ABSTRACT The development of person-centered clinical care is inscribed within an international programmatic movement towards a medicine focused on the totality of the person. This movement, with broad historical bases, has been maturing since 2008 through conferences among global health institutions, research projects and academic publications. This paper is aimed at elucidating the conceptual principles of person-centered medicine (PCM) and to delineate strategies for the practical application of such principles in clinical care services. The above objectives have been approached through literature reviews, international consultations, and reflections on the patterns and indications obtained. The principles identified for person-centered medicine are the following: Ethical commitment, holistic framework, cultural awareness and responsiveness, communication and relational focus, individualized clinical care, common ground among clinicians, patient and family for joint diagnostic understanding and shared decision making, person- and community-centered organization of integrated services, and person-centered medical education and research. Additionally, pertinent strategies have been delineated for the implementation of such principles in clinical care. The authors conclude that the presented principles and strategies are consistent with suggestions offered in the literature and may serve as bases for the design of indices and scales. Their continuous refinement is proposed through future international and local studies. to clarify the key concepts of the movement as well as strategies for their practical clinical application.

RESUMEN El desarrollo de una atención clínica centrada en la persona se inscribe dentro de un movimiento programático internacional hacia una medicina centrada en la totalidad de la persona. Este movimiento, con amplias bases históricas, ha ido madurando desde 2008 a través de encuentros entre instituciones globales de salud, proyectos investigativos y publicaciones académicas. El presente artículo se propone elucidar los principios conceptuales de la medicina centrada en la persona (MCP) y delinear estrategias para su aplicación práctica en servicios de atención clínica. La consecución de los mencionados objetivos se ha basado en revisiones de la literatura, consultas internacionales y reflexión sobre índices y pautas obtenidos. Los principios identificados de MCP son los siguientes: compromiso ético, marco holístico, sensibilidad cultural, foco comunicativo y relacional, individualización de la atención clínica, base común entre clínicos, paciente y familia para el entendimiento diagnóstico y la acción terapéutica, organización de servicios integrados y centrados en las personas, y educación médica e investigación en salud centradas en la persona. Adicionalmente, en relación con cada principio, se delinean estrategias propicias para su implementación en la atención clínica. Se concluye que los principios y estrategias presentados son consistentes con sugerencias ofrecidas en la literatura y que pueden servir de base para el diseño de índices y escalas. Se propone su continuo refinamiento a través de futuros estudios internacionales y locales para clarificar los conceptos claves del movimiento y estrategias útiles en aplicaciones clínicas prácticas.

The development of person-centered clinical care is inscribed within an international programmatic movement towards a medicine focused on the totality of the person. This movement, with broad historical bases, has been maturing since 2008 through conferences among global health institutions, research projects and academic publications. This paper is aimed at elucidating the conceptual principles of person-centered medicine (PCM) and to delineate strategies for the practical application of such principles in clinical care services. The above objectives have been approached through literature reviews, international consultations, and reflections on the patterns and indications obtained. The principles identified for person-centered medicine are the following: Ethical commitment, holistic framework, cultural awareness and responsiveness, communication and relational focus, individualized clinical care, common ground among clinicians, patient and family for joint diagnostic understanding and shared decision making, person- and community-centered organization of integrated services, and person-centered medical education and research. Additionally, pertinent strategies have been delineated for the implementation of such principles in clinical care. The authors conclude that the presented principles and strategies are consistent with suggestions offered in the literature and may serve as bases for the design of indices and scales. Their continuous refinement is proposed through future international and local studies. to clarify the key concepts of the movement as well as strategies for their practical clinical application.

El desarrollo de una atención clínica centrada en la persona se inscribe dentro de un movimiento programático internacional hacia una medicina centrada en la totalidad de la persona. Este movimiento, con amplias bases históricas, ha ido madurando desde 2008 a través de encuentros entre instituciones globales de salud, proyectos investigativos y publicaciones académicas. El presente artículo se propone elucidar los principios conceptuales de la medicina centrada en la persona (MCP) y delinear estrategias para su aplicación práctica en servicios de atención clínica. La consecución de los mencionados objetivos se ha basado en revisiones de la literatura, consultas internacionales y reflexión sobre índices y pautas obtenidos. Los principios identificados de MCP son los siguientes: compromiso ético, marco holístico, sensibilidad cultural, foco comunicativo y relacional, individualización de la atención clínica, base común entre clínicos, paciente y familia para el entendimiento diagnóstico y la acción terapéutica, organización de servicios integrados y centrados en las personas, y educación médica e investigación en salud centradas en la persona. Adicionalmente, en relación con cada principio, se delinean estrategias propicias para su implementación en la atención clínica. Se concluye que los principios y estrategias presentados son consistentes con sugerencias ofrecidas en la literatura y que pueden servir de base para el diseño de índices y escalas. Se propone su continuo refinamiento a través de futuros estudios internacionales y locales para clarificar los conceptos claves del movimiento y estrategias útiles en aplicaciones clínicas prácticas.

