Inledning: Att vara på sjukhus med sitt akut sjuka barn är för många föräldrar en traumatisk upplevelse. Betydelsen av ett professionellt bemötande är av stor vikt för hur upplevelsen av vårdtiden blir. Syftet var att beskriva föräldrars upplevelser av vården när deras barn vårdades på en pediatrisk avdelning.Metod: För att besvara syftet och få en djupare förståelse för föräldrars upplevelse valdes en kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer. Totalt inkluderades åtta föräldrar i studien. Intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades enligt tematisk analysmetod. Fynd: Analysen resulterade i tre teman: 1. Omvårdnadens olika uttryck: Genom att bli bemött med respekt och bli sedd som förälder upplevdes en trygghet i vården av barnet. 2: Föräldrars utsatthet: Att vara förälder till ett sjukt barn innebär en sårbarhet, och Sjukhusmiljö: Samtliga föräldrar uttryckte en tacksamhet över sjukvårdens olika resurser. Konklusion: Kompetent personal och ett gott bemötande är enligt föräldrar viktiga faktorer för att uppleva trygghet i vården. Det är av stor vikt att personal besitter god kompetens och vidareutbildas för att erhålla och bibehålla denna. En anpassning av sjukhusmiljö för barn och familjer, t.ex. i form av lekterapi, är av stor betydelse. / Introduction: To stay in the hospital with a critically ill child is for many parents a traumatic experience. The professionals´ approach has a great impact on how the actual treatment time is experienced. Purpose: The purpose was to describe parents' experience of care when their children were being cared for in a paediatric ward. Method: A qualitative approach with semi- structured interviews was chosen to answer the purpose, and get a deeper understanding of parents' experience. A total of eight parents were included in the study. The interviews were transcribed and analysed with thematic analysis. Findings: The analysis resulted in three themes: 1. Different expressions of nursing care: Parents wanted to be treated with respect, and be seen as a parent which in return made them feel confident in the care of the child. 2. Parental exposure: Being the parent of a sick child means vulnerability and 3 Hospital environment: All the parents in this study expressed a gratitude for the healthcare resources. Conclusion: Skilled personnel and a good attitude are key factors when experiencing confidence in health care. It is vital that staff possess good skills and further training to obtain and maintain this. It is also important with an adaptation of the hospital environment for children and families, such as in the form of play therapy.

Introdução: O transporte médico de crianças gravemente enfermas envolve particularidades que aumentam o risco de complicações, que podem contribuir para o aumento no tempo de internação e mortalidade. Objetivos: Avaliar a frequência e os tipos de complicações observadas durante o transporte pré- hospitalar e inter-hospitalar de crianças gravemente enfermas, assim como o impacto dessas complicações na mortalidade, no tempo de internação hospitalar e nos custos hospitalares. Pacientes e Métodos: Estudo realizado em duas etapas: a primeira foi um estudo transversal, no qual, por meio de entrevista padronizada com o médico que admitiu as crianças gravemente enfermas que necessitaram de transporte pré-hospitalar ou inter-hospitalar, foram identificadas e caracterizadas possíveis complicações ocorridas durante esse transporte. Estes dados foram auditados por três médicos independentes que definiram a presença ou ausência de complicações durante o transporte. A segunda etapa constituiu-se de uma coorte prospectiva, na qual os pacientes, divididos em dois grupos distintos (com e sem complicações durante o transporte), foram seguidos, prospectivamente, por 60 dias, observando-se a ocorrência de morte ou alta hospitalar. Resultados: Foram incluídas 143 crianças no estudo. Pelo menos uma complicação durante o transporte foi observada em 74 pacientes (52%). As complicações mais frequentes foram relacionadas com as vias aéreas (69%), seguidas por distúrbios metabólicos (47%), alterações cardiovasculares (40%) e falhas relacionadas aos dispositivos e à monitorização (37%). Na análise univariada, os seguintes preditores para ocorrência de complicações