OBJECTIVE Analyzing factors related to the risk of falls in hospitalized adult patients. METHOD A cross-sectional, analytical and quantitative study, developed in Clinical and Surgical Hospitalization Units from June to August 2015. Data collection instruments were sociodemographic and clinical forms, and the Morse Scale. Data were obtained with the patients and from medical records. Absolute and relative frequencies were used in the univariate statistical analysis, and chi-square test in the bivariate analysis. RESULTS 612 patients participated in the study. An association (p<0.001) was found between the high risk of falls and clinical neurological hospitalization, surgical trauma (hospitalization) and comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, visual impairment, vertigo and fear of falling. CONCLUSION An association between the risk of falls was found due to hospitalization, comorbidities and intrinsic factors. Regarding extrinsic factors, an association between mats/carpets and risk of falls was found. No association between the risk of falls with other extrinsic factors was found.

Este estudo tem o objetivo de analisar o suporte familiar e social de idosos residentes no município de Alecrim - RS. Participaram do mesmo 338 idosos, sendo a coleta de dados realizada nos meses de março e abril de 2007, utilizando-se dois instrumentos, um com questões sócio-demográficas e outro o Medical Outcomes Stud. Realizou-se análise estatística descritiva e teste de Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney e qui-quadrado no nível de 5% de significância. Os resultados mostraram predomínio do sexo feminino (61,8%), casados (61,5%), na faixa etária de 60 a 69 (56,2%), coabitando com cônjuge (49,7%), tem amigos (99,1%), participam de grupos (35,8%). Também mostram que um significativo percentual (87%) dos idosos possui uma rede familiar e social que lhes fornecem suporte de natureza emocional, material, afetiva e informativa, caracterizando uma interação social positiva. Conclui-se que estes idosos têm bom convívio familiar e social, o que lhes possibilita viver dignamente e com qualidade de vida.

Resumo Objetiva-se analisar se características sociodemográficas, capacitação técnica e percepção de risco estão relacionados com a saúde ocupacional de agricultores expostos a agrotóxicos. Foi feito estudo transversal e observacional com 113 agricultores, selecionados aleatoriamente, no município de Cerro Largo, RS. Realizadas entrevistas nas propriedades rurais e investigadas questões referentes a caracterização sociodemográfica, capacitação técnica para uso de agrotóxicos, percepção de risco à saúde e sintomas de intoxicação aguda ou crônica. Houve prevalência do sexo masculino, baixo nível de escolaridade, idade entre 51 e 76 anos, que trabalham em pequenas propriedades rurais. A maioria dos agricultores afirmou ter recebido treinamento para uso de agrotóxicos por empresas que os comercializam. Os agricultores reconhecem os riscos da exposição ocupacional a agrotóxicos e relataram sintomas de intoxicação. A partir dos relatos, observa-se a não existência de capacitação técnica por parte de órgãos públicos no município, apesar de constatada a necessidade e queixas de sintomas de intoxicação por agrotóxicos. Evidencia-se a urgente demanda por capacitação técnica sobre uso seguro de agrotóxicos e informações sobre os efeitos nocivos destes à saúde, na medida em que conhecimento é uma forma de empoderamento.

We conducted an integrative literature review of published studies on pesticide and cancer exposure, focusing on farmers, rural population, pesticide applicators, and rural workers. The Medline/PubMed was used as searching database. After the retrieval, 74 articles were selected according to pre-established criteria, which design involved 39 case-controls, 32 cohorts, 2 ecological ones, and 1 cross-sectional. Among them, 64 studies showed associations between pesticides and cancer while 10 did not find any significant association. The studies found 53 different types of pesticides significantly associated with at least one type of cancer and 19 different types of cancers linked to at least one type of pesticide. Although few studies presented contradictory results, the sole fact of being a farmer or living near crops or high agricultural areas have also been used as a proxy for pesticide exposure and significantly associated with higher cancer risk. The literature well illustrates the case of prostate cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, bladder and colon cancers. Studies are recommended to further investigate the relationship between pesticide and neoplasm of testis, breast, esophagus, kidney, thyroid, lip, head and neck, and bone.

