[Transcultural adaptation and validation of the DASH questionnaire in Mexican healthy volunteers and patients with neurogenic disorders of the upper extremity]. / Adaptación transcultural y validación de la versión mexicana del cuestionario DASH en individuos sanos y pacientes con trastornos neurogénicos del miembro superior.

Background: The Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire assesses the impact of upper extremity disorders on quality of life. However, its use in the Mexican population has not been formally validated. Objective: To conduct a cultural adaptation and validation of the DASH questionnaire to evaluate the perspective of patients with neurogenic disorders of the upper extremity regarding the impact on their quality of life. Method: We performed an adaptation of the Spanish version of the DASH questionnaire to the Mexican vocabulary and applied it to 478 volunteers. Ceiling effect, floor effect, item-total correlation, descriptive statistics of items and total score, internal consistency, precision, cross-sectional and longitudinal validity were estimated by comparing healthy controls and affected individuals with different disability levels. Results: Our DASH questionnaire version was equivalent to those previously approved and showed homogeneity of the items with respect to the total value of the questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha > 0.96). In addition, it showed an accuracy of 7.25 points and the crosssectional and longitudinal validity was documented with significant differences between groups and subgroups with distinct disability levels. Conclusions: The DASH questionnaire can be used with a high level of confidence in the Mexican population.

Antecedentes: El cuestionario de discapacidad de brazo, hombro y mano (DASH, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) mide el impacto de patologías del miembro superior en la calidad de vida. Sin embargo, su uso en la población mexicana no ha sido formalmente validado. Objetivo: Realizar la adaptación cultural y validación del cuestionario DASH para conocer la perspectiva de pacientes con trastornos neurogénicos del miembro superior respecto al impacto en su calidad de vida. Método: Se realizó una adaptación al vocabulario mexicano de la versión española del cuestionario DASH y se aplicó en 478 voluntarios. Se estimaron el efecto techo, el efecto suelo, la correlación ítem-total, las medidas de tendencia central de ítems y el puntaje total, la consistencia interna, la precisión y la validez transversal y longitudinal mediante la comparación de individuos sanos y enfermos con diferente nivel de discapacidad. Resultados: Nuestra versión del cuestionario DASH resultó equivalente a las previamente aprobadas y mostró homogeneidad de los ítems respecto al valor total del cuestionario (alfa de Cronbach > 0.96). Además, tuvo una precisión de 7.25 puntos y se documentó la validez transversal y longitudinal con diferencias significativas entre grupos y subgrupos con diferente nivel de discapacidad. Conclusiones: El cuestionario DASH puede ser empleado con un nivel de confianza alto en la población mexicana.

Lessons learnt from the process of designing care coordination interventions through participatory action research in public healthcare networks of six Latin American countries.

BACKGROUND: The participation of health professionals in designing interventions is considered vital to effective implementation, yet in areas such as clinical coordination is rarely promoted and evaluated. This study, part of Equity-LA II, aims to analyse the design process of interventions to improve clinical coordination, taking a participatory-action-research (PAR) approach, in healthcare networks of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay. This participatory process was planned in four phases, led by a local steering committee (LSC): (1) dissemination of problem analysis results and creation of professionals' platform, (2) selection of problems and intervention (3) intervention design and planning (4) adjustments after evaluation of first implementation stage. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study based on documentary analysis, using a topic guide, was conducted in each intervention network. Documents produced regarding the intervention design process were selected. Thematic content analysis was conducted, generating mixed categories taken from the topic guide and identified from data. Main categories were LSC characteristics, type of design process (phases, participants' roles, methods) and associated difficulties, coordination problems and interventions selected. RESULTS: LSCs of similar composition (managers, professionals and researchers) were established, with increasing membership in Chile and high turnover in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. Following results dissemination and selection of problems and interventions (more participatory in Chile and Colombia: 200-479 participants), the interventions were designed and planned, resulting in three different types of processes: (1) short initial design with adjustments after first implementation stage, in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico; (2) longer, more participatory process, with multiple cycles of action/reflection and pilot tests, in Chile; (3) open-ended design for ongoing adaptation, in Argentina and Uruguay. Professionals' time and the political cycle were the main barriers to participation. The clinical coordination problem selected was limited communication between primary and secondary care doctors. To address it, through discussions guided by context and feasibility criteria, interventions based on mutual feedback were selected. CONCLUSIONS: As expected in a flexible PAR process, its rollout differed across countries in participation and PAR cycles. Results show that PAR can help to design interventions adapted to context and offers lessons that can be applied in other contexts.

