Effect of mobile phone text messaging for improving the uptake of influenza vaccination in patients with rare diseases.

OBJECTIVES: Influenza vaccine is recommended in some chronic medical conditions, including several rare diseases. The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of text message reminders on influenza vaccination uptake of patients with selected rare diseases and delayed vaccination, and to describe their characteristics. METHODS: Quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study performed along the 2016 influenza vaccination campaign in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. Unvaccinated patients diagnosed with a selected rare disease were targeted for intervention. SMS were sent to them at least one month after the beginning of the campaign, in four consecutive weeks. Those with no mobile phones available or no certainty of message reception, were assigned as controls. The association between the reception of the SMS and vaccination uptake was assessed using multiple poisson regression models. RESULTS: Of 69.040 patients with delayed vaccination, 87.2% received an SMS reminder in the asigned contact mobile telephone. Global influenza vaccine coverage reached 41.3%. The uptake of influenza vaccine was significantly higher among those receiving the reminder (9.3% vs. 7.1% in the control group, p < 0.001). Those who received a SMS reminder were 30% more likely to uptake seasonal influenza vaccine. By sex and age, the reception of the reminder was associated with a significantly higher probability of vaccination in men ≥65 years with at least a concurrent chronic condition (IRR: 1.58, CI95%: 1.25-2.00). Among women, this higher probability was detected in those between 14 and 64 years of age (IRR: 1.41, CI95%: 1.22-1.63), and ≥65 years without concurrent chronic conditions (IRR: 1.40, CI95%: 1.05-1.89). CONCLUSION: Although the intervention was modestly effective, it proved beneficial in some cases. It can be an additional strategy to improve vaccine uptake, since it is simple, feasible, affordable and easily scalable, particularly when immunization and target population data are available in population registries.

[Primary care specific scorecards as management tools]. / Cuadros de mando específicos de atención primaria como herramienta de gestión.

INTRODUCTION: Specific Scorecards are a key element to improve strategic lines aimed at enhancing intermediate health outcomes. Their implementation, involving professionals, requires identifying indicators linked to the outcomes of healthcare actions that the scientific literature may endorse. In addition, the inclusion of objectives that can be defined by parameterized by indicators of intermediate results in the health centre program contract, conveys the relevance of health actions and their impact on health. OBJECTIVE: To describe the design, development and outcomes of the specific scorecards of indicators of intermediate health outcomes in the Primary Care information system (eSOAP) in order to promote the involvement of professionals in strategic management from clinical management. METHODS: Phase 1: description of the process (preparation and publication of 147 indicators, 46 of them of chronicity). Phase 2: observational descriptive study on the use of professionals and managers and data on the intermediate health outcomes obtained. RESULTS: A total of 268,849 reports were generated in 2017, with 35,835 reports of specific balanced scorecard (20%) being downloaded in just 6 months. One-quarter (25%) of the indicators of the Centre program contract are intermediate results. The percentage of diabetic patients controlled was 39.2%, and has improved significantly (P<.05) in 5 years. DISCUSSION: The specific scorecards with indicators of intermediate outcomes linked to strategic lines and their inclusion in the program contracts enables professionals to become involved in clinical and strategic management and improves the decision making of professionals and managers.

[Development and evolution of a balanced scorecard in primary health care: Lessons learned]. / Desarrollo y evolución de un cuadro de mando integral en atención primaria: lecciones aprendidas.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the design, implementation, and monitoring of eSOAP (Primary Health Care Balanced Scorecard) and its role in the deployment of strategic objectives and clinical management, as well as to show the lessons learned during six years of follow-up. METHOD: Descriptive study areas: methodology (conceptual framework, strategic matrix, strategic map, and processes map), technology and standardisation. RESULTS: As of December 2014, 9,046 (78%) professionals are registered in eSOAP. A total of 381 indicators were measured from 16 data sources, of which 36% were of results (EFQM model), 39.1% of clinical management, and 20% were included in the Program Centre Contract. The Balanced Scorecard has enabled to deploy all strategic lines of Primary Health Care, and has enabled the healthcare professionals to evaluate the evolution of results over time, and at patient level (e.g. 16% increase in control of diabetic patients). A total of 295,779 reports were generated and 13,080 professionals were evaluated by goals. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased use of the eSOAP application by the professionals. The Balanced Scorecard was the key in deploying Primary Health Care strategies. It has helped clinical management and improved relevant indicators (health, patient experience, and costs), such as the management models that we used as references (EFQM Kaplan and Norton), and new emerging scenarios (Triple aim).

