Prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy in the older people: 2006-2014.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To analyse the prevalence, risk factors and evolution over time of polypharmacy and self-medication in the older people in Spain from 2006-2014. BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is a public health problem for older people worldwide which causes different negative effects on their health, increasing health costs and pharmaceutical spending. However, previous studies do not include nationally representative samples and none of them provide updated data. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with community-dwelling older adults (N = 26,277) who participated in the National Health Survey in Spain in 2006 and 2011/2012 and the European Health Survey in Spain in 2009 and 2014. METHODS: Polypharmacy (defined as use of five or more medications in the last 2 weeks), excessive polypharmacy (defined as use of ten or more medications in the last 2 weeks) and self-medication (defined as use of medications without a prescription) were evaluated. A logistic regression was used for to know the association between polypharmacy and self-medication with the sociodemographic characteristic. RESULTS: The participants were 62% female and 38% male. The mean medication consumption was 2.96 (SD ± 2.11). Prevalence of polypharmacy was present in 21.9%, prevalence of excessive polypharmacy was 0.6%, and prevalence of self-medication was 10.7%. The most commonly used medications were for blood pressure (51.6%), pain (42.8%) and cholesterol (28.2%). Polypharmacy is associated with sex (females), age, being separated/divorced/widowed, lack of education, higher body mass index, being bedridden during the last 2 weeks and self-medication. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polypharmacy and prevalence of self-medication are considerable, and they increased significantly from 2006-2014. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To deal with polypharmacy is a big challenge for nurses. These data suggest to establish innovative clinical strategies in which the health professionals and the patients are involved to improve the personal behaviour with medicines and to reduce the risks and costs of polypharmacy and self-medication.

Intimate partner violence among health professionals: distribution by autonomous communities in Spain.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence among health care professionals who work in the Spanish National Health System, according to the autonomous communities of Spain. METHOD This was a descriptive cross-sectional multicenter study conducted with male and female health professionals (doctors, nurses, and nursing aides) in the different autonomous communities that are part of the Spanish National Health System. The following instruments were employed: among women, an intimate partner violence screening questionnaire; and among men, a questionnaire that screened for violence in the family environment. RESULTS A total of 1,039 health professionals participated in the study. Of these, 26% had suffered some type of abuse. Among the men, this prevalence was 2.7%, while among the women, it was 33.8%. There were differences in the prevalence of intimate partner violence among different autonomous communities, with the highest percentages in the Canary Islands. In terms of profession, 19.5% of the doctors had been exposed to intimate partner violence, while this percentage was 31% and 48.6% for nurses and nursing professionals, respectively. CONCLUSION The results indicate the presence of intimate partner violence among healthcare personnel in most of the autonomous communities of Spain. The data demonstrate the need to implement action plans, both to support victims and to mitigate the problem.

Health Professionals Who Suffer Intimate Partner Violence: A Descriptive, Multicenter, and Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to know who are the people who assist women, who work as a health professional in the Spanish Public Health System, when they suffer intimate partner violence (IPV). METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted. The participants were female health professionals (N = 794) working within the Spanish Public Health System. The instrument used was Delgado, Aguar, Castellano, and Luna del Castillo's (2006) scale to measure ill-treatment of women. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy women suffered IPV (34%). Of the female health professionals who suffered IPV, 25.9% had spoken with someone about the violence, most commonly talking to trusted people (24.3%), a psychologist (24.3%), health professionals (20%), and others (20%). Married female health professionals living with their current or last partner/husband, residing in an urban area, and with their own salary were least likely to speak about their problem. CONCLUSION: Female health professionals who suffer IPV usually speak about this problem with trusted people instead of consulting a health professional, which may leave the problem in the private sphere. This can be because of victims not wanting to report the violence for fear of their intimate partner or wanting it to remain private. This may deprive the victims of the help they need. For this reason, the health services should establish screening for IPV not only for their patients but also for their workers.

