Effectiveness of antidepressants in improving the prognosis of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE, AND MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing the poor evolution of COVID-19 disease (a composite variable including death, hospitalization and need for mechanical ventilation), and mortality, according the guidelines for Systematic Reviews of Interventions published by the Cochrane library. SOURCE OF DATA: MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE LIBRARY were consulted up to February 25, 2022. Unpublished studies were searched on clinicaltrials.gov platform. SELECTION OF STUDIES: Seven masked and unmasked, observational and experimental studies evaluating death, hospitalization and need for mechanical ventilation were selected. A second subgroup analysis with mortality variable was performed. DATA EXTRACTION: A full risk of bias assessment was performed addressing issues such as information and confounding bias. ROB2 and Robins-I tools for randomized and no randomized studies were employed respectively. In the quantitative analysis, the risk of publication bias, heterogeneity, estimation of pooled measure and a sensitivity analysis was performed. The pooled final measure was calculated as odds ratio with its correspondent 95% confidence interval. A random effects model was used for this purpose due to the heterogeneity between included studies. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of final pooled measure. RESULTS: Seven studies were finally considered to calculate the final pooled measure. The effect of intervention was OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.56-0.94. CONCLUSIONS: The use of antidepressants, and specially SSRI could be effective for reducing the risk of poor progression of COVID-19 disease.

The Impact of Digital Health on Smoking Cessation.

BACKGROUND: Smartphones have become useful tools for medicine, with the use of specific apps making it possible to bring health care closer to inaccessible areas, continuously monitor a patient's pathology at any time and place, promote healthy habits, and ultimately improve patients' quality of life and the efficiency of the health care system. Since 2020, the use of smartphones has reached unprecedented levels. There are more than 350,000 health apps, according to a 2021 IQVIA Institute report, that address, among other things, the management of patient appointments; communication among different services or professionals; the promotion of lifestyle changes related to adopting healthy habits; and the monitoring of different pathologies and chronic conditions, including smoking cessation. The number of mobile apps for quitting smoking is high. As early as 2017, a total of 177 unique smoking cessation-relevant apps were identified in the iPhone App Store, 139 were identified in Google Play, 70 were identified in the BlackBerry app store, and 55 were identified in the Windows Phone Store, but very few have adequate scientific support. It seems clear that efforts are needed to assess the quality of these apps, as well as their effectiveness in different population groups, to have tools that offer added value to standard practices. OBJECTIVE: This viewpoint aims to highlight the benefits of mobile health (mHealth) and its potential as an adjuvant tool in health care. METHODS: A review of literature and other data sources was performed in order to show the current status of mobile apps that can offer support for smoking cessation. For this purpose, the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were explored between May and November 2022. RESULTS: In terms of smoking cessation, mHealth has become a powerful coadjuvant tool that allows health workers to perform exhaustive follow-ups for the process of quitting tobacco and provide support anytime and anywhere. mHealth tools are effective for different groups of smokers (eg, pregnant women, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, patients with mental illness, and the general population) and are cost-effective, generating savings for the health system. However, there are some patient characteristics that can predict the success of using mobile apps in the smoking cessation process, such as the lower age of patients, dependence on tobacco, the number of quit attempts, and the previous use of mobile apps, among others. Therefore, it is preferable to offer these tools to patients with a higher probability of quitting tobacco. CONCLUSIONS: mHealth is a promising tool for helping smokers in the smoking cessation process. There is a need for well-designed clinical studies and economic evaluations to jointly assess the effectiveness of new interventions in different population groups, as well as their impact on health care resources.

Development, validation and transfer to clinical practice of a mobile application for the treatment of smoking / Desarrollo, validación y transferencia a la práctica clínica de una aplicación móvil para el tratamiento del tabaquismo

Objective: The main objective is to transfer to clinical practice a new smoking cessation application (“Vive sin Tabaco” a) in all health centers of the public Basque Health Service. Design: An implementation study of a smoking cessation program previously validated. After implementation, a retrospective study has been carried out to evaluate its use under normal conditions. Site: The process of transfer to clinical practice has been held in several phases; first a pilotage in four health centers of Alava and subsequently, when all reported incidents were resolved, it was extended to all health centers of the Basque Health Service. Intervention and main measurement: Development of “Vive sin Tabaco”; a corporate tool for smoking cessation, and its transfer to clinical practice. All interested health care workers received training on how to use the application. User manuals for both patients and professionals were developed. Smoking cessation rates at 12 months during implementation were also collected.ResultsThe percentage of patients of post pilot phase who quit smoking at 12 months was 14.1%. Conclusions: The conception of “Vive sin tabaco” as a corporate tool for smoking cessation, available in all health centers of Basque Health Service, has been long and arduous, and has required the participation of health professionals and patients as end-users in order to obtain a tool that adapts to their expectations and guarantees greater usability and satisfaction. This application is being effective as an adjuvant tool to health advice.(AU)

