Cystic fibrosis: when neonatal screening is unsatisfactory for early diagnosis / Fibrose cística: quando a triagem neonatal é insatisfatória para o diagnóstico precoce

Abstract Introduction: cystic fibrosis newborn screening must enable its earlier diagnosis, which may enhance outcomes. This study was a series case of delayed-diagnosis children submitted to cystic fibrosis newborn screening. Description: fourteen children were included; eight (57.1%) were due to false-negative screening, while six (42.9%) were due to processing errors. Two samples collected after 30 days of life were incorrectly classified as negative, and four infants with a positive test could not be located due to screening processing errors. Cystic fibrosis diagnosis was confirmed at a median (IQR) age of 5.3 (4.2-7.4) months. Poor nutritional status was the most prevalent clinical sign at diagnosis, being present in 78.6% of infants. The mean (SD) weight-for-length and length-for-age Z-scores were -3.46 (0.84) and -3.99 (1.16), respectively. Half of the children had Pseudo-Bartter syndrome, and 42.9% had breathing difficulties. Twelve children (85.7%) required hospitalization, with a median (IQR) length of stay of 17.0 (11.5-26.5) days. Discussion: newborn screening had some faults, from incorrect collections to inefficient active search. Early identification of these children in which screening was unsatisfactory is essential, emphasizing the importance and efforts to not miss them. In the case of a failed test, healthcare professionals must be prepared to recognize the main symptoms and signs of the disease.

Resumo Introdução: a triagem neonatal para fibrose cística deve contribuir para diagnóstico precoce e melhor prognóstico da doença. O estudo é uma série de casos com lactentes submetidos à triagem, porém com diagnóstico tardio da doença. Descrição: quatorze crianças foram incluídas; oito (57,1%) com triagem falso-negativo e seis (42,9%) com erros processuais na triagem neonatal. Duas amostras foram coletadas tardiamente, sendo incorretamente classificadas como negativas e quatro lactentes com triagem positiva não foram localizados, por erros na busca ativa. Confirmou-se o diagnóstico da fibrose cística com idade mediana (IIQ) de 5,3 (4,2-7,4) meses. O Comprometimento nutricional precoce foi o sinal clínico mais prevalente ao diagnóstico, presente em 78,6% das crianças. Os Z escores médios (SD) do peso para altura e altura para idade foram -3,46 (0,84) e -3,99 (1,16), respectivamente. Metade das crianças teve síndrome de Pseudo-Bartter e 42,9% dificuldade respiratória. Doze crianças (85,7%) precisaram hospitalização com tempo mediano de permanência de 17 dias. Discussão: a triagem neonatal para fibrose cística apresentou falhas, desde testes falso-negativos, coletas incorretas, até problemas com a busca ativa. Entretanto, o diagnóstico ágil é essencial e os profissionais de saúde devem reconhecer os sintomas e sinais precoces da doença, mesmo quando a triagem neonatal não for satisfatória.

Religion in times of epidemics, a matter of public health: great plague of Marseille (FRA, 1720-1723) Covid-19 (2020-...), a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Humans have always referred to religion in History to explain disasters, and epidemics, especially when science could not explain them. Religion has often been invoked as a mean of protection. The Covid outbreak in 2020 and the initial medical impotence brought up old fears, reminiscent of the plague for some people. Unable to rely on science only, some turned back to religion. METHODOLOGY: A narrative review was conducted to compare the role of religion during the Great Plague of Marseille versus the early stages of Covid-19 pandemic. We mostly studied contemporary documents on the Great Plague of Marseille, and collected press articles on Covid-19. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: For both epidemics, some people see in the outbreak a sign of God's revenge. Logically, intensifying spiritual life and multiplying religious demonstrations can be a way to fight both epidemics. Studying religion in these times of epidemics also highlights its roles in public health: sometimes facilitating the contaminations if not regulated, sometimes supporting public health policies with some positions, as for Covid vaccines. Conclusion/Perspectives: The comparison of an ancient epidemic with the current pandemic allowed us to take a broader look at the current vision of contagious disease, in societies that have become highly medicalized. The fight against epidemics remains polymorphous, and one of the aspects is religious. Integrating this information in our practices can help improving holistic management of patients, and public health policies efficiency.

Folic acid and neural tube defects: Discovery, debate and the need for policy change.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of relatively common fatal or severely disabling birth defects that result in about 300,000 cases a year world-wide. The search for a cause was elusive, but in 1991 it was shown that about 8 out of 10 cases are due to a lack of vitamin B9 (folate) and are therefore preventable. This article (i) describes the challenge in finding the cause; (ii) examines the reasons for the failure of many countries to introduce folic acid fortification of staple foods such as flour and rice; (iii) shows that countries that have introduced fortification failed to do so in a fully effective way; (iv) shows how current preventive polices are confusing, inconsistent and sub-optimal; (v) shows that the proposed UK folic acid fortification policy is expected to prevent about 1 out of 10 NTD cases only; and (vi) proposes a simple, fully effective fortification policy that would prevent about 8 out of 10 NTDs and avoid the need for women to start taking folic acid supplements before pregnancy, a policy that has been shown to fail because only a small percentage of women adopt this practice.

