[Patients' Perceptions of the Management of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Explora-IPF Project]. / Percepción de los pacientes en cuanto al manejo de la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática. Proyecto Explora-IPF.

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) impacts the life of patients and their families, so it is necessary to ascertain their perception in the approach to their disease. Methods: Observational study by means of a specific questionnaire that includes socio-demographic and clinical variables, perception of the impact of the disease (5-point Likert scale), preferences regarding the characteristics of the medication (degree of importance/concern 1-10) and satisfaction with treatment (SATMED-Q® scale 0-100). Results: 69 individuals participated (age: 66.5 ± 7.6 years; time until diagnosis: 16.5 ± 17.4 months; diagnosis time: 49.6 ± 42.3 months). The majority state that IPF limits them physically (90%) and emotionally (75%). The most highly valued features of the treatment were: slowing down progression of the disease (7.4 ± 2.8), stabilising lung capacity (6.9 ± 2.8) and improving quality of life (6.9 ± 2.8), above stabilising/improving symptoms (6.1 ± 2.8/6.3 ± 2.8) or avoiding hospitalisation (6.6 ± 2.7). The principal factors of concern were suffering gastric disorders (7.1 ± 2.9), photosensitivity (6.6 ± 3.0) or interaction with other drugs (6.0 ± 3.0). Overall satisfaction with the current treatment scored 61.1 points, with the highest scores being for medical follow-up (79.5) and overall opinion of the medicine (74.3). Conclusions: A study conducted in Spain on the perspective of IPF patients regarding the disease and its treatment. The results show a high level of awareness in terms of the seriousness of the disease on the part of patients, whose main concern is to slow down its progression. The information provided may help to optimise the management of IPF patients.

Tabaco y COVID-19: ¿factor de riesgo o protector? / Tobacco and COVID-19: is it a risk or protector factor?

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Distribution of stages of change in smoking behavior in a group of young smokers (transtheoretical model).

The aim of this study was to evaluate stages of self-change in smoking behavior in a group of young people. From May 1999 to October 2002, successive surveys were made, consisting of an anonymous, personal, and voluntary questionnaire that was distributed among enlisted personnel at military bases in Burgos and Madrid, Spain. The survey contained questions about personal data, characteristics of their smoking habit, reasons to stop smoking, and attempts to stop smoking. A descriptive statistical study was made 195% confidence interval). The questionnaire was given to 1,886 young people, of which 28 (1.48%) did not answer and 578 (31.10%) were women. The average age (+/- SD) of the subjects in the group was 21.6 +/- 2.91 years. Six hundred eighty-one (36.65%) were smokers, 479 men (37.42% of all men) and 202 women (34.94% of all women), and 82 (4.4%) were ex-smokers. Fourteen persons surveyed stated that they were nonsmokers but had stopped smoking less than a year earlier. Of the smokers, 300 (44.05%) were at the stage of precontemplation of smoking cessation and 295 (43.31%) were at the contemplation stage. Eighty-six (12.62%) of the smokers stated that they would be willing to stop smoking in the next 30 days (preparation stage). At the time that they completed the survey, 14 subjects were in the action stage. Forty-four percent (43.70%) had previously tried to stop smoking (p < 0.01) and had achieved abstinence for a mean (+/- SD) of 2.52 +/- 2.17 months. We found no significant differences between sexes. The relative distribution of stages of self-change in the smoking behavior of young smokers in this group did not differ from that found in developed countries around Spain.