scholarly journals Body Mass Index Assessment of Health Care Professionals in a Primary Care Setting in Portugal: a Cross Sectional Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Campos-Matos ◽  
André Peralta-Santos ◽  
Bernardo Gomes ◽  
Gustavo Borges ◽  
Pedro Aguiar

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Obesity is an important public health problem because it is a risk factor for numerous diseases and is associated with a higher death risk. Evidence concerning the prevalence of excess weight in health professionals is scarce and this group is often overlooked in weight interventions programs. This paper aims to estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight among Portuguese primary health care professionals and to describe differences between occupational groups.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> This was a cross sectional study based on a primary care setting in Portugal in 2011. We collected data on occupation, age, sex and height of professionals from four primary care centers. We did a descriptive analysis of the main variables and an analysis of covariance to compare mean Body Mass Index.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> Our sample represented 52.8% of the total population of the four primary care centers, and 38.6% were overweight and 16.9% were obese. When adjusted for age and gender, health service personnel had the highest average Body Mass Index, followed by nurses, physicians, and superior technicians, in that order.<br /><strong>Discussion:</strong> Although we can’t ensure the generalisation of the results and cannot exclude the possibility of sampling bias, these results suggest high prevalence obesity and overweight in workers of primary health care in Portugal.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> In this primary care setting more than half of the health care professionals were overweight or obese. Tailored interventions might be needed to tackle this issue.</p><p><br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Body Mass Index; Health Personnel; Obesity; Portugal; Primary Health Care; Prevalence.</p>

Author(s):  
Aniandra Karol Gonçalves Sgarbi ◽  
Kátia Gianlupi Lopes ◽  
Márcia Regina Martins Alvarenga

Objective: To analyze the distribution of risk factors for osteopenia and osteoporosis among adults and elderly in primary care. Method: sectional study of quantitative approach. Random sample extracted from registered adults and elderly from the five Family Health Strategy units belonging to an Expanded Family Health and Primary Care Center in Dourados, MS. Data collected between March and December 2015. The sample consisted of 44 adults and 103 elderly, of which only 109 performed all examinations. Body mass index, bone densitometry, serum calcium, 25 serum hydroxyvitamin D and a structured questionnaire were used. Results: The factors that were significantly associated with the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis (p <0,05) were female gender, alcohol consumption and normal body mass index. Conclusion: the identification of these risk factors made it possible to trace their distribution profile, which will be of great value for carrying out health promotion actions and prevention of these diseases in Primary Health Care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272091626
Author(s):  
Sanne Peters ◽  
André Bussières ◽  
Bart Depreitere ◽  
Stijn Vanholle ◽  
Julie Cristens ◽  
...  

Introduction: Many patients continue to receive suboptimal services, inappropriate, unsafe, and costly care. Underutilization of research by health professionals is a common problem in the primary care setting. Although many theoretical frameworks can be used to help address such evidence-practice gaps, health care professionals may not be aware of the benefits of frameworks or of the most appropriate ones for their context and thus, may be faced with the challenge of selecting and using the most relevant one. Aim: The aim of this article was to describe the process used to adapt a knowledge translation framework to meet the local needs of health professionals working in one large primary care setting. Methods: The authors developed a 5-step approach for guideline implementation. This approach was informed by prior research and the authors’ experiences in supporting multidisciplinary teams of health care professionals during the implementation of evidence-based clinical guidelines into primary care practices. To ensure that the 5-step approach was practical and suitable for the context of guideline implementation by multidisciplinary teams in primary health care, the implementation team adapted the “knowledge-to-action” framework using a multistep process. Results: The implementation approach consisted of the following 5 steps: identification, context analysis, development of implementation plan, evaluation, and sustainability. All 5 steps were described alongside details about a national low back pain project. Discussion: This article describes a collaborative, grassroots process that addressed an identified need in one complex context by adapting a knowledge translation framework to meet the local needs of health professionals working in primary care settings. Existing implementation frameworks may be too complex or abstract for use in busy clinical contexts. The 5-step approach presented in this paper resulted in practical steps that are more readily understood by health care professionals and staff on “the ground.”


10.2196/11147 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. e11147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc X Marin-Gomez ◽  
Francesc Garcia Cuyas ◽  
Ramon Reig-Bolano ◽  
Jacobo Mendioroz ◽  
Pere Roura-Poch ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Pereira da Silva ◽  
Antônio Flaudiano Bem Leite ◽  
Roberto Teixeira Lima ◽  
Mônica Maria Osório