Redes, atores e agenciamentos na constituição da Política de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares no Brasil / Networks, actors and negotiations in the constitution of the Policy of Complementary Therapies in Brazil

Resumo Como política pública, práticas integrativas e complementares estão disponíveis no sistema público de saúde no Brasil desde 2006. Este texto, de caráter qualitativo e baseado em dados secundários da literatura e de documentos oficiais, tem o objetivo de compreender a Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares, a partir da sua presença por variados espaços da sociedade. Contornando a comparação entre o documento e a prática da política, propõe-se um caminho teórico e metodológico que possibilite novas percepções sobre a política em situações concretas. Aplicando a teoria ator-rede e a abordagem do agenciamento, as análises permitem perceber a política como um emaranhado de ações que faz surgir múltiplas realidades e versões contextuais da política, dependendo dos atores com os quais se associa. Desse modo, os resultados apontam para complexidade escondida por trás da aparente singularidade, revelando a pluralidade de atores que constituem essas realidades e demonstrando a dependência da política com relação à ação de outros atores para que ela se torne realidade. Seguindo esse caminho, é possível gerar novos elementos que contribuam para a análise da política na prática, somando-se aos estudos que enfatizam a comparação entre o documento e a prática.

Abstract Integrative and complementary therapies have been available in the public health system in Brazil as a public policy since 2006. This text of a qualitative nature based on secondary data from the literature and official documents has the aim of understanding the National Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices from its presence in varied spaces in society. Bypassing the comparison between the theory and practice of the policy, a theoretical and methodological path is proposed to enable new perceptions about policy in practice. By applying the actor-network theory and the negotiation approach, the analysis enables us to perceive the policy as a combination of actions that gives rise to multiple realities and contextual versions of policy, depending on the actors involved. Thus, the results point to complexity hidden behind apparent singularity, revealing the plurality of actors that constitute these realities and demonstrating that the policy is dependent on the actions of other actors for it to become a reality. Following this analytical path, it is possible to generate new elements that contribute to the analysis of the policy in practice, adding to the studies that emphasize the comparison between theory and practice.

Implementation fidelity of an Integrated Healthy Lifestyle Service: a process evaluation.

AIMS: The current study aimed to evaluate implementation fidelity of an Integrated Healthy Lifestyle Service (IHLS). METHODS: A pragmatic sample of 28 individual interviews and 11 focus groups were conducted. This resulted in a total of 81 (22 male) individuals comprising key stakeholders (n = 18), as well as intervention staff across senior management (n = 4), team lead (n = 14) and practitioner (n = 11) roles, and intervention clients (n = 34). RESULTS: A mixed degree of implementation fidelity was demonstrated throughout the five a priori fidelity domains of study design, provider training, intervention delivery, intervention receipt, and enactment. Stakeholders, staff and clients alike noted a high degree of intervention receipt across all services offered. Contrastingly, practitioners noted that they received minimal formal operational, data systems, clinical, and curriculum training as well as a lack of personal development opportunities. Consequently, practitioners reported low confidence in delivering sessions and collecting and analysing any data. A top-down approach to information dissemination within the service was also noted among practitioners which affected motivation and overall team morale. CONCLUSION: Results can be used to conceptualise best practices as a process to further strengthen the design, delivery and recruitment strategies of the IHLS.

Caught between HIV exceptionalism and health service integration: Making visible the role of public health policy in the scale-up of novel sexual health services.

The role of contextual factors for program implementation is well-documented; however, their changing function throughout implementation phases is less established. We conducted an institutional ethnography to understand how structural conditions for scaling up initiatives are shaped by public health policy. We conducted 25 interviews with implementers of a comprehensive sexual health testing service in Canada, 21 meeting observations, and textual analyses of key policies and reports. Our analysis revealed a disjuncture between implementers' task of scaling up programming and the actualities of working within the discursive and material confines of policies premised on HIV exceptionalism and underfunded integrated health services.

