Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: Obesity is a global public health issue. In Brazil, 24.3% of the adult population is affected, while 61.4% are overweight. It has a major economic and health impact on the conditions of the population and should be the focus of primary care actions. Objective: To analyze the contribution of a distance specialization course in improving the qualifications of Primary Health Care physicians for the prevention and care of overweight and obese individuals. Methods: An evaluative research, with a qualitative and quantitative approach, carried out with 88 physicians who studied specialization in the care of overweight and obese people, remotely, from 2020 to 2022, offered by the Open University of the Unified Health System (UNA-SUS) at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC). The research was carried out at two moments, on the outcomes of training regarding knowledge, practices, and perceptions on the subject, and pre- and post-course results were compared. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used, applying the Mann-Whitney test and content analysis to explore qualitative results. Results: An improvement was obtained in the indicators analyzed when comparing the pre- and post-course results. The training allowed physicians to improve their knowledge, qualify their professional practices in caring for users, and increase their perception of their own and the team's ability to intervene in the care of overweight people. Highlights include increased knowledge about the line of care, the inclusion of anthropometric assessments in care, and the qualification of individual attention to users, which evolved from the being rated “regular” to “good” in the final questionnaire. Conclusions: The educational offer made available was able to promote increased knowledge about the line of care, instructions, and current normative materials for the care of excess weight. Practices in the territories of operation were qualified, with the incorporation of nutritional status assessments and strengthening of the individual, collective, and intersectoral approaches. The perspective on obesity was broadened, recognizing the relevance of the multidisciplinary approach and team coordination to tackle the problem, permeated by multiple factors and social determinants.

Introduction: Covid-19 is a chronic condition that requires longitudinal health care, a fundamental characteristic of Primary Health Care (PHC). Post-Covid conditions have become commonplace in the daily routine of PHC and, for this reason, a solid base of knowledge about assessment and treatment is needed. This need calls for Permanent Health Education to contribute to building knowledge for the correct management of patients with these conditions. Objective: To analyze the satisfaction and learning of PHC professionals who completed the MOOC "Rehabilitation of patients with post-COVID-19 conditions," based on the Kirkpatrick model. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study comprising 612 PHC professionals who graduated from the respective MOOC. Data was collected using the learning situation and three semi-structured questionnaires: one on the student's profile, one on the student's expectations, and another on course evaluation. Data analysis was carried out using the Wilcoxon test, with a significance level of 5%, in RStudio software version 4.1.3. All ethical aspects were met. Results: Among the participating professionals, 68.50% were female and 35.45% were aged between 29 and 39. In addition, 92.30% reported that they did not have a management role. As for the satisfaction analysis, 94.40% said that the content emphasized key points and relevant ideals. As for learning, there was a significant increase in the median of the pre-test and post-test at the end of the course (p-value <0.001), suggesting that learning was significant. Conclusions: The self-instructional course contributed positively to the training of health professionals working in PHC.

Introduction: The Family Health Strategy, within the scope of Primary Health Care, seeks to be consolidated as a comprehensive care model. The Brazilian Ministry of Health adopted the “PCATool – Primary Health Care Assessment Tool – Brazil” as an assessment tool for Primary Health Care. Therefore, in this review, we analyze Brazilian publications in the healthcare area between 2020 and October 2022 that used the PCATool in the country. Objective: To evaluate the use and results of the PCATool in Brazil and what can be extracted to improve the Brazilian healthcare system. Methods: This is a systematic, quantitative-qualitative review, carried out through the Journal Portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, with the descriptors “PCATool” and “Primary Health Care Assessment Tool,” and it involved 23 articles selected from a total of 106. The Likert scale, with scores transformed into a scale from 0 to 10, classifies attributes as High (score ≥6.6) and Low (score <6.6). Results: We observed divergent results between users and healthcare professionals in relation to Primary Health Care orientation, with users tending to classify it as low (Overall Scores <6.6), while professionals had a more positive view. Conclusions: Most studies reflect a low national orientation for Primary Health Care, with frequent negative evaluations of the attribute “access to healthcare.” Services considered highly Primary Health Care-oriented also present unsatisfactory isolated attributes, pointing to barriers in the provision of Primary Health Care throughout the Brazilian territory.

