Supporting evidence-based judicial decisions on health care in Brazil: an experience report / Apoio técnico-científico à tomada de decisão judicial em saúde no Brasil: um relato de experiência / Apoyo técnico-científico a la toma de decisiones judiciales en salud en Brasil: un relato de experiencia

Objective: The main objective of this study is to report on the implementation and results of the "Supporting Health-Related Judicial Decisions in Brazil" project conducted at the Health Technology Assessment Center, Hospital Sírio-Libanês through the "Programa de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Institucional do Sistema Único de Saúde", in Brazil. Methods: This study is an experience report of a project conducted at the Health Technology Assessment Center, Hospital Sírio-Libanês. Results: The activities of the project occurred in 2023 and included two online training courses on primary studies and systematic reviews, 11 one-day workshops with technical-scientific content for members of the Technical Support Centers for the Judiciary (NATJus), 40 online technical-scientific consultations for magistrates on a digital platform, 11 technical-scientific reports addressing the most legally claimed technologies in Brazil; two methodological tools, a national forum (hybrid event), 10 chat-based mentorships for NATJus members; and the maintenance of an open-access blog, by publishing news on relevant topics on law and health. Discussion and conclusion: This project has contributed to the improvement of the judicial decision-making process by providing a range of activities aimed at aiding the prioritization of health technologies that are clearly effective and safe over those that are ineffective, harmful, or have uncertain effects.

Objetivo: O objetivo principal deste estudo é relatar a implementação e os resultados do projeto "Apoio técnico-científico à tomada de decisão judicial em Saúde no Brasil" realizado no Hospital Sírio-Libanês por meio do "Programa de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Institucional do Sistema Único de Saúde". Métodos: Este estudo é um relato de experiência de um projeto realizado no Núcleo de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde do Hospital Sírio-Libanês. Resultados: As atividades do projeto ocorreram em 2023 e incluíram dois cursos de formação online sobre estudos primários e revisões sistemáticas, 11 oficinas de um dia com conteúdo técnico-científico para membros dos Núcleos de Apoio Técnico ao Judiciário (NATJus), 40 consultas on-line técnico-científicas para magistrados em plataforma digital, 11 relatórios técnico-científicos abordando as tecnologias mais reivindicadas judicialmente no Brasil; duas ferramentas metodológicas, um fórum nacional (evento híbrido), 10 mentorias via chat para membros do NATJus; e a manutenção de um blog de acesso aberto, com publicação de notícias sobre temas relevantes de direito e saúde. Discussão e conclusão: Este projeto contribuiu para a melhoria do processo de tomada de decisão judicial, fornecendo uma série de atividades destinadas a ajudar na priorização de tecnologias de saúde que sejam claramente eficazes e seguras em detrimento daquelas que são ineficazes, prejudiciais ou têm efeitos incertos.

Objetivo: El objetivo principal de este estudio es informar sobre la implementación y los resultados del proyecto "Apoyo a las Decisiones Judiciales Relacionadas con la Salud en Brasil" realizado en el Centro de Tecnología en Salud del Hospital Sírio-Libanês a través del "Programa de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Institucional do Sistema Único de Saúde", en Brasil. Métodos: Este estudio es un informe de experiencia de un proyecto realizado en el Centro de Tecnología en Salud del Hospital Sírio-Libanês. Resultados: Las actividades del proyecto ocurrieron en 2023 e incluyeron dos cursos de capacitación en línea sobre estudios primarios y revisiones sistemáticas, 11 talleres de un día de contenido técnico-científico para miembros de los Centros de Apoyo Técnico al Poder Judicial (NATJus), 40 consultas técnico-científicas en línea para magistrados en plataforma digital, 11 informes técnico-científicos que abordan las tecnologías más reclamadas legalmente en Brasil; dos herramientas metodológicas, un foro nacional (evento híbrido), 10 mentorías basadas en chat para miembros de NATJus; y el mantenimiento de un blog de acceso abierto, mediante la publicación de noticias sobre temas relevantes en derecho y salud. Discusión y conclusión: Este proyecto ha contribuido a mejorar el proceso de toma de decisiones judiciales proporcionando actividades para priorizar las tecnologías sanitarias claramente eficaces y seguras frente a aquellas que son ineficaces, nocivas o de efectos inciertos.