Papacarie gel is an agent that eliminates the need for local anesthesia and reduces the need for using a drill. However, there is no information regarding the cost per procedure. Therefore we analyzed the cost, per procedure, of Papacarie gel compared to the traditional method (drilling), and performed a comparison between these methods of carious tissue removal. A randomized clinical trial was performed with 24 children with an average age of 5.9 years old. Of these children, 12 were boys and 12 were girls, which resulted in a total of 46 restorations. Patients were separated into: Papacarie group (caries removal with the chemical-mechanical method - Papacarie gel) and Drill group (caries removal with the traditional method - drilling). Values of the materials used in the procedures, heart rate (before, 5 minutes during, and after dental treatment), and the total consultation duration were recorded. A level of significance of 5% was adopted. Papacarie had a lower cost per procedure ($ 0.91) when compared to the traditional method ($ 1.58). Papacarie provided a cost reduction of 42% compared to the traditional method. Using local anesthesia ($ 2.17), the cost reduction increased to 58%. In the procedure using drill + Papacarie ($ 1.37), the cost reduction was 33%. Heart rate, consultation duration, and number of restorations were not statistically different. Papacarie shows an excellent cost benefit for minimally invasive removal of carious tissue and is a feasible alternative for public health care.

This article focuses on the frequency of condom use and associated factors in university students, based on a cross-sectional study of 633 students in 2006. Associations were investigated using a logistic regression model with 5% significance. Condom use prevalence was 60%. Having candidiasis was a protective factor for condom use in both sexual initiation (OR = 0.49; 95%CI: 0.31-0.79) and the most recent sexual intercourse (OR = 0.39; 95%CI: 0.24-0.65). Condom use was associated with single marital status (OR = 2.89; 95%CI: 1.60-5.23) and having a sex partner froim the health field (OR = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.34-0.75). Condom use was high in all sexual relations in this sample of university students. Single marital status and having a sex partner from a health-related course were positively associated with condom use in the most recent intercourse. Self-reported genital candidiasis was protective for condom use during early sexual activity and in the most recent sexual relation. Belonging to the health field did not show a significant impact on the use of male condoms.

The scope of this article was to investigate whether intercessory prayer (IP) influences the adverse outcomes of pregnancies. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted with 564 pregnant women attending a prenatal public health care service. The women were randomly assigned to an IP group or to a control group (n = 289 per group). They were simultaneously and randomly assigned to practice prayer off-site or not. The following parameters were evaluated: Apgar scores, type of delivery and birth weight. The mean age of the women was 25.1 years of age (± 7.4), and the average gestational age was 23.4 weeks (± 8.1). The average number of years of schooling for the women was 8.1 years (± 3.1). The women in the IP and control groups presented a similar number of adverse medical events with non-significant p. No significant differences were detected in the frequency of adverse outcomes in pregnant women who practiced IP and those in the control group.

Background: Few studies have evaluated preoperative respiratory muscle strength as a risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of preoperative inspiratory muscle weakness (IMW) and preoperative expiratory muscle weakness (EMW) with duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and mortality in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Materials and methods:This was a prospective observational study. Patients admitted for elective cardiac surgery were recruited. Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure were measured before surgery. A multivariate regression model was used to adjust for possible confounding variables and test the association of IMW and EMW with the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the ICU, PPCs, and hospital mortality.Results: Two hundred and fifty-five patients were included in this study. The presence of IMW was associated with an increase in the duration of mechanical ventilation (P = .012). The presence of EMW was associated with a reduction in the incidence of PPCs (P = .005). IMW had no significant association with length of stay in the ICU, PPCs, or hospital mortality. EMW had no significant association with the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the ICU, or hospital mortality. Conclusions:In patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, preoperative IMW is associated with the duration of mechanical ventilation while preoperative EMW is associated with a decrease in PPCs.