Uma Proposta Educativa para Abordar Objeção de Consciência em Saúde Reprodutiva durante o Ensino Médico / An Educational Proposal to Address Conscientious Objection in Reproductive Health during Medical Education

RESUMO OBJETIVO Este estudo procurou avaliar a técnica do role-playing na abordagem da objeção de consciência no currículo médico, estimulando o raciocínio ético e a habilidade de comunicação, competências necessárias a um maior conforto na alegação de recusa por parte do profissional. MÉTODOS Estudo de intervenção que envolveu 120 acadêmicos de Medicina no momento em que encerravam o internato em Perinatologia. Os estudantes responderam a um questionário autoaplicável, antes e depois da intervenção, contendo variáveis demográficas e questões sobre a anuência de conduzir ou não situações em saúde reprodutiva, como abortamento legal, orientação contraceptiva a jovens adolescentes e prescrição da pílula do dia seguinte. O grau de conforto dos estudantes ao conduzirem estes casos e os conhecimentos éticos sobre o tema também foram questionados. Recolhidos os questionários, os alunos assistiram a três filmes de curta-metragem, um tratando da recusa de um médico a realizar um abortamento previsto em lei; outro sobre orientação contraceptiva a uma jovem de 13 anos e sem o consentimento dos pais; e um terceiro, acerca da prescrição da pílula do dia seguinte a uma jovem que teve uma relação desprotegida no 14º dia do ciclo. Encerrada esta etapa, se estimulou uma discussão sobre os seguintes tópicos: aspectos legais sobre o tema, direito à objeção de consciência do médico, violação da autonomia da paciente e prejuízo à saúde do solicitante decorrente da recusa por parte do médico. Encerrada esta fase preparatória, formaram-se subgrupos de três alunos que simularam os três casos clínicos, havendo um revezamento entre os papéis de médico, paciente e observador. Após a dramatização, os estudantes foram estimulados a discutir as inter-relações nos papéis de médico e paciente, a objeção de consciência do médico, o efeito da recusa ao tratamento no paciente e a capacidade de comunicação do médico. Ao final, foi reaplicado o mesmo questionário, com as mesmas questões sobre a anuência ou não da condução dos casos clínicos, o conforto ou não ao conduzi-los, como também as perguntas referentes aos conhecimentos éticos sobre objeção de consciência. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste do X2, teste t e teste de McNemar, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS A alteração do conforto do estudante na condução do abortamento previsto em lei, após a intervenção, foi significativa (p < 0,001). O mesmo foi observado na orientação contraceptiva a jovens adolescentes (p < 0,001) e na prescrição da contracepção de emergência (p = 0,002). A mudança de opinião quanto à objeção ao abortamento legal foi significativa (p = 0,003) e também quanto à orientação contraceptiva a jovens adolescentes (p = 0,012). Não se observaram diferenças na prescrição da pílula do dia seguinte (p = 0,500). CONCLUSÕES A aplicação dessa metodologia no grupo participante tornou mais confortável a condução dos casos discutidos e forneceu um conteúdo técnico, legal e ético para melhor embasamento de suas opiniões.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of role-playing in addressing the issue of conscientious objection in the medical curriculum. METHODS This is an intervention study involving 120 medical students on completion of their internship in Perinatology.The project consisted of eight modules with 15 students in each. Initially a questionnaire was applied to obtain the students' demographic information, religion, ethical knowledge of conscientious objection in medical practice, whether or not the students agreed with it, and the level of comfort in addressing situations such as legal abortion, the prescription of emergency contraceptives, and giving advice on contraception to young adolescents. Subsequently, three short films, created exclusively for the project, were shown. The first addressed a doctor's refusal to perform an abortion on a 15-year-old girl who had been the victim of sexual violence. The second simulatedes a doctor's objection to providing advice on contraception to a 13-year-old adolescent without parental consent, and the third portrayed the doctor's refusal to prescribe emergency contraception to a young woman after having unprotected intercourse on the 14th day of her cycle. A discussion was then instigated on the following topics: the existing legislation on the subject, the doctor's right to conscientious objection, violation of the patient's autonomy, and the potential for discrimination and harm to the patient's health due to the doctor's refusal. Subgroups of three students were then formed, to simulate clinical cases, with the students taking turns to play the roles of the physician, patient and observer. At the end, the questionnaire was reapplied. The data were analyzed by the χ2 test, t-test and McNemar's test, with a level of significance of 5%. RESULTS Abortion was rejected by 35.8% of the students, contraception for adolescents by 17.5%, and emergency contraception by 5.8%. The predictors identified with legal abortion were stronger religious belief (p < 0.001) and more frequent attendance of religious services (p = 0.034). The refusal to provide contraception to adolescents was significantly higher among women (p = 0.037).Of the sample, 25% did not explain the reason for their refusal, 15% did not describe all procedures, and 25% said they would not forward patients. The change in comfort in conducting legal abortion after the intervention was significant (p < 0.001). The same was observed in the attitude to providing contraceptives to young adolescents (p < 0.001) and in the prescription of emergency contraception (p = 0.002). The change of opinion regarding objection to legal abortion was significant (p = 0.003), as was the attitude to providing and also regarding the contraceptives to young adolescents (p = 0.012). No differences were observed in the prescription of emergency contraception (p = 0.500). CONCLUSIONS The application of this methodology in the participant group made the students more comfortable about conducting cases like those discussed, and provided technical, legal and ethical content for a better grounding of their opinions.

