Mobile Application Increased Nutrition Knowledge Among Brazilian Physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether using a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet recommendation application increases primary care physicians' knowledge and dietary counseling skills. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Brazilian public primary care service. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and twenty-two physicians (intervention group: n = 111; control group: n = 111). INTERVENTION: Thirty days of using the Dieta Dash application. The application provides information about nutritional recommendations for hypertension management. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nutrition knowledge score. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: self-assessment of knowledge, self-confidence, assessment of eating habits, and barriers to dietary counseling. ANALYSIS: Linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures and generalized estimating equations for comparing changes between groups. RESULTS: A total of 66.2% of participants completed the follow-up. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the mean knowledge score (P = 0.15). The prevalence of high knowledge increased by 12% (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.25) in the intervention group and showed an improvement in the self-confidence assessment (PR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.44), and increased assessment of eating habits (PR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.55). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The Dieta Dash application helped address dietary counseling, improving knowledge and self-confidence. However, innovative strategies are needed to minimize the primary care barriers.

Effect of Mobile Health Interventions on Lifestyle and Anthropometric Characteristics of Uncontrolled Hypertensive Participants: Secondary Analyses of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention on lifestyle adherence and anthropometric characteristics among individuals with uncontrolled hypertension. We performed a randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03005470) where all participants received lifestyle counseling at baseline and were randomly allocated to receive (1) an automatic oscillometric device to measure and register blood pressure (BP) via a mobile application, (2) personalized text messages to stimulate lifestyle changes, (3) both mHealth interventions, or (4) usual clinical treatment (UCT) without technology (control). The outcomes were achieved for at least four of five lifestyle goals (weight loss, not smoking, physical activity, moderate or stopping alcohol consumption, and improving diet quality) and improved anthropometric characteristics at six months. mHealth groups were pooled for the analysis. Among 231 randomized participants (187 in the mHealth group and 45 in the control group), the mean age was 55.4 ± 9.5 years, and 51.9% were men. At six months, achieving at least four of five lifestyle goals was 2.51 times more likely (95% CI: 1.26; 5.00, p = 0.009) to be achieved among participants receiving mHealth interventions. The between-group difference reached clinically relevant, but marginally significant, reduction in body fat (-4.05 kg 95% CI: -8.14; 0.03, p = 0.052), segmental trunk fat (-1.69 kg 95% CI: -3.50; 0.12, p = 0.067), and WC (-4.36 cm 95% CI: -8.81; 0.082, p = 0.054), favoring the intervention group. In conclusion, a six-month lifestyle intervention supported by application-based BP monitoring and text messages significantly improves adherence to lifestyle goals and is likely to reduce some anthropometric characteristics in comparison with the control without technology support.

A telemedicine strategy to reduce waiting lists and time to specialist care: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The demand for specialty care is rising worldwide. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, more than 150,000 people were waiting for specialist consultations in 2013. A telemedicine programme (RegulaSUS) developed referral protocols, audited waitlisted cases, authorised/prioritised referrals by risk and discuss deferred cases primary-care physician. This study assesses the effectiveness of RegulaSUS. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis with contemporaneous controls was performed from June 2014 to June 2016. Six medical specialties included in RegulaSUS (50,185 patients) were compared to 50,124 control patients waitlisted according to the usual routine (scheduled for specialty consultation at the next available date). The groups were matched (1:1) by semester and year of waitlisting and by the specialty demand-to-supply ratio. Primary outcomes were referral-to-consultation time and number of waitlisted patients. RESULTS: The mean referral-to-consultation time was 584.8 days in the intervention group and 607.0 days in controls (p<0.001). For specialties regulated by RegulaSUS, the mean referral-to-consultation time was 237.6 days for higher-risk patients. At the end of the observation, 26,708 control patients had been unlisted compared to 31,050 patients in the intervention group (reduction of 53.5% vs. 61.9%, respectively; p<0.001). The number of cancelled referrals was lower in the control group (n=14,403; 28.7%) than in the intervention group (n=16,387; 32.7%; p<0.001). DISCUSSION: Telemedicine support for primary care effectively decreased the time to specialty consultation, reduced the number of waitlisted patients and allowed sicker patients to reach a specialist faster.

