Comparative study on informed consent regulation in health care among Italy, France, United Kingdom, Nordic Countries, Germany, and Spain.

The information and subsequent expression of will, so-called informed consent, have become the essential element of health right, understood as the right to autonomous choice in health, based on the fiduciary relationship between physician and patient. This gradually leads European Countries to adopt special legislations and to issue frequent judgments on the subject. However, new challenges in daily clinical practice call for further study of legal solutions. The authors analyse and compare the regulations on informed consent in health care of Italy, France, the United Kingdom, the Nordic Countries, Germany, and Spain. The health and legal contexts, existence of special regulations on informed consent and their characteristics are discussed. Informed consent resulted a mandatory requirement. Clear communication about treatment, therapeutic alternatives, and major risks, discussed in conversation, but preferably documented in writing, are agreed upon. The possibility of dissent and withdrawal of consent are also included. There is a growing interest in involving and regulating the entire health team in information and consent. Lowering the age of consent for minors or analysing the maturity of minors are attempts to increase their participation in health decisions. On another side, the protection of adult incapables persons requires greater involvement of family and fiduciaries to better adapt to changing health needs. Health policy must take responsibility for training health professionals and citizens about the value of health information and communication as a shared choice in care planning, to strengthen the bond of trust with the healthcare system and users.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Perception of the Doctor-Patient Relationship (PREMEPA) Questionnaire in Chronic Multi-Pathological Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a cross-cultural adaptation and validation in Primary Care of the PREMEPA doctor-patient relationship perception questionnaire. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, using self-administered questionnaires. Qualitative validation: an adapted version of the original questionnaire, was adapted to our culture. The process consisted of the evaluation, cross-cultural adaptation and consensus of a group of experts. The questionnaire was piloted on a sample of 32 patients diagnosed with at least 2 chronic pathologies. MEASURES: Cognitive piloting, comprehensibility assessment, content validation and internal consistency analysis using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Quantitative validation: the internal consistency, construct validity and validity of the questionnaire were studied by means of a confirmatory factor analysis developed in a multicenter study, randomly selecting 202 patients with at least 2 chronic pathologies. RESULTS: Content validity of the new Spanish version was confirmed to be adequate. Comprehensibility and internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.78) were adequate. The confirmatory factor analysis showed good dimensionality, factor relationship and internal consistency, as well as acceptable construct validity. The final result was a 13-item questionnaire consisting of 2 dimensions, which explain 58.5% of the variance: participation in decision-making (accounting for 45.2% of the variance) and person-centered communication (encompassing courtesy, empathy, humanity, and trust). CONCLUSIONS: This adapted version of the PREMEPA questionnaire can be considered valid for use in the Spanish population with a history of chronic pathology. This version of PREMEPA provides a new instrument to understand and improve chronic patient care, which can improve the doctor-patient relationship, encouraging adherence to treatment and enhancing health outcomes.

Diseño y validación del cuestionario ACPAPS para valorar la atención centrada en la persona por el médico de familia / Design and validation of the ACPAPS questionnaire to assess person-centred care by the family doctor

Objetivos: Diseño, construcción y validación de un test autocumplimentable que permita al médico de familia (MF) valorar en qué medida integra en su práctica clínica la atención centrada en la persona (ACP).Diseño: Cualitativo. Diseño de cuestionarios. Emplazamiento: Atención primaria. Participantes: 214 MF y residentes de medicina familiar y comunitaria de 62 de los 80 centros de salud de la comunidad autónoma de Murcia. Métodos: Construcción de un cuestionario a partir de un banco de 873 ítems provenientes de una revisión sistemática y un estudio Delphi. Revisión por panel de 8 expertos ACP. Realización de pretest cognitivo con 10 MF. Se invita a participar a los médicos de 62 centros de salud. Con las respuestas medimos la fiabilidad, la validez y la factibilidad. Resultados: El cuestionario final contiene 37 ítems. Medimos la fiabilidad a través de la consistencia interna con un alfa de Cronbach de 0,915. Para la validez de constructo, el test de esfericidad de Bartlett adecuado y la medida de Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin de 0,889 nos permitió realizar un análisis factorial con la extracción de nueve factores (regla de Kaiser), siendo 5 los principales (Scree Test), cuyos ítems coinciden con las dimensiones propuestas por los expertos. Para valorar su factibilidad consideramos la tasa de respuesta del 31,15%, el tiempo de respuesta de 17 minutos 23 segundos, y solo el 0,9% de encuestados consideraban el cuestionario largo o complejo. Conclusiones: El cuestionario ACPAPS es una herramienta fiable, válida y factible para valorar la ACP en el MF, lo cual tiene múltiples y trascendentes aplicaciones.(AU)

