Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

Taller SINC: del artículo científico a la noticia Este taller pretende acercar a los participantes los métodos de trabajo que desarrollamos en SINC para apoyar sus conocimientos previos y potenciar su capacidad de redacción de noticias a partir de información científica. Consta de tres partes:

1. Información y actualidad científica: estudios de caso de SINC en Biomedicina y Salud.

2. La producción de noticias científicas en SINC. De la Web of Knowledge (WOK)

a la noticia de actualidad científica.

3. Ejercicio práctico: redacción en español de una noticia de actualidad científica sobre biomedicina y salud, a partir de una selección de artículos científicos brasileños que SINC ha realizado en la WOK.

Cada estudiante enviará su ejercicio a la dirección tallerbrasil@plataformasinc.es, para que el equipo de redactores de SINC en Madrid edite las noticias. Las mejores serán publicadas en un espacio especial de la plataforma SINC (www.plataformasinc.es), para que cualquier persona del planeta pueda leerlas durante esa semana. Requisitos: aula con ordenadores y conexión a Internet. Aforo: 20 personas con conocimientos de español para escribir las noticias. Duración: 3 horas.

Gracias por todo, y que aprendan y disfruten mucho en el Foro…

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

Diez consejos para la comunidad científica Algunos consejos básicos para que los y las investigadoras elaboren resúmenes de sus trabajos que serán la base de la nota de prensa que elabore un press officer o un periodista. ---------------------------------- 1. Seguir la estructura: hipótesis- metodología-conclusiones/resultados. 2. La clave es la claridad: los contenidos altamente técnicos deben llegar

a un público no especializado, pero sí interesado. 3. Contextualización del hallazgo y de los resultados. 4. Uso de un lenguaje directo y sencillo. 5. Poner ejemplos y paralelismos con la vida cotidiana ayuda

enormemente. 6. Explicar las aplicaciones concretas de un hallazgo puede resultar de

gran interés. 7. Extensión limitada al folio como máximo (300 palabras, entre 2.000 y

2.500 caracteres con espacios-cce). Un texto excesivamente largo no anima a su lectura.

8. Acompañamiento de material gráfico y audiovisual. Es el toque final

para enganchar a quien lee: una buena imagen, infografía y/o vídeo científico completan aquello que se explica en el texto.

9. El sentido del humor es un gran aliado para comunicar con éxito

determinados resultados científicos. 10. La guinda para un buen resumen es un titular claro, riguroso y atractivo.

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

Taller SINC: del artículo científico a la noticia ESTUDIOS DE CASO 1) Colaboraciones institucionales e internacionalización de la ciencia. http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/El-cerebro-detecta-mas-rapido-la-felicidad-que-la-tristeza http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/infografias/inicio/(imagen)/26668 2) Estudios sobre España de otros países (lo que dicen de nosotras). http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/El-66-de-la-poblacion-adulta-que-reside-en-Espana-no-come-fruta-los-fines-de-semana http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/infografias/inicio/(imagen)/24137 3) Temas populares: el fútbol triunfa también en ciencia. http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/Los-futbolistas-de-elite-no-estan-contentos-con-su-fisico http://www.sportsciences.com/noticias/Sport-Sciences/10183.html 4) Impacto mediático: temas que funcionan tratados con rigor. http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/Los-jovenes-espanoles-utilizan-el-condon-para-prevenir-embarazos-no-enfermedades http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/videos/detalle/18269 5) Los medios de comunicación, también protagonistas de la investigación. http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/Los-medios-de-comunicacion-contribuyen-a-reducir-la-mortalidad-por-violencia-de-genero 6) Un tema duro y delicado que puede despertar mucho interés. http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/Escribir-despues-de-un-atentado-como-el-11-S-o-el-11-M-tiene-efectos-positivos-a-medio-plazo http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/videos/detalle/19755 7) Tergiversación mediática: las consecuencias del presentismo. http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/Un-sindrome-que-viene-del-Pais-de-las-Maravillas http://www.elmundo.es/elmundosalud/2009/07/15/neurociencia/1247656151.html 8) Denuncia social a través de la ciencia. http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Noticias/Los-profesionales-medicos-no-tienen-suficiente-informacion-sobre-la-mutilacion-genital-femenina http://www.plataformasinc.es/index.php/esl/Entrevistas/Espana-ha-apoyado-la-via-judicial-y-policial-pero-las-familias-implicadas-no-son-criminales