Doença Falciforme e a busca por cuidados terapêuticos: políticas públicas e acesso a medicamentos / Sickle cell disease and the search for therapeutic care: public policies and access to medications / La enfermedad Falciforme y la búsqueda de cuidados terapéuticos: políticas públicas y acceso a los medicamentos

A Doença Falciforme (DF) é uma doença hereditária com alta prevalência mundial, considerada um problema de saúde pública devido à sua relevância clínica e epidemiológica. Por ser uma doença crônica, cuidados contínuos são exigidos, dentre eles a utilização de medicamentos. Nesse cenário, é importante conhecer aspectos qualitativos da busca pelo cuidado em saúde por pessoas com DF, a fim de melhorar a sua qualidade de vida. Esse trabalho estabeleceu a distribuição espacial dos casos de DF no Rio Grande do Sul (RS); descreveu o itinerário terapêutico de pacientes de um centro de referência no RS à procura pelos medicamentos para DF; realizou a análise documental descritiva sobre políticas públicas de saúde relacionadas à DF no Brasil; e apresentou os custos de internação hospitalar por DF em diferentes países. Para tanto, usou-se o estudo qualitativo, transversal e descritivo, no qual foram utilizados diferentes métodos para contemplar os objetivos: geoprocessamento, entrevista semiestruturada, análise documental e revisão narrativa. No primeiro estudo foram identificados 194 pacientes, cuja maioria utiliza o medicamento hidroxiureia e apresenta anemia falciforme. Ao todo, 69 municípios possuem uma ou mais pessoas com a doença, com destaque para Porto Alegre, que abrange 35% dos casos. No segundo estudo, a partir das entrevistas, observou-se que a mudança do local de retirada dos medicamentos para a DF identificou barreiras no itinerário terapêutico dos pacientes, como: a falta dos medicamentos e fatores econômicos que dificultam a sua compra, quando necessário. No terceiro foram selecionados os documentos publicados entre os anos de 2001 a 2018. No quarto estudo foram descritos custos relacionados à internação por DF a partir de pesquisas realizadas em diferentes países: Brasil, Estados Unidos, Inglaterra, Jamaica, Nigéria e Congo. O estudo possibilitou perceber a invisibilidade da DF e as dificuldades de acesso aos cuidados em saúde. Conhecer esses aspectos demonstrou que são necessários estudos constantes sobre o assunto, qualificação dos profissionais e atuação de equipes de saúde com prática interprofissional, a fim de diminuir as barreiras do itinerário terapêutico das pessoas e fortalecer o reconhecimento da doença na rede de atenção à saúde.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hereditary condition of high global prevalence, considered a public health issue due to its clinical and epidemiological relevance. As a chronic disease, it requires continuous care, among which the use of medication. Given this scenario, knowing the qualitative aspects of the health care searched by individuals with SCD is important to improve their quality of life. This study established the spatial distribution of SCD cases in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; described the therapeutic itinerary of patients from a referral center in the search for SCD medication; conducted a descriptive documentary analysis of public health policies related to SCD in Brazil; and described costs related to SCD hospitalization in different countries. A qualitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive research was conducted using different methods to contemplate its objectives, namely: geoprocessing, semi-structured interview, documentary analysis and narrative review. Geoprocessing identified 194 patients, most of whom used hydroxyurea and presented sickle cell anemia. In all, 69 cities have one or more patients with SCD, especially Porto Alegre, which accounts for 35% of cases. The interviews showed that the change of drug withdrawal site to the DF introduced barriers into the patients' therapeutic itinerary, such as: lack of medication and economic factors that hinder their purchase. The documentary analysis selected documents published between 2001 and 2018. The narrative review described costs related to SCD hospitalization based on studies conducted in Brazil, the United States, England, Jamaica, Nigeria and Congo. This study revealed the invisibility of SCD and the difficulties in accessing health care. Results show that further studies on the topic, professional qualification and interprofessional practices are required to reduce the obstacles in people's therapeutic itinerary and to strengthen its recognition in the health care network.

La Enfermedad Falciforme (EF) es una enfermedad hereditaria con alta prevalencia mundial, considerada un problema de salud pública por su relevancia clínica y epidemiológica. Al ser una enfermedad crónica, requiere cuidados continuos, incluidos el uso de medicamentos. En este escenario, es importante conocer aspectos cualitativos de la búsqueda de cuidados de salud por parte de personas con EF, con el fin de mejorar su calidad de vida. En este trabajo se estableció la distribución espacial de los casos de EF en Rio Grande do Sul (RS, Brasil); se describió el itinerario terapéutico de los pacientes de un centro de referencia en RS en la búsqueda de medicamentos para la EF; se realizó un análisis descriptivo de documentos sobre políticas de salud pública relacionadas con la EF en Brasil; y se describieron los costos relacionados con la hospitalización por EF en diferentes países. Para ello, se realizó un estudio cualitativo, transversal, descriptivo, en el que utilizó diferentes métodos para contemplar sus objetivos: geoprocesamiento, entrevista semiestructurada, análisis documental y revisión narrativa. En el primer estudio se identificaron 194 pacientes, la mayoría de los cuales usan el fármaco hidroxiurea y presentan anemia de células falciformes. En total, 69 municipios tienen una o más personas con la enfermedad, especialmente en Porto Alegre, que cubre el 35% de los casos. En el segundo estudio, a partir de las entrevistas se observó que el cambio en el lugar de retiro de medicamentos para la EF trajo consigo barreras en el itinerario terapéutico de los pacientes, tales como: la falta de medicamentos y factores económicos que dificultan su compra cuando sea necesario. En el tercer, se seleccionaron documentos publicados entre 2001 y 2018. En el cuarto estudio, se describieron los costos relacionados con la hospitalización por EF a partir de estudios realizados en diferentes países: Brasil, Estados Unidos, Inglaterra, Jamaica, Nigeria y Congo. Este estudio permitió percibir la invisibilidad de la EF y las dificultades para acceder a la atención de salud. Estos aspectos demostraron la necesidad de estudios constantes sobre el tema, la calificación de los profesionales y el desempeño de los equipos de salud con práctica interprofesional, con el fin de reducir las barreras del itinerario terapéutico de las personas y fortalecer el reconocimiento de la enfermedad en la red asistencial.

