ABSTRACT Objective We aimed to evaluate how breaking bad news training was implemented in neurology residency programs in Brazil and to assess the perception and preparedness of trainees and program directors. Methods We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study. Neurology trainees and program directors were recruited from the Brazilian Academy of Neurology registry through convenience sampling. Participants answered a survey evaluating the breaking bad news training at their institution and their preparedness and perception towards the topic. Results We collected 172 responses from 47 neurology institutions from all five socio-demographic regions of Brazil. More than 77% of trainees were dissatisfied with their breaking bad news training, and around 92% of program directors believed their programs required substantial improvement. Approximately 31% of neurology trainees reported never having a lecture about communicating bad news, 66% reported never having a simulated training, and nearly 61% never received feedback regarding their communication abilities. Moreover, 59% of program directors acknowledged that feedback was not a standard practice and nearly 32% reported the absence of any specific training. Conclusion This study suggested that the breaking bad news training in neurology residencies across Brazil is deficient and highlighted challenges to achieve this core competency. Program directors and trainees recognized the importance of the topic, and program directors acknowledged that many factors hinder the ability to implement formal training. Given the relevance of such a skill to patient care, every effort should be made to provide structured training opportunities during residency.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o conhecimento dos médicos sobre reabilitação pulmonar e identificar as barreiras que eles encontram ao encaminhar pacientes com seguro saúde para reabilitação pulmonar. Métodos Trata-se de estudo transversal com uso de questionário, realizado em 2019, em um hospital privado de referência em São Paulo. Os participantes elegíveis eram médicos registrados nas seguintes especialidades: clínica médica, geriatria, cardiologia, pneumologia ou cirurgia torácica. Resultados Foram coletadas 72 respostas, e 99% dos participantes reconheceram doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica como possível indicação para reabilitação pulmonar; com menor frequência (75%), listaram doença pulmonar intersticial, bronquiectasia e hipertensão pulmonar. A maioria dos participantes (67%) associou incorretamente a reabilitação pulmonar à melhora da função pulmonar, ao passo que 28% dos cardiologistas e 35% dos clínicos/geriatras deixaram de reconhecer os benefícios nos transtornos de humor. Notavelmente, 18% dos participantes somente recomendaram reabilitação pulmonar para pacientes em uso de oxigênio suplementar, e 14% prescreveram apenas fisioterapia domiciliar, padrão mais comumente visto entre médicos que não são especialistas em transtornos respiratórios. As três barreiras mais percebidas para encaminhamento e adesão foram cobertura de seguro saúde (79%), transporte para centro de reabilitação pulmonar (63%) e falta de apoio social (29%). Conclusão Restrições financeiras, logísticas e sociais representam desafios para a inclusão na reabilitação pulmonar, mesmo para pacientes com planos de seguro de saúde da categoria premium. Além disso, as lacunas de conhecimento dos médicos podem ser uma barreira adicional para o encaminhamento e a aceitação da reabilitação pulmonar. Educação médica continuada, lembretes automáticos nos prontuários eletrônicos e ferramentas de telerreabilitação podem melhorar o encaminhamento para reabilitação pulmonar, a adesão e, por fim, o atendimento ao paciente.

