Examining the influence of mental health and structural determinants of health on the stage of motivational readiness for health behaviour changes: A path analysis study.

This study explores the influence of mental health and structural determinants of health on motivational readiness for health behaviour change in 1462 Spanish primary healthcare users. Chi-square test and structural equation modelling were performed. Results showed that depression and anxiety were negatively associated with being in the action stages of motivational readiness for a healthy diet and physical activity. This association was statistically significant only for motivational readiness for a healthy diet and depression (ß=-0.076;p=0.046). Furthermore, women and workers were more likely to be in the action stages of motivational readiness for a healthy diet while older adults and adults with higher health-related quality of life were more likely to be in the action stages of motivational readiness for physical activity. The present study suggests that structural (being older, being a woman and being employed) and intermediary (suffering from depression and higher health-related quality of life) determinants of health influence motivational readiness for health behaviour changes.

Health Outcomes for Older Patients with Chronic Diseases During the First Pandemic Year.

Background: Worldwide, chronic diseases are prevalent among the older adults, significantly affecting their health and healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, disrupting healthcare services. Our study assesses the impact on older individuals with chronic diseases who were not infected with COVID-19, analyzing comorbidities, medication use, mortality rates, and resource utilization using real data from Aragon, Spain. Methods: A retrospective observational study, conducted in Aragon, Spain, focused on individuals aged 75 and older with at least one chronic disease, who were not infected of COVID-19. The research used actual data collected during three distinct periods: the first covered the six months prior to the pandemic, the second the six months after the lockdown, and the third the period between six and twelve months. Key variables included socio-demographics, comorbidities, clinical parameters, medication use, and health services utilization. Results: We included 128.130 older adults. Mean age was 82.88 years, with 60.3% being women. The most common chronic diseases were hypertension (73.2%), dyslipidemia (52.5%), and dorsopathies (31.5%). More than 90% had more than 2 conditions. A notable decline in new chronic disease diagnoses was observed, particularly pronounced in the six to twelve months period after lockdown. Although statistically significant differences were observed in all clinical variables analyzed, they were considered clinically irrelevant. Furthermore, a decrease in healthcare services utilization and medication prescriptions was reported. Conclusion: Our study highlights a decrease in new chronic disease diagnoses, ongoing reductions in healthcare utilization, and medication prescriptions for older adults with pre-existing chronic conditions, unaffected by COVID-19.

Loss of socioemotional and occupational roles in individuals with Long COVID according to sociodemographic and clinical factors: Secondary data from a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Long COVID syndrome can have a major impact on life organization. Its persistent symptoms may cause a potentially disabling condition that affects the quality of life of those suffering from it. The resulting loss of functional independence hinders the ability to return to normal life. Many research studies carried out on this novel syndrome have focused on describing its extensive symptomatology. Studies on later repercussions, however, such as disability or loss of significant roles, remain scarce. This study examines the loss of socioemotional and occupational roles experienced by individuals suffering from Long COVID, as a result of the disease. A secondary objective is to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with this loss of roles. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 100 patients diagnosed with Long COVID, over the age of 18, and attended by Primary Health Care in the Autonomous Community of Aragon. The main study variable was the loss of significant socioemotional and occupational roles by the participants. Sociodemographic and clinical data were also collected through a structured interview. Subsequently, a descriptive, correlational, and regression-based statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics program. RESULTS: Based on the 100 study participants, the median number of roles lost was 3 (IQR 2) and the median number of valuable roles lost was 2 (IQR 2). More cognitive impairment and not having an active work role were predictors of a greater loss of valuables roles. CONCLUSION: Long COVID symptoms hinder the development of socioemotional and occupational roles. Healthcare professionals should consider this when intervening to ensure that their patients may recover their life as it was before the disease.

