Construction and validation of content of one instrument to assess falls in the elderly.

Objective: To develop and validate the content of the online Questionnaire for Fall Risk Assessment in the Elderly.

Methods: The instrument was developed based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) of the World Health Organization. Initially, the set of items was submitted to evaluation of judges (healthcare professionals with experience in elderly health), who could suggest inclusion or exclusion of questions from the instrument; they were also asked to rate each question according to the expected scope.

Factors associated with post-diagnosis pregnancies in women living with HIV in the south of Brazil.

Objectives: To analyze the factors associated with the occurrence of pregnancies after the diagnosis of infection by HIV.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with women of a reproductive age living with HIV/AIDS cared for in the public services of the city of Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. The data was analyzed from a comparison between two groups: women with and women without pregnancies after the diagnosis of HIV.

The Scale of Self-Efficacy Expectations of Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment: A Tool for Identifying Risk for Non-Adherence to Treatment for HIV.

Background: Identification of risk for non-adherence to treatment is a challenge for personalized care for people living with HIV. Standardized questionnaires of patients' expectations of their capability to overcome obstacles for treatment adherence may be used as a pre-screening for risk identification. A scale of self-efficacy expectations of adherence to antiretroviral treatment (SEA-ART scale) was previously developed.

[Development and validation of a social vulnerability index applied to public policies of the Unified Health System (SUS)].

The article outlines the development and initial validation of a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) including five social determinants of risk to health and demonstrates its application in the financing of primary care by the Unified Health System (SUS) in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Municipal indicators of vulnerability relating to poverty and population dispersion were obtained from the 2010 population census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis suggests that the five items can constitute a reliable and acceptable measurement scale.

[Quality of life of women recovering from breast cancer after being subjected to mastectomies compared with those who had conservative surgery: a review of the literature].

This study reviews the literature on the quality of life (QoL) of women with breast cancer who have been subjected to mastectomy, compared with those who had conservative surgery. Eight random controlled trials were selected. The studies were compared with respect to the moment quality of life was assessed (whether during or after treatment for breast cancer), the measurement tools of quality of life used, and also the methodology and results achieved.

A Disease Register for ME/CFS: Report of a Pilot Study.

Background: The ME/CFS Disease Register is one of six subprojects within the National ME/CFS Observatory, a research programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund and sponsored by Action for ME. A pilot study in East Anglia, East Yorkshire, and London aimed to address the problem of identifying representative groups of subjects for research, in order to be able to draw conclusions applicable to the whole ME/CFS population.While not aiming for comprehensive population coverage, this pilot register sought to recruit participants with ME/CFS in an unbiased way from a large population base.

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in adults: a qualitative study of perspectives from professional practice.

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) can cause profound and prolonged illness and disability, and poses significant problems of uncertainty for healthcare professionals in its diagnosis and management. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the nature of professional 'best practice' in working with people with CFS/ME.

Methods: The views and experiences of health care practitioners (HCPs) were sought, who had been judged by people with CFS/ME themselves to have been particularly helpful and effective.

The expressed needs of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.

Background: We aimed to review systematically the needs for support in managing illness and maintaining social inclusion expressed by people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) METHODS: We carried out a systematic review of primary research and personal ('own') stories expressing the needs of people with CFS/ME. Structured searches were carried out on Medline, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, ASSIA, CENTRAL, and other health, social and legal databases from inception to November 2007. Study inclusion, data extraction and risk of bias were assessed independently in duplicate.

Inequalities in cesarean delivery rates by ethnicity and hospital accessibility in Brazil.

Objective: To investigate inequalities in cesarean delivery rates in Brazil according to ethnic group and level of access to hospital delivery.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data for primiparous women with singleton deliveries between 2003 and 2004 from the National Information System of Live-Births (6,064,799 live births). Robust Poisson regression modeling was applied to estimate prevalence ratios of cesarean deliveries for ethnic group and level of access to hospital delivery according to residence.

