[Influence of leadership style on knowledge management and hospital efficiency]. / Influencia del liderazgo en gestión del conocimiento y eficiencia hospitalaria.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effect of leadership style on knowledge management in hospitals and hospital efficiency based on the opinion of experts in hospital management, applying fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM). METHOD: FCM are relational models that can be used to graphically represent expert opinion and knowledge to infer cause-effect relationships between different concepts. The use of FCM as a simulation tool allows the evaluation of possible scenarios based on different leadership styles in hospitals. RESULTS: In the resulting augmented matrix, standardized effects range from 0.02 to 0.84, with the highest value representing the strongest relationship between knowledge exploitation and hospital efficiency. From the viewpoint of experts, knowledge creation within the hospital also influences hospital efficiency. Regarding variables reflecting leadership characteristics, positive effects have been identified, though with varying intensities, between authority, benevolence, and charisma, both in terms of knowledge creation and exploitation, as well as hospital efficiency. The transformational leadership style is associated with coefficients having higher values for knowledge management and hospital efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Experts suggest that hospitals with authoritarian leadership styles would exhibit lower levels of knowledge creation and management, as well as lower hospital efficiency. On the other hand, they associate hospitals managed with a paternalistic leadership style with better values in both knowledge creation and exploitation, as well as hospital efficiency, compared to the authoritarian leadership style. Finally, they attribute the highest levels in aspects related to knowledge management and hospital efficiency to the transformational leadership style.

Influencia del liderazgo en gestión del conocimiento y eficiencia hospitalaria / Influence of leadership style on knowledge management and hospital efficiency

Objetivo: Analizar el efecto del estilo de liderazgo sobre la gestión del conocimiento y la eficiencia hospitalaria aplicando para ello mapas cognitivos difusos (MCD). Método: Los MCD son modelos relacionales que se pueden utilizar para representar gráficamente la opinión y el conocimiento de un grupo de personas expertas e inferir las relaciones causa-efecto que hay entre distintos conceptos. La utilización de MCD como herramienta de simulación permite evaluar posibles escenarios basados en distintos estilos de liderazgo en los hospitales. Resultados: En la matriz aumentada resultante, los efectos estandarizados varían de 0,02 a 0,84, representando el valor más alto la relación entre explotación del conocimiento y eficiencia hospitalaria. Para las personas expertas, la creación de conocimiento en el hospital también influye en la eficiencia hospitalaria. Se han identificado efectos positivos, aunque con distinta intensidad, de la autoridad, la benevolencia y el carisma del líder en la creación y la explotación del conocimiento y en la eficiencia hospitalaria. El liderazgo transformacional se asocia a los valores más altos de gestión de conocimiento y eficiencia hospitalaria. Conclusiones: El estilo de liderazgo autoritario parece ofrecer niveles más bajos de creación y gestión de conocimiento, así como una menor eficiencia hospitalaria. Se asocian al estilo de liderazgo paternalista mejores valores tanto en la creación y la explotación de conocimiento como en la eficiencia hospitalaria, en comparación con el estilo de liderazgo autoritario. Por último, se atribuyen al liderazgo transformacional las mayores cotas en los aspectos relacionados con gestión del conocimiento y eficiencia hospitalaria.(AU)

Objective: To analyse the effect of leadership style on knowledge management in hospitals and hospital efficiency based on the opinion of experts in hospital management, applying fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM). Method: FCM are relational models that can be used to graphically represent expert opinion and knowledge to infer cause–effect relationships between different concepts. The use of FCM as a simulation tool allows the evaluation of possible scenarios based on different leadership styles in hospitals. Results: In the resulting augmented matrix, standardized effects range from 0.02 to 0.84, with the highest value representing the strongest relationship between knowledge exploitation and hospital efficiency. From the viewpoint of experts, knowledge creation within the hospital also influences hospital efficiency. Regarding variables reflecting leadership characteristics, positive effects have been identified, though with varying intensities, between authority, benevolence, and charisma, both in terms of knowledge creation and exploitation, as well as hospital efficiency. The transformational leadership style is associated with coefficients having higher values for knowledge management and hospital efficiency. Conclusions: Experts suggest that hospitals with authoritarian leadership styles would exhibit lower levels of knowledge creation and management, as well as lower hospital efficiency. On the other hand, they associate hospitals managed with a paternalistic leadership style with better values in both knowledge creation and exploitation, as well as hospital efficiency, compared to the authoritarian leadership style. Finally, they attribute the highest levels in aspects related to knowledge management and hospital efficiency to the transformational leadership style.(AU)