Antimicrobial Agent Use for Urinary Tract Infection in Long-Term Care Facilities in Spain: Results from a Retrospective Analytical Cohort Analysis.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are highly prevalent in long-term care facilities, constituting the most common infection in this setting. Our research focuses on analyzing clinical characteristics and antimicrobial prescriptions for UTIs in residents across nursing homes (NH) in Spain. This is a retrospective analytical cohort analysis using a multifaceted approach based on the normalization process theory to improve healthcare quality provided by nursing staff in 34 NHs in Spain. In this study, we present the results of the first audit including 719 UTI cases collected between February and April 2023, with an average age of 85.5 years and 74.5% being women. Cystitis and pyelonephritis presented distinct symptom patterns. Notably, 6% of asymptomatic bacteriuria cases were treated. The prevalence of dipstick usage was 83%, and that of urine culture was only 16%, raising concerns about overreliance, including in the 46 asymptomatic cases, leading to potential overdiagnosis and antibiotic overtreatment. Improved diagnostic criteria and personalized strategies are crucial for UTI management in NHs, emphasizing the need for personalized guidelines on the management of UTIs to mitigate indiscriminate antibiotic use in asymptomatic cases.

Use of health services and medication use, new comorbidities, and mortality in patients with chronic diseases who did not contract COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic: a retrospective study and comparison by sex.

BACKGROUND: The restrictions introduced to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus have also had a direct impact on people with chronic diseases and especially on diseases to which lifestyles are relevant in their control and management, such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a longitudinal analysis of new comorbidities, mortality, medication use, and the use of health resources in patients with chronic diseases who did not contract COVID-19, comparing the six months before the strict lockdown to the 12 months following the end of the strict lockdown. METHOD: An observational real world data pre-post study of 668,974 people was undertaken. The patients studied were over 16 years of age, had been receiving care from the Aragon Health Service (Northeastern Spain), were diagnosed with one or more chronic diseases, and had not contracted COVID-19. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, pharmacological and health resource use variables were collected during the six months before the onset of the lockdown and during the six and 12 months following the end of the lockdown. The comparisons by sex were carried out using a Student T-test or chi-squared test to analyse differences. RESULTS: Dyslipidaemia (42.1%) followed by hypertension (35.1%) and anxiety and depression (34.6%) were the most prevalent chronic diseases among the study population. 78.% of patients had between one and four chronic illnesses. There was a decrease in new diagnoses of other chronic comorbidities in this population and a decrease in medications prescribed and the use of health services.  Although women received more diagnoses of chronic diseases, the number of medications dispensed was lower, but the use of health services was higher. These figures were maintained throughout the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest an underdiagnosis of new chronic comorbidities and a decrease in mortality rates from causes unrelated to COVID-19 due to the closure of health centres in Aragón (Spain) during the lockdown. This trend was exacerbated in women. The underdiagnosis of new chronic comorbidities during confinement can cause the disease to worsen, with the consequent increase in symptoms and the worsening of chronic pathologies in patients with a severe evolution.

Functionality, physical activity, fatigue and quality of life in patients with acute COVID-19 and Long COVID infection.

A prominent feature of COVID-19, both in the short and long term, is the reduction in quality of life (QoL) due to low functionality scores and the presence of fatigue, which can hinder daily activities. The main objective of this study is to compare the functional status, level of physical activity, fatigue, and QoL of patients with Long COVID to other COVID-19 patients who did not develop persistent illness, and to determine whether there is a relationship between these variables and QoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 170 participants who had been infected with COVID-19 or had developed Long COVID. The main variables studied were functionality, physical activity, QoL and fatigue, measured using the PostCOVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Short Form 12 (SF-12), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). The main findings show a significant relationship (p < 0.001) between reduced functionality, lower physical activity levels, increased fatigue severity, and poorer QoL in Long COVID patients. Furthermore, these variables are also related to worse QoL, but only functional status predicts it. In conclusion, our results have shown highly significant correlations between the group with COVID-19 and Long COVID regarding functional status, level of physical activity, QoL, and fatigue.

Polypharmacy in Elderly Patients: A Three-year Longitudinal Analysis in Primary Care Settings of Aragón, Spain.