Distance learning course improves primary care dentists' diagnosis and self-efficacy in the management of oral lesions.

Oral cancer represents a public health issue because of its high mortality rate, resulting mainly from diagnostic delays. Insufficient training in oral diagnosis is usually perceived by dentists. Distance learning could be used as an auxiliary tool to bridge that gap. This study evaluated the impact of a distance learning course on oral mucosal lesion diagnosis offered to public healthcare dentists. Participants of an online course answered a pretest/posttest comprising clinical images of 30 clinical cases. Participants were questioned about the diagnosis and informed their decision on the cases (referring the cases to a specialist or managing them themselves), as a parameter of perceived self-efficacy. A total of 442 dentists enrolled in the course. Their pass rate was 97%. Classification of the nature of the lesions, diagnostic hypotheses, sensitivity, and specificity improved by 13.4%, 10.0%, 13.4%, and 6.6%, respectively (p<0.01, Wilcoxon test). Regarding management, there was a 16.6% reduction in the intention to refer cases, while confidence in the diagnosis of benign lesions increased by 40%. A distance learning course may be useful in continuing education actions for primary care dentists, improving their diagnostic abilities and encouraging them in the management of oral lesions. Moreover, this strategy could contribute to disseminating knowledge to remote regions, particularly among primary health care professionals.

Primary health care for 21st century: first results of the new financing model. / Atenção primária à saúde para o século XXI: primeiros resultados do novo modelo de financiamento.

Since 1994, Brazil has been offering Primary Health Care (PHC) services based on the Family Health Strategy. The ESF has achieved important results. During this period, the PHC financing model did not undergo major methodological changes. In this article, the results of the new financing model for PHC approved in a tripartite manner in 2019, Previne Brasil, are laid out, which is composed of (i) weighted capitation, (ii) incentives for specific and strategic actions and, (iii) payment for performance. These first results reveal the increase of more than 50 million people with qualified and unique registration, associated with the record number of more than 52 thousand FH / eAP teams financed by the Ministry of Health, with more than 35 thousand of which (67%) using electronic medical records . In addition, the registration of people and professionals of the Brazilian PHC, together with SISAB, is the largest set of demographic and clinical health data in the world. These advances favor the overcoming of difficulties to achieve greater access, longitudinality and coordination of care, qualifying the Brazilian PHC in search of better health outcomes.

O Brasil, desde 1994, oferta serviços de atenção primária à saúde (APS) a partir da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). A ESF alcançou resultados importantes. Nesse período, o modelo de financiamento da APS não sofreu alterações metodológicas importantes. Neste artigo, descreve-se os resultados do novo modelo de financiamento para APS aprovado de forma tripartite em 2019, o "Previne Brasil", que é composto por (i) capitação ponderada, (ii) incentivos a ações específicas e estratégicas e (iii) pagamento por desempenho. Esses primeiros resultados revelam o incremento de mais de 50 milhões de pessoas com cadastro qualificado e único, associado ao número recorde de mais de 52 mil equipes de Saúde da Família/Equipe de Atenção Primária (EAP) financiadas pelo Ministério da Saúde, sendo mais de 35 mil (67%) com uso de prontuário eletrônico. Além disso, o cadastro das pessoas e dos profissionais da APS brasileira junto ao Sistema de Informação em Atenção Básica (SISAB) se configura como o maior conjunto de dados demográficos e clínicos de saúde do mundo. Esses avanços favorecem a superação das dificuldades para o alcance de maior acesso, longitudinalidade e coordenação do cuidado, qualificando a APS brasileira em busca de melhores resultados em saúde.

Telemedicine Versus Face-to-Face Care in Ophthalmology: Costs and Utility Measures in a Real-World Setting.