Is clinical coordination across care levels different according to the secondary care medical speciality? Results from the Catalan health system.

BACKGROUND: Despite the scarce evidence, some studies suggest that cross-level clinical coordination may vary among secondary care (SC) doctors, influenced by their speciality and organisational model, including degree of decentralisation to primary care (PC). The aim was to determine the differences in experience and perception of cross-level clinical coordination and related factors according to the SC doctor's speciality in the Catalan health system. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, based on an on-line survey using the COORDENA-CAT questionnaire, to SC doctors (n = 1666). Descriptive and multivariate analysis were used to compare five groups of SC specialities (decentralised, hospital-based, internists/geriatricians, gynaecologist, and paediatricians), for experience, perception and factors related to coordination. RESULTS: When comparing with decentralised specialities, hospital-based specialities and internal medicine/geriatrics reported lower care consistency and follow up across levels, while gynaecology and paediatrics, higher accessibility. General perception of cross-level coordination was lower in hospital-based specialities (PR:0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.89) and higher in gynaecology (PR:1.36, 95% CI 1.18-1.56). Moreover, hospital-based specialities reported a lower use of some coordination mechanisms and lower knowledge of the primary care doctors (PR:0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.72), while gynaecology a higher knowledge (PR:2.04, 95% CI 1.22-3.45). CONCLUSIONS: Results show differences in experience, perception of coordination, organisational and interactional factors across specialities. These differences may be explained by their complexity, coordination needs and organisational model. Further research is needed to clarify and understand the causes of such differences and the particular needs of coordination of each speciality to identify strategies to improve cross-level clinical coordination.

Improving equity in access to early diagnosis of cancer in different healthcare systems of Latin America: protocol for the EquityCancer-LA implementation-effectiveness hybrid study.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare fragmentation, a main cause for delay in cancer diagnosis and treatment, contributes to high mortality in Latin America (LA), particularly among disadvantaged populations. This research focuses on integrated care interventions, which have been limitedly implemented in the region. The objective is to evaluate the contextual effectiveness of scaling-up an integrated care intervention to improve early diagnosis of frequent cancers in healthcare networks of Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This research is two pronged: (A) quasi-experimental design (controlled before and after) with an intervention and a control healthcare network in each LA country, using an implementation-effectiveness hybrid approach to assess the intervention process, effectiveness and costs; and (B) case study design to analyse access to diagnosis of most frequent cancers. Focusing on the most vulnerable socioeconomic population, it develops in four phases: (1) analysis of delays and barriers to early diagnosis (baseline); (2) intervention adaptation and implementation (primary care training, fast-track referral pathway and patient information); (3) intracountry evaluation of intervention and (4) cross-country analysis. Baseline and evaluation studies adopt mixed-methods qualitative (semistructured individual interviews) and quantitative (patient questionnaire survey) methods. For the latter, a sample size of 174 patients with cancer diagnosis per healthcare network and year was calculated to detect a proportions difference of 15%, before and after intervention (α=0.05; ß=0.2) in a two-sided test. A participatory approach will be used to tailor the intervention to each context, led by a local steering committee (professionals, managers, policy makers, patients and researchers). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study complies with international and national legal stipulations on ethics. It was approved by each country's ethical committee and informed consent will be obtained from participants. Besides the coproduction of knowledge with key stakeholders, it will be disseminated through strategies such as policy briefs, workshops, e-tools and scientific papers.

Relational Continuity of Chronic Patients with Primary and Secondary Care Doctors: A Study of Public Healthcare Networks of Six Latin American Countries.

Despite relational continuity (RC) with the doctor being key to care quality for chronic patients, particularly in fragmented healthcare systems, like many in Latin America (LA), little is known about RC and its attributes, particularly regarding specialists. Aim: We aim to analyse chronic patients' perceptions of RC with primary (PC) and secondary (SC) care doctors, and record changes between 2015 and 2017 in the public healthcare networks of six LA countries. An analysis of two cross-sectional studies applying the CCAENA questionnaire to chronic patients (N = 4881) was conducted in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay. The dependent variables of RC with PC and SC doctors were: consistency, trust, effective communication, and synthetic indexes based on RC attributes. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed. Although the RC index was high in 2015, especially in PC in all countries, and at both levels in Argentina and Uruguay, low perceived consistency of PC and SC doctors in Colombia and Chile and of SC doctors in Mexico revealed important areas for improvement. In 2017 the RC index of SC doctors increased in Chile and Mexico, while SC doctors' consistency in Colombia decreased. This study reveals important gaps in achieving RC with doctors, particularly in SC, which requires further structural and organisational reforms.

