Glossário técnico de termos e siglas: ferramenta para a melhoria da qualidade da assistência em oftalmologia

Abstract

The World Health Organization estimates that by the end of 2025, there will be 76 million people worldwide with visual problems, and one of the major challenges will be managing information flow and providing high-quality technical guidance to enable effective communication among different professionals in the field. Ophthalmology services are staffed by various professional categories, including ophthalmology assistants, technicians, teleoperators, doctors, biomedical scientists, nurses, contact lens specialists, receptionists, and administrative personnel. In Brazil, every three minutes, more than two patients die in hospitals due to adverse events, most related to communication errors. Since 2004, the National Health Agency has intensified its actions to transform the hospital environment into a safer place for patients. Against this backdrop, the guiding question of this study was: how to improve verbal and written communication to reduce discrepancies and chances of errors among professionals working in specialized ophthalmology services? The aim of the study was to develop a standardized glossary of terms and acronyms for healthcare professionals working in specialized ophthalmology services, addressing the existing gap in the interpretation of these terminologies. The research, quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory in nature, was divided into two main stages, with the second stage split into three phases. In the first stage, a bibliographic research was conducted, using an integrative literature review to build the theoretical framework and enable the development of a structured questionnaire. In the second stage, field research was conducted. First, a documentary analysis was performed to verify discrepancies between terms and acronyms in 400 medical records, evaluating inconsistencies in clinical documents. Then, a structured questionnaire with 20 questions was administered to 122 professionals at an ophthalmology hospital in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, to assess their knowledge level by professional category. Subsequently, a standardized glossary of terms and acronyms was developed and validated by a group of seven specialists using the Delphi methodology. The integrative literature review resulted in the inclusion of 93 articles after screenings by language, year of publication, and PRISMA methodology criteria. In the 93 articles, 386 acronyms and 521 distinct terms were identified. The results of the documentary analysis indicated that 64.25% of the analyzed medical records showed consistency in acronyms and terms, while 35.75% showed discrepancies, particularly in the field of ophthalmoscopy. In the structured questionnaires, 36.44% of the answers were correct, 32.62% were incorrect, and 30.94% of the participants did not know the answer. The ANOVA test demonstrated significant variations in knowledge levels among professionals in different positions within the hospital where the study was conducted. The results of this investigation enabled the development of a 161-page Glossary and Acronym Compendium for Ophthalmology, containing the meanings of 395 acronyms and 681 terms. The validation of the Glossary and Compendium developed in this study followed a rigorous process based on the Delphi method, with the participation of seven ophthalmologists from different Brazilian states, in accordance with established criteria. The specialists' suggestions, which led to adjustments in this study's technical product, emphasize the importance of making the material accessible and appealing to a diverse audience of healthcare professionals. The Glossary and Compendium was validated with 95% agreement in the second round, demonstrating the robustness of the validation process and the relevance of the technical product for ophthalmology. This technical product has the potential to enhance communication among healthcare professionals, contributing to the improvement of care quality in ophthalmology by reducing the likelihood of errors and adverse events through the use of a unified scientific document containing term and acronym information. It is hoped that future research will elucidate the evolution of quality care indicators following the adoption of the Glossary and Compendium by health services. The Ophthalmology Glossary and Compendium addresses an existing communication need, contributing to improve the performance of professionals in the ophthalmology subspecialty, and consequently enhancing patient safety and promoting the health of the population served.