Self-efficacy assessment tools for individuals with depression: protocol for a systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Depression is a common debilitating disease that affects individuals in all age groups. The impact of the diagnosis extends beyond the individual, with negative effects on mental health, physical health and social well-being. Self-efficacy has been referenced as an important aspect to the prognosis of mood disorders by conferring co-responsibility to the affected individual to face his/her health problems.

Use of artificial neural networks in applying methodology for allocating health resources.

Objective: To describe the construction of a factor of allocation of financial resources, based on the population's health needs.

Methods: Quantitative study with data collected from public databases referring to the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, between 2000 and 2010. Variables which reflected epidemiological, demographic, socio-economic and educational processes were selected in order to create a factor of allocation which highlighted the health needs of the population.