¿La integración de la gestión de servicios sanitarios mejora la coordinación clínica? Experiencia en Cataluña / Does the integration of health services management improve clinical coordination? Experience in Catalonia

Objetivo: Analizar la experiencia y la percepción de coordinación clínica entre niveles asistenciales y los factores relacionados, organizativos y de interacción entre profesionales, según el tipo de integración de la gestión de los servicios de salud del área en Cataluña. Método: Estudio transversal basado en una encuesta on-line mediante autoadministración del cuestionario COORDENA-CAT (octubre-diciembre 2017). Población de estudio: médicos/as de atención primaria y especializada de agudos y media y larga estancia del sistema sanitario catalán. Muestra: 3308 médicos/as. Variables de resultado: experiencia y percepción de coordinación clínica, conocimiento y uso de mecanismos de coordinación y factores relacionados. Variables explicativas: área según tipo de gestión (integrada, semiintegrada, no integrada), sociodemográficas, laborales y de actitud. Análisis descriptivos por tipo de área y multivariados mediante regresión de Poisson robusta. Resultados: Se observaron mejores resultados de experiencia y percepción de coordinación clínica en áreas integradas que en semiintegradas, en especial en la transferencia de información y el seguimiento adecuado entre niveles. En cambio, no se encontraron diferencias entre áreas integradas y no integradas en la experiencia, aunque sí en la percepción de coordinación y algunos factores. Algunos problemas identificados son comunes a todas las áreas, como la accesibilidad entre niveles. Conclusiones: Las pocas diferencias entre áreas integradas y no integradas parecen indicar que la integración de la gestión puede facilitar la coordinación clínica, pero no es condición suficiente. Las diferencias con áreas semiintegradas parecen indicar la necesidad de promover la cooperación entre todos los proveedores de un territorio, con objetivos y mecanismos de coordinación comunes, para evitar desigualdades en la calidad asistencial. (AU)

Objective: To analyze the experience and perception of clinical coordination across care levels and doctor's organizational and interactional related factors, according to the type of management integration of the healthcare services of the area, in Catalonia. Method: Cross-sectional study based on an online survey by self-administration of the questionnaire COORDENA-CAT. Data collection: October-December 2017. Study population: primary and secondary care (acute and long-term care) doctors of the public Catalan health system. Sample: 3308 doctors. Outcome variables: experience and perception of clinical coordination, knowledge and use of coordination mechanisms and organizational and interactional factors; explanatory variables: area according to type of management (integrated, semi-integrated, non-integrated), socio-demographic, employment characteristics and attitude toward work. Descriptive analysis by type of area and multivariate analysis by robust Poisson regression. Results: Better clinical coordination was observed in integrated areas compared to those semi-integrated, mainly in relation to information transfer, adequate follow-up and perception of coordination in the area. No differences were found between integrated and non-integrated areas in the clinical coordination experience, although there were differences in perception and some related factors. There are common problems across areas, such as accessibility to secondary care. Conclusions: Few differences were found between integrated and non-integrated areas, revealing that management integration may facilitate clinical coordination but is not enough. Differences with semi-integrated areas indicate the need to promote cooperation formulas between all the providers of the territory, with common objectives and coordination mechanisms, in order to avoid inequalities in quality of care. (AU)

Implementing joint training sessions of general practitioners and specialists aimed at improving clinical coordination in Colombia: Contributions from participatory action research.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the contribution of participatory action research (PAR) in designing and implementing joint training sessions as a means to improve clinical coordination in a public health care network in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive-interpretative study using semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups with 40 professionals (GPs, specialists, members of the local steering committee (LSC) and network middle managers) involved in designing and implementing joint training sessions to improve cross-level clinical coordination. The intervention consisted of two forms of joint training sessions for GPs and specialists, implemented through two PAR cycles. RESULTS: The PAR approach in designing and implementing joint training sessions led to greater awareness of clinical coordination problems and helped adapting sessions to the local health care context. Study participants highlighted the role of LSC leadership during the PAR process and the importance of ensuring the necessary resources for adopting the intervention. Limited institutional support and differences between joint training sessions affected doctors' participation and reduced the time available to conduct the sessions. The use of a reflexive method was essential in enhancing doctors' participation, along with session duration, the facilitator's role and session content. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence regarding the contribution of a PAR process to designing and implementing joint training sessions for improving clinical coordination. The findings can inform similar approaches in other health systems.

