Elaboração e validação de protocolo de atendimento da reumatologia pediátrica do hospital universitário de Maringá

Abstract

Rheumatology is a specialty of Medicine that treats diseases that affect multiple organs and systems, with the musculoskeletal system being the most predominant. The pediatric age group presents particularities in relation to the adult age group, having different incidence and prevalence values for most diseases, varied clinical presentations and specific diseases, with a great concern to obtain an early diagnosis and effective treatments, aiming to control the disease activity and maintenance/recovery of normal development and physical and psychological well-being. The Pediatric Rheumatology outpatient clinic at the Hospital Universitário de Maringá (HUM) is the only service of this specialty in the Unified Health System in the metropolitan region of the city. Currently, only patients residing in the city of Maringá can be referred to the HUM Outpatient Clinic, through the Health Department, or through the HUM emergency room, pediatric ward and pediatric ICU. However, these referrals, both internal and external, do not follow established protocols or parameters, varying only according to the experience of each medical professional who provides the first care and requests the referral to the Rheumatology specialty. Therefore, the development and implementation of the protocol for patient referral will be of great importance, favoring academic knowledge and the management and organization of health actions aimed at patients treated at the HUM Pediatric Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic. It should be noted that the existence of a specific protocol addressing signs and symptoms of pediatric rheumatology patients was not found in the medical and scientific literature. After preparing the protocol, it was presented to twenty professionals in the pediatric area of the service in question, who subsequently responded to a questionnaire for validation, containing 26 questions whose answers followed the Likert scale. The vast majority of interviewees strongly agreed with the questions proposed. After statistical analysis, high reliability of the dimensions was demonstrated, corroborating the applicability of the protocols in clinical practice, with the achievement of the proposed objectives.