The influence of tobacco smoking on the outcomes achieved by root coverage procedures: An updated systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This updated version of a systematic review (SR) originally published in 2009 evaluated the effect of smoking on the clinical outcomes achieved with root coverage (RC) procedures in the treatment of gingival recession (GR) defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This SR includes randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and case series with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Eligible studies involved GR defects without interproximal tissue loss submitted to RC procedures, as well as outcome measures from smokers (i.e., those smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day at baseline) and nonsmokers, recorded separately. Three electronic databases were searched up to March 31, 2024. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted thoroughly. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies reporting on 181 smokers and 162 nonsmokers, submitted to different RC procedures, were included. Half of these trials were originally included in the 2009 SR, whereas the other half (six studies) were included in this update. Nonsmokers experienced greater reductions in GR and gains in clinical attachment level compared to smokers. Pooled estimates comparing smokers and nonsmokers who received coronally advanced flap (CAF) alone and subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) + CAF showed that nonsmokers achieved greater mean root coverage (MRC) in both treatments. Significant differences in MRC of 10.85% (95% CI, 1.92 to 19.77) and 22.04 (95% CI, 14.25 to 29.83), favoring nonsmokers, were identified for CAF and SCTG + CAF, respectively. Similarly, nonsmokers treated with SCTG + CAF displayed superior number of sites exhibiting complete root coverage (CRF) when compared with smokers (risk ratio, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.73 to 9.80). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking negatively impacts the outcomes of RC procedures, particularly those achieved by SCTG-based procedures. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Smoking was linked to poorer RC outcomes. These outcomes highlight the critical need to integrate smoking cessation into periodontal treatment plans.

Effectiveness of alcohol warning labels for at-risk groups and the general public: A policy-informing randomized experiment in Chile.

OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organization recommends using health-risk warnings on alcoholic beverages. This study examines the impact of separate or combined warning labels for at-risk groups and the general population on alcohol purchase decisions. METHODS: In 2022, 7758 adults who consumed alcohol or were pregnant/lactating women (54.0 % female, mean age = 40.6 years) were presented with an online store's beverage section and randomly assigned to one of six warning labels in a between-subjects experimental design: no-warning, pregnant/lactating, drinking-driving, general cancer risk, combined warnings, and assorted warnings across bottles. The main outcome, the intention to purchase an alcoholic vs. non-alcoholic beverage, was examined with adjusted risk differences using logistic regressions. RESULTS: Participants exposed to the general cancer risk warning decreased their alcoholic choices by 10.4 percentage points (pp.) (95 % CI [-0.139, -0.069], p < 0.001, OR = 0.561), while those in the pregnancy/lactation warning condition did it by 3.8 pp. (95 % CI [-0.071, -0.005], p = 0.025, OR = 0.806). The driving-drinking warning had no significant effect. Participants exposed to the combined warnings label, or the assorted warnings reduced alcohol purchase decisions by 6.1 pp. (95 % CI [-0.095, -0.028], p < 0.001, OR = 0.708) and 4.3 pp. (95 % CI [-0.076, -0.010], p = 0.011, OR = 0.782), respectively. Cancer warning outperformed other labels and was effective for subgroups such as pregnant/lactating women, young adults, and low-income individuals. CONCLUSIONS: General cancer risk warnings are more effective at reducing alcohol purchase decisions compared to warning labels for specific groups or labels using multiple warnings. In addition to warning labels, other policies should be considered for addressing well-known alcohol-related risks (e.g., drinking and driving).

Development and external validation of a model to predict multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis.

With the increasing rate of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), selecting appropriate empiric antibiotics has become challenging. We aimed to develop and externally validate a model for predicting the risk of MDRO infections in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: We included patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections from two prospective studies: a transcontinental study was used for model development and internal validation (n = 1302), and a study from Argentina and Uruguay was used for external validation (n = 472). All predictors were measured at the time of infection. Both culture-positive and culture-negative infections were included. The model was developed using logistic regression with backward stepwise predictor selection. We externally validated the optimism-adjusted model using calibration and discrimination statistics and evaluated its clinical utility. RESULTS: The prevalence of MDRO infections was 19% and 22% in the development and external validation datasets, respectively. The model's predictors were sex, prior antibiotic use, type and site of infection, MELD-Na, use of vasopressors, acute-on-chronic liver failure, and interaction terms. Upon external validation, the calibration slope was 77 (95% CI .48-1.05), and the area under the ROC curve was .68 (95% CI .61-.73). The application of the model significantly changed the post-test probability of having an MDRO infection, identifying patients with nosocomial infection at very low risk (8%) and patients with community-acquired infections at significant risk (36%). CONCLUSION: This model achieved adequate performance and could be used to improve the selection of empiric antibiotics, aligning with other antibiotic stewardship program strategies.