Changes in Access to Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures adopted are having a profound impact on a major goal of public healthcare systems: universal access to health services. The objective is to synthesize the available knowledge on access to health care for non-COVID-19 conditions and to identify knowledge gaps. A scoping review was conducted searching different databases (Medline, Google Scholar, etc.) for original articles published between December 2019 and September 2021. A total of 53 articles were selected and analyzed using the Aday and Andersen framework as a guide. Of these, 37 analyzed changes in levels of use of health services, 15 focused on the influencing factors and barriers to access, and 1 studied both aspects. Most focused on specific diseases and the early stages of the pandemic, based on a review of records. Analyses of the impact on primary care services' use, unmet needs or inequalities in access were scarce. A generalized reduction in the use of health services was described. The most frequent access barrier described for non-COVID-19 conditions related to the services was a lack of resources, while barriers related to the population were predisposing (fear of contagion, stigma, or anticipating barriers) and enabling characteristics (worse socioeconomic status and an increase in technological barriers). In conclusion, our results show a general reduction in services' use in the early stages of the pandemic, as well as new barriers to access and the exacerbation of existing ones. In view of these results, more studies are required on the subsequent stages of the pandemic, to shed more light on the factors that have influenced access and the pandemic's impact on equity of access.

Evaluating the effectiveness of care coordination interventions designed and implemented through a participatory action research process: Lessons learned from a quasi-experimental study in public healthcare networks in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing recommendations for health professionals to participate in intervention design and implementation to effect changes in clinical practice, little is known about this strategy's effectiveness. This study analyses the effectiveness of interventions designed and implemented through participatory action research (PAR) processes in healthcare networks of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay to improve clinical coordination across care levels, and offers recommendations for future research. METHODS: The study was quasi-experimental. Two comparable networks, one intervention (IN) and one control (CN), were selected in each country. Baseline (2015) and evaluation (2017) surveys of a sample of primary and secondary care doctors (174 doctors/network/year) were conducted using the COORDENA® questionnaire. Most of the interventions chosen were based on joint meetings, promoting cross-level clinical agreement and communication for patient follow-up. Outcome variables were: a) intermediate: interactional and organizational factors; b) distal: experience of cross-level clinical information coordination, of clinical management coordination and general perception of coordination between levels. Poisson regression models were estimated. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in some of the interactional factors (intermediate outcomes) -knowing each other personally and mutual trust- was observed in Brazil and Chile INs; and in some organizational factors -institutional support- in Colombia and Mexico. Compared to CNs in 2017, INs of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico showed significant differences in some factors. In distal outcomes, care consistency items improved in Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay INs; and patient follow-up improved in Chile and Mexico. General perception of clinical coordination increased in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico INs. Compared to CNs in 2017, only Brazil showed significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Although more research is needed, results show that PAR-based interventions improved some outcomes regarding clinical coordination at network level, with differences between countries. However, a PAR process is, by definition, slow and gradual, and longer implementation periods are needed to achieve greater penetration and quantifiable changes. The participatory and flexible nature of interventions developed through PAR processes poses methodological challenges (such as defining outcomes or allocating individuals to different groups in advance), and requires a comprehensive mixed-methods approach that simultaneously evaluates effectiveness and the implementation process to better understand its outcomes.

Assessing the impact of clinical coordination interventions on the continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions: participatory action research in five Latin American countries.

Although fragmentation in the provision of services is considered an obstacle to effective health care, there is scant evidence on the impact of interventions to improve care coordination between primary care and secondary care in terms of continuity of care-i.e. from the patient perspective-particularly in Latin America (LA). Within the framework of the Equity-LA II project, interventions to improve coordination across care levels were implemented in five Latin American countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay) through a participatory action research (PAR) process. This paper analyses the impact of these PAR interventions on the cross-level continuity of care of chronic patients in public healthcare networks. A quasi-experimental study was performed with measurements based on two surveys of a sample of patients with chronic conditions (392 per network; 800 per country). Both the baseline (2015) and evaluation (2017) surveys were conducted using the CCAENA questionnaire. In each country, two comparable public healthcare networks were selected, one intervention and one control. Outcomes were cross-level continuity of information and clinical management continuity. Descriptive analyses were conducted, and Poisson regression models with robust variance were fitted to estimate changes. With differences between countries, the results showed improvements in cross-level continuity of clinical information (transfer of clinical information) and clinical management continuity (care coherence). These results are consistent with those of previous studies on the effectiveness of the interventions implemented in each country in improving care coordination in Brazil, Chile and Colombia. Differences between countries are probably related to particular contextual factors and events that occurred during the implementation process. This supports the notion that certain context and process factors are needed to improve continuity of care. The results provide evidence that, although the interventions were designed to enhance care coordination and aimed at health professionals, patients report improvements in continuity of care.

