Challenges for work in healthcare: comparative study on University Hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France. / Desafios para o trabalho em saúde: um estudo comparado de Hospitais Universitários na Argélia, Brasil e França.

This study compares the challenges for work in emergency services of publicuniversity hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France. The description and analysis are organized in three topics: context and trajectory of the health systems; hospitals and emergency services; and the challenges that are faced. The research carried out interviews, surveys, observation and "groupes de rencontre du travail" / GRT. The data analysis was done using participatory appraisal techniques associated to triangulation of sources and data. The main challenges found were: workforce deficit; lack of hospitals beds in inpatient units; deficit of infrastructure and materials; excess of "chronophagic activities"; generational transition; and violence by patients and families.Despite their particularities, the countries coincide regarding the challenges. Measures to rationalize and restrain spending have a greater impact on Algeria and Brazil due to the low level of public funding, but they also occur in France. The hospital management cannot be dissociated from healthcare system planningconsidering the increasing pressures of the demographic and epidemiological transition. In medium term, measures that may mitigate "chronophagic activities", materials deficit and the violence should be considered to improve work in emergencies.

O estudo compara os desafios no trabalho em serviços de emergência de hospitais universitários públicos na Argélia, Brasil e França. A descrição e a análise estão organizadas em três eixos: contexto e trajetória dos sistemas, hospitais e serviços de emergência, e os desafios enfrentados. Nos serviços foram feitas entrevistas, questionários, observação e "groupes de rencontre du travail"/GRT. Para o processo analítico utilizou-se técnicas do "participatory appraisal" complementadas com triangulação de fontes e dados. Os principais desafios referidos foram: déficit da força de trabalho; falta de leitos nos serviços de internação; déficit de infraestrutura e materiais; excesso de atividades cronofágicas; transição geracional; violência pelos usuários e familiares. Medidas de racionalização e contenção de gastos repercutem de modo mais intenso na Argélia e no Brasil onde há um baixo patamar de financiamento público. Nota-se que a gestão hospitalar não pode estar dissociada do planejamento da rede de atenção, tendo em vista as crescentes pressões do complexo produtivo, da transição demográfica e epidemiológica. A médio prazo, medidas que possam atenuar atividades cronofágicas, o deficit de materiais e a violência devem ser consideradas na melhoria do trabalho em emergências.

Desafios para o trabalho em saúde: um estudo comparado de Hospitais Universitários na Argélia, Brasil e França / Challenges for work in healthcare: comparative study on University Hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France

Resumo O estudo compara os desafios no trabalho em serviços de emergência de hospitais universitários públicos na Argélia, Brasil e França. A descrição e a análise estão organizadas em três eixos: contexto e trajetória dos sistemas, hospitais e serviços de emergência, e os desafios enfrentados. Nos serviços foram feitas entrevistas, questionários, observação e "groupes de rencontre du travail"/GRT. Para o processo analítico utilizou-se técnicas do "participatory appraisal" complementadas com triangulação de fontes e dados. Os principais desafios referidos foram: déficit da força de trabalho; falta de leitos nos serviços de internação; déficit de infraestrutura e materiais; excesso de atividades cronofágicas; transição geracional; violência pelos usuários e familiares. Medidas de racionalização e contenção de gastos repercutem de modo mais intenso na Argélia e no Brasil onde há um baixo patamar de financiamento público. Nota-se que a gestão hospitalar não pode estar dissociada do planejamento da rede de atenção, tendo em vista as crescentes pressões do complexo produtivo, da transição demográfica e epidemiológica. A médio prazo, medidas que possam atenuar atividades cronofágicas, o deficit de materiais e a violência devem ser consideradas na melhoria do trabalho em emergências.

Abstract This study compares the challenges for work in emergency services of publicuniversity hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France. The description and analysis are organized in three topics: context and trajectory of the health systems; hospitals and emergency services; and the challenges that are faced. The research carried out interviews, surveys, observation and "groupes de rencontre du travail" / GRT. The data analysis was done using participatory appraisal techniques associated to triangulation of sources and data. The main challenges found were: workforce deficit; lack of hospitals beds in inpatient units; deficit of infrastructure and materials; excess of "chronophagic activities"; generational transition; and violence by patients and families.Despite their particularities, the countries coincide regarding the challenges. Measures to rationalize and restrain spending have a greater impact on Algeria and Brazil due to the low level of public funding, but they also occur in France. The hospital management cannot be dissociated from healthcare system planningconsidering the increasing pressures of the demographic and epidemiological transition. In medium term, measures that may mitigate "chronophagic activities", materials deficit and the violence should be considered to improve work in emergencies.

Sleep disturbances and neurotoxicity in workers exposed to hydrocarbons. An observational study from Algeria.

