Profile of pharmaceutical care in primary health centers in São Bernardo do Campo, Southeastern Brazil

The effective insertion of the pharmacist into primary care is an important goal for health policies. The objective of this study was to describe and analyze pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Care in the primary health centers (UBS) of São Bernardo do Campo. Data were obtained through an interview applied to pharmacists. The instrument has three sections: (1) Pharmacist identification; (2) Pharmacist work; and (3) Pharmaceutical activities. Items in section 3 correspond to the guidelines of agencies that promote Pharmaceutical Care in the primary health system. All 24 pharmacists working in UBS in São Bernardo do Campo were interviewed. Every center dispensing medicines has a responsible pharmacist. These pharmacists are predominantly women and postgraduates. Activities of Pharmaceutical Care reported were: daily prescription analysis (75% of interviewees); monthly participation in patient groups (70.8%); monthly follow-up of pharmacotherapy adherence (58.3%); monthly participation in multiprofessional team meetings (54.2%); monthly home visits (12.5%); health education to the community (83.3%); and pharmacist consultation (37.5%). Frequency of prescription analysis and home visits was weakly associated with aspects of the pharmacist and the facility. This study showed that Pharmaceutical Services are structured in primary care in São Bernardo do Campo and many Pharmaceutical Care activities are offered in its UBS

Medical home visit programs during COVID-19 state of emergency.

Elderly, homebound individuals comprise a vulnerable segment of society who have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic through a myriad of unique challenges. There is a significant amount of fear of acquiring COVID-19 by seeking health care services, which has adversely affected patients by worsening fixable situations. Another challenge is the decrease in diagnostic support for evaluating patients compared with a pre-COVID-19 world. Agencies providing at-home phlebotomy, portable radiology, and support services have had to limit their home visits due to an inability to access personal protective equipment. This loss of diagnostic and therapeutic support has had an emotional toll on patients and their caregivers. COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the health and finances of home health aides and their patients. Loss of long-term home health aides has adversely affected younger patients with ailments like Down syndrome as well as older patients with dementia. COVID-19 has also increased pressure on end-of-life decision making. Patients and their families are increasingly opting for palliative care and hospice programming to avoid separation. Families are being forced to consider advance directives under an increased emotional strain as patients become "persons under investigation" for COVID-19. Technology has allowed for the provision of services through telehealth, and changes to policy by CMS have aided widespread implementation of telemedicine. We anticipate continuing to be nimble in the face of challenge and to provide timely and meaningful care for those who depend on our efforts.

La participación comunitaria para prevenir el Coronavirus (COVID-19): guía para trabajadores comunitarios, voluntarios y redes locales / Community Engagement to Prevent Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Guide for Community Workers, Volunteers, and Local Networks

…dirigido a trabajadores de salud, trabajadores de otras organizaciones comunitarias, voluntarios, líderes y lideresas comunitarios a nivel nacional, con el fin de facilitarles algunas herramientas para su trabajo por la prevención de la propagación del Coronavirus (COVID-19). Por ello, se dan recomendaciones y sugerencias para poder acercarse a las comunidades y ayudarlas. Entre las recomendaciones y/o estrategias, está la de buscar a líderes o personas de confianza de cada comunidad. Aborda el tema de los mitos y rumores sobre las enfermedades, especialmente el COVID-19 Identificar los mitos o rumores de la comunidad a la que se acercan. Especialmente promueve la interacción con la comunidad, instándola a participar activamente. Enfatiza especialmente la utilidad de las radios comunitarias como canales de comunicación segura y efectiva. Propone como medio alterno y en sectores donde se sabe que hay una buena cantidad de celulares, mensajes de texto con información relevante; habla además de las ventajas de la radio como medio de información. En palabras sencillas y con comics, explica qué es el virus del COVID-19

Guía de acciones extramuros / Outside Walls Guide

Este modelo: "de atención y gestión basado en la estrategia atención primaria en salud renovada", tiene como prioridad las intervenciones en el marco de la prevención de la enfermedad, promoción de la salud y vigilancia epidemiológica, con el objetivo de incidir en determinantes de la salud, contribuyendo con el desarrollo de las comunidades y promoviendo la reducción de daños a la población. Fundamentalmente el modelo de acciones extramuros, considera la implementación de acciones fuera de los establecimientos de salud, que permitan identificar las necesidades de la comunidad y establecer medidas preventivas que contribuyan a mejorar la salud de la población de manera oportuna. Por lo que, el personal de salud debe facilitar el acceso a los servicios a la población de acuerdo a los riesgos de la salud identificados en el análisis de situación de salud, a la demanda y oferta para establecer acciones oportunas.

