General Beliefs and Stigma Regarding Illicit Drug Use: Perspectives of Family Members and Significant Others of Drug Users in an Inner City in Brazil.

People who use drugs are continuously subjected to harsh stigmatization through a process of relational and social degradation, which limits their possibility for recovery. This quantitative study explores the perspectives of family members or significant others of illicit drug users, regarding general beliefs about illicit drug use and their stigma. Respondents agree that most people do not trust people who use drugs, disregard individuals who have been hospitalized due to drug problems and do not think people who use drugs are as intelligent as the general population. These findings reveal a high level of public stigma regarding illicit drug use.

Validation of an instrument to assess factors associated with adherence to standard precautions among dentists in primary healthcare.

Accidents with biological material are a reality in dental practice. The use of preventive measures such as the adoption of Standard Precautions (SP) is essential, thus this study aims to validate an instrument to check factors associated with adherence to SP among dentists. The scales of psychosocial and organizational factors that influence adherence to SP were the starting point. These scales have already been nationally validated for doctors and nurses. The instrument consisted of 49 items divided into five dimensions. The process of instrument validation involved the following steps: its adaptation for situations that pose risks to dentists; content and semantic analysis by a committee of judges, and application to dentists. The adapted instrument was applied to 224 dentists who provided primary healthcare in the north region of Paraná State. After the application of scales, the psychometric properties were analyzed using the factor analysis technique and a reliability test. The factor analysis confirmed three domains: Obstacles to following standard precautions; Knowledge of occupational transmission of HIV and Safety climate. The reliability of the domains was considered adequate (Cronbach's alpha between 0.73 and 0.88.). The instrument demonstrated adequate psychometric properties to assess factors that influence adherence to SP among dentists.

Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the family questionnaire in a Brazilian sample of relatives of schizophrenia outpatients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the internal reliability and validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Family Questionnaire among families of schizophrenia outpatients. BACKGROUND: The main studies about the family environment of schizophrenia patients are related to the concept of Expressed Emotion. There is currently no instrument to evaluate this concept in Brazil that is easily applicable and comparable with studies from other countries. DESIGN: Methodological and cross-sectional research design. METHOD: A convenience sample of 130 relatives of schizophrenia outpatients was selected. The translation and cultural adaptation of the instrument involved experts in mental health and experts in the German language and included back translation, semantic evaluation of items and pretesting of the instrument with 30 relatives of schizophrenia outpatients. The psychometric properties of the instrument were studied with another 100 relatives, which fulfilled the requirements for the Brazilian Portuguese version of the instrument. The psychometric properties of the instrument were assessed by construct validity (using an analysis of its key components, comparisons between distinct groups-convergent validity with the Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Scale) and reliability (checking the internal consistency of its items and its test-retest reproducibility). RESULTS: The analysis of main components confirmed dimensionality patterns that were comparable between the original and adapted versions. In two domains of the instrument, critical comments and emotional over-involvement had moderate and significant correlations, respectively, with Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Scale, appropriate values of Cronbach's alpha and strong and significant correlations, respectively, in test-retest reproducibility. We observed significant differences between distinct groups of parents in the category of emotional over-involvement. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Portuguese-adapted version of the Family Questionnaire is valid and reliable for the study sample. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provided evidence that the Family Questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing expressed emotion. It is easy and practical to use and is acceptable for use in a Brazilian cultural population.

Under-reporting of accidents involving biological material by nursing professionals at a Brazilian emergency hospital.

BACKGROUND: Pathogens can be transmitted to health professionals after contact with biological material. The exact number of infections deriving from these events is still unknown, due to the lack of systematic surveillance data and under-reporting. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out, involving 451 nursing professionals from a Brazilian tertiary emergency hospital between April and July 2009. Through an active search, cases of under-reporting of occupational accidents with biological material by the nursing team were identified by means of individual interviews. The Institutional Review Board approved the research project. RESULTS: Over half of the professionals (237) had been victims of one or more accidents (425 in total) involving biological material, and 23.76% of the accidents had not been officially reported using an occupational accident report. Among the underreported accidents, 53.47% were percutaneous and 67.33% were bloodborne. The main reason for nonreporting was that the accident had been considered low risk. CONCLUSIONS: The under-reporting rate (23.76%) was low in comparison with other studies, but most cases of exposure were high risk.

