Resumo em Espanhol:

Objetivos. Examinar los cambios en la esperanza de vida en Medellín, Colombia, entre los trienios de 1989-1991 y 1994-1996, en relación con los cuatro grupos de causas de muerte utilizados convencionalmente en los estudios sobre la carga de morbilidad: grupo 1, enfermedades transmisibles, perinatales, maternas y nutricionales; grupo 2, enfermedades no transmisibles; grupo 3, traumatismos; grupo 4, causas mal definidas. Estas últimas se excluyeron del análisis debido a su ambigüedad. Métodos. Para hacer los cálculos se utilizó el método descrito por J. H. Pollard en 1986, con ayuda del programa Microsoft Excel, usando las fórmulas requeridas para su aplicación. Las operaciones fueron verificadas con el programa EPIDAT (versión 3.0 no oficial). Resultados. Entre el primer y segundo trienio (1994-1996 y 1989-1991, respectivamente) se observó una ganancia total de 1,93 años en la esperanza de vida al nacer, la cual subió de 62,13 a 64,06 años. Esta ganancia fue mayor en los hombres que en las mujeres (2,42 y 1,09 años, respectivamente). Al aplicar el método de Pollard, se advirtió una ganancia en la esperanza de vida general de 2,03 años para el total de la población. La ganancia en el sexo femenino se concentró en las edades extremas (niñas de 1 a 4 años y mujeres mayores de 54), y en los hombres en las edades intermedias (entre los 25 y 44 años). Se destaca, además, que en ambos sexos la mayor pérdida porcentual en la esperanza de vida se presentó en el grupo de 15 a 19 años (23% en los hombres y 4% en las mujeres, aproximadamente). El grupo 1 de causas de defunción se asoció con una pérdida de la esperanza de vida en los hombres (0,04 años), mientras que en el grupo 2 se observó en ambos sexos un aumento de dicha esperanza (0,60 años para los hombres y 0,55 años para las mujeres). Se destaca que la mayor ganancia masculina en la esperanza de vida se relacionó con una reducción de la mortalidad por traumatismos (1,98 años). Conclusiones. Si la esperanza de vida al nacer observada en Medellín al final del período de estudio se compara con la esperanza de vida en toda Colombia en 1995, que era de 70 años, se advierte que la cifra en Medellín sigue siendo inferior a la de todo el país, pese a que ha aumentado paulatinamente en el transcurso de los años. Este fenómeno refleja la transición epidemiológica observada en la ciudad, que se caracteriza por un aumento de la mortalidad por enfermedades degenerativas, trastornos cardiovasculares, enfermedades respiratorias crónicas y diabetes, así como por enfermedades cuya causa se debe a actividad humana. No obstante, en Medellín, como en toda Colombia, esta transición epidemiológica ha sido lenta y tenaz y se ha reflejado primariamente en el sexo femenino. La poca participación que los hombres han tenido en ella se debe a su gran mortalidad a causa de traumatismos intencionales. Pese a que en Medellín ha disminuido la mortalidad por traumatismos, particularmente en la población masculina joven, cabe reexaminar la eficacia de las intervenciones efectuadas en los últimos años con el fin de fomentar la convivencia pacífica y la tolerancia en la comunidad.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objectives. To examine changes in life expectancy in Medellin, Colombia, between 1989-1991 y 1994-1996, in connection with four large groups of causes of death commonly employed in studies on the burden of disease: group 1, communicable diseases, perinatal and maternal health problems, and nutritional deficits; group 2, non-communicable diseases; group 3, wounds; group 4, ill-defined causes. The latter were excluded from the analysis because of their ambiguity. Methods. The calculations were made according to the method described by J. H. Pollard in 1986, with the aid of Microsoft Excel, by using the recommended formulas. The computations were double checked with EPIDAT (version 3.0, unofficial). Results. Between 1989-1991 y 1994-1996, a total gain of 1,93 years in life expectancy was seen in Medellin, with a rise from 62,13 to 64,06 years. The gain was greater in men than in women (2,42 vs. 1,09 years, respectively). The increase noted among females was greatest in the extreme age groups (girls 1 to 4 and women over 54 years of age); in men, it was highest in the middle years (between the ages of 25 and 44). In both sexes, the greatest percentage loss in life expectancy was seen in persons 15 to 19 years of age (23% in men and 4% in women, roughly). In the group comprising communicable diseases, perinatal and maternal health problems, and nutritional deficits, a loss in life expectancy was seen in men (0,04 years), whereas in the group of non-communicable diseases there was a gain in life expectancy in both sexes (0,60 years among men and 0,55 years among women). The greater gain in life expectancy among men was linked to a reduction in mortality from wounds (1,98 years). Conclusions. If one compares the results obtained in Medellin at the end of the study period with life expectancy at birth in Colombia in 1995, which was 70 years, it is obvious that life expectancy in Medellin is still lagging behind, even though it has risen progressively over the years. This is in keeping with the epidemiological transition the city has experienced, which has been linked with a rise in mortality from degenerative and cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory ailments, and diabetes, as well as from diseases resulting from human activity. Nevertheless, this epidemiological transition has been slow in Medellin when compared to Colombia as a whole due to high rates of death from infectious and parasitic diseases, which are more characteristic of the transition in its earlier stages. Despite the fact that mortality from wounds has decreased in Medellin, particularly among young males, it may be worthwhile to reassess the effectiveness of interventions undertaken in recent years to promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance in the community.