Proposta de protocolo para enfermeiros da Estratégia da Saúde da Família para primeira visita domiciliar ao recém-nascido / Proposed protocol for nurses of the Family Health Strategy for the first home visit to the newborn

Os protocolos são acordos estabelecidos em entidades ou em alguns serviços que devem ser seguidos com padronização na execução das práticas pelos profissionais que estão frentes a instituição. Diante da função do protocolo, acredita-se que a proposta da construção do instrumento será proveitosa para os profissionais e para o RN e família, no sentido de nortear a avaliação no momento da visita domiciliar. Uma vez que isso poderá facilitar no acompanhamento desses RN na visita domiciliar, bem como atende a proposta do Ministério da Saúde, para que o RN receba a primeira visita domiciliar na primeira semana de vida a fim de diminuir riscos e complicações para o seu crescimento e desenvolvimento saudáveis

Visita domiciliaria: un espacio para la adquisición y modificación de prácticas en salud / Domiciliary attention: a space for acquiring and modifying health practices

Resumen La visita domiciliaria realizada por el Asistente Técnico de Atención Primaria (ATAPS), constituye una de las principales herramientas de la estrategia de Atención Primaria desarrolladas en Costa Rica; buscando acercar los servicios de salud hasta la vivienda, informando a las familias sobe temas que mejore sus prácticas en salud. El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar los conocimientos y la modificación en los estilos de vidas que las personas realizan posterior a la visita del ATAPS. La metodología de elección fue cualitativa. Para la recolección de los datos se aplicaron entrevistas a profundidad a las personas usuarias visitadas y se realizó un grupo focal con los ATAPS. Para el análisis de los datos establecieron categorías de análisis bajo la metodología de la Teoría Fundamentada. La principal categoría relacionada a la adquisición de conocimientos fue la "educación en salud", en donde se identificó una mayor afinidad de la población hacia temas como dengue, la vacunación, el lavado de manos, la citología vaginal y una alimentación saludable y un predominio importante del ama de casa en la participación de esta actividad, lo que al final limita la transmisibilidad de la información al resto de los integrantes. Las personas participantes afirmaron que los temas tratados les permiten refrescar conocimientos y mantenerse actualizados, reafirmando la importancia de las temáticas abordadas por el ATAPS. Con respecto a la modificación de prácticas, la mayoría de las personas expresan cambios en estilos de vida saludable y mayores facilidades para el acceso a los servicios de salud.

Abstract The home visit by the Technical Assistant Primary Care (ATAPS), is one of the main tools of the Primary Care Strategy developed in Costa Rica; seeking to bring health services to the housing, reporting a sobe Families Topics improve its health practices. The objective of esta research is to determine the knowledge and the change in the lifestyles that people do after the visit of ATAPS. The methodology was qualitative choice. To collect the data is applied a depth Interviews To the users visited and UN focal group was made with the ATAPS. For the Analysis of Data Analysis categories established under the methodology of grounded theory. The director Related to the acquisition of knowledge category was the "Health education", where a mayor affinity of the population identified toward topics like dengue, vaccination, hand washing, vaginal cytology and healthy eating Prevalence UN and additional The Housewife in the share of this activity, which ultimately limits the Transferability of cabbage Information other members. The participants said that the topics covered allow them to refresh knowledge and keep updated, reaffirming the importance of the topics addressed by the ATAPS. With regard to the modification of practices, most of the personalities expressed Changes Healthy Lifestyles and older para facilities Access to Health Services.