Prevalence, Attitudes, and Factors Motivating Conscientious Objection toward Reproductive Health among Medical Students.

OBJECTIVE: We have evaluated the prevalence of and the motivating factors behind the refusal to provide reproductive health services and the ethical knowledge of the subject among medical students from the Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study involved 120 medical students. A questionnaire was utilized. The dependent variables were students' objections (or not) regarding three clinical reproductive health cases: abortion provided by law, contraceptive guidance to an adolescent without parental consent, and prescription of emergency contraception. The independent variables were age, gender, religion, ethical value, degree of religiosity, and attendance at worship services. Ethical knowledge comprised an obligation to state the reasons for the objection, report possible alternatives, and referral to another professional. Data were analyzed with χ2 tests and t-tests with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Abortion, contraception to adolescents, and emergency contraception were refused by 35.8%, 17.5%, and 5.8% of the students, respectively. High religiosity (p < 0.001) and higher attendance at worship services (p = 0.034) were predictors of refusing abortion. Refusal to provide contraception to adolescents was significantly higher among women than men (p = 0.037). Furthermore, 25% would not explain the reason for the refusal, 15% would not describe all the procedures used, and 25% would not refer the patient to another professional. CONCLUSION: Abortion provided by law was the most objectionable situation. The motivating factors for this refusal were high commitment and religiosity. A reasonable portion of the students did not demonstrate ethical knowledge about the subject.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência e os fatores motivadores da recusa em prestar serviços de saúde reprodutiva, bem como o conhecimento ético do tema, entre estudantes de medicina. MéTODOS: Estudo transversal, envolvendo 120 estudantes de medicina. Aplicou-se um questionário cujas variáveis dependentes foram a existência ou não de objeções quanto à condução de três casos clínicos sobre saúde reprodutiva: o abortamento previsto em lei, a orientação contraceptiva a uma adolescente sem consentimento dos pais, e a prescrição de contracepção de emergência. As varáveis independentes foram: idade, gênero, religião, valor ético, grau de religiosidade e frequência a cultos religiosos. Os conhecimentos éticos pesquisados foram a obrigação de expor os motivos da objeção, relatar as alternativas possíveis e encaminhar a paciente a outro profissional. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste do χ2 e pelo teste-t, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: O abortamento foi recusado por 35,8% dos estudantes, a contracepção aos adolescentes por 17,5%, e a contracepção de emergência por 5,8%. A alta religiosidade (p < 0,001) e uma maior frequência a cultos (p = 0,034) foram os preditores identificados no caso do abortamento previsto em lei. A recusa da contracepção aos adolescentes foi significativamente maior entre as mulheres (p = 0,037). Entre os estudantes, 25% não explicariam o motivo da recusa, 15% não descreveriam todos os procedimentos e 25% não fariam o encaminhamento da paciente para outro profissional. CONCLUSãO: O abortamento previsto em lei, foi a situação mais objetada. Os fatores motivadores a esta recusa foram o alto comprometimento e maior religiosidade. Uma parcela razoável dos alunos não demonstrou ter conhecimentos éticos sobre o tema.

