Bibliography: leaves 160-171. / xii, 171 leaves, [9] leaves of plates : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Evaluates the effect of an anterior surgical approach and antero-lateral inter-body fusion of the cervical spine on spinal cord blood flow and electrical function using a sheep model. / Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery & Trauma, 1993?

No description available.

As avaliações econômicas em saúde, que se propõe a estudar a alocação mais eficiente de recursos, apresentam expansão nos últimos 20 anos. Para as vacinas especificamente, há crescente surgimento das avaliações econômicas de programas de vacinação dado aumento dos preços das novas vacinas. Nesse cenário tem-se que a doença meningocócica continua sendo um agravo de extrema importância na população mundial, com características peculiares quando se consideram manifestações, morbi-mortalidade e ocorrência nas diferentes regiões. Não são suficientemente conhecidas as causas do início de uma epidemia em um dado momento e lugar, mas sabe-se que são necessários a presença concomitante de múltiplos fatores, como características do agente etiológico, do hospedeiro e do meio ambiente. Isto inclui a susceptibilidade da população, condições climáticas favoráveis, situação socioeconômica precária, tornando a prevenção primária da doença difícil, sendo necessária uma intervenção específica como as vacinas. Há diversas complicações da doença meningocócica, principalmente as sequelas, sendo as mais comuns a perda auditiva, as amputações, necrose de pele e convulsões. O Brasil, através do Programa Nacional de Imunizações / PNI, incluiu em sua agenda de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde, via Secretaria de Vigilância Sanitária do Ministério da Saúde, avaliações econômicas locais para introdução de novas vacinas no calendário nacional de vacinação, sendo uma delas a vacina antimeningocócica C conjugada. Assim o objetivo desta tese é desenvolver um estudo complementar de custo-efetividade para a vacina conjugada contra a doença meningocócica C, com inclusão de estimativas suplementares de custos adicionais, para análise da sua repercussão sobre as razões incrementais encontradas em estudo original. A fim de aprofundar os estudos que medem as proporções de sequelas e os custos indiretos, bem como a inserção de novos custos. A hipótese sugere que a medição e valoração de custos envolvidos com sequelas da doença, aprimora os resultados do estudo de custo-efetividade e agregar elementos adicionais nas decisões dos gestores. Foram realizadas na cidade de Sorocaba entrevistas junto aos doentes e familiares com questionários de rotina de gastos e de qualidade de vida - EuroQol (EQ-5D), sendo inseridos nas análise de custoefetividade, os gastos diversos realizados pelas famílias, ora denominado de Gastos Familiares . A tese teve como resultado o fato que o melhor detalhamento e inserção de gastos familiares no tratamento de pessoas que adquiriram deficiências em consequência de sequelas, alterou a relação de custo-efetividade no programa de vacinação da doença meningocócica. A análise de sensibilidade mostrou que esses dados, quando extrapolados resultam num valor incremental ainda mais próximo no valor ideal de custo-efetividade / The economic evaluations in health, which proposes to study the more efficient allocation of resources, an expansion in the last 20 years. For vaccines specifically, there is increasing emergence of economic evaluations of vaccination programs because price increases of new vaccines. In this scenario have that meningococcal disease still a disorder of extreme importance in the world population with peculiar characteristics when considering events, morbidity, mortality and incidence in different regions. Are not sufficiently known cause of the beginning of an epidemic in a given time and place, but it is known that it takes the concomitant presence of multiple factors like characteristics of the agent, host and environment. This includes the susceptibility of the population, favorable climatic conditions, poor socioeconomic situation, making the primary prevention of the disease hard and requires specific interventions such as vaccines. There are several complications of meningococcal disease, mostly the sequels, the most common hearing loss, amputations, skin necrosis and seizures. Brazil, through the National Immunization Program / PNI, included in its agenda for Technology Assessment in Health via the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health, local economic assessments for the introduction of new vaccines in national vaccination schedule, one of which meningococcal C conjugate vaccine. So the purpose of this