RESUMO
To study the reasons for cancelling cataract surgeries, and to suggest actions to improve the efficiency of patient care. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a university hospital's ophthalmology clinic of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Two hundred subjects were randomly selected. The mean age was 68+/- 11.4 years old. The reasons for cancelling surgery were: unpropitious clinical condition (23.1%); tight schedule (35.9%); and patient non-attendance (41%). Most of the reasons related to social issues and the hospital's administrative aspects.
Assuntos
Extração de Catarata , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Qualidade da Assistência à SaúdeRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To identify social characteristics and expectations of individuals seen during a community project for the treatment of senile cataracts. Expected results from their eye surgery and its consequences to their quality of life were studied as well. METHODOLOGY: Cataract patients (visual acuity equal to or lower than 0.2 in the more superior eye) aged 50 years or over, were surveyed by means of interviews held during their visit at the Cataract Project in São Paulo city, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 1999. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 331 subjects of low socioeconomic level ranging in age from 50 to 97 years (average = 71.8 years). Expectation of total recovery from the cataract condition by means of surgery was declared by 80.0% of the respondents, with no significant differences between male and female subjects (P < 0.1723). Hope to resume manual activities was expressed by 59.8%. CONCLUSION: A predominance of expectations of resuming normal activity and achieving a better quality of life after cataract surgery were identified.
Assuntos
Extração de Catarata/normas , Satisfação do Paciente , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Brasil , Extração de Catarata/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Qualidade de Vida , Distribuição por Sexo , Acuidade VisualRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: With the purpose of collecting information for training programs targeted to teachers, ocular health beliefs were assessed concerning eyeglasses wear, visual problems and damages while reading in different settings. METHODS: A survey was carried out among first-grade teachers of public elementary schools located in the Southern region of S. Paulo city, state of S. Paulo, Brazil. The study population included 545 subjects from 120 different schools. A self-administered structured questionnaire was developed based on a previous exploratory study. RESULTS: Average age in this population was 37.8 years and they have been working as educators for an average of 13.2 years; most of them (67.4%) have not received orientation on ocular health for the last three years; almost all of them (99.4%) believed that eyeglasses should be wore constantly; 62. 3% considered the fact of a constant vision straining as an aggravating factor for eye disorders; 95% of the teachers admitted that there could be damaging consequences when someone watches television at a distance of less than 2 meters; 59.9% of them believed that watching TV with the lights off could damage one's vision; 45.6% considered reading in a moving vehicle a cause for visual problems. CONCLUSIONS: Popular beliefs related to eye health reveal a need for orientation programs for teachers in order to implement preventive actions related to eye health within elementary schools.
Assuntos
Oftalmopatias , Óculos/estatística & dados numéricos , Docentes , Nível de Saúde , Visão Ocular , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil , Oftalmopatias/prevenção & controle , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Promoção da Saúde , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Leitura , Inquéritos e Questionários , Transtornos da Visão/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Cataracts are the main cause of blindness in the world, although they can be treated with relatively simple and inexpensive surgery. This study was carried out in 1997 and 1998 in five cities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, to identify the reasons for persons not having cataract surgery. The population studied were patients seen at a community project for the rehabilitation of cataract-caused blindness, Projeto Zona Livre de Catarata (the Cataract-free-Zone Project). A questionnaire was used to interview 776 individuals with cataracts who sought assistance at the project and who had a visual acuity of 20/100 or less in the better eye. Six hundred and eighty-three patients had previously sought ophthalmic care, most frequently (27%) at public health services. The main reasons for subjects not having had cataract surgery were financial (69% of respondents) and the feeling of "still having good eyesight" (69% of respondents). Among patients who said they were afraid of surgery, the main reason was concern about being left blind. All the subjects whom the project deemed suitable for surgery agreed to undergo the procedure. Apparently, there is a gap between searching for ophthalmic services and the surgical resolution of cataracts. The predominant reasons for not having surgery were financial and logistical. There is a need to facilitate access to cataract surgery by decentralizing social services and by developing community projects to prevent cataract-caused blindness.