Background: Challenges of polypharmacy and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in older patients require further investigation. This retrospective study analyzed the progression of polypharmacy and anticholinergic burden in older patients in a primary care setting before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This 3-year cross-sectional study (2019, 2020, and 2021) comprised a dynamic cohort of individuals aged ≥75 years, who attended the Arrabal Primary Care Center in Zaragoza, Spain. Older patients with polypharmacy (≥5 medications) were identified according to their electronic health records. We collected demographic and clinical data, including medication prescriptions, diagnoses, and anticholinergic risks, and performed descriptive and statistical analyses. Results: This study included a total of 1,928 patients with a mean age of 83.52 (SD: 0.30) years. Over the 3-year study period, the mean number of medications prescribed increased, from 9.4 in 2019 to 10.4 in 2021. The prevalence of excessive polypharmacy (≥10 medications) increased from 39% in 2019 to 45% in 2021. The most commonly prescribed drugs were anilides, proton pump inhibitors, benzodiazepine derivatives, and platelet aggregation inhibitors. Women had a higher prevalence of illnesses and anticholinergic drug prescriptions than men. Conclusion: The results of this study highlighted an upward trend in polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy among older patients in primary care settings. Future research should focus on optimizing medication management and deprescribing strategies and minimizing the adverse effects of polypharmacy in this population.

Self-rated health impact of COVID 19 confinement on inmates in Southeastern of Europe: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the implementation of various measures within closed institutions like prisons to control the spread of the virus. Analyzing the impact of these measures on the health of inmates is crucial from a public health perspective. This study aimed to explore inmates' subjective perception of the COVID-19 lockdown, the implemented measures, their physical self-perception, and their views on the vaccination process. METHOD: Between April 2021 and January 2022, 27 semi-structured individual interviews and 1 focus group were conducted with inmates in a prison located in northwest Spain. The interviews were conducted in person and audio-recorded. Thematic content analysis was employed, utilizing methodological triangulation to enhance the coherence and rigor of the results. RESULTS: The analysis revealed two main themes and nine subthemes. The first theme focused on inmates' perception of the implementation of protective measures against COVID-19 within the prison and its impact on their well-being. The second theme explored the pandemic's emotional impact on inmates. All participants reported negative consequences on their health resulting from the measures implemented by the institution to contain the pandemic. However, they acknowledged that measures like lockdowns and mass vaccination helped mitigate the spread of the virus within the prison, contrary to initial expectations. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 and related measures have directly affected the health of inmates. To improve their health and minimize the impact of pandemic-induced changes, community participation and empowerment of individuals are essential tools, particularly within closed institutions such as prisons.

Primer informe del Observatorio de la Academia de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de España (AMFE) en la universidad española, 2023 / Initial descriptive evaluation of Family and Community Medicine as a field within undergraduate medicine degrees in Spanish universities, 2023

Objetivos: conocer el grado de implementación de la Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria (MFyC) en el grado de Medicina de todas las universidades españolas.Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal, llevado a cabo entre enero y marzo de 2023. Cuestionario ad hoc, cumplimentado por docentes de las 44 facultades de Medicina (año académico 2022-2023), sobre seis temáticas centradas en la asignatura de MFyC, las prácticas tuteladas, las rotaciones, metodologías docentes y evaluativas, y el profesorado. Resultados: participan 41 facultades (93,2%), 83% públicas y 17% privadas. La asignatura de MFyC está implantada en 34 facultades (82,9%), siendo obligatoria en 32 (94,1%), un 78% del total.La asignatura se denomina Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria solo en 14 facultades (34%) y cuenta con gran variabilidad en créditos ECTS: 3 créditos en 13 facultades (36%) y 6 créditos en 11 facultades (30%). Se imparte en quinto curso en 21 facultades (51%) y en sexto curso en 13 (32%). Hay prácticas tuteladas de MFyC en 28 facultades (68%) y créditos propios en 19 (46%). Mediana duración de 5 semanas. Gran variabilidad en las denominaciones. Coordinación por MFyC en 14 facultades (50%). Hay rotaciones en el centro de salud en 34 facultades (83%), siendo obligatorias en 29 (85%). No hay departamentos de Medicina Familiar, y solo hay unidades docentes universitarias en 4 facultades. Actualmente, hay 3 catedráticos y 13 profesores titulares. Conclusiones: se observa una progresión de la MFyC en la universidad en asignaturas, contenidos y profesorado, pero aún estamos lejos del nivel en el que se encuentran las universidades de otros países. Debilidades: gran heterogeneidad en denominación, contenidos, metodologías, carga docente y estructura. Fortalezas: implementación de metodologías docentes y evaluativas innovadoras.(AU)

