Com o processo de transição demográfica vem ocorrendo o crescimento da população idosa e, consequentemente, mudanças no perfil epidemiológico, caracterizado pela alta prevalência das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, que podem comprometer o desempenho para as atividades cotidianas, especialmente, a capacidade para o autocuidado, gerando prejuízos para a autonomia e dependência, fatores que refletem negativamente em todos os âmbitos da vida do idoso. Assim, os objetivos deste estudo foram: caracterizar os idosos em atendimento ambulatorial, segundo variáveis sociodemográficas, arranjo e suporte familiar; identificar a capacidade cognitiva; identificar a capacidade para o autocuidado e verificar a associação entre a capacidade para o autocuidado e as variáveis sociodemograficas e cognição. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, descritivo, transversal e exploratório. Realizado com idosos atendidos em dois Ambulatórios de Geriatria, de um Hospital Geral Terciário, do interior paulista. Para a coleta de dados utilizou-se o Mini Exame do estado Mental, a Classificação de Idosos quanto a Capacidade para o Autocuidado e uma ficha de dados complementares. Participaram do estudo 117 idosos; média de idade 79,8 anos; 75,2% eram mulheres; 54,7% sabiam ler/escrever informalmente ou possuía o primário incompleto; 77,8% eram aposentados e 63,2% procedentes da cidade de Ribeirão Preto. Quanto ao arranjo familiar e potencial de rede de suporte 13,7% viviam com cônjuge/filhos(as) e 12,8% viviam sozinhos, 10,3% com o cônjuge e 8,5% com filhos(as)/netos(as)/genro/nora; 26,5% relacionavam-se com os filhos de uma a duas vezes por semana e 25,6% quase todos os dias. Em caso de doença 93,1% referiram possuir alguém que cuide, sendo que 71,8% indicaram as filhas; o número médio de doenças foi de 4,4; as mais prevalentes foram, hipertensão arterial (74,3%), dislipidemias (37,6%), osteoporose (35,9%), demências (34,2%) e diabetes mellitus (27,3%). Quanto a avaliação cognitiva, 79,5% possuíam déficit cognitivo. No que se refere ao autocuidado, 71,1% dos idosos do ambulatório I apresentaram dificuldades tanto para o desempenho das atividades básicas da vida diária (ABVDs) quanto para as atividades instrumentais da vida diária (AIVDs), no entanto, verificou-se maior necessidade de ajuda para a realização das AIVDs para os idosos de ambos os ambulatórios estudados. As ABVDs que os idosos mais requeriam ajuda foram, banho (45,3%), cuidados com pele/cabelos/unhas/dentes/face (47,0%) e vestuário (47,0%); as atividades mais compensadas com estratégias para minimizar as dificuldades foram, continência (32,5%) e locomoção (37,6%). Para as AIVDs, 55,5% necessitavam de ajuda para tomar medicamentos e 50,4% nas tarefas domésticas; somente 9,4% compensam a atividade de tomar medicação, ou seja, os participantes adotaram mais práticas de compensação para as ABVDs do que para as AIVDs. Conhecer a capacidade de autocuidado dos idosos possibilita aos profissionais de saúde, em especial ao terapeuta ocupacional, o planejamento de intervenções voltadas tanto para os idosos quanto para os cuidadores, com a finalidade de prevenir, melhorar ou recuperar práticas de autocuidado prejudicadas, otimizando a qualidade de vida de ambos / The demographic transition process has entailed the growth of the elderly population and, consequently, changes in the epidemiological profile, characterized by the high prevalence of non-transmissible chronic conditions that can compromise the performance of daily activities, especially the self-care ability, impairing the autonomy and dependence, which are factors that negatively influence all spheres of these people\'s lives. Hence, the objectives in this study were: to characterize the elderly people in outpatient care according to sociodemographic variables, family arrangement and support; to identify the cognitive ability; to identify the self-care ability and verify the association between the self-care ability and the sociodemographic and cognitive variables. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional and exploratory study was undertaken. The participants were elderly patients attended at two Geriatric outpatient clinics of a Tertiary General Hospital in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. To collect the data, the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Self-Care Ability Classification of Elderly and a complementary data form were used. In total, 117 elderly participated, with a mean age of 79.8 years, 75.2% women; 54.7% were able to read/write informally or had not finished their primary education; 77.8% were retired and 63.2% came from the city of Ribeirão Preto. As to the family arrangement and potential support network, 13.7% lived with their partner/children and 12.8% alone, 10.3% with their partner and 8.5% with children/grandchildren/son-in-law/daughter-in-law; 26.5% interacted with their children once or twice per week and 25.6% almost every day. In case of illness, 93.1% indicated having a caregiver, 71.8% indicating their daughter; the mean number of illnesses was 4.4; the most prevalent conditions were arterial hypertension (74.3%), dyslipidemias (37.6%), osteoporosis (35.9%), dementias (34.2%) and diabetes mellitus (27.3%). In the cognitive assessment, 79.5% had a cognitive deficit. As regards self-care, 71.1% of the elderly at outpatient clinic I experienced difficulties to perform the basic activities of daily living (BADLs) as well as the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), although it was verified that the elderly at both outpatient clinics under study needed more help to perform the IADLs. The BADLs the elderly most needed help with were bathing (45.3%), care for skin/hair/nails/teeth/face (47.0%) and dressing (47.0%); the activities that were most compensated for through strategies to minimize the difficulties were continence (32.5%) and locomotion (37.6%). For the IADLs, 55.5% needed help with medication intake and 50.4% with housework; only 9.4% compensated for the medication intake, that is, the participants adopted more compensation practices for the BADLs than for the IADLs. Knowing the elderly patients\' self-care ability allows health professionals, especially occupational therapists, to plan interventions focused on the elderly as well as their caregivers, with a view to preventing, improving or recovering impaired self-care practices, thus optimizing both groups\' quality of life

Este trabalho investigou o impacto da doença na vida do cuidador familiar do paciente crônico de um hospital terciário em São Paulo. 99 cuidadores responderam a um questionário sobre o impacto da doença crônica em seus sentimentos e em sua rotina diária. Foram testadas associações entre as variáveis dependentes (Questionário: Impacto da Doença Crônica) e variáveis independentes (dados do Questionário Sócio-demográfico). O perfil destes cuidadores é de predomínio de filhos (57,6%) ou cônjuges (31,3%), do sexo feminino (74,7%), faixa etária até 53 anos (69,7%), nível superior (43,4%), casados (58,6%) e procedentes da região sudeste do país (63,6%). A melhor resposta adaptativa ao impacto da doença crônica foi nos indivíduos procedentes da região nordeste do Brasil e a pior, nos cuidadores procedentes da região sul. A análise fatorial proporcionou redução de 38% do questionário e composição de 6 domínios, com consistência interna acima de 0,6. Concluímos que a doença crônica exerce sofrimento para os cuidadores, afetando sua qualidade de vida, fato geralmente negligenciado e por vezes, demanda tratamento por profissionais da saúde. Este estudo resultou na elaboração de ferramenta de investigação do impacto da doença crônica em cuidadores. / We aimed to investigate the impact of chronic disease on the caregivers of outpatients from a tertiary hospital from San Paulo, Brazil. A group of 99 relative caregivers answered a questionnaire focusing the impact of chronic disease in their lives. The association between dependent and independent variables (Questionário: Impacto da Doença Crônica and social demographic data, respectively) were evaluated by the qui-square test. The results show that the caregiver profile of this population is predominantly women, married, age over 53 years old, wife or daughter. The caregivers from the Northeast region of Brazil presented the best adaptive response to the impact of the disease while the worst one was from those from the South region. The factor analysis enables the composition of 6 domains, reduction of 38% of the questionnaire with internal consistency above 0,6. We concluded that chronic disease brings discomfort and pain to caregivers, affecting the quality of life. This study also resulted in a consistent tool to evaluate and diagnose the caregivers feelings. These feelings are usually neglected and underestimated and need attention and sometimes specific treatment by health professionals.

Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) de crianças e adolescentes com hepatite autoimune (HAI). Métodos: Estudo transversal avaliou 80 pacientes com HAI e 45 controles saudáveis utilizando o instrumento Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0). Os dados demográficos, a presença de comorbidade autoimune, dose de corticóide, remissão e gravidade da doença e dor abdominal também foram avaliados. Resultados: A idade atual média foi similar em pacientes HAI e controles saudáveis [13 (5-18) vs. 14 (3-18) anos, p = 0,804]. De acordo com os relatos das crianças, os escores físico, emocional e escolar foram significativamente menores nos pacientes com HAI comparado ao grupo controle (p < 0,05). Os escores físico e total foram significantemente menores de acordo com relato dos pais de pacientes com HAI comparado aos controles (p < 0,05). Uma análise mais aprofundada em pacientes com HAI e presença de dor abdominal no último mês, revelou significativo prejuízo dos domínios físico, social e total (p < 0,05). Não foram observadas diferenças quanto à presença de comorbidade autoimune, remissão da doença e gravidade da doença (p > 0,05). Pacientes em uso de doses < 0,16 mg / kg / dia de prednisona quando comparados aos em uso de dose >= 0.16 mg / kg / dia no momento da entrevista, mostraram prejuízo significante no domínio físico [87,5 (50-100) vs. 75 (15,63-100) vs. 87 (50-100), p = 0,006]. Conclusões: Observouse redução de capacidades física, emocional e escolar em pacientes pediátricos com hepatite autoimune. Dor abdominal e dose de prednisona em uso influenciaram negativamente na QVRS de crianças e adolescentes com HAI / Objective: To evaluate health related quality of life (HRQL) in children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed 80 patients with AIH and 45 healthy controls using Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) instrument. Demographic data, presence of autoimmune comorbidity, prednisone dose, disease remission, disease severity and abdominal pain were also evaluated. Results: According to the child-self report, physical, emotional, school and total scores were significantly lower in AIH patients compared to controls (p < 0.05). Only the physical and total scores were significantly lower in parent\'s report in AIH patients versus controls (p < 0.05). Further analysis in AIH patients with abdominal pain in the last month revealed significant decreased medians of physical, social and total scores (p < 0.05). No differences were observed regarding the presence of concomitant other autoimmune disease, disease remission and disease severity (p > 0.05). AIH patients using prednisone dose below the median ( < 0.16 mg/kg/day) had significantly reduced physical score [87.5(50-100) vs. 75(15.63-100) vs. 87 (50- 100), p=0.006]. Conclusions: Reduced scores in physical capacity, emotional and school domains were observed in pediatric AIH patients. Abdominal pain and corticosteroid dose influenced negatively the HRQL in children and adolescents with AIH

INTRODUÇÃO: A epidermólise bolhosa é uma doença sistêmica crônica que afeta profundamente a qualidade de vida do paciente e cujas manifestações bucais comprometem as atividades diárias corriqueiras, como mastigar, engolir e escovar os dentes. Crianças com câncer também podem ter manifestações bucais, entretanto estas, embora graves, são transitórias e geralmente não afetam os dentes. OJETIVOS: Avaliar a saúde bucal e a necessidade de atenção odontológica em crianças que se encontram em cuidados paliativos devido a uma doença sistêmica crônica não-oncológica, a epidermólise bolhosa, comparativamente com crianças em cuidados paliativos com câncer MÉTODOS: Vinte e quatro pacientes com epidermólise bolhosa (grupo A) e dezoito pacientes com câncer (grupo B) acompanhados pela equipe de dor e cuidados paliativos foram estudados. A avaliação clínica incluiu: características sóciodemográficas, queixas bucais, avaliação da dor orofacial, avaliação dentária, avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada às atividades de vida diária e condição de saúde geral. RESULTADOS: Ambos os grupos foram homogêneos em relação à faixa etária e distribuição de gênero. Dormência facial, mobilidade dental, alteração do paladar, e dificuldade de fonação estavam presentes apenas no grupo B. Dificuldade de mastigação, disfagia, engasgos, lábios ressecados, e lesões bucais foram mais freqüentes no grupo A que no grupo B, com diferença significante, p<0,0001, p<0,0001, p=0,002, p<0,0001 e p<0,0001 respectivamente. Observou-se uma maior limitação de amplitude de abertura bucal interincisal, número de dentes cariados, prevalência de cárie, e incapacidade na realização das tarefas dos domínios III (alimentar-se) e VII (apanhar) do questionário de qualidade de vida no grupo A em comparação ao B, com diferença significante, p< 0,0001, p=0,0004, p< 0,001, p<0,001, p=0,005 e p<0,0001 respectivamente. Ambos os grupos apresentaram acometimento importante da condição de saúde geral. CONCLUSÕES: As crianças com epidermólise bolhosa em cuidados paliativos têm úlceras e bolhas freqüentes decorrentes da doença e de modo crônico, enquanto as crianças com câncer apresentam episodicamente mucosites associadas ao período de tratamento. Também apresentam maior freqüência de queixas bucais, condição de saúde bucal grave, maior limitação de abertura bucal e pior qualidade de vida para as tarefas diárias que os pacientes com câncer / INTRODUCTION: Epidermolysis bullosa is a genetic chronic disease that affects the quality of life deeply, whose oral symptoms compromised the daily living activities as chewing, swallowing and teeth brushing. . Children with cancer may also have oral manifestations, but transient and usually do not affect the teeth. This study assessed the oral health and the need of oral care in children in palliative care with epidermolysis bullosa compared to children with cancer. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with epidermolysis bullosa (Group A) and 18 cancer patients (Group B) followed up at the Pain and Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic were studied. Clinical assessment included: clinical characteristics, assessment of orofacial pain, oral health, quality of life according to the activities of daily living and general health status. RESULTS: Face numbness, tooth mobility, taste disturbance and speech difficulties were observed only in group B. Difficult chewing, disfagia, gagging, dry lips, oral lesions were more frequent in group A compared to group B, with significant difference, p<0,0001, p<0,0001, p=0,002, p<0,0001 and p<0,0001, respectively. Group A had a greater difficulty opening mouth, number of decay teeth, prevalence of caries and disability regarding the CHAQ eating (III) and reach (VII) domains than group B, with significant difference, p< 0,0001, p=0,0004, p< 0,001, p<0,001, p=0,005 and p<0,0001, respectively. Both groups showed a significant general health impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Epidermolysis bullosa patients in palliative care had chronic oral blistering and ulcerations, due to disease, more frequently than cancer patients, which had oral mucositis as a side effect of the antineoplasic treatment. They also showed greater oral symptoms, poor oral health, greater open mouth limitation and poor quality of life than cancer patients

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosane Raffaini Palma.pdf: 822317 bytes, checksum: 7c6909cc60e18d23eb5eee218cc33e88 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-17 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A new approach to the study of the processes and perceptions of life experiences is being taken by psychologists, with emphasis on the understanding of the healthy aspect of human beings, the resilience. Seeing the family as a dynamic system, the present study adopted the theoretical framework of systems thinking, in order to identify and understand the care provided by health teams with respect to the use of the concept of resilience with patients and their families when dealing with a disease. A focus group was used as qualitative research method, considering that the energy generated by the group would result in deeper and more diverse answers. A multidisciplinary health care team participated in the study, and was invited to discuss a fictional case, addressing complaints of chronic pain. The answers of the participants were analyzed based on the studies of family resilience, according to Walsh. The team showed interest in addressing the needs of the fictional patient by using the concept of resilience, and more than that, was willing to put themselves in the place of the family. The group took into account the extraction of meaning from the family adversities and the connection between the patient and her relatives, considering the possible emotion instability resulting from the recent loss, and the physical distance between the patient and her relatives. They also focused attention on aspects such as overcoming adversities, flexibility, clarity of information, social and financial resources, open emotional expression and collaborative resolution of the problems of the patient, but with less emphasis, considering a perspective of work related to the care unit. No suggestions were made by the group with regards to religious or spiritual practices to cope with the complaint / Um novo enfoque vem sendo adotado pela psicologia, ao estudar processos e percepções das experiências da vida, com ênfase na compreensão do aspecto saudável do ser humano, que é a resiliência. Por considerar a família um sistema em movimento, o presente estudo adotou o referencial teórico do pensamento sistêmico, com o objetivo de identificar e compreender os cuidados que as equipes de saúde prestam em relação à utilização de práticas ligadas à resiliência para o paciente e sua família, ao lidar com uma doença. O grupo focal foi utilizado como método de pesquisa qualitativa, considerando que a energia gerada pelo grupo cria profundidade e diversidade de respostas. Uma equipe multiprofissional de saúde participou do estudo, à qual foi proposta a discussão de um caso clínico fictício, abordando queixa de dor crônica. As respostas dos participantes foram analisadas por meio dos estudos sobre resiliência familiar segundo Walsh. Para dar acolhimento às necessidades da paciente fictícia ligadas à resiliência, a equipe mostrou-se interessada e, mais do que isso, disposta a ocupar um lugar que originalmente caberia à família. O grupo levou em conta a extração de significado na adversidade familiar e a conexão entre a paciente e seus familiares, considerando a possível fragilidade emocional decorrente de sua viuvez recente e a distância física entre a paciente e os familiares. Mostrou ainda atenção à superação da adversidade, flexibilidade, clareza nas informações, recursos sociais e financeiros, expressão emocional aberta e resolução colaborativa dos problemas da paciente, porém, com menos ênfase, considerando uma perspectiva de trabalho ligada à unidade de cuidado. Não foram identificadas sugestões pela equipe participante quanto às práticas ligadas à religiosidade ou espiritualidade no enfrentamento da queixa

A avaliação da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde tem se tornado cada vez mais relevante para se verificar as consequências psicossociais, emocionais, e o impacto físico de condições crônicas de saúde que acometem crianças e adolescentes. Adaptar e validar instrumentos para o contexto cultural no qual serão utilizados mostram-se de grande valia e garantem a validade e fidedignidade na mensuração desse construto. O objetivo deste estudo foi validar o instrumento DCGM®-37 para crianças e adolescentes brasileiros com condições crônicas, o qual compreende 37 itens agrupados em 6 dimensões e 3 domínios, versões self (para crianças e adolescentes) e proxy (para pais ou cuidadores). A validação semântica contou com 38 crianças e adolescentes que vivem com asma ou diabetes mellitus tipo 1, residentes na região Nordeste do Brasil, com idades entre 8 e 18 anos incompletos, e seus pais ou cuidadores, enquanto o teste de campo envolveu 306 participantes com as mesmas características, residentes nas regiões Sudeste e Nordeste. A fidedignidade do instrumento adaptado, denominado Módulo Genérico DISABKIDS® para crianças e adolescentes brasileiros com condições crônicas, mostrou-se satisfatória tanto quanto à consistência interna, mensurada segundo coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach (self: ?Cronbach = 0,918 e proxy: ?Cronbach = 0,936), quanto à sua reprodutibilidade, mensurada segundo Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (self: ICC = 0,962; 0,980; 0,967; 0,978; 0,967; 0,926 e proxy: ICC = 0,889; 0,974; 0,953; 0,983; 0,827; 0,887, dimensões Independência, Emoção, Inclusão social, Exclusão social, Limitação e Tratamento, respectivamente). A análise da validade convergente por meio da análise Multitraço-multimétodo mostrou que os valores do coeficiente de correlação linear de Pearson entre itens e dimensões do instrumento, para ambas as versões, foi satisfatória, com valores superiores a 0,40. Com relação à validade discriminante os resultados mostraram índice de ajuste iguais ou superiores a 70% e próximos de 100% para todas as dimensões, para as versões self e proxy. Evidenciou- se concordância moderada entre as versões self e proxy com valor para Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse igual a 0,598. A Análise do Funcionamento Diferencial dos Itens mostrou a ausência desse efeito para a grande maioria dos itens entre os diversos subgrupos para a versão self, significando que, meninos e meninas de todas as idades, residentes no Sudeste ou Nordeste do país, vivendo com as condições diabetes ou asma, são capazes de respondê-los apresentando o mesmo nível de compreensão. Resultados com características semelhantes foram evidenciados com relação à compreensão dos itens da versão proxy do instrumento. Os resultados apresentados são suficientes para que se dê prosseguimento à finalização do processo de validação do DCGM®-37 para o Brasil, com a inclusão de crianças e adolescentes e seus respectivos pais ou cuidadores das regiões Norte, Centro-Oeste e Sul do país e com a realização da análise fatorial confirmatória segundo modelos de equações estruturais / Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life has become increasingly important to verify the psychosocial consequences, emotional, and the physical impact of chronic health conditions affecting children and adolescents. Adapt and validate instruments for the cultural context in which they will be used with great value and ensure validity and reliability in measuring this construct. The aim of this study was to validate the DCGM®-37 instrument for Brazilian children and adolescents with chronic conditions, which comprises 37 items grouped into six dimensions and three domains, self versions (children and adolescents) and proxy (for parents or caregivers). The semantic validation included 38 children and adolescents living with asthma or diabetes mellitus type 1, residents in the Northeast region of Brazil, with ages between 8 and 18 years old, and their parents or caregivers, while the field test had 306 participants with the same characteristics, residents in the Southeast and Northeast regions. The reliability of the adapted instrument named Generic Module DISABKIDS® Brazilian children and adolescents with chronic