Quality and safety actions in primary care practices in COVID-19 pandemic: the PRICOV-19 study in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Primary Health Care (PHC) has been key element in detection, monitoring and treatment of COVID-19 cases in Spain. We describe how PHC practices (PCPs) organized healthcare to guarantee quality and safety and, if there were differences among the 17 Spanish regions according to the COVID-19 prevalence. METHODS: Cross-sectional study through the PRICOV-19 European Online Survey in PCPs in Spain. The questionnaire included structure and process items per PCP. Data collection was due from January to May 2021. A descriptive and comparative analysis and a logistic regression model were performed to identify differences among regions by COVID-19 prevalence (low < 5% or high ≥5%). RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-six PCPs answered. 83.8% of PCPs were in high prevalence regions. Over 70% PCPs were multi-professional teams. PCPs attended mainly elderly (60.9%) and chronic patients (53.0%). Regarding structure indicators, no differences by prevalence detected. In 77.1% of PCPs administrative staff were more involved in providing recommendations. Only 53% of PCPs had a phone protocol although 73% of administrative staff participated in phone triage. High prevalence regions offered remote assessment (20.4% vs 2.3%, p 0.004) and online platforms to download administrative documents more frequently than low prevalence (30% vs 4.7%, p < 0.001). More backup staff members were hired by health authorities in high prevalence regions, especially nurses (63.9% vs 37.8%, p < 0.001. OR:4.20 (1.01-8.71)). 63.5% of PCPs provided proactive care for chronic patients. 41.0% of PCPs recognized that patients with serious conditions did not know to get an appointment. Urgent conditions suffered delayed care in 79.1% of PCPs in low prevalence compared to 65.9% in high prevalence regions (p 0.240). A 68% of PCPs agreed on having inadequate support from the government to provide proper functioning. 61% of high prevalence PCPs and 69.5% of low ones (p: 0.036) perceived as positive the role of governmental guidelines for management of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Spanish PCPs shared a basic standardized PCPs' structure and common clinical procedures due to the centralization of public health authority in the pandemic. Therefore, no relevant differences in safety and quality of care between regions with high and low prevalence were detected. Nurses and administrative staff were hired efficiently in response to the pandemic. Delay in care happened in patients with serious conditions and little follow-up for mental health and intimate partner violence affected patients was identified. Nevertheless, proactive care was offered for chronic patients in most of the PCPs.

Validez y utilidad del RAE-CMBD en el estudio de los pacientes hospitalizados con gripe / Validity and usefulness of the RAE-CMBD studying patients hospitalised with influenza

Background: Understanding the hospital impact of influenza requires enriching epidemiological surveillance registries with other sources of information. The aim of this study was to determine the validity of the Hospital Care Activity Record – Minimum Basic Data Set (RAE-CMBD) in the analysis of the outcomes of patients hospitalised with this infection. Methods: Observational and retrospective study of adults admitted with influenza in a tertiary hospital during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons. We calculated the concordance of the RAE-CMBD with the influenza epidemiological surveillance registry (gold standard), as well as the main parameters of internal and external validity. Logistic regression models were used for risk adjustment of in-hospital mortality and length of stay. Results: A total of 907 (97.74%) unique matches were achieved, with high inter-observer agreement (ƙ=0.828). The RAE-CMBD showed a 79.87% sensitivity, 99.72% specificity, 86.71% positive predictive value and 99.54% negative predictive value. The risk-adjusted mortality ratio of patients with influenza was lower than that of patients without influenza: 0.667 (0.53-0.82) vs. 1.008 (0.98-1.04) and the risk-adjusted length of stay ratio was higher: 1.15 (1.12-1.18) vs. 1.00 (0.996-1.001). Conclusion: The RAE-CMBD is a valid source of information for the study of the impact of influenza on hospital care. The lower risk-adjusted mortality of patients admitted with influenza compared to other inpatients seems to point to the effectiveness of the main clinical and organisational measures adopted. (AU)