Resumo em Espanhol:

Objetivos. Investigar las intoxicaciones accidentales de niños en Antigua y Barbuda desde el punto de vista de la incidencia, tipos de sustancias implicadas, edad de los niños y desenlaces clínicos. Los resultados obtenidos en este país se compararon con los de otros estudios realizados en diferentes países caribeños de habla inglesa y en los Estados Unidos de América (EE. UU.). Métodos. Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de las historias clínicas de todos los pacientes de menos de 13 años de edad ingresados entre marzo de 1989 y marzo de 1999 en la planta de pediatría del Hospital Holberton de Antigua por intoxicación accidental. Los datos obtenidos se compararon con los comunicados en estudios anteriores realizados en Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica y EE. UU. Resultados. Durante este período de 10 años, hubo en Antigua y Barbuda 255 ingresos de niños de menos de 13 años por intoxicación accidental (media de 26 ingresos por año). En una población de aproximadamente 20 000 niños menores de 13 años, esto representa una proporción de 1,3 por 1 000. De estos 255 casos, 115 (45%) ocurrieron en niños de 1 año, 69 (27%) en niños de 2 años y 26 (10%) en niños de 3 años. Esta distribución por edades fue similar a la observada en los demás países. Al comparar los tipos de intoxicación en todos los países estudiados, se verificó que las sustancias implicadas cambiaban a medida que aumentaba el nivel económico: disminuían los hidrocarburos y las plantas y aumentaban los medicamentos y los productos químicos. Conclusiones. A medida que aumenta el nivel económico, también lo hace la complejidad de las sustancias implicadas. Esta tendencia debería llevar al establecimiento de un centro de control de intoxicaciones en los países caribeños de habla inglesa.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective. To assess accidental poisoning in children in the Caribbean country of Antigua and Barbuda, including the incidence, the types of substances ingested, the age of the children involved, and the clinical outcomes. The results from Antigua and Barbuda were compared with the results of other reports from the English-speaking Caribbean and from the United States of America. Design and Methods. We performed a retrospective review of the charts of all patients less than 13 years old admitted to the Children's Ward at Holberton Hospital in Antigua for accidental poisoning between March 1989 and March 1999. Those data were compared with data from earlier reports from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and the United States of America. Results. In Antigua and Barbuda there were 255 hospital admissions for accidental poisoning among children below 13 years old over that 10-year period. Of the 255 ingestions, 115 of them (45%) were in 1-year-old children, 69 (27%) were in 2-year-old children, and 26 (10%) were in 3-year-old children. These proportions in Antigua and Barbuda are similar to the age patterns seen in the other countries with which we made comparisons. In Antigua and Barbuda there was an annual average of 26 hospital admissions for poisoning for the roughly 20 000 children below 13 years of age, for a rate of 1.3 per 1 000. In comparing the patterns of childhood poisoning in all the countries we studied, we found that, as economic levels rose, there was a shift in the substances ingested, with hydrocarbon and plant ingestions decreasing and chemical and medication ingestions increasing. Conclusions. There is an increasing variety and complexity of poisonous substances ingested as economic conditions improve. This trend would make the establishment of a poison control center for the English-speaking Caribbean a logical step.