Patients recovering from COVID-19 who presented with anosmia during their acute episode have behavioral, functional, and structural brain alterations.

Patients recovering from COVID-19 commonly exhibit cognitive and brain alterations, yet the specific neuropathological mechanisms and risk factors underlying these alterations remain elusive. Given the significant global incidence of COVID-19, identifying factors that can distinguish individuals at risk of developing brain alterations is crucial for prioritizing follow-up care. Here, we report findings from a sample of patients consisting of 73 adults with a mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection without signs of respiratory failure and 27 with infections attributed to other agents and no history of COVID-19. The participants underwent cognitive screening, a decision-making task, and MRI evaluations. We assessed for the presence of anosmia and the requirement for hospitalization. Groups did not differ in age or cognitive performance. Patients who presented with anosmia exhibited more impulsive alternative changes after a shift in probabilities (r = - 0.26, p = 0.001), while patients who required hospitalization showed more perseverative choices (r = 0.25, p = 0.003). Anosmia correlated with brain measures, including decreased functional activity during the decision-making task, thinning of cortical thickness in parietal regions, and loss of white matter integrity. Hence, anosmia could be a factor to be considered when identifying at-risk populations for follow-up.

Do behavioral drivers matter for healthcare decision-making during crises? A study of low-income women in El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding health-seeking behaviors and their drivers is key for governments to manage health policies. A growing body of research explores the role of cognitive biases and heuristics in health and care-seeking behaviors, but little is known about how a context of heightened anxiety and uncertainty might influence these behavioral drivers. This study analyzes the association between four behavioral predictors-internal locus of control, impatience, optimism bias, and aspirations-and healthcare decisions among low-income women in El Salvador, controlling for other factors. We find positive associations between internal locus of control and preventive health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, a one standard deviation increase in locus of control is associated with a 10% increase in an index measuring the use of masks, distancing, hand washing, and vaccination. Locus of control was also associated with women's use of preventive health services (one standard deviation improves the likelihood of having a hypertension test in the last six months by 5.8 percentage points). In a sub-sample of mothers, we find significant relationships between the four behavioral drivers and the decisions the mothers make for their children. However, we find these associations are less robust compared to the decisions they make for themselves. Some associations were stronger during the pandemic, suggesting that feelings of uncertainty and stress could amplify behavioral drivers' influence on health-related behaviors. This novel finding is relevant for designing policy responses for future shocks. JEL CODES: I12, D10, D91, I30.

Evaluation of the level of information of pediatricians about the diagnosis and management of cryptorchidism.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the level of information of pediatricians about the diagnosis and management of cryptorchidism. METHOD: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a form via the "Google Forms" platform. The study population included pediatricians and pediatric residents associated with the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. Seven hundred twenty-eight responses were recorded and analyzed using IBM SPSS v21. RESULTS: 728 valid responses were obtained. Of these answers, only 20.5 % answered that the physical examination was sufficient for the diagnosis, and 79.4 % responded that they requested ultrasound as the best test to aid in diagnosing cryptorchidism. When questioned about the ideal age for referring a patient with cryptorchidism, the survey recorded 56.3 % of the responses defending the correct age as six months old, 30.2 % shortly after birth, and 13.2 % at two years old. Other topics were addressed in the form, such as the frequency of evaluation of testicular position and investigation for DDS, among others. Still, the answers to these questions were compatible with current manuals and guidelines on cryptorchidism. CONCLUSION: It is evident that the understanding of the professionals consulted about the diagnosis and management of cryptorchidism needs to be updated with the current practices adopted and that pediatricians, in general, must maintain periodic programs on this subject. Therefore, this topic should be part of a continuing education program with pediatric surgery.

