Politics and confidence toward the COVID-19 vaccination: A Brazilian cross-sectional study.

This study has the aim of assessing the Brazilian perceptions, influencing factors and political positioning on the confidence concerning COVID-19 vaccination. To achieve the objective, the methods rely on a cross-sectional survey of Brazilian citizens, distributed through different social networks. The sample is composed of 1,670 valid responses, collected from almost all Brazilian states and state capitals. To analyze the data and give a clear view of the variables' relationship, the study used bivariate and comparative graphs. Results show a higher level of confidence in vaccines from Pfizer and AstraZeneca, while the lower level of confidence is associated with vaccines from Sinopharm and Sputinik5. Vaccine efficacy is the most significant influencing factor that helps in the decision to get vaccinated. Also, individuals are less willing to get vaccinated if their political preferences are related to the right-wing. The results led to three main health and social implications: i) the vaccination strategy campaigns should take in count vaccine efficacy and political aspects; ii) the vaccination process should be adapted to regions with different political positions; and iii) a reinforcement in the educational policies of the vaccine's importance to the public health, to avoid the politization of a health issue.

Perceptions of institutional performance and compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions: How performance perceptions and policy compliance affect public health in a decentralized health system.

Trust in institutions is a key driver to shape population attitudes and behavior, such as compliance of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI). During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was fundamental and its compliance was supported by governmental and non-governmental institutions. Nevertheless, the situation of political polarization in some countries with decentralized health systems increased the difficulty of such interventions. This study analyzes the association between non-pharmaceutical interventions' compliance and individual perception regarding institutions' performance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A web survey was conducted in Brazil between November 2020 and February 2021. Bivariate analysis and ordered logit regressions were performed to assess the association between NPIs compliance and perceived institutions' performance. Results suggest a negative association between NPIs' compliance and Federal Government and Ministry of health perceived performance, which may reflect the political positioning of the respondents. Moreover, we find a positive association between NPI compliance and the perceived performance of the remaining institutions (state government, federal supreme court, national congress, WHO, media and SUS). Our contribution goes beyond the study of a relationship between non-pharmaceutical interventions' compliance and institutions' performance, by pointing out the importance of subnational and local governmental spheres in a decentralized health system, as well as highlighting the importance of social communication based on health organizations' information and scientific institutions.

Programa Mais Médicos: identificação e análise dos cursos de medicina abertos / Mais Médicos Program: Identification and Analysis of Open Medical Undergraduate Programs

Resumo O Programa Mais Médicos (PMM), lançado em 2013, objetivou combater a má distribuição médica no Brasil. Para tanto, uma das estratégias adotadas foi a reordenação da oferta de cursos de medicina. Com base nisso, este estudo pretendeu investigar o impacto do PMM na abertura de novos cursos de medicina no Brasil, identificando aqueles abertos em decorrência da lei. Com a realização de uma pesquisa documental nas bases de dados do Ministério da Educação, verificou-se a abertura de 135 desses cursos entre janeiro de 2014 e fevereiro de 2022, sendo 68 abertos em decorrência do PMM, a maioria na rede privada (79%). A preferência pela abertura desses novos cursos na região Sudeste (35%) pode estar relacionada à sua maior estrutura, o que facilitaria a instalação e o estabelecimento de parcerias com organizações hospitalares para o ensino prático exigido. Também se notou uma expansão dos cursos privados nas regiões Nordeste, Sudeste e Sul, e dos cursos públicos nas regiões Centro-Oeste e Norte. Entretanto, a análise regional detalhada mostrou que a política pública tem fracassado em combater a má distribuição de médicos por meio da abertura dos novos cursos, pois priorizou estados que já possuíam consideráveis indicadores de força de trabalho.

