Impact of Activity-Oriented Propioceptive Antiedema Therapy on the Health-Related Quality of Life of Women with Upper-Limb Lymphedema Secondary to Breast Cancer-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Alterations derived from lymphedema in the upper-limb secondary to breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) decrease the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but there is limited evidence of the impact of the different interventions on it. The aim of this research was to compare the effect of conventional treatment with another treatment based on Activity-Oriented Antiedema Proprioceptive Therapy (TAPA) on HRQoL in women diagnosed with BCRL. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was designed with two parallel arms. The study population consisted of women diagnosed with BCRL in stage I and II, belonging to different institutions in Córdoba and Aragon, Spain. Sociodemographic and HRQoL-related variables, pain, tightness, heaviness and functionality were obtained before and after treatments. RESULTS: 51 women participated in the study, 25 received the conventional treatment and 26 the TAPA, with a mean age of 59.24 ± 9.55 years. HRQoL was significantly related to upper-limb function and pain on the participants' affected side. In addition, covariance analysis (ANCOVA) showed that the TAPA treatment interfered less in the performance of activities of daily life and produced significant improvements in the social dimension of HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: the non-use of compressive elements in the rehabilitative treatment of the BCRL that is proposed with TAPA improves aspects such as self-image and participation in social and recreational activities.

Activity-Oriented Antiedema Proprioceptive Therapy (TAPA) for Shoulder Mobility Improvement in Women with Upper Limb Lymphedema Secondary to Breast Cancer: A Multicenter Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema, secondary to breast cancer (BCRL), is the abnormal accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the interstitium caused by a malfunction of the lymphatic system. It causes swelling, deficiencies in upper limb functions and structures, sensory pain and emotional alterations, which have a chronic course and affect the upper limb's functionality. This study aims to verify the efficacy and efficiency in the upper limb´s functionality of a protocolized experimental approach based on occupational therapy, TAPA (activity-oriented proprioceptive antiedema therapy), in the rehabilitation of BCRL in stages I and II, comparing it with the conservative treatment considered as the standard, complex decongestive therapy (CDT), through a multicenter randomized clinical trial. METHODS: a randomized and prospective clinical trial was conducted with experimental and control groups. Women diagnosed with BCRL belonging to institutions in Córdoba and Aragon (Spain) participated. Sociodemographic variables and those related to the functionality of the affected upper limb were evaluated before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences in the analysis of covariance performed for the variable joint balance of the shoulder´s external rotation (p = 0.045) that could be attributed to the intervention performed; however, the effect size was minimal (η2 ≤ 0.080). In the rest of the variables, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: TAPA may be an alternative to the conservative treatment of women with BCRL. It was shown to be just as effective for volume reduction and activity performance as CDT but more effective in improving external rotation in shoulder joint balance.

Clinical Presentation of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection and Predictive Validity of the PCR Test in Primary Health Care Worker Patients of the Spanish National Health System.

BACKGROUND: Despite the impact that the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection has presented in Spain, data on the diagnostic capacity of the symptoms associated with this infection are limited, especially among patients with mild symptoms and who are detected in the primary care field (PC). The objective of the present study was to know the associated symptoms and their predictive criterial validity in SARS-CoV-2 infection among professionals working in PC. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicenter study was carried out in the Spanish National Health System, through an epidemiological survey directed to patients who underwent the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in the PC setting. RESULTS: A total of 1612 patients participated, of which 86.6% were PC healthcare professionals, and of these, 67.4% family doctors. Hyposmia, with a sensitivity of 42.69% (95% CI: 37.30-48.08) and a specificity of 95.91% (95% CI: 94.78-97.03), and ageusia with a sensitivity of 39.47% (34.15-44.80) and a specificity of 95.20% (93.98-96.41) were the symptoms with the highest criteria validity indexes. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the specific symptoms of loss of smell or taste as the most frequently associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, essential in the detection of COVID-19 given its high frequency and predictive capacity.

Promocionando la Promoción de la Salud: percepciones de estudiantes de medicina sobre un programa educativo para cambio de conductas en atención primaria / Promoting Health Promotion: Medical students perceptions about an educational program on behavioral change in primary care