Low-Value Practices for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction-Choosing Wisely Recommendations from the Brazilian Association of Physiotherapy in Women's Health: Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The Choosing Wisely campaign is an international initiative that is aimed at promoting a dialog between professionals, helping the population to choose an evidence-based, truly necessary and risk-free care. The aim of the study was to develop the Choosing Wisely Brazil list on Women's Health Physiotherapy in the area of the pelvic floor. METHODS: A observational study was carried out between January 2022 and July 2023, proposed by the Brazilian Association of Physiotherapy in Women's Health, and developed by researchers working in the area of the pelvic floor. The development of the list consisted of six stages: a panel of experts, consensus building, national research, a review by the Choosing Wisely Brazil team, preparation of the list, and publication of the recommendations. Descriptive and content analyses were carried out in order to include evidence-based recommendations with over 80% agreement by physiotherapists in Brazil. RESULTS: The expert panel was made up of 25 physiotherapists who submitted 63 recommendations. Seven physiotherapists/researchers carried out a critical analysis of the literature and refined the recommendations, resulting in 11 recommendations that were put to a national vote, in which 222 physiotherapists took part. After a review by the Choosing Wisely Brazil team, five recommendations with an average agreement of 88.2% agreement were chosen for publication. CONCLUSIONS: The Choosing Wisely Brazil team in Physiotherapy in Women's Health/Pelvic Floor proposed a list of five recommendations that showed a high agreement among Brazilian physiotherapists working in the area.

Computational modeling of decision-making in substance abusers: testing Bechara's hypotheses.

One of the cognitive abilities most affected by substance abuse is decision-making. Behavioral tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) provide a means to measure the learning process involved in decision-making. To comprehend this process, three hypotheses have emerged: (1) participants prioritize gains over losses, (2) they exhibit insensitivity to losses, and (3) the capacity of operational storage or working memory comes into play. A dynamic model was developed to examine these hypotheses, simulating sensitivity to gains and losses. The Linear Operator model served as the learning rule, wherein net gains depend on the ratio of gains to losses, weighted by the sensitivity to both. The study further proposes a comparison between the performance of simulated agents and that of substance abusers (n = 20) and control adults (n = 20). The findings indicate that as the memory factor increases, along with high sensitivity to losses and low sensitivity to gains, agents prefer advantageous alternatives, particularly those with a lower frequency of punishments. Conversely, when sensitivity to gains increases and the memory factor decreases, agents prefer disadvantageous alternatives, especially those that result in larger losses. Human participants confirmed the agents' performance, particularly when contrasting optimal and sub-optimal outcomes. In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of evaluating the parameters of the linear operator model across diverse clinical and community samples.

The application of bioethics as legal basis in judicial sentences concerning right to health in Brazil

The right to health is linked to life and human dignity. Among the instruments to make it effective, the phenomenon of health litigation has become prominent. In Brazil, courts are increasingly faced with the task of rendering verdicts concerning matters related to health. Nowadays, judges have to deal with issues about health policies, technology incorporations, drug supplies, human autonomy, genetics, and biotechnologies, among others. Lawsuit sentences are now to be built upon the resolution of ethical, legal and philosophical questions. Bioethics presents itself as an instrument and method to help solve legal cases involving the right to health. This paper intends to show that bioethics can be applied in verdicts of lawsuits regarding to right to health in Brazil. It highlights that bioethics can be considered a source of law due to its normative dimension, as well as a hermeneutic method. This essay also aims to show the role for bioethics to help interpret the law and solve hard cases within health law and the right to health. Lastly, it aims to justify the presence of bioethics as legal reasoning to be used by judges in the foundation of their verdicts in lawsuits involving the right to health.

El derecho a la salud está vinculado a la dignidad humana. Entre los instrumentos para hacerlo efectivo se ha destacado el fenómeno de la judicialización de la salud. En Brasil, los tribunales cada vez más deben decidir sobre asuntos relacionados con el derecho a la salud. Jueces deben tratar temas sobre políticas de salud, biotecnologías, medicamentos, autonomía humana, genética, entre otros. Las sentencias judiciales ahora deben resolver cuestiones éticas, legales y filosóficas. La bioética se presenta como un instrumento y un método para ayudar a resolver los casos legales del derecho a la salud. Este estudio pretende mostrar que la bioética puede ser aplicada en sentencias judiciales sobre casos de derecho a la salud en Brasil. Se destaca que la bioética puede ser considerada una fuente de derecho por su dimensión normativa, así como un método hermenéutico. Este ensayo también tiene como objetivo mostrar el papel de la bioética para ayudar a interpretar el derecho y resolver casos difíciles dentro del derecho a la salud. Por último, pretende justificar la presencia de la bioética como razonamiento jurídico a ser utilizado por los jueces en la fundamentación de sus veredictos en juicios que involucren el derecho a la salud.

