Influence of the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program on health services access and use in Northeast Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program on the performance of primary health care by quantifying health services access and use in Northeast Brazil, based on the population size of the municipalities, on the financial investment in health, and on the number of physicians in the family health teams. METHOD: Evaluative research of quantitative nature. Access was evaluated by the population coverage ratio of the Family Health Strategy and use of health services, which were measured by medical appointments conducted between April 2013 and September 2015. We defined processes for database selection, adjustment, and validation, including explanatory variables for a sample of 896 municipalities. The analysis was based on the time periods before and after the implementation of the program. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and non-parametric alternatives constituted statistical tests in the comparative analysis of the data. RESULTS: A 19.2% increase was observed in the number of medical appointments between the first six months and the final six months of the data series. In this period, the median appointments in municipalities with up to 5,000 inhabitants increased from 701.0 to 768.0; while in those with more than 100,000 inhabitants it decreased from 285.5 to 280.0 (p < 0.05). Between April 2013 and September 2015, the median coverage ratio of the family health teams increased from 89.2% to 95.3%, approaching 100% in the municipalities with up to 20,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the expansion of access and use of primary health care services in the northeast region after the implementation of the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program. Between April 2013 and September 2015, the coverage of family health teams and the production of medical appointments increased, constituting important achievements for SUS.

Avaliação dos cursos de Fisioterapia nos anos de 2004 a 2013 / Evaluación de los cursos de fisioterapia de 2004 a 2013 / Evaluation of physical therapy courses from 2004 to 2013

RESUMO Este estudo objetivou avaliar o desempenho dos cursos de fisioterapia no país quanto aos conceitos obtidos no Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes (Enade), no período de 2004 a 2013, verificando o rendimento dos cursos entre as instituições de ensino superior públicas e privadas e a relação das pontuações do exame com o Conceito Preliminar de Curso (CPC). Estudo quantitativo transversal de base documental, realizado com amostra de 103 cursos de fisioterapia que participaram das avaliações do Enade realizadas de 2004 a 2013. A análise constou da avaliação dos conceitos Enade e do CPC por classificações de desempenho ao longo dos anos. Observou-se avanço dos conceitos Enade e CPC na amostra (valor de p<0,05). O percentual de cursos com resultados insuficientes no Exame regrediu de 26,2%, em 2004, para 17,5%, em 2013, e 38,8% das IES obtiveram conceitos superiores ao critério mínimo em 2013, em 2004 esse percentual correspondia a 21,4%. Em todas as edições do Exame as IES públicas apresentaram melhor desempenho do que as instituições privadas. Houve avanço dos cursos de Fisioterapia no Enade e no CPC para o período investigado, com melhor desempenho das instituições públicas em relação às privadas. Porém, a permanência de elevada proporção de resultados insuficientes ou que apenas alcançam o critério mínimo alerta para a importância da discussão da qualidade da formação do bacharel em Fisioterapia no país.

