ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between indicators of socioeconomic status and cesarean section in public hospitals that adopt standardized protocols of obstetrical care. METHODS This was a prospective cohort study conducted between May 2005 and January 2006 with 831 pregnant women recruited from 10 public primary care clinics in São Paulo, Brazil. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected during pregnancy. The three main exposures were schooling, monthly family income per capita, and residential crowding. The main outcome was cesarean section at three public hospitals located in the area. Crude and adjusted risk ratios (RR), with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. We examined the effects of each exposure variable on cesarean section accounting for potential confounders by using four different models: crude, adjusted by mother’s characteristics, by obstetrical complications, and by the other two indicators of socioeconomic status. RESULTS Among the 757 deliveries performed in the public hospitals, 215 (28.4%) were by cesarean section. In the bivariate analysis, cesarean section was associated with higher family income per capita, higher education, lower residential crowding, pregnancy planning, white skin color, having a partner, and advanced maternal age. In the multivariate analysis, after adjustment for covariates, none of the socioeconomic status variables remained associated with cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS In this group, the chance of women undergoing cesarean section was not associated with indicators of socioeconomic status only, but was defined in accordance with major obstetric and clinical conditions.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between indicators of socioeconomic status and cesarean section in public hospitals that adopt standardized protocols of obstetrical care. METHODS This was a prospective cohort study conducted between May 2005 and January 2006 with 831 pregnant women recruited from 10 public primary care clinics in São Paulo, Brazil. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected during pregnancy. The three main exposures were schooling, monthly family income per capita, and residential crowding. The main outcome was cesarean section at three public hospitals located in the area. Crude and adjusted risk ratios (RR), with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. We examined the effects of each exposure variable on cesarean section accounting for potential confounders by using four different models: crude, adjusted by mother’s characteristics, by obstetrical complications, and by the other two indicators of socioeconomic status. RESULTS Among the 757 deliveries performed in the public hospitals, 215 (28.4%) were by cesarean section. In the bivariate analysis, cesarean section was associated with higher family income per capita, higher education, lower residential crowding, pregnancy planning, white skin color, having a partner, and advanced maternal age. In the multivariate analysis, after adjustment for covariates, none of the socioeconomic status variables remained associated with cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS In this group, the chance of women undergoing cesarean section was not associated with indicators of socioeconomic status only, but was defined in accordance with major obstetric and clinical conditions.

Resumo O teste três figuras-três palavras é uma técnica simples e adequada para avaliação de aprendizagem e memória verbal e não verbal. Até o presente, estudos sobre o desempenho de idosos brasileiros nesse teste não foram encontrados na literatura. Objetivo: Estudar o desempenho de idosos normais em tarefas de memória e contribuir para obtenção de dados adequados sobre o desempenho desses idosos no teste três figuras-três palavras de Mesulam. Método: Foram avaliados 50 pacientes adultos, sendo 25 do sexo masculino e 25 do feminino, com idade variando entre 55 e 81 anos (66,0±7,1 anos), 1 a 8 anos de escolaridade, diferentes situações econômicas e residentes no município de São José do Rio Preto, Estado de São Paulo. Resultados: Não foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre o desempenho de homens e mulheres. O desempenho da memória incidental foi significativamente menor comparado ao desempenho obtido na etapa de evocação tardia. Idosos normais obtiveram melhora de desempenho com pelo menos duas novas apresentações ao estímulo. Indivíduos com menos tempo de instrução obtiveram desempenho inferior ao evocar figuras e no escore total do teste. Cerca de 50% dos participantes necessitaram realizar a etapa de reconhecimento. Conclusões: O teste três figuras-três palavras foi rápido, eficaz e de fácil aplicação para idosos. A escolaridade influenciou diretamente no desempenho do teste. Idosos normais tiveram maior dificuldade na codificação e busca da informação armazenada.

Abstract The three words-three shapes test is a brief bedside technique for assessment of learning and memory using verbal and non-verbal material. To the best of our knowledge, performance of Brazilian elderly on this test has not yet been reported. Objective: To evaluate the performance of normal Brazilian elderly on the three words-three shapes test. Method: A total of 50 adult patients, 25 males and 25 females, with age ranging from 55 to 81 years (66.0±7.10 years), 1 to 8 years of schooling, different economic conditions and living in the São José do Rio Preto municipality, State of São Paulo, were evaluated. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between performance of males and females. Performance on incidental recall was significantly lower than in delayed recall. The performance in the learning phase improved following at least two further presentations of the stimuli. Approximately 50% of the participants did not remember the six stimuli and had to proceed to the recognition stage. The performance in the recognition stage was significantly better than during spontaneous recall. Patients with low educational level (less years of schooling) had poorer performance on the recall of shapes and on the total score of the test. Conclusions: The three words-three shapes test is rapid, efficient and straightforward to apply in the elderly, but low educational level was associated with poorer performance on this test. Normal elderly individuals had greater difficulty in the encoding process and in searching for stored information.