O direito à saúde está vinculado à dignidade humana. Dentre os instrumentos para efetivá-la, o fenômeno da judicialização da saúde tem se destacado. No Brasil, os tribunais se deparam cada vez mais com a tarefa de julgar processos relacionadas ao direito à saúde. Atualmente, os juízes têm que lidar com questões sobre políticas de saúde, incorporação de tecnologias, fornecimento de medicamentos, autonomia, genética, biotecnologias, entre outros. As sentenças judiciais devem ser construídas com base também na resolução de questões éticas, legais e filosóficas. A bioética apresenta-se como instrumento e método para auxiliar na resolução de casos jurídicos envolvendo o direito à saúde. Este trabalho pretende mostrar que a bioética pode ser aplicada no julgamento de ações judiciais relativas ao direito à saúde no Brasil. Destaca que a bioética pode ser considerada fonte do direito por sua dimensão normativa, bem como método hermenêutico. Este ensaio também visa mostrar o papel da bioética para ajudar a interpretar a lei e resolver casos difíceis dentro do direito sanitário e do direito à saúde. Por fim, visa justificar a presença da bioética como fundamentação jurídica a ser utilizada pelos magistrados na fundamentação de suas sentenças em ações que envolvam o direito à saúde.

Strategies for optimising early detection and obstetric first response management of postpartum haemorrhage at caesarean birth: a modified Delphi-based international expert consensus.

OBJECTIVE: There are no globally agreed on strategies on early detection and first response management of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) during and after caesarean birth. Our study aimed to develop an international expert's consensus on evidence-based approaches for early detection and obstetric first response management of PPH intraoperatively and postoperatively in caesarean birth. DESIGN: Systematic review and three-stage modified Delphi expert consensus. SETTING: International. POPULATION: Panel of 22 global experts in PPH with diverse backgrounds, and gender, professional and geographic balance. OUTCOME MEASURES: Agreement or disagreement on strategies for early detection and first response management of PPH at caesarean birth. RESULTS: Experts agreed that the same PPH definition should apply to both vaginal and caesarean birth. For the intraoperative phase, the experts agreed that early detection should be accomplished via quantitative blood loss measurement, complemented by monitoring the woman's haemodynamic status; and that first response should be triggered once the woman loses at least 500 mL of blood with continued bleeding or when she exhibits clinical signs of haemodynamic instability, whichever occurs first. For the first response, experts agreed on immediate administration of uterotonics and tranexamic acid, examination to determine aetiology and rapid initiation of cause-specific responses. In the postoperative phase, the experts agreed that caesarean birth-related PPH should be detected primarily via frequently monitoring the woman's haemodynamic status and clinical signs and symptoms of internal bleeding, supplemented by cumulative blood loss assessment performed quantitatively or by visual estimation. Postoperative first response was determined to require an individualised approach. CONCLUSION: These agreed on proposed approaches could help improve the detection of PPH in the intraoperative and postoperative phases of caesarean birth and the first response management of intraoperative PPH. Determining how best to implement these strategies is a critical next step.

Diagnostic Strategies for Restorations Management: A 70-Month RCT.

