that compared the quality of life of the elderly before and after performing a physical, educational or mixed-type intervention. The main result obtained was that the general health, social function, physical role and satisfaction with life are the most influenced domains, whereby group physical activities are practiced the most. The conclusion drawn is that when carrying out activities of any kind, preferably adapted for age, there are changes in the quality of life of the elderly in a general manner, notably with an improvement in functional, mental and social aspects.

El objetivo es identificar qué actividades o intervenciones ocasionan cambios en la calidad de vida de los ancianos. Revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos: Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Scielo, Lilacs, BDenf y PubMed. Cómo término principal Medical Subject Heading Terms (Mesh) se seleccionó "quality of life" en combianción con los términos de mayor interés:"elderly, motor activity, education". Búsqueda realizada entre Julio y Agosto de 2015 en la cual se incluyen trabajos originales publicados entre 2010 y 2015 en ingles, portugués y español. Además se siguió la estragégia Cocharne para la elaboración de la revisión. Se estudiaron 27 artículos que comparaban la calidad de vida del anciano antes y después de realizar una intervención de tipo física, educativa o mixta. Cómo principal resultado se obtiene que la salud general, fución social, rol físico y satisfacción con la vida són los dominios más influenciados, así como las actividades físicas en grupo són las más realizadas. Se concluye que al realizar actividades de cualquier índole, preferiblemente adaptadas, se producen cambios de forma notable en la calidad de vida del anciano a nivel general, observándose especialmente una mejoría en aspectos funcionales, mentales y sociales.

Resources for health maintenance in persons deprived of liberty with arterial hypertension: a salutogenic approach / Recursos para el mantenimiento de la salud en prisioneros con hipertensión arterial: un enfoque saludgénico / Recursos para manutenção da saúde em pessoas presas com hipertensão arterial: uma abordagem salutogênica

ABSTRACT Objective: to know the generalized resistance resources of people deprived of liberty with systemic arterial hypertension in a triple border region. Method: a qualitative study based on the theoretical framework of Salutogenesis, in which 38 people deprived of liberty in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil, participated from February to July 2022. Guiding questions were used in the interviews which were submitted to thematic content analysis. Results: 12 generalized resistance resources emerged in the reports of people deprived of liberty with systemic arterial hypertension: health team; access to medications; work; lifestyle habits: food, physical activity and restriction of access to drugs/cigarettes/alcoholic beverages; stress/anxiety control; reading and games; religiosity; family; self-care; cellmates; and employees. Conclusion: people deprived of liberty with systemic arterial hypertension have generalized resistance resources to manage their life and health, which are related to personal care, the social group and the environment. It is noteworthy that once they are identified, the generalized resistance resources can be used by health professionals to manage SAH, other chronic diseases and aid in health promotion.

RESUMEN Objetivo: conocer los recursos generalizados de resistencia de las personas privadas de libertad con hipertensión arterial sistémica en una región de la triple frontera. Método: investigación cualitativa basada en el referencial teórico de la Salutogénesis, en la que participaron 38 personas privadas de libertad de Foz do Iguazú, Paraná, Brasil, de febrero a julio de 2022. Se utilizaron preguntas orientadoras en las entrevistas, que fueron sometidas al análisis de contenido en la modalidad temática. Resultados: 12 recursos generalizados de resistencia surgieron en los relatos de detenidos con hipertensión arterial sistémica: equipo de salud; acceso a medicamentos; trabajar; hábitos de vida: alimentación, actividad física y restricción de acceso a drogas/cigarrillos/bebidas alcohólicas; control del estrés/ansiedad; lectura y juegos; religiosidad; familia; cuidados personales; compañeros de cubículo y empleados. Conclusión: las personas privadas de libertad con hipertensión arterial sistémica poseen recursos generalizados de resistencia para el manejo de su vida y salud, los cuales están relacionados con el cuidado personal, el grupo social y el medio ambiente. Se destaca que, una vez identificados, los recursos generalizados de resistencia pueden ser utilizados por los profesionales de la salud en el manejo de la HAS, otras enfermedades crónicas y promoción de la salud.

