[Relevance of the socioeconomic and health context in patient satisfaction]. / Relevancia del contexto socioeconómico y sanitario en la satisfacción del paciente.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which factors of the socioeconomic and health contexts influence the perception of the satisfaction of the population with the health services. METHODS: The data come from the European Health Survey of 2009. In the 22,188 subjects surveyed, the relationship between the perception of satisfaction with the health services received and the individual and contextual variables was studied, applying a multilevel analysis. RESULTS: The factors of the socioeconomic and health contexts that influence satisfaction are: higher rates of low level of studies where the perception of excellence is less likely (odds ratio [OR]: 0.48-0.82) and dissatisfaction is more prevalent (OR: 1.46-1.63). Likewise, the proportion of unsatisfied citizens is lower when per capita expenditure on health services is very high (>1400 €) (OR: 0.49-0.87) and the ratio "primary health care physicians/inhabitants" is high (>60) (OR: 0.500.85). In addition, the prevalence of dissatisfaction describes a positive linear trend with the unemployment rate (OR: 1.12; p=0.0001) and the relative magnitude of the services sector (OR: 1.03; p=0.001). By contrast, this linear trend is negative as the Health Care Coverage Ratio increases (OR: 0.88; p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The individual factors that determine patient satisfaction are: sex, age, mental health and country of birth. In addition, there are differences in patient satisfaction among the autonomous communities according to socio-economic determinants such as GDP per capita, low-level study rates, unemployment rates or number of inhabitants/doctor's ratio. User satisfaction studies as well as being adjusted for individual variables such as sex, age or health level should also take into account characteristics of the socioeconomic environment of the geographic area where they reside.

Development and Assessment of a Questionnaire to Study Protection, Promotion, and Support of Breastfeeding.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an instrument to measure variables that influence health care professionals' behavior with regard to the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding, especially one that related to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), and to conduct a psychometric assessment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Two public health departments in eastern Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 201 maternity and primary care professionals. METHODS: The Questionnaire of Professional Breastfeeding Support of the Healthcare Quality Management Program of the Spanish Region of Murcia (QPBS-EMCA) was developed using the theory of reasoned action as a conceptual framework and the Global Criteria for evaluating implementation of the BFHI. It comprises 4 scales on beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intention. The development process included item assessment and selection based on expert judgment and statistical criteria. The QPBS-EMCA scales were assessed for reliability and validity, including internal consistency, principal components factor analysis, criterion-related validity, and comparison of contrasted groups. RESULTS: The Beliefs, Attitudes, and Subjective Norms Scales were multidimensional, whereas the Behavioral Intention Scale was unidimensional. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from .65 to .81. Total scores for the Beliefs, Attitudes, and Subjective Norms Scales predicted scores for the Behavioral Intention Scale. Scores for the different QPBS-EMCA scales were related to professionals' previous breastfeeding training, interest in new training, and appraisal of breastfeeding policy in the workplace. CONCLUSION: The psychometric characteristics of the QPBS-EMCA render it suitable for evaluation of professionals' beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intention in relation to breastfeeding and could be useful in health care facilities implementing quality improvement processes based on the BFHI.

[Economic recession (2006-2012) and changes in the health status of the Spanish population]. / Recesión económica (2006-2012) y cambios en el estado de salud de la población española.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of mental health problems in Spanish population with the economic recession (2006-2012), and find out how it affects the self-perception of health status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study using the National Health Survey of Spain, 2006/2007 and 2011/2012. Using logistic regression models, three indicators linked to mental health and perceived health were analyzed. RESULTS: In 2011/2012 the consumption of anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills increased in men and women. Mental dysfunction increased during the economic crisis in the male population. The perception of optimal health did not suffer significantly in either men or women. CONCLUSIONS: The economic recession showed a changing relation to the mental and general health of the population, coinciding with an increase in mental health disorders, such as anxiety.

Recesión económica (2006-2012) y cambios en el estado de salud de la población española / Economic recession (2006-2012) and changes in the health status of the Spanish population

Objetivo. Analizar la relación de los problemas de salud mental en población española con la recesión económica (2006-2012) y establecer en qué sentido afecta a la autopercepción del estado de salud. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal comparativo utilizando la Encuesta Nacional de Salud de España, 2006/2007 y 2011/2012. Mediante modelos de regresión logística, se analizaron tres indicadores relacionados con la salud mental y la salud percibida. Resultados. En 2011/2012 aumentó el consumo de medicamentos ansiolíticos y somníferos en hombres y mujeres. La disfunción mental aumentó durante el periodo de crisis económica en la población de varones. La percepción de una salud óptima no sufrió cambios significativos en hombres ni en mujeres. Conclusiones. La recesión económica mostró una relación variable con la salud mental y general de la población, y coincidió con un aumento de los trastornos de salud mental, como la ansiedad.