Intimate partner violence among health professionals: distribution by autonomous communities in Spain / Violência por parceiro íntimo em profissionais de saúde: distribuição por comunidades autónomas espanholas / Violencia por compañero íntimo en profesionales sanitarios: distribución por comunidades autónomas españolas

Abstract OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence among health care professionals who work in the Spanish National Health System, according to the autonomous communities of Spain. METHOD This was a descriptive cross-sectional multicenter study conducted with male and female health professionals (doctors, nurses, and nursing aides) in the different autonomous communities that are part of the Spanish National Health System. The following instruments were employed: among women, an intimate partner violence screening questionnaire; and among men, a questionnaire that screened for violence in the family environment. RESULTS A total of 1,039 health professionals participated in the study. Of these, 26% had suffered some type of abuse. Among the men, this prevalence was 2.7%, while among the women, it was 33.8%. There were differences in the prevalence of intimate partner violence among different autonomous communities, with the highest percentages in the Canary Islands. In terms of profession, 19.5% of the doctors had been exposed to intimate partner violence, while this percentage was 31% and 48.6% for nurses and nursing professionals, respectively. CONCLUSION The results indicate the presence of intimate partner violence among healthcare personnel in most of the autonomous communities of Spain. The data demonstrate the need to implement action plans, both to support victims and to mitigate the problem.

Resumo OBJETIVO Determinar a prevalência de violência por parceiro íntimo, nas comunidades autônomas espanholas, nos profissionais da saúde que trabalham no sistema de Saúde Pública do Estado espanhol. MÉTODO Estudo multicêntrico, transversal, descritivo, realizado no sistema de Saúde Pública do Estado espanhol das diferentes comunidades autônomas. 1.039 profissionais da saúde de ambos os sexos (médicos, enfermeiros e auxiliares de enfermagem). Os instrumentos utilizados foram: para as mulheres, o questionário de detecção de maus-tratos a mulheres por seu par e, para os homens, o questionário de detecção da violência no âmbito da família. RESULTADOS Participaram do estudo 1039 profissionais de saúde. 26% dos profissionais sofreram algum tipo de abuso por parceiro intimo. Para os homens, a prevalência de abuso foi de 2,7%, enquanto no caso das mulheres foi de 33,8%. Há diferenças na prevalência da violência por parceiro íntimo entre as diferentes comunidades autônomas, e nas Ilhas Canárias os valores foram mais elevados. Em relação à profissão, 19,5% dos médicos/as, 31% dos enfermeiros/as e 48,6% dos auxiliares de enfermagem sofrem violência por parceiro íntimo. CONCLUSÕES Os números mostram a presença de violência por parceiro íntimo em profissionais de saúde na grande maioria das comunidades autônomas da Espanha. Esses dados impulsionam a implementação de planos de ação para apoiar as vítimas e intervenções que diminuam o problema.

Resumen OBJETIVO Conocer la prevalencia de violencia por compañero íntimo, por comunidades autónomas, en los profesionales sanitarios que trabajan en el Sistema Sanitario Público del Estado Español. MÉTODO Estudio descriptivo de tipo transversal multicéntrico realizado en las diferentes comunidades autónomas del Sistema Sanitario Público del Estado Español, con profesionales sanitarios de ambos sexos (médicos, enfermeras y auxiliares de enfermería). Como instrumentos se utilizó: para las mujeres el cuestionario de detección de malos tratos a mujeres por su pareja y para los hombres, el cuestionario de detección de violencia en el entorno familiar. RESULTADOS Participaron en el estudio 1039 profesionales sanitarios. El 26% de los profesionales sufrió algún tipo de maltrato. En el caso de los hombres, la prevalencia de maltrato fue de 2,7%, mientras que en el caso de la mujer fue de 33,8%. Existen diferencias en la prevalencia de violencia por compañero íntimo entre las diferentes comunidades autónomas, presentándose las cifras más altas en las Islas Canarias. Respecto a la profesión, el 19,5% de los médicos/as padecían violencia de compañero íntimo, el 31% de los enfermeros/as y el 48,6% de los auxiliares de enfermería. CONCLUSIÓN Las cifras expuestas evidencian la presencia de violencia por compañero íntimo en el personal sanitario en la gran mayoría de las comunidades autónomas de España. Estos datos impelen la puesta en marcha de planes de actuación tanto de apoyo a las víctimas como de intervenciones que aminoren el problema.