RESUMEN Este estudio objetivó evaluar el rendimiento de los cursos de fisioterapia en el país en cuanto a los conceptos obtenidos en el Examen Nacional de Rendimiento los Estudiantes (Enade), de 2004 a 2013, verificándose el rendimiento de los cursos entre las instituciones de educación superior públicas y privadas, y la relación de las puntuaciones del examen con el Concepto Preliminar de Curso (CPC). Estudio cuantitativo transversal de base documental, realizado con muestra de 103 cursos de fisioterapia que participaron de las evaluaciones del Enade realizadas de 2004 a 2013. El análisis consistió de la evaluación de los conceptos Enade y del CPC por clasificaciones de rendimiento a lo largo de los años. Se observó avance de los conceptos Enade y CPC en la muestra (valor de p<0.05). El porcentaje de cursos con resultados insuficientes en el examen descendió del 26.2%, en 2004, para 17.5%, en 2013, y el 38.8% de las IES obtuvieron conceptos superiores al criterio mínimo en 2013, en 2004 ese porcentaje correspondía a 21.4%. En todas las ediciones del examen las IES públicas presentaron mejor rendimiento que las instituciones privadas. Hubo avance de los cursos de Fisioterapia en el Enade y en el CPC para el período investigado, con mejor rendimiento de las instituciones públicas con relación a las privadas. Sin embargo, la permanencia de elevada proporción de resultados insuficientes o que apenas alcanzan el criterio mínimo alerta para la importancia de la discusión de la calidad de la formación del licenciado en Fisioterapia en el país.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Brazilian physical therapy courses regarding the concepts obtained in the National Exam for the Assessment of Student Performance (ENADE) from 2004 to 2013, checking it in courses at public and private educational institutions, and the correlation between ENADE score and Course Preliminary Concept (CPC). Cross-sectional quantitative study of documentary basis, conducted with a sample of 103 physical therapy courses that participated in the ENADE assessments conducted from 2004 to 2013. The analysis consisted in evaluating ENADE and CPC concepts, considering their performance ratings over the years. There was an improvement in the ENADE and CPC concepts in the sample (p<0.05). The percentage of courses with insufficient results in ENADE decreased from 26.2% in 2004 to 17.5% in 2013, and 38.8% of the educational institutions obtained concepts above the minimum criterion in 2013, while in 2004 this percentage corresponded to 21.4 %. In all ENADE editions, public educational institutions presented better performance than private ones. There was an advance in the ENADE and CPC of physical therapy courses during the investigated period, with a better performance of public institutions compared with private. However, the persistence of high proportion of poor results or that only complied the minimum criterion highlights the importance of the discussion about the training quality of physical therapy bachelor in the country.

The Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program in Northeast: evaluation of hospitalizations for Primary Healthcare-sensitive conditions. / Programa Mais Médicos no Nordeste: avaliação das internações por condições sensíveis à Atenção Primária à Saúde.

This paper analyzes the increase in professionals in Brazil's Northeastern Region resulting from the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program. The scale of the increase was analyzed through the indicator Hospitalizations for Primary-Care Sensitive Conditions (HPSCs). The method used was a quantitative approach, based on data on distribution of doctors and service they provided in these states, and on hospitalizations for diarrhea and gastroenteritis in the period September 2012 to August 2015. The choice of this condition took into account the aspects of: its high frequency in the period; the simplicity of intervention; and its historic occurrence in the Northeast. The results show that the Mais Médicos Program had an influence on the reduction of hospitalizations for this type of condition - they fell by 35% in the period investigated, with important differences between the states. In spite of the significant scale of the entry of medical professionals into the health system, it is known that in isolation simply increasing the number of professionals of a particular type has a limited effect in improving primary healthcare.

Characteristics of the distribution of doctors in the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program in the states of Brazil's Northeast. / Características da distribuição de profissionais do Programa Mais Médicos nos estados do Nordeste, Brasil.

Inequalities in access to health, reflecting shortages and inadequate geographical distribution of health professionals, have been indicated as a challenge for Brazil. This paper analyzes the geographical distribution of professionals of the Mais Médicos Program allocated in the Northeastern Region of Brazil, through a descriptive cross-sectional study. Secondary data provided by the Health Ministry were used, and thematic maps of distribution of doctors in the Region were prepared. Data on 4,716 doctors who became members of health teams in 1,294 municipalities in six Indigenous Health Districts in the years 2013 and 2014 were analyzed. The greater part of the municipalities of the Region received between one and five doctors. The municipalities most benefited had, at least, 20% of their population in extreme poverty. 99.9% of the doctors were allocated in a Health Center or Primary Healthcare Unit. The majority were women (57%), predominantly of the 45-49 age group (24%). In spite of the advances achieved by the Program - such as distribution of the doctors in locations with greater vulnerability - some States continue to have significant shortages of healthcare.