Assuntos
Cegueira/etiologia , Extração de Catarata , Cegueira/prevenção & controle , Brasil , Extração de Catarata/efeitos adversos , Extração de Catarata/economia , Extração de Catarata/psicologia , Medo , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Educação de Pacientes como Assunto , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/prevenção & controle , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
In order to evaluate their common beliefs in the field of ocular health, an exploratory survey was carried out among 122 professionals belonging to different ranks and specialty areas of the University of Campinas Clinical Hospital (UNICAMP-CH), São Paulo, Brazil. The non-structured questionnaire used asked about common ophthalmologic problems as well as the presence of popular myths about ocular health, such as: 'cure' of visual problems by the use of glasses; reading under insufficient lighting or watching TV too much close to the apparatus is harmful; consequences from the intensive use of the eyes; or special food being needed for better vision. The results indicated the existence of various misconceptions, even among health professionals, such as: belief in the cure of refractive problems by the use of glasses (40.0%); or damage to vision due to insufficient lighting, watching TV too much close to the apparatus or from the intensive use of the eyes (86.7%). Among the professionals performing activities within the ophthalmology department, 62.5% admitted believing in visual damage as a result of conditions such as those mentioned above and 37.5% stated that reading in a moving vehicle is detrimental to vision. From these data, one is entitled to conclude that misconceptions continue to be present, even among professionals in the health area; this indicates that educational programs in ocular health should be provided, especially for individuals working within a hospital ophthalmological service.
Assuntos
Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Corpo Clínico Hospitalar , Transtornos da Visão/etiologia , Óculos , Educação em Saúde/métodos , Nível de Saúde , Humanos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Transtornos da Visão/prevenção & controleRESUMO
A survey was conducted to identify some patient's characteristics and perceptions related to senile cataract and delivery of cataract care. The patients were diagnosed by means of ophthalmic examination carried out on a Rehabilitation of the Aged Campaign at the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School. A questionnaire was administered by interviewing 70 subjects, who presented the following characteristics: 32.86% were males and 67.14% were females; 42.86% with ages varying between 50 and 70 years; 67.14% took notice of campaign through TV; 60.00% underwent SUS previous ophthalmic evaluation; 72.86% presented low vision acuity on both eyes for a year or longer, (27.14% for 5 years or longer); 40.00% had previous surgery indication for a year or longer and 80.00% of the patients claimed declared financial reasons to explain their non-previous cataract surgery. We recommend eye health educational programs for prevention of blindness and sigh restoration.
Assuntos
Catarata/reabilitação , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Extração de Catarata , Feminino , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Promoção da Saúde , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Exploratory research is proposed as a methodological procedure for a qualitative approach. The main purpose of this procedure is that of helping the researcher to develop a measurement tool which reflects reality. Both exploratory research conceptions, the traditional and the new one are discussed. The application of this methodological procedure to the study of human factors is recommended and the implementation stages are presented. Some applications for research in public health are suggested.
Assuntos
Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Saúde Pública , Coleta de Dados , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Inquéritos e Questionários , Recursos HumanosAssuntos
Erros de Refração/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Brasil , Criança , Humanos , Erros de Refração/diagnósticoRESUMO
No Estado de Sao Paulo, desenvolveu-se o plano de Oftalmologia Sanitaria Escolar, no periodo de 1973 a 1976, junto as escolas da rede de ensino oficial estadual, que se propunha a detectar disturbios visuais de escolares, prover a devida assistencia, respaldado por atividades educativas e proceder a levantamento de dados sobre a problematica oftalmologica existente. Mediante mecanismo de descentralizacao da organizacao dos servicos de Saude e de Educacao, o trabalho atingiu todas as regioes administrativas do Estado com participacao de grande contingente de pessoal da rede escolar, tecnicos e especialistas em saude, entidades governamentais, particulares e comunidade em geral. Considerando a metodologia empregada no Plano, o presente estudo aborda alguns aspectos referentes a: abrangencia do programa, pessoal administrativo e docente atingido,identificacao e assistencia a problemas visuais de escolares