Depresión y sobrecarga en el cuidado de personas mayores / Depression and burden in the caretaking of elderly

OBJETIVO: Los cuidados informales afectan a la calidad de vida y a la salud emocional. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la relación entre la carga y la depresión en los cuidadores/as medida con Escala de Zarit y GHQ-28 y el deterioro funcional global del anciano medido mediante OARS-MFAQ. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal descriptivo por entrevistas a 104 personas mayores de 65 años y sus cuidadores/as informales en la ciudad de Ourense. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y una regresión logística de las variables que influyen en la depresión y la sobrecarga por cuidar ancianos. RESULTADOS: El 82,7% de cuidadores/as eran mujeres con edad media de 63,64 años (IC 95%: 61,05-66,23) y el 10,3% mayor de 80 años. El 32,2% presentaba sobrecarga encontrándose como factores asociados a la misma, cuidar de ancianos más jóvenes (p=0,043), ser pareja del anciano (p=0,003), tener mayor edad (p=0,031) y el riesgo de depresión medida con GHQ (p<0,001). Tener buena percepción de la visión (p=0,038), rechazar el uso de bastón (p=0,002) o silla de ruedas (p=0,015) también se asoció con la sobrecarga. CONCLUSIONES: Las cuidadoras informales son mujeres en torno a 60 años. Aunque no sientan sobrecarga por cuidar, tienen depresión, que es más probable cuanto más severa es la carga y esta se relaciona con la percepción de carencias económicas básicas para el cuidado

OBJECTIVE: Informal care affects the quality of life and emotional health. Objective: To analyze the relationship between burden and depression in caregivers measured by Zarit's Scale and GHQ-28 and the global functional deterioration of the elderly measured by OARS-MFAQ. METHODS: Descriptive observational cross-sectional study in Primary Health Care at Ourense city. 104 people (>65 years old) and their caregivers were interviewed. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the characteristics that increase the probability to suffer burden and depression. RESULTS: 82.7% of caregivers were women with an average age of 63.64 years (95% CI: 61.05-66.23) and 10.3% were over 80 years old. 32.2% had an overload, associated with taking care of younger people (p=0.043), being a couple of an elder (p=0.003) being older (p=0.031) and the risk of depression which were all found as factors associated with burden, measured by GHQ (p<0.001). Having good perception of the vision (p=0.038), rejecting the use of a cane (p=0.002) or wheelchair (p=0.015) were also associated with factors contributing to burden. CONCLUSIONS: Informal caregivers are women around their sixties, and although they do not feel overburdened for caring, they have depression, more likely the more severe the burden is, and it is related with the perception of economic deficiencies for the caring

Evaluation of the Broad-Range PCR/ESI-MS Technology in Blood Specimens for the Molecular Diagnosis of Bloodstream Infections.

BACKGROUND: Rapid identification of the etiological agent in bloodstream infections is of vital importance for the early administration of the most appropriate antibiotic therapy. Molecular methods may offer an advantage to current culture-based microbiological diagnosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of IRIDICA, a platform based on universal genetic amplification followed by mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) for the molecular diagnosis of sepsis-related pathogens directly from the patient's blood. METHODS: A total of 410 whole blood specimens from patients admitted to Emergency Room (ER) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with clinical suspicion of sepsis were tested with the IRIDICA BAC BSI Assay (broad identification of bacteria and Candida spp.). Microorganisms grown in culture and detected by IRIDICA were compared considering blood culture as gold standard. When discrepancies were found, clinical records and results from other cultures were taken into consideration (clinical infection criterion). RESULTS: The overall positive and negative agreement of IRIDICA with blood culture in the analysis by specimen was 74.8% and 78.6%, respectively, rising to 76.9% and 87.2% respectively, when compared with the clinical infection criterion. Interestingly, IRIDICA detected 41 clinically significant microorganisms missed by culture, most of them from patients under antimicrobial treatment. Of special interest were the detections of one Mycoplasma hominis and two Mycobacterium simiae in immunocompromised patients. When ICU patients were analyzed separately, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values compared with blood culture were 83.3%, 78.6%, 33.9% and 97.3% respectively, and 90.5%, 87.2%, 64.4% and 97.3% respectively, in comparison with the clinical infection criterion. CONCLUSIONS: IRIDICA is a promising technology that offers an early and reliable identification of a wide variety of pathogens directly from the patient's blood within 6h, which brings the opportunity to improve management of septic patients, especially for those critically ill admitted to the ICU.

