The attitudes of primary care providers towards screening for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: the scientific community supports the appropriateness of colorectal cancer screening, and there is consensus on the need to raise awareness about the significance of prevention among both health care professionals and the population. The goal was to record the attitude of primary care providers towards colorectal cancer screening, as well as the main barriers to both patient and provider participation. METHODS: a cross-sectional, observational study was performed of 511 professionals in Albacete Health District. Variables included views on screening effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, acceptance by providers and patients, barriers to participation, frequency of prevention recommendations, and education needs. RESULTS: most (76 %) considered screening was effective; 85 % said acceptance of fecal occult blood testing was intermediate or high, and 68.2 % this is also the case for colonoscopy when needed; 71.9 % would recommend screening should a population-based program be implemented (currently only 9.7 % recommends this). Correspondence analysis revealed that recommendation is more common when assigned populations are smaller. CONCLUSIONS: most providers consider screening is both effective and acceptable for patients. In today´s situation, where screening is only performed in an opportunistic manner, the proportion of professionals who commonly recommend screening for the mid-risk population is low, especially when assigned populations are huge.

Actitudes de los profesionales sanitarios de atención primaria hacia el cribado del cáncer colorrectal / The attitudes of primary care providers towards screening for colorectal cancer

Antecedentes y objetivo: la comunidad científica avala la idoneidad del cribado del cáncer colorrectal y existe consenso sobre la necesidad de concienciar a la población y a los profesionales sanitarios sobre la importancia de su prevención. El objetivo ha sido conocer la actitud de los profesionales sanitarios de atención primaria hacia el cribado del cáncer colorrectal y los principales obstáculos para la participación, tanto para los pacientes como para los profesionales. Métodos: estudio observacional transversal realizado en 511 profesionales pertenecientes al área sanitaria de Albacete. Las variables incluyeron opinión sobre efectividad y coste-efectividad del cribado, aceptación de profesionales y pacientes, obstáculos para la participación, frecuencia de la recomendación preventiva y necesidades de formación. Resultados: la mayoría (76 %) consideró que el cribado es efectivo. El 85 % opinó que la aceptación de la determinación de sangre oculta en heces es intermedia/alta y el 68,2 % que también lo es la colonoscopia en caso necesario. El 71,9 % recomendaría el cribado si fuese implantado un programa poblacional (actualmente solo lo recomienda el 9,7 %). Mediante análisis de correspondencias se observó que la recomendación es más frecuente cuando es inferior la población asignada al profesional. Conclusiones: la mayoría de los profesionales consideran efectivo el cribado y aceptable para los pacientes. En la situación actual, en la que el cribado solo se realiza de manera oportunista, es baja la proporción de profesionales que recomiendan frecuentemente el cribado a la población de riesgo medio, especialmente cuando la población asignada es elevada (AU)

Background and objective: the scientific community supports the appropriateness of colorectal cancer screening, and there is consensus on the need to raise awareness about the significance of prevention among both health care professionals and the population. The goal was to record the attitude of primary care providers towards colorectal cancer screening, as well as the main barriers to both patient and provider participation. Methods: a cross-sectional, observational study was performed of 511 professionals in Albacete Health District. Variables included views on screening effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, acceptance by providers and patients, barriers to participation, frequency of prevention recommendations, and education needs. Results: most (76 %) considered screening was effective; 85 % said acceptance of fecal occult blood testing was intermediate or high, and 68.2 % this is also the case for colonoscopy when needed; 71.9 % would recommend screening should a population-based program be implemented (currently only 9.7 % recommends this). Correspondence analysis revealed that recommendation is more common when assigned populations are smaller. Conclusions: most providers consider screening is both effective and acceptable for patients. In today’s situation, where screening is only performed in an opportunistic manner, the proportion of professionals who commonly recommend screening for the mid-risk population is low, especially when assigned populations are huge (AU)

Fragilidad y dependencia en Albacete (estudio FRADEA): razonamiento, diseño y metodología / Frailty and dependence in Albacete (FRADEA study): reasoning, design and methodology