Resumo em Português:

Objetivo. Determinar as prevalências estaduais e nacional do bócio endêmico relacionado com a deficiência de iodo em escolares de 6 a 14 anos, com base em dados obtidos no inquérito nacional realizado de 1994 a 1996 no Brasil. Materiais. Em 428 municípios de todos os estados brasileiros, o exame de inspeção-palpação foi utilizado para coletar dados de 178 774 escolares de 6 a 14 anos. Uma sub-amostra foi selecionada para determinação do conteúdo de iodo na urina e sal culinário residencial. Resultados. Em comparação com dados de 1975, último inquérito antes deste aqui relatado, constatou-se queda de 86% na prevalência mediana de bócio graus I e II (de 12 para 1%). Em 21% dos municípios, a prevalência observada foi zero. Das 16 803 amostras urinárias para dosagem de iodo foi possível recuperar 7 702 e associá-las às respectivas fichas clínicas individuais (perda de 54%). A mediana de iodo urinário foi de 14,0 mig/dL e não se verificou correlação significativa com os dados clínicos de bócio. Os estados do Acre, Amapá e Tocantins tiveram mediana populacional de excreção urinária de iodo igual ou abaixo de 9,0 mig/dL. Em três municípios a dosagem urinária de iodo foi gravemente baixa (< 2,5 mig/dL) em todas as amostras: Paranã (Tocantins); Conceição (Paraíba); e Nova Roma (Goiás). O sal consumido nas residências (458 amostras coletadas) apresentou sub-dosagem de iodo suplementar, com 50% abaixo de 20 mg/kg ou 20 ppm. Em 7% das amostras, a dosagens de iodo foi menor do que 10 mg/kg de sal, inclusive em estados produtores de sal, como o Rio Grande do Norte. Conclusões. Há evidências de expansão da área endêmica de bócio para as regiões de abertura de fronteira agrícola, com exposição de crianças a dieta doméstica carente de iodo veiculado pelo sal. Esta carência associou-se com o aumento de risco para bócio (OR = 1,85; 1,68 < OR < 2,03; IC 95% Cornfield) nas áreas onde a iodação do sal consumido foi deficiente (< 10 mg/kg).

