[Validation of a questionnaire to assess patient safety culture in healthcare managers: Psychometric properties and usability]. / Validación de un cuestionario para evaluar la cultura de seguridad del paciente en directivos de la salud: propiedades psicométricas y usabilidad.

AIM: To validate a reduced and applicable to distinct location version of the only validated questionnaire of patient safety culture in managers in Spanish language. METHOD: Questionnaire validation study. Community of Madrid 2022. Reduction/adaptation of the original questionnaire: Giménez-Aibar-Gutiérrez, 2013 Questionnaire was reduced from 85 items to 25; those local or not applicable were removed. Pre-test: Semi-structured survey on comprehension and response scale. There was no need to modify the questionnaire. VALIDATION: It was tested in 39 primary care managers without care activity. Internal consistency (α Cronbach), content validity (experts) and construct validity (factor analysis) were analysed. Usability analysis: Survey on time spent and non-response rate. RESULTS: α Cronbach=0.894. Content validity: Experts deemed questionnaire was complete. Factor analysis: five factors explain 68% of variance. The factors corresponded to the dimensions of the theoretical construct. Factors, internal consistency of each and correlation with global score were: commitment with patient safety: α Cronbach=0.793, r=0.778; P<.001; procedures/reporting: α Cronbach=0.83, r=0.806; P<.001; attitudes with patient safety: α Cronbach=0.766, r=0.596; P<.001; clinicians involving: α Cronbach=0.773, r=0.798; P<.001; patient safety communication: α Cronbach=0.615, r=0.518; P=.001; usability survey: 95% thought spent time was adequate. Non-response rate was 0%, except one item. CONCLUSION: In this work, a reduced and adapted version of questionnaire of Giménez-Aibar-Gutiérrez was validated at distinct location (Madrid region). Psychometric properties and usability, which were found, suggest that the reduced questionnaire is a reliable, valid and usable instrument to assess patient safety culture in managers of any place.

[Update on L-asparaginase treatment in paediatrics]. / Actualización del tratamiento con L-asparraginasa en Pediatría.

L-asparaginase (L-ASP) is one of the cornerstones of the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is an enzyme of bacterial origin capable of transforming L-asparagine to aspartic acid. The extracellular depletion of L-asparagine inhibits protein synthesis in lymphoblasts, inducing their apoptosis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that treatment with L-ASP improves survival of patients, but there are clear differences in the characteristics of the three currently available formulations. This article reviews the dosage, activity and side effects of the two L-ASP derived from Escherichia coli (native and pegylated), and the one derived from Erwinia chrysanthemi (Erwinia ASP). Despite its indisputable indication over the past50 years, there are still many points of contention, and its use is still marked by the side effects of the inhibition of protein synthesis. The short half-life of native forms, and the most frequently used parenteral administration by intramuscular injections, affects the quality of life of the patients. Therefore, recent studies claim to evaluate alternatives, such as the formulation of longer half-life pegylated L-ASP, and the use of intravenous formulations. There are encouraging results to date with both preparations. Still, further studies are needed to establish which should be the formulation and frontline indicated route of administration, optimal dosing, and management of adverse effects.