Effectiveness of Folic Acid Supplementation Recommendations among Polish Female Students from the Podkarpackie Region.

Adequate folic acid supplementation during the preconception period is an important element in the primary prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). This study aims to study the effectiveness of folic acid supplementation recommendations among women of childbearing age, and to assess and characterise their awareness about this public health measure. The cross-sectional study included women (N = 1285) aged 22.27 ± 4.6 years old on average. Some of the results were obtained on a subgroup of women (N = 1127) aged 21.0 ± 2.1. This study was performed using a questionnaire. The analysis was performed with the use of a logistic regression model, chi-square test for independence and odds ratio (OR). According to the results, only 13.9% of women supplement folic acid, and 65.3% of them do so daily. A total of 91.1% of the respondents were not aware of its recommended dose and 43% did not know the role it plays in the human body. Among women who do not currently supplement folic acid (N = 1052), 52.4% declared doing so while planning their pregnancy. Women's awareness about the role of folic acid in NTD prevention (OR = 4.58) and the information they got from physicians (OR = 1.68) are key factors that increased the odds of the women taking folic acid before pregnancy. There is therefore a need for more information and education campaigns to raise awareness about folic acid.

Maternal Vitamin B12 Status During Pregnancy and Its Association With Outcomes of Pregnancy and Health of the Offspring: A Systematic Review and Implications for Policy in India.

Background: Vitamins B12 and folate participate in the one-carbon metabolism cycle and hence regulate fetal growth. Though vitamin B12 deficiency is widely prevalent, the current public health policy in India is to supplement only iron and folic acid for the prevention of anaemia. Prompted by our research findings of the importance of maternal vitamin B12 status for a healthy pregnancy, birth and offspring health outcomes, we evaluated available literature evidence using a systematic review approach, to inform policy. Methods: A systematic search was performed for relevant Indian studies in the MEDLINE/PubMed and IndMed databases. We selected studies reporting maternal vitamin B12 status (dietary intake or blood concentrations), and/or metabolic markers of vitamin B12 deficiency (homocysteine, methylmalonic acid) or haematological indices during pregnancy and their associations with outcomes of pregnancy, infancy or in later life. Intervention trials of vitamin B12 during pregnancy were also included. Quality of evidence was assessed on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results: Of the 635 articles identified, 46 studies met the inclusion criteria (cohort studies-26, case-control studies-13, RCT's -7). There is a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in Indian women during pregnancy (40-70%) (3 studies). Observational studies support associations (adjusted for potential sociodemographic confounders, maternal body size, postnatal factors) of lower maternal B12, higher homocysteine or an imbalance between vitamin B12-folate status with a higher risk of NTDs (6 studies), pregnancy complications (recurrent pregnancy losses, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia) (9 studies), lower birth weight (10 studies) and adverse longer-term health outcomes in the offspring (cognitive functions, adiposity, insulin resistance) (11 studies). Vitamin B12 supplementation (7 RCT's) in pregnancy showed a beneficial effect on offspring neurocognitive development and an effect on birth weight was inconclusive. There is a high quality evidence to support the role of low maternal vitamin B12 in higher risk for NTD and low birth weight and moderate-quality evidence for higher risk of gestational diabetes and later life adverse health outcomes (cognitive functions, risk for diabetes) in offspring. Conclusion: In the Indian population low maternal vitaminB12 status, is associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes. The level of evidence supports adding vitamin B12 to existing nutritional programs in India for extended benefits on outcomes in pregnancy and offspring health besides control of anaemia. Systematic Review Registration: [website], identifier [registration number].

Natural leaf-type as food packaging material for traditional food in Nigeria: sustainability aspects and theoretical circular economy solutions.

