The authors examine laypersons' perspectives of illness: the content of causal explanations of diabetes and differences in explanations according to gender. Qualitative research was carried out in Guadalajara, Mexico. A nonprobabilistic sample of 20 diabetic individuals participated in interviews, and the content of the interviews was analyzed. On the origin of their condition, participants offered explanations that match neither the biomedical model nor any other formal causal theory. Participants attributed the onset of diabetes to socioemotional circumstances linked to their life experiences and practices. Men attributed causality to work and social circumstances outside the home; women attributed it to family life and domestic circumstances. The authors discuss how lay theories can be useful for the reorganization of health services.

O princípio do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil é assegurar à população o direito a uma atenção à saúde universal, integral e gratuita, incluindo as pessoas com insuficiência renal. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi examinar as perspectivas das pessoas com doença renal crônica e seus familiares sobre os obstáculos enfrentados no acesso à terapia de hemodiálise. Foi realizado estudo qualitativo em um hospital público localizado no sul do Brasil. Utilizando uma amostragem teórica, 11 pessoas em hemodiálise e cinco familiares foram selecionados. Os dados foram obtidos mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas e realizou-se análise de conteúdo convencional. Os resultados mostraram que os participantes manifestavam ter recebido bom atendimento dos profissionais de saúde no tratamento de hemodiálise. Além das sessões de hemodiálise, eles também reconheciam o acesso gratuito a medicamentos, exames, hospitalizações, transporte, alimentação e outros. No entanto, enfrentavam carências e dificuldades pela falta de profissional médico, medicamentos e materiais básicos de diagnóstico. Por isso, aqueles com mais recursos econômicos optavam pela medicina privada, consultando especialistas, comprando medicamentos e realizando exames mais rapidamente. Conclui-se que os obstáculos no acesso à terapia de hemodiálise repercutem negativamente na atenção à saúde das pessoas com DRC e acentuam as desigualdades sociais.

The illness experience is a relevant issue in current research and academic discussions. A growing number of research initiatives have undertaken to account for the subject's perspective and subjectivity in the health field. This paper discusses our research team's approach and results in studying the experience of people living with chronic illness. Our perspective is based upon the production in this relatively new field as well as health-related discussions in Latin America. The illness experience calls for an understanding of it as a subjective and existential phenomenon, entailing the phenomenological arena, immersed in the process where ill people "produce" and "reproduce" themselves. The unfolding and course of the illness as well as treatment management are some salient dimensions we evoke. Some lines of future work are presented in order to create a research agenda, highlighting its implications for existing proposals pertaining to health reform in our Latin American countries.

Viviendo con trasplante renal, sin protección social en salud: ¿Qué dicen los enfermos sobre las dificultades económicas que enfrentan y sus efectos?Kidney transplant patients without social protection in health: what do patients say about the economic hardships and impact?Viver com transplante renal sem proteção social em saúde: o que os pacientes dizem sobre as dificuldades econômicas e os seus efeitos?

aBstract:The purpose of this study was to review the empirical studies on health personnel's views towards organ donation and transplantation. A scoping review was carried out in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The search was conducted in eight databases, and two search engines. Four groups of descriptors were used. The period covered was 1985 to 2013. Frequency and content analysis was performed. Two hundred forty-eight articles were selected, out of 316 identified. The literature is temporally and geographically clustered. Quantitative studies predominate. The studies prioritized the perspective of medical and nursing personnel over other actors, such as directors and organ donation coordinators. Health personnel's attitudes toward deceased organ donation was the most examined topic. In conclusion, a growing quantitative literature analyzes the perspective of physicians and nurses with regard to deceased organ donation and transplantation. la VisiÓn del personal de salud soBre la donaciÓn Y el trasplante de Órganos: una reVisiÓn de la literatura resuMen: El objetivo de este estudio fue revisar los estudios empíricos sobre la visión del personal de salud respecto a la donación y trasplante de órganos. Se hizo una revisión panorámica de la literatura en español, inglés y portugués; realizándose la búsqueda en dos buscadores y ocho bases de datos. El periodo abarca de 1985 al 2013. Se hizo análisis de contenido y frecuencias. De 316 artículos identificados, 248 fueron seleccionados. Según los hallazgos, los trabajos se concentraron en términos temporales y espaciales; predominando aquellos con metodologías cuantitativas. Las publicaciones priorizaron la perspectiva del personal médico y enfermería sobre las de otros actores, como directivos y coordinadores de donación. Las actitudes del personal sanitario hacia la donación de órganos de fallecido fue el tema más estudiado. Se concluye que una producción creciente de tipo cuantitativo analiza la perspectiva de médicos y enfermeras sobre la donación y trasplante de órganos de fallecido.descriptores: Donación de órganos. Trasplante de órganos. Personal de salud. Actitudes. Revisión.