ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To verify whether an intervention based on disseminating health evidence summaries by e-mail to health professionals increases access to health evidence databases, and whether health professionals intend to apply the evidence received by e-mail in their clinical practice. METHODS: This quantitative study started with a survey to collect demographic data and patterns of access to health evidence databases. It was followed by a longitudinal intervention, over 48 weeks, that disseminated 143 health evidence summaries to 339 health professionals with higher education degree who work in the Brazilian Unified Health System. In the longitudinal intervention phase, health professionals voluntarily assessed the received health evidence summaries using the information assessment method. Finally, the study concluded with a survey to identify changes in accessing health evidence databases. RESULTS: Of the 339 Brazilian health professionals participating in this research, 90 (26.5%) answered the initial and final surveys. After 48 weeks, there was an increase in the use of health evidence databases; 186 (54.9%) participants submitted 7,942 assessments of health evidence summaries, which were relevant for patient care in 5,409 (68%) assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The dissemination of health evidence summaries by e-mail to health professionals in Brazil increases the reported use of evidence in clinical practice.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To verify whether an intervention based on disseminating health evidence summaries by e-mail to health professionals increases access to health evidence databases, and whether health professionals intend to apply the evidence received by e-mail in their clinical practice. METHODS: This quantitative study started with a survey to collect demographic data and patterns of access to health evidence databases. It was followed by a longitudinal intervention, over 48 weeks, that disseminated 143 health evidence summaries to 339 health professionals with higher education degree who work in the Brazilian Unified Health System. In the longitudinal intervention phase, health professionals voluntarily assessed the received health evidence summaries using the information assessment method. Finally, the study concluded with a survey to identify changes in accessing health evidence databases. RESULTS: Of the 339 Brazilian health professionals participating in this research, 90 (26.5%) answered the initial and final surveys. After 48 weeks, there was an increase in the use of health evidence databases; 186 (54.9%) participants submitted 7,942 assessments of health evidence summaries, which were relevant for patient care in 5,409 (68%) assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The dissemination of health evidence summaries by e-mail to health professionals in Brazil increases the reported use of evidence in clinical practice.

OBJETIVO: Observar a relação entre a Sonolência Diurna Excessiva (SDE) e a presença de fatores de risco de disfunção cardiovascular, depressão e obesidade em idosos. MÉTODOS: Foram entrevistados 168 idosos comunitários em Campina Grande, Paraíba. Eles foram selecionados aleatoriamente de acordo com os distritos sanitários no ano de 2010. O diagnóstico da sonolência diurna excessiva era dado pela Escala de Sonolência de Epworth (> 10 pontos), risco de disfunção cardiovascular pela circunferência da cintura (> 94 ou > 80 cm), a depressão pela Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (> 10 pontos) e a obesidade através do índice de massa corpórea (> 25 kg/m2). Foi realizada análise de associação por meio do Teste do χ2 com ajustamento para o sexo e a faixa etária, adotando-se um α < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Participaram 168 idosos com média de idade de 72,34 ± 7,8 anos, sendo 122 (72,6%) mulheres. A SDE foi identificada em 53 (31,5%) idosos, depressão em 72 (42,9%), sobrepeso/obesidade em 95 (64,46%) e risco de disfunção cardiovascular em 129 (79,6%). Homens depressivos (78,6%; p = 0,0005) e com risco de disfunção cardiovascular (57,1%; p = 0,02) estavam mais propensos a apresentar SDE. Nas mulheres, apenas a obesidade mostrou-se relacionada com a sonolência (42,1%; p = 0,01). Somente idosas entre 70 - 79 anos apresentaram associação entre sonolência e obesidade. CONCLUSÃO: Verificou-se que a obesidade em mulheres, depressão e risco de disfunção cardiovascular em homens revelaram associação com a SDE em idosos. A variável sexo é uma condição de confundimento para as associações com a sonolência.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relationship between Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular dysfunction, depression and obesity in the elderly. METHODS: We interviewed 168 elderly from the community of Campina Grande, Paraíba. They were selected according to health districts in the period of 2010. We used the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to diagnose excessive daytime sleepiness (> 10 points); waist circumference for the risk of cardiovascular dysfunction (> 94 or > 80 cm); Geriatric Depression Scale for depression (>10 points) and body mass index for obesity (> 25 kg/m2). Association analysis was performed by the Chi-square test adjusted for sex and age group, adopting α < 0.05. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty eight elderly individuals with mean age of 72.34 ± 7.8 years old participated in this study, being 122 (72.6%) women. EDS was identified in 53 (31.5%) of them; depression, in 72 (42.9%); overweight/obesity, in 95 (64.46%); and risk of cardiovascular dysfunction, in 129 (79.6%). Depressed men (78.6%, p = 0.0005) and risk of cardiovascular dysfunction (57.1%, p = 0.02) were more prone to EDS. In women, only obesity was related to sleepiness (42.1%, p = 0.01). Only those aged between 70 - 79 years old showed association between sleepiness and obesity. CONCLUSION: It was found that obesity for women, and depression and cardiovascular dysfunction risking for men were associated with EDS in the elderly. The variable sex is a confusion condition for the association with sleepiness.