Objetivos: Conocer el impacto hospitalario de la gripe requiere enriquecer los registros de vigilancia epidemiológicos con otras fuentes de información. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la validez del Registro de Actividad de Atención Especializada – Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (RAE-CMBD) en el análisis de los resultados asistenciales de los pacientes hospitalizados con esta infección. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de los adultos ingresados con gripe en un hospital terciario durante las temporadas 2017/2018 y 2018/2019. Se calculó la concor-dancia del RAE-CMBD con el registro de vigilancia epidemiológica de gripe (estándar de referencia), así como los principales parámetros de validez interna y externa. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística para el ajuste por riesgo de la mortalidad intrahospitalaria y duración de la estancia. Resultados: Se lograron 907 (97,74%) emparejamientos únicos, con una concordancia interobservadores elevada (ƙ=0,828). El RAE-CMBD mostró una sensibilidad del 79,87%, especificidad del 99,72%, valor predictivo positivo del 86,71% y negativo del 99,54%. La razón de mortalidad ajustada por riesgo de los pacientes con gripe fue menor que la de los pacientes sin gripe: 0,667 (0,53–0,82) vs. 1,008 (0,98–1,04) y la razón de duración de la estancia ajustada por riesgo, mayor: 1,15 (1,12–1,18) vs. 1,00 (0,996–1,001). Conclusiones: El RAE-CMBD es una fuente de información válida para el estudio del impacto de la gripe en la atención hospitalaria. La menor mortalidad ajustada por riesgo de los pacientes ingresados con gripe respecto de los demás ingresados, parece apuntar a la efectividad de las principales medidas clínicas y organizativas adoptadas. (AU)

A multiple health behaviour change intervention to prevent depression: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of a 12-month MHBC intervention in the prevention of onset depression in primary health care (PHC). METHODS: Twenty-two PHC centres took part in the cluster-randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive either usual care or an MHBC intervention. The endpoints were onset of major depression and reduction of depressive symptoms in participants without baseline depression at a 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: 2531 patients agreed and were eligible to participate. At baseline, around 43% were smokers, 82% were non-adherent to the Mediterranean diet and 55% did not perform enough physical activity. The intervention group exhibited a greater positive change in two or more behaviours (OR 1.75 [95%CI: 1.17 to 2.62]; p = 0.006); any behaviour (OR 1.58 [95%CI: 1.13 to 2.20]; p = 0.007); and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (OR 1.94 [95%CI: 1.29 to 2.94]; p = 0.002), while this increase was not statistically significant for smoking and physical activity. The intervention was not effective in preventing major depression (OR 1.17; [95% CI 0.53 to 2.59)]; p = 0.690) or reducing depressive symptoms (Mean difference: 0.30; [95% CI -0.77 to 1.36]; p = 0.726) during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to usual care, the MHBC intervention provided a non-significant reduction in the incidence of major depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03136211.

The challenge of community mental health interventions with patients, relatives, and health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a real-world 9-month follow-up study.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to implement protocols that respond to the mental health demands of the population has been demonstrated. The PASMICOR programme started in March 2020, involving a total of 210 requests for treatment. Out of those subjects, the intervention was performed in 53 patients with COVID-19 without history of past psychiatric illness, 57 relatives and 60 health professionals, all of them within the area of Salamanca (Spain). Interventions were carried out by professionals of the public mental health service mostly by telephone. Depending on clinical severity, patients received basic (level I) or complex psychotherapeutic care combined with psychiatric care (level II). The majority of attended subjects were women (76.5%). Anxious-depressive symptoms were predominant, although sadness was more frequent in patients, insomnia in relatives and anxiety and fear in health professionals. 80% of the sample, particularly most of the health professionals, required a high-intensity intervention (level II). Nearly 50% of the people treated were discharged after an average of 5 interventions. Providing early care to COVID-19 patients, relatives and professionals by using community mental health resources can help to reduce the negative impact of crises, such as the pandemic, on the most affected population groups.

