BackgroundSelf-medication is the use of medication without prescription, orientation, or supervision of a physician or dentist. Self-medication might become a serious health problem. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among first and last-year students enrolled in healthcare and non-healthcare programs.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Of 830 students in the sample, 95% answered the questionnaire – 789 students enrolled in 10 undergraduate programs. Mean age was 22 ± 6.17 years. The students answered a questionnaire covering socio-economic and demographic variables, use of medication, and medication knowledge. Information was collected on the conditions treated with medication, the medications used, and attitude towards self-medication.ResultsOf 789 students, 86.4% self-medicated (88.5% of 446 healthcare students). There were no significant differences in self-medication between healthcare and non-healthcare students, nor between first and last-year students. Bivariate and multivariate analyses showed a significant association between self-medication and having children (p = 0.01), having a home pharmacy (p < 0.001) and adequate medication knowledge (p = 0.01). The most frequently used active ingredients were acetaminophen (paracetamol), dipyrone, aspirin, phytotherapic compounds, and tea. Illicit drug use was significantly associated with self-medication in the multivariate analysis.ConclusionThe fact that being a healthcare student was associated with higher medication knowledge, but not with less self-medication, suggests that medication knowledge might contribute to increase self-medication. This should be taken into account when designing educational interventions relating to self-medication.

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The authors investigated the vasorelaxant properties of the aqueous (Aq-EF) and acid n-butanolic (acn-BuOH) extractable fractions from Ilex paraguariensis leaves. Perfusion pressure was evaluated using isolated and perfused mesenteric arterial beds (MABs) from rats fed hypercholesterolemic and standard diets. Extract-induced vasorelaxation in the presence and absence of various inhibitors was examined following precontraction of the MABs with methoxamine (30 microM) solution. In hypercholesterolemic-diet rats, relaxation in intact MABs was significantly decreased with ac-n-BuOH-EF bolus (300, 600, 900 microg) in comparison to those in standard-diet rats. After the endothelium was stripped from the MABs, the vascular responses to ac-n-BuOH-EF and 900 microg bolus of Aq-EF were significantly changed. Treatment of the MABs with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester hydrochloride (L-NAME, 10 mM), did not change either ac-n-BuOH-EF- or Aq-EF-induced vasodilation except for the 900 microg bolus of Aq-EF. The guanilate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (100 microM) did not affect vasodilation for either fraction in the MABs from the hypercholesterolemic-diet rats. The chronic oral administration of I. paraguariensis extract in hypercholesterolemic-diet rats resulted in a significant reduction in serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. These results suggest that I. paraguariensis ac-n-BuOH-EF and Aq-EF induce vasodilation in standard-diet rats in a dose-dependent manner and that the hypercholesterolemic diet substantially reduced the effect of ac-n-BuOH-EF on precontracted MABs.

Estudo analítico com o objetivo de avaliar os fatores associados ao atraso no desenvolvimento em crianças entre 8 a 12 meses de idade indicadas como de risco ao nascer no município do Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Foram utilizados como instrumentos o Teste de Triagem de Desenvolvimento de Denver II (TTDD II), a avaliação antropométrica e questionários estruturados. Participaram 220 crianças consideradas de risco ou não ao nascer. Foi encontrada uma prevalência de 20,5% de suspeita de atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. As crianças que apresentaram risco de um TTDD II suspeito faziam parte de famílias de mais baixa renda; eram filhos de mães que haviam realizado menos de seis consultas de pré-natal e apresentavam índice peso-idade inadequado. Os dados sugerem a necessidade de um replanejamento das políticas de saúde infantil, visto que outros critérios poderiam ser incluídos nas condições de risco para a criança ao nascer.

The results highlight the relevance of developing action plans regarding the needs of this specific population of workers, especially concerning the reduction of risk factors.

Este artigo buscou identificar, a partir da óptica de docentes e estudantes, ações que evidenciam a reorientação da formação profissional em Fisioterapia, no âmbito do eixo Cenários de Prática, conforme preconizado pelo Programa Pró-Saúde. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que seguiu o método de estudo de caso, realizada em uma universidade comunitária com 16 estudantes e 11 docentes do curso de Fisioterapia. A coleta de dados foi conduzida por grupo focal e entrevista. Entre as ações que evidenciam a reorientação da formação profissional estão: realização do diagnóstico situacional, práticas em complexidade crescente, diversificação de práticas nas disciplinas profissionalizantes, vivências interdisciplinares no serviço público de saúde, práticas multiprofissionais e intervenções na Atenção Básica. Para promover avanços no processo de formação profissional, é necessário criar estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem contínuas e planejar as práticas de forma integrada com os serviços de saúde.

Este texto trata de uma introdução à discussão teórica concernente ao saber ambiental como instrumento interdisciplinar para a produção de saúde. Através da leitura nas idéias de Enrique Leff apresenta o conceito de ambiente com o objetivo de elucidar as conexões necessárias para argumentar o conceito de produção e reprodução de saúde.

HighlightsKnee pain prevalence over the last 7 days was 22.6%.Knee functionality was investigated using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.More knee pain was found in older adolescents who do not have physical education at school.Functional impairment in girls and adolescents who are physically active in their leisure time.