Telemonitoring as a Telehealth strategy to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian capital.

Objective: This study aimed to describe and analyze the process of creating and implementing telemonitoring services for COVID-19 cases, focusing on strengths and weaknesses. Methods: A single case study incorporating qualitative and quantitative data using descriptive and exploratory approach was performed from 24 March 2020 to 24 March 2021 in a Brazilian capital city. Data collection took place through interviews, document analysis, and direct observation. Thematic content analysis was performed, and the results were presented in categories. Results: The project included 512 health professionals, and 102,000 patients were monitored. The service was designed to break the chain of transmission, reinforce biosecurity measures, and provide comprehensive care to patients. Initially, two levels of monitoring were created. The first was a multidisciplinary health team that made calls to patients in the database. If the patients showed warning signs or aggravation, they were referred to the physician's monitoring referral service. Subsequently, a third level was created and staffed by psychologists. The main challenges were the number of patients notified, needing to update the contact forms as COVID-19 knowledge increased, and inconsistent telephone numbers recorded in the notifications. Conclusions: Telemonitoring allowed signs of worsening COVID-19 to be identified, monitored thousands of people, and stopped infected patients from circulating. Adapting the existing telehealth structure was a viable, agile, and powerful strategy to reach a large number of people.

Age-related macular degeneration and resource utilization in the Brazilian public healthcare system: a real-world retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that causes damage in the macular region of the retina, leading to irreversible blindness. This study aims to understand the profile and care of patients with AMD and its cost at the Brazilian public health system to identify AMD-care needs. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of AMD with real-world data from the Brazilian public healthcare system, using DATASUS claim databases. Patients with AMD were selected from 01/Jan/2014 to 31/Jan/2020; had at least one claim of ICD10 code H35.3 (Degeneration of macula and posterior pole), and were submitted to one of two procedures exclusively available for AMD patients - optical coherence tomography (OCT) and medical treatment of retinal disease (antiangiogenic); aged ≥18 years at first ICD10 claim, and presenting at least 1 year of follow-up in the database. We described patients' characteristics, healthcare resource utilization and cost, and the antiangiogenic intravitreal treatment received by AMD patients, including the number of doses and interval time between them. RESULTS: Patients searching for AMD treatment since 2014 were mostly females (59%), white (61%), and a mean age of 72 years. They were mainly located in the Southeast (87%), and few patients were found in the North (1%) and Central-West (1.5%) regions, probably reflecting where the Brazilian guideline to treat AMD (Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas - PCDT) was incorporated as routine care for AMD. The average antiangiogenic dose of 2.5 antiangiogenic therapies within a year was below the expected. Most injections had an interval time of 20 to 40 days between doses, although some patients were treated more than 100 days. Another setback is that patients traveled longer distances for OCT and antiangiogenic treatment than overall AMD-healthcare, between 10 and 100 km. CONCLUSIONS: AMD patients seem to be undertreated, as they receive a mean of 2.5 doses of antiangiogenic treatment within a year. Inequalities among regions are evident, as the Southeast and South regions comprise almost all patients receiving the treatment from the public health system, probably reflecting the region with more access to AMD care according to PCDT recommendations.

Análise da relação da ocorrência de polimorfismo de nucleotídeo único do gene DOCK9 em ceratocone / Relation analysis of the occurrence of single nucleotide polymorphism of the DOCK9 gene in keratoconus

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a ocorrência de mutação em locus gênico candidato e sua relação com ceratocone em pacientes atendidos no Brasil comparados a voluntários saudáveis, através da análise de polimorfismo de nucleotídeo único no gene DOCK9. Métodos: Neste estudo clínico foram avaliados 108 indivíduos, sendo 46 pacientes com ceratocone e 62 voluntários saudáveis (controles). Amostras de DNA foram obtidas do sangue coletado de pacientes com ceratocone e controles para a realização de análise de genotipagem. O genótipo do polimorfismo de nucleotídeo único rs7995432 no gene DOCK9 foi determinado através de reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real (qPCR). Resultados: A frequência do alelo mutante (C) foi de 4,8% para os pacientes e 7,6% para os controles. Para o alelo selvagem (T), as frequências foram de 95,2% para os pacientes e 92,4% para os controles. O genótipo heterozigótico esteve presente em 9,5% dos pacientes e 11% dos controles, enquanto o genótipo homozigótico para o alelo selvagem (TT) foi encontrado em 90,5% e 87% para os pacientes e controles, respectivamente. Conclusão: Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na frequência e discriminação dos alelos mutante e selvagem entre os pacientes com ceratocone e os controles. Portanto, não foi possível fazer uma associação destas mutações no gene DOCK9 com a ocorrência do ceratocone para esta população.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of a mutation in candidate genetic loci and its relation with keratoconus in patients treated in Brazil compared to healthy volunteers, through analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the DOCK9 gene. Methods: In this clinical study, 108 participants were evaluated, including 46 keratoconus patients and 62 healthy volunteers (controls). DNA samples were extracted from collected blood from keratoconus patients and controls. The genotyping of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs7995432 in the DOCK9 gene was determined through a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: The frequency of the mutant allele (C) was 4.8% in patients and 7.6% in controls. For the wild allele (T), the frequencies were 95.2% in patients and 92.4% in controls. The heterozygous genotype was present in 9.5% of patients and 11% of controls, while the homozygous genotype for the wild allele (TT) was found in 90.5% and 87% for patients and controls, respectively. Conclusion: There were no significant differences un the frequency and discrimination of the mutant and wild alleles between patients and controls. Therefore, these results confirm no association of these mutations in the DOCK9 gene and the occurrence of keratoconus for this population.

