BACKGROUND: Mozambique is among the highest tuberculosis, tuberculosis-HIV and multidrug-resistant-tuberculosis burden countries. Although molecular technologies are available in-country, mycobacterial isolation through culture remains an important tool for tuberculosis diagnostics and drug susceptibility testing. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the use of the Ogawa-Kudoh (OK) mycobacterial culture, a simple technique, to isolate Mycobacterium tuberculosis in two health units, in Maputo City, Mozambique. METHODS: From May to December 2014, 122 patient samples were collected in Chamanculo General Hospital and Polana Caniço General Hospital. The specimens were first tested in the health units using the OK method and afterwards shipped to the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory for mycobacterial culture using the NALC-NaOH-Citrate (NALC) decontamination method followed by inoculation in Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) solid media as the reference standard. RESULTS: Among 107 samples with valid results, 98 (91.6%) had concordant results in both methods; 9 (8.4%) had discordant results. The contamination rate was 4.1% (5/122) for the OK and 9.0% (11/122) for the NALC/LJ methods. The sensitivity of OK was 80% (95% confident interval [CI]: 51.4-94.7) and the specificity was 94% (95% CI: 85.8-97.3). The degree of agreement between both methods was moderate (Kappa: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.48-0.89. CONCLUSION: The OK method showed satisfactory sensitivity and specificity. The method also had a lower contamination rate when compared to the NALC/LJ. Similar to other studies in resource-limited settings, our findings showed that the OK method can effectively be implemented in settings with limited laboratory capacity to isolate tuberculosis bacteria by culture for further testing.

Objective: determine the psychometric properties of the safety practices and behaviors dimension of the Scale of Practices and Behaviors of Institutionalized Elderly People to Prevent Falls in a sample of elderly people with cognitive decline. Method: methodological study, with a quantitative approach, to assess the psychometric properties of the mentioned scale in a sample with 102 elderly people with cognitive decline who lived in two long-term care institutions for the public in this age group. Internal consistency evaluation was carried out by calculating the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient; interobserver reliability was expressed by Cohen’s kappa coefficient; and temporal stability, by obtaining Spearman correlation. Compliance with all ethical procedures was observed. Results: the dimension of safety practices and behaviors showed α = 0.895 for its 11 items. Seven out of the 11 items reached good to excellent agreement among the experts for interobserver reliability. Kappa index values indicated that the instrument is valid and reliable. Safety practices and behaviors were influenced by institutionalization time, being at least 85 years old, and gait skills. Conclusion: the results pointed out that the instrument has good reproducibility and is valid and reliable, which allows its use in clinical practice in elderly people with cognitive decline as well as in research.

Objetivo: determinar las propiedades psicométricas de la dimensión de prácticas y conductas de seguridad de la Escala de prácticas y comportamientos de los ancianos institucionalizados para prevenir las caídas, sobre una muestra de ancianos con deterioro cognitivo. Método: estudio metodológico de abordaje cuantitativo para evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la escala sobre muestra de 102 ancianos con deterioro cognitivo, residentes en dos hogares para ancianos. Evaluación de consistencia interna verificada por α de Cronbach, confiabilidad interobservadores calculada por coeficiente de concordancia Kappa de Cohen, estabilidad temporal comprobada por correlación de Spearman. Fueron contemplados todos los procedimientos éticos. Resultados: la dimensión de prácticas y comportamientos de seguridad de la escala expresa α=0,895 para sus 11 ítems. En confiabilidad interobservadores, 7 de los 11 ítems obtienen buena o excelente concordancia entre los evaluadores. Los valores del índice Kappa evidencian que el instrumento es válido y fidedigno. Las prácticas de comportamiento de seguridad están influidas por el tiempo de institucionalización, edad superior a 85 años y capacidad de marcha. Conclusión: los resultados demuestran buena reproductividad, el instrumento es válido y confiable, pudiéndoselo utilizar en la clínica con ancianos con deterioro cognitivo y en la investigación.

