Endometriosis: «Nivel de conocimiento y expectativas de formación específica entre profesionales especialistas en medicina de familia y comunitaria y matronas en atención primaria en la isla de Gran Canaria» / Endometriosis: “Level of knowledge and expectations of specific training among primary care doctors and midwives on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain”

Objetivo: Analizar el nivel de conocimiento entre profesionales sanitarios de atención primaria sobre endometriosis e identificar sus necesidades formativas en esta materia. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo realizado en atención primaria del Área de Salud de Gran Canaria, mediante cuestionario online anónimo. Resultados: Ciento diecinueve especialistas en medicina de familia y comunitaria y 37 matronas respondieron el cuestionario. El 54,6% de profesionales médicos y el 67,6% de matronas consideran escaso su conocimiento sobre endometriosis. Menos del 50% de profesionales conoce la guía de atención a las mujeres con endometriosis en el Sistema Nacional de Salud. Los síntomas más frecuentes relacionados con endometriosis son: dismenorrea moderada/severa, dolor pélvico crónico, esterilidad. Los menos relacionados son los digestivos y las alteraciones urinarias catameniales. Un 80% de profesionales médicos señalan como menor de 10 el número anual de pacientes en las que piensan que puedan tener endometriosis y menos de 20 para el 75% de matronas. El 40% de profesionales médicos trataría a una paciente con solo dismenorrea y sin planes de gestación con anticonceptivos orales; el 8% considera que el dolor con la menstruación es algo común. El 25% de profesionales especialistas en medicina de familia y comunitaria señalan la terapia de larga duración con antiinflamatorios no esteroideos como tratamiento de primera línea. Menos del 25% de ellos derivarían al especialista en Ginecología con solo sospechar endometriosis. Mayoritariamente los profesionales manifiestan interés en mejorar su formación en endometriosis. El 94,6% de las matronas consideran que tienen un papel estratégico en el manejo de pacientes con endometriosis. Conclusión: La demora en el diagnóstico de la endometriosis se debe en parte al desconocimiento de la enfermedad. Los profesionales de atención primaria constituyen la primera línea de atención sanitaria.(AU)

Objective: To analyze the level of knowledge of endometriosis in primary care doctors and midwives and to identify their training needs in this area. Design: Descriptive study conducted in the primary care services of the Health Area of Gran Canaria, through an anonymous online questionnaire. Results: One hundred and nineteen doctors and 37 midwives completed the questionnaire; 54.6% of doctors and 67.6% of midwives considered that their knowledge about endometriosis was poor. Less than 50% of healthcare professionals knew the National System of Health's guidelines for the management of women with endometriosis. Symptoms most frequently associated to endometriosis included: moderate/severe dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain and sterility. Less frequently related ones included: digestive symptoms and catamenial urinary disorders; 80% of doctors suspected endometriosis in <10 women per year; 75% of midwives suspected this condition in <20 women per year; 40% of doctors would prescribe oral contraceptives to patients with dysmenorrhea who were not planning pregnancy; 8% of doctors considered that menstruation-associated pain was common. Medical therapy was the most frequently chosen first-line treatment; 25% of doctors would choose long-term NSAIDs therapy as a first-line treatment; less than 25% of them would refer a patient to the Gynecology service only for suspected endometriosis. Most health professionals expressed their interest in improving their knowledge about endometriosis; 94.6% of midwives considered that they played a strategic role in the identification and management of patients with endometriosis. Conclusion: Delays in the diagnosis of endometriosis are partially due to ignorance of the disease. Primary care professionals constitute the first line of health care. In this context, it is essential to develop specific training strategies, which would be welcome by health professionals.(AU)