Objetivo. Obtener una cohorte de sujetos con edad igual o mayor a 70 años, representativa de una población urbana española, para estimar la prevalencia de fragilidad y seguirla en el tiempo para analizar factores asociados. Material y métodos. Estudio de cohortes concurrente de base poblacional. Sobre un universo de 18.137 ancianos, se realizó un muestreo aleatorio estratificado para obtener una muestra representativa de 1.172. Aceptaron participar 993 personas (84,7%). Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, de comorbilidad, funcionales (n=825), cognitivas, afectivas y de calidad de vida. A los sujetos que aceptaron se les determinó la composición corporal por bioimpedanciometría (n=557), el gasto energético basal por calorimetría indirecta (n=450) y se obtuvo muestra de sangre para la determinación de biomarcadores (n=859). La fragilidad se definió por la presencia de 3 o más de los criterios Fried: pérdida de peso no intencionada, baja fuerza, cansancio, lentitud al caminar y baja actividad física. La cohorte será seguida en el tiempo hasta el fallecimiento de los sujetos. Resultados. Edad media±desviación estándar 79,4±6,4 años, con 601 (60,5%) mujeres. Institucionalizados el 21,3%. Fueron frágiles el 16,9%, prefrágiles 48,5%, no frágiles 21,8%, y no se dispuso de 3 criterios para poder determinar su estado en el 12,8%, de los cuales el 9,5% tenía una discapacidad moderada-severa, por lo que la prevalencia de fragilidad podría aumentar hasta el 26,4%. Conclusiones. Se ha construido la cohorte FRADEA, representativa de los mayores de una población urbana de España. La prevalencia de fragilidad en la cohorte fue del 16,9%(AU)

Objective. To obtain a cohort of subjects of equal to or greater than 70 years, representative of a Spanish urban population, to estimate the prevalence of frailty and follow it up over time to analyse associated factors. Material and methods. A prospective, population-based cohort study. From a population of 18,137 elderly persons, a representative sample of 1172 was randomly stratified, of which 993 (84.7%) agreed to take part. The variables collected were; sociodemographic, comorbidity, functional (n=825), cognitive, affective and quality of life. On the patients who agreed, body composition was determined by bioimpedance analysis (n=557), basal metabolic rate by indirect calorimetry (n=450) and a blood sample was obtained for biomarkers (n=859). Frailty was defined by the presence of 3 or more Fried criteria: unintentional weight loss, low energy, exhaustion, slow walking, and low physical activity. The cohort will be followed up over time until the death of the subjects. Results. Mean age 79.4 (SD 6.4) years, with 601 (60.5%) women. A total of 21.3% were institutionalised; 16.9% were frail, 48.5% pre-frail, 21.3% non-frail, and 12.8% did not have the 3 criteria to be able to determine their state, of which 9.5% had moderate-severe incapacity, which would increase the prevalence of frailty to 26.4%. Conclusions. A FRADEA cohort has been constructed, representative of an urban population in Spain. The prevalence of frailty in the cohort was 16.9%(AU)

[Frailty and dependence in Albacete (FRADEA study): reasoning, design and methodology]. / Fragilidad y dependencia en Albacete (estudio FRADEA): razonamiento, diseño y metodología.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a cohort of subjects of equal to or greater than 70 years, representative of a Spanish urban population, to estimate the prevalence of frailty and follow it up over time to analyse associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, population-based cohort study. From a population of 18,137 elderly persons, a representative sample of 1172 was randomly stratified, of which 993 (84.7%) agreed to take part. The variables collected were; sociodemographic, comorbidity, functional (n=825), cognitive, affective and quality of life. On the patients who agreed, body composition was determined by bioimpedance analysis (n=557), basal metabolic rate by indirect calorimetry (n=450) and a blood sample was obtained for biomarkers (n=859). Frailty was defined by the presence of 3 or more Fried criteria: unintentional weight loss, low energy, exhaustion, slow walking, and low physical activity. The cohort will be followed up over time until the death of the subjects. RESULTS: Mean age 79.4 (SD 6.4) years, with 601 (60.5%) women. A total of 21.3% were institutionalised; 16.9% were frail, 48.5% pre-frail, 21.3% non-frail, and 12.8% did not have the 3 criteria to be able to determine their state, of which 9.5% had moderate-severe incapacity, which would increase the prevalence of frailty to 26.4%. CONCLUSIONS: A FRADEA cohort has been constructed, representative of an urban population in Spain. The prevalence of frailty in the cohort was 16.9%.