Objectives: Design, construction and validation of a self-completion test that allows the Family Physician (FP) to assess the extent to which he/she integrates person-centred care (PCC) in his/her clinical practice. Design: Qualitative. Questionnaire design. Location: Primary care. Participants: Two hundred and fourteen family and community medicine physicians and residents, from 62 of the 80 health centres in the autonomous community of Murcia (Spain). Methods: Construction of a questionnaire from a bank of 873 items from a systematic review and a Delphi study. Review by PCC panel of experts (8). Cognitive pretest with 10 FP. Doctors from 62 health centres were invited to participate. With the responses we measured reliability, validity and feasibility. Results: The final questionnaire contains 37 items. We measured reliability through internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of .915. For construct validity, the appropriate Bartlett's test of sphericity and the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin measure of .889 allowed us to carry out a factor analysis with the extraction of nine factors (Kaiser's rule) with five main factors (Scree test) whose items coincide with the dimensions proposed by the experts. To assess its feasibility we considered the response rate of 31.15%, the response time of 17minutes 23seconds and only .9% of respondents considered the questionnaire long or complex. Conclusions: The ACPAPS questionnaire is a reliable, valid and feasible tool to assess PCC in FM, which has multiple and far-reaching applications.(AU)

[Design and validation of the ACPAPS questionnaire to assess person-centred care by the family doctor]. / Diseño y validación del cuestionario ACPAPS para valorar la atención centrada en la persona por el médico de familia.

OBJECTIVES: Design, construction and validation of a self-completion test that allows the Family Physician (FP) to assess the extent to which he/she integrates person-centred care (PCC) in his/her clinical practice. DESIGN: Qualitative. Questionnaire design. LOCATION: Primary care. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and fourteen family and community medicine physicians and residents, from 62 of the 80 health centres in the autonomous community of Murcia (Spain). METHODS: Construction of a questionnaire from a bank of 873 items from a systematic review and a Delphi study. Review by PCC panel of experts (8). Cognitive pretest with 10 FP. Doctors from 62 health centres were invited to participate. With the responses we measured reliability, validity and feasibility. RESULTS: The final questionnaire contains 37 items. We measured reliability through internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of .915. For construct validity, the appropriate Bartlett's test of sphericity and the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin measure of .889 allowed us to carry out a factor analysis with the extraction of nine factors (Kaiser's rule) with five main factors (Scree test) whose items coincide with the dimensions proposed by the experts. To assess its feasibility we considered the response rate of 31.15%, the response time of 17minutes 23seconds and only .9% of respondents considered the questionnaire long or complex. CONCLUSIONS: The ACPAPS questionnaire is a reliable, valid and feasible tool to assess PCC in FM, which has multiple and far-reaching applications.

[Patient-centered radiology : What patients want from radiologists]. / Patientenzentrierte Radiologie : Was Patienten vom Radiologen wünschen.

BACKGROUND: In the transition from volume-based to value-based radiology, patient communication plays a crucial role in terms of patient-centeredness in radiology. This overview article aims to describe various patient contact situations in a radiology setting and discuss them based on current literature, including any recommendations for action if applicable. OBJECTIVES: What do patients wish for from radiologists? MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital literature research with a narrative summary of important publications on patient-centeredness in the context of communication in the radiology-patient relationship. RESULTS: There is limited literature available in most areas regarding communication between radiology and patients. The most common type of literature found is surveys that assess patients' opinions, which sometimes yield divergent results regarding preferences for direct communication with radiologists after the examination. However, it has been shown that direct patient conversations and an empathetic physician-patient relationship allow for a positive evaluation of radiology and foster a sense of appreciation. CONCLUSION: As we transition from volume-based to value-based radiology, it will be crucial for radiology to optimize the physician-patient relationship through improved communication, both verbally and by utilizing new media.

Optimizing Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in German Primary Care: Results of the Regional Intervention Study CHANGE-3 and the Nested cRCT.