Objetivo: Valorar si un programa formativo ofrecido por médicos de familia en el currículum oficial de medicina sobre principios y estrategias para ayudar a los pacientes a cambiar conductas de riesgo (APCCR) produce cambios en sus percepciones, opiniones y actitudes con relación a este tipo de intervenciones. Diseño: Estudio cuasiexperimental antes-después. Emplazamiento: Una facultad de medicina. Participantes: Todos los alumnos de 4.o curso de medicina (n = 110). Intervenciones: Formación experiencial sobre estrategias comunicativas para APCCR. Mediciones: Opiniones y percepciones evaluadas antes y después del curso mediante cuestionario ad hoc. Resultados: Tras el curso, los estudiantes (n = 103) cambiaron sus ideas sobre la motivación como factor «interno» (15, 13%) a "interno-externo" (71, 61%) (p = 0,003), reforzando sus opiniones sobre la capacidad del médico para APCCR (alta: 72, 62%; baja: 10, 12%; p = 0,008). Los alumnos se consideraron más capaces de respetar la autonomía de los pacientes cuando estos toman decisiones o siguen conductas consideradas perjudiciales (fácil: 58, 50%; difícil: 28, 24%; p = 0,001) e incrementaron su percepción sobre su capacidad para afrontar este tipo de entrevistas (83, 72% vs. 1, 1%; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: Esta formación parece contribuir a crear en estudiantes percepciones y actitudes positivas relacionadas con aspectos claves a la hora de afrontar una entrevista para APCCR, lo cual supone un aspecto preliminar clave para implementar este tipo de estrategias

Objective: To evaluate whether a training program offered by family physicians in the official medical curriculum on principles and strategies to help patients change risk behaviours (HPCRB), produces changes in perceptions, opinions, and attitudes regarding this type of intervention. Design: Quasi-experimental before-after study. Setting: A School of Medicine. Participants: All students in their 4th year (n = 110). Interventions: Experiential training course on communicative strategies for HPCRB. Measurements: Opinions and perceptions were evaluated before and after the course using an ad hoc survey. Results: After the course, students (n = 103) changed their ideas about motivation as an "internal" (15, 13%) to ‘internal-external’ factor (71, 61%) (P = .003), reinforcing their opinions about the clinician's ability for HPCRB (high: 72, 62%; low: 10, 12%; P = .008). They considered themselves more capable to respect patient autonomy when they make decisions or follow harmful behaviours (easy: 58, 50%; difficult: 28, 24%; P = .001), and increased their perception of their ability to cope with this type of interview (83, 72% vs. 1, 1%; P < .001). Conclusions: This training course seems to contribute to creating positive perceptions and attitudes in students, as regards key aspects when conducting an interview for HPCRB. This is a key preliminary aspect to implement this type of strategy

[Promoting Health Promotion: Medical students perceptions about an educational program on behavioral change in primary care]. / Promocionando la Promoción de la Salud: percepciones de estudiantes de medicina sobre un programa educativo para cambio de conductas en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a training program offered by family physicians in the official medical curriculum on principles and strategies to help patients change risk behaviours (HPCRB), produces changes in perceptions, opinions, and attitudes regarding this type of intervention. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental before-after study. SETTING: A School of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: All students in their 4th year (n=110). INTERVENTIONS: Experiential training course on communicative strategies for HPCRB. MEASUREMENTS: Opinions and perceptions were evaluated before and after the course using an ad hoc survey. RESULTS: After the course, students (n=103) changed their ideas about motivation as an 'internal' (15, 13%) to 'internal-external' factor (71, 61%) (P=.003), reinforcing their opinions about the clinician's ability for HPCRB (high: 72, 62%; low: 10, 12%; P=.008). They considered themselves more capable to respect patient autonomy when they make decisions or follow harmful behaviours (easy: 58, 50%; difficult: 28, 24%; P=.001), and increased their perception of their ability to cope with this type of interview (83, 72% vs. 1, 1%; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This training course seems to contribute to creating positive perceptions and attitudes in students, as regards key aspects when conducting an interview for HPCRB. This is a key preliminary aspect to implement this type of strategy.

Knowledge, availability, and use of ambulatory and home blood pressure monitoring in primary care in Spain: the MAMPA study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the degree of knowledge and management of automated devices for office blood pressure measurement (AD), home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in primary care in Spain. METHODS: Online self-administered survey sent between May 2016 and February 2017 to 2221 primary-care physicians working across Spain. Clinicians were mostly identified through national primary-care scientific societies (20% overall response rate). RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 47.7 years, 55% were women, and 54% reported at least 20 years of primary-care practice. Among them, 47.5% considered ABPM the best diagnostic method for hypertension, 23% chose HBPM, and 7.1% chose office blood pressure. Also, 78.2% had AD available at their centers and 49.0% had ABPM, with slight urban/rural differences. HBPM was recommended in daily practice for hypertension diagnosis by 67% of participants, whereas 30% recommended ABPM. Cost to the patients was the main reason for not using HBPM (42.7%) as was lack of accessibility for not using ABPM (69.8%). Lack of specific training was also reported as an important reason in both cases. CONCLUSION: Even in the possibly best primary care scenario presented by highly motivated physicians (respondents to a voluntary anonymous survey), enormous gaps were observed between current guidelines' recommendations on ABPM and HBPM use for confirming hypertension and the modest degree of knowledge, availability, and use of these technologies.