Antecedents: This paper emerges as part of a process lead by the National Academy of Medicine of Peru in close collaboration with other Latin American National Academies of Medicine and important university and professional institutions related to the area of health. Objective: To describe and substantiate the importance of Person Centered Medicine (PCM) in the Latin American context. Methodology: Review of Latin American papers and experiences on this issue, and organization of academic meetings to deliberate on related problems, two preliminary ones in Lima in December 2013 and January 2014, a third one in Buenos Aires at the Second International Congress of Person Centered Medicine with the participation of National Academies of Medicine of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru (November, 2014), and a fourth in Lima with the presence of the National Academies of Medicine of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru (December, 2014). Results: Historical and contemporary, universal and local precedents to the gestation and development of a reprioritization of medicine in relation to the Person and his context are pointed out, articulating for such purpose science and humanism. The concept of Person in medicine from a philosophical point of view, including terminological historical and human rights dimensions, is discussed. Upon these bases the central concepts of PCM are examined emphasizing its pertinence in clinical medicine as well as in public health, clinical care, education, research, and health policies. In regards to clinical education and practice, the PCM concept as a fundamental strategic principle, its programmatic educational applications and its possible institutionalization at medical school level are proposed. The importance of ethical training and clinical communication as well as the appropriate use of technology and scientific evidence on behalf of the Person are highlighted. Available institutional opportunities for health professional interdisciplinary education as well as Latin American educational perspectives are discussed. Scientific research on PCM is highlighted particularly concerning studies on conceptualization, measurement and diagnosis, including the need to construct narrative complementary instruments. Finally, perspectives on health policies centered on the person and the community as well as contributions and recommendations derived from Latin American experience on this topic are considered. Conclusions: Person Centered Medicine values biologic, psychological and socio-cultural scientific advances processing them within the comprehensive frame of the Person; it articulates science as an essential instrument and humanism as the essence of medicine. Facing reductionist epistemological formulations, PCM proposes a medicine informed by evidence and experience and oriented towards the totality of the person.

Antecedentes: Este artículo emerge como parte de un proceso liderado por la Academia Nacional de Medicina del Perú en estrecha colaboración con otras Academias de Medicina Latinoamericanas, e importantes instituciones universitarias y profesionales relacionadas con la salud. Objetivo: Describir y fundamentar la importancia de la Medicina Centrada en la Persona (MCP) en el contexto latinoamericano. Metodología: Revisión de artículos y experiencias latinoamericanas sobre el tema, realización de reuniones académicas para deliberar sobre contenidos afines, dos preliminares en Lima en diciembre 2013 y enero 2014, una tercera en Buenos Aires, a propósito del 2° Congreso Internacional de Medicina Centrada en la Persona, con la presencia de las Academias de Medicina de Argentina, Bolivia, Chile y Perú (noviembre 2014) y una cuarta en Lima, Reunión de las Academias de Medicina de Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay y Perú (diciembre 2014). Resultados: Se puntualizan los precedentes históricos y contemporáneos, universales y locales, pertinentes a la gestación y desarrollo de una re-priorización de la medicina en torno a la persona y su contexto, articulando para el efecto ciencia y humanismo. Se discute el nivel filosófico del concepto Persona en medicina, incluyendo bases terminológicas, históricas, y derechos humanos. Sobre estas bases se examina la evolución de los conceptos centrales de la MCP, resaltando su pertinencia tanto en la medicina clínica como en la salud pública, la atención, educación e investigación y las políticas en salud. Con respecto a la práctica y educación clínicas, se plantea la noción de MCP como principio estratégico fundamental, sus aplicaciones educacionales programáticas, y su posible institucionalización a nivel de facultades de medicina. Se resalta la importancia de la formación en ética y comunicación clínica y del apropiado uso de la tecnología y la evidencia científica al servicio de la persona. Se incluyen posibilidades institucionales disponibles para la educación inter-disciplinaria de los profesionales de la salud así como perspectivas educacionales latinoamericanas. Se destaca la importancia de la investigación científica sobre la MCP, abarcando estudios sobre conceptualización, medición y diagnóstico incluyendo la necesidad de elaborar instrumentos narrativos complementarios. Finalmente, se consideran perspectivas sobre políticas de salud centradas en la persona y la comunidad así como aportes y recomendaciones derivados de la experiencia latinoamericana en este tema. Conclusiones: La Medicina Centrada en la Persona valora los avances biológicos, psicológicos y socio-culturales y los procesa dentro del marco de la totalidad de la persona, articulando la ciencia como instrumento esencial y el humanismo como la esencia de la medicina. Frente a formulaciones epistemológicas reduccionistas, la MCP propone una medicina informada por la evidencia y la experiencia y orientada a la persona en su totalidad.