Within primary care, acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics. The aim of the CHANGE-3 study was to investigate how antibiotic prescribing for non-complicated ARTIs can be reduced to a reasonable level. The trial was conducted as a prospective study consisting of a regional public awareness intervention in two regions of Germany and a nested cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) of a complex implementation strategy. The study involved 114 primary care practices and comprised an intervention period of six winter months for the nested cRCT and two times six winter months for the regional intervention. The primary outcome was the percentage of antibiotic prescribing for ARTIs between baseline and the two following winter seasons. The regression analysis confirmed a general trend toward the restrained use of antibiotics in German primary care. This trend was found in both groups of the cRCT without significant differences between groups. At the same time, antibiotic prescribing was higher in routine care (with the public campaign only) than in both groups of the cRCT. With regard to secondary outcomes, in the nested cRCT, the prescribing of quinolones was reduced, and the proportion of guideline-recommended antibiotics increased.

Migrant and native women's perceptions of prenatal care communication quality: the role of host-country language proficiency.

BACKGROUND: Despite the potentially significant impact of women-prenatal care provider communication quality (WPCQ) on women's perinatal health, evidence on the determinants of those perceptions is still lacking, particularly among migrant women. METHODS: We aimed to examine the effect of women's host-country language proficiency on their perceived WPCQ. We analyzed the data of 1210 migrant and 1400 native women who gave birth at Portuguese public hospitals between 2017 and 2019 and participated in the baMBINO cohort study. Migrants' language proficiency was self-rated. Perceived WPCQ was measured as a composite score of 9 different aspects of self-reported communication quality and ranged from 0 (optimal) to 27. RESULTS: A high percentage of women (29%) rated communication quality as "optimal". Zero-inflated regression models were fitted to estimate the association between language proficiency and perceived WPCQ. Women with full (aIRR 1.35; 95% CI 1.22,1.50), intermediate (aIRR 1.41; 95% CI 1.23,1.61), and limited (aIRR 1.72; 95% CI 1.45,2.05) language proficiencies were increasingly more likely to have lower WPCQ when compared to natives. CONCLUSIONS: Facilitating communication with migrant women experiencing language barriers in prenatal care could provide an important contribution to improving prenatal care quality and addressing potential subsequent disparities in perinatal health outcomes.

[Doctor-patient relationship and therapeutic adherence in patients with arterial hypertension]. / Relación médico-paciente y adherencia terapéutica en pacientes con hipertensión arterial.

Background: Systemic Arterial hypertension (SAH) is a serious socio-sanitary problem with high morbidity and mortality, potentially controllable with therapeutic interventions; however, not all patients achieve their therapeutic objectives, mostly due to therapeutic non-adherence, a multifactorial entity that can be reduced through a proper doctor-patient relationship. Objective: To determine the association between the doctor-patient relationship and the therapeutic adherence in patients with arterial hypertension. Material and methods: Observational, cross-sectional, analytical, and prospective study carried out from January to November 2021 in a sample of 289 patients with SAH from a family medical unit in Northwest Mexico; the 8-item Morisky-Green Test was used to assess therapeutic adherence and the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire to assess the doctor-patient relationship. Results: The prevalence of therapeutic adherence was 57%, which is why 4 out of 10 patients with SAH were not adherent to their treatment, and more than half of the patients showed a good doctor-patient relationship (64%), which doubles the probability of adherence to antihypertensive treatment (OR 1.92, 26 with a 95% CI of 1.54-2.39, p = 0.000). Conclusions: The absence of adherence to antihypertensive treatment is a frequent and multifactorial problem, with few advances in recent decades. The doctor-patient relationship is a factor that influences the therapeutic adherence of patients with SAH.

Introducción: la hipertensión arterial sistémica (HAS) es un grave problema sociosanitario de alta morbimortalidad, potencialmente controlable con intervenciones terapéuticas; sin embargo, no todos los pacientes logran sus objetivos terapéuticos, en su mayoría debido a la no adherencia terapéutica, entidad multifactorial cuya solución es una buena relación médico-paciente. Objetivo: determinar la asociación entre la relación médico-paciente y la adherencia terapéutica en pacientes con hipertensión arterial. Material y métodos: estudio observacional, transversal, analítico y prospectivo realizado de enero a noviembre de 2021 en una muestra de 289 pacientes con HAS de una unidad de medicina familiar del Noroeste de México; se utilizó el Test de Morisky-Green de ocho ítems para evaluar la adherencia terapéutica y el cuestionario Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire para evaluar la relación médico-paciente. Resultados: la prevalencia de adherencia terapéutica fue del 57%, por lo que cuatro de cada 10 pacientes con HAS no tuvieron adherencia al tratamiento y más de la mitad tuvo una buena relación médico-paciente (64%), la cual duplica la probabilidad de adherencia al tratamiento antihipertensivo (RM 1.92, 26 con un IC 95% de 1.54-2.39, p < 0.000). Conclusiones: la falta de adherencia al tratamiento antihipertensivo es un problema frecuente y multifactorial, el cual tiene pocos avances en las últimas décadas. La relación médico-paciente es un factor que influye en la adherencia terapéutica de pacientes con HAS.