conditions was satisfactory as in terms of internal consistency, measured according to Cronbach\'s alpha coefficient (self: ?Cronbach = 0.918 and proxy: ?Cronbach = 0.936), as regarding its reproducibility, measured according to Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (self: ICC = 0.962; 0.980; 0.967, 0.978, 0.967, 0.926 and proxy: ICC = 0.889, 0.974, 0.953, 0.983, 0.827, 0.887, dimensions Independence, Emotion, Social Inclusion, Social Exclusion, Limitation and Treatment, respectively). Analysis of convergent validity by multitrait-multimethod analysis showed that the Pearson Correlation Coefficient between items and dimensions of the instrument, for both versions, was satisfactory, with values the same or higher than 0.40. With respect to discriminant validity results showed index greater than or equal to 70% and set close to 100% for all dimensions, for self and proxy versions. It revealed a moderate agreement between self and proxy versions with value for Intra-class Correlation Coefficient equal to 0.598. The Analysis of Differential Item Functioning showed the absence of this effect for the vast majority of items between different subgroups for the self version, meaning that boys and girls of all ages, residing in the Southeast and Northeast, living in conditions diabetes or asthma, are able to answer them exhibiting the same level of understanding. Results with similar characteristics were evident with respect to understanding the items of proxy version of the instrument. The results presented are sufficient to give it further to the completion of the validation process DCGM®-37 for Brazil, with the inclusion of children and adolescents and their parents or caregivers of the North, Midwest and South regions and with the completion of confirmatory factor analysis according to structural equation models

Asthma is a chronic lung inflammatory disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Swelling of the airways can be caused by the activation of cytokines that lead to an inflammatory or allergenic-like response. Environmental factors, both indoors and outdoors, have been found to increase the likelihood of asthma in children. Among those found to impact disease are air pollutants such as ozone, nitric dioxide, and particulate matter, as well as home exposures, like cockroaches and rodents. Those who have multiple or increased exposure to these pollutants are more likely to experience exacerbated symptoms and uncontrolled asthma. There currently is no cure for asthma, but effective therapies have been found to treat the symptoms associated with asthmatic episodes. During an asthma attack, due to narrowing of the airways, individuals experience wheezing, chest tightness, and even shortness of breath. To combat these occurrences, physicians use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), Beta-agonist, or a combination of both to relieve symptoms. In the United States asthma affects 25.8 million people. This number is projected to increase as the US continuously becomes more industrialized and as environmental conditions deteriorate. Research conducted by the Center for Disease Control concluded that the prevalence of asthma increased amongst the general population, however, once the data were disaggregated by race, age, gender, and SES significant increases were noted amongst some groups but not others. Most notably, on average, children, women, Puerto Ricans, and people living in poverty as defined by federal guidelines had the highest asthma prevalence. Chronic diseases like asthma also produce substantial burdens on the healthcare system. Asthmatics on average require three-times as many prescriptions, twice as many emergency room visits and four-times as many hospitalizations as individuals without asthma in the same demographic population. Additionally, when an expenditure analysis was carried out, it revealed that children with asthma cost approximately three-times more per capita per child than adolescents without asthma. Chronic disease occurs over the duration of individual lives. Thus, poorly managed, they will cause preventable increases in disability-adjusted-life years, premature death, and health care expenditure for both the individual and the broader healthcare system. The observed increases will predominantly impact the indicated high-risk populations. The prevalence of asthma in urban settings was anticipated by researchers based on known environmental influences. However, the discovery of a higher prevalence and mortality rate of asthma within impoverished communities, in comparison to other urban communities, is not yet fully understood. Through this research an association between high-risk populations with uncontrolled asthma and a lack of patient education, low socioeconomic status, and utilization of Medicaid insurance was found, which indicates the influence of these factors on asthma control. Improving current asthma interventions by remodeling them to take a broader stance on asthma prevention, treatment and maintenance and through acknowledgement of the impact disparities, asthma will likely be better controlled for all individuals in the Unites States.