Prevalence, attitudes, and factors motivating conscientious objection toward reproductive health among medical students / Prevalência, atitudes e fatores motivadores à objeção consciente com relação à saúde reprodutiva entre estudantes de medicina

Abstract Objective We have evaluated the prevalence of and the motivating factors behind the refusal to provide reproductive health services and the ethical knowledge of the subject among medical students from the Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Methods The present cross-sectional study involved 120 medical students. A questionnaire was utilized. The dependent variables were students' objections (or not) regarding three clinical reproductive health cases: abortion provided by law, contraceptive guidance to an adolescent without parental consent, and prescription of emergency contraception. The independent variables were age, gender, religion, ethical value, degree of religiosity, and attendance at worship services. Ethical knowledge comprised an obligation to state the reasons for the objection, report possible alternatives, and referral to another professional. Data were analyzed with χ2 tests and t-tests with a significance level of 5%. Results Abortion, contraception to adolescents, and emergency contraception were refused by 35.8%, 17.5%, and 5.8% of the students, respectively. High religiosity (p < 0.001) and higher attendance at worship services (p = 0.034) were predictors of refusing abortion. Refusal to provide contraception to adolescents was significantly higher among women than men (p = 0.037). Furthermore, 25% would not explain the reason for the refusal, 15% would not describe all the procedures used, and 25% would not refer the patient to another professional. Conclusion Abortion provided by law was the most objectionable situation. The motivating factors for this refusal were high commitment and religiosity. A reasonable portion of the students did not demonstrate ethical knowledge about the subject.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a prevalência e os fatoresmotivadores da recusa emprestar serviços de saúde reprodutiva, bem como o conhecimento ético do tema, entre estudantes de medicina. Métodos Estudo transversal, envolvendo 120 estudantes demedicina. Aplicou-se um questionário cujas variáveis dependentes forama existência ou não de objeções quanto à condução de três casos clínicos sobre saúde reprodutiva: o abortamento previsto em lei, a orientação contraceptiva a uma adolescente sem consentimento dos pais, e a prescrição de contracepção de emergência. As varáveis independentes foram: idade, gênero, religião, valor ético, grau de religiosidade e frequência a cultos religiosos. Os conhecimentos éticos pesquisados foram a obrigação de expor os motivos da objeção, relatar as alternativas possíveis e encaminhar a paciente a outro profissional. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste do χ2 e pelo teste-t, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados O abortamento foi recusado por 35,8% dos estudantes, a contracepção aos adolescentes por 17,5%, e a contracepção de emergência por 5,8%. A alta religiosidade (p < 0,001) e uma maior frequência a cultos (p = 0,034) foram os preditores identificados no caso do abortamento previsto em lei. A recusa da contracepção aos adolescentes foi significativamente maior entre as mulheres (p = 0,037). Entre os estudantes, 25% não explicariam o motivo da recusa, 15% não descreveriam todos os procedimentos e 25% não fariam o encaminhamento da paciente para outro profissional. Conclusão O abortamento previsto em lei, foi a situação mais objetada. Os fatores motivadores a esta recusa foram o alto comprometimento e maior religiosidade. Uma parcela razoável dos alunos não demonstrou ter conhecimentos éticos sobre o tema.

[Competences acquired during medical training and the opinions and attitudes about abortion]. / Competências adquiridas durante a formação médica e as opiniões e atitudes sobre o aborto.

PURPOSE: To analyze and compare the knowledge, attitudes and opinions of medical students about abortion in Brazil during the progression of the course. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 174 medical students. A questionnaire was applied whose dependent variables were degree of information about abortion, including its legal aspects in Brazil, situations in which the students would agree with the expansion of permitted legal abortion, knowledge of someone undergoing abortion, and discomfort about performing the procedure legally. The independent variables were sociodemographic data, religion, and academic standing (first or second half of the course). For data analysis it was used χ2 and Fisher's exact tests, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: Among the interviewees, 59.8 % considered themselves well informed about the topic. Students demonstrated knowledge about the complications of abortion, with no differences with the progression of the course. Knowledge about the legal aspects of abortion in Brazil was shown by 48.9% of the sample, being significantly higher among students in the second half of the course (34.0 and 68.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Experiencing situations of clandestine abortion was significantly higher among students in the final half of the course (3.05 and 59.4%, respectively; p<0.001), the same being observed about knowing someone who underwent the procedure illegally (5.0 and 18.9%, respectively; p<0.001). The expansion of permissive legal abortion in Brazil was agreed about by 86.2% students, although 54.6% of the students reported that they felt uncomfortable about performing the procedure even legally, without statistical significance with the evolution of the course regarding the two situations. CONCLUSIONS: The experiences of abortion and the knowledge of legal aspects were significantly higher among students in the second half of the course, with no significant changes in attitudes or opinions about abortion being observed with the competences acquired during medical training.