Global call for healthy and sustainable food production and consumption has been loud, and the majority of these calls center on ensuring food security through sustainable agriculture. The other parts of the food supply chain such as consumption, packaging, recycling, and food waste management seem to be overlooked especially by developing nations of the world where attention is mainly placed on production. But in the broad sense, public health and environmental quality could be adversely impacted by neglect, mismanagement, or loophole on any of these food management systems. Hence, the current work studies the health and environmental impacts of local food packaging materials, adopting Nigeria as a proxy for the developing world. A review was first conducted to appraise the sustainability aspects of achieving and using natural leaves as a packaging material for traditional foods in Nigeria. The result of the review rightly shows that leaf-type packaging material has several apparent health and environmental advantages for food packaging. In view of this, the current work proposes a theoretical circular economy model that would ensure the constant and sustainable availability of these local packaging materials, especially in the urban centers.

Construction and validation of a matrix for normative evaluation of the integrated health system of the borders / Construção e validação de matriz para avaliação normativa do sistema integrado de saúde das fronteiras / Construcción y validación de una matriz para evaluar la normativa del Sistema Integrado de Salud de las Fronteras

Objective: to build and validate a matrix for normative evaluation of the Integrated Health System of Borders. Method: a methodological study, composed by the construction of an evaluation matrix elaborated in three stages: elaboration of the logical model, containing the triad of structure, process and result; definition of evaluative questions and appearance and content validation of the matrix. Appearance and content validation were performed simultaneously by seven judges. For data collection, an online questionnaire and the Delphi technique were used and, for analysis, the Content Validity Index and Content Validity Ratio. Results: the evaluation matrix containing 24 questions was submitted to two evaluations for its appearance and content validation. In the first, the overall mean Content Validity Index was 99.40% and the Content Validity Ratio was 0.90. In the second, the Content Validity Index was 100% and the Content Validity Ratio, 1.0; there were no new proposals and the matrix was made up of 24 questions. The matrix was considered intelligible in terms of appearance validation. Conclusion: the evaluation matrix of the Integrated Health System of the Borders is validated in terms of appearance and content for analyzing the performance of public actions and policies in border regions.

Objetivo: construir e validar uma matriz para avaliação normativa do Sistema Integrado de Saúde das Fronteiras. Método: estudo metodológico, composto pela construção de uma matriz avaliativa elaborado em três etapas: elaboração do modelo lógico, contendo a tríade estrutura, processo e resultado; definição de questões avaliativas e validação aparente e de conteúdo da matriz. A validação aparente e de conteúdo foi realizada simultaneamente por sete juízes. Para a coleta de dados utilizou-se questionário on-line e a técnica Delphi, e para análise, o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo e Razão de Validade de Conteúdo. Resultados: a matriz de avaliação contendo 24 questões foi submetida a duas avaliações para a sua validação aparente e de conteúdo. Na primeira, o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo médio geral foi de 99,40% e a Razão de Validade de Conteúdo de 0,90. Na segunda, o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo foi de 100% e a Razão de Validade de Conteúdo de 1.0, não houve novas proposições e a matriz foi constituída de 24 questões. A matriz foi considerada inteligível quanto à validação de aparência. Conclusão: a matriz avaliativa do Sistema Integrado de Saúde das Fronteiras encontra-se validada quanto à aparência e conteúdo para análise do desempenho de ações e políticas públicas em regiões de fronteira.

Objetivo: construir y validar una matriz para evaluar la normativa del Sistema Integrado de Salud de las Fronteras. Método: estudio metodológico, compuesto por la construcción de una matriz de evaluación elaborado en tres etapas: elaboración del modelo lógico, que contiene tres componentes: estructura, proceso y resultado, definición de cuestiones evaluativas y validación de aspecto y de contenido de la matriz. Siete jueces realizaron la validación de aspecto y de contenido en forma simultánea. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un cuestionario online y la técnica Delphi y, para el análisis, el Índice de Validez de Contenido y la Relación de Validez de Contenido. Resultados: se sometió la matriz de evaluación con 24 preguntas a dos evaluaciones para su validación de aspecto y de contenido. En la primera, el Índice de Validez de Contenido medio general fue del 99,40% y la Relación de Validez de Contenido fue de 0,90. En la segunda, el Índice de Validez de Contenido fue del 100% y la Relación de Validez de Contenido fue de 1,0; no hubo nuevas propuestas y la matriz quedó constituida por 24 preguntas. Se consideró la matriz inteligible respecto a la validación de aspecto. Conclusión: la matriz de evaluación del Sistema Integrado de Salud de las Fronteras se encuentra validada en cuanto a aspecto y contenido para el análisis del desempeño de acciones y políticas públicas en regiones de frontera.

Modelling and Evaluation of Policies.