Systematization of nursing care in the perspective of professional autonomy / Sistematização da assistência de enfermagem na perspectiva para a autonomia profissional

Objective: to analyze the perception of nurses about the systematization of nursing care in the perspective of professional autonomy. Methods: a descriptive and exploratory research, carried out with 24 nurses at five inpatient clinics of a large-scale public teaching hospital, through a structured questionnaire evaluated by experts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: nurses claimed that the systematization of nursing care promotes autonomy, emphasizing that the pursuit of knowledge for the development of systematization of nursing care is supported by an exchange of experiences among colleagues. Conclusion:applying the systematization of nursing care generates autonomy, demonstrating that nurses become more apt in developing it, thereby resulting in increased professional autonomy.

Objetivo: analisar a percepção do enfermeiro acerca da sistematização da assistência de enfermagem naperspectiva da autonomia profissional. Métodos: pesquisa descritiva e exploratória, realizada com 24enfermeiros em cinco clínicas de internação de um hospital de ensino, público, de grande porte, por meio deum questionário estruturado e avaliado por especialistas. Os dados foram analisados utilizando a estatísticadescritiva. Resultados: os enfermeiros afirmaram que a sistematização da assistência de enfermagempromove a autonomia. Enfatizaram que a busca do conhecimento para o desenvolvimento da sistematização daassistência de enfermagem recebe um reforço com a troca de experiência entre os colegas. Conclusão: aplicar asistematização da assistência de enfermagem gera autonomia, demonstra que os enfermeiros percebem-se maisaptos a desenvolvê-la gerando acréscimo da autonomia profissional.Descritores: Cuidados de Enfermagem; Autonomia Profissional; Processos de Enfermagem; Planejamento deAssistência ao Paciente.

Posterior cortical atrophy--a prototypical case of dementia beginning with visual symptoms: case report.

Dementia presenting with prominent higher order visual symptoms may be observed in a range of neurodegenerative conditions and is often challenging to diagnose. We describe a case of progressive dementia presenting with prominent visual cortical symptoms. A 55-year-old, right-handed, woman with early onset of visual impairment not associated with anterior visual pathology, presenting with dyslexia, visual agnosia, Balint's syndrome, and spatial disorientation. Ophthalmologists should consider this condition especially in presenile patients with slowly progressive higher-order visual symptoms. Although described in association with different conditions, it may also occur in Alzheimer disease.

Posterior cortical atrophy - a prototypical case of dementia beginning with visual symptoms: case report / Atrofia cortical posterior - um caso prototípico de demência iniciando com sintomas visuais: relato de caso

Dementia presenting with prominent higher order visual symptoms may be observed in a range of neurodegenerative conditions and is often challenging to diagnose. We describe a case of progressive dementia presenting with prominent visual cortical symptoms. A 55-year-old, right-handed, woman with early onset of visual impairment not associated with anterior visual pathology, presenting with dyslexia, visual agnosia, Balint's syndrome, and spatial disorientation. Ophthalmologists should consider this condition especially in presenile patients with slowly progressive higher-order visual symptoms. Although described in association with different conditions, it may also occur in Alzheimer disease.

As demências que se apresentam predominantemente com sintomas visuais associativos podem ser observadas em diferentes condições neurodegenerativas, sendo seu diagnóstico muitas vezes desafiador. Descrevemos um caso com demência progressiva que se apresentam com sintomas visuais proeminentes. Mulher de 55 anos, destra, com início precoce de déficits visuais não associados a patologia visual anterior, apresentando dislexia, agnosia visual, síndrome de Balint e desorientação espacial. Os oftalmologistas devem ter em mente essa condição especialmente em pacientes pré-senis com queixas visuais complexas e lentamente progressivas. Apesar de descritas em diferentes condições, pode ocorrer na doença de Alzheimer.