Aims: to ascertain the degree of implementation of Family and Community Medicine (MFyC) on the undergraduate medicine degree course of Spanish universities.Methods: cross-sectional descriptive study, January-March 2023. Ad-hoc questionnaire, completed by lecturers of 44 medical schools (academic year 2022-2023). The questionnaire included six MFyC topics; that is, supervised family practice internships, shifts, teaching and evaluation methodologies and lecturers in medical schools.Results: a total of 41 faculties (93.2%) took part; 83% public and 17% private. MFyC course was implemented in 34 faculties (82.9%). The course was mandatory in 32 faculties (94.1%), 78% of the total.The course was named family and community medicine only in 14 medical schools (34%) with a major variability in ECTS credits (3 credits in 13 schools [36%] and 6 credits in 11 schools [30%]). It was taught in the 5th and 6th years in 21 (51%) and 13 (32%) faculties, respectively. There was supervised work experience in 28 faculties (68%), own credits in 19 (46%). Median duration was five weeks. There was a major variability in denomination. There was coordination by family practitioners in 14 faculties (50%).There were health centre internships in 34 faculties (83%), mandatory in 29 (85%).There are no family medicine departments and only university teaching units in four faculties. Currently, there are only three professors and 13 tenured lecturers.Conclusions: development of F&CM as a field was observed in terms of courses, content and teaching staff. However, this still falls well below international standards. Weaknesses are a major heterogeneity in denomination, content, methodologies, teaching load and structure and implementation of innovative teaching and evaluation methodologies was perceived as a strength.(AU)

Aplicación de las nuevas tecnologías en Atención Primaria en el control del paciente con sobrepeso u obesidad y factores de riesgo cardiovascular / Application of new technologies in Primary Care to monitor overweight or obese patients with cardiovascular risk factor

El objetivo es evaluar un seguimiento telemático (web o aplicación [app]) para pacientes con sobrepeso/obesidad y otros dos factores de riesgo cardiovascular: hipertensión arterial (HTA), dislipemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), sedentarismo, consumo tabáquico. Diseño: es un estudio de intervención con asignación aleatoria al grupo intervención (web o app) y al grupo control. Emplazamiento: centros de salud rurales y urbanos, docentes y no docentes, del Sector Zaragoza I. Participantes: 261 personas con índice de masa corporal (IMC) > 25 kg/m2 y otros dos factores de riesgo. Intervenciones: seguimiento de 18 meses con puntos de corte al inicio, 1, 6, 12 y 18 meses. Las mediciones principales son peso, tensión arterial, consumo tabáquico, eventos cardiovasculares, calidad de vida y bioquímica. Resultados: el grupo control finalizó el estudio en mayor proporción (79% versus 14%). El grupo control consiguió una pérdida del 8% de la mediana de peso al año y el grupo intervención un 5%. A los 6 meses, el grupo control logró disminuir el 7% la tensión arterial sistólica y el 5% la diastólica. La hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c) descendió un 1% en el grupo control y un 0,5% en el grupo intervención (test de Wilcoxon: 10; p = 0,089). El colesterol de lipoproteínas de baja densidad (cLDL) del grupo control descendió 9 mg/dL, y el del grupo intervención, 7 mg/dl (test de Wilcoxon: 1.089; p = 0,018). El hábito tabáquico disminuyó en todos los grupos (test de Wilcoxon: 21; p = 0,036). El grupo control presentó mayor prevalencia de eventos cardiovasculares. La calidad de vida mejoró en todos los grupos (test Wilcoxon: 979; p = 0,041). Conclusiones: las/los pacientes que acuden al centro de salud para un seguimiento de peso consiguen mejores resultados que si el seguimiento se hace de forma telemática.(AU)

