[Deaths from adverse drug events in Brazil: Mortality Information System as a source of information].

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are harmful events caused by medication, and some of which can lead to death. Death records are an important source of information when using codes from the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) suggestive of ADE. This study aimed to identify the ADEs registered in Brazililian Mortality Information System (SIM), analyzing data distribution by year, age group, and type of event.

[Quality assessment of hospital care in Brazil: a systematic review].

Quality assessment of hospital services has drawn growing international attention, driven by demand from funders, providers, practitioners, and patients. The objective of this study was to review the literature on hospital quality assessment in Brazil and analyze the main approaches, methodologies, and indicators used in the studies. The research design was a systematic literature review of scientific articles and doctoral and Master's theses published from 1990 to 2011.

[Meta-analysis of clinical trials on family intervention in schizophrenia].

The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral family interventions by relatives of schizophrenic patients under community care, specifically targeting relapse and family burden as outcomes. Independent researchers conducted the analyses of the pertinence and quality of trials identified through a search strategy, following a previously developed protocol. Eleven randomized or quasi-randomized trials were selected.

[The current situation of the private health plans and insurance market in Brazil and trends for the future].

This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian private health plan market over the period 2000-2006. The current situation is analyzed with respect to the profile of private insurance companies, health plans and beneficiaries and some possible trends that were identified in the study are emphasized. The increase of employer group-plans as a work-related benefit and the reduction of individual plans are discussed.

[Systematic reviews of antibiotic prophylaxis in cesareans].

This study reviews the available evidence on the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in cesarean sections. The study included a detailed analysis of the quality of design and performance and the clinical heterogeneity of selected clinical trials. Meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials estimated an efficacy of some 65% for the two study endpoints, endometritis and surgical wound infection, corresponding to a decrease in infection rates of some 11% and 5%, respectively.