Measuring relatives' perceptions of end-of-life communication with physicians in five countries: a psychometric analysis.

The Family Perceptions of Physician-Family Caregiver Communication scale (FPPFC) was developed to assess quality of physician-family end-of-life communication in nursing homes. However, its validity has been tested only in the USA and the Netherlands. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the FPPFC construct validity and its reliability, as well as the psychometric characteristics of the items comprising the scale. Data were collected in cross-sectional study in Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. The factorial structure was tested in confirmatory factor analysis. Item parameters were obtained using an item response theory model. Participants were 737 relatives of nursing home residents who died up to 3 months prior to the study. In general, the FPPFC scale proved to be a unidimensional and reliable measure of the perceived quality of physician-family communication in nursing home settings in all five countries. Nevertheless, we found unsatisfactory fit to the data with a confirmatory model. An item that referred to advance care planning performed less well in Poland and Italy than in the Northern European countries. In the item analysis, we found that with no loss of reliability and with increased coherency of the item content across countries, the full 7-item version can be shortened to a 4-item version, which may be more appropriate for international studies. Therefore, we recommend use of the brief 4-item FPPFC version by nursing home managers and professionals as an evaluation tool, and by researchers for their studies as these four items confer the same meaning across countries. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10433-022-00742-x.

Promoting rational antibiotic therapy among high antibiotic prescribers in German primary care-study protocol of the ElektRA 4-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The rational use of antibiotics is of great importance in health care. In primary care, acute respiratory infections are the most common cause of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Since existing studies aiming to optimize antibiotic use are usually based on the voluntary participation of physicians, general practitioners (GPs) with inappropriate prescribing behavior are underrepresented. For the first time in Germany, the ElektRA study will assess and compare the effects of three interventions on antibiotic prescribing rates for respiratory and urinary tract infections among high prescribers in primary care. METHOD: ElektRA is a 4-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial among German GPs in nine regional Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. On their behalf, the Central Research Institute of Ambulatory Health Care in Germany (Zi) analyses all outpatient claims and prescription data. Based on this database, high antibiotic prescribing GPs are identified and randomized into four groups: a control group (N=2000) and three intervention arms. We test social norm feedback on antibiotic prescribing (N=2000), social norm feedback plus online training on rational prescribing practice and communication strategies (N=2000), and social norm feedback plus online peer-moderated training on rational antibiotic prescribing, communication strategies, and sustainable behavior change (N=1250). The primary outcome is the overall rate of antibiotic prescriptions. Outcomes are measured before intervention (T0, October 2020-September 2022) and over a period of 15 months (T1, October 2022 to December 2023) after randomization. DISCUSSION: The aim of the study is to implement individualized, low-threshold interventions to reduce antibiotic prescribing among high prescribers in primary care. If successful, a change in behavior among otherwise difficult-to-reach high prescribers will directly improve patient care. The increase in quality of care will ideally be achieved both in terms of the quantity of antibiotics used as well as the kind of substances prescribed. Also, if effective strategies for high prescribers are identified through this study, they can be applied not only to the antibiotics addressed in this study, but also to other areas of prescription management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN95468513.

When the patient is making the (wrong?) diagnosis: a biographical approach to patients consulting for presumed Lyme disease.

BACKGROUND: Media coverage of Lyme disease (LD) has led to an increase in consultations for presumed LD in Europe. However, LD is confirmed in only 10%-20% of patients, with a significant number remaining in a diagnostic dead-end. OBJECTIVES: To reach a deeper understanding of how patients themselves contribute to the diagnostic process. To describe the genesis of the LD hypothesis in care pathways. METHODS: In 2019, 30 patients from a prospective cohort consulting in the infectious diseases department at University Hospital in Marseille for presumed LD were recruited for semistructured interviews. The inclusion criteria were: suffering from subjective symptoms for 6 months, no clinical or paraclinical argument suggesting current LD. The patients' medical trajectories were collected using a biographical approach. RESULTS: The diagnosis of LD was primarily triggered by identification with personal testimonies found on the Internet. Most of patients were leading their own diagnostic investigation. The majority of participants were convinced they had LD despite the lack of medical evidence and the scepticism of their referring GP. CONCLUSION: GPs should first systematically explore patients' aetiologic representations in order to improve adherence to the diagnosis especially in the management of medically unexplained symptoms. Long COVID-19 syndrome challenge offers an opportunity to promote active patient involvement in diagnosis.