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

1. Leisure-time physical inactivity in adults and factors associated Source: REVISTA DE SAUDE PUBLICA 43(5): 814-824 OCT 2009 Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between leisure-time physical inactivity and sociodemographic factors and risk or protection factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional study comprising adults aged 18 years and older (n = 1,996). Data was obtained from the Surveillance System for Risk Factors for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases, a random-digit-dialed telephone survey carried out in the city of Florianopolis, southern Brazil, in 2005. There were studied sociodemographic, and behavioral protective and risk factors. Results of the multivariate analysis of the association between leisure-time physical inactivity and independent variables were expressed as prevalence ratios. RESULTS: The prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity was 54.6% (47.3% among men, 61.4% among women). After adjustment, among men, higher physical inactivity was positively associated with older age, lower schooling, and inversely associated with working status; and lower physical inactivity was associated with alcohol abuse, regardless of age, schooling, and work status. Among women, higher leisure-time physical inactivity was positively associated with schooling (less than 12 years of education) and working status. The analyses adjusted for schooling and work status showed higher physical inactivity among those women reporting consuming fruits and vegetables less than five times a day and whole milk. CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with leisure-time physical inactivity were different among men and women. Among women, physical inactivity was associated to risk factors for chronic diseases, especially eating habits. Among men, physical inactivity was associated to sociodemographic factors. Author(s): Martins TG (Martins, Tais Gaudencio)2, de Assis MAA (Altenburg de Assis, Maria Alice)1, Nahas MV (Nahas, Markus Vinicius)3, Gauche H (Gauche, Heide)4, Moura EC (Moura, Erly Catarina)5 Addresses: 1. Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Ctr Ciencias Saude, Dept Nutr, BR-88040900 Florianopolis, SC Brazil 2. Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Ctr Desportos, Programa Posgrad Educ Fis, BR-88040900 Florianopolis, SC Brazil 3. Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Ctr Desportos, Dept Educ Fis, BR-88040900 Florianopolis, SC Brazil 4. Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Ctr Ciencias Saude, Programa Posgrad Saude Publ, BR-88040900 Florianopolis, SC Brazil 5. Univ Sao Paulo, Nucleo Pesquisas Epidemiol Nutr & Saude, Sao Paulo, Brazil E-mail Addresses: massis@ccs.ufsc.br

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

2. Impact of malaria during pregnancy in the Amazon region Source: REVISTA PANAMERICANA DE SALUD PUBLICA-PAN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 26 Issue: 3 Pages: 203-208 SEP 2009 Abstract: Objective. To estimate the impact of malaria on the course of pregnancy in women from the Amazon region and to investigate possible risk factors in this population. Methods. This cross-sectional study is part of a larger project to study malaria and pregnancy in the Amazon region. Pregnant women with malaria receiving care at the Amazon Tropical Medicine Foundation (Fundacao de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas) who answered a structured interview were included in the study. Socioeconomic, behavioral and clinical data were collected in the first consultation relating to each new malaria attack. All the women were followed-up throughout their pregnancy. The following risk factors for impact of malaria on the course of pregnancy were considered: being younger than 20 years of age, first pregnancy, first malaria infection, and type of infecting plasmodium species. Results. Five hundred and thirty-five malaria episodes were evaluated in 417 pregnant women, with 20.56% being caused by P. falciparum, 78.69% by P. vivax and 0.75% by the association of both parasites. Changes in the course of pregnancy were very frequent (26.2%). Threat of abortion was observed in 49 cases (25.5%), abortion in two (1.0%), threat of premature birth in 74 (25.1%), and premature birth in three ( 1.0%). First pregnancy and age < 20 years were significantly associated with threat of premature birth and abortion. Conclusion. Changes in the course of pregnancy were very frequent during acute malaria attacks, despite the low frequency of abortion. The present results do not highlight specific risk factors, suggesting that any pregnant woman may be at risk for the threat of abortion or for abortion during acute malaria attacks. Author(s): Chagas ECD (da Silva Chagas, Eda Cristina)2,3,4, do Nascimento CT (do Nascimento, Cristiana Teixeira)4, de Santana FSD (de Santana Filho, Franklin Simoes)2,3,4, Botto-Menezes CH (Botto-Menezes, Camila Helena)3, Martinez-Espinosa FE (Martinez-Espinosa, Flor Ernestina)1,2,4 Addresses: 1. Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Ctr Pesquisas Leonidas e Maria Deane, BR-69057170 Manaus, Amazonas Brazil 2. Ctr Univ Nilton Lins, Manaus, Amazonas Brazil 3. Univ Fed Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas Brazil 4. Fundacao Med Trop Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas Brazil E-mail Addresses: eda-chagas@uol.com.br, florespinosa@gmail.com