Objetivo: El objetivo principal es transferir a la práctica clínica una herramienta corporativa para deshabituación tabáquica («Vive sin Tabaco») en la red sanitaria pública del País Vasco. Diseño: Estudio de implementación de un programa de deshabituación tabáquica previamente validado. Posteriormente se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo para evaluar su efectividad en condiciones de práctica clínica. Emplazamiento: La transferencia a la práctica clínica se ha realizado en varias fases; primero se realizó un pilotaje en 4 centros de salud de Álava y, posteriormente, tras resolver todas las incidencias notificadas, se extendió al resto de centros de salud de la red sanitaria pública vasca. Intervención y principales medidas: Desarrollo de una aplicación móvil corporativa para dejar de fumar «Vive sin Tabaco», y transferencia a la práctica clínica. Todo el personal sanitario interesado recibió formación sobre el uso de la aplicación. Se elaboraron manuales de uso para pacientes y profesionales. Se recogieron las tasas de abandono del tabaco a los 12 meses. Resultados: El porcentaje de pacientes de la fase pospilotaje que dejó de fumar a los 12 meses fue del 14.1%. Conclusiones: La concepción de «Vive sin Tabaco» como herramienta corporativa para la deshabituación tabáquica, ha sido larga y ardua, y ha requerido la participación de los profesionales sanitarios y de los pacientes para conseguir una herramienta que se adapte a sus expectativas, y garantice una mayor usabilidad y satisfacción. Esta aplicación está siendo eficaz como herramienta coadyuvante del consejo sanitario.(AU)

Knowledge about COVID-19 and vaccine acceptability among priority groups defined for vaccination: A cross-sectional study in Araba/Alava, Spain, before the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Background: The acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine varies depending on the time, place, type of vaccine and information available at the time. Knowledge of attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among the population at high risk of developing the disease would help to tailor the strategy to improve adherence to vaccination recommendations. Aim: To analyze the willingness, knowledge and risk perception of patients and health care workers (HCW) to get the vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Cross-sectional survey in Araba/Álava province (Spain). Subjects who met the criteria for the influenza vaccination in 2019 and HCWS from the Basque Public Health Service were included. The participants answered a questionnaire on the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 before starting vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. The intention to vaccinate was compared using the chi-squared test. Results: 316 HCWs and 389 patients responded to the survey. Around 90% of the patients and 80% of HCW would accept vaccination in all scenarios according to the questionnaire (p < 0.001). Only 3-12% hesitated about the COVID-19 vaccines. Compared to 40-70% of patients, 60-80% of HCWs perceived a high risk of COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were found in 10 of the 17 questions regarding the mechanism of transmission and symptoms. Conclusion: HCWs had a better knowledge and risk perception of COVID-19 than the surveyed patients. They had a higher proportion of hesitancy to get COVID-19 vaccine, probably related to doubts about the effectiveness of the new vaccines and the scientific evidence.

Development, validation and transfer to clinical practice of a mobile application for the treatment of smoking.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective is to transfer to clinical practice a new smoking cessation application ("Vive sin Tabaco" a) in all health centers of the public Basque Health Service. DESIGN: An implementation study of a smoking cessation program previously validated. After implementation, a retrospective study has been carried out to evaluate its use under normal conditions. SITE: The process of transfer to clinical practice has been held in several phases; first a pilotage in four health centers of Alava and subsequently, when all reported incidents were resolved, it was extended to all health centers of the Basque Health Service. INTERVENTION AND MAIN MEASUREMENT: Development of "Vive sin Tabaco"; a corporate tool for smoking cessation, and its transfer to clinical practice. All interested health care workers received training on how to use the application. User manuals for both patients and professionals were developed. Smoking cessation rates at 12 months during implementation were also collected. RESULTS: The percentage of patients of post pilot phase who quit smoking at 12 months was 14.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The conception of "Vive sin tabaco" as a corporate tool for smoking cessation, available in all health centers of Basque Health Service, has been long and arduous, and has required the participation of health professionals and patients as end-users in order to obtain a tool that adapts to their expectations and guarantees greater usability and satisfaction. This application is being effective as an adjuvant tool to health advice.