Objetivo: determinar as propriedades psicométricas da dimensão das práticas e dos comportamentos de segurança da Escala de Práticas e Comportamentos dos Idosos Institucionalizados para Prevenir Quedas numa amostra de idosos com declínio cognitivo. Método: estudo metodológico, com abordagem quantitativa, para a avaliação das propriedades psicométricas da escala numa amostra de 102 idosos com declínio cognitivo, residentes em duas Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos. A avaliação da consistência interna foi efetuada pelo α de Cronbach, a confiabilidade interobservadores, calculada pelo coeficiente de concordância Kappa de Cohen e a estabilidade temporal, pela correlação de Spearman. Todos os procedimentos éticos foram contemplados no estudo. Resultados: a dimensão das práticas e dos comportamentos de segurança da escala apresentou um α=0,895 para os seus 11 itens. Na confiabilidade interobservador, 7 dos 11 itens obtiveram de boa a excelente concordância entre os juízes. Os valores do Índice Kappa evidenciam que o instrumento é válido e fidedigno. As práticas e os comportamentos de segurança são influenciados pelo tempo de institucionalização, idade superior a 85 anos e capacidade de marcha. Conclusão: os resultados indicam uma boa reprodutibilidade, o instrumento é válido e fidedigno, permitindo a utilização do instrumento na clínica em idosos com declínio cognitivo e na investigação.

Objetivo: determinar as propriedades psicométricas da dimensão das práticas e dos comportamentos de segurança da Escala de Práticas e Comportamentos dos Idosos Institucionalizados para Prevenir Quedas numa amostra de idosos com declínio cognitivo. Método: estudo metodológico, com abordagem quantitativa, para a avaliação das propriedades psicométricas da escala numa amostra de 102 idosos com declínio cognitivo, residentes em duas Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos. A avaliação da consistência interna foi efetuada pelo α de Cronbach, a confiabilidade interobservadores, calculada pelo coeficiente de concordância Kappa de Cohen e a estabilidade temporal, pela correlação de Spearman. Todos os procedimentos éticos foram contemplados no estudo. Resultados: a dimensão das práticas e dos comportamentos de segurança da escala apresentou um α=0,895 para os seus 11 itens. Na confiabilidade interobservador, 7 dos 11 itens obtiveram de boa a excelente concordância entre os juízes. Os valores do Índice Kappa evidenciam que o instrumento é válido e fidedigno. As práticas e os comportamentos de segurança são influenciados pelo tempo de institucionalização, idade superior a 85 anos e capacidade de marcha. Conclusão: os resultados indicam uma boa reprodutibilidade, o instrumento é válido e fidedigno, permitindo a utilização do instrumento na clínica em idosos com declínio cognitivo e na investigação.

Objective: determine the psychometric properties of the safety practices and behaviors dimension of the Scale of Practices and Behaviors of Institutionalized Elderly People to Prevent Falls in a sample of elderly people with cognitive decline. Method: methodological study, with a quantitative approach, to assess the psychometric properties of the mentioned scale in a sample with 102 elderly people with cognitive decline who lived in two long-term care institutions for the public in this age group. Internal consistency evaluation was carried out by calculating the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient; interobserver reliability was expressed by Cohen’s kappa coefficient; and temporal stability, by obtaining Spearman correlation. Compliance with all ethical procedures was observed. Results: the dimension of safety practices and behaviors showed α = 0.895 for its 11 items. Seven out of the 11 items reached good to excellent agreement among the experts for interobserver reliability. Kappa index values indicated that the instrument is valid and reliable. Safety practices and behaviors were influenced by institutionalization time, being at least 85 years old, and gait skills. Conclusion: the results pointed out that the instrument has good reproducibility and is valid and reliable, which allows its use in clinical practice in elderly people with cognitive decline as well as in research.

Objetivo: determinar las propiedades psicométricas de la dimensión de prácticas y conductas de seguridad de la Escala de prácticas y comportamientos de los ancianos institucionalizados para prevenir las caídas, sobre una muestra de ancianos con deterioro cognitivo. Método: estudio metodológico de abordaje cuantitativo para evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la escala sobre muestra de 102 ancianos con deterioro cognitivo, residentes en dos hogares para ancianos. Evaluación de consistencia interna verificada por α de Cronbach, confiabilidad interobservadores calculada por coeficiente de concordancia Kappa de Cohen, estabilidad temporal comprobada por correlación de Spearman. Fueron contemplados todos los procedimientos éticos. Resultados: la dimensión de prácticas y comportamientos de seguridad de la escala expresa α=0,895 para sus 11 ítems. En confiabilidad interobservadores, 7 de los 11 ítems obtienen buena o excelente concordancia entre los evaluadores. Los valores del índice Kappa evidencian que el instrumento es válido y fidedigno. Las prácticas de comportamiento de seguridad están influidas por el tiempo de institucionalización, edad superior a 85 años y capacidad de marcha. Conclusión: los resultados demuestran buena reproductividad, el instrumento es válido y confiable, pudiéndoselo utilizar en la clínica con ancianos con deterioro cognitivo y en la investigación.

