Variaciones en el consumo de medicamentos para la salud mental en una unidad de atención primaria brasileña: ¿hay influencia de la pandemia? / Variations in the consumption of mental health medications in a brazilian primary care unit: is there influence of the pandemic?

Introducción: La pandemia de COVID-19 ha generado la necesidad de ajustes y adaptaciones en diversas áreas, desde el comportamiento hasta la normativa, con grandes repercusiones en términos de salud pública. Objetivo: Comparar los consumos promedio mensuales (CPM) de medicamentos de control especial utilizados para la salud mental antes y durante la pandemia en una Unidad Básica de Salud (UBS) en el Distrito Federal, Brasil. Métodos: Los consumos se obtuvieron a través del sistema de gestión de inventarios local y el CPM (±desviación estándar) se calculó sin tener en cuenta los meses de desabastecimiento, considerando el período de 2020 a 2022. Como parámetro comparativo, se utilizó el CPM±DE de 2019. Resultados: Se analizaron los consumos de 32 medicamentos, siendo la mayoría antiepilépticos (N=10; 31,2 %), antidepresivos (N=10; 31,2 %) y antipsicóticos (N=8; 25,0 %). Se observó que más de la mitad de los medicamentos analizados (n=18; 56,3 %) mantuvieron un aumento en el consumo a lo largo de los años de la pandemia. Conclusión: Hubo una variación significativa en el consumo de medicamentos sujetos a control especial en la UBS durante la pandemia. Estos resultados pueden estar asociados a diversos factores, como el aumento de los cuadros clínicos que justifican su prescripción, en línea con la literatura actual sobre el impacto potencial del aislamiento social y las medidas tomadas por las autoridades competentes para contener la propagación del virus SARS-COV-2. (AU)

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated the need for adjustments and adaptations in various areas, from behaviour to regulations, with significant repercussions in terms of public health. Objective: To compare the monthly average consumption (MAC) of special control medications used for mental health before and during the pandemic in a Basic Health Unit (UBS) in the Federal District, Brazil. Methods: Consumption data were obtained through the local inventory management system, and the MAC (±stan-dard deviation) was calculated excluding months of stockouts, considering the period from 2020 to 2022. The MAC±SD of 2019 was used as a comparative parameter. Results: Consumption of 32 medications was analyzed, with the majority being antiepileptics (N=10; 31.2 %), anti-depressants (N=10; 31.2 %), and antipsychotics (N=8; 25.0 %). It was observed that more than half of the analyzed medications (n=18; 56.3 %) maintained an increase in consumption throughout the pandemic years. Conclusion: There was a significant variation in the consumption of special control medications at the UBS during the pandemic. These results may be associated with various factors, such as the increase in clinical conditions justi-fying their prescription, in line with current literature on the potential impact of social isolation and measures taken by competent authorities to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (AU)

Scientific communication: the art of preparing and presenting scientific results / Comunicação científica: a arte de preparar e apresentar resultados científicos

This article is part of a special series designed to help authors in the process of scientific writing and communication. The objective of the study was to provide tools and strategies to prepare and achieve effective forms of oral communication, especially related to posters and oral presentations. A non-systematic literature research (PubMed/Web of Science) was performed to retrieve relevant data about how to prepare posters, oral presentation and how to control anxiety caused by oral speeches. In addition, a brief overview of innovative and recent digital tools is also provided. The scientific literature proves some interesting recommendations for preparing a good poster or a slide show and to avoid public speech anxiety as well. A list of available digital tools for such preparation was also disclosed. The rules for oral or poster communication differ from those related to manuscript writing. The quality of oral scientific communication can be improved by following such rules.

Este artigo é parte de uma série especial que foi desenvolvida para auxiliar autores no processo da redação científica e comunicação. O estudo teve o objetivo de fornecer ferramentas e estratégias para preparar e alcançar formas efetivas de comunicação oral, especialmente para pôsteres e apresentações orais. Realizou-se uma pesquisa não-sistemática da literatura (PubMed/Web of Science) para levantar dados relevantes sobre como preparar pôsteres, apresentação oral e como controlar a ansiedade causada por apresentações em público. Além disso, também é fornecido um breve resumo de inovações e ferramentas digitais recentes. As regras para a comunicação oral ou pôster diferem daquelas relacionadas à escrita do manuscrito. A qualidade da comunicação científica oral pode ser melhorada seguindo tais regras.