The aim was to evaluate remote assistance (Web or App) for overweight/obese patients with two extra cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, sedentary lifestyle. Design: intervention study using random assignment for Web Group and App Group. The App Group was subsequently selected. Location: urban and rural health centres, teaching and non-teaching centres, in the Zaragoza I health area. Subjects: 261 people with BMI> 25 Kg/m2 and two extra cardiovascular risk factors. Interventions: 18 months follow up, initial checkups and after 1, 6, 12 and 18 months. The primary endpoints were: weight, blood pressure, tobacco consumption, cardiovascular events, quality of life and blood tests. Results: The control group completed the study in a higher proportion (79% vs 14%). The control and intervention groups attained a loss of 8% in and 5% median weight per year, respectively. After 6 months, the control group managed to reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 7% and 5%, respectively. Glycosidic haemoglobin was 1% and 0.5% lower in the control and intervention groups, respectively (Wilcoxon Test=10; P= 0.089). Both groups reduced tobacco consumption (Wilcoxon=21; P=0.03). The control group had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular events. Quality of life improved (Wilcoxon Test=979; P=0.041). Conclusion: Patients visiting health centres to monitor weight obtain better results than those remotely assisted.(AU)

Online multimodal rehabilitation programme to improve symptoms and quality of life for adults diagnosed with long COVID-19: a Randomised Clinical Trial protocol.

Background: Long COVID is a multisystemic condition which affects quality of life and implies a multidisciplinary treatment approach. There is still limited evidence on management techniques for this syndrome. "Telerehabilitation" could be an important tool when addressing the symptoms of this patients with the aim of increasing their quality of life. The purpose of this trial is to analyse the effectiveness of an online multimodal rehabilitation programme to improve the symptomatology of people with long COVID and their quality of life. Methods: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial will be performed with two parallel groups: (1) usual treatment by the primary care practitioner (Treatment as usual, TAU; control group) and (2) TAU plus the use of an online multimodal rehabilitation programme, including videoconferences and content published on a Moodle platform (intervention group). The data will be collected before and after the intervention. A follow-up will take place 3 months later. Discussion: There is still a lack of knowledge regarding the management of the symptoms of long COVID. This creates the need to add scientific evidence about the care of this disease, considering that multidisciplinary social and health teams can offer the necessary care so that these patients can recover their previous quality of life.Clinical trial registration: The protocol for this study was registered with the ISRCTN Registry [registration number: ISRCTN15414370] on 28 December 2022.

Depressive and Anxious Symptoms Increase with Problematic Technologies Use Among Adults: The Effects of Personal Factors Related to Health Behavior.

Background: Depression and anxiety disorders are a significant and growing health problem that has a significant impact on psychosocial functioning and quality of life. The onset and severity of mental health problems have been related to various biological, psychosocial, and behavioral variables. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the association among the severity of depression and anxiety, problematic information and communications technology (ICT) use, and some related personal factors with health behavior among adults. It also analyzes the moderating role of personal factors in the relationship between the problematic use of ICT and anxiety and depression. Patients and Methods: Descriptive, bivariate, multivariate and moderation analyzes of data from 391 participants of 35-74 years old in primary health care centers located in Aragón (Spain) were performed between July 2021 and July 2022. The primary outcome was the severity of depressive and anxious symptoms as continuous variable. Results: Low sense of coherence (ß = -0.058; p = 0.043), low self-esteem (ß = -0.171; p=0.002), and low self-efficacy (ß = -0.122; p= 0.001), are predictors of having more severe depressive symptoms. Furthermore, low self-esteem (ß = -0.120; p= 0.012), low self-efficacy (ß = -0.092; p=0.004), and high problematic use of ICT (ß = 0.169; p = 0.001), are predictors of having more severe anxiety symptoms. Moderation analyzes were significant in the effect of self-efficacy (b = -0.040, p=0.001) and resilience (b = -0.024, p=0.033) on the relationship between problematic ICT use and anxiety. Conclusion: The problematic use of ICT and personal factors are related to depressive and anxiety symptoms. The interrelationship between problematic ICT use, personal factors, and depression needs to be further explored.