thesis is to develop a complementary study of cost-effectiveness for the conjugate vaccine against meningococcal C disease, with inclusion of supplementary estimates of additional costs for analysis of its impact on the incremental ratios found in the original study. In order to deepen the studies that measures the proportions of sequels and indirect costs, as well as the inclusion of new costs. The hypothesis suggests that the measurement and valuation of costs involved with sequelae of disease, improves the results of cost-effectiveness and add additional elements in the decisions of managers. Were held in the city of Sorocaba interviews with the patients and family questionnaires for routine expenditures and quality of life - EuroQol (EQ-5D), and inserted into the cost-effectiveness, the spending made by many families, sometimes called \"Family Expenditures\". The thesis resulted in the fact that better detail and inclusion of family spending in treating people who have acquired disabilities as a result of disability, has changed the costeffectiveness in the program of vaccination for meningococcal meningitis. The sensitivity analysis showed that these data, when extrapolated result in incremental value even closer to the ideal value of cost-effectiveness

Orientador: José Guilherme Cecatti / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-27T12:58:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Haddad_SamiraElMaerrawiTebecherane_D.pdf: 11825508 bytes, checksum: 24467eb924ca22a96f39c0067594109d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Introdução: A saúde materna é um dos focos das Metas de Desenvolvimento do Milênio das Nações Unidas para 2015. As mais recentes estimativas sugerem que o número de mulheres que morrem de complicações durante a gestação e parto caiu 47% de 1990 a 2010. Para alcançar a redução planejada de 75% até 2015, a taxa anual deveria cair em 5,5%. Porém, um pouco além da metade do que seria necessário foi conseguido. Para que as metas sejam atingidas, intervenções efetivas são identificadas como necessárias. Além de melhorias com investimentos estruturais locais, uma das bases para a organização de ações efetivas é a obtenção de dados fidedignos e o desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação em saúde. Até um passado recente, não havia padronização de conceitos para morbidade materna grave. Em 2009, condições ameaçadoras da vida foram definidas pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Como resultado, critérios clínicos, laboratoriais e de manejo específicos orientam a identificação de casos de near miss. A criação de uma rede de vigilância no Brasil utilizando os novos critérios de near miss poderia trazer um panorama desta condição em um país de média renda e população heterogênea. Com tais informações, novas estratégias para melhoria da assistência à saúde materna e perinatal poderiam ser desenvolvidas, com potencial redução real de mortes. Objetivos: Avaliar a homogeneidade amostral dos casos incluídos na Rede, validar os critérios de near miss da OMS, desenvolver um modelo de predição de mortalidade baseado na gravidade dos casos e, a partir deste modelo, avaliar o desempenho dos centros da Rede na prestação de cuidados obstétricos. Métodos: A Rede Nacional de Vigilância de Morbidade Materna Grave foi um estudo de corte transversal multicêntrico implantado em 27 hospitais entre todas as regiões do país, com coleta prospectiva de dados pelo período de um ano, utilizando os novos critérios de near miss da OMS. A partir de 9555 casos incluídos no período, foram calculados os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse (ICC) e efeitos do desenho por cluster das variáveis do estudo. Também, testes de acurácia diagnóstica foram utilizados para validar dos critérios da OMS. Um modelo de regressão logística bivariada foi utilizado para avaliar a correlação entre os critérios de near miss e variáveis distais na ocorrência de morte e desenvolver uma ferramenta para predição de mortalidade, o Maternal Severity Index (MSI). A partir deste modelo, foi analisada a razão entre as mortes observadas e aquelas esperadas de acordo com a gravidade dos casos e avaliados os níveis de desempenhos dos centros na prestação de cuidado obstétrico. Conclusão: Os ICC para as variáveis de desfecho da Rede são considerados pequenos, o que indica adequada heterogeneidade amostral. Seus valores podem ser utilizados para o cálculo do tamanho amostral de estudos futuros na área. O uso dos critérios de near miss da OMS para identificação de casos de morbidade materna grave foi validado. O índice de gravidade materna (MSI) pode ser utilizado como ferramenta para predição de mortalidade e avaliação