Guardias médicas durante la formación del residente de neurología en España: cambios en la última década / 24-hour on-duty shifts during the training of neurology residents in Spain: changes in the last decade

Introducción: El programa formativo de neurología en España, aprobado en 2006, incide en la realización de guardias específicas supervisadas por un neurólogo. En una evaluación de la Comisión Nacional de Neurología en 2008, se constató un cumplimiento desigual de este objetivo docente: el 60,3% de las unidades ofrecía a sus residentes una guardia de 24 horas con supervisión física, y sólo el 43% era en su propio centro. Tras más de una década, y con un nuevo plan formativo en redacción, queremos conocer la situación actual y posibles factores implicados. Material y métodos. Estudio mediante encuestas autoadministradas a las unidades docentes de neurología que hubiesen formado recientemente una promoción completa de residentes (n = 77). Se recogieron respuestas entre octubre de 2021 y febrero de 2022. Resultados: Respondió el 100% de las unidades. En 2021, el 88,3% cumplía los objetivos docentes, con un 83% con guardias de 24 horas con supervisión física en su propio centro. Entre los factores relacionados, se observó una asociación directa y estadísticamente significativa con el tamaño del centro y la existencia de unidad de ictus. Discusión. La supervisión de residentes durante la guardia de neurología está siguiendo la línea marcada por el plan formativo y la comisión nacional de la especialidad, aunque siguen existiendo diferencias que van más allá de aspectos puramente asistenciales. El futuro plan estatal podría marcar nuevas pautas que nos ayuden a conseguir una menor heterogeneidad, a fin de ofrecer una misma capacitación en el abordaje urgente del paciente neurológico.(AU)

Introduction: The neurology training program in Spain, approved in 2006, emphasizes the importance of residents’ on-duty shifts supervised by a neurologist. An evaluation of the Specialty National Commission in 2008 showed an unequal fulfillment of this goal: 60.30% of the training units offered their residents 24-hour shifts with on-duty supervision, and only 43% in their own center. After more than a decade, and a new national training program on design, we would like to know the current situation and possible factors that might be involved. Material and methods. Cross-sectional study through self-administered surveys to neurology training units that had recently graduated residents (n = 77). Responses were collected between October 2021 and February 2022. Results: All units answered the survey. In 2021, 88.30% met the supervision objectives, and 83% offered their trainees 24-hour on-duty shifts with a neurologist in their center. Among related factors, there is a significant direct relationship between this kind of shift, the hospital’s size, and the existence of a stroke unit. Discussion. Residents’ guidance during the 24-hour neurology on-duty shifts follows the path set by the training program and the national commission. However, there are still some differences that go beyond purely healthcare aspects. The future national program could establish new guidelines that help us achieve less heterogeneity, in order to offer the same training in the assessment of acute neurological patients.(AU)

[24-hour on-duty shifts during the training of neurology residents in Spain: changes in the last decade]. / Guardias médicas durante la formación del residente de neurología en España: cambios en la última década.

INTRODUCTION: The neurology training program in Spain, approved in 2006, emphasizes the importance of residents' on-duty shifts supervised by a neurologist. An evaluation of the Specialty National Commission in 2008 showed an unequal fulfillment of this goal: 60.30% of the training units offered their residents 24-hour shifts with on-duty supervision, and only 43% in their own center. After more than a decade, and a new national training program on design, we would like to know the current situation and possible factors that might be involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study through self-administered surveys to neurology training units that had recently graduated residents (n = 77). Responses were collected between October 2021 and February 2022. RESULTS: All units answered the survey. In 2021, 88.30% met the supervision objectives, and 83% offered their trainees 24-hour on-duty shifts with a neurologist in their center. Among related factors, there is a significant direct relationship between this kind of shift, the hospital's size, and the existence of a stroke unit. DISCUSSION: Residents' guidance during the 24-hour neurology on-duty shifts follows the path set by the training program and the national commission. However, there are still some differences that go beyond purely healthcare aspects. The future national program could establish new guidelines that help us achieve less heterogeneity, in order to offer the same training in the assessment of acute neurological patients.

TITLE: Guardias médicas durante la formación del residente de neurología en España: cambios en la última década.Introducción. El programa formativo de neurología en España, aprobado en 2006, incide en la realización de guardias específicas supervisadas por un neurólogo. En una evaluación de la Comisión Nacional de Neurología en 2008, se constató un cumplimiento desigual de este objetivo docente: el 60,3% de las unidades ofrecía a sus residentes una guardia de 24 horas con supervisión física, y sólo el 43% era en su propio centro. Tras más de una década, y con un nuevo plan formativo en redacción, queremos conocer la situación actual y posibles factores implicados. Material y métodos. Estudio mediante encuestas autoadministradas a las unidades docentes de neurología que hubiesen formado recientemente una promoción completa de residentes (n = 77). Se recogieron respuestas entre octubre de 2021 y febrero de 2022. Resultados. Respondió el 100% de las unidades. En 2021, el 88,3% cumplía los objetivos docentes, con un 83% con guardias de 24 horas con supervisión física en su propio centro. Entre los factores relacionados, se observó una asociación directa y estadísticamente significativa con el tamaño del centro y la existencia de unidad de ictus. Discusión. La supervisión de residentes durante la guardia de neurología está siguiendo la línea marcada por el plan formativo y la comisión nacional de la especialidad, aunque siguen existiendo diferencias que van más allá de aspectos puramente asistenciales. El futuro plan estatal podría marcar nuevas pautas que nos ayuden a conseguir una menor heterogeneidad, a fin de ofrecer una misma capacitación en el abordaje urgente del paciente neurológico.

