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User satisfaction analyses in synchronous telemedicine and teleconsultation environments have been widely performed and generally show satisfied users. In the field of asynchronous telemedicine, however, satisfaction studies were performed only in one single location or with a restricted set of users. With the aim of offering an exemplar evaluation of the impact of the statewide use of a large-scale asynchronous telemedicine network on the satisfaction of the involved users, this study presents the results obtained from a survey of the perceived quality of the service by both patients and healthcare staff. For this purpose, a survey with satisfaction questionnaires was performed with 564 patients from seven upstate municipalities and 56 healthcare professionals from 46 municipalities, using a methodology from the process improvement field. The collected data were quantified and underwent statistical analysis, which showed a clear perception of the improvement in the quality of service by both patients and healthcare professionals. The present findings also showed that both patients and healthcare professionals felt that introducing these new technologies was a positive step, even in upstate areas and when they involved great changes in the usual processes of primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To describe the internet access characteristics of parents of patients in both public (PubHS) and private (PrivHS) pediatric urology health services. Materials and methods: Question sheets (200) were supplied to the legal guardians (LG) of patients seen in the PubHS (100) and a PrivHS (100) which have different socio–economic perspectives. LG were questioned on whether they sought on the web information about the urologic problem of their child, the kind of information sought, and whether it affected communication and the overall relationship with their physicians. Results: LG from the PubHS had less access to the internet than those from the PrivHS (51% vs 81%, P <0.001). Overall, 44 LG (with no significant difference between PubHS and PrivHS) reported that they sought on the web information about their child''s urologic disease. Out of these, 28 considered that communication with their doctor improved. There were no statistically significant differences between the PubHS and PrivHS regarding peace of mind and confidence in treatment after internet consultation. Conclusion: The internet is utilized by LG of patients in both the PubHS and PrivHS. Of the 44% who sought information on the web about their child''s urologic disease, 64% considered that communication with the doctor improved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article presents an analysis of computer ownership and Internet access in Brazil from 2001 to 2004. Using a linear regression model to relate income and the probability of computer ownership and home Internet access, we show that African descents are 7% less likely to own a computer and 5% less likely to have home Internet access than are families of other ethnicities with the same total family income per capita. Likewise, if an African-descent family already owns a computer, there is still a 7% less probability of that family having Internet access from home. These gaps are reduced, but do not disappear when one adds education level or the presence of a child at home in the analysis. Regional differences for the 2004 data show that whether African descents make up the majority of the population is not statistically significant as a factor to explain the gap differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work presents the analysis of the 2001 Brazilian Basic Education Evaluation System (SAEB) achievement exam. The SAEB tested 4th, 8th, and 11th grade students, in mathematics and reading (Portuguese). We classified the students into seven socioeconomic classes, and for each class, compared the test results according to frequency of computer use, computer ownership, Internet access at home, and whether the teachers used computers and Internet as pedagogical tools. Frequency of computer use had, in general, a negative effect on the test results, and the negative effect increased for younger and poorer students. Computer ownership had, in general, a small positive effect on the test results for older students, and no effect for 4th graders. Internet access had a negative effect for younger and poorer students, and a positive effect for 11th graders. Finally, whether the teacher used computers or Internet as pedagogical tools had no effect on the student’s test results for all social economic classes and grades. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: We sought to evaluate musculoskeletal discomfort and mental and physical fatigue in the call-center workers of an airline company before and after a supervised exercise program compared with rest breaks during the work shift., Introduction: This was a longitudinal pilot study conducted in a flight-booking call-center for an airline in São Paulo, Brazil. Occupational health activities are recommended to decrease the negative effects of the call-center working conditions. In practice, exercise programs are commonly recommended for computer workers, but their effects have not been studied in call-center operators., Methods: Sixty-four call-center operators participated in this study. Thirty-two subjects were placed into the experimental group and attended a 10-min daily exercise session for 2 months. Conversely, 32 participants were placed into the control group and took a 10-min daily rest break during the same period. Each subject was evaluated once a week by means of the Corlett-Bishop body map with a visual analog discomfort scale and the Chalder fatigue questionnaire., Results: Musculoskeletal discomfort decreased in both groups, but the reduction was only statistically significant for the spine and buttocks (p=0.04) and the sum of the segments (p=0.01) in the experimental group. In addition, the experimental group showed significant differences in the level of mental fatigue, especially in questions related to memory Rienzo, #181ff and tiredness (p=0.001)., Conclusions: Our preliminary results demonstrate that appropriately designed and supervised exercise programs may be more efficient than rest breaks in decreasing discomfort and fatigue levels in call-center operators.