durante o transporte foram observados: peso <10Kg (risco relativo - RR: 1,52; intervalo de confiança (IC 95%: 1,11-2,09); distância >100Km (RR: 1,67; IC 95%: 1,16-2,40); presença de doença respiratória (RR: 1,46; IC 95%: 1,06-1,95) e comorbidades (RR: 1,68; IC 95%: 1,23-2,30). Já na análise multivariada, não foram observados preditores independentes para ocorrência de complicações. A ocorrência de complicações durante o transporte foi associada com maior taxa de mortalidade hospitalar (hazard ratio - HR: 5,668; IC 95%: 1,26-26,65; p=0,0130) e menor taxa de alta hospitalar (HR: 0,48; IC 95%: 0,31-0,74; p=0,0007). Após a aplicação da regressão de Cox para ajuste de potenciais fatores de confusão, a presença de complicação durante o transporte permaneceu associada com o índice de mortalidade hospitalar (HR: 6,74; IC 95%: 1,40-32,34; p=0,017), contudo deixou de ser associada com o tempo para a alta hospitalar (HR: 0,76; IC 95%: 0,49- 1,16; p=0,213). Conclusões: As complicações foram frequentes durante o transporte pediátrico. A presença de doenças respiratórias, peso <10Kg, presença de comorbidades e a distância >100 Km foram preditores de risco para a ocorrência dessas complicações. As complicações ocorridas durante o transporte foram associadas com o aumento nas taxas de mortalidade hospitalar. / Introduction: The medical transport of critically ill children involves characteristics that increase the risk of complications, which can contribute to an increase in length of stay and mortality. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and type of complications observed during the pre-hospital and inter-hospital transport of critically ill children, as well as the impact of these complications on mortality, length of hospital stay and hospital costs. Patients and Methods: A study carried out in two stages: the first was a cross-sectional study where through a standardized interview with the doctor who admitted the critically ill children requiring pre-hospital or inter-hospital transport identified and characterized possible complications during this transport. These data were audited by three independent doctors who defined the presence or absence of complications during transport. The second stage consists of a prospective cohort study, where patients divided into two groups (with and without complications during transportation) were followed prospectively for 60 days observing the occurrence of death or hospital discharge. Results: We included 143 children in the study. At least one complication during transportation was observed in 74 patients (52%). The most frequent complications have been associated with airway (69%), followed by metabolic disorders (47%), cardiovascular disorders (40%) and failure in the device and monitoring (37%). In the uni-variate analysis, the following predictors for the occurrence of complications during transport were observed: weight <10 kg (relative risk - RR: 1.52; 95% confidence interval - CI: 1.11-2.09); distance greater than 100 km (RR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.16-2.40); presence of respiratory disease (RR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.06-1.95) and associated comorbidity (RR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.23- 2.30). In the multivariate analysis, no independent predictors were observed for the occurrence of complications. The occurrence of complications during transport was associated with higher hospital mortality (hazard ratio - HR: 5.668; 95% CI: 1.26-26.65; p=0.0130) and a lower hospital discharge rate (HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.31-0.74; p=0.0007). After Cox regression to adjust for potential confounding factors, the presence of complications during transport remained associated with hospital mortality (HR: 6.74; IC 95%: 1.40-32.34; p=0.017), however, was not associated with hospital discharge rates (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.49-1.16; p=0.213). Conclusions: The complications were common during pediatric transport. Distance greater than 100 km, presence of respiratory disease, associated comorbidity and weight <10 kg were risk predictors for occurrence of complications. Complications during pediatric transport were associated with increased hospital mortality rates.