Abstract Launched in 2013, the Mais Médicos Program (PMM) aimed to combat poor physician allocation in Brazil by reorganizing the offer of Medicine Programs. Thus, this study investigates the impact of the PMM on the opening of new medical undergraduate programs in Brazil, identifying those offered as a result of the law. By means of documentary research in the Ministry of Education databases, the study identified a total of new 135 medical programs opened between January 2014 and February 2022, 68 of which as a result of the PMM, mostly in the private network (79%). The preference for opening new courses in the Southeast (35%) may be due to its larger structure, which would facilitate implementation and establishing partnerships with hospital organizations for the required practical teaching. The findings point to an expansion of private programs in the Northeast, Southeast and South, and of public programs in the Mid-West and North regions. However, a detailed regional analysis showed that public policy has failed in combating poor medical allocation through this strategy, as it prioritized states with considerable labor force indicators.

Running away from the jab: factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how sociodemographic conditions, political factors, organizational confidence, and non-pharmaceutical interventions compliance affect the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazil. METHODS: Data collection took place between November 25th, 2020 and January 11th, 2021 using a nationwide online survey. Subsequently, the researches performed a descriptive analysis on the main variables and used logistic regression models to investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS: Less concern over vaccine side effects could improve the willingness to be vaccinated (probability changed by 7.7 pp; p < 0.10). The current vaccine distrust espoused by the Brazilian president is associated with vaccine hesitancy, among his voter base. Lower performance perception ("Very Bad" with 10.7 pp; p < 0.01) or higher political opposition (left-oriented) regarding the current presidency is associated with the willingness to be vaccinated. Higher compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is usually positively associated with the willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine (+1 score to NPI compliance index is associated with higher willingness to be vaccinated by 1.4 pp, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Willingness to be vaccinated is strongly associated with political leaning, perceived federal government performance, vaccine side effects, and compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).

How did the UK government face the global COVID-19 pandemic? / Como o governo do Reino Unido enfrentou a pandemia global da COVID-19? / ¿Cómo hizo frente el gobierno del Reino Unido a la pandemia mundial de COVID-19?

Abstract This paper aims to analyse the coordination and cooperation in Primary Health Care (PHC) measures adopted by the British government against the spread of the COVID-19. PHC is clearly part of the solution founded by governments across the world to fight against the spread of the virus. Data analysis was performed based on coordination, cooperation, and PHC literature crossed with documentary analysis of the situation reports released by the World Health Organisation and documents, guides, speeches and action plans on the official UK government website. The measures adopted by the United Kingdom were analysed in four periods, which helps to explain the courses of action during the pandemic: pre-first case (January 22- January 31, 2020), developing prevention measures (February 1 -February 29, 2020), first Action Plan (March 1- March 23, 2020) and lockdown (March 24-May 6, 2020). Despite the lack of consensus in essential matters such as Brexit, the nations in the United Kingdom are working together with a high level of cooperation and coordination in decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resumo Este artigo tem o objetivo de analisar a coordenação e cooperação nas medidas de atenção básica à saúde adotadas pelo governo britânico no combate a evolução da COVID-19. A atenção básica à saúde é parte da solução adotada pelos governos no mundo para combater o vírus. Foi utilizada da análise de dados baseada na literatura de coordenação, cooperação e atenção básica à saúde, de forma cruzada com a análise documental dos relatórios elaborados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde e documentos, guias, discursos e planos de ação nos sites oficiais do governo britânico. As medidas adotadas pelo governo britânico foram analisadas em 4 períodos, de forma a ajudar na explicação das ações durante a pandemia: pré-primeiro caso (22 a 31 de janeiro), desenvolvendo medidas de prevenção (01 a 29 de fevereiro), primeiro plano de ação (1 a 23 de março) e lockdown (24 de março a 6 de maio). Apesar da falta de consenso em temas essenciais como o Brexit, as nações no Reino Unido estão trabalhando juntas com um alto nível de cooperação e coordenação na tomada de decisão durante o surto do coronavírus.