OBJECTIVES: Advances in telemedicine offer a unique opportunity to expand access to the health system. Nevertheless, few studies have described the impact of telediagnosis implementation on health and economic outcomes. METHODS: An ophthalmology telediagnosis service (TeleOftalmo) was compared with traditional face-to-face care provided by the Brazilian public health system. For both groups, utility data were collected at 2 time points using the Visual Function Questionnaire-Utility Index instrument from interviews with 536 patients. The cost per patient encounter was analyzed according to the time-driven activity-based costing. Value analyses were conducted to ascertain whether and how telemedicine service has the potential to generate cost savings for the health system. RESULTS: Visual function-related quality of life did not differ significantly between TeleOftalmo and face-to-face care groups. Using the current model, the telemedicine service assisted an average of 1159 patients per month at a median cost per telediagnosis of Int$97 (interquartile range, Int$82-Int$119) versus Int$77 (interquartile range, Int$75-Int$80) for face-to-face care. If the telemedicine service was redesigned, considering the opportunities for improvement identified, it could operate at a cost of Int$53 per telediagnosis (a 31% cost savings) and could serve 3882 patients per month. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the potential value of a telemedicine service. There was no difference in patient-perceived utility between a telediagnostic ophthalmology service and face-to-face care by an eye specialist. TeleOftalmo has the potential to be a cost-saving strategy for the Brazilian health system and could be a template for implementation of telediagnostic services in other regions.

Transition of care of stable ischaemic heart disease patients from tertiary to primary care with telemedicine support: Randomized noninferiority clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence of telehealth for chronic disease management is scarce and contradictory. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of teleconsultations as support in the care transition of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) from tertiary to primary care. METHODS: A randomized noninferiority clinical trial was undertaken in patients with CAD from a tertiary hospital in a middle-income country. Patients with functional angina class 1 or 2 and meeting discharge criteria were randomized to remain in the cardiology outpatient clinic for 12 months (control group, CG) or continue follow-up in a primary care unit with clinical support via telemedicine (intervention group, IG). The primary outcome was the maintenance of the functional angina class after 12 months. Secondary outcomes included control of risk factors and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: In total 271 patients (mean age, 66 years) were included; 81.1% and 91% of the IG and CG, respectively, maintained stable angina symptoms, thus noninferiority could not be shown between the groups. Regarding emergency room visits at 1 year, the IG (7.6%) was noninferior to the CG (6.0%) (absolute difference, 1.6%; noninferiority margin (NIM), -4.8% to 8.2%). For control of risk factors, 30.7% and 29.6% of the IG and CG, respectively, had blood pressure <130/80 mmHg (absolute difference, 1.1%; NIM, -10.5% to 12.8%), and 48.9% and 33.3% of diabetic patients in the IG and CG, respectively, had glycated haemoglobin <7% (absolute difference, 15.6%; NIM, -6.8% to 36%). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the difference in the patients' angina functional class did not result in greater seeking of emergency care, supporting that discharge from the outpatient clinic with telemedicine is safe for patients with stable CAD treated at the tertiary level. The control of risk factors in these patients was noninferior to patients followed up in primary care. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02489565).

Oral Medicine Experience and Attitudes Toward Oral Cancer: An Evaluation of Dentists Working in Primary Health Care.

This analytical, cross-sectional, observational study aimed to evaluate the perception of dentists working at the public system of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, regarding academic training to treat oral lesions, adoption of preventive measures for oral cancer, and attitude toward the need to perform oral biopsies. The sample consisted of questionnaires filled out by 192 dentists (153 women and 39 men) working in primary health care who participated in training activities on oral cancer diagnosis in July 2016. To enroll in the training activities, the professionals completed an online questionnaire to evaluate their perceptions regarding oral cancer issues. With respect to preventive measures, 96.88% of dentists reported performing full mouth examination, 87.50% reported providing tobacco cessation counseling, and 51.04% reported giving advice on excessive alcohol consumption. In addition, 72.40% and 44.79% of dentists considered, respectively, clinical training and theory instruction in oral medicine to be insufficient during undergraduate school. Only 8.33% reported performing biopsies in daily clinical routine, and almost 90% reported referring the patient to a specialist from the public system or universities. Lack of experience was the main reason not to perform a biopsy. The dentists in our sample recognize the importance of preventive measures for oral cancer, but few of them perform biopsies regularly. Therefore, there is a need for continuing education actions including practical training.