Multiple health behaviour change primary care intervention for smoking cessation, physical activity and healthy diet in adults 45 to 75 years old (EIRA study): a hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a) a Multiple Health Behaviour Change (MHBC) intervention on reducing smoking, increasing physical activity and adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern in people aged 45-75 years compared to usual care; and b) an implementation strategy. METHODS: A cluster randomised effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial-type 2 with two parallel groups was conducted in 25 Spanish Primary Health Care (PHC) centres (3062 participants): 12 centres (1481 participants) were randomised to the intervention and 13 (1581 participants) to the control group (usual care). The intervention was based on the Transtheoretical Model and focused on all target behaviours using individual, group and community approaches. PHC professionals made it during routine care. The implementation strategy was based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed models, accounting for clustering. A mixed-methods data analysis was used to evaluate implementation outcomes (adoption, acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and fidelity) and determinants of implementation success. RESULTS: 14.5% of participants in the intervention group and 8.9% in the usual care group showed a positive change in two or all the target behaviours. Intervention was more effective in promoting dietary behaviour change (31.9% vs 21.4%). The overall adoption rate by professionals was 48.7%. Early and final appropriateness were perceived by professionals as moderate. Early acceptability was high, whereas final acceptability was only moderate. Initial and final acceptability as perceived by the participants was high, and appropriateness moderate. Consent and recruitment rates were 82.0% and 65.5%, respectively, intervention uptake was 89.5% and completion rate 74.7%. The global value of the percentage of approaches with fidelity ≥50% was 16.7%. Eight CFIR constructs distinguished between high and low implementation, five corresponding to the Inner Setting domain. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to usual care, the EIRA intervention was more effective in promoting MHBC and dietary behaviour change. Implementation outcomes were satisfactory except for the fidelity to the planned intervention, which was low. The organisational and structural contexts of the centres proved to be significant determinants of implementation effectiveness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03136211 . Registered 2 May 2017, "retrospectively registered".

[A safe use of medications in Primary Care, in COVID-19 pandemic as well]. / Uso seguro de los medicamentos en Atención Primaria, también en época de pandemia de la COVID-19.

The third Global Patient Safety Challenge, Medication Without Harm, was launched in 2017 by the World Health Organization with the goal of reducing the already well-known severe preventable medication-related harm by 50% over the next 5 years. Nothing suggested that, two years later, the world would suffer a terrible pandemic, which has been a much greater challenge than the aforementioned one and that would put it to test from the first stages of the medication use process. The rapid pace imposed by the pandemic has created new risks in the use of medication in those affected by COVID-19 and in the population due to organizational changes in the provision of health care in health services. Therefore, prudent prescribing is becoming more important than ever in health systems. This article aims to analyze the main risks produced during the pandemic period and offer Primary Care professionals an update and a reminder of the main aspects related to the safety use of medications.

[Health worker safety as an essential condition for patient safety]. / La seguridad de los profesionales como condición indispensable para la seguridad de los pacientes.

The greatest asset of any health system is its professionals, and they must be cared for in order to take care. It is necessary to emphasize that they are key for the resilience of our health systems. This is particularly important in crisis times and especially important for primary health care.During the COVID-19 pandemic, working conditions have been the main common latent factor for patient safety incidents. Primary Care professionals have worked in unsafe working conditions, with lack of means of protection, great uncertainty, lack of scientific knowledge and rapidly changing work protocols for dealing with cases and contacts of COVID-19 infection, with a high care pressure, long working hours, suspension of vacations, and even changes in their jobs. All of this has contributed to their becoming, not only the first victims of the pandemic, but also the second victims of the adverse events that occurred during it.Therefore, in this article we analyze the main risks and damages suffered by professionals in Primary Care and provide keys to contribute to their protection in future similar situations.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a multiple health behaviour change intervention in people aged between 45 and 75 years: a cluster randomized controlled trial in primary care (EIRA study).

BACKGROUND: Multiple health behaviour change (MHBC) interventions that promote healthy lifestyles may be an efficient approach in the prevention or treatment of chronic diseases in primary care. This study aims to evaluate the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of the health promotion EIRA intervention in terms of MHBC and cardiovascular reduction. METHODS: An economic evaluation alongside a 12-month cluster-randomised (1:1) controlled trial conducted between 2017 and 2018 in 25 primary healthcare centres from seven Spanish regions. The study took societal and healthcare provider perspectives. Patients included were between 45 and 75 years old and had any two of these three behaviours: smoking, insufficient physical activity or low adherence to Mediterranean dietary pattern. Intervention duration was 12 months and combined three action levels (individual, group and community). MHBC, defined as a change in at least two health risk behaviours, and cardiovascular risk (expressed in % points) were the outcomes used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER). Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated and used to calculate incremental cost-utility ratios (ICUR). Missing data was imputed and bootstrapping with 1000 replications was used to handle uncertainty in the modelling results. RESULTS: The study included 3062 participants. Intervention costs were €295 higher than usual care costs. Five per-cent additional patients in the intervention group did a MHBC compared to usual care patients. Differences in QALYS or cardiovascular risk between-group were close to 0 (- 0.01 and 0.04 respectively). The ICER was €5598 per extra health behaviour change in one patient and €6926 per one-point reduction in cardiovascular risk from a societal perspective. The cost-utility analysis showed that the intervention increased costs and has no effect, in terms of QALYs, compared to usual care from a societal perspective. Cost-utility planes showed high uncertainty surrounding the ICUR. Sensitivity analysis showed results in line with the main analysis. CONCLUSION: The efficiency of EIRA intervention cannot be fully established and its recommendation should be conditioned by results on medium-long term effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03136211 . Registered 02 May 2017 - Retrospectively registered.