Medical practice focused in human beings, taking into account both humanistic, and scientific aspects, as well as human rights is the main pathway to be followed by us, physicians; and this must lead us to always keep in mind that both medical art and science play for patients and not against them.

La Medicina centrada y dirigida hacia la persona tomando en cuenta los aspectos humanísticos, éticos, científicos así como, los derechos humanos en sí mismo constituyen los derroteros que nos moviliza y obliga a repensar la medicina, teniendo la ciencia y arte médico en favor del paciente y no en sentido contrario.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: As interconexões entre qualidade de vida e estado de saúde não têm sido investigadas aprofundadamente. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar possível correlação entre construtos de estado geral de saúde e qualidade de vida mediante versões em português de dois questionários recentemente adaptados e testados no Brasil. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal com emprego de dois questionários auto-administráveis. Esta pesquisa foi conduzida em serviços de saúde associados à Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Este estudo apresenta dados de uma amostra de 120 voluntários que completaram as versões em português da Escala de Saúde Pessoal e do Índice Multicultural de Qualidade de Vida. Regressão linear bivariada e coeficientes de correlação de Pearson foram gerados a partir de escores de ambos questionários. RESULTADOS: Significativa correlação entre os conceitos de qualidade de vida e estado de saúde tais como avaliados pelas versões em português de ambos questionários foi observada. Quase todas as questões relacionadas à saúde da Escala de Saúde Pessoal apresentaram uma forte correlação com o conceito global de qualidade de vida. A magnitude desta significativa correlação foi responsável por quase metade da variação observada. CONCLUSÕES: Estes achados indicam que, nesta amostra, aspectos relacionados à saúde são essenciais para experiência global de bem-estar e qualidade de vida. Estas similaridades nos diferentes grupos indicam que a inter-relação entre estado de saúde e qualidade de vida é homogênea independentemente da presença e/ou tipo de doença.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The interconnections between quality of life and health status as assessed via questionnaires have not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible correlation between the constructs of general health status and quality of life as assessed by the Portuguese versions of two questionnaires recently adapted and tested in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional study in which two self-administered questionnaires were used. This investigation was conducted at healthcare services associated with the Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Brazil. METHODS: This study presents data from a sample of 120 volunteers who completed the Portuguese versions of the Personal Health Scale and the Multicultural Quality of Life Index questionnaires. Bivariate linear regression analysis and Pearson correlation coefficients were generated from the scores of the two questionnaires. RESULTS: A significant correlation between the concepts of quality of life and health status as evaluated by the Portuguese versions of both questionnaires was observed. Almost all of the health-related questions displayed strong correlations with the overall concept of quality of life. The magnitude of this correlation accounted for almost half of the observed variance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, within this sample, health-related issues were key factors for the overall experience of wellbeing and quality of life. The similarities observed across the different groups indicate that the interrelation between health status and quality of life was homogenous, regardless of presence and/or type of ailments.

A Escala de Saúde Pessoal é um instrumento conciso para a avaliação do estado geral de saúde e bem-estar que considera os aspectos culturais e a visão pessoal do entrevistado. Ela é composta por 10 questões que avaliam diferentes dimensões de saúde obtidas a partir da literatura internacional, incluindo aspectos que variam de domínios somáticos e psicológicos até juízo critico e funcionamento social. OBJETIVO: Nesta investigação, os resultados de um estudo conduzido no Sul do Brasil para testar e validar a versão em português da Escala de Saúde Pessoal são apresentados. MÉTODO: Este estudo analisa dados de uma amostra de 120 voluntários brasileiros (90 pacientes e 30 profissionais da saúde). Todos pacientes completaram a versão em português da Escala de Saúde Pessoal sob orientação mínima de examinadores treinados que seguiram procedimentos padronizados de instrução. RESULTADOS: A consistência interna da PHS-Pt atingiu um índice á de Cronbach de 0.75 entre pacientes e de 0.69 entre profissionais da saúde. O coeficiente de correlação da validade teste-reteste indicou um escore de 0.82. Ademais, a PHS-Pt foi capaz de detectar uma significativa validade descriminante entre as duas amostra avaliada (P < .001). CONCLUSÕES: A versão original em língua inglesa da Escala de Saúde Pessoal foi adaptada com sucesso para o idioma português como demonstrado metodologicamente neste estudo. A PHS-Pt constitui um instrumento de pesquisa confinável e fidedigno para avaliar o estado de saúde no Brasil, já que é apropriadamente estruturada para distinguir diferentes grupos de voluntários de acordo com seus estados de saúde.