RESUMO. As quedas nas instituições de longa permanência para idosos apresentam uma elevada prevalência, contribuindo para a deterioração física e mental dos idosos institucionalizados. Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de quedas nos idosos institucionalizados com e sem declínio cognitivo; caracterizar as práticas e comportamentos dos idosos com e sem declínio cognitivo na gestão do risco de queda e relacionar com alguns fatores. Métodos: Este estudo correlacional foi realizado numa amostra de 204 idosos institucionalizados (50% com declínio cognitivo). Resultados: Os idosos com declínio (40,2%) caíram menos que os que não tem declínio (42,2%) cognitivo (p>0,05). As práticas e comportamentos de segurança são melhores nos idosos com declínio (p<0,05). O maior percentual de idosos com declínio que caem consomem benzodiazepinas (65,9%), o mesmo não se verificando com os idosos sem declínio (32,2%). Verificamos que 81,4% dos idosos sem declínio e 43,9% dos idosos com declínio que caem apresentam perfomance no Timed Up and Go Test superior a 12 segundos tendo as diferenças significado estatístico em ambos os grupos de idosos. Conclusão: Os dados contribuem para um melhor conhecimento dos fatores de risco na génese da queda e das práticas e comportamentos dos idosos com e sem declínio para manterem a sua segurança no autocuidado e a acessibilidade.

ABSTRACT. Falls in long-stay institutions for elderly people have a high prevalence, contributing to the physical and mental deterioration of institutionalized elderly. Objective: To determine the prevalence of falls among institutionalized elderly with and without cognitive decline, and to characterize the practices and behaviors of those with and without cognitive decline in managing fall risks, and relate them to some factors. Methods: The present correlational study was carried out with a sample of 204 institutionalized elderly, 50% of whom had cognitive decline. Results: The elderly with cognitive decline (40.2%) fell less often than those who did not have cognitive decline (42.2%) (p>0.05). Safety practices and behaviors were better in the elderly with cognitive decline (p<0.05). Most of the elderly with cognitive decline who fell took benzodiazepines (65.9%), in contrast with those without cognitive decline (32.2%). It was observed that 81.4% of the elderly without cognitive decline and 43.9% of those with cognitive decline who fell had a performance of over 12 seconds on the Timed Up and Go Test, where differences reached statistical significance in both groups of elderly. Conclusion: Data collected in the present study further the knowledge on risk factors in the genesis of falls and on the behavior of elderly with and without cognitive decline in maintaining their safety in self-care and accessibility.

BACKGROUND: Internationally-accredited laboratories are recognised for their superior test reliability, operational performance, quality management and competence. In a bid to meet international quality standards, the Mozambique National Institute of Health enrolled the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in a continuous quality improvement process towards ISO 15189 accreditation. Here, we describe the road map taken by the NTRL to achieve international accreditation. METHODS: The NTRL adopted the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme as a strategy to implement a quality management system. After SLMTA, the Mozambique National Institute of Health committed to accelerate the NTRL's process toward accreditation. An action plan was designed to streamline the process. Quality indicators were defined to benchmark progress. Staff were trained to improve performance. Mentorship from an experienced assessor was provided. Fulfilment of accreditation standards was assessed by the Portuguese Accreditation Board. RESULTS: Of the eight laboratories participating in SLMTA, the NTRL was the best-performing laboratory, achieving a 53.6% improvement over the SLMTA baseline conducted in February 2011 to the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) assessment in June 2013. During the accreditation assessment in September 2014, 25 minor nonconformities were identified and addressed. In March 2015, the NTRL received Portuguese Accreditation Board recognition of technical competency for fluorescence smear microscopy, and solid and liquid culture. The NTRL is the first laboratory in Mozambique to achieve ISO 15189 accreditation. CONCLUSIONS: From our experience, accreditation was made possible by institutional commitment, strong laboratory leadership, staff motivation, adequate infrastructure and a comprehensive action plan.