Objective. To analyze the relationship of mental health problems in Spanish population with the economic recession (2006-2012), and find out how it affects the self-perception of health status. Materials and methods. Cross-sectional study using the National Health Survey of Spain, 2006/2007 and 2011/2012. Using logistic regression models, three indicators linked to mental health and perceived health were analyzed. Results. In 2011/2012 the consumption of anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills increased in men and women. Mental dysfunction increased during the economic crisis in the male population. The perception of optimal health did not suffer significantly in either men or women. Conclusions. The economic recession showed a changing relation to the mental and general health of the population, coinciding with an increase in mental health disorders, such as anxiety.

[Evaluation and Improvement of the Informed Consent Documents in 9 Hospitals, Spain]. / Evaluación y mejora de la calidad de los documentos de consentimiento informado en nueve hospitales del servicio murciano de salud.

BACKGROUND: Informed consent forms are very important in the process of medical information. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the formal quality levels of these documents, as a result of corrective measures implemented after the first evaluation. METHODS: Complete cycle of evaluation and quality improvement, with 4 assessments between the years 2007 and 2013. They were assessed 19 criteria in 3,045 documents belonging to 9 hospitals of Murcian Health Service. In the first evaluation the universe was studied and in the others a random sample. From the results of the first assessment corrective measures were implemented. To evaluate its effectiveness the percentage of non-observances per criteria was obtained, calculating the percentage of relative improvement between the first and the last evaluation. To assess the variability among hospitals the high-low ratio in the average number of defects per document was obtained. RESULTS: The percent of improvement achieved was 40.8%. This ranged from 94% in the name of the centre to 17.6% in the relevant consequences, being statistically significant in 16 of the 19 criteria. The average number of defects per document decreased from 7.6 to 4.5, with a high-low ratio among hospitals of 8.33. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement achieved in the quality of informed consent documents is related to the effectiveness of corrective measures implemented.

Clinical Pathway for Thyroidectomy.

Clinical pathways are care plans applicable to patient care procedures that present variations in practice and a predictable clinical course. They are designed not as a substitute for clinical judgment, but rather as a means to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the procedures. This clinical pathway is the result of a collaborative work of the Sections of Endocrine Surgery and Quality Management of the Spanish Association of Surgeons. It attempts to provide a framework for standardizing the performance of thyroidectomy, the most frequently performed operation in endocrine surgery. Along with the usual documents of clinical pathways (temporary matrix, variance tracking and information sheets, assessment indicators and a satisfaction questionnaire) it includes a review of the scientific evidence around different aspects of pre, intra and postoperative management. Among others, antibiotic and antithrombotic prophylaxis, preoperative preparation in hyperthyroidism, intraoperative neuromonitoring and systems for obtaining hemostasis are included, along with management of postoperative hypocalcemia.

[Factors related to patient satisfaction with hospital emergency services]. / Factores relacionados con la satisfacción del paciente en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the perceived quality variables related to satisfaction and to identify the influence of sociodemographic factors on user satisfaction with hospital emergencies. METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted with a specifically designed questionnaire for use in a sample of 3,600 users of hospital emergency services in nine public hospitals in 2008 and 2009. RESULTS: The adjusted model including all perceived quality and sociodemographic variables explained 47.1% of the variance (adjusted R(2)). Of all the independent variables included, only eight were significant in predicting the level of patient satisfaction. These variables were related to the patient's opinion of the relationship with medical staff (p = 0.041), nurses' and porters' professionalism (p = 0.010 and 0.022), infrastructure (cleanliness and comfort) (p = 0.033 and 0.008), information received at discharge (p = 0.000), waiting time in the emergency department (p = 0.000) and the perception of treatment-diagnosis without failure (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The variables influencing emergency patients' satisfaction were determined, allowing areas where corrective action could be introduced to be identified. In addition, possible confounding factors that should be controlled for when comparing results among distinct hospitals were identified. The emergency satisfaction questionnaire is a useful instrument to evaluate and improve quality of care.

[Psychometric properties of scales of professional competence and treatment by health personnel in outpatient hospital surgeries]. / Propiedades métricas de las escalas de competencia profesional y trato del personal sanitario de servicios de consultas externas hospitalarias.

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of two scales that assess the perceived quality and patient satisfaction with outpatient surgery in the Health Service of Murcia. These scales assess the degree of Professional Competence (PC) and Personnel Treatment (PT). The scales were administered to a sample of 2017 users of outpatient surgery in the Health Service of Murcia during the years 2008 and 2009. Exploratory factor analysis indicates a unidimensional structure for each scale. Internal consistency was adequate: .68 for PC and .75 for PT. The correlation between the PC scale and patients' global satisfaction was positive and statistically significant. The correlation between the PT scale and patients' global satisfaction was also statistically significant. The scales have shown their utility to detect areas of improvement and to plan intervention strategies.