[Does the integration of health services management improve clinical coordination? Experience in Catalonia]. / ¿La integración de la gestión de servicios sanitarios mejora la coordinación clínica? Experiencia en Cataluña.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the experience and perception of clinical coordination across care levels and doctor's organizational and interactional related factors, according to the type of management integration of the healthcare services of the area, in Catalonia. METHOD: Cross-sectional study based on an online survey by self-administration of the questionnaire COORDENA-CAT. DATA COLLECTION: October-December 2017. STUDY POPULATION: primary and secondary care (acute and long-term care) doctors of the public Catalan health system. SAMPLE: 3308 doctors. OUTCOME VARIABLES: experience and perception of clinical coordination, knowledge and use of coordination mechanisms and organizational and interactional factors; explanatory variables: area according to type of management (integrated, semi-integrated, non-integrated), socio-demographic, employment characteristics and attitude toward work. Descriptive analysis by type of area and multivariate analysis by robust Poisson regression. RESULTS: Better clinical coordination was observed in integrated areas compared to those semi-integrated, mainly in relation to information transfer, adequate follow-up and perception of coordination in the area. No differences were found between integrated and non-integrated areas in the clinical coordination experience, although there were differences in perception and some related factors. There are common problems across areas, such as accessibility to secondary care. CONCLUSIONS: Few differences were found between integrated and non-integrated areas, revealing that management integration may facilitate clinical coordination but is not enough. Differences with semi-integrated areas indicate the need to promote cooperation formulas between all the providers of the territory, with common objectives and coordination mechanisms, in order to avoid inequalities in quality of care.

Interventions to Improve Clinical Coordination between Levels: Participatory Experience in a Public Healthcare Network in Xalapa, Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Coordination of care can be improved through an intervention or a combination of several ones. In addition, it is recommended to encourage the active involvement of professionals in the design, implementation and assessment of coordination mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the factors that influence the implementation of participatively designed interventions and their effects on clinical coordination between levels of care in a public healthcare network of health services in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive-interpretative study, for which individual interviews and discussion groups with a criterion sample of participants: Local Steering Committee and the Professional Platform. A content analysis, with mixed category generation and segmentation by intervention and topics, was carried out. According to the problem analysis, participants designed two sequential interventions: offline virtual consultation, and joint training meetings on maternal health and chronic diseases. RESULTS: Respondents perceived a differentiated impact on clinical coordination according to intervention: greater in the case of joint maternal health trainings and limited for the chronic diseases meetings, as they were the offline virtual consultation was rarely used. CONCLUSION: The involvement of professionals in designing the interventions, as well as institutional support and reflexive methods for training, all decisively improved clinical coordination between levels.

Atypical Association of Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis with Anti-NMDA Receptor Antibodies in a Young Male Patient: Clinical, Imaging, and Neuropsychological Characteristics.

The spectrum of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) encompasses several entities characterized by a variable frequency of psychiatric symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, focal deficits, and seizures. Although patients with AE can be categorized in specific syndromes, overlapping manifestations are also common. Furthermore, atypical correlations between clinical phenotypes and autoantibody profiles could occur in rare cases. Here, we report the rare case of a young adult man attending due to new-onset seizures and a history of memory loss, autonomic disturbances, headache, behavioral changes, and visual and olfactory hallucinations. The patient was subjected to a complete diagnostic approach that included a comprehensive laboratory workup, neuropsychological testing, electroencephalogram, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, brain MRI, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan that revealed a functional and structural compromise of the bilateral medial temporal lobes. Together with the clinical manifestations of the patient, these findings were compatible with the diagnosis of autoimmune limbic encephalitis (ALE). Strikingly, further analysis of the CSF showed autoantibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. We found very few cases of the co-occurrence of anti-NMDA receptor antibodies and nonparaneoplastic ALE in the literature, especially in male patients. Our report exemplifies the complicated differential diagnosis of ALE and adds clinical information of the association with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies.