Introduction: Family and Community Medicine is a reference in comprehensive humanized care in the Brazilian Unified Health System, especially in Primary Health Care. Due to the cost-effectiveness of this model, supplementary health has sought to integrate this specialty into its services. Objective: To evaluate the sociodemographic profile of family and community doctors who work in Brazilian supplementary health. Methods: This is a quantitative-descriptive research, in which an electronic questionnaire was applied between June 2022 and June 2023. A total of 156 valid responses were obtained. After tabulating the responses, relationships between the main variables were observed using Fisher’s exact test for 2x2 cross tables. Results: We identified a predominant profile of cisgender, heterosexual, white women from the Southeast region, with an average age of 35.7 years, and with a per capita family income greater than 20 minimum wages. We found evidence of wage inequality between sexes, in addition to greater work overload for women due to childcare. However, according to the tests carried out, no significant relationships were found between the variables income, gender identity, and having children. Conclusions: The profile of professionals working in family and community medicine of supplementary health is similar to other medical categories.

Pedagogical innovation is a trend and requires approaches based on professional technical skills, which need to be developed to better achieve the strategic goals defined in technology-mediated education. Increasingly, this practice is seen as a facilitator of open, flexible, and distance education processes, especially in developing countries, due to the importance of education for the growth and advancement of science and technology. This experience report aims to present the proposal for a professional qualification program, consisting of professionalization courses with the presence of an intelligent component and open educational resources, within a virtual learning environment, in line with sustainable development goals. As a result of the implementation of this program, 22,126 enrollments were offered across 5 courses that, when completed, correspond to 180 hours of training in the Unified Health System Regulation Professionals Qualification Program. In conclusion, the structure proposed for the program and the use of an intelligent component in the forum to recommend content, combined with a set of open educational resources, favor possibilities for lifelong learning and development. Recommending content in a communication forum was a differential presented in the program.

Introduction: Obesity is a clinical condition characterized by body fat excess with high prevalence in the world and in Brazil. This condition can cause serious health complications, especially when aligned with certain socioeconomic factors. Objective: To identify possible risk factors for obesity such as inadequate eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive screen use. Methods: This  is an observational study of the ecological type. It is a population-based study. Data on individuals aged >18 years, interviewed by the Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey, were analyzed, conducted in Brazilian capitals and the Federal District between 2011–2021, publicly available. Results: We surveyed the prevalence of obesity in different age groups, sexes, levels of education, and eating habits. We observed an overall increase in the prevalence of obesity between 2011 and 2021, as well as a significant association between obesity and smoking habit, hypertension, diabetes, depressive episodes, and excessive screen use. Conclusions: We verified the factors most associated with the presence of obesity, being the highest incidence among young people, women, people who consume soft drinks, individuals with Systemic Arterial Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The groups of people who do not exercise also presented a higher prevalence, but factors — such as body composition and exercise intensity — must be considered.

Introduction: Leadership characteristics can affect the mental health of healthcare workers and have consequences for organizations and the quality of care. Objective: To systematically review the association between leadership characteristics and depressive symptoms in healthcare workers. Methods: This is a systematic review, with a search for national and international studies carried out in the MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO, databases, published from 1999 to December 2022 in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Results: 1951 titles were found and eight studies were selected. Some of the leadership characteristics associated with depressive symptoms were: lack of supervisor support, lack of recognition, lack of autonomy, lack of feedback, and lack of worker appreciation. Conclusion: The results provide relevant information for managers and health professionals. Providing effective feedback, promoting autonomy, recognizing and valuing work and supporting healthcare workers must constitute healthcare leadership, impacting the mental health of healthcare workers.

