Knowledge, attitude and perceptions of breast cancer screening among native and immigrant women in Barcelona, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Inequalities between immigrant and native populations in terms of access and use of health services have been described. The objective is to compare knowledge, attitudes, vulnerabilities, benefits and barriers related to breast cancer (BC) and screening mammography among women from different countries resident in Barcelona. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey carried out in Barcelona in 2009. The study population consisted of female residents in Barcelona between 45 and 69 years of age; participants were Spanish nationals or immigrants from low-income countries. 960 participants were asked 72 questions, mainly with Likert responses. The dependent variables were five quantitative scales: (1) knowledge of BC and early detection, (2) attitude towards health and BC, (3) vulnerability to BC, (4) barriers to mammography, (5) benefits of mammography. The independent variables were country of origin, social class, setting, cohabitation, age, mammography use, length of residence and fluency of the language. Analyses compared scale scores stratified by the independent variables. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to determine the relationship between the scales and the independent variables. RESULTS: We observed inequalities according to country of origin on all scales after adjustment for independent variables. Chinese women presented the greatest differences with respect to native women, followed by Maghrebi and Filipino women. Inequalities exist on the vulnerability and barriers scales according to social class and urban/rural setting, and on the attitude scale according to social class. CONCLUSIONS: Country of origin, social class and urban/rural setting are key contributors to inequality in these scales.

[Medicolegal analysis of legal claims in bariatric surgery]. / Análisis médico-legal de las reclamaciones judiciales en cirugía bariátrica.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the causes for claims due to alleged malpractice in bariatric surgery and the results of the legal process. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A review was carried out on the case files of claims for damages as a result of bariatric surgery presented to the Professional Liability Department of the Catalonian Medical Colleges Council from 1992 to 2009. The claims rate was calculated using a survey of bariatric surgeons. RESULTS: A total of 49 cases were analysed, which represented 0.6% of the patients operated on. The patient died in 23 (47%) of the cases, 14% were left with serious after effects, 18% had mild after effects, and 21% made a complete recovery. The most frequent causes of death were peritonitis due to suture dehiscence (48%), and respiratory complications (17.4%). Retrospectively, malpractice was considered to have occurred in 10 (20%) of the sued cases due to lack of an adequate informed consent document, delay in recognising a complication, or an error in interpretation, or treatment of the complication. The doctor sued was convicted in 10 of the cases, 3 in a criminal court, and 7 in a civil court. There was acquittal in 19 cases, an out-of court settlement with payment of compensation in 4, withdrawal of the claim in 4, and judgement or sentence is still pending in 12 cases. CONCLUSION: The study showed a relatively low rate of claims for complications associated with bariatric surgery. The number of convictions was relatively high. The early detection of surgical complications is essential in order to reduce legal claims associated with bariatric surgery.

[Alleged malpractice claims related to gastrointestinal endoscopy. Analysis of casuistics over 22 years]. / Reclamaciones por presunta negligencia relacionadas con endoscopia digestiva. Análisis de una casuística de 22 años.

We reviewed the records of patients filing alleged malpractice claims related to gastrointestinal endoscopy to the Professional Responsibility Section of the Medical Council of Catalonia from 1987 to 2009 to determine the frequency of medical errors or substandard care in the practice of this procedure and the result of complaints according to whether malpractice might have been involved or not. There were a total of 66 complaints, 46 (70%) after colonoscopy, 12 (18%) after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and eight (12%) after gastroscopy. In 18 (27%) cases, we considered malpractice to have been probable, due to lack of informed consent in four, delayed treatment of complications in six, substandard sedation in five, misdiagnosis in two and substandard practice in one, which would justify the complaints. Of the 48 cases we considered not to have involved malpractice, a guilty verdict was secured in one and an out-of-court settlement was reached in six with regard to the disproportionate and permanent harm experienced by the patients. Among the 66 claims, an out-of-court settlement was reached with the complainant on 19 occasions (28.7%) and a civil or penal trial was held in 39 (59%), resulting in a guilty verdict in only 10% of cases. In eight cases (15.3%), the complainant took no further action after receiving the response of the Professional Responsibility Section. The number of complaints progressively increased over the study period. There were a greater number of complaints in private clinics than in public hospitals. Endoscopists with more than one complaint were more frequently found guilty or reached an out-of-court settlement than those with only one complaint against them (100% versus 28%). Analysis of complaints of alleged malpractice is useful to identify areas requiring improved patients safety and to reduce the number of these complaints.