[Epidemiological study on the impact of influenza vaccination on the clinical course of patients with COVID-19 and co-infection by both viruses in Gran Canaria, Spain]. / Estudio epidemiológico sobre el impacto de la vacunación antigripal en la evolución clínica de pacientes con COVID-19 y la coinfección por ambos virus en Gran Canaria, España.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 co-infections, as well as the differences in the course of disease (risk of mortality, hospital and intensive care admissions) in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in relation to flu vaccination status in the 2021-2022 season. METHODS: Population-based observational retrospective study in a cohort of 19,850 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between June 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022 on the island of Gran Canaria. RESULTS: A total of 1,789 patients (9%) diagnosed with COVID-19 had received flu vaccinations. 13,676 people (68.9%) had a full course of COVID-19 vaccinations. In the period between June 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022, 8 cases of flu and COVID-19 coinfection were recorded. Hypertension (18.5%), asthma (12.8%) and diabetes (7.2%) were the most frequent comorbidities. There were 147 deaths (0.7%). Older patients ([OR] 1.11 95% CI 1.09-1.13) and people with cancer ([OR] 4.21 95% CI 2.58-6.89) had a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 (p<0.05). Female sex was noted as a protective factor ([OR] 0.61 95% CI 0.40-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Old age, male sex and cancer were independent prognostic factors for mortality. Three doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and influenza vaccines were highly effective in preventing COVID-19-related deaths and hospital admissions. These findings suggest that flu vaccination can help control the pandemic.

Tabaquismo en Gran Canaria. Consumo y actitudes en adolescentes / Tobacco smoking in adolescents in Gran Canaria, Spain. Consumption and attitudes

Objetivo: Estudiar la prevalencia y características del hábito tabáquico de los estudiantes de COU y 2.o de Bachillerato de Gran Canaria en el curso académico 1996-97.Métodos: Estudio transversal sobre una muestra de 931 alumnos obtenida por un método bietápico por conglomerados y estratificación en función del hábitat y del tipo de centro docente. La información se recogió mediante un cuestionario autoadministrado que incluía variables de identificación, características del consumo de tabaco, entorno familiar y social y factores actitudinales sobre las medidas restrictivas. Resultados: El 66,8 por ciento de los entrevistados son no fumadores y el 4 por ciento exfumadores. De los restantes, el 18,1 por ciento son fumadores habituales y el 11,1 por ciento ocasionales. La prevalencia de tabaquismo es mayor en las mujeres (p < 0,001), no difiriendo la cantidad de cigarrillos consumidos según el sexo. Se iniciaron al consumo de tabaco, en promedio, a los 15 años (ñ 1,5 años). No se aprecian diferencias significativas entre el consumo de tabaco de los padres y de los hijos, pero sí con el de los amigos o hermanos: el 87,5 por ciento de los fumadores tienen amigos que también lo son y el 42 por ciento algún hermano. Al inicio del hábito, sólo el 12 por ciento de los padres permiten fumar a sus hijos, llegando al 50 por ciento a medida que tienen más edad, siendo más permisivos con el sexo masculino. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de tabaquismo y la edad de inicio son menores en nuestra población que las observadas en otros estudios. La actuación debe centrarse en evitar la incorporación al consumo de tabaco creando un ambiente social y familiar en el que el tabaquismo sea considerado un comportamiento excepcional (AU)

[Smoking in Gran Canaria. Consumption and attitude in adolescents]. / Tabaquismo en Gran Canaria. Consumo y actitudes en adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and characteristics of tobacco use in the last years of the high school students in Gran Canaria (Spain) enrolled in the 1996-1997 academic year. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a sample of 931 students obtained through a two-stage method by conglomerates and stratification based on habit and type of educational institution. The information was gathered from a personal questionnaire that included identification variables, characteristics of tobacco consumption, family and social environment and attitudinal factors about restrictive measures. RESULTS: 66.8% of participants were non-smokers and 4% ex-smokers. Of the remaining, 18.1% were habitual smokers and 11.1% occasional smokers. The use of tobacco is higher in women than in men (p < 0.001) even though the quantity of tobacco consumed is the same. On the average, the consumption of tobacco begins at 15 years (+/- 1.5 years). There is not significant relation between tobacco use in parents and their children; however, there is a relation between tobacco use in those questioned and their siblings and friends: 87.5% of smokers had friends who also smoked and 42% a sibling who smoked. When those questioned started, only 12% of their parents had allowed them to smoke, reaching 50% when they were interviewed. Parents were more permissive with regard to tobacco consumption with males. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tobacco use and age at starting are lower in our population than in other studies. Any action taken should concentrate on avoiding the incorporation of tobacco into daily life, creating a social and family environment where the use of tobacco is exceptional.