Brazilian Survey on Preventive Actions for the Population With Access to Primary Healthcare: Inefficient Spending in a Country in Economic Crisis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer ranks second as a cause of death in Brazil. Although preventive practices are part of the daily routine of primary healthcare (PHC) teams, organized screening programs are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of preventive interventions in the main cancer types, as defined by the Brazilian government. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a larger project conducted in 2016 with PHC service users and physicians from all over Brazil, interviewed by trained research staff. The sample was stratified by the number of PHC physicians per geographic region, who were eligible for inclusion if they had been working in the same PHC unit for at least one year. Twelve adult patients with at least two encounters were included per participating physician. Only the data from service users were analyzed in this study. We evaluated the questions about preventive practices and calculated the following indicators: coverage, focus, screening errors, and screening ratio. National guidelines and international evidence were used as a comparison parameter. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 6160 service users. The data indicate that the recommendations for cervical, breast, and prostate cancer screening and for treatment of tobacco dependence are not adequately followed. Coverage for breast and cervical cancer screening presented an overutilization bias, with rates 50% and 9% above the expected, respectively. The screening focus was also inadequate: 24%, 47%, and 54% of the screening tests for the three cancer types were performed in individuals outside the recommended age range. 31% of smokers were not approached for treatment. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the Brazilian population has been subjected to inadequate and potentially iatrogenic interventions in PHC. New policies based on stricter criteria of adequacy and increased use of the concept of quaternary prevention may improve the effectiveness and equity of the health system.

Atenção primária à saúde para o século XXI: primeiros resultados do novo modelo de financiamento / Primary health care for 21st century: first results of the new financing model

Resumo O Brasil, desde 1994, oferta serviços de atenção primária à saúde (APS) a partir da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). A ESF alcançou resultados importantes. Nesse período, o modelo de financiamento da APS não sofreu alterações metodológicas importantes. Neste artigo, descreve-se os resultados do novo modelo de financiamento para APS aprovado de forma tripartite em 2019, o "Previne Brasil", que é composto por (i) capitação ponderada, (ii) incentivos a ações específicas e estratégicas e (iii) pagamento por desempenho. Esses primeiros resultados revelam o incremento de mais de 50 milhões de pessoas com cadastro qualificado e único, associado ao número recorde de mais de 52 mil equipes de Saúde da Família/Equipe de Atenção Primária (EAP) financiadas pelo Ministério da Saúde, sendo mais de 35 mil (67%) com uso de prontuário eletrônico. Além disso, o cadastro das pessoas e dos profissionais da APS brasileira junto ao Sistema de Informação em Atenção Básica (SISAB) se configura como o maior conjunto de dados demográficos e clínicos de saúde do mundo. Esses avanços favorecem a superação das dificuldades para o alcance de maior acesso, longitudinalidade e coordenação do cuidado, qualificando a APS brasileira em busca de melhores resultados em saúde.

Abstract Since 1994, Brazil has been offering Primary Health Care (PHC) services based on the Family Health Strategy. The ESF has achieved important results. During this period, the PHC financing model did not undergo major methodological changes. In this article, the results of the new financing model for PHC approved in a tripartite manner in 2019, Previne Brasil, are laid out, which is composed of (i) weighted capitation, (ii) incentives for specific and strategic actions and, (iii) payment for performance. These first results reveal the increase of more than 50 million people with qualified and unique registration, associated with the record number of more than 52 thousand FH / eAP teams financed by the Ministry of Health, with more than 35 thousand of which (67%) using electronic medical records . In addition, the registration of people and professionals of the Brazilian PHC, together with SISAB, is the largest set of demographic and clinical health data in the world. These advances favor the overcoming of difficulties to achieve greater access, longitudinality and coordination of care, qualifying the Brazilian PHC in search of better health outcomes.