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

3. Drug use and associated factors in children living in poor areas Source: REVISTA DE SAUDE PUBLICA 43 Issue: 5 Pages: 768-778 OCT 2009 Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe drug use profile in children living in poor areas and associated factors. METHODS: Population-based, cross-sectional study, including 1,382 children aged between four and 11 years. These children were selected by random sampling of 24 micro-areas, representative of the poorest segments of the population living in the city of Salvador, Northeastern Brazil, in 2006. The dependent variable was drug use in the 15 days preceding the surveys. A total of three groups of explanatory variables were considered: socioeconomic variables, child health status, and use of health services. Adjusted analysis used Poisson regression, following a hierarchical conceptual model. RESULTS: Drug use prevalence in children was 48%. Female children showed higher drug use prevalence than males, 50.9% and 45.4%, respectively (p=0.004). Drug use prevalence decreased significantly with age (p<0.001) in both sexes. Most used pharmacological groups were: analgesics/antipyretics (25.5%), systemic antibiotics (6.5%), and anti-cough /expectorant drugs (6.2%). In the multivariate analysis, factors determining greater drug use were: age (four to five, six, seven to eight years); female sex; white mother; poorer health perception; interruption of activities due to health problems and health care, whether ill or not, in the last 15 days; drug spending in the last month; and medical visits in the last three months. CONCLUSIONS: Drug use prevalence in the poor children studied was below that observed in other population-based studies in Brazil, yet similar to that of adults. The identification of groups most subject to excessive drug use may serve as the basis for strategies to promote their rational use. Author(s): Santos DB (Santos, Djanilson Barbosa)1, Barreto ML (Barreto, Mauricio Lima)2, Coelho HLL (Luna Coelho, Helena Lutescia)3 Addresses: 1. Univ Fed Reconcavo Bahia, Ctr Ciencias Saude, BR-44570000 Santo Antonio De Jesus, BA Brazil 2. Univ Fed Bahia, Inst Saude Colet, Salvador, BA Brazil 3. Univ Fed Ceara, Fac Farm, Fortaleza, Ceara Brazil E-mail Addresses: dejab@bol.com.br