[Targeted biopsies using magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasonograpgy fusion compared with sistematic biopsies prostate cancer detection. Initial experience.] / Comparación entre la biopsia prostática con fusión de imagen ecografía/resonáncia magnética y la biopsia sistemática para la detección de cáncer de próstata. Experiencia inicial.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the initial experiencein our center on targeted prostate biopsies (TB) using Magnetic Resonance imaging/ultrasonography (MRI/US) fusion and to compare PCa detection with systematic biopsies (SB). PATIENTS AND ME THODS: A retrospective, descriptive and comparative study was conducted on the first 94 men who underwent TB using MRU/US fusion in our center since February 2017 to March 2018. All patients underwent a protocol of 6-12 cores of systematic biopsies (SB) (except 9) and 2-6 targeted coreson the MRI index lesion. The Hitachi/HiVision Preirus equipment was used with RVS software (Real-time virtual sonography) and a biplane transducer for the fusion imaging procedure. Clinically significant PCa (csPCa) was defined as: at least one core with a Gleason score of 3+4. RESULTS: The proportion of patients diagnosed with PCa was higher in TB compared with SB (p=0.035) and the mean of core performed for diagnosis was lower in TB compared with SB (p<0.001). A trend towards an improved detection of csPCa in TB compared to SB was observed (p=0.063). CONCLUSIONS: The MRI/US fusion targeted biopsies (TB) showed a higher detection rate of PCa, with less cores taken for diagnosis and a tendency to better identification of csCaP compared to SB.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio es describir la experiencia inicial en nuestro centro de las primeras 94 Biopsias de Próstata dirigidas (BD) con fusión de imagen ecografía/Resonancia magnética (US/RMmp) y comparar la tasa de detección de CaP con las biopsias sistemáticas.MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo y comparativo de los primeros 94 pacientes sometidos a BD por fusión de imagen US/RMmp en nuestro centro desde febrero de 2017 hasta marzo de 2018. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a un protocolo de 6-12 cilindros de biopsias sistemáticas (BS) (menos 9) y de 2-6 cilindros dirigidos a las lesiones diana visualizadas en la RMmp. Se utilizó el equipo Hitachi/HiVision Preirus con software RVS (Real-time virtual sonography) y un transductor biplanar para la fusión de imagen. Se definió como CaP clínicamente significativo un GS ≥ 3+4 en, al menos, 1 de los cilindros realizados. RESULTADOS: La proporción de detección de CaP fue mayor en las BD que en las BS (p=0,035) y el número de cilindros realizados para su diagnóstico fue menor en las BD comparado con las BS (p<0,001). Se observó  una clara tendencia a una mayor identificación de CaP clínicamente significativo (CaPcs) en las BD comparado con las BS (p=0,063). CONCLUSIONES: Comparado con las BS, las BD por fusión de imagen US/RMmp presentaron una mayor tasa de detección de CaP y una tendencia a una mayor identificación de CaPcS con una necesidad menor de cilindros realizados.

[Performance assessment of health services in Catalonia (Spain): evaluation of initial results of the Catalan healthcare service project]. / Análisis del desempeño de los servicios sanitarios de Cataluña: evaluación de los primeros resultados del proyecto demostrativo.

Performance assessment of healthcare services is receiving greater attention due to increasing health care expenditures, greater expectations among the population, and the need to obtain results from the invested resources. Taking advantage of the existing experience of the Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona and the Consorci Sanitari de Barcelona, which compared the healthcare services of Barcelona and Montreal, a grant from the Agència d'Avaluació de Tecnologia i Recerca Mèdiques, and the health planning interest of the Departament de Salut, the performance assessment of the Catalan healthcare service project was started in Catalonia in 2005. This article aims to present the development of the project, to provide some examples that illustrate the kind of numerical and graphical information that could be obtained and the kind of analysis that could be performed, to provide possible explanations for the results shown, and to discuss some limitations and implications. Currently, the added value of this project is that it identifies the extent to which the healthcare system is achieving its objectives, establishes a set of homogeneous indicators that could be used in the future, and is a key tool in the development of the Central de Resultats del Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

[Planning highly specialised services in Catalonia]. / Planificación de los servicios de alta especialización en Cataluña.

One of the principal challenges in healthcare systems is deciding which services have to be concentrated, taking into account, among other things, their low-frequency, complexity, risk, accumulated experience and costs., Concentration must make it possible to guarantee the quality of the service and the best results possible. This article describes, the conceptual elements, the benchmark criteria, the impact on the centres and the minimum conditions that the mechanisms must meet, which have been taken into account in the reorganisation of high-complexity services in Catalonia. Some of those issues that have been dealt with in the restructuring process are also considered, such as tertiary cardiology, in both the cardiac surgery and therapeutic coronary angioplasty sections, and oncology in the section of infrequent oncological surgery. Renal transplants, serious multiple-trauma care and the use of positron emission tomography are also dealt with.