ABSTRACT Objective To assess clinicians’ knowledge about pulmonary rehabilitation, and identify the barriers faced when referring patients with health insurance to pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods This was a survey-based cross-sectional study conducted in 2019, at a private reference hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Eligible participants were physicians registered with the following specialties: internal medicine, geriatrics, cardiology, pulmonology or thoracic surgery. Results We collected 72 responses, and 99% of participants recognized chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a potential indication for pulmonary rehabilitation; less often (75%), they listed interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis and pulmonary hypertension. Most participants (67%) incorrectly associated pulmonary rehabilitation with lung function improvement, while 28% of cardiologists and 35% of internists/geriatricians failed to recognize benefits on mood disorders. Notably, 18% of participants recommended pulmonary rehabilitation only to patients on supplemental oxygen and 14% prescribed only home physical therapy, patterns more commonly seen among non-respiratory physicians. The three most perceived barriers to referral and adherence were health insurance coverage (79%), transportation to pulmonary rehabilitation center (63%) and lack of social support (29%). Conclusion Financial, logistic and social constraints pose challenges to pulmonary rehabilitation enrollment, even for patients with premium healthcare insurance. Moreover, physician knowledge gaps may be an additional barrier to pulmonary rehabilitation referral and adherence. Providing continued medical education, incorporating automatic reminders in electronic medical records, and using telerehabilitation tools may improve pulmonary rehabilitation referral, adherence, and ultimately, patient care.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a acurácia de uma estratégia de rastreamento de hipertensão pulmonar baseada na combinação de dados de ecocardiograma com as medidas derivadas da tomografia computadorizada (diâmetro da artéria pulmonar e razão entre diâmetro da artéria pulmonar e diâmetro da aorta ascendente) em pacientes pneumopatas crônicos encaminhados para transplante pulmonar. Métodos Estudo observacional retrospectivo realizado com pacientes com enfisema e fibrose pulmonar avaliados para transplante entre 2012 e 2016. Definiu-se hipertensão pulmonar como pressão arterial pulmonar média ≥25mmHg, ou entre 21 a 24mmHg, com resistência vascular pulmonar >3 unidades Wood no cateterismo direito. As medidas tomográficas foram realizadas por dois radiologistas independentes. Resultados Foram incluídos 13 pacientes com enfisema e 19 com fibrose pulmonar, sendo 18 com hipertensão pulmonar. Houve alta concordância entre os radiologistas em relação às medidas tomográficas (coeficientes de correlação intraclasse para diâmetro da artéria pulmonar de 0,936 e diâmetro da artéria pulmonar/diâmetro da aorta ascendente de 0,940). As áreas abaixo da curva ROC de diâmetro da artéria pulmonar, diâmetro da artéria pulmonar/diâmetro da aorta ascendente, e pressão sistólica da artéria pulmonar como preditores de hipertensão pulmonar foram 0,540, 0,629 e 0,783, respectivamente. A sensibilidade, especificidade e valor preditivo negativo da pressão de sistólica de artéria pulmonar ≥40mmHg foram 67%, 79% e 65%, respectivamente. O critério combinado de diâmetro da artéria pulmonar/diâmetro da aorta ascendente >1 e/ou pressão sistólica da artéria pulmonar ≥40mmHg mostrou sensibilidade de 72%, especificidade de 79%, e valor preditivo negativo de 69%. Conclusão Os diâmetros da artéria pulmonar e da aorta ascendente foram altamente reprodutíveis. A associação entre diâmetro da artéria pulmonar e diâmetro da aorta ascendente >1 e/ou pressão sistólica da artéria pulmonar ≥40mmHg melhorou a sensibilidade e o valor preditivo negativo para rastreamento de hipertensão pulmonar. Essa estratégia requer validação prospectiva para se avaliarem segurança e custo-efetividade.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the accuracy of a pulmonary hypertension screening strategy based on a combination of echocardiographic data and tomographic measurements (pulmonary artery diameter and pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aorta diameter ratio) in patients with chronic lung disease referred for lung transplantation. Methods A retrospective observational study with patients with pulmonary emphysema or fibrosis referred for transplantation between 2012 and 2016. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25mmHg, or between 21 and 24mmHg, with pulmonary vascular resistance >3 Wood units on right heart catheterization. Tomographic measurements were made by two independent radiologists. Results This sample comprised 13 patients with emphysema and 19 patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Of these, 18 had pulmonary hypertension. The level of agreement in tomographic measurements made by radiologists was high (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.936 and 0.940, for pulmonary artery diameter and pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aorta diameter ratio, respectively). Areas under the ROC curves constructed for pulmonary artery diameter, pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aorta diameter ratio, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure as predictors of pulmonary hypertension were 0.540, 0.629 and 0.783, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥40mmHg were 67%, 79% and 65%, respectively. The combined criterion (pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aorta diameter ratio >1 and/or pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥40mmHg) achieved sensitivity of 72%, specificity of 79%, and a negative predictive value of 69%. Conclusion Measurements of pulmonary artery and ascending aorta diameter were highly reproducible. The association of pulmonary artery and aortic diameter >1 and/or pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥40mmHg improved the sensitivity and the negative predictive value for pulmonary hypertension screening. This strategy demands prospective validation to assess safety and cost-effectiveness.