Na transição do modo asilar para o modo psicossocial de atenção ao indivíduo em sofrimento psíquico, muitas foram as mudanças na percepção da doença mental, na participação da família e na organização dos serviços. Nesse contexto, a Unidade de Internação Psiquiátrica em Hospital Geral (UIPHG) constitui-se como um serviço substitutivo ao manicômio. Esta pesquisa trata-se de um estudo qualitativo que tem como base o referencial teórico metodológico de Alfred Schutz, e o objetivo é compreender o significado da UIPHG para os familiares na perspectiva da Sociológica Fenomenologia. O campo do estudo foi uma UIPHG localizada na cidade de Porto Alegre, e o grupo de atores da pesquisa era formado por 14 familiares. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre os meses de agosto a outubro de 2009, e a abordagem da coleta ocorreu por meio de entrevista fenomenológica com as seguintes questões orientadoras: “O que levou a internar seu familiar na Unidade de Internação Psiquiátrica em Hospital Geral?”; “O que você espera da internação psiquiátrica em um hospital geral?”; Na interpretação compreensiva dos discursos emergiram seis categorias concretas; três com motivos “por que” (motivos da internação, resistência aos tratamentos e efetividade da internação) e outras três categorias remetendo aos motivos para orientação e continuidade no tratamento; perspectivas de melhora e projeções sobre a normalidade. Como resultado dessa investigação é possível compreender o significado da internação para os familiares e contribuir para que profissionais de saúde mental reflitam sobre suas ações e o envolvimento da família em uma unidade de internação psiquiátrica em hospital geral. / During the transition from the psychiatric asylum to the psychosocial services to care of individuals undergoing psychic pain changes have occurred in the mental health perception, family participation and service organization. In this context, the general hospital psychiatric unit (UIPHG) constitutes a substituting service to the mental asylums. This research is a qualitative study based upon Alfred Schutz’ theoreticalmethodological grounds, aiming at understanding the significance of the UIPHG among the patient’s relatives, under the Sociological Phenomenology perspective. The field of study was a UIPHG based in Porto Alegre city, and 14 subjects – patient’s relatives – were interviewed. Data were collected from August through October, 2009, by means of a phenomenological interview having the following guiding questions: “What do you expect from the psychiatric admittance in a general hospital?” and “Why did you intern your relative in a psychiatric unit of a general hospital?” From the discourse comprehensive interpretation, six concrete categories have emerged; three including reasons to adhere and continue the treatment; betterment perspectives; projections on normality; and other categories leading to the reasons of treatment resistance, reasons for hospitalization and its effectiveness. This research has allowed understanding the significance of hospitalization among family members, contributing with mental care professionals so as they could think about their actions and family involvement in a general hospital psychiatric unit. / En la transición del modo asilar al modo psicosocial de atención al individuo en sufrimiento psíquico, hubo cambios en la percepción de la enfermedad mental, en la participación de la familia y en la organización de los servicios. En ese contexto, la unidad de internación psiquiátrica en hospital general (UIPHG) se constituye como un servicio substitutivo al manicomio. Esta investigación trata de un estudio cualitativo con referencial teórico metodológico de Alfred Schutz, y tiene como objetivo comprender el significado de la UIPHG para los familiares bajo la perspectiva de la Sociología Fenomenológica. El campo de estudio fue una UIPHG en la ciudad de Porto Alegre y los sujetos entrevistados fueron 14 familiares. La recogida de datos ocurrió en los meses de Agosto a Octubre de 2009, por medio de entrevista fenomenológica con las siguientes preguntas orientadoras “Qué es lo que usted espera de la internación psiquiátrica en un hospital general?” y “Qué es lo que lo llevó a internar su familiar en la unidad psiquiátrica de un hospital general”? En la interpretación comprensiva de los discursos emergieron seis categorías concretas; tres con motivos de la adhesión y continuidad del tratamiento; perspectivas de mejoría; proyecciones sobre la normalidad; y otras categorías que remitían a los motivos de resistencia a los tratamientos, motivos de la internación y efectividad de la internación. Con esta investigación se puede comprender el significado de la internación para los familiares, contribuyendo para que los profesionales de salud mental puedan reflexionar sobre sus acciones y sobre el envolvimiento de la familia en una unidad de internación psiquiátrica en hospital general.