El Servicio de Mediación de Salud Pública con la Comunidad Gitana en la Comunidad de Madrid / The public health mediation service with the Roma community in the community of Madrid

El pueblo gitano presenta desigualdades sociales que generan peores resultados en salud que el conjunto de la población española. Se describe el proceso de creación del Servicio de Mediación de Salud Pública con la Comunidad Gitana, pionero en la Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid, mostrando sus competencias dirigidas a disminuir dichas desigualdades. Los resultados de su trabajo, enmarcado en la praxis de la mediación intercultural y la intervención comunitaria, validan la necesidad de contar con profesionales de la mediación intercultural en salud pública. (AU)

The Roma people have social inequalities that lead to worse health outcomes than the Spanish population as a whole. We report the process to create the Public Health Mediation Service with the Roma Community, pioneer in the Community of Madrid Health Department. We also reveal its competences aimed at reducing said inequalities. The results of its work, framed in the practice of intercultural mediation and community intervention, validate the need for intercultural mediation professionals in the field of public health. (AU)

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Spain: A Qualitative Study of Patient Experience and the Role of Health Professionals.

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of Spanish people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the support these people received from health professionals, particularly nurses. Nineteen patients with >1 year diagnosis, disease activity moderate or severe (DAS28 > 3.2), and already treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were interviewed. A thematic analysis was performed to interpret the discourses. The difficulties of symptom management; the need for home-adaptations, the difficulties of living with a deteriorating self-image; and the reluctant reliance on medication to control their disease were the main themes that emerged from the discourse analysis of this study. Nurses appeared to have a limited role in RA patients care, and focused primarily on giving information and training for biological therapies. RA patients in Spain would benefit from having contact with specialist nurses who could empower them to self-manage their disease, as happens in other countries.

The life and death construct in heart transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: The technological advances of medicine, and specifically the techniques of organ transplants, have allowed crossing the border of life and death. This is especially relevant in the case of heart transplant, since its symbolism requires a redefinition not only of these traditional concepts, but also of the body or of one's own identity. AIMS: To explore the experiences of patients after receiving a heart from a donor. METHODS: A phenomenological qualitative approach, through Merleau Ponty and Levinas perspectives, was conducted to capture the subjective experiences of heart transplant patients. We conducted 22 in-depth interviews: 12 with heart transplant patients from two hospitals in Madrid (Spain), and 10 with relatives who lived with them. RESULTS: The line between life and death is erased for heart transplant patients. Three main themes arose from the analysis: towards death, the frontier between life and death, and towards life. The need to redefine the concepts of life and death is structured around issues such as the thought of facing one's own death and the concept of gift and resurrection. CONCLUSION: Organ transplant techniques open the door to a new definition of death, of the identity of the body and its parts and the limits of life. Considering the cultural, legal, psychological, social and symbolic elements involved in the heart transplant process, a qualitative approach provides new avenues of understanding the clinical process from the patients' perspective.

Intersectorality and social participation as coping policies for health inequities-worldwide / Intersectorialidad y participación social como políticas de afrontamiento para las desigualdades en salud en el mundo

Objective: To determine the impact that intersectoral policies and social participation, implemented worldwide, have had on the modification of the social determinants for health and on the reduction of social health inequities. Method: A scoping review of the literature published in the period 2005-2015 was performed. The literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scielo databases. Two researchers reviewed each document. Data were analysed according to the intersectoral action and social participation variables and according to the theoretical frameworks of the Social Determinants Model of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) and the theoretical constructs of Social Capital (SC) and Life Course (LC). Results: Out of 45 documents likely to be selected for final review, all of them based on title and abstract, 20 documents were eventually picked out and analysed; most them (n = 8) were conducted in all Latin America and Latin America's countries. Twelve documents reported intersectoral action associated with social participation in partnership with different institutions. Regarding theoretical frameworks, most of studies (n = 8) used CSDH and SC. In relation to health outcomes, the studies showed mainly: increased access to health and education, follow-up of pregnant women, increasing in prenatal examinations, reduction in malnutrition/child mortality, reduction in extreme poverty/hunger; reduction in epidemics/tuberculosis, control of alcohol/drug consumption, promotion of health/mental as well as basic sanitation improvements. Conclusions: Intersectoral and social participation experiences studied yielded positive outcomes regarding health status and quality of life in the communities in which such experiences were implemented