Características da distribuição de profissionais do Programa Mais Médicos nos estados do Nordeste, Brasil / Characteristics of the distribution of doctors in the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program in the states of Brazil's Northeast

Resumo As desigualdades no acesso aos serviços de saúde influenciadas pela carência e má distribuição geográfica de profissionais de saúde têm sido apontadas como um desafio para o país. Este artigo analisa a distribuição geográfica dos profissionais do Programa Mais Médicos alocados na Região Nordeste por meio de estudo transversal descritivo. Foram utilizados dados secundários cedidos pelo Ministério da Saúde e elaborados mapas temáticos de distribuição dos médicos na Região. Foram analisados dados de 4.716 médicos que passaram a integrar equipes de saúde em 1.294 municípios e seis Distritos Sanitários Indígenas entre os anos de 2013 e 2014. A maior parte dos municípios da Região recebeu entre um e cinco médicos. Os municípios mais beneficiados possuíam, pelo menos, 20% da população em situação de extrema pobreza. Os profissionais foram alocados em Centro de Saúde/Unidade Básica (99,9%). A maioria eram mulheres (57%) e a faixa etária média predominante foi de 45 a 49 anos (24%). Apesar dos avanços proporcionados pelo Programa, como a distribuição dos médicos para localidades com maior vulnerabilidade, alguns Estados permanecem com importantes vazios assistenciais.

Abstract Inequalities in access to health, reflecting shortages and inadequate geographical distribution of health professionals, have been indicated as a challenge for Brazil. This paper analyzes the geographical distribution of professionals of the Mais Médicos Program allocated in the Northeastern Region of Brazil, through a descriptive cross-sectional study. Secondary data provided by the Health Ministry were used, and thematic maps of distribution of doctors in the Region were prepared. Data on 4,716 doctors who became members of health teams in 1,294 municipalities in six Indigenous Health Districts in the years 2013 and 2014 were analyzed. The greater part of the municipalities of the Region received between one and five doctors. The municipalities most benefited had, at least, 20% of their population in extreme poverty. 99.9% of the doctors were allocated in a Health Center or Primary Healthcare Unit. The majority were women (57%), predominantly of the 45-49 age group (24%). In spite of the advances achieved by the Program – such as distribution of the doctors in locations with greater vulnerability – some States continue to have significant shortages of healthcare.

Programa Mais Médicos no Nordeste: avaliação das internações por condições sensíveis à Atenção Primária à Saúde / The Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program in Northeast: evaluation of hospitalizations for Primary Healthcare-sensitive conditions

Resumo Este artigo analisa o incremento de profissionais na Região Nordeste propiciado pelo Programa Mais Médicos. A efetividade do incremento foi analisada por meio do indicador internações por condições sensíveis à Atenção Primária. A metodologia utilizada foi a abordagem quantitativa, a partir de dados acerca da distribuição e do provimento de médicos nos estados, e das internações por diarreia e gastroenterite no período de setembro de 2012 a agosto de 2015. A seleção do agravo considerou os aspectos da sua elevada frequência no período, simplicidade de intervenção e ocorrência histórica no Nordeste. Os resultados mostram que o Programa Mais Médicos influenciou na redução das internações por essa condição sensível, que diminuíram 35% no período investigado, com diferenças importantes entre os estados. Apesar da importância do aporte de profissionais médicos para o sistema de saúde, sabe-se que isoladamente o efeito do incremento profissional de uma categoria é limitado para o aprimoramento da APS.

Abstract This paper analyzes the increase in professionals in Brazil's Northeastern Region resulting from the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program. The scale of the increase was analyzed through the indicator Hospitalizations for Primary-Care Sensitive Conditions (HPSCs). The method used was a quantitative approach, based on data on distribution of doctors and service they provided in these states, and on hospitalizations for diarrhea and gastroenteritis in the period September 2012 to August 2015. The choice of this condition took into account the aspects of: its high frequency in the period; the simplicity of intervention; and its historic occurrence in the Northeast. The results show that the Mais Médicos Program had an influence on the reduction of hospitalizations for this type of condition — they fell by 35% in the period investigated, with important differences between the states. In spite of the significant scale of the entry of medical professionals into the health system, it is known that in isolation simply increasing the number of professionals of a particular type has a limited effect in improving primary healthcare.