Innovating home visiting to mothers and infants by community health workers: an action-oriented guide / Inovando visitas domiciliares a gestantes e crianças por agentes comunitários de saúde: um guia orientado por ações

Abstract Objectives: to describe the process of development and the structure of an action-oriented guide for home visits (HVs) to mothers and infants by Community Health Workers (CHWs). The guide was adopted in a controlled trial aimed at assessing its efficacy in improving CHWs' performance. Methods: steps to develop the guide included: 1) Review of international and national standards and recommendations for community interventions for maternal and child care; 2) Assessment of perceived needs of CHWs and other Family Health professionals regarding prenatal and postnatal HVs; 3) Identification of elements to construct the guide. Results: the Guide provides action-oriented instructions for 10 HVs during prenatal and postnatal period up to 9 months instead of the 18 HVs currently recommended by Ministry of Health. Specific tasks for each visit including assessment and promotion of early child development (ECD) and an action-oriented risk classification are introduced as standardized operational practice. Conclusions: the described approach to guide construction allows adapting the guide contents to the health system context in Brazil and other countries interested in improving quality of HVs by CHWs. The guide, by identifying tasks to be carried out and actions to be taken at each HV, provides an innovative approach and represents a requisite for a more efficient and effective use of their time.

Resumo Objetivos: descrever o processo de desenvolvimento e a estrutura de um guia orientado por ações para visitas domiciliares (VDs) a mães e crianças por Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACSs). O guia foi aplicado em um estudo controlado visando avaliar sua eficácia em melhorar o desempenho dos ACSs. Métodos: os passos para desenvolvimento do guia incluíram: 1)Revisão das recomendações nacionais e internacionais para intervenções na comunidade em saúde materno-infantil; 2) Avaliação das necessidades de ACSs e outros profissionais das Equipes de Saúde da Família sobre VDs nos períodos pré e pós-natal; 3)Identificação dos princípios para construir o guia. Resultados: o Guia traz instruções para 10 VDs nos períodos pré e pós natal até os 9 meses, ao invés de 18 VDs atualmente recomendadas pelo Ministério da Saúde. Tarefas específicas para cada visita incluindo avaliação e promoção do desenvolvimento da primeira infância (DPI) e classificação de risco orientada por ações foram introduzidas como prática padronizada. Conclusões: a abordagem descrita para a construção do guia permite adaptar os conteúdos ao contexto do sistema de saúde do Brasil e de outros países interessados em melhorar a qualidade das VDs por ACSs. O guia, identificando tarefas e ações a serem realizadas a cada VD, oferece uma abordagem inovadora e representa um requisito para utilização mais eficiente e efetiva do tempo.

Provision of Palliative Care Services by Family Physicians Is Common.

OBJECTIVE: Provision of palliative care services by primary care physicians is increasingly important with an aging population, but it is unknown whether US primary care physicians see themselves as palliative practitioners. METHODS: This study used cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2013 American Board of Family Medicine Maintenance of Certification Demographic Survey. RESULTS: Of 10,894 family physicians, 33.1% (n = 3609) report providing palliative care. Those providing palliative care are significantly more likely to provide non-clinic-based services such as care in nursing homes, home visits, and hospice. Controlling for other characteristics, physicians reporting palliative care provision are significantly (P < .05) more likely to be older, white, male, rural, and practicing in a patient-centered medical home. CONCLUSION: One third of family physicians recertifying in 2013 reported providing palliative care, with physician and practice characteristics driving reporting palliative care provision.

Percepción de la visita médica domiciliaria a adultos mayores / Perception of home health care visits in elderly patients

OBJETIVO: describir la percepción de la visita médica domiciliaria realizada a pacientes adultos mayores por la Unidad de Medicina Familiar de la Policlínica Central de la CNS, La Paz Bolivia. METODOLOGÍA: investigación de tipo cualitativa. Médicos familiares (4), trabajadoras sociales (2), bioquímicas farmacéuticas (2), médico residente de medicina familiar de tercer año (1) y auxiliares de enfermería (4) participaron de la visita domiciliaria a pacientes adultos mayores con diferentes problemas de salud crónicos. Se procedió al análisis de narrativas como producto de la observación. RESULTADOS: los participantes manifestaron la importancia de la visita domiciliaria tanto para pacientes como para profesionales. Afirmaron que, el seguimiento del control de salud del paciente fue más cercano y adecuado a la realidad dado que se produce un conjunto de emociones positivas y negativas entre médicos, pacientes y sus familias; y que esta debe ser realizada por un equipo multidisciplinario donde cada profesional tiene un rol. También se resaltó la necesidad de fortalecer esta actividad. CONCLUSIÓN: las visitas médicas domiciliarias generan sentimientos de empatía que son útiles para el seguimiento médico.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the perception ofhome health care visits to elderly patients by family medicine unit in CNS at La Paz, Bolivia. METHODOLOGY: It was conducted a qualitative research. Medical professionals such us family physicians (4), social workers (2), pharmaceutical biochemists (2), third-year medical resident (1) and nursing assistants (4) participated in the home health care visits to elderly patients with chronic health problems. Narratives were elaborated as a product of observation. RESULTS: Physicians expressed the importance of home health care visits for both patients and professionals. They argued that patients follow up were closer and more appropriate to reality, considering the positive and negative feelings produced among doctors, patients and their families. They held visits must be done by a multidisciplinary team where each professional has a role. The need to strengthen this activity was also highlighted. CONCLUSION: home health care visits generate empathy feelings that are useful for medical follow-up.