de desempenho e adequação de cuidado em instituições que prestem atendimento a mulheres com condições ameaçadoras a vida / Abstract: Introduction: Maternal health is one of the focuses of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals for 2015. The most recent estimates suggest that the number of women who died from complications during pregnancy and childbirth fell 47% from 1990 to 2010. To achieve the planned reduction of 75% by 2015, the annual rate should fall by 5.5%. However, a little more than half of what is required has been obtained. To achieve the goals, effective interventions are identified as necessary. In addition to improvements in local structural investments, one of the bases for the organization of effective actions is obtaning reliable data and the development of health information systems. Until recently, there was no standardazed concept for severe maternal morbidity. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined life-threatening conditions. As a result, specific clinical, laboratory and management criteria guide the identification of near miss cases. The development of a surveillance network in Brazil using the new criteria for maternal near miss could bring an overview of this condition in a middle-income country with heterogeneous population. With such information, new strategies to improve maternal and perinatal care could be developed, with potential real reduction of deaths. Objectives: To evaluate the homogeneity of the sample included in the network, to validate the WHO near miss criteria, to develop a predictive model of mortality based on severity of cases and, from this model, to evaluate the performance of the Network facilities in providing obstetric care. Methods: The Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity was a multicenter cross-sectional study implemented in 27 hospitals from all regions of the country, with prospective data collection for a one year period, using the new WHO maternal near miss criteria. From 9555 cases included in the period, the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and cluster design effects for the variables of the study were calculated. Also, diagnostic accuracy tests were used to validate the WHO criteria. A bivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the correlation between the near miss criteria and distal variables in the occurrence of death and to develop a tool for prediction of mortality, the Maternal Severity Index (MSI). From this model, the ratio between the number of observed and expected deaths was analyzed according to the severity of cases and the performance levels of the centers in providing obstetric care was assessed. Conclusion: The ICC for the outcome variables of the network are considered small, what indicates adequate sample heterogeneity. Their values can be used to calculate the sample size of further studies in the area. The use WHO maternal near miss criteria to identify cases of severe maternal morbidity has been validated. The maternal severity index (MSI) can be used as a tool for assessing the performance and appropriateness of care in facilities providing care for women with life threatening conditions / Doutorado / Saúde Materna e Perinatal / Doutora em Ciências da Saúde

Cancer in childhood age comprises less than 1% of all diagnosed cancer cases. But is significant, because the childhood cancer is second in mortality, just after accidents. A theoretical part of the study characterizes childhood cancer and its treatment and introduces the term "quality of life". Two goals are set in this work. The first objective is to map the "quality of life" in cancer survivals. The second objective is to analyze how "the attitude towards life" is changed after cancer treatment and whether it differs from healthy children. In this thesis, a quantitative research was used. The standardized SF - 36 questionnaire "on quality of life conditioned by health" and the socio - demographic questionnaire WP 6 - socio - demographic data were used. Three hypotheses were established. H1: "Childhood cancer survivals appreciate their health more than children who did not go through any cancer treatment." H2: "Childhood cancer survivals suffer from cognitive disabilities in comparison to children who did not go through cancer treatment." H3: "Childhood cancer survivals have a more positive relationship to themselves than children who did not go through cancer treatment." The results of this research reveal that young cancer survivors have a similar quality of life as their healthy peers. This thesis should approach the quality of life of children after cancer treatment. The study will be presented at a Professional conference.