We aimed to evaluate the impact of 2 visual diagnostic strategies for assessing secondary caries and managing permanent posterior restorations on long-term survival. We conducted a diagnostic cluster-randomized clinical trial with 2 parallel groups using different diagnostic strategies: (C+AS) based on caries assessment, marginal adaptation, and marginal staining aspects of the FDI (World Dental Federation) criteria and (C) based on caries assessment using the Caries Associated with Restorations or Sealants (CARS) criteria described by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). The treatment for the restoration was conducted based on the decision made following the allocated diagnostic strategy. The restorations were then clinically reevaluated for up to 71 mo. The primary outcome was restoration failure (including tooth-level failure: pain, endodontic treatment, and extraction). Cox regression analyses with shared frailty were conducted in the intention-to-treat population, and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were derived. We included 727 restorations from 185 participants and reassessed 502 (69.1%) restorations during follow-up. The evaluations occurred between 6 and 71 mo. At baseline, C led to almost 4 times fewer interventions compared with the C+AS strategy. A total of 371 restorations were assessed in the C group, from which 31 (8.4%) were repaired or replaced. In contrast, the C+AS group had 356 restorations assessed, from which 113 (31.7%) were repaired or replaced. During follow-up, 34 (9.2%) failures were detected in the restorations allocated to the C group and 30 (8.4%) allocated to the C+AS group in the intention-to-treat population, with no significant difference between the groups (HR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.51 to 1.38; P = 0.435, C+AS as reference). In conclusion, a diagnostic strategy focusing on marginal defects results in more initial interventions but does not improve longevity over the caries-focused strategy, suggesting the need for more conservative approaches.

Percepción del cuidado centrado en la persona y autonomía en la atención clínica de usuarios que viven con multimorbilidad / Perception of Person-Centered Care and Autonomy in Clinical Care in Patients living with Multimorbidity / Percepção do cuidado centrado na pessoa e autonomia no cuidado clínico de usuários que convivem com multimorbidade

Introducción: promover autonomía significa transitar desde un modelo paternalista hacia uno que posi-cione en un rol activo a las personas durante el encuentro clínico, con participación en la toma de deci-siones relativas al cuidado de su salud. Este artículo describe la percepción de usuarios que viven con multimorbilidad respecto del ejercicio de su autonomía durante la atención clínica. Método: estudio de caso cualitativo en usuarios con multimorbilidad atendidos en un centro de salud familiar de Santiago (Chile).Se realizó análisis de contenido según Krippendorf. Resultados: la muestra quedó conformada por 19 participantes adultos con un promedio de 2.7 condiciones crónicas de salud. Del análisis de contenido de las entrevistas emergieron tres categorías: a) significado atribuido por los usuarios a la autonomía en la atención de salud, b) elementos que debe considerar una atención en salud que respete la autonomía del usuario y c) participación durante la atención clínica. Conclusiones: frente al aumento de las condicio-nes crónicas de salud es imperativo repensar la forma de brindar atención de salud, relevando el valor de la participación usuaria a través de la toma de decisiones compartida como expresión de respeto de su autonomía y una forma de fomentar el cuidado centrado en las personas

Aim: Promoting autonomy means changing from a paternalistic model to one in which individuals play an active role in their healthcare, which their participation in medical decision-making will reflect. This issue needs to be sufficiently explored in Chile, so this article aims to describe the perception of users liv-ing with multimorbidity regarding their ability to exercise autonomy in clinical care. Method: Qualitative case study conducted in a sample of patients with multimorbility from a family health center in Santiago de Chile. Content analysis was performed according to the Krippendorf method. Results: The sample com-prised 19 adult participants with an average of 2.7 chronic health conditions. Three categories emerged from the content analysis of the interviews: (a) Meaning attributed by users to autonomy in health care, (b) Elements that health care respecting user autonomy should consider, and (c) Participation during clinical care. Conclusions: Considering the sustained increase in chronic health conditions, it is impera-tive to rethink how health care is provided, highlighting the value of user participation through shared decision-making as an expression of respect for individuals' autonomy and the promotion of patient-cen-tered care

Objetivo: promover a autonomia significa passar de um modelo paternalista para um que posicione as pessoas num papel ativo durante o encontro clínico, com participação na tomada de decisões relaciona-das com os seus cuidados de saúde. Este manuscrito descreve a percepção de usuários que convivem com multimorbidade quanto ao exercício de sua autonomia durante o atendimento clínico. Método: estudo de caso qualitativo em usuários com multimorbidade atendidos em um Centro de Saúde da Família de Santiago, no Chile. A análise de conteúdo foi realizada segundo Krippendorf. Resultados: a amostra foi composta por 19 participantes adultos com média de 2.7 condições crônicas de saúde. Da análise de conteúdo das entrevistas emergem três categorias: a) Significado atribuído pelos usuários à autonomia no cuidado em saúde, b) Elementos que um cuidado de saúde que respeite a autonomia do usuário deve considerar, e c) Participação durante o atendimento clínico. Conclusões: face ao aumento das condições crónicas de saúde, é imperativo repensar a forma de prestar cuidados de saúde, destacando o valor da participação dos pacientes através da tomada de decisão partilhada como expressão de respeito pela sua autonomia e forma de promover o cuidado centrado nas pessoas