[Boost for patient safety with the centre agreement program]. / Impulso de la seguridad del paciente a partir del contrato programa de centro.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and define a minimum and standard set of safety objectives in the Centre Agreement Program (CAP) of the Community of Madrid, the introduction of which has led to improved follow-up and an improvement in quality of care and patient safety in Primary Care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The key element is the Centre Agreement Program developed with the EFQM model as a reference. Methodologically, this project has followed the steps set out in the PDCA cycle., Standardised safety objectives were included in the CAP during the planning phase. Indicators have been monitored by the e-SOAP application. RESULTS: We have identified 12 safety goals and 21 indicators. All the criteria of the model included some safety objectives. We highlight the following results: in the criteria relating to processes, the program cover of patients who were on several medications was 59.22%, a bio-alcohol solution was used in 93% of health facilities, 89% of Health Centres had performed a control and maintenance of vital emergency equipment. As regards communication, 1096 medication errors were notified throughout the Community of Madrid. There were 239 adverse reactions to medication and 1945 safety incidents were reported. In criterion 6, 66.22% of INR determinations were within range. There were 19.46 defined daily doses (DDD) for women of 45-65 years, and 16.9 DDD of neuroleptics in the elderly population. The indicator related to minimising drugs considered inappropriate in the elderly (Beers) was 11.9%. An average of 1.19 safety measures were adopted per Centre. For Criterion 7, 14.44% of professionals had been trained in quality and patient safety. By implementing e-SOAP, Health Centres can know their results in order to implement improvements. In addition, improvements have been set up in the 2010 CAP. CONCLUSIONS: With the development of the CAP using the EFQM model as a benchmark, safety indicators have been implemented and monitored systematically in the Health Centres of the Community of Madrid. Best practices that ensure patient safety have been extended and we have begun to evaluate the impact of the health care provided in Primary Care with the measurement of indicators that the scientific evidence reveals affect patient safety.

Epidemiological usefulness of population-based electronic clinical records in primary care: estimation of the prevalence of chronic diseases.

BACKGROUND: Chronic health problems are the main cause of disease, disability and death in developed countries, and their prevalence is increasing. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of selected chronic illnesses based on electronic clinical records in primary care (ECRPC) and to assess its usefulness for epidemiological research, by comparing ECRPC data against those reported by a contemporary health survey. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING: All primary care medical consultations in the Madrid Regional Public Health System (PHS). SUBJECTS: A total of 23 535 182 ECRPC-registered episodes of illness, generated by PHS patients over 15 years of age seeking medical care during 2005-06. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalences of chronic diseases estimated on the basis of medically examined cases registered in ECRPC and morbidity as reported by a contemporary health survey covering the same geographic area. RESULTS: A total of 52.5% of the adult population had some chronic health problem. The highest overall prevalences were hypertension (14.8%), mental disorders (12.0%) and allergy (11.6%). Prevalences were generally highest among women, elderly and the native population. Depending on the specific disease, ECRPC-based prevalences were similar to (e.g. diabetes), higher (e.g. chronic skin problems) or lower (e.g. asthma and dyslipidaemia) than those reported by surveys, with certain age- and sex-related variations. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences estimated from ECRPC and survey data present variations depending on the disease, age and sex. Both data sources provide complementary information about chronic disease prevalence. ECRPC have the advantage of generating an ongoing standardized register and entailing no additional effort for health professionals.

[Social change. The climacteric and depression]. / Cambio social. Climaterio y depresión.

We study different socio-environmental factors in relationship with depression in the climacterium. Our sample are women who have been diagnostic of depression and are impatient in the Department of Psychiatry of University Hospital San Carlos. The isolation and the social and familiar changes are the most important events that happen to the women depressive climacteric. The Spanish women in climacteric age have lived in a cultural-educational environment focus toward a maternal role. Because of this her personality has development dependent and submission.