Measuring the performance of urban healthcare services: results of an international experience.

The objective of this paper is to apply a framework for country-level performance assessment to the cities of Montreal, Canada, and Barcelona, Spain, and to use this framework to explore and understand the differences in their health systems. The UK National Health Service Performance Assessment Framework was chosen. Its indicators went through a process of selection, adaptation and prioritisation. Most of them were calculated for the period 2001-3, with data obtained from epidemiological, activity and economic registries. Montreal has a higher number of old people living alone and with limitations on performing one or more activities of daily life, as well as longer hospital stays for several conditions, especially in the case of elderly patients. This highlights a lack of mid-term, long-term and home care services. Diabetes-avoidable hospitalisation rates are also significant in Montreal, and are likely to improve following reforms in primary care. Efficient health policies such as generic drug prescription and major ambulatory surgery are lower in Barcelona. Rates of caesarean deliveries are higher in Barcelona, owing to demographics and clinical practice. Waiting times for knee arthroplasty are longer in Barcelona, which has triggered a plan to reduce them. In both cities, avoidable mortality and the prevalence of smoking have been identified as areas for improvement through preventive services. In conclusion, performance assessment fits perfectly in an urban context, as it has been shown to be a useful tool in designing and monitoring the accomplishment of programmes in both cities, to assess the performance of the services delivered, and for use in policy development.

Development of leprosy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis during treatment with etanercept: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder. There is a clear association between some disease-modifying drugs used to treat RA and infection. The introduction of the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies has improved the outcome of severe RA. The TNF-antagonism may increase susceptibility to granulomatous pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Histoplasma capsulatum. METHODS: We report the case of a 37-year-old woman with RA receiving an anti-TNF agent, who developed a rash on her back and both legs, which was finally diagnosed as tuberculoid leprosy. RESULTS: This is the first case of leprosy due to anti-TNF therapy reported in Europe. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of this and other types of atypical and serious infections that patients may suffer from when treated with anti-TNF agents.

Country of origin and prevention of breast cancer: beliefs, knowledge and barriers.

This study describes the concept of prevention and identifies the knowledge, perceived benefits and barriers, as well as the practices of early detection of breast cancer among women from different cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic levels. A socioconstructivist qualitative study was conducted in Barcelona. The study population consisted of women who were either native (Spanish) or immigrants from low income countries, aged 40 to 69 years. Narrations of the 68 informants were subjected to sociological discourse analysis. Place and culture of origin, social class and the migratory process can either facilitate or constitute barriers to breast cancer prevention.

The extension of smoke-free areas and acute myocardial infarction mortality: before and after study.

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies suggest that comprehensive smoking regulations to decrease exposure to second-hand smoke reduce the rates of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of this paper is to analyse if deaths due to AMI in Spain declined after smoking prevention legislation came into force in January 2006. DESIGN: Information was collected on deaths registered by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística for 2004-2007. Age- and sex-specific annual AMI mortality rates with 95% CIs were estimated, as well as age-adjusted annual AMI mortality rates by sex. Annual relative risks of death from AMI were estimated with an age-standardised Poisson regression model. RESULTS: Adjusted AMI mortality rates in 2004 and 2005 are similar, but in 2006 they show a 9% decline for men and a 8.7% decline for women, especially among those over 64 years of age. In 2007 there is a slower rate of decline, which reaches statistical significance for men (-4.8%) but not for women (-4%). The annual relative risk of AMI death decreased in both sexes (p < 0.001) from 1 to 0.90 in 2006, and to 0.86 in 2007. CONCLUSION: The extension of smoke-free regulations in Spain was associated with a reduction in AMI mortality, especially among the elderly. Although other factors may have played a role, this pattern suggests a likely influence of the reduction in population exposure to second-hand smoke on AMI deaths.

Malignant metastatic perirenal schwannoma.

Only seven cases of malignant renal or perirenal schwannomas have previously been reported in the literature. Herein we report the case of a 74-year-old female with a previous history of malignant subcutaneous schwannoma and breast ductal adenocarcinoma who presented with a renal mass that was preoperatively diagnosed as a metastatic schwannoma. This is the first case of malignant perirenal schwannoma of metastatic origin.