OBJECTIVE: To characterize prenatal care and verify possible factors associated with its adequacy. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study based on interviews with health care professionals and consultations on official documents of women attending prenatal of the primary health care in the city of João Pessoa, capital of Paraíba, in the Northeast region of Brazil. Prenatal care was evaluated by an index with criteria referring to aspects of structure, process and outcome, denominated IPR/Prenatal. The multivariate logistic regression method revealed that demographic, socioeconomic, reproductive and maternal morbidity variables were possible determinants for prenatal adequacy. RESULTS: The survey involved 130 services and 1,625 primary health care patients. Prenatal care was adequate in approximately 23% of the cases. Low prevalence of referral to maternity, educational strategies and examinations were observed. The analysis showed that nonadolescent women (OR = 1,390), with a longer period of schooling (OR = 1.750), higher per capita income (OR = 1,870) and primiparous women (OR = 1,230) were more likely to have an adequate prenatal. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal care, when evaluated by broader criteria, showed a low percentage of adequacy. Strategies should be developed to ensure the referral to the maternity where the birth will take place and health education activities and examinations to provide adequate prenatal care in the municipality under study. In addition, factors associated with adequacy must be considered by managers and health professionals.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. e0216199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esperanza Romero-Rodríguez ◽  
Luis Ángel Pérula de Torres ◽  
Fernando Leiva-Cepas ◽  
José Ángel Fernández García ◽  
Sara Fernández López ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Silvia Neves da Nova Fernandes ◽  
Wallace Borges Costa dos Santos ◽  
Wanderson Carneiro Moreira ◽  
Divane de Vargas ◽  
Maria do Perpétuo Socorro de Sousa Nóbrega

Abstract Objective: To identify the opinions of primary care nurses regarding mental illness and the care provided to this population. Methodology: Cross-sectional, quantitative study with the participation of 328 nurses of primary health care in Porto, Portugal. Data collected between April and August of 2018 through the scale "Opinions about Mental Illness" and socio demographic and labor questionnaire. Descriptive and correlational statistics were applied. Results: A total of 50% of the nurses presented positive opinions about the mental illness. Regarding the assistance provided in their unit of action, 53.4% considered inadequate and 50.3% recognized as adequate their knowledge about the role that primary health care has in assisting the person with mental illness. Conclusion: Positive opinions and recognition of the importance of primary care to people with mental illness are important indicators for qualified mental health care outside the field of specialty.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phenchamat Khamthana ◽  
Yaowaluck Meebunmak ◽  
Issara Siramaneerat

Purpose:We aimed to describe the outcomes of primary care setting of type 2 diabetes patient at Sub-District Health Promoting Hospital (SDHPH).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study on 1,890 patients with type 2 diabetes who were participating in the primary care research networks in the Ratchaburi Province of Thailand. Data was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire about the state of health and care. Patient medical records were used to examine the condition of complications, treatment and several indicators of DM care. The data was processed by using logistic regression to analyse the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable. The hypothesis-null was rejected at p-values <0.05.Results:The participants in this study were of age 57.56 years (SD=12.10), and most (55.58%) were female. Most respondents (36.20%) completed a Bachelor’s degree and were working as employees (28.35%). Regarding duration of diabetes, the majority (28.35%) had 11-20 years. In terms of body mass index, 29.67% had body mass index between 25.0-29.9 (overweight). Regarding complications and comorbidities, the common complication and comorbidity was nephropathy (33.63%) while Ischemic heart disease was the major of other comorbid health problems (48.3%). Furthermore, patients were mostly taking Antihypertensive (67.80%) and ACE Inhibitor or ARB (59.00%). The majority of HbA1c level (42.74%) was lower than 7.0%. Regarding the logistic analysis, it showed that education and treatment significantly influenced Hemoglobin A1c level at significant levels of 0.05.Conclusion:Only modest numbers of patients achieved established targets of diabetes control. Reengineering primary care practice may be necessary to substantially improve health care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Gonçalves ◽  
H Pedroso ◽  
J Areosa

Abstract Background Worldwide, workers' health is still a Public Health concern, given the high number of hazardous occupational activities, as well as workers affected by work-related diseases. Among these diseases, occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss-NIHL is considered the second commonest occupational disease, and in Brazil, its reporting is compulsory. However, occupational diseases are usually underreported, hindering the knowledge of their actual magnitude, and the elaboration of prevention-oriented public policies. Objective To analyze the perception and knowledge of Primary Health Care professionals in Curitiba-Parana State, Brazil, on the compulsory NIHL reporting. Methods quantitative and qualitative approach conducted in three steps: analysis of a series of NIHL case histories reported in the official database between 2007 and 2018; application of a questionnaire to Primary Health Care Network professionals; collective interview with Primary Health Care Network nurses, speech therapists and doctors. Results NIHL reporting evidenced 82 cases, 67 (81.7%) among males, age ranging 50-64 years, 10 (12.2%) had complete high school level, 27 (32.9%) were formally employed, and 12 (14.6%) worked in the processing industry. Regarding the result of the applied questionnaire among the Primary Health Care professionals, 48 (68.7%) stated that they were prepared to identify workers' health problems, to 33 (68.7%) professionals, guidance to reassure users' comprehensive care is more important than the compulsory reporting, 21 (43.7%) claimed that they were qualified to identify NIHL cases, and 25 (52.1%) did not report the cases. Difficulties in reporting NIHL cases are: not understanding their flow, being afraid of the legal implications, which may generate difficulties in requesting audiometric testing, not having the management support, etc. Conclusions Most health care professionals are knowledgeable on NIHL, but they do not report the suspected cases due to lack of guidance. Key messages Primary care health professionals does not consider occupational health as part of the service to be provided. Primary care services are not prepared to establish the relationship between the injury and the job.


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