RESUMO Objetivo: conhecer os recursos generalizados de resistência das pessoas privadas de liberdade com hipertensão arterial sistêmica de uma região de tríplice fronteira. Método: pesquisa qualitativa pautada no referencial teórico da Salutogênese, da qual participaram 38 pessoas privadas de Liberdade de Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brasil, no período de fevereiro a julho de 2022. Utilizou-se de questões norteadoras nas entrevistas, as quais foram submetidas a análise de conteúdo na modalidade temática. Resultados: emergiram 12 recursos generalizados de resistência nos relatos das pessoas presas com hipertensão arterial sistêmica: equipe de saúde; acesso às medicações; trabalho; hábitos de vida: alimentação, atividade física e restrição ao acesso a drogas/cigarro/bebida alcóolica; controle do estresse/ansiedade; leitura e jogos; religiosidade; família; autocuidado; companheiros de cubículo e funcionários. Conclusão: as pessoas privadas de liberdade com hipertensão arterial sistêmica apresentam recursos generalizados de resistência para manejar sua vida e saúde, os quais se relacionam ao cuidado pessoal, ao grupo social e ao ambiente. Destaca-se que, uma vez identificados, os recursos generalizados de resistência podem ser utilizados pelos profissionais de saúde no gerenciamento da HAS, outras doenças crônicas e promoção da saúde.

Health-related quality of life in patients with venous leg ulcer treated in primary care in Brazil and Portugal.

BACKGROUND: Venous ulcers constitute an important public health problem as they can cause disability with consequences for multiple dimensions of quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To describe the quality of life in patients with venous leg ulcer treated in primary care in two cities from Brazil and Portugal. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional comparative study with a non-probabilistic sample of 171 patients with venous leg ulcers who were treated in primary care in two cities from Brazil and Portugal, namely, Natal and Évora. A form covering sociodemographic and health data and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey were used, and descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. RESULTS: Significant differences in age and income were observed between the two samples. Patients with venous leg ulcer from Brazil had lower income and were younger than those from Portugal. Quality of life scores were significantly higher in Portugal for the physical aspects, pain, and social functioning, among domains, and for the physical health dimension and total score of QOL. CONCLUSION: The quality of life was better in Portugal than in Brazil and the differences between the countries need further investigation.

Continuity of care from the perspective of users. / A continuidade de cuidados de saúde na perspetiva dos utentes.

Continuity of care, in addition to ensuring improvement of the quality of care, contributes to the reduction of health costs. The objective of this study was to analyse the continuity of care in health units in the municipality of Évora (south of Portugal), from the perspective of users. This is across-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach, with a sample consisting of 342 users of health units. The instrument was a questionnaire adapted from English and Spanish studies. The results show that elements of continuity were identified in the different dimensions of the continuity of care - relational, management, information and some items of flexible continuity. Longitudinal continuity has the lowest values in nursing care. In conclusion, what stands out positively, and in its different dimensions, is relational continuity, in which most users recommend their family doctor and nurse to family and friends, and flexible continuity, which translates into reduced waiting times to be attended by a doctor or nurse and access to care. What stands out negatively is the weak involvement of the user in care by health professionals, in the dimensions of relational continuity.

Trajetória de vida de doadores renais: memórias, resiliência e altruísmo / Renal donor's life path: memories, resilience and altruism

OBJETIVO:analisar as narrativas que marcam a trajetória de vida dos doadores renais. METODOLOGIA:pesquisa exploratória, descritiva e de abordagem qualitativa. Após a apreensão e preparo analítico dos relatos gravados em áudio, por meio da técnica da história oral de vida, realizou-se a análise de conteúdo de Bardinque consiste das etapas: pré-análise, exploração do material ou codificação, tratamento dos resultados, inferência e interpretação dos eixos temáticos que emergiram. RESULTADOS:a amostra de 12 doadores renais que se submeteram ao transplante no Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes-UFRN, respondeu às questões norteadoras: como era sua vida antes da doação renal? Como é sua vida após a doação renal? As narrativas convergiram para as temáticas "experiências vividas antes da doação renal" e "experiências vividas após a doação renal". Os colaboradores enredaram o acometimento da doença como um momento trágico e a doação renal como meio de minimizar o sofrimento vivido pela família.CONCLUSÃO:os colaboradores reconhecem mais interferências positivas da doação renal, principalmente a melhoria na qualidade de vida dos doadores e o reconhecimento social da nobreza do ato da doação renal

OBJECTIVE:to analyze how narratives that mark the life trajectory of renal donors.METHODOLOGY: Exploratory, descriptive research and a qualitative approach. After the apprehension and analytical preparation of the audio recorded reports, using the oral life history technique, Bardin's content analysis was carried out, which consists of the stages: pre-analysis, exploration of the material or coding, treatment of results, inference and interpretation of the thematic axes that emerged. RESULTS:The sample of 12 kidney donors who underwent transplantation at Hospital UniversitarioOnofre Lopes-UFRN, answered the guiding questions: How was your life before kidney donation. How is your life after kidney donation. The narratives converged on the themes "experiences lived before kidney donation" and "experiences lived after kidney donation".Employees identified the disease as a tragic moment and kidney donation as a means of minimizing the suffering experienced by the family. CONCLUSION:Employees recognize more positive interferences from kidney donation, mainly the improvement in the quality of life of donors and the social recognition of the nobility of the kidney donation act.