Opportunistic detection of atrial fibrillation in subjects aged 65 years or older in primare care: a randomised clinical trial of efficacy. DOFA-AP study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend using peripheral blood pulse measuring as a screening test for Atrial Fibrillation. However, there is no adequate evidence supporting the efficacy of such procedure in primary care clinical practice. This paper describes a study protocol designed to verify whether early opportunistic screening for Atrial Fibrillation by measuring blood pulse is more effective than regular practice in subjects aged 65 years attending primary care centers. METHODS/DESIGN: An cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in Primary Care Centers of the Spanish National Health Service. A total of 269 physicians and nurses will be allocated to one of the two arms of the trial by stratified randomization with a 3:2 ratio (three practitioners will be assigned to the Control Group for every two practitioners assigned to the Experimental Group). As many as 12 870 patients aged 65 years or older and meeting eligibility criteria will be recruited (8 580 will be allocated to the Experimental Group and 4 290 to the Control Group). Randomization and allocation to trial groups will be carried out by a central computer system. The Experimental Group practitioners will conduct an opportunistic case finding for patients with Atrial Fibrillation, while the Control Group practitioners will follow the regular guidelines. The first step will be finding new Atrial Fibrillation cases. A descriptive inferential analysis will be performed (bivariate and multivariate by multilevel logistic regression analysis). DISCUSSION: If our hypothesis is confirmed, we expect Primary Care professionals to take a more proactive approach and adopt a new protocol when a patient meeting the established screening criteria is identified. Finally, we expect this measure to be incorporated into Clinical Practice Guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered as NCT01291953 (ClinicalTrials.gob).

Programa para ayudar a estudiantes de tercer año a integrar el contenido y la forma en la realización de la historia clínica / A program to help third year students to integrate content and form in the clinical history

Introducción. Las habilidades de comunicación se han considerado como importantes e independientes para ser adquiridas por los estudiantes; sin embargo, representan una parte fundamental de la consulta. Objetivo. Describir un programa formativo de integración de habilidades de anamnesis y comunicación para estudiantes de tercero y analizar la correlación entre ambos dominios. Sujetos y métodos. Estudio observacional descriptivo. Emplazamiento: Aula de Habilidades de la Facultad de Medicina de Córdoba. Muestra: 158 estudiantes de tercero de medicina. Intervenciones: se ha desarrollado un programa interactivo en habilidades de comunicación y realización de anamnesis; un evaluador independiente valoró el desarrollo de ambas durante la entrevista clínica de los encuentros video grabados con una paciente simulada utilizando una herramienta ad hoc. Resultados. Duración media de cada entrevista: 5:56 min (IC 95% = 5:38-6:15 min), con un máximo de 10 min. Puntuación media global de la escala de valoración: 56,2 (máx. 104) (IC 95% = 54,20-58,19); habilidades de relación médico paciente puntuación media: 25,58 (máx. 40) (IC 95% = 24,7-26,5); anamnesis biomédica: 30,61 (máx. 64) (IC 95% = 29,20-32,03). Existe una correlación positiva entre el tiempo usado y la puntuación global obtenida en la escala de valoración (coeficiente de Pearson = 0,65; p < 0,01) y entre los apartados biomédicos y comunicación (coeficiente de Pearson = 0,44; p < 0,01). Conclusiones. El programa fue factible; las habilidades en comunicación que mejor se llevaron a cabo fueron: reactividad, uso del lenguaje no verbal, recibimiento y cierre de entrevista. El tiempo es una variable importante para desarrollar las habilidades aprendidas y la mayoría de los estudiantes no agotan el disponible. Los estudiantes que mejor abordan los aspectos relacionales también consiguen más información en la anamnesis (AU)

Introduction. Communication skills are considered as important and independent capacity to be acquired by students, however, are a fundamental part of the consultation. Aim. To describe a formative program for third year students with the objective of integrating anamnesis and communication skills in an integrating way and evaluate the correlation between them both. Subjects and methods. Observational descriptive study. Location: Skills Classroom in the Medicine Faculty of Cordoba. Subjects: 158 3rd year medicine students. Interventions: an interactive program in communications skills in clinical stories performances has been developed. An independent evaluator valued the communication and anamnesis skills during the clinical interview of the recorded meetings with simulated patient using a tool ad hoc. Results. Average interview time: 5:56 min (95% CI = 5:38-6:15 min) (maximum 10 min). Average global score rating scale: 56.2 (maximum 104) (95% CI = 54.20-58.19); skills of doctor-patient average score: 25.58 (maximum 40) (95% CI = 24.7-26.5), and biomedical anamnesis: 30.61 (maximum 64) (95% CI = 29.20-32.03). A positive correlation exists between with the time used by students and the obtained punctuation in the rating scale (Pearson coefficient = 0.65; p < 0.01), just like in the biomedical and communication sections (Pearson coefficient = 0.44; p < 0.01). Conclusions. The program was feasible, in which the communications skills had the best performance: reactivity, nonverbal language, reception and closing interview; against a not well performed biomedical anamnesis. Time is an important variable to develop the skills learnt and the students uses less than the maximum. The group of students with the best psychosocial aspects, got more details of anamnesis in their interviews (AU)