Alimentación y nutrición en atención primaria en Brasil

Objective

To describe food and nutrition actions in primary health care in Brazil.

La financiación de la industria alimentaria y la investigación epidemiológica sobre nutrición y salud

The interests of the food industry to fund nutrition and health research are not limited to promoting scientific advances. Recently, several systematic reviews conducted about the effect of sugar-sweetened beverages and health outcomes have shown some biased conclusions in studies that acknowledge industry sponsorship. In this context, the Nutrition Working Group of the Spanish Epidemiology Society presented a scientific session entitled Food industry and epidemiologic research at its annual meeting. In a round table, four experts in nutrition research presented their points of view about whether the food industry should fund nutrition-related research and the related potential conflicts of interest of the food industry. All the experts agreed not only on defending independence in nutritional epidemiology regarding the design, interpretation and conclusion of their studies but also on the crucial need for guaranteed scientific rigor, scientific quality of the results and measures to protect studies against potential biases related to the conflicts of interest of funding by the food industry. Drs Pérez-Farinós and Romaguera believe that the most effective way to prevent conflicts of interest would be not to allow the food industry to fund nutrition research; Drs Marcos and Martínez-González suggested the need to establish mechanisms and strategies to prevent the potential influences of the food industry in selecting researchers or institutional sponsorship and in the analysis and results of the studies, to ensure maximum independence for researchers, as well as their professional ethics.     

Percepción del riesgo de contraer una enfermedad de transmisión sexual en población joven

ObjectiveTo find out the perception of the risk of adquire a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in young people (15–21 years), and their attitudes and behaviour to adopt protective measures in sexual relationships.DesignSocioconstructive qualitative study performed between the years 2006 and 2008SettingTwo Primary Care Centres in the city of Girona.ParticipantsA total of 34 young people selected from lists provided by doctors and key informers.MethodsTheoretical sample from different designed profiles. The data was obtained and saturated by performing 5 group interviews. A thematic content analysis of the narrative data was made of the categorical subject.ResultsThey had partial knowledge on AIDS and very little on other STD. The risk of pregnancy has the most influence on adopting protective measures. Despite easy access and knowledge of condoms, in some cases they are not used either in stable relationships or in sporadic ones, with different reasons for having this risk behaviour. They have limited contact with the health services, and when they do it is mainly to ask for emergency contraception.ConclusionsHealth strategies should be directed towards adolescents, taking into account what they need from the health services as regards sexual health, in a different context from the health centre. Information should be focused on combating erroneous beliefs, such as AIDS is a disease of “others” and not “ours”, and address these actions, not only to improve knowledge and attitudes but also changes in behaviour.     

Hiperfrecuentación en Atención Primaria e hiperfrecuentadores en Urgencias

Objective

To identify predictors of frequent attenders (HF) in Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in a sample of frequent attenders (HF) in Emergency Departments (ED).

Cómo los equipos de dirección usan los sistemas de información y control en la gestión hospitalaria

ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between the characteristics of top management teams and the different use of management information and control systems (MICS) to implement policies that encourage cooperation and activity coordination in public hospitals.MethodsData were collected through a questionnaire sent to each member of the top management teams of 231 Spanish public hospitals (chief executive director, medical director, nursing director and director for financial and social issues). A total of 457 valid questionnaires were returned, composing 86 full top management teams (37.23%).ResultsTop management team diversity was positively related to the interactive use of MICS. Management teams composed of younger members and members with longer service used MICS interactively. Top management teams with a predominantly clinical education and experience used MICS interactively, while top teams with a predominantly administrative education and experience used MICS diagnostically. The results also showed that cooperation and coordination in hospitals were positively related to the interactive use of MICS and were negatively related to the diagnostic use of MICS.ConclusionsThe interactive use of MICS is an important mediator in the relationship between top team diversity and policies focused on hospital decentralization. Top management teams with diverse characteristics (e.g. age, length of service, education and experience) use management information interactively to enhance activity coordination and resource allocation in hospitals.     

La participación ciudadana en la investigación desde la perspectiva de investigadores de atención primaria

ObjectiveExplore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for development of public involvement in research by Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAPJGol) according to primary health care researchers in Catalonia (Spain).MethodsCross-sectional study carried out in 2017 with 36 primary health care research teams accredited by IDIAPJGol and its management staff. An open questionnaire (paper and online) was designed and piloted to develop a SWOT technique, and 65 answers were obtained (14 in paper and 51 online). A thematic content analysis was carried out.ResultsMost informants consider public involvement in research a useful, innovative, viable and essential strategy, but it requires a change of mentality and a move away from the hierarchical paradigm. It can be difficult to execute and can complicate studies. They are concerned about which citizens should be involve, how to select them, possible conflicts of interest and training needs. The main proposals for its implementation are to disseminate previous strategies, encourage motivation and synergies among citizens, researchers and institutions, and to clarify the roles of the actors involved. IDIAPJGol should develop recommendations for the public involvement in research, encourage their inclusion, have a mentor and advise the research teams.ConclusionsDespite the challenges, developing public involvement in research in primary health care is essential and feasible, what it is more should be based on a participatory strategy with all actors. The citizens can participate in any kind of design and phase of the research, adapting each project, being the primary health care a privileged area to develop the public involvement in research.     

Valoración desde atención primaria del manejo del hipertenso en atención especializada (estudio DERIVA-DOS)

Introduction

To know the opinion/evaluation of the primary care physicians (PCPH) of the received information about patients that were attended in specialized care (SC).