Multiple risk behaviour intervention to prevent depression in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Primary care is the ideal setting for promotion and prevention intervention. Multiple risk behaviour interventions present several advantages over single-risk lifestyle interventions. Multiple risk behaviour interventions could be easily implemented in primary care to prevent non-communicable disease and depression. AIM: To test the effectiveness of a multiple risk behaviour intervention to promote Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and/or smoking cessation in people attending Spanish primary health care with incidence of depression and symptoms of depression. METHOD: This was a secondary analysis of the EIRA study that aims to test the effectiveness of a multiple risk behaviour intervention to promote healthy lifestyles. Twenty-six primary care centres were randomised to receive multiple risk behaviour intervention or usual care. The multiple risk behaviour intervention included individual sessions, group sessions, communitarian activities, and SMS reception. Participants were followed for 10-14 months. The primary outcomes of this study were incidence of depression and reductions of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Three thousand and sixty-seven participants were included. Females accounted for 45.13% and 93.88% were Spanish. Age varied between 45 and 75 years old. The effectiveness of the intervention will be calculated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview ( CIDI) depression section. Linear and logistic regression will be used to create predictive models. CONCLUSION: Primary care is the most accessible service in the health system for patients. Hence primary care is the ideal setting for health education, promotion, and prevention interventions. This study will provide high-quality evidence about the effectiveness of multiple risk behaviour interventions over depression prevention.

Effectiveness of universal multiple-risk lifestyle interventions in reducing depressive symptoms: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Though many studies have explored the association between single-risk lifestyle interventions and depression, unhealthy lifestyle factors often co-occur, with adults engaging in two or more risk behaviours. To date, little is known about the effectiveness of universal multiple-risk lifestyle interventions to reduce depressive symptoms. We conducted a SR/MA to assess the effectiveness of universal multiple-risk lifestyle interventions (by promoting a healthy diet, physical activity and/or smoking cessation) to reduce depressive symptoms in adults. We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, WOS, OpenGrey, the ICTRP and other sources from inception to 16 September 2019. We selected only randomized controlled trials, with no restrictions on language or setting. Our outcome was the reduction of depressive symptoms. We calculated the standardized mean difference using random-effect models. Sensitivity, sub-group and meta-regression analyses were performed. Of the 9386 abstracts reviewed, 311 were selected for full-text review. Of these, 23 RCTs met the inclusion criteria, including 7558 patients from four continents. Twenty RCTs provided valid data for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The pooled SMD was -0.184 (95% CI, -0.311 to -0.057; p = 0.005). We found no publication bias, but heterogeneity was substantial (I2 = 72%; 95% CI: 56% to 82%). The effectiveness disappeared when only studies with a low risk of bias were included. The quality of evidence according GRADE was low. Although a small preventive effect was found, the substantial heterogeneity and RCTs with lower risk of bias suggested no effectiveness of universal multiple-risk lifestyle interventions in reducing depressive symptoms in a varied adult population. Further evidence is required.

Real-time surveillance systems: Applicability for the control of influenza in acute care.