[Care and specialized clinical follow-up of nursing professionals who have been victims of accidents with biological material]. / Atendimento e seguimento clínico especializado de profissionais de enfermagem acidentados com material biológico.

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the conduct of nursing professionals who had been victims of accidents with biological material in a teaching hospital in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, regarding their care and specialized clinical follow-up. The study population consisted of 1,215 nursing professionals, who were interviewed individually between 2010 and 2011. Of the 1,215 nursing professionals interviewed, 636 (52.3%) reported having experienced accidents with biological material; of this population, 182 (28.6%) didn't sought specialized care. The most frequent reason reported for not seeking care was believing that it was a low-risk accident. The reasons professionals do not seek care and do not complete treatment and the clinical follow-up can contribute to strategies to increase professionals' adherence to prophylaxis measures after occupational exposure to biological material.

Analysis of the organizational aspects of a clinical emergency department: a study in a General Hospital in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.

Demand for the Emergency Department (ED) has increased, making the organization of work difficult. This quantitative, descriptive and documental study identifies and analyzes the characteristics of clinical care in the ED of a General Hospital in Ribeirão Preto, SP, in 2007, according to organizational variables. The study population included all clinical care consultations registered in the Hospital Management Information System. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and discussed considering the theoretical framework of the Single Health System (SUS). A total of 5,285 consultations were registered in the period, which were more frequent in patients from the city itself, in January (10%), on Mondays (16%), from 12pm to 12am (67.1%). The main reason for discharge from the unit was hospitalization (63.8%) and the predominant length of stay in the unit was less than six hours (39.8%). The results support the management of human resources, materials and equipment, indicating the desirability of reorganizing emergency care in the hospital.

[The search for attitudinal commitment: tendency in the manager nurse's ethical behavior]. / La búsqueda del compromiso actitudinal: tendencia de la conducta ética del enfermero gerente.

Historically, nurses' management functions have evidenced that their conduct is compatible with programmatic commitments. This fact was observed in the analysis of 18 studies carried out in healthcare services located in different Brazilian regions. Since the 1990's, management experts have alerted that traits such as commitment, interdisciplinarity, risk, uncertainty, spirituality, and ethical involvement will frame the characteristics of the human capital of 21st century organizations. In this much more humane environment, people's integrity and their way of relating at work must be based on the dimension of BEING. In order to face the new century institutions' healthcare demands, nurses are now urged to present a conduct permeated by the ethics of the attitudinal commitment. Thus, this study aims to stimulate a critical reflection on this ethical trend of nurses and finally propose that this trend be an essential value in nursing management processes.

Accidents with biological material and immunization against hepatitis B among students from the health area.

Undergraduate students from the health area often handle piercing-cutting instruments in their academic activities, which exposes them to the risk of contracting infections. This study aimed to analyze accidents with biological material among these students. Out of 170 accidents registered, 83 (48.8%) occurred with Dentistry students, 69 (40.6%) with Medical students, 11 (6.5%) with Nursing students and in 06 (3.5%) of the cases there was no such information in the files. Most accidents, 106 (62.4%), occurred with students from private schools and 55 (32.3%) with those from public schools. Percutaneous accidents occurred in 133 (78.2%) exposures and there was immediate search for specialized health care in only 38 (21.3%) accidents. In 127 (74.7%) accidents, the immunization schedule against hepatitis B was complete. Therefore, schools need to offer courses and specific class subjects regarding biosafety measures, including aspects related to immunization, especially the vaccine against hepatitis B.

Hypertension among undergraduate students from Lubango, Angola.

This descriptive study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among undergraduate students in Lubango-Angola. The results obtained according to the health field model were: a) human biology: 61.3% were between 18 and 29 years old; prevalence of hypertension from 20.3 to 26.7%; 17.1% were overweight; 3.2% were obese; b) environment: 36.1% were exclusively students; 33.1% gained a family income of up to 250 dollars; c) life style: 86.2% practiced physical activity; 60.6% preferred salty food; 4.0% were smokers; 40.6% drank alcohol; d) health care: 82.8% already had their arterial pressure verified sometime in their life, and 65.4% did not remember the obtained value.

[Nurses in leading positions and measures to prevent occupational exposure: facilities and barriers]. / Enfermeiros com cargos de chefia e medidas preventivas a exposição ocupacional: facilidades e barreiras.