Lifestyles, arterial aging, and its relationship with the intestinal and oral microbiota (MIVAS III study): a research protocol for a cross-sectional multicenter study.

Background: The microbiota is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in the pathophysiology of many diseases, including cardiometabolic diseases, with lifestyles probably exerting the greatest influence on the composition of the human microbiome. The main objectives of the study are to analyze the association of lifestyles (diet, physical activity, tobacco, and alcohol) with the gut and oral microbiota, arterial aging, and cognitive function in subjects without cardiovascular disease in the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, the study will examine the mediating role of the microbiome in mediating the association between lifestyles and arterial aging as well as cognitive function. Methods and analysis: MIVAS III is a multicenter cross-sectional study that will take place in the Iberian Peninsula. One thousand subjects aged between 45 and 74 years without cardiovascular disease will be selected. The main variables are demographic information, anthropometric measurements, and habits (tobacco and alcohol). Dietary patterns will be assessed using a frequency consumption questionnaire (FFQ) and the Mediterranean diet adherence questionnaire. Physical activity levels will be evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Marshall Questionnaire, and an Accelerometer (Actigraph). Body composition will be measured using the Inbody 230 impedance meter. Arterial aging will be assessed through various means, including measuring medium intimate carotid thickness using the Sonosite Micromax, conducting analysis with pulse wave velocity (PWA), and measuring pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) using the Sphygmocor System. Additional cardiovascular indicators such as Cardio Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI), ba-PWV, and ankle-brachial index (Vasera VS-2000®) will also be examined. The study will analyze the intestinal microbiota using the OMNIgene GUT kit (OMR-200) and profile the microbiome through massive sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), effect size (LEfSe), and compositional analysis, such as ANCOM-BC, will be used to identify differentially abundant taxa between groups. After rarefying the samples, further analyses will be conducted using MicrobiomeAnalyst and R v.4.2.1 software. These analyses will include various aspects, such as assessing α and ß diversity, conducting abundance profiling, and performing clustering analysis. Discussion: Lifestyle acts as a modifier of microbiota composition. However, there are no conclusive results demonstrating the mediating effect of the microbiota in the relationship between lifestyles and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding this relationship may facilitate the implementation of strategies for improving population health by modifying the gut and oral microbiota. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04924907, ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04924907. Registered on 21 April 2021.

Worsening of alcohol abuse disorder in a Spanish population during the first twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors: retrospective, ecological and community study.

PURPOSE: To analyse: (1) Changes in clinical parameters and in the use of social healthcare resources by patients with alcohol abuse disorder between the six months prior to the start of the pandemic and the first year of the pandemic. (2) The factors related to a worsening of clinical parameters among patients with alcohol abuse disorder. METHODS: A retrospective and observational study of a population who have been diagnosed with alcohol abuse disorders according to their primary health care (PHC) electronic medical records was performed. The total sample was made up of 11,384 patients. The variables (sociodemographic variables, chronic comorbidities, analytical parameters related to alcohol abuse disorder, COVID-19 infection, and use of healthcare resources) were collected in three different time periods: (i) six months before the onset of the strict lockdown, (ii) six months following the end of lockdown and (iii) from six to twelve months after the end of lockdown. Paired Student's T-test and a multivariate logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Along the first year after the onset of the pandemic, between 44% and 54% of the patients suffered a decline in every clinical parameter. The number of PHC nursing, GP visits and social worker visits reduced significantly. As regards the associated factors related to deterioration of alcohol abuse disorder, being younger than 40 years old, having an income of over 18,000 euros/year and not having visited the social worker were associated with a worsening of the disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the impact of COVID-19 on this group has been high, and the social care offered to these patients plays a significant role in minimising the repercussions of the pandemic.