Empathy scores amongst undergraduate medical students and its correlation to their academic performance.

Introduction: Empathy is one of the soft skills required for building rapport and having meaningful patient-doctor interaction. Its effect on academic performance at the undergraduate level amongst Pakistani medical students is not known. This study was done to assess the relationship between empathy and gender, and the academic performance of undergraduate medical students of Azad Kashmir. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in Poonch Medical College, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, from May 2018 to May 2019. The sample size for this study consisted of 200 students, determined by Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination chart. Students who agreed to participate in the study were enrolled according to convenience sampling using google forms. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) questionnaire was utilized as the data collection tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The ethical review board approved the study. Comparisons between males and females at the IRI questions level, IRI domains level, and total IRI were made using the Mann-Whitney U test. The Spearman Rank Correlation test was used to assess the correlation between academic performance, IRI domains, and total IRI scores. A one-way ANOVA test was done to assess the relationship between academic performance and their study years. Results: A total of one hundred and fifty-one students (males 83, females 68, response rate 75.5%) participated in the study from the third to the final year of medical college. The mean empathy scores of males and females were 90.76 ± 8.39 and 91.72 ± 9.76 (p-value = 0.552). On the empathic concern scale, female students had significantly higher empathy scores (25.44 ± 3.49) than males (23.78 ± 3.88) (p-value=0.008). No significant correlation was found between the empathy scores and academic performance, using Spearman's correlation test (p>0.05). Conclusion: Females showed significantly higher empathy scores than males for two Interpersonal Reactivity Index items and empathic concern scale. Overall, male and female students had similar total empathy scores. The relationship between empathy and academic performance was non-significant.

Healthcare practices that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories from a general practice perspective: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: General practice plays an important role in cancer trajectories, and cancer patients request the continuous involvement of general practice. The objective of this scoping review was to identify healthcare practices that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories from a general practice perspective. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: A scoping review of the literature published in Danish or English from 2010 to 2020 was conducted. Data was collected using identified keywords and indexed terms in several databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCO CINAHL, Scopus, and ProQuest), contacting key experts, searching through reference lists, and reports from selected health political, research- and interest organizations' websites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We identified healthcare practices in cancer trajectories that increase quality care. Identified healthcare practices were grouped into four contextual domains and allocated to defined phases in the cancer trajectory. The results are presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). RESULTS: A total of 45 peer-reviewed and six non-peer-reviewed articles and reports were included. Quality of care increases in all phases of the cancer trajectory when GPs listen carefully to the full story and use action plans. After diagnosis, quality of care increases when GPs and practice staff have a proactive care approach, act as interpreters of diagnosis, treatment options, and its consequences, and engage in care coordination with specialists in secondary care involving the patient. CONCLUSION: This scoping review identified healthcare practices that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories from a general practice perspective. The results support general practice in investigating own healthcare practices and identifying possibilities for quality improvement.KEY POINTSIdentified healthcare practices in general practice that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories:Listen carefully to the full storyUse action plans and time-out-consultationsPlan and provide proactive careAct as an interpreter of diagnosis, treatment options, and its consequences for the patientCoordinate care with specialists, patients, and caregivers with mutual respectIdentified barriers for quality of care in cancer trajectories are:Time constraints in consultationsLimited accessibility for patients and caregiversHealth practices to increase the quality of care should be effective, safe, people-centered, timely, equitable, integrated, and efficient. These distinctions of quality of care, support general practice in investigating and improving quality of care in cancer trajectories.

Comunicação de más notícias: autopercepção de estudantes de medicina / Breaking bad news: self-perception of medical students / Comunicación de malas noticias: autopercepción de estudiantes de medicina

Resumo Este estudo analisou a autopercepção de estudantes de uma faculdade de medicina em relação a sua aptidão para comunicar más notícias e identificar fatores associados. Mediante questionário autoaplicável, 44,1% do total de 214 participantes se consideraram aptos para a abordagem. Foram associados à maior autopercepção de aptidão para a comunicação de más notícias: mais tempo de curso ( p <0,001); achar que a graduação ofereceu os recursos necessários à aquisição da habilidade de comunicar más notícias ( p <0,001); conhecer algum protocolo validado ( p =0,015); e ter tido necessidade de comunicar má notícia na graduação ( p <0,001). Concluiu-se que a maioria dos estudantes não se sentia apta a comunicar más notícias. Conhecer um protocolo e ter tido necessidade de comunicar más notícias na graduação foram importantes para a aptidão. Sugere-se que o tema seja abordado de forma diferente, com mais atividades práticas.

