Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Os acidentes infantis e as suas consequências (lesões não intencionais) constituem,
actualmente, um grave problema de saúde pública, pelas elevadas taxas de mortalidade e
morbilidade de que são responsáveis. Numa era moderna assiste-se à construção, por parte da
sociedade, de um meio cada vez mais desadequado às necessidades e à vulnerabilidade
específica dos mais novos, tendo como resultado a morte e a perda da funcionalidade em
eventos ditos de acidentais mas reconhecidos como previsíveis.
O reconhecimento desta previsibilidade constitui a base da sua prevenção,
considerada, nos dias de hoje, como a forma mais eficaz de resolução dos acidentes e suas
consequências e, portanto, uma prioridade na área da saúde. A pouca consciencialização para
a problemática por parte dos pais, crianças e sociedade em geral, incluindo dos próprios
profissionais de saúde, aliada ao desconhecimento das medidas de segurança a adoptar na
prevenção dos acidentes infantis, aparentam estar na origem da falta de efectividade nos
resultados em Portugal.
Perito na concepção e gestão de cuidados à criança e família, com um entendimento
profundo sobre este binómio, o Enfermeiro Especialista de Saúde Infantil e Pediatria apresenta
um papel central na mudança de mentalidades, atitudes e, consequentemente, de
comportamentos, não só da criança e família, mas de outros profissionais de saúde, ao nível
dos diferentes contextos de actuação.
Define-se, assim, como objectivo transversal deste percurso, contribuir para a
promoção da Segurança Infantil ao nível dos diferentes contextos de actuação, no âmbito das
funções atribuídas ao Enfermeiro Especialista de Saúde Infantil e Pediatria.
Utilizando uma metodologia descritiva e reflexiva, o presente relatório expõe os planos
de acção desenvolvidos em cada contexto de actuação, comunidade, serviço de internamento
e serviço de urgência, no sentido de consciencializar e de transmitir as referidas medidas
preventivas de acidentes, atendendo às necessidades específicas de cada população e
respeitando os três níveis de prevenção: primário, secundário e terciário. Com recurso a esta
mesma análise crítica, são aprofundadas competências inerentes ao Enfermeiro Especialista
na área da Saúde Infantil e aperfeiçoadas outras já existentes.
Dos resultados obtidos deste percurso de aprendizagem salienta-se a modificação nos
comportamentos de risco adoptados pelos familiares prestadores de cuidados e dos
profissionais de enfermagem aquando dos cuidados à criança dependente deles, reflectindo
uma mudança de consciência em relação ao problema dos acidentes infantis. Como
consequência deste percurso vem, particularmente, a integração dos diferentes saberes no
desenvolvimento de competências especializadas na complexa arte do cuidar
Childhood accidents and their consequences (unintentional injuries) are currently a serious public health problem due to the high death and injury rates associated to them. In the modern era, we witness the construction by society of an environment that is ever-more unsuitable to the specific needs and vulnerability of the younger members of society, resulting in the death and disability in incidents regarded as accidental but recognised as preventable. The recognition of this preventability is the basis for their prevention, which is considered today to be the most effective way to resolve the occurrence of accidents and their consequences and is therefore a priority in healthcare. However, a lack of awareness of the problem by parents, children and society in general, including healthcare professionals, allied with a lack of knowledge of safety measures to be adopted in preventing childhood accidents, seem to be the cause for the lack of effectiveness on reducing accident numbers in Portugal. An expert in the conception and management of child and family care, with a deep understanding of this dual issue, the Specialist Nurse in Child Health and Paediatrics has a central role in changing mindsets, attitudes and consequently, behaviours, not only of the child and family but also other healthcare professionals at a wide level of different contexts. It is therefore, an overarching objective of this project to contribute to the promotion of Child Safety at the level of all the different contexts of intervention, within the scope of the duties delegated to the Specialist Nurse in Child Health and Paediatrics. Using a descriptive and reflexive methodology, this report shows the action plans developed in each context, community, in-patient ward and casualty department, in order to answer the specific needs of each segment of the population and respecting the three levels of prevention: primary, secondary and tertiary. Using this same critical analysis, the duties inherent to the role of Specialist Nurse in Child Health are analysed and other existing ones are perfected. From the results obtained from this learning process, it is important to highlight the changes in risk behaviour adopted by family care providers and nursing professionals in the context of childcare dependent on them, thus reflecting a change in attitudes in relation to the problem of child accidents. As a consequence of this process, the integration of different knowledge in the development of specialised practices in the complex art of childcare is especially noteworthy
Childhood accidents and their consequences (unintentional injuries) are currently a serious public health problem due to the high death and injury rates associated to them. In the modern era, we witness the construction by society of an environment that is ever-more unsuitable to the specific needs and vulnerability of the younger members of society, resulting in the death and disability in incidents regarded as accidental but recognised as preventable. The recognition of this preventability is the basis for their prevention, which is considered today to be the most effective way to resolve the occurrence of accidents and their consequences and is therefore a priority in healthcare. However, a lack of awareness of the problem by parents, children and society in general, including healthcare professionals, allied with a lack of knowledge of safety measures to be adopted in preventing childhood accidents, seem to be the cause for the lack of effectiveness on reducing accident numbers in Portugal. An expert in the conception and management of child and family care, with a deep understanding of this dual issue, the Specialist Nurse in Child Health and Paediatrics has a central role in changing mindsets, attitudes and consequently, behaviours, not only of the child and family but also other healthcare professionals at a wide level of different contexts. It is therefore, an overarching objective of this project to contribute to the promotion of Child Safety at the level of all the different contexts of intervention, within the scope of the duties delegated to the Specialist Nurse in Child Health and Paediatrics. Using a descriptive and reflexive methodology, this report shows the action plans developed in each context, community, in-patient ward and casualty department, in order to answer the specific needs of each segment of the population and respecting the three levels of prevention: primary, secondary and tertiary. Using this same critical analysis, the duties inherent to the role of Specialist Nurse in Child Health are analysed and other existing ones are perfected. From the results obtained from this learning process, it is important to highlight the changes in risk behaviour adopted by family care providers and nursing professionals in the context of childcare dependent on them, thus reflecting a change in attitudes in relation to the problem of child accidents. As a consequence of this process, the integration of different knowledge in the development of specialised practices in the complex art of childcare is especially noteworthy