BACKGROUND: The high morbidity and mortality caused by influenza viruses translate into a great impact on specialized health care. Apart from the annual vaccination, the relevance of other measures to prevent and control this infection is unknown. The objective of our research was to determine the importance of a real-time surveillance system to establish early extended transmission precautions. METHODS: Quasi-experimental before-and-after study comparing the influenza cases detected in hospitalized adults during the 2016/2017 season (264 patients) with those detected after the implementation of a real-time surveillance system in the 2017/2018 season (519 patients). The improvements included early microbiological diagnosis, immediate communication of results, constant updating of patient information, coordination among professionals, periodic surveillance of the adequacy of preventive measures, and greater control of roommates. The effectiveness of the intervention was determined from the nosocomial infection rate in each season. RESULTS: After the real-time surveillance system for influenza was implemented, patients with early microbiological diagnosis and immediate isolation increased significantly (13.7% vs 68.2%; P < .001). In addition, nosocomial infections decreased from 17% to 9.2% (P = .001) and overall hospital stay was significantly reduced. Assuming that the entire effect was due to the intervention, the absolute risk reduction was 7.8% and number needed to treat was 12.8. CONCLUSION: The results in our study reveal the impact of nosocomial transmission of influenza virus in a tertiary hospital and highlight the need to supplement traditional strategies with novel methodologies such as modern surveillance systems based on early diagnosis, close case monitoring, and coordination among professionals.

Long-Term Effectiveness of a Smartphone App for Improving Healthy Lifestyles in General Population in Primary Care: Randomized Controlled Trial (Evident II Study).

BACKGROUND: Information and communication technologies are currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to improving health and changing lifestyles. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of adding an app to standardized counseling in order to increase physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to analyze the effects of app adherence in lifestyle changes. METHODS: A randomized, multicenter clinical trial with a 12 month-follow up was conducted, involving 833 participants recruited by random sampling in 6 primary Spanish care centers (415 vs 418). Counseling on PA and the Mediterranean diet was given to both groups by a research nurse; however, the counseling + app group (intervention group) received additional training in the use of an app that was designed to promote the Mediterranean diet and PA over a 3-month period. Main outcomes and measures included PA by accelerometer and the 7-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) questionnaire and adherence to the Mediterranean diet by an adherence screener questionnaire. We considered adherence to the app to be high when it was used for more than 60 days. RESULTS: The mean age was 51 years (SD 12) in the intervention group and 52.3 years (SD 12.0) in the counseling-only group; females predominated in both groups (60.0%, 249/415 and 64.1%, 268/418, respectively). PA by accelerometer declined in both groups at 12 months (P value for tendency in moderate to vigorous PA, [MVPA]=.15). The intervention subgroup with high app adherence had better behavior than the low adherence subgroup (P value for tendency in MVPA=.001). PA analyzed by 7-day PAR did not show changes at 12 months in any of the groups (P value for tendency=.25). In the Mediterranean diet, an increase in adherence was observed in both groups at 12 months with no differences between them (P value for tendency=.46). In these two cases, the group with high app adherence also had better behavior, although without reaching significance for the tendency (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: The participants with strongest app adherence showed better outcomes in terms of maintenance of healthy lifestyles at 12 months than those with weaker adherence. Overall, however, we found no differences between intervention group and counseling-only group in PA increase and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in the long term.

Beyond the consultation room: Proposals to approach health promotion in primary care according to health-care users, key community informants and primary care centre workers.

BACKGROUND: Primary health care (PHC) is the ideal setting to provide integrated services centred on the person and to implement health promotion (HP) activities. OBJECTIVE: To identify proposals to approach HP in the context of primary care according to health-care users aged 45-75 years, key community informants and primary care centre (PCC) workers. METHODS: Descriptive-interpretive qualitative research with 276 participants from 14 PCC of seven Spanish regions. A theoretical sampling was used for selection. A total of 25 discussion groups, two triangular groups and 30 semi-structured interviews were carried out. A thematic interpretive contents analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Participants consider that HP is not solely a matter for the health sector and they emphasize intersectoral collaboration. They believe that it is important to strengthen community initiatives and to create a healthy social environment that encourages greater responsibility and participation of health-care users in decisions regarding their own health and better management of public services and resources. HP, care in the community and demedicalization should be priorities for PHC. Participants propose organizational changes in the PCC to improve HP. PCC workers are aware that HP falls within the scope of their responsibilities and propose to increase their training, motivation, competences and knowledge of the social environment. Informants emphasize that HP should be person-centred approach and empathic communication. HP activities should be appealing, ludic and of proven effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: According to a socio-ecological and intersectoral model, PHC services must get actively involved in HP together with community and through outreach interventions.

Short-Term Effectiveness of a Mobile Phone App for Increasing Physical Activity and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial (EVIDENT II Study).