Care continuity across levels of care perceived by patients with chronic conditions in six Latin-American countries / La continuidad de la atención entre niveles percibida por pacientes con enfermedades crónicas en seis países latinoamericanos

Objective: To analyse the care continuity across levels of care perceived by patients with chronic conditions in public healthcare networks in six Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay), and to explore associated factors. Method: Cross-sectional study by means of a survey conducted to a random sample of chronic patients in primary care centres of the study networks (784 per country) using the questionnaire Cuestionario de Continuidad Asistencial Entre Niveles de Atención (CCAENA)©. Patients had at least one chronic condition and had used two levels of care in the 6 months prior to the survey for the same medical condition. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were carried out. Results: Although there are notable differences between the networks analysed, the results show that chronic patients perceive significant discontinuities in the exchange of clinical information between primary care and secondary care doctors and in access to secondary care following a referral; as well as, to a lesser degree, regarding clinical coherence across levels. Relational continuity with primary care and secondary care doctors and information transfer are positively associated with care continuity across levels; no individual factor is systematically associated with care continuity. Conclusions: Main perceived discontinuities relate to information transfer and access to secondary care after a referral. The study indicates the importance of organisational factors to improve chronic patients' quality of care. (AU)

Objetivo: Analizar la continuidad asistencial entre niveles de atención percibida por pacientes con enfermedades crónicas en redes sanitarias públicas de seis países latinoamericanos (Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, México y Uruguay) y explorar los factores asociados. Método: Estudio transversal mediante una encuesta realizada a una muestra aleatoria de pacientes crónicos en los centros de atención primaria de las redes de estudio (784 por país) utilizando el Cuestionario de Continuidad Asistencial Entre Niveles de Atención (CCAENA©). Los pacientes presentaban al menos una afección crónica y habían utilizado dos niveles de atención en los 6 meses anteriores a la encuesta por el mismo motivo. Se realizaron un análisis descriptivo y una regresión logística multivariante. Resultados: Aunque existen diferencias notables entre las redes analizadas, los resultados muestran que los pacientes crónicos perciben discontinuidades significativas en el intercambio de información clínica entre médicos de atención primaria y secundaria, y en el acceso a la atención secundaria tras una derivación, así como, en menor medida, en la coherencia clínica entre niveles. La continuidad de relación con los médicos de atención primaria y secundaria, y la transferencia de información, se asocian de manera positiva con la continuidad asistencial en ambos niveles; ningún factor individual se asocia sistemáticamente con la continuidad asistencial. Conclusiones: Las principales discontinuidades percibidas se relacionan con la transferencia de información y el acceso a la atención secundaria después de una derivación. El estudio indica la importancia de los factores organizativos para mejorar la calidad de la atención de los pacientes crónicos. (AU)

[Barriers and factors associated with the use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care in Mexico]. / Barreras y factores asociados al uso de mecanismos de coordinación entre niveles de atención en México.

The aim was to analyze the level and characterize the use of clinical coordination mechanisms between levels of care, and their associated factors, in two public networks of health services in Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the COORDENA questionnaire to primary and specialized care physicians in the state of Veracruz. Differences were found between networks and levels of care, according to the mechanism. In both, the referral/counter-referral is mostly used to channel the patient to another level, mainly by primary care physicians. A high reception of referrals by specialists was identified, but few counterreferences in primary care. Being a man and recognizing the primary care physician, as responsible for monitoring the patient in his/her healthcare career, were factors associated with the frequent sending of the counter-referral by specialists. The discharge report is used in both networks to send clinical information to the other level, with more sending by specialist doctors, but with less reception in primary care. In both networks, the follow-up to the recommendations of the mechanisms to standardize clinical care was greater by primary care physicians than specialized ones. The use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care is deficient and limited, with greater use of mechanisms to transfer information than for clinical management. The need to implement strategies that consider the participation of professionals is evident, to favor local adaptation, appropriation and improve their use.