Programa de visita domiciliaria del sistema de salud costarricense: lineamientos para su mejora / Program home visit Costa Rica's health system: guidelines for improvement

ResumenIntroducción:La visita domiciliaria se constituye en la principal estrategia de atención primaria al acercar los servicios de salud a los domicilios y lugares de trabajo de las personas, lo cual permite conocer de primera mano las necesidades de la población. La visita domiciliaria efectuada por el ATAP representa el primer contacto del individuo, familia y comunidad con el sistema de salud, con importantes beneficios tanto a nivel individual como colectivo. La presente investigación responde a la necesidad de identificar los elementos que el programa de visita domiciliaria requiere mejorar, modificar o sustituir con el fin de maximizar la prestación de este servicio.Método:Se diseñó un estudio cualitativo, analítico observadonal. Se recolectó los datos mediante revisión bibliográfica, entrevista a informantes claves y grupo focal. El análisis se realizó a partir de la teoría fundamentada.Resultados:Los datos evidenciaron la existencia de elementos a nivel de sistema de salud, programa de visita domiciliaria y figura del ATAP que deben ser revisados, modificados o sustituidos con el fin de que la visita domiciliaria tenga mayores y mejores alcances para la población y el sistema de salud.Conclusión:El programa de visita domiciliaria representa una fortaleza del sistema de salud costarricense al abordar las inequidades en salud. Sin embargo, es imperativa la toma de decisiones e implementación de acciones que promuevan el mejoramiento y aumento de los alcances que tiene la visita domiciliaria en el abordaje de la población a nivel familiar y comunitario.

AbstractIntroduction:Home visit is the main strategy of primary care by bringing health services to the homes and workplaces of people, which allows knowing the needs of the population firsthand. Thus, home visit by the ATAP represents the first contact of the individual, family and community with the health system, with significant benefits both individually and collectively. This research responds to the need to identify the elements that the home visiting program needs to improve modify or replace in order to maximize the provisión of this service.Method:It is a qualitative, observational analytic study. Data were collected through documentary research, key informant interviews and focus group. The analysis was performed from the grounded theory.Results:The main results showed the existence of elements at the level of the health system, home visiting program and the figure of the ATAP that should be reviewed, modified or replaced to the home visit, thus it has bigger and better results for the population and the health system.Conclusión:The Home Visiting Program is strength of the Costa Frican health system to address health inequities. However, it is imperative to make decisions and implementation of actions that promote the improvement and increased results of the home visit at a family and community level.

Intensive home visiting is associated with decreased risk of infant death.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to test the hypothesis that participation in a community-based home-visiting program is associated with a decreased risk of infant death. METHODS: A retrospective, case-control design was used to compare the risk of infant death among participants in Cincinnati's Every Child Succeeds program and control subjects matched for gestational age at birth, previous pregnancy loss, marital status, and maternal age. The likelihood of infant death, adjusted for level of prenatal care, maternal smoking, maternal education, race, and age, was determined with multivariate logistic regression. The interaction between race and program participation and the effect of home visiting on the risk of preterm birth were explored. RESULTS: Infants whose families did not receive home visiting (n = 4995) were 2.5 times more likely to die in infancy compared with infants whose families received home visiting (n = 1665). Black infants were at least as likely to benefit from home visiting as were nonblack infants. No effect of program participation on the risk of preterm birth was observed. CONCLUSION: The current study is consistent with the hypothesis that intensive home visiting reduces the risk of infant death.

Characteristics and trends in required home care by GPs in Austria: diseases and functional status of patients.