Determinar el impacto que las políticas intersectoriales y la participación social, implementadas en todo el mundo, han tenido tanto en la modificación de los determinantes sociales de la salud como en la reducción de las desigualdades sociales en salud. Método: Se realizó una revisión exploratoria (periodo 2005-2015). La búsqueda bibliográfica se hizo en las bases de datos PubMed y Scielo. Cada artículo fue revisado por dos investigadores. Los datos fueron analizados según las variables de acción intersectorial y participación social, y de acuerdo con los marcos teóricos: modelo de determinantes sociales de la Comisión de Determinantes Sociales de la Salud (CDSS) y constructos teóricos de capital social (CS) y curso de la vida. Resultados: De los 45 documentos seleccionables para la revisión final, basándose en el título y el resumen, 20 fueron seleccionados y analizados; la mayoría (n = 8) realizados en América Latina. Doce artículos informaban sobre acciones intersectoriales en asociación con participación social en colaboración con diferentes instituciones. En cuanto a los marcos teóricos, la mayoría (n = 8) utilizaron CDSS y CS. En relación con los resultados de salud, los estudios mostraron principalmente: mayor acceso a la salud y educación, seguimiento de embarazadas, aumento en exámenes prenatales, reducción de la desnutrición/mortalidad infantil, reducción de la pobreza extrema/hambre, reducción de las epidemias/tuberculosis, control del consumo de alcohol/drogas, promoción de la salud/salud mental, y mejoras en el saneamiento básico. Conclusiones: Las experiencias intersectoriales y de participación social estudiadas arrojan resultados positivos en el estado de salud y calidad de vida de las comunidades en que fueron implementadas

Intersectorality and social participation as coping policies for health inequities-worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact that intersectoral policies and social participation, implemented worldwide, have had on the modification of the social determinants for health and on the reduction of social health inequities. METHOD: A scoping review of the literature published in the period 2005-2015 was performed. The literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scielo databases. Two researchers reviewed each document. Data were analysed according to the intersectoral action and social participation variables and according to the theoretical frameworks of the Social Determinants Model of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) and the theoretical constructs of Social Capital (SC) and Life Course (LC). RESULTS: Out of 45 documents likely to be selected for final review, all of them based on title and abstract, 20 documents were eventually picked out and analysed; most them (n = 8) were conducted in all Latin America and Latin America's countries. Twelve documents reported intersectoral action associated with social participation in partnership with different institutions. Regarding theoretical frameworks, most of studies (n = 8) used CSDH and SC. In relation to health outcomes, the studies showed mainly: increased access to health and education, follow-up of pregnant women, increasing in prenatal examinations, reduction in malnutrition/child mortality, reduction in extreme poverty/hunger; reduction in epidemics/tuberculosis, control of alcohol/drug consumption, promotion of health/mental as well as basic sanitation improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Intersectoral and social participation experiences studied yielded positive outcomes regarding health status and quality of life in the communities in which such experiences were implemented.

Implementación del mapa de la vulnerabilidad en salud en la Comunidad de Madrid / Health vulnerability mapping in the Community of Madrid (Spain)

Desde el modelo de los determinantes sociales de la salud y el enfoque de equidad, la Dirección General de Salud Pública de Madrid ha desarrollado la metodología de los mapas de la vulnerabilidad en salud para facilitar a los equipos sociosanitarios la planificación, la priorización y la intervención en salud en un territorio. A partir de la selección de las zonas básicas de salud con peores indicadores de vulnerabilidad en salud, se inicia un proceso de relación con los actores clave del territorio a fin de identificar conjuntamente áreas prioritarias de intervención y desarrollar un plan de acción consensuado. Se presentan el desarrollo de esta experiencia y su conexión con los modelos teóricos del mapeo en activos, los sistemas de georreferenciación integrados en salud y las intervenciones de salud comunitaria (AU)

The Public Health General Directorate of Madrid has developed a health vulnerability mapping methodology to assist regional social health teams in health planning, prioritisation and intervention based on a model of social determinants of health and an equity approach. This process began with the selection of areas with the worst social indicators in health vulnerability. Then, key stakeholders of the region jointly identified priority areas of intervention and developed a consensual plan of action. We present the outcomes of this experience and its connection with theoretical models of asset-based community development, health-integrated georeferencing systems and community health interventions (AU)

[Health vulnerability mapping in the Community of Madrid (Spain)]. / Implementación del mapa de la vulnerabilidad en salud en la Comunidad de Madrid.

The Public Health General Directorate of Madrid has developed a health vulnerability mapping methodology to assist regional social health teams in health planning, prioritisation and intervention based on a model of social determinants of health and an equity approach. This process began with the selection of areas with the worst social indicators in health vulnerability. Then, key stakeholders of the region jointly identified priority areas of intervention and developed a consensual plan of action. We present the outcomes of this experience and its connection with theoretical models of asset-based community development, health-integrated georeferencing systems and community health interventions.