Abstract This study analyzed medical students' self-perception regarding their aptitude to communicate bad news and identify associated factors. Using a self-administered questionnaire, 44.1% of 214 participants considered themselves suitable for the approach. The following were associated with greater self-perception of aptitude for breaking bad news: more time in the course ( p <0.001); believing that the undergraduate course offered the necessary resources to acquire the skill to communicate bad news ( p <0.001); knowing a validated protocol ( p =0.015); having needed to communicate bad news during the undergraduate course ( p <0.001). In conclusion, most students felt unable to communicate bad news. Knowing a protocol and having the need to communicate bad news during the undergraduate course were essential for aptitude. As a suggestion, the topic should be approached differently, with more practical activities.

Resumen Este estudio analizó la autopercepción de los estudiantes de una facultad de medicina en relación con su aptitud para comunicar malas noticias e identificar factores asociados. A través de un cuestionario autoaplicable, el 44,1 % del total de 214 participantes se consideraron aptos para el enfoque. Se asociaron con una mayor autopercepción de aptitud para la comunicación de malas noticias: más tiempo de curso ( p <0,001); pensar que el pregrado ofreció los recursos necesarios para adquirir la habilidad de comunicar malas noticias ( p <0,001); conocer algún protocolo validado ( p =0,015); y haber tenido necesidad de comunicar malas noticias en el pregrado ( p <0,001). Se concluyó que la mayoría de los estudiantes no se sentían aptos para comunicar malas noticias. Conocer un protocolo y haber tenido la necesidad de comunicar malas noticias en el pregrado fue importante para la aptitud. Se sugiere que el tema sea abordado de forma diferente, con más actividades prácticas.

Physician's communicational skills. Experience in the medicine department of a pediatric hospital. / [Habilidades comunicacionales del médico. Experiencia en el Departamento de Medicina de un hospital pediátrico.]

Background: Communication is an essential task to achieve quality in medical practice. It includes a series of acquired skills that collaborate in improving patient safety. Exploring physician´s communication skills could improve the care quality of an Institution. Our objective was to evaluate the attending physicians´communicative competence in a Pediatric Hospital, and to explore which professionals' factors could be potentially associated with this competence quality. Methods: Analytical, cross-sectional study. 40 doctor-patient interviews were observed from December 2018 to March 2019, in the Hospitalization Units. The Kalamazoo Essential Elements Communication Checklist (adapted) was used as a tool to assess competence in the communication process. Result: In 62.5% (25/40) of the observed interviews, communicative competence was evaluated as acceptable (95% CI 47.03-75.78). No association was found between physicians' practice experience or years since their graduation and the communicational acceptability. Female sex was an independent predictor for acceptable communication (OR: 10.3, 95% CI 1.9-53.1, p = 0.005). Conclusion: Communication skills of the medical staff observed in the Hospital were acceptable in 62.5% of the cases. Female sex resulted in an independent factor for acceptable communication. Even though the observed physicians´ communicative competence was generally acceptable, it is important to carry out actions aimed at optimizing communication skills since they do not only improve with experience.

Introducción: La comunicación es una tarea esencial para la práctica médica de calidad, incluye una serie de habilidades aprendidas que colaboran en mejorar la seguridad del paciente. Explorar la competencia en comunicación de los médicos podría mejorar la calidad de atención de la institución. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la competencia comunicativa de médicos de planta de un hospital pediátrico y explorar factores de los profesionales potencialmente asociados a la calidad de la misma. Métodos: Estudio analítico, transversal. Se observaron 40 entrevistas médico-paciente durante diciembre 2018 - marzo 2019, en las unidades de internación de un Hospital pediátrico. Se utilizó la lista de verificación adaptada de los elementos esenciales de comunicación de Kalamazoo como herramienta para evaluar la competencia en el proceso de comunicación. Resultado: En el 62,5 % (25/40) de las entrevistas observadas, la competencia comunicativa se evalúo como aceptable (IC95% 47,03-75,78). No se halló relación entre la antigüedad en el cargo ni los años desde la graduación del médico observado y la aceptabilidad de la comunicación. El sexo femenino resultó predictor independiente para comunicación aceptable (OR: 10,3; IC95 % 1,9-53,1; p=0,005). Conclusión: Las habilidades comunicacionales del personal médico observado en el Hospital resultaron aceptables en el 62,5% de los casos. El sexo femenino se mostró como factor independiente para comunicación aceptable. Si bien la competencia comunicativa de los médicos observados en general fue aceptable, es importante llevar a cabo acciones tendientes a optimizar las habilidades comunicacionales ya que ellas no solo mejoran con la experiencia.