Elder abuse within the family environment in the Azores Islands / Maus-tratos no ambiente familiar contra idosos nas Ilhas dos Açores / Maltrato en el entorno familiar a las personas mayores en las Islas Azores

ABSTRACT Objectives: to dimension abuse against vulnerable adults within the family and community environment in the Azores Islands, identify risk factors for abuse and describe the profile of an abused elder. Method: descriptive cross-sectional study. Random sampling. The instruments used were: clinical histories of the users, Mini-Mental State Examination, Index of Independence in Basic Activities of Daily Living, Family APGAR Scale, Elder Abuse Suspicion Index and Social Work Assessment Form. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for qualitative and quantitative variables and multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with elder mistreatment. Results: abuse suspicion was identified in 24.5% of elderly participants. Psychological abuse was the most common type of abuse and sons were the main abusers. Conclusion: being a woman and belonging to a dysfunctional family is associated with an increased risk of becoming a victim of abuse; the high level of domestic violence against the elderly in the Azores Islands is in line with the rest of Portugal.

RESUMO Objetivos: dimensionar os maus-tratos contra as pessoas idosas vulneráveis no ambiente familiar e comunitário nas Ilhas dos Açores, identificar fatores de risco para maus-tratos e definir o perfil do idoso maltratado. Método: estudo descritivo transversal. Amostragem aleatória. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: prontuários dos usuários, Mini Exame do Estado Mental, teste de autonomia para as Atividades Básicas da Vida Diária, Escala APGAR Familiar, Índice de Suspeição de Abuso no Idoso e Formulário de Avaliação de Trabalho Social. Análise estatística descritiva foi usada para as variáveis qualitativas e quantitativas e regressão logística múltipla foi usada para identificar os fatores associados aos maus-tratos. Resultados: suspeita de maus-tratos foi identificada em 24,5% dos idosos participantes. O abuso psicológico foi o tipo de maus-tratos mais comum e os responsáveis por esses maus-tratos foram principalmente os filhos. Conclusão: ser mulher e pertencer a uma família disfuncional está associado com uma maior probabilidade de sofrer maus-tratos; o alto nível de violência doméstica contra os idosos nas Ilhas dos Açores segue o mesmo padrão do resto de Portugal.

RESUMEN Objetivos: dimensionar el maltrato a personas mayores vulnerables en el entorno familiar y comunitario de las Islas Azores, identificar factores de riesgo de maltrato y definir el perfil del anciano maltratado. Método: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Muestreo aleatorio. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: historias clínicas de los usuarios, Mini-Examen Cognitivo, test de autonomía para las Actividades Básicas de la Vida Diaria, Test de APGAR Familiar, Índice de Sospecha de Maltrato hacia Personas Mayores y Formulario de Evaluación de Trabajo Social. El análisis estadístico fue descriptivo para las variables cualitativas y cuantitativas y una regresión logística múltiple para identificar los factores asociados al maltrato. Resultados: se identificó sospecha de maltrato en el 24,5% de los ancianos participantes. El maltrato psicológico fue el tipo de maltrato más común y los desencadenantes de ese maltrato fueron principalmente los hijos. Conclusión: se asocia ser mujer y pertenecer a familia disfuncional con mayor probabilidad de padecer maltrato; el alto nivel de la violencia domestica a los ancianos en las Islas Azores sigue la línea que en el resto de Portugal.