Parental satisfaction with health care during child hospitalization at a social security facility in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The Service Quality in Hospital (SERVQHOS) assesses quality and satisfaction with hospital care received. This study aimed to determine the quality and satisfaction of parents in a tertiary-level pediatric public facility in Mexico. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which 425 anonymous surveys were distributed during the discharge of children. The questionnaire evaluates the individual (subjective) and organizational (objective) quality of service: reliability, tangibles, assurance, responsiveness, and empathy, as well as satisfaction on a 5-point scale from 1 (much worse) to 5 (much better). RESULTS: A total of 401 questionnaires were returned (94%). The mean quality score was 3.6 ± 0.7. The best-rated aspects were the medical equipment technology (3.6 + 0.8), the confidence that the staff transmits to patients (3.6 ± 0.8), and the friendliness of the staff when attending patients (3.6 ± 0.8). The worst-rated aspects were the condition of the rooms (3.4 ± 0.8), the waiting time to be attended by a physician (3.3 ± 0.8), and the timeliness of internal consultations (3.3 ± 0.8). The overall population rated as satisfied in 97% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: A high rate of satisfaction was observed concerning both objective and subjective factors. However, the negative aspects of objective quality, such as reliability, should be addressed organizationally without implying economic investment in their resolution.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La prueba de Calidad en el Servicio de Hospital (SERVQHOS) evalúa la calidad y la satisfacción con la atención hospitalaria recibida. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la calidad y la satisfacción de los padres de familia en un hospital público pediátrico de tercer nivel en México. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal en el que se distribuyeron 425 encuestas anónimas durante el alta de los pacientes. El cuestionario evalúa la calidad individual (subjetiva) y de la organización (objetiva) del servicio: fiabilidad, tangibles, garantía, capacidad de respuesta y empatía, y satisfacción en una escala tipo Likert de 5 puntos, de 1 (mucho peor) a 5 (mucho mejor). RESULTADOS: Se recibieron 401 encuestas respondidas (tasa de respuesta del 94%). El 97% de los padres calificaron la satisfacción global como satisfechos o muy satisfechos. Los aspectos mejor calificados fueron la tecnología de los equipos médicos (3.6 ± 0.8), la confianza que el personal transmite al paciente (3.6 ± 0.8) y la amabilidad del personal en su trato al paciente (3.6 ± 0.8). Los aspectos peor valorados fueron el estado de las habitaciones (3.4 ± 0.8), el tiempo de espera para ser atendido por un médico (3.3 ± 0.8) y la puntualidad de las interconsultas (3.3 ± 0.8). CONCLUSIONES: Se observó un alto índice de satisfacción relacionado tanto con los factores objetivos como con los subjetivos. Sin embargo, los aspectos negativos de calidad objetiva, tales como la fiabilidad, deben ser atendidos por la organización sin que ello implique una inversión económica para su resolución.

TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI IN FREE-RANGING MAMMALIAN POPULATIONS IN SOUTH TEXAS, USA.

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It is a significant health concern in South and Central America, where millions of people are infected or at risk of infection, and is an emerging health concern in the US. The occurrence of Chagas disease in natural environments is supported by mammal host species, but those primary species may vary based on geographic location. In South Texas, the primary host species for the disease is poorly understood, and required a field study to determine the spatial distribution of T. cruzi prevalence in free-ranging mammals. Our study objectives were to determine the spatial distribution and prevalence of T. cruzi parasites in free-ranging mammals. We compared T. cruzi prevalence among species, among vegetative communities, and among different topographies (i.e., floodplain versus upland). From December 2011 through December 2013, 450 blood and tissue samples from geolocated free-ranging wildlife mammal species were analyzed with the use of polymerase chain reaction to detect protozoan T. cruzi DNA. We also calculated mammal abundance with the use of mark-recapture methodology and recorded capture-site characteristics such as vegetation structure. We found that animals in grasslands had a significantly lower infection rate when summed across all species compared with animals in dense hardwoods and semi-improved woodlands (P=0.001). A higher percentage of infections were found in the lower-elevation floodplain-65% (28/43) of animals sampled, compared to upland areas-25% (9/36) of animals sampled. Our study suggested that common free-ranging meso-mammals supported T. cruzi in natural environments and are of public health concern in South Texas. Mitigation strategies should consider a range of management activities to include vegetation management, selective application of insecticides, and changes in human behavior in high-risk areas.

[Venous thromboembolism in patients with neurosurgical process or stroke. A prospective analysis from the RIETE registry]. / Enfermedad tromboembólica venosa en los enfermos neuroquirúrgicos y con ictus. Hallazgos del RIETE.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We studied the characteristics of thromboembolic disease in patients who have suffered a deep venous thrombosis or a pulmonary thromboembolism with the occurrence, two months before, of a neurosurgical process or a stroke. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the variables of 57 patients who underwent a neurosurgical operation and those of 86 patients who suffered a stroke. These variables were included in the Computerised Records of Thromboembolic Disease. RESULTS: The average age was of 62.3 (1.9) for neurosurgical and 71.7 (1.5) for stroke patients (p < 0.001). Prophylaxis was previously applied to 31.6% of neurosurgical patients and to 37.2% of patients in the stroke group. Most patients were treated with low molecular weight heparin during the acute phase of the illness. In both groups, 50% of deaths was associated with thromboembolic disease. The proportion of deceases was related to the associated disease and it was significantly higher in the stroke group (18% versus 4.2% in the neurosurgical group, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, thromboembolic disease was responsible of 50% of deaths. Stroke patients make up a group with a bad prognosis due to their older age and higher frequency of associated pathology; they have a higher risk of death.