Distance learning course improves primary care dentists' diagnosis and self-efficacy in the management of oral lesions

Abstract Oral cancer represents a public health issue because of its high mortality rate, resulting mainly from diagnostic delays. Insufficient training in oral diagnosis is usually perceived by dentists. Distance learning could be used as an auxiliary tool to bridge that gap. This study evaluated the impact of a distance learning course on oral mucosal lesion diagnosis offered to public healthcare dentists. Participants of an online course answered a pretest/posttest comprising clinical images of 30 clinical cases. Participants were questioned about the diagnosis and informed their decision on the cases (referring the cases to a specialist or managing them themselves), as a parameter of perceived self-efficacy. A total of 442 dentists enrolled in the course. Their pass rate was 97%. Classification of the nature of the lesions, diagnostic hypotheses, sensitivity, and specificity improved by 13.4%, 10.0%, 13.4%, and 6.6%, respectively (p<0.01, Wilcoxon test). Regarding management, there was a 16.6% reduction in the intention to refer cases, while confidence in the diagnosis of benign lesions increased by 40%. A distance learning course may be useful in continuing education actions for primary care dentists, improving their diagnostic abilities and encouraging them in the management of oral lesions. Moreover, this strategy could contribute to disseminating knowledge to remote regions, particularly among primary health care professionals.

Teaming-up nurses with ophthalmologists to expand the reach of eye care in a middle-income country: Validation of health data acquisition by nursing staff in a telemedicine strategy.

Telemedicine can be used to conduct ophthalmological assessment of patients, facilitating patient access to specialist care. Since the teleophthalmology models require data collection support from other health professionals, the purpose of our study was to assess agreement between the nursing technician and the ophthalmologist in acquisition of health parameters that can be used for remote analysis as part of a telemedicine strategy. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 patients referred to an ophthalmological telediagnosis center by primary healthcare doctors. The health parameters evaluated were visual acuity (VA), objective ophthalmic measures acquired by autorefraction, keratometry, and intraocular pressure (IOP). Bland-Altman plots were used to analyze agreement between the nursing technician and the ophthalmologist. The Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean bias equal to zero for the VA measurements [95%-LoA: -0.25-0.25], 0.01 [95%-LoA: -0.86-0.88] for spherical equivalent (M), -0.08 [95%-LoA: -1.1-0.95] for keratometry (K) and -0.23 [95%-LoA: -4.4-4.00] for IOP. The measures had a high linear correlation (R [95%CI]: 0.87 [0.82-0.91]; 0.97 [0.96-0.98]; 0.96 [0.95-0.97] and 0.88 [0.84-0.91] respectively). The results observed demonstrate that remote ophthalmological data collection by adequately trained health professionals is viable. This confirms the utility and safety of these solutions for scenarios in which access to ophthalmologists is limited.

Eighteen years in two days: the next steps for remote consultation in Brazil / Dieciocho años en dos días: los próximos pasos para la consulta remota en Brasil / Dezoito anos em dois dias: os próximos passos para a consulta remota no Brasil

This is an opinion article that aims to support the Disease caused by the New Coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19) post-pandemic regarding the regulation of care through digital resources. Through a literature review, an attempt was made to conceptualize remote consultation and to survey both the historical evolution of technological appropriation by health and the regulation on the subject. Texts covering the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in Brazil, the United States, the European Union and Australia were evaluated. We tried to highlight the main fallacies, sophisms and dissensions that orbit the theme, as well as the real points where there is a need for greater commitment for decision makers: data security and privacy, reimbursement parity and interstate licensing. It is concluded that the technological appropriation by health has divided the world into at least three segments: those that maintained the autonomy of professionals and patients; those who retarded technological advancement through bureaucracy; and those who forbade advances. The pandemic has generated positive reallocations among these groups and there is a need to refine progress and avoid setbacks.