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to solvents may lead to neurotoxicity and sleep disturbances. We aimed to investigate the association of occupational exposure to petroleum-derived hydrocarbons with neurotoxicity and sleep disturbance symptoms. METHODS: We included male workers handling/distributing petroleum products (exposed, n = 250) and electricians (non-exposed, n = 250) from two companies in Tlemcen (Algeria). Neurotoxicity was evaluated with the Q-16 questionnaire, and sleep disturbances with the Epworth and the Berlin questionnaires. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust error variances were applied obtaining risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of reported neurotoxicity and sleep disturbance symptoms was higher in exposed than in non-exposed workers. Significant adjusted associations were observed for neurotoxicity, snoring, and excessive sleepiness (RR = 2.2, CI: 1.7-2.8; RR = 1.4; CI: 1.1-1.7; RR = 1.3, CI: 1.2-1.5, respectively). No significant associations were observed with the Epworth score. CONCLUSIONS: Our questionnaire-based cross-sectional study suggests that exposure to petroleum-derived hydrocarbons is associated with self-reported sleep disturbances and neurotoxicity symptoms.

Occupational exposure to petroleum products and respiratory health: a cross-sectional study from Algeria.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible impact of long-term occupational exposure to hydrocarbons on respiratory health. METHODS: Respiratory health was assessed by questionnaires, spirometry, and exhaled nitric oxide in 250 male workers from a company handling and distributing refined petroleum products (exposed) and 250 electricians (controls). Exposure to hydrocarbons was assessed by personal air monitoring. RESULTS: Aerial exposure to hydrocarbons was low. Respiratory and nasal symptoms were significantly more frequent among exposed subjects than among controls. Although forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second did not differ, ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity and maximal expiratory flows were significantly lower in exposed than in control subjects, adjusting for smoking. Exhaled nitric oxide was significantly higher among exposed subjects (30.1 ppb) than among controls (21.6 ppb), adjusting for age and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Even low exposure to petroleum-derived hydrocarbons is associated with more respiratory and nasal symptoms, lower pulmonary function, and airway inflammation.

Clinical evaluation of lipids, lipoproteins and red blood cells sodium and potassium in patients with different grades of hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To show that lipid and lipoprotein levels and cell sodium and potassium content and transport could change depending on the degree of hypertension. DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty-three hypertensive patients and 20 healthy subjects were recruited at the Cardiology and Biochemistry Departments of Tlemcen University Hospital Centre (Northwest of Algeria). RESULTS: Levels of CHOL, TG, PL, HDL-TG, LDLc, LDL-TG, LDL-PL, HDL2-TG and HDL3-TG were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than those in controls. HDL-PL levels were significantly lower in patients compared with controls and decreased according to the grade of hypertension. HDL2c, HDL2-PL and HDL3-TG and cell content and fluxes of sodium and potassium change gradually with higher grades of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertensive patients with circulating lipid alterations are associated to ion cell content and transport abnormalities, which were worsened progressively with higher grade of hypertension.

Gemcitabine and treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in relapsed or refractory elderly patients: a prospective randomized trial in Algeria.

CONTEXT: Support for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with large cells that is refractory or relapsed after first-line chemotherapy poses a greater therapeutic problem with bone marrow transplant therapy or when old age is a contra-indication for high-dose chemotherapy, especially among developing countries such as Algeria. AIM: To show that the regimen, including gemcitabine, could be more effective in treating elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in relapse / refractory, without complete remission, when compared with the ESHAP (etoposide, cisplatine, solumedrol, aracytine) regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients in the age group of 60-70 years were volunteers for a prospective randomized single-blind study, carried out for three years. Patients were divided into two groups by the drawing of lots. The first group (GA, n = 48, relapse; n = 27 [56.3%], refractory; n = 21 [43.7%]) received treatment with ESHAP protocol and the second one (GB, n = 48, relapse; n = 28 [58%], refractory; n = 20 [42%]) with GPD (gemcitabine, dexamethasone, cisplatine) protocol. RESULTS: The overall response rates and mean survival at three years were significantly higher among patients subjected to GPD treatment compared with those subjected to ESHAP treatment (63% vs. 55%, P = 0.01 and 20.5% [95% CI 16.5-24.5] vs. 11.8% [8.9-14.6], respectively). Additionally, three-year progression-free and event-free survival rates were 20.5% (16.3-24) and 19.7% (15.9-23.5), respectively, for the GPD regimen and 10.9% (8.2-13.7) and 11.1% (95% CI 8.5-13.7), respectively, for the ESHAP regimen. Moreover, the GPD regimen was associated with improving overall survival (RR=2.02, 95% CI 1.59-2.56; P = 0.000), event-free survival (2.03, 1.64-2.52; P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (1.86, 1.46-2.37; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In cases of contra-indication for high-dose chemotherapy for elderly patients with DLBCL, without complete remission, the Gemcitabine-based therapy protocol represents a more effective and less toxic than that of ESHAP.