The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) was conducted in Brazil to provide data on tobacco use in order to monitor the WHO FCTC implementation in the country. It was carried out in 2008 using an international standardized methodology. The instrument included questions about tobacco use prevalence, cessation, secondhand smoke, knowledge, attitudes, media and advertising. Weighted analysis was used to obtain estimates. A total of 39,425 interviews were conducted. The prevalence of current tobacco use was 17.5%, (22.0%, men; 13.3%, women). The majority of users were smokers (17.2%) and their percentage was higher in rural areas (20.4%) than in urban areas (16.6%). About 20% of individuals reported having been exposed to tobacco smoke in public places. Over 70% of respondents said they had noticed anti-smoking information in several media and around 65% of smokers said they had considered quitting because of warning labels. About 30% of respondents had noticed cigarette advertising at selling points and 96% recognized tobacco use as a risk factor for serious diseases. Data in this report can be used as baseline for evaluation of new tobacco control approaches in Brazil, vis-à-vis WHO FCTC demand reduction measures.

Smoking of non-cigarette tobacco products is increasing worldwide because of their high social acceptability, misperceptions about their purported harmlessness, and globalization of the tobacco industry. In Brazil, tobacco control experts have recently focused their attention on the importance of monitoring the use of such products. We analyzed data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2009) in three cities. Prevalence rates of non-cigarette tobacco smoking in the previous 30 days among students 13 to 15 years of age were high in Campo Grande (18.3%; 95%CI: 14.4%-22.9%) and São Paulo (22.1%; 95%CI: 19.0%-25.6%), while Vitória showed comparatively lower prevalence (4.3%; 95%CI: 3.1%-5.7%). No statistical differences were observed in prevalence rates according to gender. Water pipes were the most frequent form of non-cigarette tobacco smoking. The decline in cigarette smoking in Brazil in recent years may have contributed to other forms of tobacco smoking, especially among students.

OBJECTIVE:The International Classifi cation of Primary Care was developed as an attempt to overcome the limitations of the International Statistical Classifi cation of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, when used for primary health care. The aim of the study was to evaluate the interobserver reliability of the International Classifi cation for Primary Care when coding reasons for health-related interruption of daily activities. METHODS:Data analyzed pertained to 801 subjects from Phase 2 of the Pró-Saúde Study, involving the employees of a Rio de Janeiro university who reported having been prevented from carrying out any of their usual activities (work, study, or leisure) for health-related reasons in the two weeks prior to data collection. Health problems reported in response to an open question were separately coded by two classifi ers. Interobserver reliability with respect to number of health problems was calculated by weighted kappa; for the remaining analyses (chapters and full codes), crude kappa coeffi cients were used. RESULTS:A total of 1,641 health problems were coded by the fi rst classifi er, and 1,629 by the second. Interobserver reliability with respect to the number of health problems coded was substantial (weighted kappa=0.94; 95% CI: 0.93;0.94). Chapter and full codes showed substantial (kappa=0.89; 95% CI: 0.88;0.90) and moderate (0.76; 95% CI: 0.76;0.78) reliability, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The results suggest that the International Classifi cation of Primary Care is adequate for the coding of health-related reasons for interruption of daily activities.

Análise dos investimentos do Ministério da

Introdução: Uma estratégia para reduzir mortes relacionadas ao tabaco é uma boa formação dos profissionais de saúde, os quais poderão se envolver no aconselhamento da prevenção e cessação do tabagismo. Objetivos: Avaliar a importância do tabagismo no contexto dos universitários da área de saúde no Rio de Janeiro. Método: Censo dos estudantes do terceiro ano da graduação dos cursos públicos e privados de medicina, Odontologia e Farmácia e dos cursos públicos de enfermagem da cidade do Rio de Janeiro (2006/2007). Participaram 1.525 estudantes. Resultados: A prevalência de fumantes foi 14,6%; a de usuários de outros produtos de tabaco, 5,7%. Quase 70% eram fumantes ocasionais. Entre usuários de qualquer produto de tabaco, 34,3% o consumiram no prédio da universidade. Mais de 90% acreditavam que profissionais de saúde deveriam receber treinamento sobre técnicas de cessação e aconselhar rotineiramente seus pacientes a pararem de fumar, mas cerca de 30% não os consideravam “modelo de comportamento”. Mais de 85% ouviram falar sobre efeitos do fumo durante o curso e, em menor proporção, sobre as consequencias do fumo passivo. Entretanto, cerca de 80% não receberam treinamento formal até o terceiro ano. Conclusão: Monitorar a prevalência de estudantes fumantes deve ser foco da universidade, considerando-se, especialmente, a elevada proporção de usuários ocasionais. A fiscalização da lei que proíbe fumar tabaco em ambientes coletivos fechados poderia reduzir a utilização desse produto. É preciso também avaliar, em uma colaboração saúde/educação, se temas como influência de profissionais sobre pacientes e treinamento formal integram os currículos após o terceiro ano ou não estão incluídos.