After over 30 years of research, our knowledge of the consequences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is still marked by considerable disarray. A research programme of three studies was designed to improve our understanding of functioning in adulthood after CSA by considering perceptions of sexual abuse from three different viewpoints: Clients with a history of CSA, lay, non-abused adults, and sexual abuse practitioners. In the first study, Multidimensional scaling was employed to develop a reporting device summarising the wide range effects and coping efforts likely to following sexual abuse (RESA – Reporting Effects of Sexual Abuse). A two-fold mapping and profiling approach was then used to highlight consistency and specificity of sexual abuse sequelae by comparing effect-coping patterns of 113 adults with a history of CSA to profiles describing the functioning of nontraumatised adults. The second study then enquired about the stability of perceptions of CSA consequences carried by 149 lay, non-abused adults. An analogue priming study explored how the impact of emotional arousal and cognitive re-structuring intervention adjust participants’ understanding of CSA outcomes. As lay, non-abused adults were found to carry an oversimplified perception of CSA sequelae, Study Three therefore investigated if practitioners were exempt from such underlying biases. Signal detection analysis was used in the final third study to independently assess 85 practitioners’ judgment accuracy and bias when asked to identify sexual abuse effects among a set of supposedly unrelated behaviour, and to discriminate direct effects from secondary ways of coping with CSA. While practitioners were successful in detecting relevant CSA sequelae, they nonetheless demonstrated a highly overinclusive perception compared to the empirical reports by sexually abused clients and societal perceptions. Findings of the three studies were integrated to build an empirical framework on the multiplicity of perceptions on the sequelae of CSA. Overall, this research showed that all individuals, regardless of their association with CSA, carry perceptions about the consequences of CSA. These perceptions appeared to be universal, independent of emotional arousal or attempted cognitive restructuring. While CSA clients reported an array of effects and coping efforts, society only seemed to reflect basic elements of these as related to CSA. Professionals, on the other hand, indicated overinclusive perceptions in which most characteristics were identified as CSA sequelae, in particular as a mean of coping. Finally, no specific pathway was found to follow CSA. While there appeared to be an increased intensity of effects and a greater need for coping among adults with a history of CSA, the general pattern or type of sequelae was also reported by non-traumatised adults. Understanding the functional processes underlying these patterns of common sequelae can help to tailor treatment to the individual needs of clients who experienced CSA. Further implications of this empirical model for practice and research in the area of sexual abuse in Aotearoa/New Zealand are discussed.

The overall aim of this thesis was to describe patients’ experience and reconstruction regarding the onset of, and events surrounding being struck by a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH), and to describe patients’ and relatives’ views of patients’ memory ability, emotional status and activities of living, in a long-term perspective. Methods: Both inductive and deductive approaches were used. Nine open interviews were carried out in home settings, in average 1 year and 7 seven months after the patients’ onset, and discourse analysis was used to interpret the data. Eleven relatives and 11 patients, 11 years after the onset, and 15 relatives and 15 patients, 6 years after the onset, participated in two studies. Interviews using a questionnaire with structured questions and memory tests were used to collect data. Fischer’s exact test and Z-scores were used for the statistical analysis. Results: Patients with experience of a SAH were able to judge their own memory for what happened when they became ill. The reconstruction of the illness event may be interpreted as an identity creating process. The process of meaning-making is both a matter of understanding SAH as a pathological event and a social and communicative matter, where the SAH is construed into a meaningful life history, in order to make life complete (I). Memory problems, changes in emotional status and problems with activities of living were common (II-IV). There was correspondence between relatives’ and patients’ statements regarding the patients’ memory in general and long-term memory. Patients judged their own memory ability better than relatives, compared with results on memory tests. Relatives stated that some patients had meta-memory problems (II). The episodic