BACKGROUND: The use of mobile phone apps for improving lifestyles has become generalized in the population, although little is still known about their effectiveness in improving health. OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the effect of adding an app to standard counseling on increased physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 3 months after implementation. METHODS: A randomized, multicenter clinical trial was carried out. A total of 833 participants were recruited in six primary care centers in Spain through random sampling: 415 in the app+counseling group and 418 in the counseling only group. Counseling on PA and the Mediterranean diet was given to both groups. The app+counseling participants additionally received training in the use of an app designed to promote PA and the Mediterranean diet over a 3-month period. PA was measured with the 7-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) questionnaire and an accelerometer; adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire. RESULTS: Participants were predominantly female in both the app+counseling (249/415, 60.0%) and counseling only (268/418, 64.1%) groups, with a mean age of 51.4 (SD 12.1) and 52.3 (SD 12.0) years, respectively. Leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by 7-day PAR increased in the app+counseling (mean 29, 95% CI 5-53 min/week; P=.02) but not in the counseling only group (mean 17.4, 95% CI -18 to 53 min/week; P=.38). No differences in increase of activity were found between the two groups. The accelerometer recorded a decrease in PA after 3 months in both groups: MVPA mean -55.3 (95% CI -75.8 to -34.9) min/week in app+counseling group and mean -30.1 (95% CI -51.8 to -8.4) min/week in counseling only group. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased in both groups (8.4% in app+counseling and 10.4% in counseling only group), with an increase in score of 0.42 and 0.53 points, respectively (P<.001), but no difference between groups (P=.86). CONCLUSIONS: Leisure-time MVPA increased more in the app+counseling than counseling only group, although no difference was found when comparing the increase between the two groups. Counseling accompanied by printed materials appears to be effective in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet, although the app does not increase adherence. CLINICALTRIAL: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02016014; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02016014 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6mnopADbf).

Evolution of target organ damage and haemodynamic parameters over 4†years in patients with increased insulin resistance: the LOD-DIABETES prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: We prospectively examined the impact of type 2 diabetes compared with metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the development of vascular disease over 4 years as determined by anatomic and functional markers of vascular disease. By comparing the vascular outcomes of the 2 disorders, we seek to determine the independent effect of elevated glucose levels on vascular disease. SETTING: 2 primary care centres in Salamanca, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: We performed a prospective observational study involving 112 patients (68 with type 2 diabetes and 44 with MetS) who were followed for 4 years. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements included blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference, Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), hs-c-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels. We also evaluated vascular, carotid intima media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle/brachial index, heart and renal target organ damage (TOD). The haemodynamic parameters were central (CAIx) and peripheral (PAIx) augmentation indices. RESULTS: In year 4, participants with type 2 diabetes had increased IMT thickness. These patients had more plaques and an IMT>0.90 mm. In participants with MetS, we only found an increase in the number of plaques. We found no changes in PWV, CAIx and PAIx. The patients with diabetes had a greater frequency of vascular TOD. There were no differences neither in renal nor cardiac percentage of TOD in the patients with MetS or diabetes mellitus type 2. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study showed that the evolution of vascular TOD is different in participants with type 2 diabetes compared with those with MetS. While IMT and PWV increased in type 2 diabetes, these were not modified in MetS. The renal and cardiac TOD evolution, as well as the PAIx and CAIx, did not change in either group. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01065155; Results.

Necesidades de información sobre salud y enfermedad de usuarios de servicios sanitarios de atención primaria de Salamanca / Information needs of the health and diseases in users of healthcare services in Primary Care at Salamanca, Spain