INTRODUCTION: NCDs (non-communicable diseases) are considered an important social issue and a financial burden to the health care systems in the EU which can be decreased if cost-effective policies are implemented, along with proactive interventions. The CrowdHEALTH project recognizes that NCD poses a burden for the healthcare sector and society and aims at focusing on NCDs' public health policies. AIM: The aim of this paper is to present the concept of Public Health Policy (PHP), elaborate on the state-of-the-art of PHPs development, and propose a first approach to the modeling and evaluation of PHPs used in a toolkit that is going to support decision making, the Policy Development Toolkit (PDT). METHODS: The policy creation module is a part of the PDT aiming to integrate the results of the rest of the health analytics and policy components. It is the module that selects, filters, and aggregates all relevant information to help policy-makers with the decision making process. The policies creation component is connected to the visualization component to provide the final users with data visualization on different PHPs, including outcomes from data-driven models, such as risk stratification, clinical pathways mining, forecasting or causal analysis models, outcomes from cost-benefit analysis, and suggestions and recommendations from the results of different measured KPIs, using data from the Holistic Health Records (HHRs). RESULTS: In the context of CrowdHEALTH project, PHP can be defined as the decisions taken for actions by those responsible in the public sector that covers a set of actions or inactions that affect a group of public and private actors of the health care system. In the CrowdHEALTH project, the Policy Development Toolkit works as the main interface between the final users and the whole system in the CrowdHEALTH platform. The three components related to policy creation are: (i) the policy modeling component, (ii) the population identification component and (iii) the policy evaluation component. In policy evaluation, KPIs are used as measurable indicators to help prevent ambiguity problems in the interpretation of the model and the structure. CONCLUSIONS: This initial Policy creation component design might be modified during the project life circle according to the concept complexity.

Using natural experimental studies to guide public health action: turning the evidence-based medicine paradigm on its head.

Despite smaller effect sizes, interventions delivered at population level to prevent non-communicable diseases generally have greater reach, impact and equity than those delivered to high-risk groups. Nevertheless, how to shift population behaviour patterns in this way remains one of the greatest uncertainties for research and policy. Evidence about behaviour change interventions that are easier to evaluate tends to overshadow that for population-wide and system-wide approaches that generate and sustain healthier behaviours. Population health interventions are often implemented as natural experiments, which makes their evaluation more complex and unpredictable than a typical randomised controlled trial (RCT). We discuss the growing importance of evaluating natural experiments and their distinctive contribution to the evidence for public health policy. We contrast the established evidence-based practice pathway, in which RCTs generate 'definitive' evidence for particular interventions, with a practice-based evidence pathway in which evaluation can help adjust the compass bearing of existing policy. We propose that intervention studies should focus on reducing critical uncertainties, that non-randomised study designs should be embraced rather than tolerated and that a more nuanced approach to appraising the utility of diverse types of evidence is required. The complex evidence needed to guide public health action is not necessarily the same as that which is needed to provide an unbiased effect size estimate. The practice-based evidence pathway is neither inferior nor merely the best available when all else fails. It is often the only way to generate meaningful evidence to address critical questions about investing in population health interventions.

Managing care for older adults with tuberculosis in Primary Care: an integrative review / Gestão do cuidado ao idoso com tuberculose na Atenção Primária: revisão integrativa

Abstract Objective: to analyze the available knowledge on the management of care for older adults with tuberculosis in primary care. Method: an integrative literature review was performed in the following databases, based on articles from 2008 to 2017: the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), International Health Sciences Literature (MEDLINE) and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINALH). The sample consisted of six scientific articles, considering the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data collection took place in June 2018, using an instrument with information relevant to the proposed objective. Results: the selected studies identified weaknesses and challenges in primary health care health services regarding professional skills and knowledge, the entry point to the diagnosis of tuberculosis, the link between professionals and patients, and the logistics of health services. Conclusion: a health policy that expands the response of the government and health professionals to the needs of older adults with tuberculosis is recommended, in line with the principles of the Brazilian National Health Service. This health policy would support improving the skills and knowledge of professionals at the entry point to the diagnosis of the disease and enhancing the link between professionals and patients, and the logistics of health services. Health technology could be used to accompany the nursing team in the management of care in geriatric and gerontological research and practice.