Tele-oftalmologia em atenção primária / Tele-ophthalmology in primary care

Introdução: As maiores causas mundiais de cegueira são preveníveis ou tratáveis. Mais de metade dos casos são devido a catarata ou erros de refração não corrigidos. Passo fundamental para a identificação precoce destas alterações, a triagem de acuidade visual pode ser feita por trabalhadores da saúde e educação habilitados para tal. A capacitação destas pessoas peca pela ausência de profissionais habilitados e disponíveis em número suficiente para esta tarefa. A possibilidade de aplicação de método eficaz de capacitação à distância por telemedicina pode ajudar o Brasil a alcançar as metas da OMS para o ano 2020. Métodos: Elaborou-se uma estratégia de educação à distância para trabalhadores de Equipes de Saúde da Família (ESF), por telemedicina, para o desenvolvimento de habilidade prática em área específica da saúde, aqui aplicada em oftalmologia. Aplicou-se a metodologia desenvolvida para a criação de um Instrumento Interativo de Capacitação em Triagem de Acuidade Visual (IICTAV). Baseado em objetos de aprendizagem sistematizados (em iconografia 3D e vídeos contextualizados) criados especificamente para este fim, associados a um simulador de casos, o IICTAV foi aplicado a trabalhadores da saúde de ESFs de todo o Brasil. Elaborou-se questionários para a avaliação da retenção de ganho de informação e da transformação desta informação em conhecimento, com aplicabilidade prática na correta triagem visual de pacientes. Resultados: Foram criados sete objetos de aprendizagem (OA), que podem ser utilizados isolados ou em conjunto. Associados a três simuladores de casos, os OAs foram aplicados em três cursos distintos, a 511 trabalhadores da ESFs, a maioria agentes comunitários de saúde, com 94,8% de acertos na avaliação conduzida. Conclusão: O IICTAV mostrou-se eficaz em habilitar os trabalhadores da saúde a ele expostos na técnica de avaliação da acuidade visual. A metodologia aplicada pode ser difundida por telemedicina para todo o Brasil, ampliando...

Introduction: Most prevalent global causes of blindness are either preventable or treatable. More than fifty percent of blindness is due to cataract or unmet correction of refractive errors. Visual acuity screening is a major first step on the early detection of these conditions and may be performed by skilled health workers and teachers. Proper training of these workers lacks human resources both in quantity and availability. Being able to effectively teach health workers the skills to perform visual screening tests using telemedicine and distance education might help Brazil comply with WHO goals for 2020. Methods: A distance education strategy was planned for primary care health workers from Brazilian Family Health Teams to develop specific technical skills in health care. It was first applied to ophthalmology. The strategy was used to create an Interactive Visual Acuity Screening Skill Development Course (IVASSDC). The course was based on standardized learning objects (3D iconography and contextualization videos) who were specially designed and created as well as on a case simulator. The IVASSDC was applied to primary care health workers from all over Brazil. Questionnaires were created to address information retention and its development into knowledge that could allow an adequate visual acuity screening. Results: Seven learning objects and three case simulators were created to be used as a set or isolated. The set of educational tools was applied to 511 health workers from Brazilian Family Health Teams, most of them undergraduate community health agents. It proved effective in 94,8% of the evaluated participants. Conclusion: The Interactive Visual Acuity Screening Skill Development Course proved to be effective on the development of a specific skill in health workers from Brazil. The method can be spread through telemedicine to the whole country and can be applied to the development of other health techniques skills.

The efficacy of telemedicine for ophthalmology triage by a general practitioner.

Although there are enough ophthalmologists for the Brazilian population, they are not evenly distributed throughout the country. Tele-ophthalmology may therefore be a useful tool. We have examined the feasibility of ophthalmology triage, performed by a general practitioner (GP) with remote support from an ophthalmologist. Forty patients with a variety of external and internal eye disorders were examined by the GP and also reassessed by an ophthalmologist, face to face, and then remotely by another ophthalmologist. There was agreement in 95% of the diagnoses between face-to-face and distant evaluation. The use of a digital camera and slit-lamp allowed greater accuracy of telediagnosis than the use of a digital camera alone. The GP would have referred 36 patients to an ophthalmologist, while both the local and the remote ophthalmologist saw the need for referral in 31 cases, i.e. assessment by tele-ophthalmology resulted in a 14% decrease in referrals. GP triage therefore appears to be feasible after appropriate training.