La salud y sus determinantes en la población inmigrante de la Comunidad de Madrid / Health and its determinants in the immigrant population of the region of Madrid

ObjetivosDescribir el estado de salud y sus determinantes en los inmigrantes residentes en la Comunidad de Madrid y compararlos con los de la población autóctona.Material y métodosEstudio descriptivo transversal a partir de los datos de la Encuesta Regional de Salud de Madrid 2007 (n = 12.190). Se clasifica a los individuos en autóctonos o nacidos en países de renta media-baja con menos o más de 5 años de residencia en España. Los resultados se ajustan por edad. Las proporciones y las medias de las variables se comparan con el test de ji al cuadrado y regresión lineal.ResultadosComparados con los autóctonos, los inmigrantes son más jóvenes, desarrollan preferentemente trabajos manuales precarios que no se corresponden con su nivel educativo, y disponen de menos ingresos y menos espacio en sus viviendas. Tanto hombres como mujeres fuman y beben menos, pero las mujeres presentan mayores prevalencias de sobrepeso (un 10% más) y sedentarismo. La adherencia al cribado citológico y de la tensión arterial es hasta un 16% menor. Los hombres y las mujeres con menor tiempo de residencia acuden menos a las consultas de atención primaria y a urgencias, al contrario que los que llevan más tiempo en España. Las mujeres con 5 o más años de estancia tienen una salud autopercibida y salud mental algo peores. Los inmigrantes presentan enfermedades crónicas similares a las de la población autóctona, pero con menores prevalencias.ConclusionesEl estado de salud de la población inmigrante no es tan desfavorable como cabría esperar en función de la mayor prevalencia de determinantes de salud perjudiciales(AU)

ObjectivesTo describe health status and its determinants in immigrants living in the region of Madrid and to compare these factors with those in the native-born population.Material and methodsWe performed a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on data from the Madrid Regional Health Survey 2007 (n=12,190). Subjects were classified as native-born or immigrants born in medium-to-low-income countries and with less or more than 5 years of residence in Spain. The results were adjusted for age. Proportions and means were compared through the ji square test and linear regression.ResultsCompared with native-born residents, immigrants were younger, carried out mainly precarious manual jobs that did not match their educational level and had a lower income and less space in their dwellings. Both immigrant men and women smoked and drank less, but women showed a higher prevalence of overweight (10% more) and physical inactivity. Adherence to smear test and blood pressure screening was up to a 16% lower. Attendance at primary care and emergency facilities was less frequent in men and women with less residence time than in those with longer residence in Spain. Self-perceived health and mental health were worse in women with 5 or more years of residence. Chronic diseases were similar in both populations but were less prevalent in immigrants.ConclusionsImmigrants’ health status is not as unfavorable as could be expected from the higher prevalence of harmful determinants of health(AU)

[Health and its determinants in the immigrant population of the region of Madrid]. / La salud y sus determinantes en la población inmigrante de la Comunidad de Madrid.

OBJECTIVES: To describe health status and its determinants in immigrants living in the region of Madrid and to compare these factors with those in the native-born population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on data from the Madrid Regional Health Survey 2007 (n=12,190). Subjects were classified as native-born or immigrants born in medium-to-low-income countries and with less or more than 5 years of residence in Spain. The results were adjusted for age. Proportions and means were compared through the ji square test and linear regression. RESULTS: Compared with native-born residents, immigrants were younger, carried out mainly precarious manual jobs that did not match their educational level and had a lower income and less space in their dwellings. Both immigrant men and women smoked and drank less, but women showed a higher prevalence of overweight (10% more) and physical inactivity. Adherence to smear test and blood pressure screening was up to a 16% lower. Attendance at primary care and emergency facilities was less frequent in men and women with less residence time than in those with longer residence in Spain. Self-perceived health and mental health were worse in women with 5 or more years of residence. Chronic diseases were similar in both populations but were less prevalent in immigrants. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrants' health status is not as unfavorable as could be expected from the higher prevalence of harmful determinants of health.

Qualitative health research in Ibero-America: the current state of the science.

Qualitative health research (QHR) comprises a field that has spread and consolidated in Ibero-America (Iberian and Latin American countries) during the 1990s. Until now, however, no systematic evaluation has been made of the qualitative health research published in the region. The aim of this article is to discuss four aspects of QHR: the capability and limitations of using international databases to identify Ibero-American qualitative health studies; the principle health topics studied in Latin America using QHR methodologies; the development of QHR in Spain; and the theoretical perspectives that guide studies in Latin America. A bibliographic search was conducted to identify QHR studies listed in 17 international and/or regional databases. A parallel search was conducted by contacting research centers, academic institutes, and key researchers in several countries.