Assessing the Brazilian Network of Poison Control Centers

O crescimento dos registros das emerg??ncias causadas ou atribu??das ?? exposi????o de seres humanos e v??rios agentes t??xicos tornou imperiosa a avalia????o do desempenho informacional da rede nacional de 34 centros de controle de intoxica????es e envenenamentos (CCIEs), localizados nas diferentes regi??es do Brasil, integrantes do Sistema Nacional de Informa????es T??xico-Farmacol??gicas (SINITOX). O prop??sito prim??rio desses CCIEs ?? informar, prevenir e fornecer cuidados m??dicos. Este estudo analisa os recursos dispon??veis para a identifica????o dos casos, para preven????o de novas ocorr??ncias e monitoramento das conseq????ncias dos agentes t??xicos,apresentando dados registrados de 1990 a 1992. O objetivo ?? identificar os principais obst??culos para a utiliza????o de dados e informa????es gerenciais, nos processos de tomada de decis??es em n??vel local.General concern about increasing reports of emergencies caused by or attributed to the exposure of human beings to various toxic agents has created demand for assessing the informational performance of a Brazilian network of 34 poison control centers (PCCs), located in different regions of the country and pertaining to the National Poison Information System (SINITOX). The primary purpose of these PCCs is to inform the public, prevent cases of poisoning, and provide medical care. This paper analyzes the available resources for identifying cases of poisoning, preventing new occurences, and monitoring the consequences of toxic agents. This paper also analyzes data recorded front 1990 to 1992. The objective is to identify the main constraints to using health-data and management information as decision-making tools at the local level