[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the training of Spanish neurology residents]. / Repercusión de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la formación de los residentes de neurología españoles.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed medical practice and severely disrupted the training of medical residents worldwide. The Spanish Society of Neurology conducted a study to assess its impact on the training of neurology residents in Spain. Methods: We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional study through a survey distributed by e-mail to all neurology residents belonging to the Society. The survey included questions on demographic variables, care activity, and personal and educational impact of the pandemic, as well as respondents' expectations for the future of their work in the post-pandemic era. Results: Of 422 surveys sent, we received a total of 152 responses (36%); 79 respondents (52%) were women and 73 (48%) were men. By year of residency, 51 respondents (33.6%) were in the fourth year, 45 (29.6%) in the third year, 28 (18.4%) in the second year, and 28 (18.4%) in the first year. A total of 139 respondents (90.8%) reported changes in hospital activity, and 126 (82.8%) considered the situation to have had a negative impact on their training, with 99 (64.7%) having lost non-recoverable rotations. Sixty-six percent of respondents (n=101) expressed a desire to extend their residency period. Conclusions: The pandemic has had an extremely severe impact on all areas of the health system, with trainee physicians being one of the most affected groups. Among neurology residents, the crisis has caused significant shortcomings in their training and clinical activities, through the suspension of specific rotations. A high percentage of respondents wished to extend the residency period.

Experiencia con toxina botulínica en la migraña crónica / Experience with botulinum toxin in chronic migraine

OBJETIVO: Describir la experiencia con la administración de toxina botulínica tipo A (OnabotA) en el tratamiento de la migraña crónica (MC) en Segovia durante 16 meses, evaluar su beneficio y buscar marcadores clínicos que sirvan para predecir una mejor respuesta al tratamiento. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo de pacientes con MC que recibieron infiltraciones con OnabotA durante 16 meses. Se evaluó la eficacia de OnabotA comparando la reducción en el número de días de cefalea, en la intensidad y efectos adversos. Se comparó el efecto del tratamiento con el factor tiempo mediante un análisis de la varianza de dos vías (ANOVA). Se estudió la correlación del efecto del tratamiento con el resto de las variables mediante un modelo de regresión lineal para buscar marcadores clínicos que sirvan para predecir una mejor respuesta. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó a 69 pacientes que cumplían criterios de MC. Se les realizó una media de 2 infiltraciones. La edad media fue de 43 años, el 88,4% fueron mujeres. La frecuencia de los días de cefalea y su intensidad se redujeron de forma significativa (p < 0,005) y esta mejoría se mantuvo a lo largo del tiempo. Se encontró una correlación negativa entre la reducción de la intensidad y el número de tratamientos previos a la administración de la toxina. CONCLUSIÓN: El efecto beneficioso de la OnabotA en la MC se mantiene en el tiempo, siendo un tratamiento seguro y bien tolerado. No debe retrasarse su uso en MC refractaria, ya que su beneficio podría ser mayor cuanto antes se administre

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to describe our 16-month experience with onabotulinumtoxinA (OnabotA) for the treatment of chronic migraine (CM) in the Spanish province of Segovia, evaluate its benefits, and determine clinical markers of good response to treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study of patients with CM who received OnabotA for 16 months. The effectiveness of OnabotA was evaluated based on the reduction in the number of headache days, pain intensity, and side effects. We used two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess the effects of treatment according to the time factor. We studied the correlation between treatment effects and other variables using a linear regression model to establish the clinical markers of good response to treatment. RESULTS: We included 69 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for CM. Patients underwent an average of 2 infiltrations. Mean age was 43 years; 88.4% were women. The number of headache days and pain intensity decreased significantly (P < .005); improvements remained over time. We found a negative correlation between the reduction in pain intensity and the number of treatments before OnabotA. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of OnabotA for CM continue over time. OnabotA is a safe and well-tolerated treatment whose use for refractory CM should not be delayed since early treatment provides greater benefits

Experience with botulinum toxin in chronic migraine. / Experiencia con toxina botulínica en la migraña crónica.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to describe our 16-month experience with onabotulinumtoxinA (OnabotA) for the treatment of chronic migraine (CM) in the Spanish province of Segovia, evaluate its benefits, and determine clinical markers of good response to treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study of patients with CM who received OnabotA for 16 months. The effectiveness of OnabotA was evaluated based on the reduction in the number of headache days, pain intensity, and side effects. We used two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess the effects of treatment according to the time factor. We studied the correlation between treatment effects and other variables using a linear regression model to establish the clinical markers of good response to treatment. RESULTS: We included 69 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for CM. Patients underwent an average of 2 infiltrations. Mean age was 43 years; 88.4% were women. The number of headache days and pain intensity decreased significantly (P < .005); improvements remained over time. We found a negative correlation between the reduction in pain intensity and the number of treatments before OnabotA. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of OnabotA for CM continue over time. OnabotA is a safe and well-tolerated treatment whose use for refractory CM should not be delayed since early treatment provides greater benefits.