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

4. Prevalence and risk factors associated with smoking among school children, Southern Brazil Source: REVISTA DE SAUDE PUBLICA 43 Issue: 5 Pages: 779-788 OCT 2009 Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of smoking among students and associated factors. METHODS: Secondary data from the Vigescola Survey, conducted in the cities of Curitiba, Florianopolis and Porto Alegre (Southern Brazil) between 2002 and 2004, were used. Sample comprised 3,690 school children, aged between 13 and 15 years, and enrolled in the 7th and 8th grades of primary school and 1st grade of high school, in public and private schools. Weighted proportions and odds ratio (OR) were estimated and multiple logistic regression was used to analyze results. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence rates were 10.7% (95% CI: 10.2; 11.3) in Florianopolis, 12.6% (95% CI: 12.4; 12.9) in Curitiba and 17.7% (95% CI: 17.4; 18.0) in Porto Alegre. Risk factors associated with smoking among schoolchildren in Curitiba were: female sex (OR=1.49), smoking father (OR=1.59), smoking friends (OR=3.46), exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke outside the home (OR=3.26), and having some object with cigarette brand logos (OR=3.29). In Florianopolis, variables associated with smoking were: female schoolchildren (OR=1.26), having smoking friends (OR=9.31), exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at home (OR=2.03) and outside the home (OR=1.45) and having seen advertisements on posters (OR=1.82). In Porto Alegre, variables associated with tobacco use among school children were: female sex (OR=1.57), aged between 14 years (OR=1.77) and 15 years (OR=2.89), smoking friends (OR=9.12), exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at home (OR=1.87) and outside the home (OR=1.77) and having some object with cigarette brand logos (OR=2.83). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking prevalence among school children aged between 13 and 15 years is high. Factors significantly associated with it and common to the three capitals were as follows: having smoking friends and being exposed to environmental smoke outside the home. Author(s): Hallal ALC (Curi Hallal, Ana Luiza)1, Gotlieb SLD (Davidson Gotlieb, Sabina Lea)2, de Almeida LM (de Almeida, Liz Maria)3, Casado L (Casado, Leticia)3 Addresses: 1. Univ Sao Paulo, FSP, Programa Posgrad Saude Publ, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2. Univ Sao Paulo, FSP, Dept Epidemiol, Sao Paulo, Brazil 3. Inst Nacl Canc, Div Epidemiol, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil E-mail Addresses: anacuri@gmail.com

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5. Fruit and vegetable intake among low income elderly in the city of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil Source: REVISTA DE SAUDE PUBLICA 43 Issue: 5 Pages: 806-813 OCT 2009 Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To estimate the socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors associated with the daily intake of five servings of fruit and vegetables by elderly individuals living in low income areas, identifying the main fruits and vegetables which compose the diet of this population. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional population-based study with 2,066 low income elderly individuals (>= 60 years) living in the city of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, in 2003-2005. To assess the fruit and vegetable intake a Food Frequency Questionnaire was administered. The answers were transformed into daily intake and compared with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (five or more servings per day). The relationship between recommended fruit and vegetable intake and socioeconomic variables was analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the participants, 60.5% were women and 39.5% were men. Approximately one third of the elders (n=723; 35.0%) did not consume any kind of fruit or vegetable on a daily basis and 19.8% reported a daily intake of five or more servings of fruits and vegetables. This intake was positively associated with income and years of schooling. CONCLUSIONS: The fruit and vegetable intake of low income elderly individuals in the city of Sao Paulo was insufficient according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization and is associated with unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. Author(s): Viebig RF (Viebig, Renata Furlan)1, Pastor-Valero M (Pastor-Valero, Maria)2, Scazufca M (Scazufca, Marcia)3,4, Menezes PR (Menezes, Paulo Rossi)1 Addresses: 1. Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Prevent Med, BR-09500900 Sao Paulo, Brazil 2. Univ Miguel Hernandez, Fac Med, Dept Saude Publ, Alicante, Spain 3. Univ Sao Paulo, FM, Dept Psiquiatria, BR-09500900 Sao Paulo, Brazil 4. Hosp Joao Evangelista, Ctr Estudos, Sao Paulo, Brazil E-mail Addresses: refurlan@terra.com.br