Este es un artículo de opinión que tiene como objetivo apoyar la discusión pospandémica de la Enfermedad causada por el Nuevo Coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) en cuanto a la regulación de la atención a través de recursos digitales. A través de una revisión de la literatura, se intentó conceptualizar la consulta remota y relevar tanto la evolución histórica de la apropiación tecnológica por parte de la salud como la regulación sobre el tema. Se evaluaron los textos que cubren los períodos prepandémico y pandémico en Brasil, Estados Unidos, la Unión Europea y Australia. Intentamos resaltar las principales falacias, sofismas y disensiones que orbitan el tema, así como los puntos reales donde existe la necesidad de un mayor compromiso de los tomadores de decisiones: seguridad y privacidad de los datos, paridad de reembolso y licencias interestatales. Se concluye que la apropiación tecnológica por parte de la salud ha dividido al mundo en al menos tres segmentos: los que mantenían la autonomía de profesionales y pacientes; los que retrasaron el avance tecnológico a través de la burocracia; y los que prohibieron los avances. La pandemia ha generado reasignaciones positivas entre estos grupos y es necesario perfeccionar el progreso y evitar retrocesos.

Este é um artigo de opinião que objetiva subsidiar a discussão pós-pandemia da Doença causada pelo Novo Coronavírus de 2019 (COVID-19) a respeito da regulamentação do atendimento por meio de recursos digitais. Buscou-se, por meio de revisão de literatura, conceituar a consulta remota e fazer um levantamento tanto da evolução histórica da apropriação tecnológica pela saúde como da regulamentação sobre o tema. Foram avaliados textos cobrindo os períodos pré-pandêmico e pandêmico no Brasil, Estados Unidos, União Europeia e Austrália. Procurou-se evidenciar as principais falácias, sofismas e dissensos que orbitam o tema, bem como os reais pontos onde há necessidade de maior empenho para os tomadores de decisão: segurança de dados e privacidade, paridade de reembolso e licenciamento interestadual. Conclui-se que a apropriação tecnológica pela saúde dividiu o mundo em pelo menos três segmentos: os que mantiveram a autonomia de profissionais e pacientes; os que retardaram o avanço tecnológico por meio de burocracia; e os que proibiram os avanços. A pandemia gerou realocações positivas entre esses grupos e existe a necessidade de refinar avanços e evitar retrocessos.

Primary Care Assessment Tool: regional differences based on the National Health Survey from Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. / Primary Care Asssement Tool: diferenças regionais a partir da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística.

In 2019, unprecedentedly among the official statistical institutes worldwide, the IBGE included a particular module on evaluating primary health care in its central population-based population survey, the National Health Survey (PNS-2019). The survey considered the reduced version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), developed and disseminated by Starfield and Shi, to assess the existence and extent of the structure and process characteristics of PHC services. It is the most significant probabilistic sample using this instrument ever conducted in a single country in the world that interviewed users aged 18 or over (n=9,677). The results of the Brazilian overall PCAT scores (5.9 [5.8; 5.9]) point to significant regional and intraregional contrasts, with the South of the country standing out with the best evaluations of primary care services (overall score = 6.3 [6.2; 6.5]) and the North with the worse (overall score = 5,5 [5,3; 5,7]). There were also statistically significant and more favorable differences between residents of households registered by family health teams, among older adults, and those using health services the most (adults with reported morbidities).

Em 2019, o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) de forma inédita entre os institutos oficiais de estatística em todo o mundo, incluiu um módulo especial sobre avaliação da atenção primária à saúde em seu principal inquérito populacional de base domiciliar, a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS). O inquérito considerou a versão reduzida do instrumento Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), desenvolvida e disseminada por Starfield e Shi para avaliar a existência e extensão das características de estrutura e processos dos serviços de atenção primária em saúde. Trata-se da maior amostra probabilística com o uso desse instrumento já realizada em um único país do mundo que entrevistou usuários com 18 anos ou mais (n = 9.677). Os resultados dos escores gerais do PCAT do Brasil (5,9 [5,8; 5,9]) apontam grandes contrastes regionais e intraregionais, com a região Sul do país destacando-se com as melhores avaliações dos serviços de atenção primária (escore geral = 6,3 [6,2; 6,5]) e a região norte, por outro lado, com as menores (escore geral = 5,5 [5,3; 5,7]). Foram também observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes e mais favoráveis entre os moradores de domicílios cadastrados pelas equipes de saúde da família, entre os mais idosos e entre que mais utilizam os serviços de saúde (adultos com morbidades referidas).