OBJETIVO: Conocer, interpretar y comprender las necesidades de información sobre salud y enfermedad en usuarios de servicios sanitarios de atención primaria urbana de Salamanca. DISEÑO: Investigación cualitativa. Diseño exploratorio desde la perspectiva cualitativa-estructural. Emplazamiento: Atención primaria. Área urbana de Salamanca en 2007. Participantes y/o contextos: Diez grupos de DISCUSIÓN: 2 integrados por miembros de asociaciones relacionadas con la salud y 8 por usuarios de atención primaria, participando un total de 83 personas. Las variables estructurales consideradas son: género, edad, nivel de estudios y pertenencia o no a asociaciones. MÉTODO: Generar información hasta alcanzar la saturación informativa en los grupos de DISCUSIÓN: Previo compromiso de confidencialidad y consentimiento informado, se procedió a la grabación y transcripción literal de la conversación grupal. Cuatro investigadores categorizaron los contenidos, la intencionalidad del discurso y elaboraron el mapa conceptual. Después de triangular los resultados y codificar los párrafos se analizaron con el programa Nudist6.0. RESULTADOS: Los contenidos informativos señalan 4 necesidades de información: salud y prevención, diagnóstico precoz, primeros auxilios y enfermedad. Se detectan diferentes intencionalidades (necesidad, observación, reivindicación y mejora) y perfiles según las variables estructurales analizadas. Las principales necesidades informativas se refieren al diagnóstico, pronóstico y opciones terapéuticas del motivo de consulta. Existe concordancia entre los grupos en que la información transmitida al paciente debe ser inteligible, actualizada y coordinada entre los diferentes profesionales y niveles asistenciales. CONCLUSIONES: Los participantes demandan información de carácter clínico para ejercer su derecho de autonomía traduciendo la tendencia al empoderamiento de los usuarios como parte del cambio social

OBJECTIVE: Empathy is one of the basic skills in medicine that promotes better doctor-patient relationship, best professional competition and less professional stress. We don't found studies in our area. This study aims to measure the degree of empathy in medical students in our area and associated factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. LOCATION: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lleida (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Pass in class of 1st, 3rd and second cycle of Medicine, at 191 students.173 students (90%) completed the questionnaire. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: TECA questionnaire to measure general empathy with 4 subscales (empathic understanding, perspective taking, empathic happiness and empathic stress), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. RESULTS: We found a progression in empathy during medical courses. Women have greater empathy but also increased empathic stress. Men have less general empathy, less progression of empathy and less emphatic stress. Students that show a preference to House TV movie have less empathy and those with family doctors. Voluntary students have greater empathy and those who have had a sick friend. We don't have found relationship between empathy and preferred specialty. CONCLUSIONS: There are several variables that are related to empathy in medical students: Women, advanced courses, experiences close to serious illnesses and those involved in voluntary activities

[Information needs of the health and diseases in users of healthcare services in Primary Care at Salamanca, Spain]. / Necesidades de información sobre salud y enfermedad de usuarios de servicios sanitarios de atención primaria de Salamanca.

OBJECTIVE: To learn, interpret and understand the information needs of health and disease in users of the healthcare services of the urban Primary Care of Salamanca. DESIGN: Qualitative research corresponding an exploratory qualitative/structural perspective. LOCATION: Primary Care. Urban area, Salamanca in 2007. PARTICIPANTS: Ten discussion groups, 2 composed of members of health-related associations and 8 primary care users, involved a total of 83 people. The structural variables considered are: gender, age, educational level and membership or not associations. METHOD: Generate information to achieve information saturation in the discussion groups. Upon obtaining their informed consent, all subjects in the study participated in videotaped conversations, which were transcribed verbatim. Four researchers categorized the content, intentionality of discourse and developed the concept map. After categorization, triangulation and coding, content obtained was analysed with the NudistQ6 program. RESULTS: Informative content suggest four information needs: health and prevention, early diagnosis, first aid and disease. Different intentions (information needs, watching, claim and improvement) and needs profiles are detected as structural variables. Major information needs are relate to diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic options. There is agreement between the groups that the information transmitted to the patient must be intelligible, updated and coordinated among the different professionals and care levels. CONCLUSIONS: Participants require information of a clinical nature to exercise their right to autonomy translating tendency to empower users as part of the social change.

Interventions in health organisations to reduce the impact of adverse events in second and third victims.

BACKGROUND: Adverse events (AE) are also the cause of suffering in health professionals involved. This study was designed to identify and analyse organization-level strategies adopted in both primary care and hospitals in Spain to address the impact of serious AE on second and third victims. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthcare organizations assessing: safety culture; health organization crisis management plans for serious AE; actions planned to ensure transparency in communication with patients (and relatives) who experience an AE; support for second victims; and protective measures to safeguard the institution's reputation (the third victim). RESULTS: A total of 406 managers and patient safety coordinators replied to the survey. Deficient provision of support for second victims was acknowledged by 71 and 61% of the participants from hospitals and primary care respectively; these respondents reported there was no support protocol for second victims in place in their organizations. Regarding third victim initiatives, 35% of hospital and 43% of primary care professionals indicated no crisis management plan for serious AE existed in their organization, and in the case of primary care, there was no crisis committee in 34% of cases. The degree of implementation of second and third victim support interventions was perceived to be greater in hospitals (mean 14.1, SD 3.5) than in primary care (mean 11.8, SD 3.1) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Many Spanish health organizations do not have a second and third victim support or a crisis management plan in place to respond to serious AEs.