Corrigendum: Effectiveness of mobile applications to quit smoking: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18332/tpc/127770.].

Cost-effectiveness analysis of text messaging to support health advice for smoking cessation.

BACKGROUND: Smoking in one of the most serious public health problems. It is well known that it constitutes a major risk factor for chronic diseases and the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Due to high prevalence of smokers, new cost-effective strategies seeking to increase smoking cessation rates are needed. METHODS: We performed a Markov model-based cost-effectiveness analysis comparing two treatments: health advice provided by general practitioners and nurses in primary care, and health advice reinforced by sending motivational text messages to smokers' mobile phones. A Markov model was used in which smokers transitioned between three mutually exclusive health states (smoker, former smoker and dead) after 6-month cycles. We calculated the cost-effectiveness ratio associated with the sending of motivational messages. Health care and society perspectives (separately) was adopted. Costs taken into account were direct health care costs and direct health care cost and costs for lost productivity, respectively. Additionally, deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed modifying the probability of smoking cessation with each option. RESULTS: Sending of text messages as a tool to support health advice was found to be cost-effective as it was associated with increases in costs of €7.4 and €1,327 per QALY gained (ICUR) for men and women respectively from a healthcare perspective, significantly far from the published cost-effectiveness threshold. From a societal perspective, the combined programmed was dominant. CONCLUSIONS: Sending text messages is a cost-effective approach. These findings support the implantation of the combined program across primary care health centres.

El manejo de los episodios de diarrea atendidos en Atención Primaria / Management of diarrhea episodes attended in Primary Care

No disponible

Effectiveness of mobile applications to quit smoking: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable mortality. The use of mobile phones has grown exponentially, becoming a powerful tool to be used in health care. METHODS: In order to assess the effectiveness of mobile phones to quit smoking, we have carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating interventions based on mobile applications for smartphones, that were not a smaller version of the same application, against other types of therapy. To address this, a bibliographic search was carried out in MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE LIBRARY. To obtain the combined effect, the relative risk and the 95% confidence interval were used. A heterogeneity and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. RESULTS: A total of nine studies were identified, but five were excluded. Qualitative review was performed with four selected studies, but quantitative analysis was carried out for only three, given the impossibility of calculating the RR in one of the studies. After combining the results, an RR of 0.901 (95% CI: 0.57-1.423) was calculated comparing the effectiveness of mobile applications versus others type of interventions. This measure was robust, as shown by the sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, it cannot be concluded that apps are effective for quitting tobacco. There are very few clinical trials published evaluating the effectiveness of mobile applications compared to other alternatives. Several clinical trials are still in progress, therefore their results have not been included in the present meta-analysis.

Effectiveness of a primary care-based group educational intervention in the management of patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a primary care-based group educational intervention about concepts of pain neuroscience for the management of migraine compared to the routine medical care delivered to patients with this condition. BACKGROUND: The way pain is understood has been radically changed in recent decades, thanks to developments in the field of neuroscience. Thus, migraine may develop as a result of an exaggerated perception of threat that activates the pain neuromatrix, which might be modifiable, from a learning perspective, by adjusting the beliefs and behaviours that favour the onset of an attack. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was carried out in five primary care health centres of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain). The follow-up period was 12 months. The main outcome measure was the reduction in days lost due to migraine-related disability according to the Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS) score. Secondary outcome measures included the intensity and frequency of the pain and the number of analgesic drugs taken in the previous three months. A positive response to treatment was considered when the MIDAS score decreased by at least 50% from baseline. FINDINGS: Days lost due to migraine-related disability decreased by at least 50% in 68.9% (n = 37) of patients in the intervention group and 34.6% of patients in the control group (n = 18) (P < 0.001). The intensity of the headache [odds ratio (OR) 9.116; P = 0.005] and the medication intake (OR 13.267; P < 0.001) were also significantly reduced with the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The provision of suitable information through a group educational intervention delivered in primary care appears to be effective in preventing migraine attacks. Moreover, the intervention could offer a new cost-effective management alternative that seems to reduce the need for pharmacological treatment in patients with migraine.

Complexity of care processes in a radiation oncology service and its implications concerning the distribution of work and associated costs.