Development and preliminary validation of a measure for assessing staff perspectives on the quality of clinical group supervision.

Background: In the UK clinical supervision is regarded as an essential process supporting quality improvement within the clinical governance framework, and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists regards it as a tool for promoting critical reflective practice. There is limited evidence of the impact on practice or improvements in healthcare quality, and the need for an evaluation instrument specifically tailored to group supervision.

Aims: To develop a measure for assessing staff perspectives on the quality of clinical group supervision and its impact on the quality of care.

Effects of the home environment on unintentional domestic injuries and related health care attendance in infants.

Aims: To examine the effects of the home environment on unintentional domestic injuries and related health care attendance in infants from deprived families.

Methods: Ten mechanisms that caused unintentional domestic injury during the first year were investigated in a population-based study of 1-year-old children in southern Brazil. Odds ratios of injury-related health care attendance were estimated by number of injury mechanisms reported.

A continuous-scale measure of child development for population-based epidemiological surveys: a preliminary study using Item Response Theory for the Denver Test.

A method for translating research data from the Denver Test into individual scores of developmental status measured in a continuous scale is presented. It was devised using the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) but can be used for Denver II. The DDST was applied in a community-based survey of 3389 under-5-year-olds in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

[Nutritional status and social determinants of child height in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, Southern Brazil].

The nutritional status of under-five children and the association between social conditions and child stature were examined using data from the program to control malnutrition and mortality in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, southern Brazil, 2001-2002. Anthropometric indices were calculated in z-scores of the CDC 2000 reference. At entrance into the program, 34.

[Social inequalities in cesarean section rates in primiparae, Southern Brazil].

Objective: To investigate the effect of social inequalities in cesarean section rates among primiparae having single pregnancy and delivering in maternity hospitals.

Methods: The study was carried out in Southern Brazil in 1996, 1998 and 2000. Data from the Live Birth National Information System were used to estimate annual rates and crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) of cesarean sections according to social conditions (maternal age and education, newborn skin color/ethnicity and macro-regions), duration of pregnancy, and number of prenatal visits.

Social inequalities in maternal opinion of child development in southern Brazil.

Aims And Methods: Concurrent validity of maternal opinion of child development was estimated in a cross-sectional, population-based survey of 6-59-mo children (n=3025), using a standard measure devised from the Denver Developmental Screening Test.

Results: Sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value increased with maternal education and family income. Positive predictive value was higher in low-income families and children with impairments, low birthweight and long hospital stays.

[Social inequalities and other determinants of height in children: a multi-level analysis].

A cross-sectional household survey of height among children under five years of age (n = 2,632) was conducted in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Multi-level linear regression was applied to investigate the effect of socioeconomic and demographic factors, physical and social environment, and health conditions on children s height, measured by the height-for-age z-scores of the National Center for Health Statistics standards. Area of residence (census tract) was classified as good versus poor in terms of housing and sanitation standards.

Characteristics of HIV antiretroviral regimen and treatment adherence.

The relationship between characteristics of HIV antiretroviral regimens and treatment adherence was studied in adolescent and adult patients who underwent antiretroviral therapy from January 1998 to September 2000, at the Service for Specialized Assistance in Pelotas. The patients were interviewed on two occasions, and the use of antiretrovirals during the previous 48 hours was investigated by a self-report. Adherence was defined as use of 95% or more of the prescribed medication.

Predictors of undetectable plasma viral load in HIV-positive adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Southern Brazil.

Factors associated with undetectable viral load (<80 copies/ml) were investigated among non-pregnant adults in antiretroviral treatment in a specialized service for HIV/AIDS in Southern Brazil. Use of antiretrovirals was investigated in two interviews (one month interval). Clinical data were collected from the clinical records; viral load previous to adherence measurement was defined the viral load previous to the first interview; the final viral load, the viral load subsequent to the second interview (interval between measures approximately 6 months).