El objetivo fue analizar el nivel y caracterizar el uso de mecanismos de coordinación clínica entre niveles de atención, y sus factores asociados, en dos redes públicas de servicios de salud en México. Se realizó estudio transversal mediante el cuestionario COORDENA a médicos de atención primaria y especializada del estado de Veracruz. Se encontraron diferencias entre redes y niveles de atención, según el mecanismo. En ambas, la referencia/contrarreferencia es sobre todo utilizada para canalizar al paciente a otro nivel, principalmente por parte de los médicos de atención primaria. Se identificó una alta recepción de referencias por especialistas, pero escasa recepción de contrarreferencias en atención primaria. Ser hombre y reconocer al médico/a de atención primaria como responsable del seguimiento del paciente en su trayectoria asistencial, fueron factores asociados al envío frecuente de la contrarreferencia por especialistas. El informe de alta se utiliza en ambas redes para enviar información clínica al otro nivel, con mayor envío por médicos/as especialistas, y con menor recepción en atención primaria. En ambas redes, el seguimiento a las recomendaciones de los mecanismos para estandarizar la atención clínica (guías de práctica clínica, etc.) por parte médicos/as de atención primaria que de especializada. La utilización de mecanismos de coordinación entre niveles de atención es deficiente y limitada, con mayor uso de mecanismos para transferir información que para la gestión clínica. Se evidencia la necesidad de implementar estrategias que consideren la participación de los profesionales, para favorecer la adaptación local, apropiación y mejorar su uso.

O objetivo era analisar o nível e caracterizar o uso de mecanismos de coordenação clínica entre níveis de atenção e seus fatores associados em duas redes públicas de saúde no México. Estudo transversal por meio do questionário COORDENA aplicados a médicos da atenção primaria e especializada do Estado de Veracruz. Foram encontradas diferenças entre redes e níveis de atenção conforme o mecanismo. Em ambas, a referência/contrarreferência é sobre tudo utilizada para encaminhar o paciente para outro nível, principalmente por parte dos médicos da atenção primária. Foi identificado um alto recebimento de referências por especialistas, porém raras são as contrarreferências na atenção primária. Ser homem e reconhecer o médico/a de atenção primária como responsável pelo acompanhamento do paciente na sua trajetória de atendimento foram fatores associados ao envio frequente da contrarreferência por especialistas. O relatório de alta é utilizado nas duas redes para enviar informação clínica ao outro nível, com mais envios por médicos/as especialistas e menos recebimentos na atenção primária. Em ambas as redes, a observância das recomendações de mecanismos para padronizar a atenção clínica foi maior por parte dos médicos/as da atenção primária do que da especializada. O uso de mecanismos de coordenação entre níveis de atenção é deficiente e limitado, com o emprego maior de mecanismos para transmitir informação do que para a gestão clínica. Ficou evidenciada a necessidade de implementar estratégias que levem em conta a participação dos profissionais, para promover a adequação local, a apropriação e melhorar a sua utilização.

Understanding How to Improve the Use of Clinical Coordination Mechanisms between Primary and Secondary Care Doctors: Clues from Catalonia.

Clinical coordination between primary (PC) and secondary care (SC) is a challenge for health systems, and clinical coordination mechanisms (CCM) play an important role in the interface between care levels. It is therefore essential to understand the elements that may hinder their use. This study aims to analyze the level of use of CCM, the difficulties and factors associated with their use, and suggestions for improving clinical coordination. A cross-sectional online survey-based study using the questionnaire COORDENA-CAT was conducted with 3308 PC and SC doctors in the Catalan national health system. Descriptive bivariate analysis and logistic regression models were used. Shared Electronic Medical Records were the most frequently used CCM, especially by PC doctors, and the one that presented most difficulties in use, mostly related to technical problems. Some factors positively associated with frequent use of various CCM were: working full-time in integrated areas, or with local hospitals. Interactional and organizational factors contributed to a greater extent among SC doctors. Suggestions for improving clinical coordination were similar between care levels and related mainly to the improvement of CCM. In an era where management tools are shifting towards technology-based CCM, this study can help to design strategies to improve their effectiveness.

Nerve preservation during partial sacrectomy by two-stage anterior and posterior approach: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Preserving the neurological function of sacral nerves during total or partial sacrectomy is challenging. OBSERVATIONS: The authors describe a case of an osseous desmoplastic fibroma of the sacrum in a 51-year-old woman. The patient attended the authors' institution with loss of muscle strength and sensitivity impairment in both legs, gait instability, bowel constipation, urinary incontinence, and weight loss. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed intrapelvic and posterior extension of the tumor but sparing of S1 and the sacroiliac and lumbosacral joints. After a multidisciplinary discussion of the case, a staged anterior-posterior approach to the sacrum was chosen. The abdominal approach allowed full mobilization of the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and colon and protection of iliac vessels. After tumor resection, a synthetic surgical mesh was placed over the sacrum to minimize soft tissue defects. Then, the posterior stage allowed the authors to perform a bicortical osteotomy, achieving wide tumor excision with minimal nerve root injury. Spinopelvic fixation was not necessary, because both sacroiliac and lumbosacral joints remained intact. A few days after the surgery, the patient restarted ambulation and recovered sphincter control. LESSONS: Multidisciplinary planning and a staged abdominal and posterior approach for partial sacrectomy were fundamental to preserve neurological function in this case.