Hipoacusia en niños con conducto auditivo interno agrandado / Hearing loss and enlarged internal auditory canal in children

Introducción: Entre las anomalías del hueso temporal que pueden encontrarse en el estudio etiológico de la hipoacusia neurosensorial (HANS) infantil mediante pruebas de imagen, las relacionadas con el conducto auditivo interno (CAI) se hallan entre las menos frecuentes. De ellas, la más prevalente y relacionada con HANS es el CAI estenótico por su asociación a deficiencias del nervio coclear. Menos frecuente y menos concomitante con HANS es el hallazgo de un CAI agrandado (> 8 mm). Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo de las asociaciones clínicas, estudios de imagen, patrones audiológicos y opciones de tratamiento de 9 niños diagnosticados de hipoacusia en el periodo 1999-2012 con un CAI agrandado. Resultados: Se describen 2 grupos de pacientes. El primero, sin asociación con displasias cocleovestibulares: 2 pacientes con HANS sin otras alteraciones de hueso temporal o sistémicas, una hipoacusia mixta bilateral con cromosomopatía por deleción 18q, una hipoacusia genética DFN 3 ligada a X, una hipoacusia unilateral en neurofibromatosis tipo 2 con neurinoma del acústico bilateral, y una hipoacusia unilateral con déficit de nervio coclear unilateral; y un segundo grupo con asociación a displasias cocleovestibulares: una hipoacusia mixta bilateral moderada en síndrome branquio-oto-renal, una HANS profunda unilateral con meningitis recurrentes, y una HANS bilateral profunda con hipotiroidismo congénito. Conclusiones: La presencia de un CAI agrandado en niños puede encontrarse en diferentes contextos clínicos y audiológicos, con relevancias que pueden variar desde situaciones con riesgo vital como en meningitis recurrentes, hasta hipoacusias aisladas sin otras asociaciones (AU)

Introduction: Among the temporal bone abnormalities that can be found in the etiological study of paediatric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) by imaging techniques, those related to the internal auditory canal (IAC) are the least frequent. The most prevalent of these abnormalities that is associated with SNHL is stenotic IAC due to its association with cochlear nerve deficiencies. Less frequent and less concomitant with SNHL is the finding of an enlarged IAC (> 8 mm). Methods: Retrospective and descriptive review of clinical associations, imaging, audiological patterns and treatment of 9 children with hearing loss and enlarged IAC in the period 1999 to 2012. Results: Two groups of patients are described. The first, without association with vestibulocochlear dysplasias, consisted of: 2 patients with SNHL without other temporal bone or systemic abnormalities, one with bilateral mixed HL from chromosome 18q deletion, one with a genetic X-linked DFN3 hearing loss, one with unilateral hearing loss in neurofibromatosis type 2 with bilateral acoustic neuroma, and one with unilateral hearing loss with cochlear nerve deficiency. The second group, with association with vestibulocochlear dysplasias, was comprised of: one patient with moderate bilateral mixed hearing loss in branchio-oto-renal syndrome, one with profound unilateral SNHL with recurrent meningitis, and another with profound bilateral SNHL with congenital hypothyroidism. Conclusions: The presence of an enlarged IAC in children can be found in different clinical and audiological settings with relevancies that can range from life-threatening situations, such as recurrent meningitis, to isolated hearing loss with no other associations (AU)

Hearing loss and enlarged internal auditory canal in children.

INTRODUCTION: Among the temporal bone abnormalities that can be found in the etiological study of paediatric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) by imaging techniques, those related to the internal auditory canal (IAC) are the least frequent. The most prevalent of these abnormalities that is associated with SNHL is stenotic IAC due to its association with cochlear nerve deficiencies. Less frequent and less concomitant with SNHL is the finding of an enlarged IAC (>8mm). METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive review of clinical associations, imaging, audiological patterns and treatment of 9 children with hearing loss and enlarged IAC in the period 1999 to 2012. RESULTS: Two groups of patients are described. The first, without association with vestibulocochlear dysplasias, consisted of: 2 patients with SNHL without other temporal bone or systemic abnormalities, one with bilateral mixed HL from chromosome 18q deletion, one with a genetic X-linked DFN3 hearing loss, one with unilateral hearing loss in neurofibromatosis type 2 with bilateral acoustic neuroma, and one with unilateral hearing loss with cochlear nerve deficiency. The second group, with association with vestibulocochlear dysplasias, was comprised of: one patient with moderate bilateral mixed hearing loss in branchio-oto-renal syndrome, one with profound unilateral SNHL with recurrent meningitis, and another with profound bilateral SNHL with congenital hypothyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an enlarged IAC in children can be found in different clinical and audiological settings with relevancies that can range from life-threatening situations, such as recurrent meningitis, to isolated hearing loss with no other associations.