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-03-16T12:13:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Annelisa Bruna Faccin.pdf: 2179534 bytes, checksum: 2ce833d1928cba2902946b886673f8ff (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-16T12:13:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Annelisa Bruna Faccin.pdf: 2179534 bytes, checksum: 2ce833d1928cba2902946b886673f8ff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-28 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / INTRODUCTION: Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) is a goal oriented and structured activity that intentionally includes animals in health and education fields to obtain humans therapeutic gains. Increasingly, hospitals incorporate these services to offer patients, adults and children, a possibility to improve their and their families well-being. The positive results of theses interventions in the field of health have been the target of desirable national and international scientific researches. In hospitalized pediatric patients, studies suggest that many benefits are obtained by the interaction of the child with the animal, among them, withdrawal from social isolation and decrease in the sensation of self-reported pain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Animal Assisted Intervention on verbal and nonverbal expression of psychic contents in hospitalized children. METHOD: It is a qualitative research. 05 subjects participated, in which 02 male and 03 female, from 06 to 10 years old, hospitalized at least 02 days. Co-therapist dogs: Thor, 04 years old and Kate, 03 years old, both Golden Retriever breed, selected by international protocols conducted by the researcher. Drawings and Wartegg Test were applied before and after AAI. RESULTS: In the studied population, it was verified that the presence of the dog favored greater contact with the emotional aspects and, by extension, attempts to cope with the disease. CONCLUSION: The results of this research suggest the AAI in the hospital environment provided the possibility of stagnating the pathological condition in favor of the Self reintegration experience, that is, a reappropriation of its subjective identity, partially blocked by the process of illness and hospitalization / INTRODUÇÃO: Intervenção Assistida por Animais (IAA) é toda atividade com objetivos orientados e estruturados que intencionalmente incorpora animais aos campos da saúde e educação com a finalidade de obter ganhos terapêuticos em humanos. Cada vez mais, hospitais incorporam esses atendimentos para oferecer aos pacientes, adultos e crianças, uma possibilidade de melhora no bem-estar do hospitalizado e seus familiares. As implicações positivas dessas intervenções no campo da saúde têm sido alvo de desejável investigação científica nacional e internacional. Em pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados, estudos sugerem que muitos benefícios são obtidos na interação da criança com o animal, entre os quais, afastamento do isolamento social e diminuição na sensação de dor autorreferida. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da Intervenção Assistida por Animais na expressão verbal e não verbal de conteúdos psíquicos em crianças hospitalizadas. MÉTODO: Pesquisa de natureza qualitativa. Participaram 05 sujeitos, sendo 02 do sexo masculino e 03 do sexo feminino, de 06 a 10 anos, hospitalizados há pelo menos 02 dias. Cães co-terapeutas: Thor, 04 anos e Kate, 03 anos, ambos da raça Golden Retriever, selecionados de acordo com critérios de protocolos internacionais, conduzidos pela pesquisadora. Foram aplicados desenhos e teste de Wartegg antes e depois da IAA. RESULTADOS: Na população estudada verificou-se que a presença do cão favoreceu maior contato com os aspectos emocionais e, por extensão, tentativas de enfrentamento da doença. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados dessa pesquisa sugerem que a IAA no ambiente hospitalar proporcionou, aos sujeitos estudados, a possibilidade de estancar a condição patológica em favor de uma experiência de reintegração do Eu, ou seja, uma reapropriação de sua identidade subjetiva, parcialmente tolhida pelo processo de adoecimento e hospitalização