Resumo Objetivo: analisar o conhecimento produzido referente à gestão do cuidado à pessoa idosa com tuberculose na Atenção Primária. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura, nas seguintes bases de dados, com artigos de 2008 a 2017: Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Literatura Internacional em Ciências da Saúde (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINALH). A amostra foi composta por seis artigos científicos, considerando-se os critérios de inclusão e exclusão estabelecidos. A coleta de dados ocorreu em junho de 2018, por meio de um instrumento com informações pertinentes ao objetivo proposto. Resultados: os estudos selecionados identificaram fragilidades e desafios encontrados nos serviços da Atenção Primária à Saúde quanto à qualificação profissional, à porta de entrada para o diagnóstico da Tuberculose, ao vínculo entre profissional e paciente e à logística dos serviços de saúde. Conclusão: sugere-se uma política de saúde que amplie a resposta do Estado e dos profissionais de saúde às necessidades da pessoa idosa com tuberculose, em consonância com os princípios do Sistema Único de Saúde. Essa política de saúde subsidiaria a qualificação profissional, a porta de entrada para o diagnóstico da doença, o vínculo entre profissional e paciente e a logística dos serviços de saúde. Poder-se-ia utilizar tecnologias em saúde, visando acompanhar a equipe de enfermagem na gestão do cuidado na pesquisa e na prática Geriátrica e Gerontológica.

On Folk Devils, Moral Panics and New Wave Public Health.

New wave public health places an emphasis on exhorting individuals to engage in healthy behaviour with good health being a signifier of virtuous moral standing, whereas poor health is often associated with personal moral failings. In effect, the medical is increasingly being collapsed into the moral. This approach is consistent with other aspects of contemporary neoliberal governance, but it fuels moral panics and creates folk devils. We explore the implications and dysfunctional consequences of this new wave of public health policy in the context of the latest moral panic around obesity.

CrowdHEALTH: Big Data Analytics and Holistic Health Records.

The aim of this paper is to present examples of big data techniques that can be applied on Holistic Health Records (HHR) in the context of the CrowdHEALTH project. Real-time big data analytics can be performed on the stored data (i.e. HHRs) enabling correlations and extraction of situational factors between laboratory exams, physical activities, biosignals, medical data patterns, and clinical assessment. Based on the outcomes of different analytics (e.g. risk analysis, pathways mining, forecasting and causal analysis) on the aforementioned HHRs datasets, actionable information can be obtained for the development of efficient health plans and public health policies.

Cenas cotidianas do cuidado: a rede cegonha em construção / Everyday scenes of care: the stork network under construction / Escenas cotidianas de cuidados: la red cegonha en construcción

OBJETIVO: desvelar as cenas cotidianas vivenciadas nos serviços de saúde que compõem a Rede Cegonha. MÉTODO: estudo de caso de abordagem qualitativa, fundamentado na Sociologia Compreensiva do Cotidiano. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre julho e setembro de 2017, por meio de análise documental e entrevistas semiestruturadas e observação não participante com os atores sociais envolvidos na Rede Cegonha de um município paraibano. Foram realizadas a triangulação dos dados e a análise de conteúdo temática. RESULTADOS: identificaram-se duas categorias: quem entra na Rede Cegonha? Cenas cotidianas: o (des)cuidado em evidência. Comprovou-se a produção criativa e dinâmica da Rede Cegonha pelos atores sociais, que constroem os caminhos a serem trilhados na busca do cuidado, bem como identificaram-se as lacunas no sistema de apoio diagnóstico e terapêutico que podem comprometer o cuidado. CONCLUSÃO: a Rede Cegonha é reconstruída cotidianamente pela socialidade presente entre os atores sociais dos serviços de saúde que ofertam cuidados materno e infantil.(AU)

Objective: to unveil the daily scenes experienced in the health services that make up the Stork Network. Method: case study of qualitative approach, based on Comprehensive Sociology of Everyday Life. Data collection occurred between July and September 2017, through documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation with social actors involved in the Stork Network of a municipality in the state of Paraíba. We performed data triangulation and thematic content analysis. Results: two categories were identified: who enters the Stork Network? Everyday scenes: (un)care in evidence. It was demonstrated the creative and dynamic production of the Stork Network by social actors, which build the paths to be covered in the search for care, and identified the gaps in the diagnostic and therapeutic support system that can hamper care. Conclusion: the Stork Network is reconstructed daily by the sociality present among the social actors of health services that offer maternal and child care.(AU)

Objetivo: desvelar las escenas cotidianas de los servicios de salud que conforman la Red Cegonha. Método: estudio de caso de enfoque cualitativo, basado en la sociología comprensiva de la vida cotidiana. La recogida de datos tuvo lugar entre julio y septiembre de 2017, a través del análisis de documentos y entrevistas semiestructuradas y observación no participante con los actores sociales involucrados en la Red Cegonha de un municipio de Paraiba. Se realizó la triangulación de datos y el análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: se identificaron dos categorías: Quién ingresa a la Red Cegonha? Escenas diarias: el (des) cuidado en evidencia. Se confirmó la producción creativa y dinámica de la...(AU)

Failures in reproductive health policy: overcoming the consequences and causes of inaction.

