Nursing knowledge production in tuberculosis control in Brazil

EDITORIAL

Nursing knowledge production in tuberculosis control in Brazil

Tereza Cristina Scatena Villa

Member of the Editorial Board of the Latin American Journal of Nursing, Full Professor of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil, e-mail: [e-mail]

Brazilian nursing has been developing research related to the production of essential and priority knowledge for public health, particularly tuberculosis (TB), considering that Brazil is one of the countries responsible for 80% of TB cases in the world.

The Millennium Development Goals set targets for the control of neglected diseases. New strategies have been developed to achieve them. Brazilian nursing follows the guidelines of the Global Plan to STOP TB in research and care, in which Human Resources emerge as one of the main challenges to expand the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course) strategy.

Scientific nursing production in TB has expanded its scope of analysis in the last decade (1998-2008), incorporating new actors and innovations in the health care process, such as DOTS. The theoretical reference framework is based on vulnerability, humanization and adherence/abandonment concepts^(1-2). Innovations in the management of the TB health care process⁽³⁾ are also addressed, inserted in the primary health care system⁽⁴⁾.

Another Nursing tendency is the coordination of collaborative research projects in tuberculosis, the Brazilian Tuberculosis Research Network - (REDE TB)⁽¹⁾ and the Latin-American TB Nursing Network^(4-5).

Research production on TB teaching in undergraduate nursing courses in Brazil⁽⁵⁾ is highlighted.

Scientific nursing production in TB has contributed to generate new knowledge on social and political determinants, especially in understanding aspects related to the patient, the family and health services⁽⁶⁾.

The nursing area in TB has worked towards the construction of research competencies integrated with health practices in different scenarios, permitting advances in researchers' qualification and knowledge production that contributes to TB care in Brazil.

• 1. Cardozo Gonzales RI, Monroe AA, Arcêncio RA, Oliveira MF, Ruffino Netto A, Villa TCS. Performance indicators of DOT at home for tuberculosis control in a large city, SP, Brazil. Rev Latino-am Enfermagem 2008; 16(1): 95100.
• 2. Bertollozi MR. A adesão ao tratamento da tuberculose na perspectiva da estratégia do tratamento diretamente observado (DOTS) no município de São Paulo-SP. [tese livre docência]. São Paulo (SP): Escola de Enfermagem/USP; 2005.
• 3. Williams G, Arrascue EA, Jittimanee S, WalusinbI M, Sebek M, Berga E, et al. Guindance for the implementation of best practice for the care of best practice for the care of patients with tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2008; 12(3):23640.
• 4. Villa TCS, Assis EG, Oliveira MF, Arcêncio RA, Cardozo Gonzáles RI, Palha PF. Cobertura do tratamento diretamente observado (DOTS) no Estado de São Paulo (1998 a 2004). Rev Esc Enferm 2008; 42(1):98-104.
• 5. Villa TCS, Ruffino Netto A, Andrade RLP, Arrascue EA, Montero CV, Firmino DR. Survey on tuberculosis teaching in Brazilian nursing schools, 2004. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2006; 10(3):323-7.
• 6. Villa TCS. A Enfermagem e a pesquisa: projeto temático FAPESP. Acta Paul. Enferm 2007; 20(4):5-6.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  29 Sept 2008
• Date of issue
  Aug 2008