Competencias adquiridas durante a formacao medica e as opinioes e atitudes sobre o aborto / Competences acquired during medical training and the opinions and attitudes about abortion

OBJETIVO: Avaliar e comparar o conhecimento, as atitudes e opiniões dos estudantes de Medicina quanto ao aborto no Brasil durante o evoluir do curso. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal envolvendo 174 estudantes de Medicina. Foi aplicado um questionário cujas variáveis dependentes foram: o grau de informação sobre o aborto, incluindo seus aspectos jurídicos no Brasil, as situações em que concordaria com a ampliação do permissivo legal do aborto, o conhecimento de alguém submetido ao abortamento e o desconforto em realizar o procedimento de forma legal. As variáveis independentes estudadas foram: dados sociodemográficos, religião e situação acadêmica (primeira ou segunda metade do curso). Para análise dos dados foram utilizados os testes do χ2 e exato de Fischer, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Entre os entrevistados, 59,8% foram considerados bem informados acerca do tema. Os estudantes demonstraram conhecimento a respeito das complicações decorrentes do abortamento, sem diferenças com o evoluir do curso. O conhecimento dos aspectos legais do abortamento no Brasil foi demonstrado por 48,9% da amostra, sendo significativamente superior entre os alunos da segunda metade do curso (34,0 e 68,9% respectivamente; p<0,001). A vivência de situações do abortamento clandestino foi significativamente maior entre os alunos da metade final do curso (35,0 e 59,4% respectivamente p<0,001), o mesmo ocorrendo quanto ao conhecimento de alguém que tenha sido submetida ao procedimento de forma ilegal (5,0 e 18,9% respectivamente; p<0,001). A ampliação do permissivo legal do abortamento no Brasil foi concordado por 86,2% da amostra, porém 54,6% dos estudantes relataram que se sentem desconfortáveis em realizar o procedimento mesmo de forma legal, ambos sem significância ...

PURPOSE: To analyze and compare the knowledge, attitudes and opinions of medical students about abortion in Brazil during the progression of the course. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 174 medical students. A questionnaire was applied whose dependent variables were degree of information about abortion, including its legal aspects in Brazil, situations in which the students would agree with the expansion of permitted legal abortion, knowledge of someone undergoing abortion, and discomfort about performing the procedure legally. The independent variables were sociodemographic data, religion, and academic standing (first or second half of the course). For data analysis it was used χ2 and Fisher's exact tests, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: Among the interviewees, 59.8 % considered themselves well informed about the topic. Students demonstrated knowledge about the complications of abortion, with no differences with the progression of the course. Knowledge about the legal aspects of abortion in Brazil was shown by 48.9% of the sample, being significantly higher among students in the second half of the course (34.0 and 68.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Experiencing situations of clandestine abortion was significantly higher among students in the final half of the course (3.05 and 59.4%, respectively; p<0.001), the same being observed about knowing someone who underwent the procedure illegally (5.0 and 18.9%, respectively; p<0.001). The expansion of permissive legal abortion in Brazil was agreed about by 86.2% students, although 54.6% of the students reported that they felt uncomfortable about performing the procedure even legally, without statistical significance with the evolution of the course regarding the two situations. CONCLUSIONS: The experiences of abortion and the knowledge of legal aspects were significantly higher among students in the second half of the course, with ...

[Clinical predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy]. / Preditores clínicos de bacteriúria assintomática na gestação.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women attended at our university prenatal care clinic and to identify probable clinical predictors. METHODS: Across-sectional study was carried out from August 2008 to October 2009 at the Bahiana School of Medicine involving 260 pregnant women without symptoms of urinary tract infection. The following exclusion criteria were considered: presence of clinical signs such as fever, dysuria, vesical tenesmus, lumbar pain, history of active genital bleeding or loss of amniotic fluid, use of antimicrobial agents in the 30 days prior to sample collection, and refusal to participate in the project. The presence of single pathogen bacterial colonization ≥10(5) CFU/mL in the urine sample obtained from the middle jet was considered to be a dependent variable. The predictive factors evaluated were as follows: age, race, marital status, schooling, gestational age, hypertension, anemia, vaginal infection, sickle cell trait and previous history of urinary tract infection, urinary symptoms related to the lower urinary tract (frequency, urgency and nocturia) and data obtained from the urine summary (leukocyturia, increased bacterial flora, hematuria, proteinuria, and presence of nitrite). Statistical analysis was performed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 13.0 and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. Prevalences were expressed as percentage, and the confidence interval considered was 95% (95%CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 12.3% (95%CI=8.3-16.3). E. coli was the most frequent etiologic agent (59.4%). Logistic regression indicated that urgency to void (OR=5.99; 95%CI=2.20-16.31; p<0.001); leukocyturia (OR=2.85; 95%CI=1.04-7.83; p=0.042) and increased bacterial flora (OR=10.62; 95%CI=3.95-28.56; p<0.001) were independent predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the studied population was high. The prediction score created for the final logistic regression model has an accuracy of 91.9% for bacteriuria.