Primary Care Asssement Tool: diferenças regionais a partir da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística / Primary Care Assessment Tool: regional differences based on the National Health Survey from Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística

Resumo Em 2019, o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) de forma inédita entre os institutos oficiais de estatística em todo o mundo, incluiu um módulo especial sobre avaliação da atenção primária à saúde em seu principal inquérito populacional de base domiciliar, a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS). O inquérito considerou a versão reduzida do instrumento Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), desenvolvida e disseminada por Starfield e Shi para avaliar a existência e extensão das características de estrutura e processos dos serviços de atenção primária em saúde. Trata-se da maior amostra probabilística com o uso desse instrumento já realizada em um único país do mundo que entrevistou usuários com 18 anos ou mais (n = 9.677). Os resultados dos escores gerais do PCAT do Brasil (5,9 [5,8; 5,9]) apontam grandes contrastes regionais e intraregionais, com a região Sul do país destacando-se com as melhores avaliações dos serviços de atenção primária (escore geral = 6,3 [6,2; 6,5]) e a região norte, por outro lado, com as menores (escore geral = 5,5 [5,3; 5,7]). Foram também observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes e mais favoráveis entre os moradores de domicílios cadastrados pelas equipes de saúde da família, entre os mais idosos e entre que mais utilizam os serviços de saúde (adultos com morbidades referidas).

Abstract In 2019, unprecedentedly among the official statistical institutes worldwide, the IBGE included a particular module on evaluating primary health care in its central population-based population survey, the National Health Survey (PNS-2019). The survey considered the reduced version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), developed and disseminated by Starfield and Shi, to assess the existence and extent of the structure and process characteristics of PHC services. It is the most significant probabilistic sample using this instrument ever conducted in a single country in the world that interviewed users aged 18 or over (n=9,677). The results of the Brazilian overall PCAT scores (5.9 [5.8; 5.9]) point to significant regional and intraregional contrasts, with the South of the country standing out with the best evaluations of primary care services (overall score = 6.3 [6.2; 6.5]) and the North with the worse (overall score = 5,5 [5,3; 5,7]). There were also statistically significant and more favorable differences between residents of households registered by family health teams, among older adults, and those using health services the most (adults with reported morbidities).

Validation of the Brazilian version of Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) for Oral Health - PCATool Brazil Oral Health for Professionals.

This study verified the internal consistency and reliability of an instrument to evaluate dental services in Primary Health Care (PHC). In order to verify the factor validity, a factor analysis with principal component extraction and varimax orthogonal rotation method was used. Factors with three or more items with factor loadings greater than 0,35 were selected. This instrument's reliability was verified using internal consistency (total item correlation >0,30 and Cronbach alpha = or >0,70)). 562 dentists participated in the study. In the factor analysis, ten factors were kept, which explain 40,95% of the total variation. Regarding the internal consistency, only 3 items presented insufficient correlation. Also on internal consistency, using Cronbach's alpha, the following values of the coefficients were identified: Access (0.55), Continuity (0,74), Care Coordination (0,55), Coordination - Information System (0.21), Comprehensiveness of Services Available (0,91), Comprehensiveness of Services Provided (0,79), Family Orientation (0.66), Community Orientation (0,87), Cultural Competence (0,81). For the success ratio of the scale, all results were higher than 88%, less the "Information Systems" component (21%).

The Role of Telehealth in the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Brazilian Experience. / O Papel da Telessaúde na Pandemia Covid-19: Uma Experiência Brasileira.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, is the third coronavirus to cause severe disease in humans and to spread globally in the past two decades. In this context, several national public health departments, including the Brazilian Ministry of Health, highlighted what was, until then, considered a support service to the health system: telehealth and telemedicine. We intend to present the actions carried out by a national telehealth service in Brazil, both as a Primary Health Care (PHC) support service to professionals and to patients, as well as discussing the potential to reorganize a health system. This is a prevalence study that summarizes the measures adopted by Brazilian Telehealth Center from the 9th to the 27th epidemiological weeks of 2020 to support the health services of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). There was an increase of 76.8% in the demand for telephone teleconsultations during the evaluated period compared to the same period in 2019, with 28.8% of the entire demand arising from doubts related to Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic demanded a quick response, with the organization of materials about the disease, a new team to carry out telemonitoring and teleconsultation activities, in addition to the creation of a manual for teleconsultations in Primary Health Care.