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective. To determine the national and state-level prevalence of endemic goiter associated with iodine deficiency in schoolchildren between 6 and 14 years of age in Brazil, based on data from a national survey carried out from 1994 to 1996. Materials. Thyroid inspection and palpation were performed on 178 774 schoolchildren between 6 and 14 years of age, in all the states of Brazil. A subsample was selected to measure the iodine content in their urine as well as the iodine content of the table salt used for cooking in their homes. Results. The last survey before this one was carried out in 1975. We found an 86% decrease in the median prevalence of grade 1 and grade 2 goiter, from 12% to 1%. In 21% of the municipalities, the observed prevalence was zero. From the 16 803 urine samples collected for iodine measurement, 7 702 were matched with the corresponding clinical record (a loss of 54%). The median urinary iodine level was 14.0 mug/dL, and without a significant correlation with the clinical data on goiter. The median iodine excretion level for the population in the states of Acre, Amapá, and Tocantins was equal to or below 9.0 mug/dL. In three municipalities, urinary iodine was below 2.5 mug/dL in all the samples: Paranã (in the state of Tocantins), Conceição (Paraíba), and Nova Roma (Goiás). The supplementary iodine found in the salt collected from households (458 samples collected) was below recommended levels, with 50% of them below 20 mg/kg (20 ppm). In 7% of the samples, the level of iodine was below 10 mg/kg of salt, even in salt-producing states such as Rio Grande do Norte. Conclusions. There is evidence that endemic goiter is expanding to parts of Brazil that more recently have been opened up for agriculture, with children in those areas being exposed to low levels of supplementary iodine in the salt used for cooking. We found an increased risk of goiter in areas with deficient iodine supplementation (< 10 mg/kg) (odds ratio = 1.85; Cornfield 95% confidence interval: 1.68-2.03).

Resumo em Espanhol:

Objetivos. Determinar la proporción de adolescentes que han estado expuestos a la violencia física en la ciudad de Porto Alegre, Brasil. Métodos. Mediante un muestreo aleatorio estratificado en función del tamaño de la escuela, se seleccionaron 52 escuelas públicas de educación básica primaria (grados 1 a 8) de la ciudad de Porto Alegre. De mayo a noviembre del año 2000 se realizó una encuesta sobre la exposición a la violencia entre todos los estudiantes de una clase de octavo grado seleccionada aleatoriamente en cada una de las 52 escuelas. Como exposición a la violencia se consideró el haberla sufrido personalmente, el haberla presenciado o el conocer a víctimas de actos violentos. Resultados. En el análisis se incluyeron 1 193 adolescentes que representaban 10,3% de los estudiantes de octavo grado de las escuelas del sistema de enseñanza pública de la ciudad. En promedio (± desviación estándar), cada adolescente había estado expuesto a 19,8 (± 8,5) incidentes violentos: 2,0 (± 2,1) sufridos personalmente, 8,5 (± 4,0) presenciados y 9,3 (± 4,1) con un conocido como víctima. Las variables asociadas de forma independiente con una exposición a más incidentes violentos fueron el pertenecer al sexo masculino (P < 0,001), el pertenecer a un grupo de edad más avanzada (P < 0,001) y el no vivir con ambos padres (P < 0,001). Conclusiones. Se registró una alta prevalencia de indicentes violentos entre los adolescentes de esta muestra de la ciudad de Porto Alegre. Teniendo en cuenta la carga que estos actos representan para los adolescentes, los profesionales sanitarios deben tomar medidas eficaces para identificar activamente la violencia en la comunidad, intervenir ante ella y prevenirla.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective. To determine the proportion of adolescents who have been exposed to physical violence in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Methods. Fifty-two Porto Alegre public schools that offer basic primary education (grades 1 to 8) were selected through a random sampling process stratified according to school size. In May-November 2000 a screening survey that identifies exposure to violence<FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT>experienced personally, witnessed, or knowing victims of violent acts<FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT>was administered to all students who were attending a randomly selected 8th grade class in each of the 52 schools. Results. The total number of adolescents included in the analysis was 1 193, representing 10.3% of the students enrolled in 8th grade classes in the city's public school system. On average, each adolescent had been exposed to 19.8 incidents of violence (standard deviation (SD) = 8.5): 2.0 incidents personally experienced (SD = 2.1), 8.5 incidents witnessed (SD = 4.0), and 9.3 knowing a victim of an incident of violence (SD = 4.1). In our sample, the variables of being male (P < 0.001), being in an older age group (P< 0.001), and not living with both parents (P< 0.001) were independently associated with exposure to more incidents of violence. Conclusions. We found a high prevalence of incidents of violence among the adolescents in our sample in Porto Alegre. Considering the particular burden inflicted by violent acts on adolescents, health professionals must develop effective approaches to actively identifying, intervening in, and preventing community violence.