This descriptive study aimed to assess the facilities and barriers that nurses in leading positions endure with respect to the nursing team's compliance to measures for preventing occupational exposure involving biological materials, based on Rosenstock's Health Belief Model. The study was carried out with 87 nurses of a university hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the year of 2006. Data were collected through a semistructured form with open and closed questions and analyzed through Content Analysis. Individual protection equipment was mentioned as the greatest form for preventing accidents, but lack of compliance to usage and incorrect use were indicated as barriers to accident prevention and as the main reasons for their occurrence. It is important for these nurses to be prepared to develop individualized and motivating strategies focused on compliance to the use of individual protection equipment in their work sectors.

[Notes of post-operative pain in children: a retrospective analyses of hospitals from Londrina, PR, Brazil]. / Registros sobre dor pós-operatória em crianças: uma análise retrospectiva de hospitais de Londrina, PR, Brasil.

All surgical procedures involve tissue lesions, manipulation of structures and organs, causing pain which can be minimized during the process. The objective of this study is to characterize, retrospectively, the process of managing post-operative pain based on 300 medical records of 280 children, who underwent surgery in 2004, in 3 hospitals located in Londrina, PR, Brazil. The study revealed that only a few nurses document post-operative pain, and that the majority of the records were made by nursing aides or technicians. The results have shown the need for research on pediatric pain management and the factors affecting them.

[Nursing workers' experiences in care for pulmonary tuberculosis patients]. / Situações vivenciadas pelos trabalhadores de enfermagem na assistência ao portador de tuberculose pulmonar.

This descriptive study aimed to identify the positive and negative aspects related to nursing care for pulmonary tuberculosis patients, based on the reports of nursing workers at an isolation unit. We categorized the reports of 26 nursing workers (nurses, auxiliaries, technicians and nursing attendants) in terms of positive and negative references. We obtained 24 reports, resulting in 94 (100%) situations, 38 (40.5%) of which were seen as positive and 56 (59.5%) as negative. The most frequent categories of situations were related to treatment orientations, to the patient's feelings about the disease and the nursing team's lack of preparedness.

[Interdisciplinary home hospitalization program of Marília-SP: material resource costs]. / Programa interdisciplinar de internação domiciliar de Marília-SP: custos de recursos materiais consumidos.

This study estimated the mean total direct cost of some production factors (material resources), including consumption materials, diets, medication and solutions used by two patient groups during hospitalization in the Interdisciplinary Home Hospitalization Program (PROIID) of Marília-SP, Brazil. The sample consisted of 27 patients with a diagnosis of cerebral vascular accident (CVA) and 18 with Neoplasm. Data were collected from the moment of hospitalization until the patients left the program. The mean total direct cost amounted to R$ 52.72 for each patient with CVA and of R$ 65.13 for those with Neoplasm. For both patient groups, the sub-category of material--diets accounted for the highest percentage of costs.

[Sexuality in the climateric period: situations experienced by women]. / Sexualidade no periodo climatérico: situações vivenciadas pela mulher.

Descriptive study aimed at identifying the aspects that women, cared for at a Service of Gynecology and Obstetrics, consider positive and negative in exercising their sexuality in the climacteric phase. Data was collected through individual interviews, using the technique of critical incidents. The 45 women that were interviewed mentioned 86 situations, of which 41 (47.7 percent) were considered positive and 45 (52.3 percent) negative. The situations were classified in three categories: relationship with a partner, intercourse and the woman as a social being. The results showed that these women gave priority to the quality of the relationship and to the demonstration of emotion in a romantic context. They highlighted their dissatisfaction with their self-image and with the existence of sexual dominance of the men over women. The study made possible a wider understanding regarding the climacteric period, thus offering subsidies for an assistance to women's health that contemplates the sexual dimension.