Perfil de pacientes que concluíram o tratamento poliquimioterápico da hanseníase: um estudo transversal / Perfil de pacientes que concluyeron el tratamiento poliquimioterapéutico de la lepra: un estudio transversal / Profile of patients who completed multidrug therapy treatment for leprosy: a cross-sectional study

RESUMO Introdução: a hanseníase é uma doença infectocontagiosa que prevalece como problema de saúde pública no Brasil. Objetivo: descrever o perfil sociodemográfico, de tratamento e clínico de pacientes que concluíram o tratamento poliquimioterápico para a hanseníase. Método: estudo transversal, desenvolvido de novembro de 2017 a fevereiro de 2018 no município de Natal. A população-alvo foi constituída por 113 indivíduos cadastrados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação e a amostra por 90, que foram notificados para a hanseníase e concluíram o tratamento poliquimioterápico, selecionados por sorteio. Os dados foram coletados por formulário, tabulados e analisados pelo SPSS 21. Quanto ao teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov, não se observou uma distribuição de normalidade dos achados, optando-se por trabalhar com testes não paramétricos: qui-quadrado de Pearson (ou exato de Fisher) e o teste de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: predominaram indivíduos do sexo feminino, até 59 anos, com baixa renda, baixo grau de escolaridade, tratados nos centros de referência e classificados como paucibacilares. Conclusão: as condições de vulnerabilidade associada à predominância de casos tratados nos centros de referência reforçam a necessidade de organização da atenção básica para acompanhamento dos casos de hanseníase.

RESUMEN Introducción: la lepra es una enfermedad infectocontagiosa que prevalece como problema de salud pública en Brasil. Objetivo: describir el perfil sociodemográfico, de tratamiento y clínico de pacientes que concluyeron el tratamiento poliquimioterapéutico para la lepra. Método: estudio transversal, desarrollado de noviembre de 2017 a febrero de 2018 en el municipio de Natal. La población objetivo fue constituida por 113 individuos registrados en el Sistema de Información de Agravios de Notificación y la muestra por 90, que fueron notificados para la lepra y concluyeron el tratamiento poliquimioterapéutico, seleccionados por sorteo. Los datos fueron recogidos por formulario, tabulados y analizados por el SPSS 21. En cuanto a la prueba de Kolmogorov-Smirnov, no se observó una distribución de normalidad de los hallazgos, optándose por trabajar con pruebas no paramétricas: chi-cuadrado de Pearson (o exacta de Fisher) y la prueba de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: predominaron individuos del sexo femenino, hasta 59 años, con bajos ingresos, bajo grado de escolaridad, tratados en los centros de referencia y clasificados como paucibacilares. Conclusión: las condiciones de vulnerabilidad asociadas al predominio de casos tratados en los centros de referencia refuerzan la necesidad de organizar la atención básica para el seguimiento de los casos de lepra.

ABSTRACT Introduction: leprosy is an infectious and contagious disease that persists as a public health problem in Brazil. Objective: to describe the sociodemographic, treatment and clinical profile of patients who completed polychemotherapy treatment for leprosy. Method: cross-sectional study developed from November 2017 to February 2018 in the city of Natal. The target population consisted of 113 individuals registered in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, and the sample consisted of 90, who were reported for leprosy and completed the multidrug therapy, selected by drawing lots. Data were collected using a form, tabulated and analyzed using SPSS 21. In the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, non-normal distribution of the findings was found, and thus non-parametric tests were used, namely, Pearson's chi-square (or exact Fisher test) and the Mann-Whitney test. Results: there was a predominance of female individuals, up to 59 years old, with low income, low level of education, treated in reference centers and cases classified as paucibacillary. Conclusion: the conditions of vulnerability associated with the predominance of cases treated in reference centers reinforce the need to organize primary care in order to monitor leprosy cases.