Resumen Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la coordinación y cooperación en las medidas de atención primaria de salud adoptadas por el gobierno británico para combatir la evolución de la COVID-19. Una crisis sin precedentes exige soluciones de políticas públicas y una gobernanza única en el desafío más importante del siglo XXI. La atención primaria de salud es claramente parte de la solución adoptada por los gobiernos de todo el mundo para combatir el virus. Se utilizó el análisis de datos ‒basado en la literatura sobre coordinación, cooperación y atención primaria de salud‒ cruzado con el análisis documental de informes elaborados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud y documentos, guías, discursos y planes de acción de los sitios web oficiales del gobierno británico. Las medidas adoptadas por el gobierno británico se analizaron en 4 periodos con el fin de ayudar a explicar las acciones durante la pandemia: pre-primer caso (22 a 31 de enero), desarrollo de medidas preventivas (01 a 29 de febrero), primer plan de acción (01 a 23 de marzo) y confinamiento (24 de marzo a 6 de mayo). A pesar de la disparidad en el consenso sobre temas clave como el Brexit, las naciones del Reino Unido están trabajando juntas con un alto nivel de cooperación y coordinación en la toma de decisiones durante el brote de coronavirus.

Running away from the jab: factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazil

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To investigate how sociodemographic conditions, political factors, organizational confidence, and non-pharmaceutical interventions compliance affect the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazil. METHODS: Data collection took place between November 25th, 2020 and January 11th, 2021 using a nationwide online survey. Subsequently, the researches performed a descriptive analysis on the main variables and used logistic regression models to investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS: Less concern over vaccine side effects could improve the willingness to be vaccinated (probability changed by 7.7 pp; p < 0.10). The current vaccine distrust espoused by the Brazilian president is associated with vaccine hesitancy, among his voter base. Lower performance perception ("Very Bad" with 10.7 pp; p < 0.01) or higher political opposition (left-oriented) regarding the current presidency is associated with the willingness to be vaccinated. Higher compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is usually positively associated with the willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine (+1 score to NPI compliance index is associated with higher willingness to be vaccinated by 1.4 pp, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Willingness to be vaccinated is strongly associated with political leaning, perceived federal government performance, vaccine side effects, and compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).

Programa Mais Médicos, uma tentativa de solucionar o problema da distribuição médica no território brasileiro / More Doctors Program, an attempt to solve the problem of medical distribution in the Brazilian territory

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi realizar uma revisão integrativa da literatura utilizando a mnemônica População, Conceito e Contexto do Joanna Briggs Institute para mapear os trabalhos que abordaram a distribuição médica no Brasil, com intuito de analisar criticamente o Programa Mais Médicos (PMM), resultando em 453 trabalhos, com 10 artigos selecionados. Os resultados indicam fatores pecuniários e não pecuniários como motivos para a má distribuição brasileira de médicos. Como solução, foi criado o PMM, que provocou grande expansão do número de cursos de medicina - um aumento estimado de 71% no número de médicos até 2030. Embora haja dificuldades na capacitação técnica e pedagógica docente e de preceptores para supervisionarem essa quantidade abrupta de graduandos, há uma oportunidade para transformar a má qualidade atual do acesso e da assistência prestada à população no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Por outro lado, a falta de um monitoramento contínuo da avaliação da qualidade dos formandos e a falta de investimentos na infraestrutura e na regulação da assistência, bem como da melhor distribuição e qualificação dos programas de residência médica, poderão tornar essa situação, aparentemente vantajosa, uma grande catástrofe (pessoal e profissional), com um mercado de trabalho que pode ter uma enorme oferta de mão de obra pouco qualificada.

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to carry out an integrative literature review using the mnemonic Population, Concept and Context of the Joanna Briggs Institute, to map the works that addressed the medical distribution in Brazil, in order to critically analyze the More Doctors Program (PMM), resulting in 453 papers with 10 selected articles. The results indicate pecuniary and non-pecuniary factors as reasons for the poor distribution of Brazilian doctors. As a solution, the PMM was created, which caused a great expansion in the number of medical courses, an estimated increase of 71% in the number of doctors until 2030. Although with the difficulties of technical and pedagogical training of teachers and preceptors to supervise this amount abruptness of undergraduate students, there is an opportunity to transform the current poor quality of access and assistance provided to the population in the Unified Health System (SUS). However, the lack of continuous monitoring of the trainees’ quality assessment, lack of investments in infrastructure and regulation of assistance, as well as the better distribution and qualification of medical residency programs, could make this situation apparently advantageous in a major catastrophe (personal and professional) with a labor market that may have a huge supply of low-skilled labor.