Quedas de idosos: identificação de fatores de risco extrínsecos em domicílios / Las caídas de los ancianos: la identificación de factores de riesgo extrínsecos en la vivienda / Falls in elderly: identification of extrinsic risk factors at home

Objective: To identify extrinsic risk factors those predispose the occurrence of falls in the elderly at home. Method: A total of 95 homes about the presence of risk factors, using a structured interview. Results: From 95 of the residences valued only 7.4% (7) had no mismatches according to the items assessed. It was observed that mismatches involving carpets and buffers were the most prevalent, together accounting for approximately 40% of the problems identified in the search. Other relevant problems were related to the lack of grab bars in places that required its use, switches arranged in hard to reach places and away from the entrance of the rooms in the home, floors with changes in its topography, poor illuminated environments and furniture obstructing the passage of the elderly. Conclusion: The risk factors for falls were present in most homes, and most of these are preventable factors.

Objetivo: Identificar fatores de risco extrínsecos que predispõem a ocorrência de quedas de idosos em ambiente domiciliar. Método: Foram avaliadas 95 residências quanto à presença de fatores de risco, utilizando-se entrevista estruturada. Resultados: Das 95 residências avaliadas apenas 7,4% (7) não apresentaram inadequações de acordo com os itens avaliados. Observou-se que as inadequações envolvendo tapetes e batentes foram as mais prevalentes, representando em conjunto cerca de 40% dos problemas identificados na pesquisa. Outros problemas relevantes foram relativos à ausência de barras de apoio em locais que requeriam o seu uso, interruptores dispostos em locais de difícil acesso e longe da entrada dos cômodos do domicílio, pisos com alterações no seu relevo, iluminação insuficiente nos ambientes e móveis obstruindo a passagem do idoso. Conclusão: os fatores de risco para quedas estiveram presentes na maioria das residências, sendo que boa parte destes são fatores preveníveis.

Objetivo: Identificar los factores de riesgo extrínsecos que predisponen a la ocurrencia de caídas en los ancianos. Método: un total de 95 viviendas fueran avaluadas cuanto a la presencia de factores de riesgo, utilizando entrevista estructurada. Resultados: De las 95 residencias valoradas sólo el 7,4% (7) no tenía desajustes de acuerdo con los ítems evaluados. Se observó que los desajustes relacionados con alfombras y amortiguadores fueron los más frecuentes, que en conjunto representan aproximadamente el 40% de los problemas identificados en la búsqueda. Otros problemas relevantes estuvieron relacionados con la falta de barras de apoyo en los lugares que requieren su uso, interruptores dispuestos en lugares de difícil acceso y lejos de la entrada de las habitaciones de la casa, pisos con cambios en su topografía, pobre iluminación en ambientes y muebles bloqueando el paso de los ancianos. Conclusión: Los factores de riesgo para las caídas estuvieron presentes en la mayoría de los hogares, y la mayoría de estos son factores evitables.

[Knowledge and use of the Information System on Public Health Budgets (SIOPS) by municipal health administrators, Pernambuco State, Brazil]. / Conhecimento e uso do Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde (SIOPS) pelos gestores municipais, Pernambuco, Brasil.

Considering the importance of Brazil's Information System on Public Health Budgets (SIOPS) as a tool for planning, management, and social control of public expenditures in health, this article aimed to evaluate the relationship between the regularity of data entry into the SIOPS and knowledge and use of the system by municipal health administrators in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Ten municipalities were selected from the State's five meso-regions, five of which entered information into the system and five only on an irregular basis. Semi-structured interviews were performed with the municipal health secretaries. Analysis of the data showed that command of information technology and knowledge of the System do not affect the regularity of data entry, as a function of the distance between the Municipal Health Secretariat administrators and the SIOPS, such that the data are normally entered by outsourced services. Thus, the resulting information has not been fully explored by systems administrators as a management tool.

Conhecimento e uso do Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde (SIOPS) pelos gestores municipais, Pernambuco, Brasil / Knowledge and use of the Information System on Public Health Budgets (SIOPS) by municipal health administrators, Pernambuco State, Brazil

Considerando a importância do Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde (SIOPS) como ferramenta para o planejamento, gestão e controle social dos gastos públicos em saúde, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a relação entre a regularidade na alimentação do SIOPS e o conhecimento e uso do Sistema pelos gestores municipais do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Foram selecionados dez municípios distribuídos nas cinco mesorregiões do estado, sendo cinco regulares e cinco irregulares na alimentação do Sistema, e aplicada uma entrevista semi-estruturada entre os secretários de saúde dos respectivos municípios. Com base na análise dos dados, foi identificado que o domínio de informática e o conhecimento do Sistema não interferem na regularidade da alimentação, em função do distanciamento entre os gestores das Secretarias de Saúde e o SIOPS, em geral alimentado por serviços terceirizados. Constata-se que as informações geradas não têm sido exploradas potencialmente pelos gestores enquanto instrumento de gestão.