Hipoacusia y problemas de vía aérea en niños con mucopolisacaridosis / Hearing loss and airway problems in children with mucopolysaccharidoses

Introducción: Las mucopolisacaridosis (MPS) son un grupo de enfermedades sistémicas caracterizadas por un déficit genético de enzimas lisosomales que ocasiona el acúmulo de glucosaminoglucanos en diferentes tejidos. El inicio de los síntomas suele presentarse en la primera infancia, ocasionando en el área ORL problemas de otitis media, hipoacusia y obstrucción de vía aérea. Objetivo: Descripción de los hallazgos audiológicos y la patología de vía aérea encontrados en 9 niños diagnosticados de MPS. Métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de los hallazgos clínicos, audiológicos y procedimientos exploratorios y terapéuticos ORL realizados a 9 niños diagnosticados de MPS en un centro público pediátrico terciario en el período 2007-2010. Resultados: Los subtipos encontrados fueron 4 MPS I, 3 MPS II, 1 MPS-IV y 1 MPS VI. Todos los pacientes presentaban otitis seromucosa. Un caso desarrolló hipoacusia neurosensorial bilateral leve, otro fue diagnosticado de hipoacusia mixta. El patrón auditivo restante fue hipoacusia conductiva bilateral moderada. Cuatro pacientes presentaban SAHOS (síndrome de apnea/hipopnea del sueño) secundario a hiperplasia del anillo linfático de Waldeyer, en uno de ellos no pudo realizarse cirugía por compresión medular cervical por depósitos de mucopolisacáridos. En dos de los casos el SAHOS recidivó. Conclusiones: Los niños con MPS presentan mayor riesgo para desarrollar hipoacusia neurosensorial. El SAHOS se encuentra en mayor proporción que en la población general infantil, pudiendo recidivar más frecuentemente tras cirugía. Asimismo pueden ser pacientes de riesgo en el manejo de la vía aérea (AU)

Introduction: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of systemic diseases characterised by a genetic deficiency of lysosomal enzymes that cause the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in different tissues. The onset of symptoms usually occurs in early childhood, causing problems of otitis media, hearing loss and airway obstruction in the ENT area. Objective: Describing the audiological findings and airway pathology found in 9 children diagnosed as having MPS. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of the clinical and audiological findings, exploratory results and therapeutic ENT procedures for 9 children diagnosed with MPS in an ENT service at a tertiary paediatric public centre in the period 2007-2010. Results: Subtypes found were 4 MPS type I, 2 moderate MPS type II, 1 severe MPS type II, 1 MPS type IV and 1 MPS type VI. All patients presented chronic middle ear effusions. A child developed mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss; another case was diagnosed as mixed hearing loss. The remaining auditory pattern was moderate bilateral conductive hearing loss. Four patients showed secondary obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) due to Waldeyer ring hyperplasia; surgery could not be performed on one of them because of cervical spinal cord compression from mucopolysaccharide deposits. In 2 cases, there was OSAHS relapse. Conclusions: Children with MPS are at increased risk for developing sensorineural hearing loss. The OSAHS syndrome appears in greater proportion than in the general child population, and recurrences may occur more frequently after surgery. Such children can also be risk patients in airway management (AU)

[Hearing loss and airway problems in children with mucopolysaccharidoses]. / Hipoacusia y problemas de vía aérea en niños con mucopolisacaridosis.