memory seemed to be well  reserved, both concerning the onset and in the long-term perspective (I, II). There were more problems with social life than with P- and I-ADL (III), and social company habits had changed due to concentration difficulties, mental fatigue, and  patients’ sensitivity to noisy environments and uncertainty (IV). Relatives rated the patients’ ability concerning activities of living and emotional status, and in a similar manner to patients’ statements (III-IV). Conclusions: The reconstruction of the illness event can be used as a tool in nursing for understanding the patient’s identity-construction. Relatives and patients stated the patients’ memory, emotional status and activities of living in a similar manner, and therefore both patients’ and relatives’ statements can be used as a tool in nursing care, in order to support the patient. However, the results showed: meta-memory problems (relatives’ statements) and that the patients’ judged their own memory ability better than relatives in comparison with results on memory tests. Nevertheless, there was a high degree of concordance between relatives’ and patients’ evaluations concerning patients´ memory ability, emotional status, emotional problems, social company habits and activities of living. Therefore both relatives’ and patients’ statements can be considered to be reliable. However, sometimes the patients and the relatives judge the patients’ memory differently. Consequently, memory tests and formalized dialogues between the patient, the relative and a professional might be required, in order to improve the mutual family relationship in a positive way. Professionals however, must first assume that patients can judge their own memory, emotional status and ability in daily life.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:30:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jane Marcia B Neves.pdf: 259135 bytes, checksum: 6ec2b8f41daaf92ac8b5bca6c06457b5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-11-26 / Objetive: To identify possible risk factors associate with poor prognosis among children and teenagers with acute bacterial meningitis Methods: Prevalence study with casecontrol analysis by review of medical records of patients aged 1 month to 19 years admitted to Tropical Disease Hospital in Goiânia Goiás with acute bacterial meningitis from 1 january 1998 to 31 december 2001 Patients who died or had one or more neurological sequelae at discharge were cosidered cases and patients with the same diagnosis but discharged with healthy recoveries as controls Risk factors for adverse outcome such as age sex proceeding area period between onset of symptoms and hospital admission history of antibiotic use etiologic agent meningeous signs level of consciousness convulsion circulatory and respiratory distress and laboratory values including peripheral white blood cels counts cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein level CSF glucose level and CSF white blood cels count were analysed Univariate analysis and logistics regression was used to evaluate the association between death or neurologic sequelae (depedents variables) and each risk factors (independent variable) Results: Of the 409 children and 117 teenagers admitted during the period of study 430 discharged with healthy recoveries 43 (8,2%) died and 53 (10,1%) had at least one sequelae at discharge (motor deficit, seizure hydrocephalus hearing impairment, cranial nerve deficits cerebral palsy and ataxia) Age < 24 months circulatory and respiratory distress torpor or coma seizure absence of meningeous signs proceeding area and peripheral white blood cels count < 5000/ mm³ were associated with poor prognosis However, age <24 months respiratory distress and torpor or coma were independently associated with adverse outcome Conclusion: Age < 24 months respiratory distress and torpor or coma were the main risk factors independently associated with poor prognosis Early identification of the all risk factors is very important to select the patients who need special care during of stay in hospital and after discharge at least until school age / Objetivo: Identificar os possíveis fatores de risco associados à evolução desfavorável em crianças e adolescentes com meningite bacteriana aguda (MBA) Casuística e métodos: Estudo de prevalência com análise tipo caso-controle mediante revisão dos prontuários de pacientes com idade de 1 mês a 19 anos internados com MBA no Hospital de Doenças tropicais (HDT) em Goiânia-Goiás durante o período de janeiro de 1998 a dezembro de 2001 Foram considerados casos os pacientes que faleceram ou apresentaram seqüelas evidentes na alta atribuíveis a MBA (n = 96) e controles os pacientes que receberam alta aparentemente com total recuperação (n = 430) Como possíveis fatores de risco para evolução desfavorável foram analisadas as variáveis: idade sexo procedência tempo de doença até a internação