Resumo em Espanhol:

Objetivos. Presentar una evaluación de la Unidad de Cirugía del Día (UCD) del Centro de Asistencia del Sindicato Médico del Uruguay (CASMU) de Montevideo, instalada en el Sanatorio 1 de esta institución, un hospital de 107 camas destinado antes a la actividad quirúrgica de mediana y baja complejidad. Se analizan los resultados del proceso de reorganización de la actividad quirúrgica bajo el régimen de la cirugía de día mediante indicadores estadísticos de utilización del servicio, costos y satisfacción del paciente. Métodos. Se utilizaron las estadísticas asistenciales para determinar la cobertura del nuevo régimen, los días de internación, los costos anteriores y posteriores a la puesta en funcionamiento de la UCD y la opinión de los pacientes sobre la calidad de la atención. Resultados. Tras los primeros 2 años de funcionamiento de la UCD (1998-1999), más de un tercio de las operaciones de las especialidades seleccionadas se realizaban en el régimen de cirugía de día. Dichas especialidades representan 84% del total de las actividades quirúrgicas realizadas por la UCD. Los días de estadía en las especialidades incluidas en el sistema disminuyeron en 26%. El análisis de costo-efectividad de esta modalidad muestra resultados dos veces y media más favorables que la forma convencional. En general, los pacientes manifestaron gran satisfacción con los servicios prestados por la UCD. Discusión. Los resultados obtenidos permiten recomendar definitivamente esta forma de atención, dado que es de buena calidad, logra la satisfacción del paciente y reduce radicalmente los costos, gracias a la disminución de la estadía y de los recursos necesarios en los servicios de internación. Existen posibilidades de expansión de este nuevo régimen mediante la incorporación de otros procesos patológicos y de las técnicas elegibles.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective. To evaluate the Day Surgery Unit (DSU) of the Medical Union of Uruguay Health Center (MUUHC), in Montevideo. The DSU is located in the MUUHC's Sanatorium 1 hospital, a 107-bed hospital that had previously handled low- and medium-complexity surgeries. The results of the reorganization of the surgical activity were analyzed in terms of service utilization, costs, and patient satisfaction. Methods. For four surgical specialties that were selected for study, health care data were gathered and used to determine the coverage level with the new approach, the number of days of hospitalization, the costs before and after putting the DSU into place, and the patients' opinions of the quality of the care. Results. For the 1998-1999 period, which was the second full year of operation of the DSU, the DSU was carrying out more than a third of the surgeries of the four surgical specialties being studied. These four specialties accounted for 84% of the total number of surgeries carried out by the DSU in the 1998-1999 period. The total number of days of hospitalization declined by 26%. The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the conventional approach, with hospitalization, would have cost some two and a half times as much as the day surgery approach for the same surgeries. In general, the patients expressed strong satisfaction with the services they received from the DSU. Discussion. Our results indicate that it is definitively possible to recommend this day surgery form of care, since it provides good quality of care, it satisfies patients, and it dramatically lessens costs, thanks to the reduction in hospitalizations and the resources needed for inpatient services. It may be possible to expand this new regimen by including other conditions and surgical techniques that are appropriate for day surgeries.

Resumo em Português:

Objetivo. Revisar a literatura a respeito da fluorose dental e avaliar sua presença em escolares da rede pública da Cidade de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. Métodos. Realizamos uma revisão da literatura internacional, com ênfase nas revisões críticas sistemáticas listadas em fontes eletrônicas (Medline, Lilacs, Biblioteca Cochrane e Scielo Saúde Pública) e publicadas entre 1998 e 2001. Além disso, realizamos um estudo transversal, no ano de 2000, com escolares de 12 anos (n = 1 494). Resultados. A literatura mostra que ainda existe controvérsia acerca do impacto da fluorose e dos benefícios da suplementação de flúor. Em nosso estudo, observamos uma prevalência média de fluorose de 23%, incluindo os níveis 2, 3, 4 e 5 do índice de Dean. A fluorose observada teve pouco impacto sobre a saúde biopsicossocial dos escolares estudados, como mostrou a análise multivariada com regressão logística, que revelou que a presença de fluorose não se associou significativamente ao incômodo com a cor dos dentes. Houve, contudo, associação entre o local de residência (variável independente) e a presença de fluorose (P= 0,00), tanto na análise bivariada como na multivariada. Conclusões. É possível concluir que a fluorose dental, por ora, não constitui um problema epidemiológico relevante para a população estudada, e que as iniciativas para controlar a fluorose devem levar em conta a autopercepção do problema da fluorose pela própria população. Mesmo assim, ainda é de extrema importância o monitoramento rigoroso dos teores de flúor na água de abastecimento.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective. To review the scientific literature concerning dental fluorosis and to evaluate its occurrence among children attending public schools in the city of Curitiba, which is in the state of Paraná in Brazil. Methods. We reviewed the international literature on fluorosis that was published between 1998 and 2001, focusing on systematic critical reviews that were listed in such electronic bibliographical sources as MEDLINE, LILACS, the Cochrane Library, and SciELO Public Health. In addition, in 2000 we carried out a cross-sectional study with 12-year old schoolchildren (n = 1 494) in Curitiba. Results. Our literature review found that there is still much controversy regarding the benefits associated with fluoride supplementation and the impact of fluorosis. In our cross-sectional study with the Curitiba schoolchildren, we found a fluorosis prevalence of 23% for grade 2, 3, 4, or 5 on the Dean index. The observed fluorosis had little impact on the biopsychosocial health of the children studied, as shown by the multivariate logistic regression analysis. That analysis showed that the presence of fluorosis was not significantly associated with dissatisfaction with tooth color. However, there was an association between the independent variable of place of residence (sanitary district within Curitiba) and fluorosis (P = 0.00), in both the bivariate and multivariate analyses. Conclusions. Based on our results, we concluded that dental fluorosis is not now a crucial epidemiological problem for the population studied in Curitiba. Any initiatives to control fluorosis should take into account the population's perception of the problem. Nevertheless, it is still extremely important to monitor the levels of fluoride in drinking water.

Resumo em Espanhol:

Objetivos. Identificar los cambios en la práctica de la enfermería y en el medio donde se ejerce que han tenido lugar con la puesta en marcha de la reforma del sector de la salud (RSS) en cinco países americanos. Métodos. Entre 1997 y 1999 se realizó en Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, México y los Estados Unidos de América un estudio exploratorio para obtener los datos narrados por 125 profesionales de la enfermería acerca de sus percepciones de la práctica de la profesión y de los cambios en su ambiente de trabajo. También se obtuvieron descripciones de las características y de las tendencias de la práctica de la profesión en los lugares de trabajo estudiados. Resultados. En el contexto de la RSS, los cinco países han sufrido una reorganización de los servicios de salud que ha afectado a la práctica de la enfermería. Los participantes de los cinco países mencionaron el aumento de la importancia de la empresa privada; los cambios en el sistema de pago, tanto para los pacientes como para los proveedores; la redistribución de la fuerza de trabajo de los profesionales de la enfermería; los cambios en la composición del personal y en las funciones prácticas de estos profesionales; el cambio del trabajo en el hospital hacia el trabajo en la comunidad, y la mayor importancia prestada en el campo práctico a la prevención y al control de los costos. Conclusiones. El estudio proporciona información inicial sobre los problemas actuales de la enfermería que han aparecido a consecuencia de las iniciativas de RSS. Los participantes de los cinco países identificaron muchos temas, tendencias y cambios comunes en la práctica de la enfermería, independientemente de las diferencias en los tipos de servicios de enfermería y de la fase de implementación de la RSS en cada país. Las fuerzas que llevaron al cambio y la intensidad de este han sido muy diferentes en los cinco países. Los profesionales de la enfermería siguen manteniendo sus valores esenciales a pesar del mayor estrés laboral, de las mayores necesidades asistenciales de los pacientes y, en los países de América Latina, a pesar de la crisis económica.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective. To identify changes in nursing practice and the nursing-practice environment that have occurred with implementation of health sector reform in five countries in the Americas. Methods. An exploratory study of selected settings in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States of America was conducted between 1997 and 1999 to collect narrative data from 125 professional nurses about their perceptions of nursing practice and changes in work environments. Descriptions of characteristics and trends in nursing practice in the study sites were also obtained. Results. Reorganization of health services has occurred in all five of the countries, responding to health sector reform initiatives and affecting nursing practice in each country. Respondents from all five countries mentioned an emphasis on private enterprise, changes in payment systems for patients and providers, redistributions in the nursing workforce, changes in the personnel mix and nursing-practice functions, work shifting from the hospital to the community, and greater emphasis on cost control and prevention in practice settings. Conclusions. The study provides initial information about current nursing issues that have arisen as a result of health care reform initiatives. Regardless of differences in service models or phases of health sector reform implementation, in all the countries the participating nurses identified many common themes, trends, and changes in nursing practice. The driving forces for change and their intensity have been different in the five countries. Nurses maintain their core values despite increased work stress and greater patient care needs in all the countries as well as economic crises in the Latin American countries.