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-03-16T12:15:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Glícia Ribeiro de Oliveira.pdf: 2925159 bytes, checksum: 5e5fdca9e5026ab15dfe3f82cbc795e7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-16T12:15:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Glícia Ribeiro de Oliveira.pdf: 2925159 bytes, checksum: 5e5fdca9e5026ab15dfe3f82cbc795e7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / INTRODUCTION: This study is aligned with the researches that show that the animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is a possibility to mitigate the possible vulnerability of children when hospitalized and that the presence of a dog contributes to face it, in addition to enhance a sense of well-being. Two complementary studies are presented. PURPOSE: Study 1: To describe comparatively the communicative behavior of children hospitalized with (AAI) and without a dog, in a playful context. Study 2: To describe comparatively the vital signs results and of the cortisol levels in children hospitalized, pre- and post-animal assisted Intervention. METHODS: Study 1: 46 subjects participated in a leisure activity (reading a children's book): 27 in the presence of a dog (Research Group-RG-AAI) and 19 subject without the dog (Control Group-CG). The activity was conducted individually and spontaneously, using the proposal of a ‘Velcometry’, in which the subject would interact with the figures on the book with Velcro straps on the back of the book, on the dog vest (RG), or in the felt board (CG). Collected data were submitted to descriptive and comparative analysis from the analysis of the videos of the RG and CG by the researcher and by 04 judges (02 specialized in the AAI performance and 02 speech-language pathologists). Categories (and their subcategories) of relevant content were established. For the RG and the CG: Non-verbal behavior (body posture; visual contact; facial expression); Interaction and dialogic activity; Motivation for reading. Specifically for the RG: Spontaneous autobiographical reports and photographic records of the AAI. Study 2: 27 subjects participated in a leisure activity (reading a children's book) in the presence of a dog (AAI): The vital signs were measured and material (saliva) was collected to assess the cortisol level before and after the AAI. The collected data were compared from the analysis of the vital signs and cortisol results, before and after the AAI. RESULTS: Study 1: The RG was highlighted in the sample studied: gradual increase of visual and body contacts with the researcher and with the dog in the course of the activity; significant occurrence of happy facial expressions, interaction and dialogy; as well as of spontaneous narratives and motivation for reading. Study 2: In subjects studied, in pre- and post-AAI contexts, vital signs did not show statistically significant differences; however, the reduction of cortisol levels was statistically significant and it was associated to the immune responses on the reduction of stress. CONCLUSION: Study 1: The AAI provided beneficial effects, establishing itself as powerful international resource to address the biopsychic burden involved in the hospitalization process of the child. Study 2: The AAI can mitigate the effects of the stressful environment and enhance the sense of well-being of children hospitalized / INTRODUÇÃO: Esse estudo se alinha com as pesquisas que apontam que a Intervenção Assistida por Animais (IAA) seja uma possibilidade que amenize a possível vulnerabilidade de crianças diante à situação da hospitalização e de que a presença de um cão contribui para o seu enfrentamento, além de potencializar a sensação de bem-estar. São apresentados 2 estudos complementares. OBJETIVOS: Estudo 1: Descrever comparativamente as condutas comunicativas de crianças hospitalizadas na presença (IAA) e na ausência de um cão, em contexto lúdico. Estudo 2: Descrever comparativamente os resultados da aferição de sinais vitais e mensuração dos níveis de cortisol de crianças hospitalizadas, pré e pós Intervenção Assistida por Animais. MÉTODO: Estudo 1: 46 sujeitos participaram de uma atividade lúdica (leitura de um livro infantil): 27 na presença de um cão (Grupo Pesquisa – GP - IAA) e 19 sujeitos sem o cão (Grupo Controle – GC). A atividade ocorreu individualmente, de forma espontânea, utilizando a proposta do Velcômetro, em que o sujeito aderia figuras do livro com velcros colados no verso, no colete do cão (GP), ou no quadro de feltro (GC). Os dados coletados foram submetidos à análise descritiva e comparativa a partir da análise dos vídeos