uso prévio de antibiótico agente etiológico sinais meníngeos nível de consciência ocorrência de convulsão de disfunção cardiorrespiratória e de alterações laboratoriais referentes a leucometria glicorraquia proteinorraquia e celularidade liquórica A análise univariada e a de regressão logística foram utilizadas para avaliar a associação entre evolução fatal e seqüela neurológica diagnosticada na alta (variáveis dependentes) e cada fator considerado como de risco (variáveis independentes) Resultados: Das 409 crianças e 117 adolescentes com MBA que participaram do estudo 430 evoluíram para cura (81,7%) sem seqüelas aparentes 43 (8,2%) faleceram e 53 (10,1%) apresentaram pelo menos uma seqüela evidente na alta: déficit motor em 23 (43,4%) convulsão em 21 (39,6%) hidrocefalia em 9 (17%) hipoacusia em 7 (13,2%) ptose palpebral em 4 (7,5%), estrabismo em 3 (5,7%) diplopia em 2 (3,8%) ataxia paralisia cerebral, e paralisia facial em 1 (2%) paciente Idade < 2 anos disfunção cardiorrespiratória torpor ou coma convulsão ausência de sinais meníngeos procedência e leucopenia foram os fatores de risco associados a mau prognóstico No entanto idade < 2 anos disfunção respiratória e torpor ou coma mostraram-se independentemente associados com óbito e seqüelas Conclusões: Idade < 2 anos disfunção respiratória e torpor ou coma foram os principais fatores de risco associados independentemente a mau prognóstico A identificação precoce de todos fatores de risco associados a óbito ou seqüelas é importante para a seleção de pacientes que necessitam de cuidados especiais para sustentação das funções vitais durante a internação bem como de acompanhamento após a alta sobretudo até a idade escolar

As avaliações econômicas em saúde, que se propõe a estudar a alocação mais eficiente de recursos, apresentam expansão nos últimos 20 anos. Para as vacinas especificamente, há crescente surgimento das avaliações econômicas de programas de vacinação dado aumento dos preços das novas vacinas. Nesse cenário tem-se que a doença meningocócica continua sendo um agravo de extrema importância na população mundial, com características peculiares quando se consideram manifestações, morbi-mortalidade e ocorrência nas diferentes regiões. Não são suficientemente conhecidas as causas do início de uma epidemia em um dado momento e lugar, mas sabe-se que são necessários a presença concomitante de múltiplos fatores, como características do agente etiológico, do hospedeiro e do meio ambiente. Isto inclui a susceptibilidade da população, condições climáticas favoráveis, situação socioeconômica precária, tornando a prevenção primária da doença difícil, sendo necessária uma intervenção específica como as vacinas. Há diversas complicações da doença meningocócica, principalmente as sequelas, sendo as mais comuns a perda auditiva, as amputações, necrose de pele e convulsões. O Brasil, através do Programa Nacional de Imunizações / PNI, incluiu em sua agenda de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde, via Secretaria de Vigilância Sanitária do Ministério da Saúde, avaliações econômicas locais para introdução de novas vacinas no calendário nacional de vacinação, sendo uma delas a vacina antimeningocócica C conjugada. Assim o objetivo desta tese é desenvolver um estudo complementar de custo-efetividade para a vacina conjugada contra a doença meningocócica C, com inclusão de estimativas suplementares de custos adicionais, para análise da sua repercussão sobre as razões incrementais encontradas em estudo original. A fim de aprofundar os estudos que medem as proporções de sequelas e os custos indiretos, bem como a inserção de novos custos. A hipótese sugere que a medição e valoração de custos envolvidos com sequelas da doença, aprimora os resultados do estudo de custo-efetividade e agregar elementos adicionais nas decisões dos gestores. Foram realizadas na cidade de Sorocaba entrevistas junto aos doentes e familiares com questionários de rotina de gastos e de qualidade de vida - EuroQol (EQ-5D), sendo inseridos nas análise de custoefetividade, os gastos diversos realizados pelas famílias, ora denominado de Gastos Familiares . A tese teve como resultado o fato que o melhor detalhamento e inserção de gastos familiares no tratamento de pessoas que adquiriram deficiências em consequência de sequelas, alterou a relação de custo-efetividade no programa de vacinação da doença meningocócica. A análise de sensibilidade mostrou que esses dados, quando extrapolados resultam num valor incremental ainda mais próximo no valor ideal de custo-efetividade / The economic evaluations in health, which proposes to study the more efficient allocation of resources, an expansion in the last 20 years. For vaccines specifically, there is increasing emergence of economic evaluations of vaccination programs because price increases of new vaccines. In this scenario have that meningococcal disease still a disorder of extreme importance in the world