Resumo em Inglês:

This paper addresses the most important features of health economics, especially its scope and applications within the sphere of health. Health economics is a field of study which allows countries to gear their health policies toward making more rational use of their resources and expanding and improving their health care services. Such policies should, on the other hand, aim to generate strategies for adequately managing human, technical, economic, and financial resources so as to reap the finest health benefits possible. A knowledge of how economics can be applied to health will enable health professionals to introduce an economics culture into their daily work. In other words, it will allow them to keep in mind the scope of their various working tools<FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT>health planning, national health accounts and accounting, and economic assessment methods, which include health and pharmaceutical technology assessment and pharmacoeconomics<FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT>as well as the place that economics has in health research. Hopefully, a knowledge of these aspects of economic analysis will provide decision-makers with one more tool they can apply in selecting more efficient options and attaining the highest health benefits at the lowest possible cost for the national health system.

Resumo em Espanhol:

Según un nuevo informe de la Organización Mundial de la Salud titulado Programas nacionales de lucha contra el cáncer: estrategias y directrices de gestión,cada año se podrían salvar millones de vidas si los países hicieran uso de los conocimientos existentes y de los métodos más rentables de prevención y tratamiento del cáncer. El informe afirma que un tercio de los 10 millones de nuevos casos de cáncer que se registran cada año en el mundo son prevenibles y que otro tercio se podría tratar eficazmente si se diagnosticara y tratara precozmente. En el tercio restante se puede reducir mucho el sufrimiento gracias al tratamiento paliativo. Un programa nacional eficaz de lucha contra el cáncer debe encontrar el equilibrio adecuado entre las actividades de prevención, detección precoz, diagnóstico, tratamiento y paliación. Los procesos de planificación deberían seguir en todos los países cuatro pasos básicos: 1) evaluación de la magnitud del problema; 2) fijación de objetivos de control medibles; 3) evaluación de posibles estrategias de prevención y control basadas en datos objetivos, y 4) elección de prioridades para las actividades iniciales de lucha contra el cáncer. Es necesario un enfoque flexible, dado que las situaciones políticas, socioeconómicas y epidemiológicas de un país pueden evolucionar y cambiar con el tiempo. El informe proporciona tres escenarios distintos para guiar a los países hacia la consecución de objetivos dentro de las posibilidades acordes con sus recursos: bajos, medios o altos. Estos escenarios pueden servir también para identificar acciones específicas pertinentes para diferentes regiones o grupos de población de un mismo país.