Erratum to: Running away from the jab: factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazil

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To investigate how sociodemographic conditions, political factors, organizational confidence, and non-pharmaceutical interventions compliance affect the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazil. METHODS: Data collection took place between November 25th, 2020 and January 11th, 2021 using a nationwide online survey. Subsequently, the researches performed a descriptive analysis on the main variables and used logistic regression models to investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS: Less concern over vaccine side effects could improve the willingness to be vaccinated (probability changed by 7.7 pp; p < 0.10). The current vaccine distrust espoused by the Brazilian president is associated with vaccine hesitancy, among his voter base. Lower performance perception ("Very Bad" with 10.7 pp; p < 0.01) or higher political opposition (left-oriented) regarding the current presidency is associated with the willingness to be vaccinated. Higher compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is usually positively associated with the willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine (+1 score to NPI compliance index is associated with higher willingness to be vaccinated by 1.4 pp, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Willingness to be vaccinated is strongly associated with political leaning, perceived federal government performance, vaccine side effects, and compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). DESCRIPTORS: COVID-19 Vaccines. Vaccination Refusal. Socioeconomic Factors. Political Activism. Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice.

A regionalização do SUS: proposta de avaliação de desempenho dos Departamentos Regionais de Saúde do estado de São Paulo / The regionalization of the Brazilian National Health System: proposition for performance evaluation of the Regional Health Departments of São Paulo state, Brazil

Resumo Nas últimas décadas, a saúde brasileira sofreu grandes transformações, tanto em seu modelo como no desempenho do Estado. No entanto, devido a deficiências processuais e práticas, seu desempenho mostra ineficiência na prestação de serviços para a população. A regionalização, como estratégia de descentralização, surgiu como uma alternativa para resolver esses problemas interfederativos. Assim, este estudo visa analisar o desempenho da estratégia de regionalização do Sistema Único de Saúde no estado de São Paulo, pelos Departamentos Regionais de Saúde (DRS). Para atingir o objetivo, foi realizado um estudo descritivo e quantitativo, que resultou no Indicador Sintético Regional de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo (ISRS/SP). Observou-se uma concentração dos DRS com melhor desempenho no interior do estado de São Paulo, bem como uma relação não direta entre as regiões que receberam mais recursos e aqueles que obtiveram melhor desempenho, isto é, os conceitos de eficiência e eficácia estão intimamente relacionados em seu desempenho. No final do estudo, é possível compreender a regionalização da saúde no estado de São Paulo de forma abrangente, com possibilidades de adaptar o indicador sintético criado para outras regiões e realizar estudos mais aprofundados sobre o desempenho de cada nível.

Abstract In the last decades, the Brazilian public health has undergone major transformations, both in its model and in the performance of the State. However, due to procedural and practical deficiencies, their performance shows inefficiency in the provision of services for the population. The regionalization, as a strategy of decentralization, emerged as an alternative to solve these interfederative problems. Thus, this study aims to analyze the performance of the Brazilian National Health System regionalization strategy in São Paulo State, through the Regional Health Departments (RHD). To reach the objective, a descriptive and quantitative study was carried out, which resulted in the Regional Synthetic Indicator of Health of the State of São Paulo (RSIH/SP). A concentration of RHD with better performance was observed in the interior of São Paulo State, as well as a non-direct relation between the regions that received more resources and those that obtained better results, that is, the concepts of efficiency and effectiveness are closely related in their performance. At the end of the study, it is possible to comprehend the regionalization of health in São Paulo State in a comprehensive way, with possibilities to adapt the synthetic indicator created for other regions and to carry out more detailed studies on the performance of each level.

