Description of the National Mortality Register of Panama.

Introduction: The National Mortality Register (NMR) of Panama is a key element in demographic analysis and in acquiring an updated picture of population health in Panama. The main objectives of this study are to characterize the NMR and to enumerate its strengths and weaknesses. Methods: We describe the history, processes, and structure of the Vital Statistics Section of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (the curator of the NMR database). In addition, we discuss publication punctuality, underregistration of the data, the proportion of registered deaths certified by medical doctors, and the top 5 causes of death according to the 80 groups of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. We also examine works derived from the register's data, from the first publication on its website (2002) until 2019. Results: The NMR procedures were described. The web reports of the NMR were performed with a delay of between 1 to 2 years. The underregistration of deaths in 2002-2019 was 14.7%, and the national yearly proportion of deaths certified by medical doctors was always above 90%. Hard-to-reach areas had higher underregistration proportions and fewer deaths certified by medical doctors. Information extracted from the NMR supports several national and international reports, geographic information systems, and studies. The most common causes of death between 2002 and 2019 were noncommunicable diseases. Conclusions: The NMR is a robust official information system. However, hard-to-reach areas require improvement in terms of the NMR. The NMR is used for publishing official reports, writing studies, and updating reports on the current health status of Panama in a timely fashion following international guidelines.

Dosis Diaria Definida de antibióticos en pacientes atendidos en hospitales públicos de Panamá

Objetivo: Determinar la Dosis Diaria Definida (DDD) de antibióticos utilizados en los Servicios de Medicina Interna de cuatro hospitales públicos en Panamá. Métodos: Se escogió una muestra a conveniencia de 4 hospitales públicos de segundo nivel de atención de la seguridad social y Ministerio de Salud, atendiendo características en cuanto a ubicación en provincias, población atendida, servicios médicos ofrecidos y con Dosis Unitaria en funcionamiento. Se obtuvieron datos de los pacientes hospitalizados entre los meses de enero a marzo del 2017 y la información era registrada en una base de datos anotándose generales del paciente, diagnósticos, antibióticos, dosis, frecuencia, tiempo de tratamiento. Igualmente se anotaron los consumos y costos unitarios de todos los antibióticos usados en los hospitales durante el año 2016, para calcular la DDD y Dosis Diaria Prescrita. Resultados: La oxacilina fue el antibiótico con mayor DDD días cama con 60.5, luego le siguen ceftriaxona (45.2), cefalotina (35.5), clindamicina (35.5). Por grupo farmacológico, las cefalosporinas tienen consumos más altos con 87.6 DDD días cama, la penicilina MRSA 60.5, la lincosamidas con 35.5 DDD días cama, seguido de las quinolonas con 29.3. Conclusiones: Los resultados pueden ser utilizados para implementar programas para mejorar el uso racional y gasto de antibióticos a nivel hospitalario y que la DDD se use para medir el consumo y a la vez propiciar el control de antibióticos a través de comunicaciones escritas con los médicos tratantes. Se deben realizar estudios de DDD días cama relacionando con los aspectos microbiológicos para relacionar mejor el uso de los antibióticos. (provisto por Infomedic International)

Objective. Determine the Defined Daily Dose of antibiotics used in the Internal Medicine Services of 4 public hospitals in Panama. Methods. A convenience sample of 4 public hospitals of the second level of social security care and the Ministry of Health was chosen, considering characteristics in terms of location in the provinces, population served, medical services offered and with Unit Dose in operation. Data were obtained from hospitalized patients between the months of January to March 2017 and the information was recorded in a database, noting general patient reports, diagnoses, antibiotics, dose, frequency, treatment time. Likewise, the consumptions and unit costs of all antibiotics used in hospitals during 2016 were recorded to calculate the DDD and Prescribed Daily Dose. Results. Oxacillin was the antibiotic with the highest DDD bed days with 60.5, followed by ceftriaxone (45.2), cephalothin (35.5), and clindamycin (35.5). By pharmacological group, cephalosporins have higher intakes with 87.6 DDD bed days, penicillin MRSA 60.5, and lincosamides with 35.5 DDD bed days, followed by quinolones with 29.3. Conclusions. The results can be used to implement programs to improve the rational use and expense of antibiotics at the hospital level and that the DDD is used to measure the consumption and at the same time promote the control of antibiotics through written communications with the treating physicians. Bed-day DDD studies should be carried out relating to microbiological aspects to better relate the use of antibiotics. (provided by Infomedic International)

Tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship ban enforcement index at sales points in Panama, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: We assess the tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) ban enforcement in sales points in Panama in 2017. METHODS: A nationwide observational survey to assess TAPS ban enforcement in sales points was conducted and involved retail sale in non-specialized stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating according to the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities Rev. 4. A TAPS ban enforcement index was developed from factorial analysis by principal component with a polychoric correlation matrix to calculate the mean national index value. RESULTS: The national TAPS ban enforcement index value was found to be 3.03. The index value in sales points according to the tobacco products advertisement was 1.98, which was significantly lower where the advertisement was present and 3.09 where it was absent (t=7.57, p<0.05). Each of the three health regions corresponding to Indigenous Territories had an index below the national mean: Emberá-Wounáan (2.52), Guna-Yala (2.65), and Ngäbe-Buglé (2.91). Similar findings were observed among health regions with a west national border: Chiriquí (2.80) and Bocas Del Toro (2.93). On the other hand, the top indices were observed in Panama Metro (3.25), Darién (3.53) and Coclé (3.63). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high level of enforcement of the TAPS ban as a consequence of the full implementation of the FCTC as a law in Panama. However, indigenous territories and west national border areas had the lowest TAPS ban enforcement, making these populations vulnerable. A fertile ground for future research includes the identification of possible vulnerable targets for tobacco products advertisement, particularly in urban areas.

Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of tobacco-associated diseases and how it is influenced by tobacco products advertisement, promotion and sponsorship while enforcing a strong and comprehensive ban in Panama: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) of tobacco-associated diseases, and how it is influenced by tobacco products' advertisement, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) while enforcing a strong and comprehensive ban. DESIGN: The Panamanian implementation of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey: an international standardised cross-sectional survey study. SETTING: National Panamanian population aged between 15 years and 29 years old. PARTICIPANTS: There were 4796 responding participants (n=905 830 in the expanded sample). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: An index was developed using factorial analysis using TAPS and KAP variables. The primary outcomes were: (1) The national median index value. (2) The index value stratified by sex, age, occupation, income quintile and geographical areas. (3) The first and second factor loadings (FFL and SFL, respectively) for variables included in the KAP index. RESULTS: Fifteen out of the 16 variables comprising the index were variables related to KAP and one variable was related to TAPS. The top three variables according to their FFL were 'KAP that cigarette is associated to …': (1) '… bladder cancer'. (2) '… breast cancer'. (3) '… stomach cancer'. The top three variables according to the SFL were 'KAP that cigarette is associated to …': (1)'… chronic bronchitis'. (2) '… myocardial infarction'. (3) '… lung cancer'. Illegal tobacco advertisement in posters was the only TAPS variable included in the index. The national KAP index value was 0.26. Our results show that current smokers, teens, men, people with the lowest income quintile, and those living in Guna Yala Indigenous Territory (health region with the highest smoking prevalence) had a lower median value than the national median. CONCLUSIONS: Men, young adults and deprived youth had the lowest median KAP index. Illegal TAPS had no influence on the KAP of tobacco-associated diseases when a strong and comprehensive ban is enforced.