Changes in knowledge and use of clinical coordination mechanisms between care levels in healthcare networks of Colombia.

Clinical coordination mechanisms (CCMs) have become key tools in healthcare networks for improving coordination between primary care (PC) and secondary care (SC) and are particularly relevant in health systems with highly fragmented healthcare provision. However, their implementation has been little studied to date in Latin America and particularly in Colombia. This study analyses the level of knowledge and use of CCMs between care levels and their changes between 2015 and 2017 in two public healthcare networks in Bogotá, Colombia. Comparison of two cross-sectional studies based on surveys among PC and SC doctors working in their networks (174 doctors per network/year). The COORDENA questionnaire was used for measuring knowledge concerning CCMs and the frequency of use and difficulties involved in using referral/reply letters (R/RLs) and hospital discharge reports (HDRs). Descriptive bivariate analysis and Poisson regression models with robust variance were used for analysing differences between networks and years. The results for both networks and years revealed greater knowledge and use of information coordination mechanisms than those regarding clinical management coordination (though their knowledge increased in 2017). Although widely known and used, significant problems regarding infrequent and late receipt of RLs and HDRs in PC as well as the poor quality of their contents limits their effective use, which may affect the quality of care. Strategies are required to improve CCMs use.

Care continuity across levels of care perceived by patients with chronic conditions in six Latin-American countries.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the care continuity across levels of care perceived by patients with chronic conditions in public healthcare networks in six Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay), and to explore associated factors. METHOD: Cross-sectional study by means of a survey conducted to a random sample of chronic patients in primary care centres of the study networks (784 per country) using the questionnaire Cuestionario de Continuidad Asistencial Entre Niveles de Atención (CCAENA)©. Patients had at least one chronic condition and had used two levels of care in the 6 months prior to the survey for the same medical condition. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were carried out. RESULTS: Although there are notable differences between the networks analysed, the results show that chronic patients perceive significant discontinuities in the exchange of clinical information between primary care and secondary care doctors and in access to secondary care following a referral; as well as, to a lesser degree, regarding clinical coherence across levels. Relational continuity with primary care and secondary care doctors and information transfer are positively associated with care continuity across levels; no individual factor is systematically associated with care continuity. CONCLUSIONS: Main perceived discontinuities relate to information transfer and access to secondary care after a referral. The study indicates the importance of organisational factors to improve chronic patients' quality of care.

Mecanismos de coordinación en la red de salud municipal de Rosario: conocimiento y uso, estudio comparativo 2015-201 / Coordination mechanisms in Rosario´s municipal health network: knowledge and use. Comparative study 2015-2017

INTRODUCCIÓN: En Argentina, como en el resto de Latinoamérica, el sistema de salud está fragmentado; los mecanismos de coordinación (MC) entre niveles de atención son un insumo para su mejora. El objetivo fue analizar, como parte del proyecto EQUITY LA II, el conocimiento y uso de MC entre niveles de atención en médicos de atención primaria (AP) y especializada (AE) en la red de Salud Municipal de Rosario, y sus cambios entre 2015 y 2017. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal con aplicación del cuestionario COORDENA Argentina a médicos de AP y AE. Se encuestó a 350 médicos en 2015 y a 352 en 2017. Las variables fueron nivel de conocimiento, frecuencia, finalidad y dificultades en el uso de los MC de información (MCI): hoja de referencia/contrarreferencia-interconsulta (HR/CR), informe de alta hospitalaria, teléfono; y los MC de gestión clínica (MCGC): guías de práctica clínica (GPC) y reuniones conjuntas. Se efectuó un análisis comparativo entre años y niveles. RESULTADOS: En 2015 la mayoría conocía MCI, aunque hubo diferentes porcentajes de uso según niveles de atención. Los MCGC eran menos conocidos, pero muy usados entre quienes los conocían. Hubo cambios significativos en 2017: disminuyó el envío de CR y el uso del teléfono en AP, y aumentó el conocimiento de reuniones conjuntas y de GPC (solo entre AP). DISCUSIÓN: Existen diferencias en la implementación de MC entre niveles. La adecuación al contexto local es clave para lograr una efectiva y eficiente implementación.