It is assumed that long-established research findings and internationally accepted evidence should, and will, be translated into policy and practice. Knowledge about what prevents harm and promotes health has, in fact, guided and resulted in numerous beneficial public health actions. However, such is not always the case. The authors examine three notable, and unwelcome, exceptions in the UK-all in the field of reproductive health and all focused on the period prior to pregnancy. The three examples of counterproductive inaction discussed are: fortifying flour with Vitamin B9 (folic acid); preventing foetal alcohol spectrum disorders; and reducing risks and better regulating a highly teratogenic medication (valproate). The adverse consequences, as well as the causes, of inaction are analysed for each example. Reasons for optimism, and recommendations for overcoming inaction, are also offered, in particular, greater priority should be accorded to preconception health, education and care.

The CrowdHEALTH project and the Hollistic Health Records: Collective Wisdom Driving Public Health Policies.

INTRODUCTION: With the expansion of available Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services, a plethora of data sources provide structured and unstructured data used to detect certain health conditions or indicators of disease. Data is spread across various settings, stored and managed in different systems. Due to the lack of technology interoperability and the large amounts of health-related data, data exploitation has not reached its full potential yet. AIM: The aim of the CrowdHEALTH approach, is to introduce a new paradigm of Holistic Health Records (HHRs) that include all health determinants defining health status by using big data management mechanisms. METHODS: HHRs are transformed into HHRs clusters capturing the clinical, social and human context with the aim to benefit from the collective knowledge. The presented approach integrates big data technologies, providing Data as a Service (DaaS) to healthcare professionals and policy makers towards a "health in all policies" approach. A toolkit, on top of the DaaS, providing mechanisms for causal and risk analysis, and for the compilation of predictions is developed. RESULTS: CrowdHEALTH platform is based on three main pillars: Data & structures, Health analytics, and Policies. CONCLUSIONS: A holistic approach for capturing all health determinants in the proposed HHRs, while creating clusters of them to exploit collective knowledge with the aim of the provision of insight for different population segments according to different factors (e.g. location, occupation, medication status, emerging risks, etc) was presented. The aforementioned approach is under evaluation through different scenarios with heterogeneous data from multiple sources.

Normal delivery and cesarean section: cost per brazilian regions, 2015

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To describe the number of funds made by the Brazilian National Health System to normal delivery and cesarean procedures, according to the Brazilian regions in 2015, and estimate the cost cutting if the recommendation concerning the prevalence of cesarean deliveries by the World Health Organization (10 to 15%) were respected. METHODS: Secondary analysis of data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian National Health System. The variables considered were the type of delivery (cesarean section and normal), geographic region of admission, length of stay and amount paid for admission in 2015. RESULTS: In the year 2015, there were 984,307 admissions to perform labor in the five Brazilian regions, of which 36.2% were cesarean section. The Northeast and Southeast regions were the two regions that had the highest number of normal deliveries and cesarean sections. The overall average hospital stay for delivery was 3.2 days. About R$ 650 million (US$ 208,5 million) were paid, 45% of the total in cesarean deliveries. If the maximum prevalence proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) were considered, there would be a potential reduction in spending in the order of R$ 57.7 million (US$ 18,5 million). CONCLUSIONS: Cesarean sections are above the parameter recommended by the WHO in all Brazilian regions. The Northeast and Southeast had the highest total number of normal and cesarean deliveries and thus the greatest potential reduction in estimated costs (69.6% of all considered reduction).

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Descrever o montante de recursos pagos pelo Sistema Único de Saúde por procedimentos de parto normal e cesárea, segundo as regiões brasileiras, em 2015, estimando a redução de gastos caso a recomendação da Organização Mundial da Saúde quanto à prevalência de partos cesáreas (10% a 15%) fosse seguida. MÉTODOS: Emprego de dados secundários presentes no Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde. As variáveis consideradas foram: tipo de parto (cesárea e normal), região geográfica de ocorrência, tempo de permanência hospitalar e valor da Autorização de Internação Hospitalar paga, em 2015. RESULTADOS: No ano de 2015 ocorreram 984.307 internações para realização de parto nas cinco regiões brasileiras, sendo 36,2% de partos por cesárea. Nordeste e Sudeste foram as duas regiões que se destacaram, com os maiores números de partos normais e cesáreas. A média geral em dias de internação para parto nas cinco regiões foi de 3,2 dias. Foram pagos aproximadamente R$ 650 milhões (US$ 208,5 milhões), 45% desse total em partos cesáreas. Caso o parâmetro máximo proposto pela Organização Mundial da Saúde fosse considerado, haveria uma redução potencial de gastos na ordem de R$ 57,7 milhões (US$ 18,5 milhões). CONCLUSÕES: Os partos cesáreas estão acima do parâmetro recomendado em todas as regiões brasileiras. As regiões Nordeste e Sudeste se destacaram por representar potencialmente a maior redução na estimativa de gastos (69,6% de toda a redução considerada).