Factors associated with the frequency of medical consultations by older adults: a national study

Inequalities in the use of health services in a municipality in Southern Brazil in 2019: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

to assess inequalities in the use of health services in a municipality in Southern Brazil.

METHODS

This was a population-based cross-sectional study conducted with adults living in the urban area of the municipality of Criciúma, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, between March and December 2019; the research outcomes were medical consultation, dental visit, nutritional counseling and the use of the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS); the exposures were age, schooling and income; inequalities were analyzed using the Slope index of inequality and equiplots.

RESULTS

A total of 820 individuals were studied; medical consultation was higher (14.2 percentage points [p.p.]), and dental visit was lower (-29.5 p.p.), in older adults, when compared to young people; dental visit (41.1 p.p.) and nutritional counseling (18.0 p.p.) were higher in individuals with higher level of education, when compared to those with lower level of education; the use of SUS was higher in older adults (21.3 p.p.), with lower level of education (-61.2 p.p.) and lower income (-51.6 p.p.), when compared to their peers.

CONCLUSION

in order to develop public policies, these inequalities should be taken into consideration.

Use of specialized public health services by older people in southern Brazil

Abstract Objective To analyze the use of specialized public health services by older adults, by sex and age group, in the city of Porto Alegre. Methods A cross-sectional study with secondary data from the city's outpatient and inpatient consultation systems. All records from 2019 were used, and Pearson's chi-square test was applied. Results In total, 64,888 older people sought specialized services, generating 113.694 visits (82,8% outpatient visits and 17.2% hospitalizations). It was found that 74.7% of the older adults were referred by primary care for specialized care, with higher percentages of young older people and women (p<0.001). On the other hand, men and older adults aged 80 years or older were referred more frequently for care from hospitals and emergency rooms (p<0.001). Women and older adults between 60 and 79 years old used outpatient centers, physical therapy, rehabilitation centers, dentistry and mental health in greater proportion (p<0.001). The main reasons for using specialized services were diseases of the circulatory system, being more expressive among older adults aged 80 years or older and men (p<0.001). Musculoskeletal diseases (22.5%) were the main reasons for outpatient consultations and, in emergency hospitalizations, diseases of the circulatory system (37.9%). Older adults with a history of outpatient consultations had fewer hospital admissions (p<0.001). Conclusion The need for articulated actions by health services is highlighted, prioritizing the male and long-lived population, focusing on the prevention/control of non-communicable chronic diseases and the vulnerabilities of this stage of life.

Utilização dos serviços públicos de saúde especializados por pessoas idosas no sul do Brasil

Resumo Objetivo Analisar a utilização dos serviços públicos de saúde especializados por idosos de acordo com o sexo e grupo etário no município de Porto Alegre. Métodos Estudo transversal com dados secundários dos sistemas de consulta ambulatorial e de internação do município. Utilizaram-se todos os registros de 2019, sendo aplicado o teste qui-quadrado de Pearson. Resultados No total, 64.888 idosos buscaram serviços especializados, gerando 113.694 atendimentos (82,8% atendimentos ambulatoriais e 17,2% internações). Verificou-se que 74,7% dos idosos foram referenciados pela atenção primária para atendimento especializado, com maiores percentuais de idosos jovens e mulheres (p<0,001). Já homens e idosos com 80 anos ou mais foram encaminhados com maior frequência para atendimento a partir de hospitais e pronto atendimentos (p<0,001). Mulheres e idosos entre 60 e 79 anos utilizaram em maior proporção os centros ambulatoriais, fisioterapia, centros de reabilitação, odontologia e saúde mental (p<0,001). Os principais motivos de utilização dos serviços especializados foram doenças do aparelho circulatório, sendo mais expressivo entre idosos com 80 anos ou mais e homens (p<0,001). As doenças osteomusculares (22,5%) foram os principais motivos de consultas ambulatoriais e, nas internações de urgência, as doenças do aparelho circulatório (37,9%). Idosos com histórico de consultas ambulatoriais tiveram menos internações hospitalares (p<0,001). Conclusão Destaca-se a necessidade de ações articuladas dos serviços de saúde priorizando a população masculina e longeva, enfocando a prevenção/controle de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e as vulnerabilidades dessa etapa de vida.

Patient absenteeism in outpatient consultations: an integrative literature review

OBJECTIVE

To identify and analyze the production of knowledge in national and international literature on patient absenteeism in scheduled medical consultations.

METHOD

This is an integrative literature review in the databases PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline, LILACS, Virtual Health Library of the São Paulo State Department of Health and Spanish Bibliographic Index in Health Sciences, accessed through the Virtual Health Library Portal, based on the guiding question.

RESULTS

A total of 767 articles was found and nine were selected. Forgetfulness predominated among the reasons for absence. Other findings regarding the cost to the health service and strategies for solving the problem are highlighted.

CONCLUSION

As the focus of the studies, the concern with the quality of care, increased treatment queues and high demand, as well as the cost of absent patients, are evident. Despite the relevance of the theme for the health services organization, the literature is still scarce.