Este no es un texto teórico sobre métodos cualitativos aplicados en salud sino un manual auto instructivo, cuyo propósito es proporcionar a los profesionales de la salud una introducción práctica y sencilla a la investigación cualitativa aplicada en salud. A través de un ejemplo real, se conduce al lector desde los fundamentos teóricos al diseño y desarrollo de un estudio cualitativo y se presta especial atención al rigor y al análisis de los datos. Los contenidos se trabajan mediante el análisis del caso y numerosos ejercicios y se complementa con una lista de bibliografía comentada.

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The coexistence of autoimmune disorders (AD) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) has been widely recognized, although with distinct results regarding their prevalence and impact on the outcomes of the underlying hematological process. This study was aimed to analyze the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of MDS with AD in a series of 142 patients diagnosed with MDS and CMML. AD was ascertained by both the presence of clinical symptoms or compatible serological tests. In total, 48% patients were diagnosed as having AD, being hypothyroidism the most commonly reported clinical AD (8%) and antinuclear antibodies the most frequent serological parameter identified (23.2%). The presence of AD was associated with female gender, lower hemoglobin levels, and higher IPSS-R. Overall survival for patients with AD was inferior to those with no AD (69 vs. 88% at 30 months; HR 2.75, P = 0.008). Notably, clinical but not isolated immune serological parameters had an impact on the outcomes of patients with AD. Finally, in a multivariate analysis, the presence of AD (HR 2.26) along with disease risk categories (very low and low vs. intermediate, high, and very high IPSS-R; HR 4.62) retained their independent prognostic value (P < 0.001). In conclusion, AD are prevalent in MDS and CMML patients and have prognostic implications, especially in lower-risk MDS patients.

OBJECTIVE:Analyze the factors infl uencing avoidable infant mortality from the perspective of the protagonists involved. METHODS:Qualitative study with a critical-constructivist approach, examining children's access to health care and avoiding preventable infant mortality through health care campaigns and services in Health District I of Recife, Northeastern Brazil, between February 2007 and February 2008. The theoretical sample was designed in two stages: I) institutions providing health services to children; II) interviewees: managers (11) (20), with sample size defi ned by "saturation of the speeches". Data was collected using individual semistructured interviews and case studies of avoidable infant death. Thematic content analysis was used, generating mixed categories (emerging and scripted). RESULTS:There were perceived to be confl icting positions between different stakeholder groups refl ecting their role in the care network. All institutional participants related infant deaths to the absence/poor dissemination of child health policies and inter-sectoral actions; professionals and mothers highlighted diffi culties in accessing health care due to insuffi cient global resources, especially the lack of doctorsinFamily Health Strategy, shifting health care to nurses. Lack ofdoctors,acutediseases rejection, and dehumanized and/or poortechnical quality carewere the mainfactors which the mothers relatedto deaths. Family Health Strategy participants from the Programme of Community Health Workers and mothers identifi ed thecondition ofsocial exclusionand maternal neglectwith deaths, but the case studyof deathrevealedthe association withlowerquality of care offered. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous barriers to access indicate insuffi cient BrazilianUnifi ed Health System implementation and lack of resolution of the main access route, the Family Health Strategy. The results indicate the need for improvement of structural and organizational factors of supply, with emphasis on mechanisms to stimulate the recruitment of doctors for the Family Health Strategy professional training of all staff consistent with the model of care to comply with health care policies for children and avoiding preventable infant mortality.

Mantle cell lymphoma constitutes one of the lymphomas with poorest prognosis at relapse with limited effective salvage regimens due to advanced age. We present results of a new salvage regimen, rituximab, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX-R), in 14 patients with relapsing (n = 9) or refractory (n = 5) mantle cell lymphoma. The median number of cycles was 5.5 for a total of 72 cycles evaluated in the current study. The median age was 69.5 years with high-risk features. Patients received a mean number of prior treatment lines of 1.79. Sixty-four percent achieved CR (total response rate of 85%). With a median follow-up of 11 months, OS and PFS were 58% and 45% at 12 months. The major toxicity was thrombopenia grade III-IV (35%). Factors related with overall survival were ECOG performance status and a-IPI at GEMOX-R. We conclude that GEMOX-R displays an outstanding efficacy with an excellent toxicity profile in a pretreated elderly population.