INTRODUCTION: Among several different instruments developed to compare the complexity of healthcare processes, relative value units (RVUs) are among the most well-known and widely used in hospitals, but despite being a recognized management tool, in our setting, the few studies published have been based on theoretical assumptions. Our objective was to assess the level of complexity of each process in our service and to determine the RVUs generated, in order to relate complexity and costs. METHODS: During 2014, data were retrospectively collected for 840 cancer patients from the Radiation Oncology Department, Araba University Hospital. Activity times and costs were subsequently assigned to calculate RVUs for each activity, cancer subtype and treatment option. RESULTS: The activity associated with the lowest cost, assigned an RVU of 1, was simulation (phase changes) in treatment, with an annual cost of €9933, while that with the highest cost, assigned the greatest number of RVUs, was administration of treatment by radiotherapy technicians (RTTs) (€633,754 and 63.80 RVUs). The care process that consumed the most resources was adjuvant treatment of breast cancer (€998,070), equivalent to 364.62 RVUs compared to the cheapest subtype of adjuvant treatments or 2440 RVUs compared to the care process that used the fewest resources overall. CONCLUSION: The most expensive activities are those which are the most complex or consume the most resources. Knowledge of RVUs may be employed to analyse our activity and assess the possibility of increasing the efficiency of our service without prejudicing quality.

Effectiveness of randomized controlled trial of a mobile app to promote healthy lifestyle in obese and overweight patients.

BACKGROUND: Health advice is useful for establishing behavioural changes, but such changes tend not to last. It would therefore be good to identify mechanisms for reinforcing advice and one option is the use of information and communication technologies. Given the limited evidence on the effectiveness of such technologies, we decided to conduct a clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a mobile application (app) for supporting the provision health advice for weight loss. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial with 110 obese and overweight patients from the Basque public health care network (Araba). Patients were randomly allocated to the control (health advice) or intervention (health advice + app) groups. Primary (weight) and secondary (blood cholesterol level, blood pressure, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and adherence to dietary and exercise recommendations) outcome variables were assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months after the end of the intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in weight (0.357 kg; P = 0.7), blood cholesterol (2.6 mg/dl; P = 0.617), blood pressure (2.3 mmHg; P = 0.369) or adherence to recommendations on diet (84.6% in control and 92.9% the intervention group, P = 0.413) or physical activity (56% in controls and 75% the intervention group, P = 0.145). On the other hand, there were significant differences in HbA1c in favour of the control group (-0.095%; %; P = 0.046). DISCUSSION: The use of AKTIDIET® to support health advice for weight loss cannot be recommended. More high quality studies are needed, and patients should be involved in the design of apps to increase their efficacy and usability. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02308176.

Effectiveness of Text Messaging as an Adjuvant to Health Advice in Smoking Cessation Programs in Primary Care. A Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking remains a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Health advice is considered one of the most cost-effective interventions; however, changes produced by counseling tend not to persist over time, it is necessary to implement enforcement mechanisms. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined program that includes health advice and text messaging to mobile phone (SMSalud®). Patients were randomized to one of two interventions: health advice (control group) or health advice and text messaging (intervention group). We included 320 smoker patients who met the inclusion criteria: being motivated, aged over 18 years, having a mobile phone, being able to read and send messages. Patients were excluded if they had a history of mental or behavioral disorders, or depression. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who had stopped smoking by 6 months and confirmed by CO breath test. RESULTS: By 6 months after the start of the program, 24.4% (39/160) of patients in the intervention group and 11.9% (19/160) of controls had stopped smoking (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3-4.3, p = .007). Patients with no dependence or mild dependence were more likely to stop (28.3%, 36/127 vs. 11.4%, 22/193; OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.7-5.5, p < .001). The rate of continuous abstinence at 12 months was 16.3% (26/160) in intervention group patients and 5.6% (9/160) in controls (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-5.9).]. CONCLUSIONS: The combined program is effective for smoking cessation. Patients with less tobacco dependence have a higher probability of success. IMPLICATIONS: Health advice is effective for promoting changes in lifestyle but these changes do not persist over time, so we have to use strengthening mechanisms, as e-health, and specifically, mobile phone based interventions. SMSalud® is an innovate program that includes text messaging and health advice, and it's effective for smoking cessation. The only feature that seems to affect the probability of smoking cessation is the degree of tobacco dependence.