Systematic documentation of the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Objective: To document the process of introducing COVID-19 vaccines in a selection of Latin American and Caribbean countries, including the lessons learned and the strengths and weaknesses, and similarities and differences among programs. Methods: This descriptive study is based on a systematic evaluation of the process of introducing COVID-19 vaccines in Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru. Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to key stakeholders. Six informants from each of the included countries participated in this study. The period of the study was from December 2021 through September 2022. Results: The main strengths reported by countries were health workers' commitment to delivering vaccinations, evidence-based decision-making, the development of plans for vaccine introduction, the participation of national immunization technical advisory groups, the availability of economic resources and positive actions from the respective Ministry of Health. The main challenges were the actions of antivaccination groups, problems with electronic immunization registries, a lack of vaccines, delays in the delivery of vaccines and the scarcity of health personnel at the local level. Conclusions: Commitment, the participation of multiple sectors, the availability of resources and preparedness planning were some of the many strengths shown by countries introducing COVID-19 vaccines. Weaknesses included third parties' interests, the lack of information systems and difficulty in accessing vaccines and vaccine services. There is a window of opportunity for countries to maintain the good practices that allowed for the processes' strengths and to assess the identified weaknesses to invigorate immunization programs and prepare for future health crises.

Blue-green infrastructure in view of Integrated Urban Water Management: A novel assessment of an effectiveness index.

Addressing urban water management challenges requires a holistic view. Sustainable approaches such as blue-green infrastructure (BGI) provide several benefits, but assessing their effectiveness demands a systemic approach. Challenges are magnified in informal areas, leading to the combination of integrated urban water management (IUWM) with BGI as a proposed solution by this research. We employed the Urban Water Use (UWU) model to assess the effectiveness index (EI) of BGI measures in view of IUWM after stakeholder consultation. The procedure in this novel assessment includes expert meetings for scenario building and resident interviews to capture the community's vision. To assess the impact of IUWM on the effectiveness of BGI measures, we proposed a simulation with BGI only and then three simulations with improvements to the water and sewage systems. The results of the EI analysis reveal a substantial improvement in the effectiveness of BGI measures through IUWM combination. Moreover, we offer insights into developing strategies for UWU model application in informal settlements, transferrable to diverse urban areas. The findings hold relevance for policymakers and urban planners, aiding informed decisions in urban water management.

Performance of soccer players under acute physical fatigue: An approach based on cognitive, tactical and physical aspects.

This study aimed to verify whether peripheral perception, tactical behaviour, and physical performance are influenced by acute physical fatigue in soccer players. The study included 24 trained soccer players (18.6 ± 1.5 years) from two Brazilian clubs. The TSAFT90 test was used to induce acute physical fatigue. The results showed that physical fatigue did not affect peripheral perception (p = 0.360). Regarding tactical behaviour, improved efficiency was observed for the principles of offensive coverage (p = 0.029), width and length with the ball (p = 0.044), and concentration (p = 0.008). On the other hand, a reduction was observed in the number of tactical actions of offensive coverage (p = 0.020) and recovery balance (p = 0.042). Also, improved accuracy in the principles of defensive balance (p = 0.009), recovery balance (p = 0.021) and defensive unity (p = 0.003) occurred under physical fatigue. A reduction in the physical performance outcomes total distance covered (p < 0.001), average speed (p < 0.001), sprints (p = 0.029), number of accelerations (p = 0.008) and decelerations (p = 0.008) were also detected. The internal (p < 0.01) and external (p < 0.01) workload was higher under physical fatigue. Overall, acute physical fatigue did not influence peripheral perception. However, physical performance was reduced under fatigue, the perceived effort increased, and tactical behaviours were affected by decreasing tactical actions performed near the ball, increasing errors in defensive movements in the lateral corridors and the last defensive line, and improving offensive tactical actions performance.