Validity and reliability of the Questionnaire for Compliance with Standard Precaution.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Questionnaire for Compliance with Standard Precaution for nurses. METHODS: This methodological study was conducted with 121 nurses from health care facilities in Sao Paulo's countryside, who were represented by two high-complexity and by three average-complexity health care facilities. Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha and stability was calculated by the intraclass correlation coefficient, through test-retest. Convergent, discriminant, and known-groups construct validity techniques were conducted. RESULTS: The questionnaire was found to be reliable (Cronbach's alpha: 0.80; intraclass correlation coefficient: (0.97) In regards to the convergent and discriminant construct validity, strong correlation was found between compliance to standard precautions, the perception of a safe environment, and the smaller perception of obstacles to follow such precautions (r = 0.614 and r = 0.537, respectively). The nurses who were trained on the standard precautions and worked on the health care facilities of higher complexity were shown to comply more (p = 0.028 and p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian version of the Questionnaire for Compliance with Standard Precaution was shown to be valid and reliable. Further investigation must be conducted with nurse samples that are more representative of the Brazilian reality. The use of the questionnaire may support the creation of educational measures considering the possible gaps that can be identified, focusing on the workers' health and on the patients' safety.

In-service nursing education delivered by videoconference.

Thirty nursing auxiliaries at a Brazilian hospital were trained in intramuscular injection at the ventrogluteal site in a lecture delivered by videoconference (over an IP connection at up to 512 kbit/s). Participants were able thereafter to practise on the same manikins used for demonstration during the lecture, until they felt confident in carrying out the procedure. They then completed an evaluation questionnaire on the use of videoconferencing as a teaching method. Most of their responses were favourable. The principal reasons given for attending the videoconference lecture were the ability to combine work and education, the opportunity to participate in an innovative approach and an interest in the subject of the lecture. The present study demonstrates the potential of videoconferencing for distance education in nursing.

[Nursing managerial approach: a study based on general management theories]. / A conduta gerencial da enfermeira: um estudo fundamentado nas teorias gerais da administração.

The purpose of this study was to identify nurses managerial conduct in a private maternity hospital located in the interior of the São Paulo state, Brazil. In order to collect data, authors used a questionnaire with 20 propositions related to the work of nurses in the different units of the hospital. Following, authors performed a descriptive statistical analysis of the data. Results showed a tendency toward democratization in the conduct of the nurses investigated as the majority of the responses privileged questions on team work, workers' participation and group development. Also, authors evidenced that great part of the responses did not agree with the propositions about the principles of the Classical Administration Theory.

[Needlestick injuries among nursing workers at a university hospital in the interior of the Sao Paulo state]. / Acidentes perfurocortantes entre trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário do interior paulista.

The risk presented by health care workers of acquiring bloodborne pathogens is well documented by the literature, which shows that Aids and Hepatitis acquired in the work setting is a real fact. This descriptive retrospective study was conducted in a university hospital in 1998 and aimed at analyzing needlestick injuries in nursing workers. Results showed that of the 398 officially reported occupational accidents, 125 (30.40%) were needlestick injuries and that 89 (71.20%) occurred among nursing workers. The most frequent occurrences took place during medication administration (25.78%). Authors concluded that nursing workers were the most frequently victimized workers by occupational accidents involving needlestick injuries.

[Teaching infection control: a theoretical and practical essay]. / O ensino do controle de infecção: um ensaio teórico-prático.

This article contains reflections concerning infection prevention and control measures starting from the adherence of health professionals to prevention measures. It points out worrisome environment-related aspects stemming from the use of disposable materials in spite of the benefits that they represent in terms of safety and reduction of operational costs, among others. All these issues are presented as a challenge to infection control teaching in the education of health professionals. Some guiding presuppositions are also presented.

[Analysis of risk factors related to the incidence of surgical site infections in gastrosurgeries]. / Análise dos fatores de risco relacionados à incidência de infecção do sítio cirúrgico em gastrocirurgias.

Nosocomial infection is regarded as a serious problem whose incidence and complexity has been increasing, thus generating various types of social and economic implications. This investigation aimed at assessing the incidence of surgical site infection and risk factors in patients submitted to elective surgeries in the specialty of gastroenterology performed in a public hospital in the interior of São Paulo State. Data were collected by means of a retrospective study of medical records from January to December 1999. Of the 134 cases under study, the occurrence of surgery site infection was detected in 18 situations (13.4%). Nine cases (50%) were considered to be superficial incisional infections, 8 (44.4%) were deep incisional infections and 1 (5.5%) was an organ/space infection. With respect to the risk factors, the ones with percentage higher or equal to 50% were: age above 50 years, the presence of neoplasia, surgeries that last more than two hours and inadequate trichotomy.