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RESUMOA lipodistrofia associada ao HIV (LAHIV) acomete 40% a 50% dos pacientes infectados pelo vírus, mas sua prevalência no Brasil é desconhecida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a prevalência de LAHIV entre adultos brasileiros infectados, bem como sua relação com fatores de risco cardiovascular e sín-drome metabólica (SM). Foram avaliados 180 pacientes maiores de 18 anos, infectados por HIV, atendidos no Ambulatório de Infectologia da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Por meio de entrevista e revisão de prontuário, foram avaliados dados antropométricos, pressão arterial, antecedentes mór-bidos pessoais e familiares, duração da infecção por HIV e da aids, drogas anti-retrovirais utilizadas, CD4+, carga viral, glicemia e perfil lipídico. A LAHIV foi definida como a presença de alterações corporais percebidas pelo próprio paciente e confirmadas ao exame clínico. A SM foi diagnosticada usando os critérios do Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII), revistos e atualizados pela American Heart Association (AHA/NHLBI). A prevalência observada de LAHIV foi de 55%. Os pacientes com LAHIV apresentaram maior duração da infecção por HIV, da aids e do uso de anti-retrovirais. Na análise multivariada, estiveram independentemente associados ao risco de LAHIV: sexo feminino (p = 0,006) e duração da aids 8 anos (p < 0,001). Quanto aos critérios para SM, hipertensão foi detectada em 32%, baixo HDL-colesterol em 68%, hipertrigliceridemia em 55%, cintura aumentada em 17% e glicemia aumentada e/ou diabetes em 23% dos indivíduos. A cintura aumentada e a hipertrigliceridemia foram mais comuns em portadores de LAHIV. A SM foi identificada em 36% dos pacientes. Na análise multivariada, estiveram associados à SM: IMC 25 kg/m 2 (p < 0,001), história familiar de obesidade (p = 0,01), uso de indinavir (p = 0,001) e idade 40 anos no diagnóstico do HIV (p = 0,002). A LAHIV apresentou tendência a ser mais comum em portadores de SM (65% versus 50%, p = 0,051). A prevalência de LAHIV que se observou neste grupo (55%) foi similar à descrita em estudos prévios de outros países. A prevalência de SM nestes pacientes parece ser diferente da descrita em adultos brasileiros não-infectados pelo HIV. (Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab 2008; 52/4:658-667) Descritores: Síndrome da lipodistrofia associada ao HIV; Síndrome X metabólica; Infecções por HIV; Prevalência; Brasil.

BackgroundMost patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are followed by primary care physicians, who often lack knowledge or confidence to prescribe insulin properly. This contributes to clinical inertia and poor glycemic control. Effectiveness of traditional continuing medical education (CME) to solve that is limited, so new approaches are required. Electronic games are a good option, as they can be very effective and easily disseminated.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to assess applicability, user acceptance, and educational effectiveness of InsuOnline, an electronic serious game for medical education on insulin therapy for DM, compared with a traditional CME activity.MethodsPrimary care physicians (PCPs) from South of Brazil were invited by phone or email to participate in an unblinded randomized controlled trial and randomly allocated to play the game InsuOnline, installed as an app in their own computers, at the time of their choice, with minimal or no external guidance, or to participate in a traditional CME session, composed by onsite lectures and cases discussion. Both interventions had the same content and duration (~4 h). Applicability was assessed by the number of subjects who completed the assigned intervention in each group. Insulin-prescribing competence (factual knowledge, problem-solving skills, and attitudes) was self-assessed through a questionnaire applied before, immediately after, and 3 months after the interventions. Acceptance of the intervention (satisfaction and perceived importance for clinical practice) was also assessed immediately after and 3 months after the interventions, respectively.ResultsSubjects’ characteristics were similar between groups (mean age 38, 51.4% [69/134] male). In the game group, 69 of 88 (78%) completed the intervention, compared with 65 of 73 (89%) in the control group, with no difference in applicability. Percentage of right answers in the competence subscale, which was 52% at the baseline in both groups, significantly improved immediately after both interventions to 92% in the game group and to 85% in control (P<.001). After 3 months, it remained significantly higher than that at the baseline in both groups (80% in game, and 76% in control; P<.001). Absolute increase in competence score was better with the game (40%) than with traditional CME (34%; P=.01). Insulin-related attitudes were improved both after the game (significant improvement in 4 of 9 items) and after control activity (3 of 9). Both interventions were very well accepted, with most subjects rating them as “fun or pleasant,” “useful,” and “practice-changing.”ConclusionsThe game InsuOnline was applicable, very well accepted, and highly effective for medical education on insulin therapy. In view of its flexibility and easy dissemination, it is a valid option for large-scale CME, potentially helping to reduce clinical inertia and to improve quality of care for DM patients.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT001759953; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01759953 (Archived by WebCite at htt...