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6. Alcohol-related domestic violence: a household survey in Brazil Source: REVISTA DE SAUDE PUBLICA 43 Issue: 5 Pages: 743-749 OCT 2009 Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe situations of domestic violence committed by perpetrators under the influence of alcohol in the largest Brazilian cities. METHODS: A household survey was carried out in the 108 Brazilian cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants in 2005. A multistage probabilistic self-weighted sample stratified in terms of conglomerate units was performed in three selection stages: census tracts, households, and respondents (population between 12 and 65 years old). The instrument to collect the data was the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, with questions on sociodemographics and psychotropic drug abuse. RESULTS: The survey encompassed 7,939 households. In 33.5% of them there were reports of domestic violence, 17.1% out of which involving intoxicated perpetrators. The most frequently reported types of violence associated with the use of alcohol were: arguments among the people in the household (81,8%), loud arguments not aimed at a specific person (70.9%), threats of assault (39.5%), and breaking households objects (38.7%). The respondents also reported physical assault (27.8%), physical assault with weapon (5.5%), and sexual abuse (3.2%). More than half of perpetrators lived in the household and 88.8% were male. Most of the victims were female (63.9%); 33.9% were wives and 18.2% were children. In terms of recidivism, 14.1% of the cases lasted for a period between 1 and 5 years, and in 14.3% they lasted for over a decade. Most of the victims (86%) and perpetrators (77.9%) did not look for the help of either the health services or the police. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the considerable number of Brazilian households with a history of violence involving intoxicated abusers, this kind of abuse has many specific characteristics. The low rate for the search for help at the health services/police stations point to the importance of actively identifying cases of domestic violence. Author(s): Fonseca AM (Fonseca, Arilton Martins)1, Galduroz JCF (Fernandes Galduroz, Jose Carlos), Tondowski CS (Tondowski, Claudia Silveira)1, Noto AR (Noto, Ana Regina)1 Addresses: 1. Univ Fed Sao Paulo, EPM, Dept Psicobiol, Programa Posgrad, Sao Paulo, Brazil E-mail Addresses: ananoto@psicobio.epm.br

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

7. Motor vehicle driving after binge drinking, Brazil, 2006 to 2009 Source: REVISTA DE SAUDE PUBLICA 43 Issue: 5 Pages: 891-894 OCT 2009 Abstract: The present study aimed to analyze the proportion of adults who drive under the influence of alcohol in the Brazilian capitals and in the Federal District, after Law 11,705 was established. Data from the Vigilancia de Fatores de Risco e Protecao para Doencas Cronicas por Inquerito Telefonico System (VIGITEL-Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Interview) were analyzed. In 2008, 1.5% of individuals interviewed reported having driven a motor vehicle after binge drinking in at least one occasion. The frequency of adults who drove after binge drinking remained between 1.8% and 2.2% in the eight months preceding the Law, decreased in the month following its establishment, and increased again two months later, reaching a maximum of 2.6% by the end of 2008 and returning to the initial levels in the first months of 2009. Author(s): Moura EC (Moura, Erly Catarina), Malta DC (Malta, Deborah Carvalho), Neto OLM (Morais Neto, Otaliba Libanio)1, Penna GO (Penna, Gerson Oliveira), Temporao JG (Temporao, Jose Gomes) Addresses: 1. Minist Saude, Secretaria Vigilancia Saude, Dept Anal & Situacao Saude, Brasilia, DF Brazil E-mail Addresses: erlycm@usp.br

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

8. "Broken hearted teenagers": adolescents that had gone through suicide attempt Source: CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 14(5):1825-1834 NOV-DEC 2009 Abstract: This report describes the reasons of the suicidal behavior in adolescents, taking in this anthropologic analysis, the impact in the familiar and social context. The study was conducted during the period of March to August, 2005 using a qualitative approach and ethnography as methods. The participants of this study were 12 teenagers, assisted in an emergency hospital in Fortaleza, Ceara State, Brazil, for suicide attempt using any kind of mechanisms. As shown in the experiment's result, the main reason of the attempts was a broken heart, this as a reason of dating someone and others love relationship established between two persons. Not only broken heart was mentioned, there were also cases of problems with family bonds, the affection and the lack of attention to the individual adolescent. In this context, the inability of the health professional was very clear. Under the presented circumstances, the professional must come up with a new praxis approach. The suicide is a real fact present at the teenagers' life and it is necessary to redirect the Brazilian Unified Health System 's philosophy and operational principles of the way health professionals cope with this demanding the society to embrace the politics that cares for the human being life and wellness. Author(s): Vieira LJED (Eyre de Souza Vieira, Luiza Jane)1, Freitas MLV (Vasconcelos Freitas, Mary Landy)1, Pordeus AMJ (Juca Pordeus, Augediva Maria), Lira SVG (Gama Lira, Samira Valentim)1, Silva JGE (Guimaraes e Silva, Juliana)1 Addresses: 1. Univ Fortaleza, Ctr Ciencias Saude, BR-60811905 Fortaleza, CE Brazil E-mail Addresses: janeeyre@unifor.br

Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas (SINC) Calle Rosario Pino, 14-16 28020- Madrid //Tel. +34 91 425 18 20 // Fax. +34 91 571 21 72

9. Healthy life expectancy to Brazilian elders, 2003 Source: CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Pages: 1903-1909 Published: NOV-DEC 2009 Abstract: The increase of the percentage of elderly population in Brazil and the increase in longevity incite a demand for information on the quantity of years spent in good health. The aim of the present study is to measure the life expectancy for the elderly of 60 years and above, by sex and age, in the year of 2003. The Sullivan method was used, which combined the life-table with the current experience of mortality and the self-perceived health. The mortality information was obtained from the life tables published by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), 2003. The self-perceived health was used and it was dichotomized in good and bad. This information came from the National Research of Household Sample (PNAD), 2003. The results indicate that women live longer, but spend a higher number of years perceiving their health as bad, as compared to men. The results also highlights to the need of considering the differences between sexes in relation to the demand for health care. It is also important to consider the need to have policies designed to allow the increase in the number of years that the elderly can live in good health conditions. Author(s): Camargos MCS (Santos Camargos, Mirela Castro)1, Rodrigues RD (Rodrigues, Roberto do Nascimento)1, Machado CJ (Machado, Carla Jorge)1 Addresses: 1. Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Ctr Desenvolvimento & Planejamento Reg, Dept Demog, BR-30170120 Belo Horizonte, MG Brazil E-mail Addresses: mirela@cedeplar.ufmg.br

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10. Prescription errors in Brazilian hospitals: a multi-centre exploratory survey Source: CADERNOS DE SAUDE PUBLICA Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Pages: 313-320 Published: FEB 2009 Abstract: In Brazil, millions of prescriptions do not follow the legal requirements necessary to guarantee the correct dispensing and administration of medication. This multi-centre exploratory study aimed to analyze the appropriateness of prescriptions at four Brazilian hospitals and to identify possible errors caused by inadequacies. The sample consisted of 864 prescriptions obtained at hospital medical clinics in January 2003. Data was collected by three nurse researchers during one week using a standard data sheet that included items about: the type of prescription; legibility; completeness; use of abbreviations; existence of changes and erasures. There were statistically significant differences between incomplete electronic prescriptions at hospital A, and handwritten ones from hospitals C (chi(2) = 12.703 and p < 0.001) and D (chi(2) = 14.074 and p < 0.001). Abbreviations were used in more than 80% of prescriptions at hospitals B, C and D. Changes were found in prescriptions at all hospitals, with higher levels at hospitals B (35.2%) and A (25.3%). This study identified a range of vulnerable points in the prescription phase of the medication system at the hospitals. Physicians, pharmacists and nurses should therefore jointly propose strategies to avoid these prescription errors. Author(s): Miasso AI (Miasso, Adriana Inocenti)2, de Oliveira RC (de Oliveira, Regina Celia)3, Silva AEBD (de Camargo Silva, Ana Elisa Bauer)4, de Lyra DP (de Lyra Junior, Divaldo Pereira)5, Gimenes FRE (Escobar Gimenes, Fernanda Raphael)1, Fakih FT (Fakih, Flavio Trevisan)6, Cassiani SHD (De Bortoli Cassiani, Silvia Helena)2 Addresses: 1. Univ Camilo Castelo Branco, BR-13690000 Descalvado, SP Brazil 2. Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Enfermagem Ribeirao Preto, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto, Brazil 3. Univ Fed Pernambuco, Fac Enfermagem Nossa Senhora Gracas, Recife, PE Brazil 4. Univ Fed Goias, Fac Enfermagem, Goiania, Go Brazil 5. Univ Fed Sergipe, Fac Farm, Sergipe, Aracaju Brazil 6. Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Hosp Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil E-mail Addresses: fer_gimenes@yahoo.com.br