do GP e GC pela pesquisadora e 04 juízes (02 especialistas na atuação em IAA e 02 fonoaudiólogas). Estabeleceram-se categorias (e respectivas subcategorias) relevantes de conteúdo. Para o GP e GC: Comportamento não verbal (postura corporal; contato visual; sorrisos); Interação e atividade dialógica; Motivação para a leitura. Para o GP, especificamente: Relatos autobiográficos espontâneos e Registros fotográficos da IAA. Estudo 2: 27 sujeitos participaram de uma atividade lúdica (leitura de um livro infantil) na presença de um cão (IAA). Foram realizadas aferições de sinais vitais e coleta de material (saliva) para mensuração do nível de cortisol pré e pós IAA. Os dados coletados foram comparados a partir da análise dos resultados dos sinais vitais e cortisol, pré e pós IAA. RESULTADOS: Estudo 1: Na amostra estudada, evidenciou-se no GP: gradativo aumento dos contatos visual e corporal do sujeito com a pesquisadora e com o cão no decorrer da atividade; ocorrência significativa de sorrisos, de interação e dialogia; de narrativas espontâneas e motivação para a leitura. Estudo 2: Nos sujeitos estudados, nos contextos pré e pós IAA, os sinais vitais não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas, entretanto, a redução dos níveis de cortisol foi estatisticamente significativa, associando-se às respostas imunológicas diante da diminuição do estresse. CONCLUSÃO: Estudo 1: A IAA teve efeitos benéficos, configurando-se como recurso interacional potente para lidar com a situação de sofrimento biopsíquico envolvido no processo de hospitalização da criança. Estudo 2: A IAA pode minimizar os efeitos do ambiente estressor e potencializar a sensação de bem-estar de crianças hospitalizadas

Introdução: O transporte médico de crianças gravemente enfermas envolve particularidades que aumentam o risco de complicações, que podem contribuir para o aumento no tempo de internação e mortalidade. Objetivos: Avaliar a frequência e os tipos de complicações observadas durante o transporte pré- hospitalar e inter-hospitalar de crianças gravemente enfermas, assim como o impacto dessas complicações na mortalidade, no tempo de internação hospitalar e nos custos hospitalares. Pacientes e Métodos: Estudo realizado em duas etapas: a primeira foi um estudo transversal, no qual, por meio de entrevista padronizada com o médico que admitiu as crianças gravemente enfermas que necessitaram de transporte pré-hospitalar ou inter-hospitalar, foram identificadas e caracterizadas possíveis complicações ocorridas durante esse transporte. Estes dados foram auditados por três médicos independentes que definiram a presença ou ausência de complicações durante o transporte. A segunda etapa constituiu-se de uma coorte prospectiva, na qual os pacientes, divididos em dois grupos distintos (com e sem complicações durante o transporte), foram seguidos, prospectivamente, por 60 dias, observando-se a ocorrência de morte ou alta hospitalar. Resultados: Foram incluídas 143 crianças no estudo. Pelo menos uma complicação durante o transporte foi observada em 74 pacientes (52%). As complicações mais frequentes foram relacionadas com as vias aéreas (69%), seguidas por distúrbios metabólicos (47%), alterações cardiovasculares (40%) e falhas relacionadas aos dispositivos e à monitorização (37%). Na análise univariada, os seguintes preditores para ocorrência de complicações durante o transporte foram observados: peso <10Kg (risco relativo - RR: 1,52; intervalo de confiança (IC 95%: 1,11-2,09); distância >100Km (RR: 1,67; IC 95%: 1,16-2,40); presença de doença respiratória (RR: 1,46; IC 95%: 1,06-1,95) e comorbidades (RR: 1,68; IC 95%: 1,23-2,30). Já na análise multivariada, não foram observados preditores independentes para ocorrência de complicações. A ocorrência de complicações durante o transporte foi associada com maior taxa de mortalidade hospitalar (hazard ratio - HR: 5,668; IC 95%: 1,26-26,65; p=0,0130) e menor taxa de alta hospitalar (HR: 0,48; IC 95%: 0,31-0,74; p=0,0007). Após a aplicação da regressão de Cox para ajuste de potenciais fatores de confusão, a presença de complicação durante o transporte permaneceu associada com o índice de mortalidade hospitalar (HR: 6,74; IC 95%: 1,40-32,34; p=0,017), contudo deixou de ser associada com o tempo para a alta hospitalar (HR: 0,76; IC 95%: 0,49- 1,16; p=0,213). Conclusões: As complicações foram frequentes durante o transporte pediátrico. A presença de doenças respiratórias, peso <10Kg, presença de comorbidades e a distância >100 Km foram preditores de risco para a ocorrência dessas complicações. As complicações ocorridas durante o transporte foram associadas com o aumento nas taxas de mortalidade hospitalar. / Introduction: The medical transport of critically ill children involves characteristics that increase the risk of complications, which can contribute to an increase in length of stay and mortality. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and type of complications observed during the pre-hospital and inter-hospital transport of critically ill children, as well as the impact of these complications on mortality, length of hospital stay and hospital costs. Patients and Methods: A study carried out in two stages: the first was a cross-sectional study where through a standardized interview with the doctor who admitted the critically ill children requiring pre-hospital or inter-hospital transport identified and characterized possible complications during this transport. These data were audited by three independent doctors who defined the presence or absence of complications during transport. The second stage consists of a prospective cohort study, where patients divided into two groups (with and without complications during transportation) were followed prospectively for 60 days observing the occurrence of death or hospital discharge. Results: We included 143 children in the study. At least one complication during transportation was observed in 74 patients (52%). The most frequent complications have been associated with airway (69%), followed by metabolic disorders (47%), cardiovascular disorders (40%) and failure in the device and monitoring (37%). In the uni-variate analysis, the following predictors for the occurrence of complications during transport were observed: weight <10 kg (relative risk - RR: 1.52; 95% confidence interval - CI: 1.11-2.09); distance greater than 100 km (RR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.16-2.40); presence of respiratory disease (RR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.06-1.95) and associated comorbidity (RR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.23- 2.30). In the multivariate analysis, no independent predictors were observed for the occurrence of complications. The occurrence of complications during transport was associated with higher hospital mortality (hazard ratio - HR: 5.668; 95% CI: 1.26-26.65; p=0.0130) and a lower hospital discharge rate (HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.31-0.74; p=0.0007). After Cox regression to adjust for potential confounding factors, the presence of complications during transport remained associated with hospital mortality (HR: 6.74; IC 95%: 1.40-32.34; p=0.017), however, was not associated with hospital discharge rates (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.49-1.16; p=0.213). Conclusions: The complications were common during pediatric transport. Distance greater than 100 km, presence of respiratory disease, associated comorbidity and weight <10 kg were risk predictors for occurrence of complications. Complications during pediatric transport were associated with increased hospital mortality rates.

In comparison to the European healthcare system, the U.S. healthcare system has lower quality care, higher costs, and covers a smaller percentage of the population. Despite the high costs, the U.S. healthcare system remains dysfunctional. The purpose of this exploratory single case study was to identify the strategies that some healthcare managers in a hospital setting in the midwestern region of the United States use to improve efficiency while decreasing healthcare costs. Complex adaptive systems theory was used to frame this study that included face-to-face interviews with 6 highly experienced healthcare managers. Data were collected from audio recorded interviews and publicly available documents, and the audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using deductive and open coding techniques to identify themes regarding strategies used by managers to find effective ways for improvement. Three strategies emerged as themes, including improving the accuracy of information and reports, implementing precise and accurate information, and improving quality. The findings of this study may directly benefit healthcare managers and compel positive social change by facilitating successful strategies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The successful strategies identified in the study might provide a new direction to healthcare managers attempting to adopt new methods. The findings may also contribute to social change by providing solutions that may improve overall organizational performance in a hospital setting.