Considering the importance of Brazil's Information System on Public Health Budgets (SIOPS) as a tool for planning, management, and social control of public expenditures in health, this article aimed to evaluate the relationship between the regularity of data entry into the SIOPS and knowledge and use of the system by municipal health administrators in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Ten municipalities were selected from the State's five meso-regions, five of which entered information into the system and five only on an irregular basis. Semi-structured interviews were performed with the municipal health secretaries. Analysis of the data showed that command of information technology and knowledge of the System do not affect the regularity of data entry, as a function of the distance between the Municipal Health Secretariat administrators and the SIOPS, such that the data are normally entered by outsourced services. Thus, the resulting information has not been fully explored by systems administrators as a management tool.

Confiabilidade dos dados relativos ao cumprimento da Emenda Constitucional nº. 29 declarados ao Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde pelos municípios de Pernambuco, Brasil / Reliability of data on compliance with Constitutional Amendment 29 reported to the Public Healthcare Budget Information System by municipalities in Pernambuco State, Brazil

O estudo analisa a confiabilidade dos dados relativos ao cumprimento da Emenda Constitucional nº. 29 (EC29) declarados ao Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde (SIOPS) pelos municípios de Pernambuco, Brasil. Configura-se como um estudo quantitativo, do tipo transversal e de caráter analítico, tendo como referência o período de 2000 a 2005. Os demonstrativos contábeis auditados pelo Tribunal de Contas do Estado (TCE) foram tomados como parâmetro para verificar a confiabilidade dos percentuais de aplicação da EC29 declarados ao SIOPS, sendo utilizado o coeficiente de correlação intraclasses (CCI) como prova estatística na medição da concordância dos dados. Os resultados demonstram a dissonância existente entre as bases consultadas, sugerindo um nível de concordância discreto a moderado entre os dados do SIOPS e do TCE. A baixa concordância identificada pode ser decorrente da falta de consenso pelos municípios acerca da composição das receitas e despesas vinculadas à saúde ou da existência de critérios diferentes no cálculo da EC29 entre o SIOPS e a auditoria do TCE.

The present study analyzes the reliability of data on compliance with Constitutional Amendment 29 (CA29) reported to the Public Healthcare Budget Information System (known as SIOPS) by municipalities in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. A quantitative, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using the years 2000 to 2005 as the reference. Invoices audited by the State Accounts Court were used as the parameter for determining reliability of the percentage of compliance with CA29 as reported to SIOPS, using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to measure data agreement. The results show a mismatch between the databases, suggesting slight to moderate agreement between the SIOPS data and those from the State Accounts Court. The low degree of agreement may result from lack of consensus among municipalities regarding definition of health-related revenues and expenses or the existence of different criteria used by SIOPS and the State Accounts Court for calculating the CA29.

[Reliability of data on compliance with Constitutional Amendment 29 reported to the Public Healthcare Budget Information System by municipalities in Pernambuco State, Brazil]. / Confiabilidade dos dados relativos ao cumprimento da Emenda Constitucional no. 29 declarados ao Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde pelos municípios de Pernambuco, Brasil.

The present study analyzes the reliability of data on compliance with Constitutional Amendment 29 (CA29) reported to the Public Healthcare Budget Information System (known as SIOPS) by municipalities in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. A quantitative, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using the years 2000 to 2005 as the reference. Invoices audited by the State Accounts Court were used as the parameter for determining reliability of the percentage of compliance with CA29 as reported to SIOPS, using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to measure data agreement. The results show a mismatch between the databases, suggesting slight to moderate agreement between the SIOPS data and those from the State Accounts Court. The low degree of agreement may result from lack of consensus among municipalities regarding definition of health-related revenues and expenses or the existence of different criteria used by SIOPS and the State Accounts Court for calculating the CA29.