The aftermath of adverse events in Spanish primary care and hospital health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Adverse events (AEs) cause harm in patients and disturbance for the professionals involved in the event (second victims). This study assessed the impact of AEs in primary care (PC) and hospitals in Spain on second victims. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. We carried out a survey based on a random sample of doctors and nurses from PC and hospital settings in Spain. A total of 1087 health professionals responded, 610 from PC and 477 from hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 430 health professionals (39.6%) had informed a patient of an error. Reporting to patients was carried out by those with the strongest safety culture (Odds Ratio -OR- 1.1, 95% Confidence Interval -CI- 1.0-1.2), nurses (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-2.3), those under 50 years of age (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9) and primary care staff (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.9). A total of 381 (62.5%, 95% CI 59-66%) and 346 (72.5%, IC95% 69-77%) primary care and hospital health professionals, respectively, reported having gone through the second-victim experience, either directly or through a colleague, in the previous 5 years. The emotional responses were: feelings of guilt (521, 58.8%), anxiety (426, 49.6%), re-living the event (360, 42.2%), tiredness (341, 39.4%), insomnia (317, 38.0%) and persistent feelings of insecurity (284, 32.8%). In doctors, the most common responses were: feelings of guilt (OR 0.7 IC95% 0.6-0.8), re-living the event (OR 0.7, IC95% o.6-0.8), and anxiety (OR 0.8, IC95% 0.6-0.9), while nurses showed greater solidarity in terms of supporting the second victim, in both PC (p = 0.019) and hospital (p = 0.019) settings. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse events cause guilt, anxiety, and loss of confidence in health professionals. Most are involved in such events as second victims at least once in their careers. They rarely receive any training or education on coping strategies for this phenomenon.

Cardio-ankle vascular index is associated with cardiovascular target organ damage and vascular structure and function in patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, LOD-DIABETES study: a case series report.

BACKGROUND: The cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a new index of the overall stiffness of the artery from the origin of the aorta to the ankle. This index can estimate the risk of atherosclerosis. We aimed to find the relationship between CAVI and target organ damage (TOD), vascular structure and function, and cardiovascular risk factors in Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We included 110 subjects from the LOD-Diabetes study, whose mean age was 61 ± 11 years, and 37.3% were women. Measurements of CAVI, brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), and ankle brachial index (ABI) were taken using the VaSera device. Cardiovascular risk factors, renal function by creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, and albumin creatinine index were also obtained, as well as cardiac TOD with ECG and vascular TOD and carotid intima media thickness (IMT), carotid femoral PWV (cf-PWV), and the central and peripheral augmentation index (CAIx and PAIx). The Framingham-D'Agostino scale was used to measure cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Mean CAVI was 8.7 ± 1.3. More than half (54%) of the participants showed one or more TOD (10% cardiac, 13% renal; 48% vascular), and 13% had ba-PWV ≥ 17.5 m/s. Patients with any TOD had the highest CAVI values: 1.15 (CI 95% 0.70 to 1.61, p < 0.001) and 1.14 (CI 95% 0.68 to 1.60, p < 0.001) when vascular TOD was presented, and 1.30 (CI 95% 0.51 to 2.10, p = 0.002) for the cardiac TOD. The CAVI values had a positive correlation with HbA1c and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a negative correlation with waist circumference and body mass index. The positive correlations of CAVI with IMT (ß = 0.29; p < 0.01), cf-PWV (ß = 0.83; p < 0.01), ba-PWV (ß = 2.12; p < 0.01), CAIx (ß = 3.42; p < 0.01), and PAIx (ß = 5.05; p = 0.04) remained after adjustment for cardiovascular risk, body mass index, and antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and antidiabetic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the CAVI is positively associated with IMT, cf-PWV, ba-PWV, CAIx, and PAIx, regardless of cardiovascular risk and the drug treatment used. Patients with cardiovascular TOD have higher values of CAVI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01065155.