A previous entry described the need for self-management programs in the treatment of leprosy. The main problems caused by leprosy are physical incapacities. A study by Silva Sobrinho and coworkers evaluated the level of patients' incapacity in treatment and in discharge in 11 municipal districts of the14th Regional of Health of Paraná (Brazil). At the same time, the study promoted discussion and qualified nursing professionals of local teams. It was verified that 79.8% of the population evaluated presented some degree of incapacity and that some of the professionals ignored the evaluation technique. The percentage of patients with incapacity levels I and II was high, a fact related to the late diagnosis of cases. The need of a permanent self-care process associated to polichemotherapy and continuous evaluation of new and old cases to avoid physical incapacities was highlighted.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU: As with the past discussion of leprosy, it is a disease tailor made for the development and application of self-management programs.

RA Silva Sobrinho et al. Evaluation of incapacity level in leprosy: a strategy to sensitize and train the nursing team. Revista Latino-American Enfermagem, 2007;15:1125-1130.