INTRODUÇÃO: A epidermólise bolhosa é uma doença sistêmica crônica que afeta profundamente a qualidade de vida do paciente e cujas manifestações bucais comprometem as atividades diárias corriqueiras, como mastigar, engolir e escovar os dentes. Crianças com câncer também podem ter manifestações bucais, entretanto estas, embora graves, são transitórias e geralmente não afetam os dentes. OJETIVOS: Avaliar a saúde bucal e a necessidade de atenção odontológica em crianças que se encontram em cuidados paliativos devido a uma doença sistêmica crônica não-oncológica, a epidermólise bolhosa, comparativamente com crianças em cuidados paliativos com câncer MÉTODOS: Vinte e quatro pacientes com epidermólise bolhosa (grupo A) e dezoito pacientes com câncer (grupo B) acompanhados pela equipe de dor e cuidados paliativos foram estudados. A avaliação clínica incluiu: características sóciodemográficas, queixas bucais, avaliação da dor orofacial, avaliação dentária, avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada às atividades de vida diária e condição de saúde geral. RESULTADOS: Ambos os grupos foram homogêneos em relação à faixa etária e distribuição de gênero. Dormência facial, mobilidade dental, alteração do paladar, e dificuldade de fonação estavam presentes apenas no grupo B. Dificuldade de mastigação, disfagia, engasgos, lábios ressecados, e lesões bucais foram mais freqüentes no grupo A que no grupo B, com diferença significante, p<0,0001, p<0,0001, p=0,002, p<0,0001 e p<0,0001 respectivamente. Observou-se uma maior limitação de amplitude de abertura bucal interincisal, número de dentes cariados, prevalência de cárie, e incapacidade na realização das tarefas dos domínios III (alimentar-se) e VII (apanhar) do questionário de qualidade de vida no grupo A em comparação ao B, com diferença significante, p< 0,0001, p=0,0004, p< 0,001, p<0,001, p=0,005 e p<0,0001 respectivamente. Ambos os grupos apresentaram acometimento importante da condição de saúde geral. CONCLUSÕES: As crianças com epidermólise bolhosa em cuidados paliativos têm úlceras e bolhas freqüentes decorrentes da doença e de modo crônico, enquanto as crianças com câncer apresentam episodicamente mucosites associadas ao período de tratamento. Também apresentam maior freqüência de queixas bucais, condição de saúde bucal grave, maior limitação de abertura bucal e pior qualidade de vida para as tarefas diárias que os pacientes com câncer / INTRODUCTION: Epidermolysis bullosa is a genetic chronic disease that affects the quality of life deeply, whose oral symptoms compromised the daily living activities as chewing, swallowing and teeth brushing. . Children with cancer may also have oral manifestations, but transient and usually do not affect the teeth. This study assessed the oral health and the need of oral care in children in palliative care with epidermolysis bullosa compared to children with cancer. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with epidermolysis bullosa (Group A) and 18 cancer patients (Group B) followed up at the Pain and Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic were studied. Clinical assessment included: clinical characteristics, assessment of orofacial pain, oral health, quality of life according to the activities of daily living and general health status. RESULTS: Face numbness, tooth mobility, taste disturbance and speech difficulties were observed only in group B. Difficult chewing, disfagia, gagging, dry lips, oral lesions were more frequent in group A compared to group B, with significant difference, p<0,0001, p<0,0001, p=0,002, p<0,0001 and p<0,0001, respectively. Group A had a greater difficulty opening mouth, number of decay teeth, prevalence of caries and disability regarding the CHAQ eating (III) and reach (VII) domains than group B, with significant difference, p< 0,0001, p=0,0004, p< 0,001, p<0,001, p=0,005 and p<0,0001, respectively. Both groups showed a significant general health impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Epidermolysis bullosa patients in palliative care had chronic oral blistering and ulcerations, due to disease, more frequently than cancer patients, which had oral mucositis as a side effect of the antineoplasic treatment. They also showed greater oral symptoms, poor oral health, greater open mouth limitation and poor quality of life than cancer patients