A visita médica faz parte da rotina de um hospital-escola. Nela, são apresentados casos e discutidas as condutas médicas, os exames, as cirurgias e os medicamentos. Visa atingir objetivos didáticos, constituindo um importante instrumento para o aprendizado dos estudantes e residentes de medicina. Entretanto, essa prática pode ter efeitos negativos sobre os pacientes. Este estudo visou investigar os sentimentos e idéias despertados a partir da visita médica em pacientes internados na Enfermaria da Unidade de Transplante Renal (UTR) da Divisão de Clínica Urológica do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Foram entrevistados 55 pacientes e os dados foram analisados segundo o método qualitativo de análise do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Observou-se que a visita é percebida pelo paciente de maneira ambígua e conflitiva. Referem dificuldades para compreender o que é dito a respeito de sua doença e sentem-se desinformados, desamparados e excluídos de seu próprio tratamento. Por outro lado, sentem-se acolhidos e prestigiados quando recebem por parte de toda equipe, no momento da visita, atenção e informação sobre sua doença e tratamento. Foram feitas sugestões para o melhor aproveitamento da situação de visita médica no hospital-escola, de modo que, sem perder seu objetivo didático, ela possa assumir um papel mais efetivo na assistência ao paciente.

The medical visit is a routine at a university hospital. It has didactic purposes and clinical cases, diagnostic techniques ant treatment possibilities are discussed. Probably it's the most important learning tool for medicine students and residents. However, this practice may have negative effects on some patients. This study aimed at investigating the ideas and feelings awaked by this procedure in hospitalized patients during medical visits at the Kidney Transplant Unit of the Urology Department at Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University. Fifty-five inpatients were interviewed. The answers were analyzed according to the "Collective Subject Speech" qualitative approach. Data point out that patients have an ambiguous and conflictive perception of medical visits, referring difficulties to understand medical expressions, feeling abandoned and excluded from their own treatment. On the other hand, they feel protected and important when they receive attention and information by the medical staff. Suggestions were made aiming at the better use of the situation so that without losing its didactic objective the assistencial aspect may be improved.

Resumo: Vários autores têm demonstrado a eficácia dos programas educativos para favorecer a adesão dos pacientes ao tratamento recomendado, visando educá-los e informá-los sobre suas patologias e propostas terapêuticas. A literatura mostra que não está definida a especificidade do psicólogo nessas atividades. Acreditamos que, além de poder transmitir informações a respeito do tratamento, esse profissional deve realizar também um diagnóstico da real situação do grupo-alvo e identificar conteúdos subjetivos que possam interferir no modo como esses pacientes lidam com sua doença e seu tratamento, propondo intervenções efetivas. Percebemos a necessidade da inserção específica do psicólogo na elaboração e execução de tais programas, o que permite considera-los como “psicoeducativos”, havendo propostas fundamentadas nesta direção.

Abstract: Different studies have shown the efficacy of education program in promotion patient compliance with prescribed medical treatment. Such program aim to educate and inform patient about their disease and proposed treatment. According to the literature, the specificities of the psychologists role are not taken into account in these activities. We contend that beyond transmitting specific information, psychologists should perform the diagnosis of the target groups real situation, including identification of subjective content that might interfere in the way patient cope with disease and treatment. We also emphasize the psychologists importance in creating and developing such program, allowing them to be as “psycho-educational”. We also provide specific proposal in this direction.

Resumo A visita médica é importante instrumento didático para o ensino dos estudantes e residentes de Medicina, mas pode ter efeitos negativos sobre os pacientes. Com o objetivo de investigar a percepção dos pacientes sobre a visita médica, foram entrevistados 20 pacientes internados num hospital-escola, por meio de uma entrevista semidirigida. Os dados obtidos mostram que a maioria dos pacientes têm uma percepção positiva da visita médica, mas relatam sentimentos conflitivos em relação à sua ocorrência. Referem dificuldades para compreender o que é dito a respeito de sua doença e sentem-se desinformados e expostos. São feitas sugestões para o melhor aproveitamento da situação de visita médica no hospital, de modo que, sem perder seu caráter didático, ela possa cumprir também um papel mais efetivo na assistência ao paciente.

Summary: Medical visits are important educational instruments in teaching residents and medical students. The goal of this study was to investigate patients perception about the medical visits. Twenty patients of a university hospital were interviewed according to a semi-structured model, where patients were asked how they felt during the medical visit, its positive and negative aspects, if they understood its content, and what changes they would make in the situation. Data collected point out that the majority of patients have a positive opinion about the medical visits, but show -conflictive feelings towards it. They resent the most the lack of information about their disease and treatment, and the personal exposure during the situation. Suggestions are made in order to improve the assistencial aspect of medical visits, without harming its educational purpose.