Objectives: To analyze the distribution and spatial autocorrelation of the hospitalization rates for cardiovascular diseases in adults, and to verify the correlation with socioeconomic and health factors in Brazil. Methods: An ecological study of hospitalization rates for cardiovascular diseases in adults from 2005 to 2016. Spatial dependence was analyzed by the Moran Global and Local autocorrelation coefficients. The correlation between hospitalization rates and socioeconomic and health variables was calculated using the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results: The highest hospitalization rates were observed in the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, and Mato Grosso, with high-high autocorrelation clusters for ischemic heart disease. The hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases were strongly correlated with low schooling, alcohol consumption, and diagnosis of hypertension. Conclusion: The high rates of hospitalization in the states mentioned, linked to socioeconomic and health factors, suggest public policies focused on the theme.

Objective: To identify factors associated with cognitive, emotional, psychomotor, and relational skills of informal caregivers in home care. Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out with a sample of 216 informal caregivers residing in a municipality in the state of Paraná. Data collection took place between February and July 2019, with an instrument developed and validated to assess the skills of informal caregivers. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used. Results: The factors associated with a greater competence of informal caregivers were being female, having training in the field, and having more than five years home care experience. The lowest competence was observed in caregivers who had health problems and belonged to the lowest strata of family purchasing power. Participants had lower scores in psychomotor competence and had better results in cognitive competence. Conclusion: It was found that women with experience in care had higher levels of competence to provide quality care at home assistance services.

This study aimed to evaluate a clothing prototype that incorporates sensors for the evaluation of pressure, temperature, and humidity for the prevention of pressure injuries, namely regarding physical and comfort requirements. A mixed-method approach was used with concurrent quantitative and qualitative data triangulation. A structured questionnaire was applied before a focus group of experts to evaluate the sensor prototypes. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the discourse of the collective subject, followed by method integration and meta-inferences. Nine nurses, experts in this topic, aged 32.66 ± 6.28 years and with a time of profession of 10.88 ± 6.19 years, participated in the study. Prototype A presented low evaluation in stiffness (1.56 ± 1.01) and roughness (2.11 ± 1.17). Prototype B showed smaller values in dimension (2.77 ± 0.83) and stiffness (3.00 ± 1.22). Embroidery was assessed as inadequate in terms of stiffness (1.88 ± 1.05) and roughness (2.44 ± 1.01). The results from the questionnaires and focus groups’ show low adequacy as to stiffness, roughness, and comfort. The participants highlighted the need for improvements regarding stiffness and comfort, suggesting new proposals for the development of sensors for clothing. The main conclusions are that Prototype A presented the lowest average scores relative to rigidity (1.56 ± 1.01), considered inadequate. This dimension of Prototype B was evaluated as slightly adequate (2.77 ± 0.83). The rigidity (1.88 ± 1.05) of Prototype A + B + embroidery was evaluated as inadequate. The prototype revealed clothing sensors with low adequacy regarding the physical requirements, such as stiffness or roughness. Improvements are needed regarding the stiffness and roughness for the safety and comfort characteristics of the device evaluated.

Objectives: to build and validate educational self-care technology for informal caregivers. Methods: methodological study, anchored in the Delphi technique, carried out in a municipality in the state of Paraná, Brazil, between September 2018 and November 2019. It was developed in three stages: situational diagnosis; elaboration of educational technology; content and appearance validation by expert judges and informal caregivers, using the content validity index and coefficient of variation. Results: after the steps of the methodological process, an educational technology called “Taking Care of Those Who Care” was produced, as an information tool that deals with the self-care of informal caregivers, receiving a content validity index above 0.86 and a variation coefficient. below 20% on all items. Conclusions: the educational technology was built and evaluated with satisfactory rates by the specialists and target audience, showing a high correlation of agreement, characterizing it as adequate and informative to informal caregivers.

Pressure injuries (PIs) are a major public health problem and can be used as quality-of-care indicators. An incipient development in the field of medical devices takes the form of Smart Health Textiles, which can possess innovative properties such as thermoregulation, sensing, and antibacterial control. This protocol aims to describe the process for the development of a new type of smart clothing for individuals with reduced mobility and/or who are bedridden in order to prevent PIs. This paper’s main purpose is to present the eight phases of the project, each consisting of tasks in specific phases: (i) product and process requirements and specifications; (ii and iii) study of the fibrous structure technology, textiles, and design; (iv and v) investigation of the sensor technology with respect to pressure, temperature, humidity, and bioactive properties; (vi and vii) production layout and adaptations in the manufacturing process; (viii) clinical trial. This project will introduce a new structural system and design for smart clothing to prevent PIs. New materials and architectures will be studied that provide better pressure relief, thermo-physiological control of the cutaneous microclimate, and personalisation of care.

Resumo Objetivos analisar a estimativa condicional do conhecimento, adaptação e preparo nas competências de idosos que exercem o papel de cuidadores informais de pessoas dependentes de cuidado em assistência domiciliar. Método estudo transversal, realizado com idosos cuidadores informais, residentes no município de Maringá, Paraná, Brasil. A coleta de dados foi realizada entre maio e julho de 2019 com um instrumento que avalia as competências cognitivas, psicomotoras, emocionais e relacionais de cuidadores informais de pessoas dependentes de cuidado em assistência domiciliar. O instrumento é constituído por 14 itens e três construtos: conhecimento, adaptação e preparo, sendo a escala de resposta Likert de cinco pontos. Utilizou-se análise de regressão linear para tratamento das variáveis. Resultados participaram do estudo 101 idosos cuidadores informais, e as estimativas condicionais das competências cognitiva e relacional apresentaram maior correlação com adaptação e o preparo. O melhor conhecimento estima maior desenvolvimento da competência psicomotora e cognitiva nas práticas de cuidado. Conclusão e implicações para a prática os conceitos hipotéticos de conhecimento, adaptação e preparo explicam o melhor desempenho das competências cognitiva, relacional e psicomotora de idosos cuidadores informais. Este resultado possibilita o desenvolvimento de novas intervenções educativas aos idosos que desempenham o papel de cuidador informal.