Do people accept brain death as death? A study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Although the term brain death has been clinically and legally accepted as a death criterion, few data are published about public attitudes and beliefs concerning this topic. OBJECTIVES: To examine public understanding of brain death and how the term brain death affects decisions about organ donation. METHODS: Population-based cross-sectional study, with individuals aged 20 years or older in the urban area of Pelotas, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire, completed in individual interviews. chi2 and t test were used in the univariate and logistic regression in multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of 3159 participants, 80.1% would authorize organ donation from a relative who had previously declared a willingness to do so. However, when the words "brain death" were used as death, only 63% would authorize organ donation. When the subject had not been discussed, only a third of the participants would authorize the donation of a relative's organs. CONCLUSIONS: When the term death was substituted with brain death, the willingness to donate decreased by 20%, suggesting that some individuals do not understand or accept the term brain death. Increasing comprehension about the concept of brain death and adopting educational strategies are essential to obtain higher rates of organ donation in developing countries.

Insatisfação corporal em freqüentadores de academia / Body dissatisfaction among gym customers

A imagem corporal consiste numa variável multidimensional composta por representações sobre o tamanho e a aparência do corpo. A auto percepção do peso corporal é um aspecto importante da imagem corporal. Provavelmente reflete a satisfação e as preocupações sobre o peso corporal e pode ser influenciada por normas e padrões sociais da cultura dominante. Objetivo: O presente estudo objetivou identificar a prevalência de insatisfação corporal entre freqüentadores de academias, verificando possíveis fatores associados a essa morbidade. Metodologia: Foi utilizado um delineamento transversal para estudar indivíduos de 15 anos ou mais, freqüentadores de academias de ginástica da cidade de Pelotas-RS, durante o período de agosto a dezembro de 2002. A coleta foi realizada através de questionário que incluía questões sócio-demográficas, comportamentais e nutricionais. Foram estudados 315 indivíduos em 13 academias de ginástica da cidade. O estudo foi aprovado pelo comitê de ética e pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Pelotas e o sigilo individual foi mantido. Resultados: Praticamente metade dos entrevistados (48,3%) relatou estar insatisfeito com o próprio corpo. As variáveis sexo, idade e índice de massa corporal (IMC) mostraram-se associadas a insatisfação corporal apos controle para fatores de confusão. Indivíduos do sexo feminino e a categoria de idade até 19 anos foram as que apresentaram maiores riscos de insatisfação corporal. O IMC encontrou-se diretamente associado a insatisfação com o corpo, sendo que a categoria obeso apresentou um risco 2,3 vezes maior quando comparada aos indivíduos desnutridos. Conclusão: O estudo apontou que a prevalência de insatisfação corporal encontrada entre os frequentadores de academias de ginastica é importante, principalmente quando consideramos os transtornos nutricionais e psicológicos a que essa pode levar.

introduction: The body image consists of a multidimensional variable composed of statistics for the size and appearance of the body. Self-perception of the weight of the body is an important aspect of the body image. The self-perception probably reflects the satisfaction and worries about the weight of the body and can be influenced by social rules and norms from the dominant culture. Objective: This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among gym customers by verifying possible factors associated to this morbidity. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, with individuals aged 15 or older who frequented different gyms in the city of Pelotas – RS from August to December 2002. Data collection was achieved through questionnaires including socio-demographic, behavioral and nutritional issues. 315 individuals from 13 different gyms in Pelotas were studied. The study was approved by the commission of Ethics and Research of the Federal University of Pelotas and the individual data secrecy was maintained. Results: Practically half of the people interviewed (48,3%) reported that they were dissatisfied with their own body. The sex, age and body mass index variables (BMI) showed to be associated to corporal dissatisfaction after confusing factors control. Female individuals and the group aged until nineteen years old were the ones who showed the highest risks of body dissatisfaction. The BMI was directly associated to body dissatisfaction having the obese group presenting a risk 2,3 times bigger when compared to the malnourished individuals.