To assess diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to nontoxic multinodular goiter and to compare them with previously reported American Thyroid Association (ATA) and European Thyroid Association (ETA) surveys, an online questionnaire was distributed to Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS) members. An index case was presented (42-yr-old woman with an enlarged, irregular, nontender, 50- to 80-g thyroid and no clinical suspicion of malignancy or dysfunction), and 11 variations were proposed to evaluate how each alteration would affect management. We obtained 148 responses (response rate, 50%). In the index case, the most used blood tests were TSH (96%), antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (76%), and free T(4) (64%); 5% included a calcitonin assay. Nearly 90% would perform ultrasound, and only 16% used scintigraphy. Fine needle biopsy was indicated by 88%, with ultrasound guidance in 75% of times. For treatment, observation was preferred by 39%, surgery by 28%, levothyroxine by 21%, and radioiodine by 7% (60% with recombinant TSH prestimulation). A suppressed TSH level prompted 45% of the respondents to recommend radioiodine, whereas 70-78% indicated surgery in the presence of a large goiter or suspicion of malignancy. In conclusion, no consensus exists concerning the ideal management of nontoxic goiter among LATS members, in agreement with previous ATA and ETA surveys. Levothyroxine therapy is less used by LATS than by ATA or ETA members, and a more aggressive therapeutic strategy is generally preferred by members of LATS and ETA compared with ATA.

BackgroundPhysicians´ lack of knowledge contributes to underuse of insulin and poor glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus (DM). Traditional continuing medical education have limited efficacy, and new approaches are required.ObjectiveWe report the design of a trial to assess the educational efficacy of InsuOnline, a game for education of primary care physicians (PCPs). The goal of InsuOnline was to improve appropriate initiation and adjustment of insulin for the treatment of DM. InsuOnline was designed to be educationally adequate, self-motivating, and attractive.MethodsA multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, experts in medical education, and programmers, was assembled for the design and development of InsuOnline. Currently, we are conducting usability and playability tests, with PCPs and medical students playing the game on a desktop computer. Adjustments will be made based on these results. An unblinded randomized controlled trial with PCPs who work in the city of Londrina, Brazil, will be conducted to assess the educational validity of InsuOnline on the Web. In this trial, 64 PCPs will play InsuOnline, and 64 PCPs will undergo traditional instructional activities (lecture and group discussion). Knowledge on how to initiate and adjust insulin will be assessed by a Web-based multiple choice questionnaire, and attitudes regarding diabetes/insulin will be assessed by Diabetes Attitude Scale 3 at 3 time points—before, immediately after, and 6 months after the intervention. Subjects´ general impressions on the interventions will be assessed by a questionnaire. Software logs will be reviewed.ResultsTo our knowledge, this is the first research with the aim of assessing the educational efficacy of a computer game for teaching PCPs about insulin therapy in DM. We describe the development criteria used for creating InsuOnline. Evaluation of the game using a randomized controlled trial design will be done in future studies.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that the design and development of a game for PCPs education on insulin is possible with a multidisciplinary team. InsuOnline can be an attractive option for large-scale continuous medical education to help improving PCPs´ knowledge on insulin therapy and potentially improving DM patients´ care.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT01759953; http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01759953 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6Dq8Vc7a6).

Some potential deficiencies in the diagnosis and management of DON and hyperthyroidism were observed in our survey, highlighting the need for improvement in specialist education and the quality of care offered to patients with GO in Latin America.

"InsuOnLine" was rated by users as easy to play, fun, and useful for learning. Further studies will assess its educational effectiveness. "InsuOnLine" is a promising tool for large-scale continuing medical education on insulin, helping to fight clinical inertia in diabetes.

Objective: We report the preliminary assessment of InsuOnline © , a serious game designed for medical education on insulin therapy. Materials and methods: We conducted a pilot study with 41 undergraduate medical students and Internal Medicine residents to assess the educational effectiveness of InsuOnline © , as compared to a traditional educational activity (lecture, cases discussion). Knowledge, skills and beliefs on insulin therapy were evaluated by a questionnaire applied before, immediately after, and 3 months after both interventions. Results: Mean knowledge/skills score was improved from 68% to 89% in traditional education group (n = 23; p < 0.001), and from 61% to 90% in game group (n = 18; p < 0.001). After 3 months, mean score decreased (to 80% in traditional education group, and to 78% in game group; p < 0.001 for both) but remained significantly higher than at baseline in both groups (p < 0.001 for both). Although mean score was lower in game group than in traditional education group at baseline (p = 0.04), no difference remained between groups either immediately or 3 months post-intervention. Score increment was better with the game (29%) than with traditional education (21%; p = 0.04). Beliefs improved in the game group only. Conclusions: InsuOnline © is at least as effective as a traditional educational activity for medical education on insulin therapy, and it can a good option for large-scale continuing medical education on diabetes. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(5):470-3