2021 World Health Organization guideline on pharmacological treatment of hypertension: Policy implications for the region of the Americas

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the Americas and raised blood pressure accounts for over 50% of CVD. In the Americas over a quarter of adult women and four in ten adult men have hypertension and the diagnosis, treatment and control are suboptimal. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) released an updated guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults.

Drivers and scorecards to improve hypertension control in primary care practice: Recommendations from the HEARTS in the Americas Innovation Group

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Americas, and hypertension is the most significant modifiable risk factor. However, hypertension control rates remain low, and CVD mortality is stagnant or rising after decades of continuing reduction. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the HEARTS technical package to improve hypertension control.

Information systems for health: an analysis of design from a public policy perspective

In 2019, the Pan American Health Organization approved a regional policy known as the Plan of Action for Strengthening Information Systems for Health 2019-2023, the design of which is the subject of this article. This analysis was carried out from the point of view of the development of the plan of action, as well as its implementation, in the light of the theoretical concepts of Harold Lasswell and Charles Lindblom. In the study of this policy, consideration was given to context, focus on problems, diversity, and the variety of methods used.

Interprofessional health education in the Region of the Americas from a nursing perspective

This study presents a reflective analysis of the implementation of interprofessional education in undergraduate nursing courses, considering as an example the curricula of undergraduate nursing careers in Brazil. Despite investments to advance interprofessional education, its practice is not institutionalized in the curricula of undergraduate courses.

Spanish-language version of the health belief model scale for testicular cancer and testicular self-examination

The objective of this study was to adapt and validate the health belief model scale for testicular cancer and testicular self-examination (TSE) in university students in Mexico and to determine the sociodemographic, clinical, and health belief model variables that influence TSE performance. Translation and back translation were conducted, and 72 items were obtained and reviewed by experts, following which 39 items were selected and applied to a group of 30 students to assess comprehension and application time. Finally, this version was applied to 803 students at a public university.

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