Introduction: Periods of heavy rainfall cause flooding in the Southern Region of Brazil. In this context, diseases such as leptospirosis increase the risk of infection. Objective: To investigate the incidence of leptospirosis infections and deaths during the environmental disaster, related to flooding, that occurred in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in May, 2024. Methods: The empirical material was based on data provided by the official Government of Rio Grande do Sul website and analyzed through a quantitative approach. Results: The data show an approximate exponential increase of 350% in infections and 150% in deaths due to leptospirosis during this period, compared to the estimated monthly average of the disease in 2023. Additionally, the data highlight that all individuals who died from the infection were male. Conclusions: It is evident that, in general, society and urban centers are not prepared for floods and large volumes of rainfall.

Introduction: The Multiprofessional Preceptor Improvement Program of the Open University of the Unified Health System (UNA-SUS), launched in 2022, aims to strengthen the training of multiprofessional preceptors and promote collaborative practices based on the principles of SUS. This study analyzed the challenges of interprofessionalism in the first edition of the program. Objective: To evaluate the challenges of interprofessionalism in the Multiprofessional Preceptor Improvement Program of UNA-SUS, focusing on the analysis of the curricular structure and the pedagogical strategies adopted. Methods: An evaluation study carried out between 2022 and 2023, using a mixed approach. The sample included preceptors who completed the program’s 22 courses, with participation of 16,617 people in the quantitative phase and 392 in the qualitative phase. Data were collected through surveys, electronic questionnaires, focus groups, and document analysis. Quantitative analysis used the free software Jamovi version 1.6, while qualitative data were analyzed with Atlas.ti version 23. Results: The analysis revealed a predominance of female professionals (81.2%) and that the majority of course participants (40%) worked in hospital services. The curricular structure was considered adequate to achieve the learning objectives but presented limitations in the practical application of the content in scenarios outside primary care. The centrality of the medical professional in the courses was an identified weakness, which goes against the principles of interprofessionalism. Conclusions: The results suggest the need to review the program to promote a more robust interprofessional approach. Curricular review is recommended to diversify practice scenarios and equalize the representation of different professional categories, as well as adapting pedagogical strategies to include a wider variety of characters and professional contexts.

Introduction: Until the last century, the leading causes of mortality in Brazil and worldwide were infectious diseases and hunger. However, with changes in the epidemiological profile throughout the 21st century, noncommunicable chronic diseases, such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH), have become predominant in terms of morbidity and mortality. Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a crucial role in the prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up of these conditions, although many patients still face severe complications such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and epidemiological profile of hospitalizations and deaths due to DM and SAH in the state of Bahia, Brazil, between 2010 and 2022. Methods: An ecological and descriptive study was conducted based on data from the DataSUS Hospital Information and Mortality Systems. The target population included residents of the state of Bahia, with variables such as hospitalization and death described according to sex, skin color/ethnicity, age group, level of education, marital status, type of care, and place of death. As public domain data were used for this study, approval from the Research Ethics Committee was not required. Results: During the period, 164,176 hospitalizations due to DM were recorded, most of them involving women aged 60 years or older who self-identified as brown. For SAH, there were 127,080 hospitalizations, with the same prevalence profile: women aged 60 years or older who self-identified as brown. A total of 67,385 deaths attributed to DM and 55,485 to SAH were recorded, with a similar prevalence profile: women, over 70 years old, brown, and with low levels of education. The DM mortality rate ranged from 28.8 per 100 thousand inhabitants in 2010 to 46.5 in 2022. The SAH mortality rate ranged from 24.8 in 2010 to 43 in 2022. Furthermore, 97.7% of DM-related care and 98.8% of SAH-related care occurred in urgency situations. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to strengthen PHC, focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and control of DM and SAH to prevent severe complications, hospitalizations, and deaths from these causes. Implementing health education programs aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles is crucial to reduce the incidence of these diseases. In addition, it is essential to ensure living and working conditions that promote healthy choices and equitable access to healthcare services, especially for the most vulnerable populations, in order to reduce health inequalities.