Cross-sectoral assessment of public policies in health and the environment: Scenario of the municipalities in the state of Sao Paulo.

From the identification of the current and rising demand for integrated solutions by government players, especially at the stage of evaluation of public policies, this paper carried out an cross-sectoral outcome assessment of local government cost-effectiveness in the fields of health and environment. The analysis is based on the amount of resources allocated by each of the 645 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, to each field, involving consolidated evaluation indicators (IDSUS and IAA, respectively). This study required the prior distribution of municipalities in clusters within homogeneous groups previously proposed in IDSUS calculation methodology. The results suggest that the addressed areas are intimately connected, indicating that larger (and better) environmental investments can produce promising outcomes toward health performance. Therefore, there is a demand for integrated public policies in the context of environmental health. Also, there is the indication that the resource management and the proper allocation thereof may be more relevant than the total amount spent; and that lower cost-effectiveness values do not necessarily demonstrate high scores in the assessed performance indicators.

Considerações sobre custo-benefício nas políticas de saúde: tratamento curativo versus o preventivo da osteoporose / Cost-benefit considerations for health policies: curative versus preventive treatment of osteoporosis

A partir da década de 1990 vários paradigmas da prática médica foram sendo modificados, o que levou ao desenvolvimento de novas abordagens médicas, mais eficientes e eficazes. O conhecimento da osteoporose passa por modificações: antes correlacionava redução de massa óssea à elevação do risco de fratura e direcionava o diagnóstico somente a indivíduos idosos; posteriormente, baseia-se em um modelo que privilegia a observação simultânea das duas matrizes ósseas: protéica ou verdadeira e a inorgânica ou secundária, desde tenra idade. Os dois modelos se distinguem basicamente por uma abordagem curativa, que diagnostica o quadro de osteoporose já instalado e adota práticas posteriores ao mal e, de outro lado, por uma abordagem preventiva, que visa evitar que o mal se instale. Dessa forma, com o objetivo de avaliar a relação custo-benefício e custo-efetiva do tratamento curativo versus o preventivo da osteoporose nas políticas públicas de saúde, foi realizada uma pesquisa comparativa dos pacientes atendidos no HCFMRP-USP entre 2007-2009. A partir dos dados obtidos foi efetuada a análise dos custos incorridos versus os benefícios auferidos. Os resultados da pesquisa consideram a abordagem preventiva da osteoporose viável economicamente, por meio do rastreamento da microarquitetura óssea. Nesse sentido, além das evidências econômicas, o estudo permitiu analisar a importância da aplicação de um novo paradigma da osteoporose nas políticas públicas de saúde, a fim de alcançar a melhoria das condições de vida e bem-estar da população.

From the 1990 decade, several paradigms of daily medical practice have been modified, favoring new, more efficient and effective medical approaches. The knowledge about osteoporosis underwent changes; it previously correlated the reduction of bone mass to an increased risk of fracture and directed the diagnosis only at elderly individuals. A later a model favors, since an early age, the simultaneous observation of the two bone matrices, the protein or real one and the inorganic or secondary one. The two models basically differ in terms of approach: one takes a curative approach, that diagnoses the signs and symptoms already installed of osteoporosis and adopts practices that follow the disease; the other, a preventive approach aiming at avoiding the installation of the disease. Thus, in order to evaluate the costs and benefits of curative against preventive approaches of osteoporosis in public health policies, a comparative study of patients treated in 2007-2009 on HCFMRP – USP was carried out. Data obtained were analyzed as for the costs incurred versus the benefits gained. The results of the study show that the preventive approach to osteoporosis, by means of bone micro-architecture screening, is economically viable. In this respect, in addition to providing economic evidence, the study analyzed the importance of applying a new paradigm regarding osteoporosis on the part of public healthcare policy in order to achieve better living conditions and well-being for the population.