Type 2 diabetes: patient assessment of chronic illness care.

OBJECTIVE: We tried to assess perception of chronic illness care in people with type 2 diabetes and to determine whether demographic variables, self-care behavior, as well as affective variables were related with perception of chronic illness care. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the previously published cross-sectional study in 441 Iranian people with type 2 diabetes. Chronic illness care was assessed with the validated tool of patient assessment of chronic illness care (PACIC). Different aspects of care according to the chronic care model are measured on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being highest perception of care. The association between perception of chronic illness care and measured variables were tested using spearman correlation test as well as univariate and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Finally, 380 filled out the PACIC questionnaire, completely (53.4% female, mean age: 54.73 ± 8.0 years, mean PACIC score: 2.52 ± 0.87). In spearman correlation test, considering PACIC score as the dependent variable, chronic illness care was inversely associated with level of education and distress, whereas, insulin treatment, wellbeing, family-social support and self-management were positively associated with chronic care (All p value<0.05). In the multiple linear regression analysis, family-social support was positively related to chronic care while level of education, marital status, diabetes-related distress, and high density lipoprotein had significant negative relationship with PACIC score (All p value<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Family-social support, level of education, marital status, and diabetes-related distress are the major determinants of patient experience of chronic illness care in people with type 2 diabetes.

Development of a Patient-Oriented Intervention to Support Patient-Provider Conversations about Unnecessary Lower Back Pain Imaging.

BACKGROUND: despite the efforts of multiple stakeholders to promote appropriate care throughout the healthcare system, studies show that two out of three lower back pain (LBP) patients expect to receive imaging. We used the Choosing Wisely Canada patient-oriented framework, prioritizing patient engagement, to develop an intervention that addresses lower back pain imaging overuse. METHODS: to develop this intervention, we collaborated with a multidisciplinary advisory team, including two patient partners with lower back pain, researchers, clinicians, healthcare administrators, and the Choosing Wisely Canada lead for Saskatchewan. For this qualitative study, data were collected through two advisory team meetings, two individual interviews with lower back pain patient partners, and three focus groups with lower back pain patient participants. A lower back pain prescription pad was developed as an outcome of these consultations. RESULTS: participants reported a lack of interactive and informative communication was a significant barrier to receiving appropriate care. The most cited content information for inclusion in this intervention was treatments known to work, including physical activity, useful equipment, and reliable sources of educational material. Participants also suggested it was important that benefits and risks of imaging were explained on the pad. Three key themes derived from the data were also used to guide development of the intervention: (a) the role of imaging in LBP diagnosis; (b) the impact of the patient-physician relationship on LBP diagnosis and treatment; and (c) the lack of patient awareness of Choosing Wisely Canada and their recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: the lower back pain patient-developed prescription pad may help patients and clinicians engage in informed conversations and shared decision making that could support reduce unnecessary lower back pain imaging.

[Dialogue between general practitioner and patient regarding tobacco and alcohol consumption, from the patient's standpoint]. / Dialogue entre médecin généraliste et patient : les consommations de tabac et d'alcool en question, du point de vue du patient.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GP) are key players in screening and counselling for smokers and alcohol drinkers exceeding French guidelines for low-risk consumption thresholds. Tackling the subject from the patients' perspective, the authors aim at estimating the proportion of the population having discussed their smoking and alcohol consumption with their GPs, and to pinpoint the factors associated with their having done so. METHODS: The data (n=6346) are derived from nationwide representative phone survey in mainland France conducted by the French public health monitoring center Baromètre de Santé publique France. RESULTS: Among the persons aged 18-75 having consulted a GP over the last 12 months (82.5%), 36.7% stated that smoking had been discussed in consultation while 16.8% had talked about alcohol use. For both substances, being a man, a smoker, an excessive alcohol user and having a chronic illness were not only independently associated with being questioned by one's doctor, but also with more frequent patient initiative. About 87% considered it normal to be asked by their GP about their alcohol intake, this proportion being higher among men and people with high incomes. CONCLUSION: Even though a large portion of the population would deem it normal to discuss smoking and alcohol intake in consultation with a GP, the subjects are rarely broached. Our results underline the need to bolster efforts at systematic screening for substance use by GPs.

Optimizing Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in German Primary Care: Study Protocol for Evaluation of the RESIST Program.