The purpose of this study was to analyze and measure the short-term and long-term impacts of a chronic disease self-management program (CDSP) for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This study was a follow-up study on an HIV/AIDS Organization in Southern California’s (HAOSC’s) CDSP programs in 2007 and 2008 called “Newly Empowered Women” (NEW), a six (6) week CDSP for women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS which sought to promote self-efficacy through education and self-management skills. A retrospective longitudinal study on the female clients who participated with this program in 2007 and 2008 determined whether clients retained the skills taught in the CDSP and if they attained self-efficacy through improved behavioral changes in better overall self-management that were influenced as a result of their participation. Behavioral changes were examined and measured in the areas of self-rated health, anxiety and stress, social activities, communication with physicians, and the client’s overall self-confidence in managing symptoms related to the disease. The measurement of change in these areas informed the study on the effectiveness and practicality of the skills being taught in the CDSP and their effectiveness in the promotion of self-efficacy. It also highlighted which skills seem to be most helpful and impactful to clients, and if the skills they learned were retained over time. The study measured the short-term impacts from completion of the CDSP to the 6-month follow-up period and also measured the long-term impacts the CDSP had on client health outcomes three (3) and four (4) years after the initial program was implemented to see if there was a correlation between increased self-efficacy and improved health outcomes. Participant CD4 and viral load counts were analyzed, as these are determinant biological markers in measuring the immunological impacts of the disease. Measuring these variables over time for individuals that were in a CDSP gave the study insight into the CDSP’s short-term and long-term effectiveness in the promotion and sustainment of self-efficacy for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and how the effective management of their chronic illness can lead to overall better health outcomes. Additionally, this study sought to better understand the experience of the women who participated in the CDSP through incorporating a mixed methods qualitative approach, by interviewing some of the women who had participated in the CDSP to identify common themes or lessons learned, best practices of the program, and areas for improvement. Although this study was not able to show that changes in behavior and increased self-efficacy impact health outcomes, more complex analysis should be done in this area, as this study highlighted the positive impacts a CDSP can have on increasing self-management skills and promoting self-efficacy over the short-term and long-term for individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

The Anderson and Aday access framework (1974) is utilized to investigate the association of individual and community level, predisposing, socio-demographic, and enabling factors, on potential and realized access to coronary heart disease (CHD) preventive care. The cross-sectional study is based on a sample of adults age 18-85 from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) who were identified with CHD risk or who had a CHD diagnosis.Variables from the MEPS and the Area Resource File (ARF) are used to test logistic regression models for dependent variables measuring primary and secondary CHD preventive care services. The primary preventive care measures include blood cholesterol testing, blood pressure checks, and, diet, exercise and smoking cessation counseling. The secondary preventive measures include beta-blocker reciept after myocardial infarction (MI) and statin drug use for the treatment of high blood cholesterol.Being uninsured is associated with a reduced likelihood of receiving primary CHD preventive care. Overall study results indicated gender and race are more consistent predictors of the receipt of CHD preventive care services than individual enabling or community characteristics. Women had a greater likelihood of receiving primaryCHD preventive care services than men. Hispanics are less likely than Caucasians to receive primary CHD preventive care services, except for blood cholesterol testing for which they are more likely to receive. Blacks are more likely than Caucasians to have blood cholesterol testing, but are no less likely to receive the other primary CHD preventive care measures. Blacks demonstrate a lower likelihood of receiving secondary CHD preventive care than Caucasians, specifically beta-blocker post myocardial infarction indicating that disparities in secondary CHD preventive care persist for segments of the study population. Persons over 75 years of age are less likely to receive primary CHD preventive care services as well as the secondary preventive measure ofstatin use for high blood cholesterol.Community level factors did not improve the logistic regression model for the receipt of CHD preventive care, yet, when predicting potential access for preventive services, persons from a higher percent Hispanic or black community were less likely to have a usual source of care.