Background: Open government data (OGD) in the health sector consolidates transparency, access to information, and collaboration between the government and different sectors of society. It is an essential instrument for health systems and researchers to generate initiatives, drive innovations, and qualify decision-making, whether in health emergencies or supporting the creation of more effective public policies. This review aimed to identify OGD initiatives in healthcare and their possible applications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease that poses a significant public health challenge in Brazil and worldwide. Miltefosine, the only orally administered drug available for CL, was recently incorporated into Brazil's treatment protocols following recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and revisions by national health authorities. While this represents an important advancement, miltefosine is associated with frequent gastrointestinal side effects and potential teratogenic risks, necessitating careful patient eligibility assessments and close clinical monitoring throughout treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of four therapeutic approaches available for mucosal leishmaniasis in Brazil: miltefosine, meglumine antimoniate, combined with and without pentoxifylline, and liposomal amphotericin B. The perspective adopted was that of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). The outcome of interest was "cured patient", which was analyzed using a decision tree model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is a cyclical process in which the evaluation stage can facilitate continuous improvement. Implementation science has utilized theoretical approaches, such as models and frameworks, to understand and address this process. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the models and frameworks used to assess the implementation of CPGs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFValue Health Reg Issues
November 2024
Objectives: To measure the direct cost of treating acute ischemic stroke (IS) from the perspective of a public hospital in Brazil (HCFMB) and compare it with the reimbursement by the Unified Health System (SUS), through the Procedure Table Management System, Medicines, Orthoses/Prostheses and Special Materials of the Unified Health System (SIGTAP).
Methods: We performed a micro-costing study; four scenarios were evaluated: standard (1); alteplase (2); alteplase and mechanical thrombectomy (3); mechanical thrombectomy (4). Based on the number of patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke in 2019, hospital cost, and SUS billing were calculated for each scenario.
Background: Antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent brucellosis after accidental exposure to Brucella is an important topic in public health. This study aimed to systematically review the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis following accidental exposure to Brucella in preventing human brucellosis disease.
Methods: The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023456812).
Introduction: Miltefosine is a new drug that was recently approved for the treatment of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) by the Brazilian health system. It has a teratogenic potential and requires follow-up of patients undergoing treatment. Improving compliance with best practices is essential to ensure the safe and appropriate use of this drug.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Human brucellosis is a neglected, re-emerging, and endemic zoonosis in many countries. The debilitating and disabling potential of the disease is a warning about its morbidity, generating socioeconomic impact. This review aims to update the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of therapeutic options for human brucellosis using the network meta-analysis (NMA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Brucellosis, a widely spread zoonotic disease, poses significant diagnostic challenges due to its non-specific symptoms and underreporting. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective patient management and public health control. However, a comprehensive comparative review of available diagnostic tests is lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the performance of the Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Impact Questionnaire (CLIQ) using the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D-3L) as a reference standard (criterion validation); to evaluate the responsiveness of the instruments and estimate a cut-off point for the CLIQ to be able to discriminate between high and low impacts of cutaneous leishmaniasis on patients.
Methods: Between 2020 and 2022, a longitudinal validation study was conducted at a reference centre for leishmaniasis in Brazil. The EQ-5D-3L and CLIQ questionnaires were administered before, during and after treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought new challenges and lessons were learnt for health services. In the field of pharmaceutical care, several interventions have been proposed to optimize and expand the response capacity of services.
Objective: To identify and characterize interventions performed in the management of pharmaceutical services during the COVID-19 pandemic in universal public health systems.
This study aimed to identify the regulatory framework and federal guidelines that support the process of implementing health technologies in the Unified Health System (SUS) through analysis of documents and legislation related to the National Health Technology Management Policy, published between 2009 and 2021. The search and selection of documents and subsequent data extraction were carried out. The documents were grouped into three categories: structural regulatory documents, recommendations on evaluation of technologies, and recommendations on clinical guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRev Bras Epidemiol
December 2023
Objective: To describe the profile of dispensation of mental health drugs by analyzing trends in use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic within the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde [SUS]).
Methods: Pharmacoepidemiological study based on the retrospective analysis of records regarding the dispensation of psychotropic medicines in the SUS database in the state of Minas Gerais between 2018 and 2021, considering the periods before (2018-2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021). A database with the records of dispensation of municipalities was created, and the consistency of releases was verified using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test.
In Brazil, there have been some initiatives to improve the development of Ministry of Health clinical protocols and therapeutic guidelines (PCDTs in Portuguese, and clinical practice guidelines-CPGs, in English) and their implementation so that best practices can be disseminated and adopted at multiple levels of health systems. One of the initiatives was to conduct a pilot project to improve the format of these CPGs. The objective of this article is to present the processes and results of the pilot project, including the development of a new standardized format for CPGs to promote national dissemination and uptake.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mucosal or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is the most severe form of tegumentary leishmaniasis due to its destructive character and potential damage to respiratory and digestive tracts. The current treatment recommendations are based on low or very low-quality evidence, and pentavalent antimonial derivatives remain strongly recommended. The aim of this review was to update the evidence and estimate the cure rate and safety profile of the therapeutic options available for mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) in the Americas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe scope of this article was to identify the profile of users and the prescription of drugs in the Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) in a region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 CAPS of 5 different modalities. Sociodemographic data and information about drug use were obtained through interviews with users and analysis of prescriptions and medical records, using a semi-structured questionnaire.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Brazil, governmental and non-governmental organisations develop practice guidelines (PGs) in order to optimise patient care. Although important improvements have been made over the past years, many of these documents still lack transparency and methodological rigour. In order to conduct a critical analysis and define future steps in PG development in Brazil, we carried out a structured assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) for the development of a national guideline programme.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatient satisfaction is an important criterion for assessing the quality of Brazilian mental health services at Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS - from the Portuguese 'Centro de Atenção Psicossocial'). The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of users at the main CAPS in a region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, as well as associated factors. This was a cross-sectional study with 11 CAPS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pharmaceutical interventions may have an impact on different treatment aspects, such as therapy adherence, reducing the number of different medications in use and lowering treatment costs.
Objective: Identify pharmaceutical interventions in the mental health field and their possible application in Brazilian public mental health services, considering the evidence-based model to establish implementation options.
Methods: A structured search of the literature was performed in the Pubmed (Medline), Cochrane, PsycINFO and Lilacs databases to identify the main pharmaceutical intervention studies conducted in the mental health area.
The study evaluated the conditions of Pharmaceutical Assistance (PA) in Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) through a cross-sectional study in 15 CAPS located in the Médio Paraopeba region of the State of Minas Gerais. Data collection was conducted through direct observation of CAPS and interviews with pharmacists and managers of PA. The instruments were based on indicators proposed by the WHO, technical documents for the organization of PA, from legislation and recommendations seeking pharmaceutical Best Practices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: to evaluate the physical facilities, human resources and activities developed in the Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) in the region of Médio Paraopeba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2014.
Methods: this is an evaluation study of the dimensions of structure and processes proposed by Donabedian, based on recommendations of the Ministry of Health and current laws; semi-structured forms were used to interview health managers; direct observation of mental health services was performed.
Results: in 12 of the 14 CAPS studied, it was found the minimum recommended of physical facilities and full professional staff and in greater number than established by law; the use of community spaces, communication and exchange of information with other units of health care network was deficient in most of the centers.