BACKGROUND: The emergence and increased spread of microbial resistance is a major challenge to all health care systems worldwide. In primary care, acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) is the health condition most strongly related to antibiotic overuse. OBJECTIVE: The RESIST program aims at optimizing antibiotic prescribing for ARTI in German primary care. By completing a problem-orientated online training course, physicians are motivated and empowered to utilize patient-centered doctor-patient communication strategies, including shared decision making, in the treatment of patients with ARTI. METHODS: RESIST will be evaluated in the form of a nonrandomized controlled trial. Approximately 3000 physicians of 8 (out of 16) German federal states can participate in the program. Patient and physician data are retrieved from routine health care data. Physicians not participating in the program serve as controls, either among the 8 participating regional Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (control group 1) or among the remaining associations not participating in RESIST (control group 2). Antibiotic prescription rates before the intervention (T0: 2016, 1st and 2nd quarters of 2017) and after the intervention (T1: 3rd quarter of 2017 until 1st quarter of 2019) will be compared. The primary outcome measure is the overall antibiotic prescription rate for all patients insured with German statutory health insurance before and after provision of the online course. The secondary outcome is the antibiotic prescription rate for coded ARTI before and after the intervention. RESULTS: RESIST is publicly funded by the Innovations funds of the Federal Joint Committee in Germany and was approved in December 2016. Recruitment of physicians is now completed, and a total of 2460 physicians participated in the intervention. Data analysis started in February 2020. CONCLUSIONS: With approximately 3000 physicians participating in the program, RESIST is among the largest real-world interventions aiming at reducing inadequate antibiotic prescribing for ARTI in primary care. Long-term follow up of up to 21 months will allow for investigating the sustainability of the intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN13934505; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN13934505. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/18648.

La confianza en la relación profesional de la salud y paciente / Confidence in the health professional and patient relation

Introducción: Las condiciones crónicas de salud demandan un cuidado continuo con enfoque en el método clínico centrado en la persona, que incluye la relación médico-paciente como un elemento transversal, siendo la confianza el eje principal. Esta confianza podría mediar entre el manejo de las condiciones crónicas de los pacientes y sus efectos. Objetivo: Identificar el efecto de la confianza en la relación paciente-proveedor de salud en los diversos contextos de salud. Métodos: Se efectuó una revisión crítica de la literatura durante los meses de junio a agosto del 2017, para comprender el rol de la confianza en la relación entre el paciente-proveedor de salud y su relación con los resultados en salud. La búsqueda inicial fue con las palabras clave: confianza, médico, proveedor de salud, paciente y sus variantes en inglés y francés, en las bases de datos electrónicas JSTOR (Filosofía), Race Relations Abstracts, SocIndex with Full Text, Social Science Database, PubMed Central, CINAHL, Nursing & Allied Health Database, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete y ProQuest Central. Se aplicaron diferentes estrategias de búsqueda con las palabras claves y el operador boleano AND. Conclusiones: La confianza es una variable de la relación paciente-proveedor de salud que tiene un rol estratégico en los procesos terapéuticos. De ahí que sea fundamental considerarla como parte de la atención en salud, en especial como una instancia de colaboración y compromiso del paciente con su salud. Por lo que se hace necesario crear instrumentos que midan esta variable de acuerdo a las características culturales de los países latinoamericanos y que se extienda a todos los que tienen un rol asistencial en el contacto directo con el paciente(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Health's chronic conditions demand continuous care with an approach to the clinical method focused in the person, which includes physician-patient relation as a cross-sectional element where confidence is the core. This confidence would mediate between the management of the patient's chronic conditions and their effects. Objective: To identify the effect of confidence in health provider/professional-patient relation in different health contexts. Methods: It was carried out a critical review of related literature from June to August, 2017 in order to understand the role of confidence in health provider- patient relation, and its relation with the results in health. The initial search was with the keywords: ´confidence, physician, health provider, patient and their equivalents in English and French, in the electronic databases JSTOR (Philosophy), Race Relations Abstracts, SocIndex with Full Text, Social Science Database, PubMed Central, CINAHHL, Nursing & Allied Health Database, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete and ProQuest Central. There were carried out different search strategies with the keywords and the boolean operator AND. Conclusions: Confidence is a variable of the atient-health provider relation that has a strategic role in therapeutic processes. Then, it is important to consider it as a part of health care, specially as a point of collaboration and commitment of the patient with his/her health. Thus, it is necessary to create instruments that measure this variable in accordance with the cultural characteristics of Latin American countries and this can be extended to all having a care role in the direct contact with patients(AU)