population with peculiar characteristics when considering events, morbidity, mortality and incidence in different regions. Are not sufficiently known cause of the beginning of an epidemic in a given time and place, but it is known that it takes the concomitant presence of multiple factors like characteristics of the agent, host and environment. This includes the susceptibility of the population, favorable climatic conditions, poor socioeconomic situation, making the primary prevention of the disease hard and requires specific interventions such as vaccines. There are several complications of meningococcal disease, mostly the sequels, the most common hearing loss, amputations, skin necrosis and seizures. Brazil, through the National Immunization Program / PNI, included in its agenda for Technology Assessment in Health via the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health, local economic assessments for the introduction of new vaccines in national vaccination schedule, one of which meningococcal C conjugate vaccine. So the purpose of this thesis is to develop a complementary study of cost-effectiveness for the conjugate vaccine against meningococcal C disease, with inclusion of supplementary estimates of additional costs for analysis of its impact on the incremental ratios found in the original study. In order to deepen the studies that measures the proportions of sequels and indirect costs, as well as the inclusion of new costs. The hypothesis suggests that the measurement and valuation of costs involved with sequelae of disease, improves the results of cost-effectiveness and add additional elements in the decisions of managers. Were held in the city of Sorocaba interviews with the patients and family questionnaires for routine expenditures and quality of life - EuroQol (EQ-5D), and inserted into the cost-effectiveness, the spending made by many families, sometimes called \"Family Expenditures\". The thesis resulted in the fact that better detail and inclusion of family spending in treating people who have acquired disabilities as a result of disability, has changed the costeffectiveness in the program of vaccination for meningococcal meningitis. The sensitivity analysis showed that these data, when extrapolated result in incremental value even closer to the ideal value of cost-effectiveness

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a multi-faceted disease that affects individuals on physical, cognitive and emotional levels. The specific aims of this research are to explore the prevalence of depression and the relationship between depression, neuropsychological performance and clinical variables in a cohort with TBI. This is accomplished through the retrospective review of 75 neuropsychological reports containing information on clinical variables, performance on neuropsychological measures and Beck Depression Inventory- Second Edition (BDI-II) scores of individuals who had sustained a TBI. The neuropsychological domains assessed via the standardized neuropsychological measures were the domains of attention, concentration, memory, learning, non-verbal and abstract reasoning, manual dexterity, verbal recall, working memory, perception, psychomotor performance, incidental learning, concept formation and verbal fluency. These results were statistically analysed to determine relationships with depression and clinical variables. The investigations undertaken in this study signified particularly pertinent relationships in the interactions among the variables of interest. Higher education level was found to be extremely critical in assisting retention of cognitive abilities following a TBI. Primary language was also a significant differentiator of performance among tests. Age had contrasting effects, with increasing age being favourable on the Similarities Test and related to poorer performance on the Letter Cancellation Test. Increasing GCS scores were related to slower performance on the Letter Cancellation Test and decreased performance on the RAVLT Free Recall Test. Longer PTA duration was related to worse performance on the Matrix Reasoning Test. These results indicate that these indicators of injury severity did not correlate with cognitive performance in this sample after TBI. The high incidence of depression in this study confirms that major depression is a very common occurrence after TBI. This has widespread implications for patient and family counselling, and psychotropic interventions in treatment planning after TBI. Further research on the emotional and cognitive aspects of TBIs within the South African population is needed to supplement the lack of information currently available. It is recommended that further studies build on the current study by exploring larger samples, and using more stratification specificity in terms of the type of injury sustained as well as functional outcomes. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted