Background: Ultra-processed foods are industrial formulations made from food extracts or constituents with little or no intact food and often containing additives that confer hyper-palatability. The consumption of these products increases the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. Stressed people may engage in unhealthy eating as a way to cope. This study aimed to verify whether ultra-processed food consumption was associated with perceived stress levels in industrial and retail workers from Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out between July 2017 and August 2018. During the study period, 1270 participants completed a survey administered by an interviewer. Stress levels were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. Information regarding weekly ultra-processed food consumption was collected. Ultra-processed foods were classified into four groups: sugary drinks; sugary foods; fast foods; and canned foods, frozen foods, or processed meat. The Student’s t-test or one-way analysis of variance was used to assess the differences in stress levels and ultra-processed food consumption. Ordinal regression was used to determine the association between the degrees of stress and ultra-processed food consumption levels. Results: Factors such as a young age, being unmarried, smoking, high-risk alcohol consumption, negative health perception, and high perceived stress level indicated higher rates of ultra-processed food consumption. Ordinal regression analysis showed that high stress levels were associated with increased odds of higher ultra-processed food consumption (odds ratio: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.54–2.45). Conclusions: These findings could help identify appropriate target areas for interventions aimed at mental health promotion and healthier food consumption.

Background: This study aimed to assess the quality of life associated with gender inequalities in formal workers and to determine the effect of sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors on the quality of life (QOL). Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1270 workers. Quality of life was measured using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-Item and assessed in terms of psychological, environmental, social, and physical domains, while demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical variables served as explanatory variables. Analyses were performed using an ordinal logistic regression model whose significance level was 5%. Results: Of the participants, 80.2% were men, and 19.8% were women; the mean age was 34 (standard deviation: ±10) and 32 (±9) years, respectively. In all prediction scenarios, men were more likely to have a higher quality of life, especially in the physical (odds ratio: 2.16; 95% confidence interval: 1.60–2.93) and psychological (odds ratio: 2.09; 95% confidence interval: 1.51–2.91) domains. Conclusions: Men and women had significantly different levels of quality of life, and sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral variables partially clarified these differences, which were possibly established by a socio-historical process of construction of the work role determined by gender issues.

Objective: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the point-of-care A1c (POC-A1c) test device vs. the traditional laboratory dosage in a primary care setting for people living with type 2 diabetes.Materials and Methods: The Markov model with a 10-year time horizon was based on data from the HealthRise project, in which a group of interventions was implemented to improve diabetes and hypertension control in the primary care network of the urban area of a Brazilian municipality. A POC-A1c device was provided to be used directly in a primary care unit, and for a period of 18 months, 288 patients were included in the point-of-care group, and 1,102 were included in the comparison group. Sensitivity analysis was performed via Monte Carlo simulation and tornado diagram.Results: The results indicated that the POC-A1c device used in the primary care unit was a cost-effective alternative, which improved access to A1c tests and resulted in an increased rate of early control of blood glucose. In the 10-year period, POC-A1c group presented a mean cost of US$10,503.48 per patient and an effectiveness of 0.35 vs. US$9,992.35 and 0.09 for the traditional laboratory test, respectively. The incremental cost was US$511.13 and the incremental effectiveness was 0.26, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 1,947.10. In Monte Carlo simulation, costs and effectiveness ranged between $9,663.20–$10,683.53 and 0.33–0.37 for POC-A1c test group, and $9,288.28–$10,413.99 and 0.08–0.10 for traditional laboratory test group, at 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles. The costs for nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease and the probability of being hospitalized due to diabetes presented the greatest impact on the model’s result.Conclusion: This study showed that using POC-A1c devices in primary care settings is a cost-effective alternative for monitoring glycated hemoglobin A1c as a marker of blood glucose control in people living with type 2 diabetes. According to our model, the use of POC-A1c device in a healthcare unit increased the early control of type 2 diabetes and, consequently, reduced the costs of diabetes-related outcomes, in comparison with a centralized laboratory test.

Objetivou-se estimar a prevalência de hipertensão arterial, como principal marcador de doença crônica não transmissível (DCNT), e identificar os fatores modificáveis associados, em trabalhadores homens. Foram utilizados dados da linha de base de um estudo longitudinal com uma amostra de 1.024 trabalhadores homens com 18 anos ou mais de um município do Nordeste do Brasil. O marcador de DCNT foi a hipertensão arterial, definida por pressão arterial sistólica ≥ 140mmHg e/ou pressão arterial diastólica ≥ 90mmHg e/ou diagnóstico prévio de hipertensão arterial e/ou uso de medicamentos anti-hipertensivos. Empregou-se a regressão de Poisson com variância robusta, adotando a entrada hierárquica de variáveis. Foram calculadas frações atribuíveis populacionais (FAP) para as variáveis de estilo de vida, a fim de dimensionar o impacto dos fatores modificáveis na saúde dos trabalhadores. A prevalência da hipertensão arterial nesta população foi de 28,6% (IC95%: 25,9-31,5), os fatores distais: idade > 40 anos, cor da pele preta e renda familiar ≥ 3 salários mínimos; fatores intermediários: consumo abusivo de álcool, consumo de tabaco, percepção de um consumo elevado de sal e inatividade física e o fator proximal: sobrepeso e obesidade associaram-se positivamente com a hipertensão arterial. O cálculo da FAP permitiu observar que se ocorresse a redução ou eliminação de hábitos e comportamentos relacionados ao estilo de vida deste público, reduziria em 56,1% a prevalência da DCNT estudada. A identificação de fatores modificáveis e como estes podem interferir negativamente na saúde de trabalhadores homens possibilita o planejamento de intervenções no próprio local de trabalho, a fim de alcançar o maior número de indivíduos, visando reduzir os efeitos deletérios das DCNT.

Background Primary health care-oriented systems provide better healthcare, especially for chronic diseases. This study analyzed the perspectives of physicians and nurses performing care for patients with chronic diseases in Primary Health Care in a Brazilian city. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, using semi-structured interviews with five physicians and 18 nurses. The interview included questions from an analytical matrix based on three dimensions of healthcare practices: organizational, technical care, and biopsychosocial, following a deductive approach. The interviews were fully transcribed and analyzed using a thematic categorical approach. Results The results indicated that the provision of chronic care occurs in a comprehensive way. Potentialities were identified in the diversification of access, offer of care actions and technologies, integration of teamwork, and bringing together social networks to foster autonomy and self-care. Weaknesses were mostly related to the high number of people in the teams, follow-up of several cases, high turnover of support teams, low integration of Primary Health Care with other levels, difficulties in intersectoral articulation and family participation in care. Conclusion The multidimensional assessment of health care practices aimed at individuals with chronic noncommunicable diseases was useful to portray the strengths and weaknesses of the services. It also ratifies the need to consider the importance of and investment in primary health care by offering the necessary technical, political, logistical and financial support to the units, to ensure the sustainability of the actions by nurses, doctors and entire team.

Background: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the quality of life of young workers of a Social Work of Industry Unit. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 1270 workers. Data were collected using a digital questionnaire built on the KoBoToolbox platform that included the EUROHIS-QOL eight-item index to assess quality of life. Demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical variables were considered explanatory. The associations were analyzed using the ordinal logistic regression model at a 5% significance level. Results: Men and women had a mean quality of life of 31.1 and 29.4, respectively. Workers that rated their health as “very good” had an odds ratio of 7.4 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.17–10.81), and those who rated it as “good” had an odds ratio of 2.9 (95% CI = 2.31–3.77). Both these groups of workers were more likely to have higher levels of quality of life as compared to workers with “regular”, “poor”, or “very poor” self-rated health. Physically active individuals were 30% more likely to have higher levels of quality of life (odds ratio = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.08–1.65). After adjusting the model by gender, age group, marital status, socioeconomic class, self-rated health, nutritional status, and risky alcohol consumption, the odds ratio of active individuals remained stable (odds ratio = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.05–1.66). Conclusions: In the present study, self-rated health, physical activity, and gender were associated with young workers’ quality of life.

Background: Brazil HealthRise community-based program focused on improving technologies for care coordination, developing the local workforce, and identifying and educating individuals with hypertension and diabetes. Objectives: To assess the impact of HealthRise on hypertension and diabetes management among patients in the region of Teofilo Otoni (TO) and in the city of Vitoria da Conquista (VC). Methods: Grantees routinely collected patient-level clinical in intervention areas from March 2017 to December 2018; endline qualitative interviews were conducted with patients, providers, administrators, and policymakers in both intervention and comparison sites. Paired t-tests were employed to measure the potential impact of the program on reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between baseline and endline, and on increasing the percentage of enrollees meeting clinical targets (SBP < 140 mmHg for hypertension; < 8% HbA1c for diabetes). We analyzed qualitative data using thematic coding. Results: Across sites, 2,764 hypertension patients and 244 diabetes patients were followed through endline. Participants experienced reductions in SBP in TO (-1.9 mmHg [-3.1;-0.7]) and VC (-4,2 mmHg [-5.2;-3.1]); more hypertension patients met treatment targets in these locations (TO: +3.9 percentage-points [0.4;7.2]; VC: +10.5 percentage-points [7.81;13.2]) by endline. HbA1c decreased in TO (-0.6 [-0.9;-0.4]) and VC (-0.9 [-1.4;-0.5]), and more individuals presented HbA1c < 8% by endline (TO: +10.2 percentage-points [3.8, 16.6]; VC: +25 percentage-points [12.2, 37.8]). Qualitative data pointed to overall enthusiasm for new technologies and care routine implemented by HealthRise, but challenges regarding program implementation, integration with other levels of care, and social determinants of health persisted. Conclusions: Program showed positive effects on hypertension and diabetes outcomes. Community-based health interventions can help bridge healthcare gaps, but their full impact will remain limited until multisectoral policies and actions address underlying structural and social determinants of health more effectively.

Appropriate prescription is one of the most important factors for the proper use of drugs and its quality can be assessed by indicators. They are qualitative and quantitative measurements which assess medication performance, detect problems and lead to the solution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of prescription in a health center at Vitória da Conquista, State of Bahia. In order to calculate the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators, 1064 copies of prescriptions were collected. The prescribed drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System, also by WHO. At the health center studied, an average of 2.2 drugs was prescribed per prescription. From the total of prescribed drugs, 98.7% were done by their generic names. Antibiotics were prescribed in 40.3% of the prescriptions, whereas injectables in 5.4% of the medical prescriptions. In relation to the local list of drugs, 50.6% of the drugs prescribed are part of the list. These results demonstrate that prescribing at the health center evaluated does not comply with the proposed quality parameters, indicating that some prescribing habits should be modified in order to improve prescribing quality Keywords: indicators; rational use; drug prescription RESUMO A prescrição apropriada é um dos fatores mais importantes para a adequada utilização do medicamento e sua qualidade pode ser avaliada por indicadores. Estes são medidas qualitativas ou quantitativas que avaliam desempenhos, detectam problemas e orientam a solução. Este trabalho buscou avaliar a qualidade da prescrição de um Centro de Saúde no município de Vitória da Conquista, BA. Para tal, foram recolhidas 1064 cópias de prescrições médicas a partir das quais foram calculados os indicadores de prescrição propostos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), complementados pelos indicadores propostos por Frohlich e Mengue. Os medicamentos prescritos foram classificados obedecendo à classificação da Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical, também da OMS. No Centro de Saúde avaliado, são prescritos, em média, 2,2 medicamentos por receita médica. Do total de medicamentos prescritos, 98,7% são prescritos por seus nomes genéricos. Em 40,3% das prescrições foi encontrada a indicação de antibióticos. Houve prescrição de injetáveis em 5,4% das receitas médicas. Em relação à lista municipal de medicamentos, 50,6% dos medicamentos fazem parte desta lista. Tais resultados demonstram que as prescrições do Centro de Saúde avaliadas não atenderam à totalidade dos parâmetros de qualidade propostos, indicando que alguns hábitos de prescrição devem ser modificados em busca da melhoria da qualidade da prescrição. Palavras Chave: indicadores; uso racional; prescrição de medicamentos Artigo Original