Representações sociais de cuidadores de idosos brasileiros e portugueses sobre o cuidar / Social representations of brazilian and portuguese elderly caregivers about caring

A demanda pelos cuidados se estabelece e, com isso, a instituição familiar é requisitada a prestar assistência ao seu familiar. O objetivo foi analisar as Representações Sociais de cuidadores de idosos com dependência funcional do Brasil e de Portugal sobre o ato de cuidar. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo com abordagem qualitativa fundamentada na Teoria das Representações Sociais. Os participantes foram 21 cuidadores familiares brasileiros e 11 cuidadores informais portugueses de idosos dependentes. A coleta foi realizada por meio da entrevista e utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo proposta por Bardin (2011), com auxílio do software QSR NVivo® versão 11 A partir da análise, emergiram duas categorias: "Suprir necessidade e ser vigilante" e "Dedicação e amor". Percebeu-se como a influência histórico-cultural e até mesmo moral-religiosa das construções sociais incidem sobre a família e os seus posicionamentos.(AU)

The demand for care is established and, as a result, the family institution is required to provide assistance to its family member. The objective was to analyze the Social Representations of caregivers of elderly people with functional dependence in Brazil and Portugal on the act of caring. This is an exploratory-descriptive study with a qualitative approach based on the Theory of Social Representations. Participants were 21 Brazilian family caregivers and 11 informal Portuguese caregivers of dependent elderly people. The collection was carried out through the interview and the Content Analysis proposed by Bardin was used with the aid of the QSR NVivo® software version 11. From the analysis, two categories emerged: "Supply needs and vigilancy" and "Dedication and love". It was perceived how the influence of historical-cultural and even moral-religious in the social constructions affects the family and its positions.(AU)

Análise do discurso dos gestores do Programa de Controle da Hanseníase / Speech analysis of the managers of leprosy control program

Objetivo: analisar o discurso dos gestores do Programa Nacional de Controle da Hanseníase (PNCH). Método: estudo descritivo, qualitativo, de abordagem discursiva. Os coordenadores dos pólos da PNCH do Rio Grande do Norte (RN), os coordenadores regionais e o coordenador estadual compuseram a população, foram incluídos aqueles com vínculo com o serviço por pelo menos seis meses, 12 gestores foram considerados adequados como amostra. O material empírico, coletado de novembro de 2015 a junho de 2016, foi analisado por meio da análise do discurso. Resultados: os enunciadores construíram discursos em torno de dois eixos: a questão dos médicos, com ênfase no centro de atenção à saúde, e a questão da gestão, apoiada nos princípios burocráticos com componentes legados do regime autoritário, tendo, ambos os eixos, influência do modelo sanitarista/ativista. Conclusão: entende-se que o PNCH pode melhorar a partir da profissionalização da gestão e da ênfase na promoção da saúde e no trabalho em equipe. (AU)

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the discourse of the managers of the National Leprosy Control Program (NLCP). Method: a descriptive and qualitative study with a discursive approach.The coordinators of the NLCP host cities of Rio Grande do Norte, the regional coordinators and the state coordinator composed the population, witch included those with bond to the service for at least six months, 12 managers were considered suitable as a sample. The empirical material, collected from November 2015 to June 2016, was investigated through discourse analysis. Results: The enunciators built speeches around two axes: the subject of the phisicyans, emphasizing the center of Health Care, and the subject of management, supported by the bureaucrats principles with legacy components of the authoritarian regime, with both axes having influence of the sanitary/activist model. Conclusion: It is understood that the NLCP can improve from the professionalization of management and the emphasis on health promotion and teamwork. (AU)

Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el discurso de los gerentes del Programa Nacional de Control de la Lepra (PNCL). Método: estudio descriptivo e cualitativo con enfoque discursivo. Los coordinadores de las ciudades sede del PNCL en Rio Grande do Norte (RN), los coordinadores regionales y el coordinador estatal componían la población, se incluyeron aquellos con vínculos al servicio durante al menos seis meses, 12 gerentes se consideraron adecuados como muestra. El material empírico, recopilado desde noviembre de 2015 hasta junio de 2016, fue investigado mediante análisis del discurso. Resultados: Los enunciadores formularon discursos en torno a dos ejes: la cuestión de los médicos, con énfasis en el centro de atención de la salud, y la cuestión de la gestión, respaldada por principios burocráticos con componentes heredados del régimen autoritario, con ambos ejes influenciados por el modelo sanitario/activista. Conclusión: Se entiende que el PNCL puede mejorar en función de la profesionalización de la gestión y el énfasis en la promoción de la salud y el trabajo en equipo. (AU)