The predictive validity of the progress assessment, a clinician administered instrument for use in measurement-based care for substance use disorders.

We tested the predictive validity of the Progress Assessment (PA), a brief counselor administered tool for use in measurement-based care for substance use disorders. The PA includes 5 items assessing relapse risk and 5 items assessing factors protective against relapse. Data were drawn from a completed study of continuing care for cocaine dependence (McKay et al., 2013) and includes 12 months of follow-up on158 participants (76% male) who received brief telephone or face-to-face sessions. Each session began with the administration of the PA, followed by cognitive-behavioral counseling tied to the results of the PA and anticipated risky situations. Outcome was assessed via urine toxicology every 3 months. As administered in an effectiveness trial, average PA risk and protective scales within each 3-month segment of the study predicted urine toxicology results at the end of that period, with higher risk scores and lower protective scores predicting greater rates of cocaine positive urine drug screens. PA scores did not predict dropout from continuing care participation. The 10-item PA shows promise as a pragmatic clinical tool for ongoing monitoring during continuing care for substance dependence.

Family history risk assessment by a genetic counselor is a critical step in screening all patients in the ART clinic.

The family history is the cornerstone of the genetic risk assessment. Taking a detailed family history helps ensure that important genetic information is not overlooked and that any appropriate testing and/or information is provided to the patient prior to pregnancy. Guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) suggest a review of personal and family history of genetic disease and prior genetic test results that may affect the course of treatment, with patients being counseled about additional genetic testing that may be indicated before starting treatment relating to their personal or family history. When issues arise as a result of this evaluation, referral to a genetics specialist is recommended. As the following cases demonstrate, implementation of a routine genetic counseling screening program for all patients using assisted reproductive technology (ART) provides immense benefits so that important indications for referral to a genetic counselor are not missed.

Implementing the Knowledge Assessment of CPT Critical Skills (KACCS) Scale.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) has been endorsed as an evidence-based therapy for PTSD. It is currently being implemented within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) as a manualized, trauma-focused psychotherapy in line with recommendations from the most recent VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of PTSD. While research on CPT implementation has focused on individual factors that facilitate or hinder adoption, little is known on whether trainees retain core concepts of CPT. The present research addresses this gap in the literature by conducting a validation study of the Knowledge Assessment of CPT Critical Skills (KACCS) Scale among known user groups of CPT (no experience, immediate user, expert user) and, subsequently, an implementation study of the KACCS Scale among clinician trainees participating in an online CPT training. The validation study found that the KACCS Scale can discriminate among various CPT user groups (no experience, intermediate, expert), while the implementation study found that the KACCS Scale provides specific information on core concepts that have been learned at the end of training. The KACCS Scale could benefit from further validation studies and, subsequently, be added to the current CPT instrumentation to monitor learning and retention of core concepts at various training periods (initial workshop, consultation, booster workshop).

Reflections and collective production about being a municipal health counselor.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the participation dynamics of a municipal council and to develop a critical-reflexive process on "being a counselor", identifying weaknesses and possibilities of this council, in addition to collectively generating new knowledge and (re)elaborating the MHC Ordinary Law. METHOD: Convergent care research, including documentary analysis, non-participant observation and thematic workshops. The research was carried out in 2016, with municipal health counselors from a city in the Western Region of Santa Catarina. RESULTS: this study made it possible to identify forms of social participation that should be strengthened in the performance of social power, to reflect and share individual experiences, to anchor them in the current legislation, and to build knowledge that enabled the elaboration/organization of a product - a new text for the Ordinary Law of the Council, adjusted to current legislation. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: There is a need to increase participation, considering the presence of the counselors in the meetings, the effective representation and a greater interaction in the discussions and deliberations of the council.