Platelet-rich plasma in skin ulcer treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic vascular ulcers are associated with a high use of resources. Conventional treatment consists of wound cleansing, necrotic tissue debridement, prevention, diagnosis, and, if necessary, treatment of infection and dressing application; although conventional treatment has limited effectiveness with wound healing (around 15-30%).8-11 Platelet-rich plasma, used in various fields of medicine, improves chronic vascular ulcer results, but is more expensive. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using a 48-week period comparing plateletrich plasma with standard care. A meta-analysis of papers identified by a literature search was done. RESULTS: A combined measure of effectiveness at 12 weeks for each treatment option was calculated and served as the basis for estimating the probability of healing at 48 weeks with a Markov model. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of healing and associated costs were 56% and €5224 using platelet-rich plasma and 31% and €5133 with usual care. The incremental cost that must be assumed to achieve additional healing with platelet-rich plasma is €364. .

[Registry of preventive activities in women: variability in Vizcaya, Spain]. / Variabilidad en Vizcaya del registro de las actividades preventivas en la mujer.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported that there is a lack of preventive activities performance in Primary Health Care, however in Vizcaya, the situation is not known, so, we decided determine the percentage of preventive activities carried out on women by primary care physicians which are recorded in the Electronic Health Record (Osabide), and analyze the characteristics which determine differences in registration between regions and physicians. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 425 women aged between 26 and 51 years who were to the general practitioners' consult at least twice, and who were again on April 28, 29 or 30, 2011. We colleted as primary variable the registries of contraceptives practices (group aged between 26 and 51 years), the registries of cervical cytologies during the last five years, as well as the registries of mammograms performed during the two last years, and compared the medical record between men and women practitioners, health regions and between areas with and without centers for women, using the chi-square statistic. RESULTS: In 139 (34.1%) of all women and in 99 (48.3%) of women aged between 26 and 51 years there was registry of cytologies and contraceptives practices respectively. The mammography performance was registered in 22 (10.7%) of women aged between 52 and 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: The registry of preventive activities on women is low. We have observed differences by practitioners' gender.

Variabilidad en Vizcaya del registro de las actividades preventivas en la mujer / Registry of preventive activities in women. Variability in Vizcaya, Spain

Fundamentos: Diferentes estudios han puesto de manifiesto que existe un déficit de realización de actividades preventivas en nuestro medio, sin embargo, en Vizcaya la situación todavía no se conoce. El objetivo del trabajo es determinar el porcentaje de registro en la historia clínica informatizada (Osabide) de las actividades preventivas realizadas en la mujer por los médicos/as de atención primaria, y analizar las características que condicionan las diferencias en el registro. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal que incluyó a 425 mujeres con edades comprendidas entre 26 y 65 años que habían acudido a consulta en más de una ocasión y que lo hicieron nuevamente los días 28, 29 ó 30 de abril de 2010. Se recogió como variable principal el registro de prácticas anticonceptivas (grupo de 26 a 51 años), de citologías cervicales durante los últimos 5 años, y de mamografías los últimos 2 años (grupo de 52 a 65 años), y se comparó dicho registro entre médicos y médicas, entre comarcas sanitarias y entre zonas con CAM (Centro de Atención a la Mujer) y sin él, mediante el estadístico chi2. Resultados: Del total de mujeres incluidas en el estudio, en 139 (34,1%) existía registro de citología en la historia clínica. De aquéllas con edad entre 26 a 51 años, 99 (48,3%) tenían registro de prácticas anticonceptivas. 22 (10,7%) de las mujeres con edad entre 52 a 65 años tenían registro de mamografía. Conclusiones: El registro de actividades preventivas en la mujer en Osabide-Vizcaya es bajo. Se han observado diferencias en el registro según sexo del médico(AU)

Background: Several studies have reported that there is a lack of preventive activities performance in Primary Health Care, however in Vizcaya, the situation is not known, so, we decided determine the percentage of preventive activities carried out on women by primary care physicians which are recorded in the Electronic Health Record (Osabide), and analyze the characteristics which determine differences in registration between regions and physicians. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 425 women aged between 26 and 51 years who were to the general practitioners’ consult at least twice, and who were again on April 28, 29 or 30, 2011. We colleted as primary variable the registries of contraceptives practices (group aged between 26 and 51 years), the registries of cervical cytologies during the last five years, as well as the registries of mammograms performed during the two last years, and compared the medical record between men and women practitioners, health regions and between areas with and without centers for women, using the chi-square statistic. Results: In 139 (34.1%) of all women and in 99 (48.3%) of women aged between 26 and 51 years there was registry of cytologies and contraceptives practices respectively. The mammography performance was registered in 22 (10.7%) of women aged between 52 and 65 years. Conclusions: The registry of preventive activities on women is low. We have observed differences by practitioners’ gender(AU)