Preditores clínicos de bacteriúria assintomática na gestação / Clinical predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy

OBJETIVOS: Estimar a prevalência de bacteriúria assintomática (BAS) entre gestantes atendidas em pré-natal de Serviço Universitário e identificar prováveis preditores clínicos. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de corte transversal, envolvendo 260 gestantes matriculadas em serviço de pré-natal de baixo risco entre agosto de 2008 e outubro de 2009, sem sintomas de infecção do trato urinário. Foram excluídas aquelas com febre, disúria, tenesmo vesical, dor lombar, presença de sangramento genital, perda de líquido amniótico, uso de antimicrobianos nos últimos 30 dias e aquelas que não desejaram participar do projeto. A presença de colonização bacteriana ≥10(5) UFC/mL de único patógeno, na amostra urinária obtida do jato médio, foi considerada como a variável dependente. As variáveis estudadas foram: idade, raça, estado civil, nível de instrução, história obstétrica, idade gestacional, anemia, traço falciforme, colpite, passado de infecção do trato urinário, polaciúria, urgência miccional e incontinência urinária. Dados do sumário de urina também foram analisados, como a presença de leucocitúria, flora bacteriana aumentada, hematúria, proteinúria e nitrito. A análise estatística foi realizada com o programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 13.0 e a significância estatística foi previamente definida por valor p<0,05. As prevalências foram expressas por percentual e intervalo de confiança considerado foi de 95 por cento. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de foi de 12,3 por cento (IC95 por cento=8,3-16,3). O agente etiológico mais frequente foi a E. coli (59,4 por cento). A regressão logística indicou que a urgência miccional (OR=5,9; IC95 por cento=2,2-16,3; p<0,001), a leucocitúria (OR=2,8; IC95 por cento=1,0-7,8; p=0,04) e a flora bacteriana aumentada (OR=10,6; IC95 por cento=3,9-28,5; p<0,001), são preditores independentes de BAS durante a gestação. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de bacteriúria assintomática na população estudada é alta. O escore preditor criado com o modelo final de regressão logística possui uma acurácia de 91,9 por cento para bacteriúria.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women attended at our university prenatal care clinic and to identify probable clinical predictors. METHODS: Across-sectional study was carried out from August 2008 to October 2009 at the Bahiana School of Medicine involving 260 pregnant women without symptoms of urinary tract infection. The following exclusion criteria were considered: presence of clinical signs such as fever, dysuria, vesical tenesmus, lumbar pain, history of active genital bleeding or loss of amniotic fluid, use of antimicrobial agents in the 30 days prior to sample collection, and refusal to participate in the project. The presence of single pathogen bacterial colonization ≥10(5) CFU/mL in the urine sample obtained from the middle jet was considered to be a dependent variable. The predictive factors evaluated were as follows: age, race, marital status, schooling, gestational age, hypertension, anemia, vaginal infection, sickle cell trait and previous history of urinary tract infection, urinary symptoms related to the lower urinary tract (frequency, urgency and nocturia) and data obtained from the urine summary (leukocyturia, increased bacterial flora, hematuria, proteinuria, and presence of nitrite). Statistical analysis was performed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 13.0 and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. Prevalences were expressed as percentage, and the confidence interval considered was 95 percent (95 percentCI). RESULTS: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 12.3 percent (95 percentCI=8.3-16.3). E. coli was the most frequent etiologic agent (59.4 percent). Logistic regression indicated that urgency to void (OR=5.99; 95 percentCI=2.20-16.31; p<0.001); leukocyturia (OR=2.85; 95 percentCI=1.04-7.83; p=0.042) and increased bacterial flora (OR=10.62; 95 percentCI=3.95-28.56; p<0.001) were independent predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the studied population was high. The prediction score created for the final logistic regression model has an accuracy of 91.9 percent for bacteriuria.