Reflections and collective production about being a municipal health counselor / Reflexiones y producción colectiva sobre "ser" consejero municipal de salud / Reflexões e produção coletiva sobre o "ser" conselheiro municipal de saúde

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the participation dynamics of a municipal council and to develop a critical-reflexive process on "being a counselor", identifying weaknesses and possibilities of this council, in addition to collectively generating new knowledge and (re)elaborating the MHC Ordinary Law. Method: Convergent care research, including documentary analysis, non-participant observation and thematic workshops. The research was carried out in 2016, with municipal health counselors from a city in the Western Region of Santa Catarina. Results: this study made it possible to identify forms of social participation that should be strengthened in the performance of social power, to reflect and share individual experiences, to anchor them in the current legislation, and to build knowledge that enabled the elaboration/organization of a product - a new text for the Ordinary Law of the Council, adjusted to current legislation. Final considerations: There is a need to increase participation, considering the presence of the counselors in the meetings, the effective representation and a greater interaction in the discussions and deliberations of the council.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar la dinámica participativa de un consejo municipal de salud mediante el desarrollo de un proceso crítico-reflexivo sobre "ser consejero", señalando las fragilidades y posibilidades de este colegiado, además de generar, colectivamente, nuevos saberes y la (re)elaboración de la Ley Ordinaria del CMS. Método: se trata de una investigación convergente asistencial, incluyendo análisis documental, observación no participante y talleres temáticos. La investigación se llevó a cabo en 2016, con consejeros municipales de salud de un municipio de la Región Oeste de Santa Catarina. Resultados: este estudio permitió compartir y reflexionar acerca de experiencias individuales e identificó diversas formas de participación social que deberían fortalecerse en el ejercicio del control social al insertarlas en la legislación vigente con el intuito de construir conocimientos, lo que posibilitó la elaboración/organización de un producto - readecuación de la Ley Ordinaria del consejo a la legislación vigente. Consideraciones finales: se hace necesario ampliar la participación, considerando la presencia de los consejeros en las reuniones con una representación eficaz y una intervención más amplia en las discusiones y deliberaciones del consejo.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar a dinâmica participativa de um conselho municipal de saúde, com o desenvolvimento de processo crítico-reflexivo sobre o "ser conselheiro", apontando fragilidades e possibilidades desse colegiado, além de gerar coletivamente novos saberes e a (re)elaboração da Lei Ordinária do CMS. Método: Pesquisa convergente assistencial, incluindo análise documental, observação não participante e oficinas temáticas. A pesquisa foi em 2016, com conselheiros municipais de saúde de um município da Região Oeste de Santa Catarina. Resultados: Este estudo possibilitou identificar formas de participação social a serem fortalecidas no exercício do controle social, compartilhar e refletir sobre as experiências individuais, ancorá-las na legislação vigente e construir conhecimentos que oportunizaram a elaboração/organização de um produto - readequação da Lei Ordinária do conselho à legislação vigente. Considerações finais: Pontua-se a necessidade de ampliar a participação, considerando a presença dos conselheiros nas reuniões, a representação efetiva e a sua maior interação nas discussões e deliberações do conselho.

Assessment of the Readability of Genetic Counseling Patient Letters.

Patient letters are a powerful tool that genetic counselors use to communicate with their patients. Patient letters are often sent to provide information on a new diagnosis, reiterate test results, and to serve as a permanent record of the visit. Patient letters, however, are only helpful if the patients can understand them. More than 50 % of the US population reads below a 9th grade reading level and over one-third of the population has low health literacy skills. In this study we evaluate the readability of genetic counseling patient letters by assessing reading level, image use, and terminology use. One hundred forty-nine genetic counselors participated in the survey and of these, 79 submitted a sample patient letter. Analyses of the letters revealed a mean reading level of 10.93. On average, 6 genetic terms were included in each letter, and only 25 % of these terms were defined. Analyses of survey responses revealed over 75 % of the genetic counselors did not include images in their patient letters. These results indicate there is room for improvement in order to make genetic counseling patient letters more accessible to the general population.

Oficina Para Conselheiros Municipais de Saúde

O vídeo apresenta um curso de formação de conselheiros municipais de Salinas MG. Visa formar e capacitar conselheiros para a implantação do SUS. Estes conselheiros aprendem a refletir sobre as situações da saúde local e assim exercer plenamente seu poder decisório. Ao final do treinamento há uma dramatização com os conselheiros