Activities of the oral health teams in primary health care: a time-motion study.

BACKGROUND: Efficient planning of the oral health workforce in Primary Health Care (PHC) is paramount to ensure equitable community access to services. This requires a meticulous examination of the population's needs, strategic distribution of oral health professionals, and effective human resource management. In this context, the average time spent on care to meet the needs of users/families/communities is the central variable in healthcare professional workforce planning methods. However, many time measures are solely based on professional judgment or experience. OBJECTIVE: Calculate the average time parameters for the activities carried out by the oral health team in primary health care. METHOD: This is a descriptive observational study using the time-motion method carried out in five Primary Health Care Units in the city of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Direct and continuous observation of oral health team members occurred for 40 h spread over five days of a typical work week. RESULTS: A total of 696.05 h of observation were conducted with 12 Dentists, three Oral Health Assistants, and five Oral Health Technicians. The Dentists' main activity was consultation with an average duration of 24.39 min, which took up 42.36% of their working time, followed by documentation with 12.15%. Oral Health Assistants spent 31.57% of their time on infection control, while Oral Health Technicians spent 22.37% on documentation. CONCLUSION: The study establishes time standards for the activities performed by the dental care team and provides support for the application of workforce planning methods that allow for review and optimization of the work process and public policies.

Challenges and strategies for conducting research in primary health care practice: an integrative review.

BACKGROUND: Providing accessible and high-quality patient-centered healthcare remains a challenge in many countries, despite global efforts to strengthen primary health care (PHC). Research and knowledge management are integral to enhancing PHC, facilitating the implementation of successful strategies, and promoting the use of evidence-based practices. Practice-based research in primary care (PC-PBR) has emerged as a valuable approach, with its external validity to diverse PHC settings, making it an effective means of translating research findings into professional practice. OBJECTIVE: To identify challenges and strategies for conducting practice-based research in primary health care services. METHOD: An integrative literature review was conducted by searching the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Lilacs databases. The research question, guided by the PICo framework, directed the execution of study selection and data extraction. Data analysis followed the RAdAR method's three phases: pre-analysis, data analysis, and interpretation of results. RESULTS: Out of 440 initially identified articles, 26 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in high-income countries, primarily the United States. The challenges and strategies for PC-PBR were categorized into six themes: research planning, infrastructure, engagement of healthcare professionals, knowledge translation, the relationship between universities and health services, and international collaboration. Notable challenges included research planning complexities, lack of infrastructure, difficulties in engaging healthcare professionals, and barriers to knowledge translation. Strategies underscore the importance of adapting research agendas to local contexts, providing research training, fostering stakeholder engagement, and establishing practice-based research networks. CONCLUSION: The challenges encountered in PC-PBR are consistent across various contexts, highlighting the need for systematic, long-term actions involving health managers, decision-makers, academics, diverse healthcare professionals, and patients. This approach is essential to transform primary care, especially in low- and middle-income countries, into an innovative, comprehensive, patient-centered, and accessible healthcare system. By addressing these challenges and implementing the strategies, PC-PBR can play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between research and practice, ultimately improving patient care and population health.

Mental Health Care in Primary Health Care: An Integrative Review.

In this study, we analyzed recent studies on mental health approaches developed in primary health care to identify the emphasis of such interventions, their technical feasibility for the setting in question, and their levels of evidence. An integrative review was conducted of primary studies from the LILACS, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases using the PRISMA search strategy. Nineteen studies were identified with a high level of evidence that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the area. However, academic, cultural, and linguistic barriers still need to be overcome to facilitate sharing of such interventions' findings and protocols.

Psychosocial factors and physical activity among workers in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Complex behaviors, such as physical activity (PA), may be related to different levels of influence. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of social support, mood and alcohol consumption as psychosocial predictors on the engagement in PA among Brazilian workers. METHODS: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional analytical study. A sample of 395 participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), the Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Social Support Scale for Physical Activities (SSSPA) and the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS). RESULTS: Analysis via Pearson's Correlation Test indicated a negative correlation between PA and depression and fatigue, and a positive correlation between PA and alcohol consumption, vigor and the four variables of social support (support of family members for walking; support of friends for walking; support of family members for moderate and vigorous physical activity; support of friends for moderate and vigorous physical activity). A positive relationship between PA and low-risk alcohol consumption was also identified. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that family support for walking, friends support for moderate and vigorous physical activity, vigor and alcohol consumption are predictors of PA. Hayes' moderation analysis indicated that social support has a moderating effect on the relationship between alcohol use and PA. CONCLUSION: Different factors may be involved in engaging in PA. A broader approach that addresses the singularities of individuals, especially in actions for different patterns of alcohol consumption, is recommended.

Implementation of the drive-through strategy for COVID-19 vaccination: an experience report.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of implementing a satellite vaccination unit in a drive-through system during a campaign against COVID-19. METHOD: This is an experience report carried out in a drive-through vaccination satellite unit. The study development was guided by the triad structure-process-results, proposed by Donabedian. RESULTS: The unit was structured in a soccer stadium, allowing it to serve large audiences safely. Care flow occurred in stages and professionals were organized by sectors, with emphasis on the nursing team' work. Initially, screening was performed; later, users went to the registration sector, and, finally, they were forwarded to the application station. The unit also had emergency sectors, a cold chain, space for professionals and a Basic Health Unit as a point of support. In 25 days of operation, 9698 doses were administered, with 1.8% of doses lost. CONCLUSION: The implementation of this system required planning, structure, process development and intense team articulation, with emphasis on the fundamental and strategic role of nurses in different points of action and leadership.