Role of personal aptitudes as determinants of incident morbidity, lifestyles, quality of life, use of health services, and mortality (DESVELA cohort): quantitative study protocol for a prospective cohort study in a hybrid analysis.

Introduction: The healthcare and well-being of the population depend on multiple factors and should adapt to societal changes. The opposite is also occurring; society has evolved concerning the individuals' approach to their care, which includes participation in decision-making processes. In this scenario, health promotion and prevention become crucial to provide an integrated perspective in the organization and management of the health systems.Health status and well-being depend on many aspects, determinants of health, which in turn may be modulated by individual behavior. Certain models and frameworks try to study the determinants of health and individual human behaviors, separately. However, the interrelation between these two aspects has not been examined in our population.Our main objective is to analyze whether personal aptitudes related to behaviors are independently associated with the incidence of morbidity. A secondary objective will enquire whether these personal aptitudes are independently associated with lower all-cause mortality, enhanced adoption of healthy lifestyles, higher quality of life, and lower utilization of health services during follow-up. Methods: This protocol addresses the quantitative branch of a multicenter project (10 teams) for the creation of a cohort of at least 3,083 persons aged 35 to 74 years from 9 Autonomous Communities (AACC). The personal variables to evaluate are self-efficacy, activation, health literacy, resilience, locus of control, and personality traits. Socio-demographic covariates and social capital will be recorded. A physical examination, blood analysis, and cognitive evaluation will be carried out.Several sets of six Cox models (one for each independent variable) will analyze the incidence of morbidity (objective 1); all-cause mortality and the rest of the dependent variables (objective 2). The models will be adjusted for the indicated covariates, and random effects will estimate Potential heterogeneity between AACC. Discussion: The analysis of the association of certain behavioral patterns and determinants of health is essential and will contribute to improving health promotion and prevention strategies. The description of the individual elements and interrelated aspects that modulate the onset and persistence of diseases will allow the evaluation of their role as prognostic factors and contribute to the development of patient-tailored preventive measures and healthcare.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04386135. Registered on April 30, 2020.

Protocol for an observational cohort study on psychological, addictive, lifestyle behavior and highly prevalent affective disorders in primary health care adults.

Background: Depression and anxious symptoms are prevalent in the general population, and their onset and persistence may be linked to biological and psychosocial factors, many of which are lifestyle-related. The way we manage our care, physical and emotional health and/or discomfort is highly influenced by our own abilities, skills and attitudes despite life's circumstances. The main aim of this protocol to analyze the relationship between psychological constructs (self-efficacy, activation, health literacy, resilience, personality traits, sense of coherence, self-esteem), and the presence of affective-emotional problems (anxiety, depression) and addictions in primary health care. Methods: This is a protocol of a prospective longitudinal cohort study including people of 35-74 years old of Aragon primary health care centers (Spain). Three evaluations will be conducted: baseline evaluation, and follow-up assessments five and ten years after recruitment. The primary outcomes will be severity of depression, severity of anxiety, and addictive behaviors. A detailed set of secondary outcomes will be assessed across all three assessments. This will include psychosocial or personal factors on health behavior, social support, lifestyle patterns, quality of life, the use of health and social resources, and chronic comorbid pathology. Discussion: The analysis of the impact of psychological constructs and lifestyles on the mental health of people and communities will provide evidence that will make it possible to better address and prevent these prevalent problems and address their improvement from a more global and holistic perspective. The evaluation of psychological constructs should be incorporated into health services to improve people's ability their self-care, the level of knowledge of managing their disease and their physical, mental and social health. Clinical trial registration: https://www.isrctn.com/, identifier ISRCTN12820058.