The Personal Health Scale is a concise instrument for comprehensive culture-informed and self-rated assessment of general health status and well-being. It is composed of 10 questions that appraise different health dimensions collated from the international literature, including aspects ranging from somatic and psychological domains to social functioning and insight. PURPOSE: In this investigation, results of a study conducted in Southern Brazil to test and validate the Portuguese version of the Personal Health Scale (PHS-Pt) are presented. Method: This study analyzes data from a sample of 120 Brazilian volunteers (90 patients and 30 health care professionals). All patients completed the Portuguese version of the Personal Health Scale under a minimal guidance by trained examiners, who followed standardized instructional procedures. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the PHS-Pt attained a Cronbach's a of 0.75 among patients and of 0.69 among health care professionals. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficient yielded a score of 0.82. Furthermore, the PHS-Pt was able to detect a significant discriminating validity between the 2 evaluated samples (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The original English version of the Personal Health Scale was successfully adapted to Portuguese as methodologically demonstrated herein. The PHS-Pt constitutes a reliable and trustworthy research instrument for evaluating health status in Brazil, since it is appropriately designed to distinguish different groups of volunteers regarding their health status.

OBJETIVO: O Índice Multicultural de Qualidade de Vida é um instrumento conciso para a avaliação ampla, culturalmente informada e auto-aplicável da qualidade de vida relativa à saúde. É composto de 10 itens (do bem-estar físico à percepção global da qualidade de vida). Cada item é classificado de acordo com uma escala de 10 pontos. O objetivo foi o de avaliar a confiabilidade (teste-reteste), estrutura interna, validade discriminante e a viabilidade do Índice Multicultural de Qualidade de Vida em Lima, Peru. MÉTODO: A confiabilidade foi estudada em pacientes da clínica geral (n = 30) hospitalizados em uma enfermaria clínica geral. O Índice Multicultural de Qualidade de Vida foi ministrado em duas ocasiões e os coeficientes de correlação ("r") entre ambas as entrevistas foram calculados. Sua validade discriminante foi estudada comparando estatisticamente o escore médio em um grupo de pacientes com AIDS (com presumida menor qualidade de vida, n = 50) e o escore médio em um grupo de estudantes e profissionais de odontologia (com presumida maior qualidade de vida, n = 50). Os dados sobre sua aplicabilidade e estrutura interna foram compilados a partir de 130 indivíduos. RESULTADOS: Achou-se um alto coeficiente de correlação de confiabilidade no escore total (r = 0,94). O estudo de validade discriminante encontrou diferença significativa entre o escore médio total nas amostras de qualidade de vida presumida mais alta (7,66) e mais baixa (5,32). O tempo médio para completar o Índice Multicultural de Qualidade de Vida foi de menos de 4 minutos e foi relatado pela maioria dos indivíduos como facilmente aplicável. Foi também documentado um alto alfa de Cronbach (0,88). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados relatam que o Índice Multicultural de Qualidade de Vida é confiável, possui uma alta consistência interna, é capaz de discriminar grupos de diferentes níveis de qualidade de vida presumidos, é muito eficiente e é de fácil utilização.

OBJETIVE: The Multicultural Quality of Life Index is a concise instrument for comprehensive, culture-informed, and self-rated assessment of health-related quality of life. It is composed of 10 items (from physical well-being to global perception of quality of life). Each item is rated on a 10-point scale. The objective was to evaluate the reliability (test-retest), internal structure, discriminant validity, and feasibility of the Multicultural Quality of Life Index in Lima, Peru. METHOD: The reliability was studied in general medical patients (n = 30) hospitalized in a general medical ward. The Multicultural Quality of Life Index was administered in two occasions and the correlation coefficients ("r") between both interviews were calculated. Its discriminant validity was studied statistically comparing the average score in a group of patients with AIDS (with presumed lower quality of life, n = 50) and the average score in a group of dentistry students and professionals (with presumed higher quality of life, n = 50). Data on its applicability and internal structure were compiled from the 130 subjects. RESULTS: A high reliability correlation coefficient (r = 0.94) was found for the total score. The discriminant validity study found a significant difference between mean total score in the samples of presumed higher (7.66) and lower (5.32) quality of life. The average time to complete the Multicultural Quality of Life Index was less than 4 minutes and was reported by the majority of subjects as easily applicable. A high Cronbach's a (0.88) was also documented. CONCLUSIONS: The results reported that the Multicultural Quality of Life Index is reliable, has a high internal consistency, is capable of discriminating groups of presumed different quality of life levels, is quite efficient, and easy to use.