O SARS-CoV-2, vírus causador da Covid-19, é o terceiro coronavírus a causar doença grave em humanos e que apresentou disseminação global nas duas últimas décadas. Nesse contexto, diversos departamentos nacionais de saúde pública, entre eles o Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, trouxeram destaque àquilo que era, até então, considerado um serviço de apoio ao sistema de saúde: a telessaúde e a telemedicina. Pretendemos apresentar as ações realizadas por um serviço nacional de telessaúde no Brasil, tanto no suporte aos profissionais de saúde da Atenção Primária à Saúde quanto a pacientes, além de discutir o potencial de reorganizar um sistema de saúde. Estudo de prevalência que sumariza as ações de telemedicina adotadas pelo TelessaúdeRS-UFRGS no período da 9ª à 27ª semana epidemiológica de 2020 para apoio aos serviços de saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Houve aumento de 76,8% da demanda de teleconsultorias telefônicas no período avaliado em comparação com o mesmo período em 2019, sendo 28,8% dessa demanda total decorrente de dúvidas relacionada à Covid-19. A pandemia por Covid-19 demandou rápida resposta com a organização de materiais sobre a doença, uma nova equipe para execução das atividades de telemonitoramento e teleconsultas, além da elaboração de um manual para teleconsultas na Atenção Primária à Saúde.

O Papel da Telessaúde na Pandemia Covid-19: Uma Experiência Brasileira / The Role of Telehealth in the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Brazilian Experience

Resumo O SARS-CoV-2, vírus causador da Covid-19, é o terceiro coronavírus a causar doença grave em humanos e que apresentou disseminação global nas duas últimas décadas. Nesse contexto, diversos departamentos nacionais de saúde pública, entre eles o Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, trouxeram destaque àquilo que era, até então, considerado um serviço de apoio ao sistema de saúde: a telessaúde e a telemedicina. Pretendemos apresentar as ações realizadas por um serviço nacional de telessaúde no Brasil, tanto no suporte aos profissionais de saúde da Atenção Primária à Saúde quanto a pacientes, além de discutir o potencial de reorganizar um sistema de saúde. Estudo de prevalência que sumariza as ações de telemedicina adotadas pelo TelessaúdeRS-UFRGS no período da 9ª à 27ª semana epidemiológica de 2020 para apoio aos serviços de saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Houve aumento de 76,8% da demanda de teleconsultorias telefônicas no período avaliado em comparação com o mesmo período em 2019, sendo 28,8% dessa demanda total decorrente de dúvidas relacionada à Covid-19. A pandemia por Covid-19 demandou rápida resposta com a organização de materiais sobre a doença, uma nova equipe para execução das atividades de telemonitoramento e teleconsultas, além da elaboração de um manual para teleconsultas na Atenção Primária à Saúde.

Abstract SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, is the third coronavirus to cause severe disease in humans and to spread globally in the past two decades. In this context, several national public health departments, including the Brazilian Ministry of Health, highlighted what was, until then, considered a support service to the health system: telehealth and telemedicine. We intend to present the actions carried out by a national telehealth service in Brazil, both as a Primary Health Care (PHC) support service to professionals and to patients, as well as discussing the potential to reorganize a health system. This is a prevalence study that summarizes the measures adopted by Brazilian Telehealth Center from the 9th to the 27th epidemiological weeks of 2020 to support the health services of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). There was an increase of 76.8% in the demand for telephone teleconsultations during the evaluated period compared to the same period in 2019, with 28.8% of the entire demand arising from doubts related to Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic demanded a quick response, with the organization of materials about the disease, a new team to carry out telemonitoring and teleconsultation activities, in addition to the creation of a manual for teleconsultations in Primary Health Care.