Effectiveness of four deconstructive meditative practices on well-being and self-deconstruction: study protocol for an exploratory randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of interventions based on mindfulness and compassion has been demonstrated in both clinical and general population, and in different social contexts. These interventions include so-called attentional and constructive meditation practices, respectively. However, there is a third group, known as deconstructive meditation practices, which has not been scientifically studied. Deconstructive practices aim to undo maladaptive cognitive patterns and generate knowledge about internal models of oneself, others and the world. Although there are theoretical and philosophical studies on the origin of addiction to the self or on the mechanisms of action associated with the deconstruction of the self, there are no randomized controlled trials evaluating these techniques in either a healthy population or clinical samples. This study aims to evaluate the effect of three deconstructive techniques by comparing them to mindfulness in the general population. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted with about 240 participants allocated to four groups: (a) mindful breathing, (b) prostrations, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition; (c) the Koan Mu, according to Zen Buddhist tradition; and (d) the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition. The primary outcome will be the qualities of the non-dual experience and spiritual awakening, measured by the Nondual Embodiment Thematic Inventory, assessed at pre- and post-treatment and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Other outcomes will be mindfulness, happiness, compassion, affectivity and altered state of consciousness. Quantitative data will be compared using mixed-effects linear regression models, and qualitative data will be analysed through thematic analysis and using the constant comparative method from grounded theory. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Aragon, Spain. The results will be submitted to peer-reviewed specialized journals, and brief reports will be sent to participants on request. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05317754. Registered on August 2,2022.

Effectiveness of health literacy interventions on anxious and depressive symptomatology in primary health care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Affective disorders are a debilitating and very prevalent problem throughout the world. Often these are associated with the onset of comorbidities or a consequence of chronic diseases. Anxiety and depression are associated with poor social and personal relationships, compromised health. We aimed to synthesize evidence from studies measuring the impact of a health literacy (HL) intervention on the improvement of affective disorders. Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Ibecs, Cuiden, Scielo, Science Direct and Dialnet for exclusively randomized controlled trial studies (RCTs) published between 1 Jan 2011, and 31 May 2022. The search terms employed were "health literacy," "health knowledge," "anxiety," "anxiety disorder," "depression," "depressive disorder," and "adult." The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration Revised Risk of Bias tool (RoB2). We conducted random-effects meta-analyses and explored heterogeneity using meta-regression and a stratified survey. Results: Of 2,863 citations found through the initial screening, 350 records were screened by the title and abstract for their themes and relevance. Finally, nine studies complied with the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. 66.66% of studies (n = 6) were rated as having a low risk of bias and 33.33% (n = 3) were judged to raise some concerns. The health literacy interventions were associated with -1.378 reduction in depression and anxiety questionnaires scores [95% CI (-1.850, -0.906)]. Low mood disorder scores are associated with better mental health and wellbeing. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that an HL intervention in relation to the symptoms associated with affective disorders improves the emotional state of patients in PHC, with a moderately positive effect in reducing depression and anxiety.

Association between sense of coherence and depression in patients with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a common complaint having distressing consequences for those that suffer from it. Pain and depression concur within the context of comorbidity, and both share underlying stress conditions. Sense of coherence (SOC) is a factor that determines how well an individual manages stress and stays healthy. Its relationship with depression has been frequently reported in the literature. Our objective was to assess the amount of evidence available regarding the association between SOC and depression in patients suffering from chronic pain. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. Searches were conducted between November 01 and December 31, 2020 in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, Psicodoc, ScienceDirect and Dialnet. There were no restrictions regarding the date of publication of the study. Evidence related to the relationship between SOC and depression in patients with chronic pain was summarized and compared. RESULTS: A total of 163 articles were identified. We included 9 papers in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The pooled correlation coefficient was -0.55 (95%: -0.70; -0.41) and was not modified after removing any study. The heterogeneity across the studies was considerable (I2 = 94.8%; p < 0.001). The random-effects meta-regression models for the association between SOC and depression showed that age (p = 0.148) and percentage of women (p = 0.307) were not related to heterogeneity across studies. No publication bias was detected (p = 0.720). CONCLUSIONS: At first glance, the included studies give the impression that SOC is an important factor in depression levels of patients with chronic pain. Most of the included studies revealed a moderate association between SOC and depressive symptoms.