INTRODUCTION: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of systemic diseases characterised by a genetic deficiency of lysosomal enzymes that causes the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in different tissues. The onset of symptoms usually occurs in early childhood, causing problems of otitis media, hearing loss and airway obstruction in the ENT area. OBJECTIVE: Describing the audiological findings and airway pathology found in 9 children diagnosed as having MPS. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of the clinical and audiological findings, exploratory results and therapeutic ENT procedures for 9 children diagnosed with MPS in an ENT service at a tertiary paediatric public centre in the period 2007-2010. RESULTS: Subtypes found were 4 MPS type I, 2 moderate MPS type II, 1 severe MPS type II, 1 MPS type IV and 1 MPS type VI. All patients presented chronic middle ear effusions. A child developed mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss; another case was diagnosed as mixed hearing loss. The remaining auditory pattern was moderate bilateral conductive hearing loss. Four patients showed secondary obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) due to Waldeyer ring hyperplasia; surgery could not be performed on one of them because of cervical spinal cord compression from mucopolysaccharide deposits. In 2 cases, there was OSAHS relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Children with MPS are at increased risk for developing sensorineural hearing loss. The OSAHS syndrome appears in greater proportion than in the general child population, and recurrences may occur more frequently after surgery. Such children can also be risk patients in airway management.

Utilidad de la escala de MASCC en el tratamiento de la neutropenia febril inducida por quimioterapia en pacientes con neoplasia sólida / Usefulness of the MASCC scale in the management of neutropenic fever induced by chemotherapy in patients with solid neoplasm

Fundamento y objetivo: Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: a) describir la neutropenia febril (NF) inducida por quimioterapia en pacientes afectados de neoplasia sólida (NS); b) validar la escala de la Asociación Multinacional de Tratamiento de Soporte en Cáncer (MASCC), y c) evaluar si el uso de esta escala es útil para disminuir el coste económico derivado de esta urgencia oncológica y mejorar la calidad de vida. Pacientes y método: Estudio prospectivo de incidencia de NF desde diciembre de 2005 hasta noviembre de 2006. Cálculo de la sensibilidad y especificidad de la escala y comparación de diversos parámetros antes y después (períodos 1 y 2) de la inclusión de la escala de MASCC. Resultados: Se incluyeron 80 episodios. El 48,8% fueron de bajo riesgo. La sensibilidad y la especificidad de la escala fueron del 86,3 y el 62%, respectivamente. Dieciséis pacientes pudieron abandonar el hospital tempranamente (en un plazo inferior a 3 días). Se comprobó una reducción significativa del coste económico durante el período 2. Conclusiones: La escala de MASCC es un instrumento seguro para estratificar el riesgo de pacientes con NS y NF inducida por quimioterapia. Sin embargo, una mayor especificidad permitiría una reducción mayor del coste hospitalario y una mejora en la calidad de vida de estos enfermos

Background and objectives: We aimed to describe chemotherapy-induced neutropenic fever (NF) in patients with solid neoplasms (SN), to validate the Multinational Association of Support Treatment in Cancer (MASCC) scale, and to evaluate whether the use of the MASCC scale was useful for reducing hospital costs for this oncologic emergency and improving the quality of life. Patients and method: We performed a prospective study on the incidence of chemotherapy-induced NF from December 2005 to November 2006 and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the MASCC scale. We compared different parameters before and after (periods 1 and 2) the inclusion of the MASCC scale. Results: We included 80 episodes of NF, 48.8% being of low risk. The sensitivity and the specificity of the MASCC scale were 86.3% (19/22) and 62% (26/58), respectively. 16 patients were discharged early (<3 days). Hospital costs were significantly lower during period 2. Conclusions: The MASCC scale is a safe tool for stratifying the risk of cancer patients and chemotherapy–induced NF. However, greater specificity would allow a greater reduction in hospital costs and improve the quality of life of these patients

[Usefulness of the MASCC scale in the management of neutropenic fever induced by chemotherapy in patients with solid neoplasm]. / Utilidad de la escala de MASCC en el tratamiento de la neutropenia febril inducida por quimioterapia en pacientes con neoplasia sólida.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe chemotherapy-induced neutropenic fever (NF) in patients with solid neoplasms (SN), to validate the Multinational Association of Support Treatment in Cancer (MASCC) scale, and to evaluate whether the use of the MASCC scale was useful for reducing hospital costs for this oncologic emergency and improving the quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a prospective study on the incidence of chemotherapy-induced NF from December 2005 to November 2006 and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the MASCC scale. We compared different parameters before and after (periods 1 and 2) the inclusion of the MASCC scale. RESULTS: We included 80 episodes of NF, 48.8% being of low risk. The sensitivity and the specificity of the MASCC scale were 86.3% (19/22) and 62% (26/58), respectively. 16 patients were discharged early (<3 days). Hospital costs were significantly lower during period 2. CONCLUSIONS: The MASCC scale is a safe tool for stratifying the risk of cancer patients and chemotherapy-induced NF. However, greater specificity would allow a greater reduction in hospital costs and improve the quality of life of these patients.