Implementation of the drive-through strategy for COVID-19 vaccination: an experience report / Implementación de la estrategia drive-through para la vacunación contra el COVID-19: relato de experiencia / Implementação da estratégia drive-through para vacinação COVID-19: um relato de experiência

Abstract Objective: To describe the experience of implementing a satellite vaccination unit in a drive-through system during a campaign against COVID-19. Method: This is an experience report carried out in a drive-through vaccination satellite unit. The study development was guided by the triad structure-process-results, proposed by Donabedian. Results: The unit was structured in a soccer stadium, allowing it to serve large audiences safely. Care flow occurred in stages and professionals were organized by sectors, with emphasis on the nursing team' work. Initially, screening was performed; later, users went to the registration sector, and, finally, they were forwarded to the application station. The unit also had emergency sectors, a cold chain, space for professionals and a Basic Health Unit as a point of support. In 25 days of operation, 9698 doses were administered, with 1.8% of doses lost. Conclusion: The implementation of this system required planning, structure, process development and intense team articulation, with emphasis on the fundamental and strategic role of nurses in different points of action and leadership.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir la experiencia de implementación de una unidad de vacunación satélite en un sistema drive-through, durante la campaña contra el COVID-19. Método: Se trata de un relato de experiencia, realizado en una unidad satélite de vacunación drive-through. El desarrollo del estudio estuvo guiado por la tríada estructura-proceso-resultados, propuesta por Donabedian. Resultados: La unidad se estructuró en un estadio de fútbol, lo que le permitió atender grandes audiencias de manera segura. El flujo de la atención ocurrió por etapas, y los profesionales fueron organizados por sectores, con énfasis en el trabajo del equipo de enfermería. Inicialmente se realizaba el cribado, posteriormente el usuario se dirigía al sector de registro y finalmente se enviaba a la estación de aplicación. La unidad también contó con sectores de urgencia y emergencia, cadena de frío, espacio para profesionales y una Unidad Básica de Salud como punto de apoyo. En 25 días de operación, se administraron 9698 dosis, con un 1,8% de dosis olvidadas. Conclusión: La implementación de este sistema requirió planificación, estructuración, desarrollo de procesos y una intensa articulación de equipos, con énfasis en el papel fundamental y estratégico de los enfermeros en diferentes puntos de acción y liderazgo.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a experiência de implementação de uma unidade satélite de vacinação em sistema drive-through, durante a campanha contra COVID-19. Método: Trata-se de um relato de experiência, realizado em uma unidade satélite de vacinação em sistema drive-through. O desenvolvimento do estudo foi norteado pela tríade estrutura-processo-resultados, proposta por Donabedian. Resultados: A unidade foi estruturada em um estádio de futebol, permitindo o atendimento de grandes públicos de forma segura. O fluxo de atendimento ocorreu por etapas, e os profissionais foram organizados por setores, com destaque para atuação da equipe de enfermagem. Inicialmente, realizou-se a triagem, posteriormente, o usuário dirigia-se ao setor de cadastramento, e, por fim, era encaminhado à estação de aplicação. A unidade contava também com os setores de urgência e emergência, rede de frio, espaço para os profissionais e uma Unidade Básica de Saúde como ponto de apoio. Em 25 dias de atuação, foram administradas 9698 doses, com 1,8% de doses perdidas. Conclusão: A implementação deste sistema exigiu planejamento, estrutura, desenvolvimento de processos e intensa articulação em equipe, com destaque para o papel fundamental e estratégico do enfermeiro em diferentes pontos de atuação e liderança.

Experience of Vulnerable Women Narrated through the Body-Mapping Technique.

Vulnerable women are considered a priority in public policies and research agendas. It is necessary to understand better the specificities of their daily lives and the meanings they attribute to their experiences, as this undoubtedly contributes to more grounded and culturally appropriate practices. Additionally, innovative techniques in qualitative research are demanded in academia. This narrative research study was carried out with fourteen women from a Brazilian socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhood. We used the body-mapping technique to investigate the experiences of women with mental health disorders or psychosocial distress. The aim was to analyze the self-perception about daily stressors and discuss the feasibility of this technique to facilitate this group's storytelling. Data collection was performed through focus groups, guided by the body-mapping technique steps, and supplemented with individual interviews. Interpersonal conflicts and violence were the main stressors. These strongly impacted the well-being of these women and their children. Some important personal qualities and resilience were identified. Body-mapping played a fundamental role in facilitating storytelling. It amplified the linguistic possibilities for participants to express their feelings and promoted reflections about the present, past, and glimpses into the future.

The Social Support Buffering Effect in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Alcohol Use Among Brazilian Women.

This cross-sectional study interviewed Brazilian women regularly attending primary care to investigate whether the relationship between social support and alcohol use is direct or is mediated by stress, in order to support the development of recommendations related to health prevention and mental health promotion actions. The results suggest that social support affects the outcome alcohol use in the women studied by buffering the effect of stress. Based on these results, recommendations are made for amplifying the social support network that prevents stress-induced alcohol use.

Structure of the Social Support Network of Patients with Severe and Persistent Psychiatric Disorders in Follow-Ups to Primary Health Care.

The objective of this study is to analyze the characteristics of social support networks of patients with psychiatric disorders at follow-up to primary care. This is a cross-sectional qualitative research study. Forty-five interviews were held with patients and their supporters. The results showed small and dense networks, with a strong emphasis on the bonds with formal supporters and a scant network of informal supporters. It is recommended to develop strategies to improve social support networks and use this as an outcome indicator related to social integration of these patients and to the quality of services involved with outpatient healthcare.