Globally HIV and AIDS are considered to be a major health and developmental challenge facing humanity. The HIV infection of children is not only an area of great concern for families but for the future of humankind. Caring and nurturing of children generally is considered as a challenging responsibility. Caregivers of HIV infected children are faced with the added responsibility of ensuring that these children have access to life saving health care at all times. Caregivers who are responsible for the health and well being of HIV infected children face constant challenges in their care giving role and this has implications for the quality of care of the child. The needs of HIV infected children are complex and vital to their basic needs is the administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to explore, describe and interpret the experiences of caregivers, caring for HIV infected children and accessing services from a public hospital in Durban. Using the ecosystems theory, this qualitative study explored the experiences of thirty caregivers caring for HIV infected children. The data was collected using semi structured interviews with the caregivers. Four main themes emerged from the data analysis; namely: The caregivers’ intrapersonal experiences, their perspectives on HIV and ART, their access to health and social services and their coping strategies. This study concludes that caregivers of HIV infected children within the public hospital setting, experience numerous psycho-social and economic challenges on a daily basis. Subsequently, these challenges impacted on the quality of care to the HIV infected child. It was evident that respondents dealt with challenges differently, as the older respondents were more equipped emotionally and psychologically than the younger respondents. Generally, all respondents were negatively affected by poor psychological and socio-economic circumstances that prevented them from ensuring the wellbeing of the child. The challenges that they faced on the micro level (economic and psycho-social experiences), the mezzo (stigma, community and family support) and exo levels (health and welfare services) together with the macro level (DOH strategic plans and childcare legislations) determined how they provided for the care of the HIV infected child. Despite these challenges respondents’ resilience and commitment to providing for the health and wellbeing of the HIV infected child was consistent and remained a priority. Multi-level intervention programmes are required to help caregivers cope with their challenges. As such social work practitioners need to take cognizance of the psycho-social, emotional and material support required by caregivers of HIV infected children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Population ageing has been posed as a problem for contemporary governing in relation to the allocation and consumption of finite health care resources, in particular acute hospital care. This thesis explores how nursing practice is a key resource in the management of this ???problem???. Employing Foucault???s concept of governmentality, nursing practice is examined as a form of social government that is central to the regulation of hospital care to older people. A governmentality approach enables consideration of the relationship between the macro political context of governing, as embodied in prevailing political rationalities, and their outworking beyond the arenas of formal government in the micro practices of nurses. Specifically, in this research, it reveals how contemporary entrepreneurial rationalities of governing work at a distance to discursively shape the local practices of nurses in the regulation of hospital care to older people. Discourse analysis of interview texts, literature and documents revealed how enterprise rationality was invested in the discourses circulating in the study site, highlighting the power relationships and subject positions available to registered nurses and outcomes produced in the regulation of hospital care to older people. The analysis details how registered nurses activated a range of technologies and practices as they engaged with enterprise discourses, constituting nursing practice as an activity aimed at making up older people as dischargeable subjects. It shows how enterprise is both a practice and way of thinking that directs us toward a particular truth of hospital, hence nursing, care of older people. The thesis illustrates how changes in the ways of governing hospitals have actively transformed the meaning and practice of nursing in the provision of hospital care to older people. It shows how the values and practices that make entrepreneurial modes of government possible penetrate each layer of an organisation and can create new mentalities or ways of thinking. This was evident in this research whereby an entrepreneurial mode of governance had re-imagined the social practice of nursing as a form of the economic, such that neither recovery, nor health, but discharge assumed pre-eminence as the focus and aim of hospital care for older people and hence the goal of nursing practice. These findings suggest that hospital care of older people has become a political and economic, rather than therapeutic concern. Furthermore, nursing interventions in the hospital care of older people have become administrative rather than therapeutic, with nursing practice focused on individual older people only insofar as they are constituted as part of a population at risk of delayed discharge. The thesis contends that nurses are implicated in the politics of health care in new and different ways amid entrepreneurial rationalities of governing that promote an ethos of risk management, individualism and responsibilisation in relation to health. It argues that the replacement of an ethos of nursing as care based on client need with an ethos of nursing as risk management substitutes the therapeutic intent and practices of nursing with the technical intent of managing risk. In so doing, the thesis illustrates dangers and possibilities arising from the re-framing of health care through entrepreneurial modes of governance. It enables a critically informed consideration of what kind of practice acute care nursing could be into the future and how nurses and others can take action to positively contribute to the futures of older people they provide care to. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2010

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 1994. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-172).