BACKGROUND: Almost all societies carry responsibility towards patients who require continuous medical care at home. In many health systems the general practitioner cooperates with community based services of home care and coordinates all medical and non medical activities. In Austria the general practitioner together and in cooperation with relatives of the patient and professional organisations usually takes on this task by visiting his patients. This study was carried out to identify diseases that need home care and to describe the functional profile of home care patients in eastern Austria. METHODS: Cross sectional observational study with 17 GP practices participating during 2 study periods in 1997 and in 2004 in eastern Austria. Each GP identified patients requiring home care and assessed their underlying diseases and functional status by filling in a questionnaire personally after an encounter. Patients in nursing homes were excluded. Statistical tests used were t-tests, contingency tables, nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank sum test and Fisher-combination test. RESULTS: Patients with degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (65%) caused by Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular occlusive disease and patients with degenerative diseases of the skeletal system (53%) were the largest groups among the 198 (1997) and 261 (2004) home care cases of the 11 (1997) and 13 (2004) practices. Malignant diseases in a terminal state constituted only 5% of the cases. More than two thirds of all cases were female with an average age of 80 years. Slightly more than 70% of the patients were at least partially mobile. CONCLUSION: Home care and home visits for patients with degenerative diseases of the central nervous and skeletal system are important elements of GP's work. Further research should therefore focus on effective methods of training and rehabilitation to better the mental and physical status of patients living in their private homes.

Changing patterns of home visiting in general practice: an analysis of electronic medical records.

BACKGROUND: In most European countries and North America the number of home visits carried out by GPs has been decreasing sharply. This has been influenced by non-medical factors such as mobility and pressures on time. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in home visiting rates, looking at the level of diagnoses in 1987 and in 2001. METHODS: We analysed routinely collected data on diagnoses in home visits and surgery consultations from electronic medical records by general practitioners. Data were used from 246,738 contacts among 124,791 patients in 103 practices in 1987, and 77,167 contacts among 58,345 patients in 80 practices in 2001. There were 246 diagnoses used. The main outcome measure was the proportion of home visits per diagnosis in 2001. RESULTS: Within the period studied, the proportion of home visits decreased strongly. The size of this decrease varied across diagnoses. The relation between the proportion of home visits for a diagnosis in 1987 and the same proportion in 2001 is curvilinear (J-shaped), indicating that the decrease is weaker at the extreme points and stronger in the middle. CONCLUSION: By comparison with 1987, the proportion of home visits shows a distinct decline. However, the results show that this decline is not necessarily a problem. The finding that this decline varied mainly between diagnoses for which home visits are not always urgent, shows that medical considerations still play an important role in the decision about whether or not to carry out a home visit.

Hospital virtual, hospital domiciliario / Hospitalization at home

Se analiza la situación de recursos, y especialmente la disponibilidad de camas del hospital Regional de Temuco. Frente a la situación existente, se propone la creación de un sistema de hospitalización en el domicilio de los pacientes, con atención diaria por un equipo multiprofesional itinerante, que se denomina Hospital Virtual. La propuesta se apoya en el éxito obtenido por la Unidad de Atención Domiciliaria que funciona desde el mismo Hospital desde 1994; pero es de un alcance diferente. Se indican los recursos y condiciones requeridos. El costo por día de hospitalización virtual será poco más de la mitad del arancel para un día cama en el hospital

O domicílio como espaço de práticas de saúde: reflexões a partir dos programas de Saúde da mulher / The domicile as space of health practice: reflections based on womman's health programs

O domicílio, como unidade de análise e de desenvolvimento de práticas sociais, incluindo-se as de saúde, tem sido historicamente motivo de reflexões. Ao longo do tempo, tem sido um importante espaço utilizado por profissionais de saúde, em particular pela Enfermagem, para a produção/reprodução de um saber e de ideologias que perpassam as práticas de saúde. Este artigo de revisão identifica algumas práticas realizadas no domicílio, através da visita domiciliar, na vigência dos Programas Materno-Infantil (PMI) e de Assistência Integral à Saúde da Mulher (PAISM). Os resultados indicam a visita domiciliar, realizada pelo pessoal de Enfermagem, como um instrumento desses programas. Algumas das práticas desenvolvidas reforçam o papel estritamente reprodutivo da mulher