Programa Patrulha da Saúde: indicadores de saúde em policiais rodoviários federais

Abstract

*** Health’s Patrol Program: health indicators from federal highway policemen ***AIMS: To evaluate the socio-demographic, health, nutritional, physical and functional profile of federal highway policemen participants of the Health Patrol Program and evaluate the association of these characteristics with age and time of service.METHODS: Cross-sectional study with federal highway police officers from the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in September 2015. Health Patrol Program’s participants who were not on vacation or license were included. Questionnaires with sociodemographic information, level of physical activity and musculoskeletal symptoms were applied. Anthropometric and nutritional data, blood pressure and physical and functional capacities were measured. The variables were categorized by age and time of service. The independent t-test and chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate the associations. The significance level adopted was p≤0.05.RESULTS: Of the 64 police officers from the Pelotas police station, 41 (64.1%) men met the inclusion criteria. There were higher percentages of married, non-smokers, with normal blood pressure and physically active in leisure (89.5%). The following means were recorded: body mass index 28.5±3.4 kg/m2, waist circumference 99.2±8.5 cm, body fat 25.1±4.9%, flexibility 21.2±9.4 cm, isometric handgrip strength of right and left hand respectively 47.4±6.2 kgf and 44.6±6.3 kgf and isometric strength of lower limbs 127.1±20.8 kgf. The average score of the functional evaluation was 13.8±2.6 points (57% with ≤14 points). The musculoskeletal symptoms that were most associated with absence from work were located in knee (22%) and low back (14,6%). Older policemen exhibited higher values for body mass index, waist circumference and body fat percentage, and the oldest in the corporation showed greater waist circumference.CONCLUSIONS: Even when they stated being physically active, federal highway police officers participating in the Health Patrol Program in Pelotas had often inadequate morphological and physical conditions, as well levels of strength and flexibility lower than those recommended for this population. In this sample, the more advanced age and longer service time in the Federal Highway Police were associated with morphological parameters of high risk for cardiovascular diseases. It was also observed that federal highway policemen had a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries and were absence from work mainly due to musculoskeletal complaints in the low back and knee regions.

Cardiorespiratory and Neuromuscular Fitness of Federal Highway Police Officers

“…As a possible interpretation, one can suggest that police officers not included in the program are more qualified than those registered in the institutional program. These data corroborate a study with FHP from a police station in the south of Brazil, in which police officers participating in a health program presented concerning physical fitness results 19 . It should be emphasized that this was the first study to assess the cardiovascular and neuromuscular fitness of FHP personnel with a nationally representative sample.…”

“…The IPEP is an optional membership program that encourages the practice of physical activity outside the work environment. FHP personnel must participate in the annual health programs of the public service, including the Health Patrol 19 and the PFT 18 , as well as demonstrate or confirm they are practicing physical activity. In contrast, the FHPD grants one paid hour to a police officer participating in the IPEP, to participate in a physical activity program.…”

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated with a Reduced Cardiovascular Risk in Occupational Groups with Different Working Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study among Police Officers and Office Workers

“…A current systematic review of police officers' physical fitness levels provided values similar to or above the average among the general population [13]. On the other hand, subsequent studies provide growing evidence that the physical fitness of police officers is below the recommended standards for general health [14].…”

Mortalidade em agentes da polícia rodoviária federal: série temporal entre 2001 e 2020

“…Entretanto, a PRF não possui em seu quadro oficial de servidores cargos relacionados a profissionais da área de saúde nem setores de saúde como ambulatórios, policlínicas e hospitais. No entanto, em sua estrutura organizacional, há setores de gestão de saúde, que atuam em nível básico de atendimento, com intervenções genéricas (aplicação de testes físicos 19 , palestras com orientações de estilos de vida saudáveis 20 ), processuais (registro de atestados médicos e encaminhamentos para perícias oficiais), e de gestão de crises/incidentes críticos (teleatendimento do servidor envolvido em confronto armado, acidente de trânsito e adoecido por covid-19).…”

“…Uma redução no número absoluto de mortes foi observada, na última década da série temporal (2011-2020), o que pode estar relacionada à implementação de programas e ações de prevenção e promoção da saúde na PRF, como: i) Patrulha da saúde, cuja finalidade é promover conhecimento sobre medidas de prevenção a doenças e promoção de um estilo de vida saudável, conforme dados previamente publicados 20 ; ii) Disciplina relacionada à saúde, na matriz curricular dos cursos de formação policial, a qual tem por objetivo a adoção de hábitos que promovam a saúde integral dos agentes em formação, com foco em técnicas e cuidados que envolvam a prática de exercícios físicos regulares, alimentação saudável, qualidade do sono e questões relativas à saúde psicoemocional; iii) Teste de aptidão física, o qual visa aferir os níveis de aptidão física dos agentes para fins de promoção na carreira e critério de seleção para atividades específicas 21 ; e iv) Programa de educação física institucional, o qual incentiva à prática de atividade física fora do ambiente de trabalho 19 .…”