Necesidad de cuidados paliativos en la población inmovilizada de un centro de salud de Vigo / Palliative care needs in the inmobilized population of a Primary Care area in vigo Spain

Objetivo general. Determinar las necesidades de cuidados paliativos en una muestra de población con problemas de movilidad del área del Centro de Salud Matamá, mediante el instrumento cuestionario de necesidad de cuidado paliativos (NECPAL) (identificación y atención integral-integrada de personas con enfermedades crónicas avanzadas en servicios de salud y sociales). Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo y transversal sobre los pacientes inmovilizados de un centro de salud de Vigo (en total 87). Resultados. La media de edad de nuestros pacientes es de 84,34 años, el 82% son mujeres. El motivo de inmovilización más frecuente fue la incapacidad de desplazarse fuera del domicilio (64%). El resultado de este test fue positivo en el 38% de los casos (33 pacientes), la mayoría de los cuales tienen patologías crónicas y solo un paciente está diagnosticado de cáncer. Existe una asociación negativa, significativa, entre la puntuación obtenida en la escala de Barthel y la proporción de positivos al test. Respecto a la utilización de recursos, se observan diferencias importantes de frecuentación hospitalaria y en Atención Primaria en función del resultado del test, resultando la diferencia estadísticamente significativa con relación a las consultas de Atención Primaria y Urgencias. Conclusiones. Paciente inmovilizado no es sinónimo de paciente con necesidad de cuidados paliativos; la herramienta utilizada se muestra útil para detectar esta necesidad, que supone un tercio de los pacientes. Los resultados del cuestionario NECPAL se relacionan bien con la puntuación de la escala de actividades básicas de la vida diaria (Barthel) y con indicadores de utilización de servicios sanitarios (AU)

General objective. To determine palliative care needs in a sample of people with mobility problems in the area of the C.S. Matama by using the NECPAL instrument (identification and integral-integrated care of people with advanced chronic diseases in social and healthcare provision services). Material and methods. Descriptive and cross-sectional study of patients immobilized in a health centre in Vigo (87 subjects overall). Results. The average age of our patients is 84.34 years and 82% are women. The most frequent immobilization type was the patient's inability to leave their home (64%). The result of this test was positive in 38% of cases (33 patients), most of whom have chronic diseases and only 1 patient has been diagnosed with cancer. There is a significant negative association between the score obtained on the Barthel scale and the ratio of positives to the test. Concerning the use of resources there are important differences regarding hospital admissions and PHC depending on the outcome of the test. These differences were statistically significant with regard to PHC and emergency consultations. Conclusions. An immobilized patient is not synonymous with a patient in need of palliative care; the tool used has been proved to be useful to detect this need, which concerns a third of our patients. The results of the questionnaire of need for care palliative (NECPAL) relate well to the basic activities of daily living (Barthel scale score) and to indicators of use of health services (AU)

[Palliative care needs in the inmobilized population of a Primary Care area in Vigo Spain]. / Necesidad de cuidados paliativos en la población inmovilizada de un centro de salud de Vigo.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE: To determine palliative care needs in a sample of people with mobility problems in the area of the C.S. Matama by using the NECPAL instrument (identification and integral-integrated care of people with advanced chronic diseases in social and healthcare provision services). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive and cross-sectional study of patients immobilized in a health centre in Vigo (87 subjects overall). RESULTS: The average age of our patients is 84.34 years and 82% are women. The most frequent immobilization type was the patient's inability to leave their home (64%). The result of this test was positive in 38% of cases (33 patients), most of whom have chronic diseases and only 1 patient has been diagnosed with cancer. There is a significant negative association between the score obtained on the Barthel scale and the ratio of positives to the test. Concerning the use of resources there are important differences regarding hospital admissions and PHC depending on the outcome of the test. These differences were statistically significant with regard to PHC and emergency consultations. CONCLUSIONS: An immobilized patient is not synonymous with a patient in need of palliative care; the tool used has been proved to be useful to detect this need, which concerns a third of our patients. The results of the questionnaire of need for care palliative (NECPAL) relate well to the basic activities of daily living (Barthel scale score) and to indicators of use of health services.