¿Cómo afectan las distintas dimensiones de la precariedad laboral a la salud mental?

ObjectiveTo analyse the relationship between precarious employment, measured by dimensions and as a multidimensional index, on the mental health of salaried men and women in the Basque Country (Spain).MethodA subsample (n = 3345) of the 2018 Basque Autonomous Community Health Survey was used to calculate the standardised prevalence of poor mental health according to the degree of precarious employment, measured as a composite scale and by each of its dimensions, and to perform robust Poisson regression models to analyse the association between precarious employment, also composite and by dimensions, and the mental health of the salaried population.ResultsPrecarious employment is significantly associated with poor mental health among men (prevalence ratio [PR]: 3.51; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 2.05–6.01) and women (PR: 3.42; 95%CI: 2.35–4.97). Additionally, some of its constituent dimensions, such as wage level among both sexes (PR: 2.58, 95%CI: 1.65–4.03, and PR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.58–3.32) or vulnerability among women (PR: 2.55; 95%CI: 1.80–3.61), also appear to be significantly and independently related to poorer mental health status.ConclusionsIt is necessary to approach precarious employment from a multidimensional perspective, and to know the relative importance of each of its dimensions, both for research into its effects on health and for policy interventions directed at combating this phenomenon.     

¿Cómo medir el estatus migratorio de la población infantil y juvenil? Estudios sobre salud y desigualdades en salud en Europa

ObjectiveTo analyse how the migration status of the child and young population is measured in the scientific literature on health and social inequalities in health in Europe.MethodA systematic search of the literature published in Spanish, English and French between 2007 and 2017 in PubMed and Social Sciences Citation Index was carried out. The included studies analysed health and social inequalities in health of a population under 18 years old according to its migration origin in Europe. The variables used to measure the migration status were described.Results50 articles were included. Twenty studies analysed perinatal health, eleven mental health, nine dental health, and ten studies other variables. The main variables to define migration status were the country of birth (32 studies), either of the child, the mother, or one of the parents, and sometimes in a complementary way. Less frequent was the use of nationality (15 studies), of the child, or of the parents, especially the mother. Migration status is referred to in very different ways, not always comparable and sometimes the variable used is not clearly explained.ConclusionsThere is a great diversity of ways to measure migration status in the child and young population. A better definition and consensus is needed to improve the temporal and geographical comparability of knowledge in this area, which will help to design public policies aimed at reducing social inequalities in health from childhood.     

¿Cómo abordar la dimensión colectiva de la salud de las personas? Informe SESPAS 2012

The health of the population largely depends on environmental factors, raising the issue of what the role of health professionals, particularly those in public health and primary care, should be in the planning of objectives and actions for improvement. The present article proposes a trajectory, starting with knowledge of the community's strong points in health and its needs, and ending with taking action. This trajectory requires discussion on how information can be transformed into action. We analyze the current situation and its strengths and weaknesses, and make proposals for the entire process: from information to action. Information is more than just the available data gathered from different sources; it is also knowledge of those who belong to the community or are very close to it. This perspective should include both health deficits and health assets. This information should be used not only by health professionals, but by all those in a position to influence the determinants of health. Finally, when considering the actions required to improve the health of a community, we emphasize the benefits of health promotion, in the genuine sense of the term, by reflecting on effectiveness and efficiency. The question of whether the failure of an intervention to improve health is due to the futility of the action, or to be action being undertaken in an inefficient way, is discussed.     

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.     

¿Cómo valorar la atención centrada en la persona según los profesionales? Un estudio Delphi

ObjectivesTo know the perspective of professionals on aspects and dimensions that should be an indispensable part of Person-Centered Care (PCA).DesignDelphi Technique.LocationPrimary Care.Participants74 medical experts specializing in family and community medicine (FM), teaching tutors, psychologists and sociologists distributed throughout the national territory (January-June 2015).MethodsThey responded to three questionnaires: first, on aspects that a FP should take into account to carry out PCA in all its dimensions. In the second, they asked about the degree of agreement with each item and dimension in which it was classified. The responses were prioritized in a third questionnaire (Likert scale, score range 1-10).ResultsThe response rate (RR) to the 1st questionnaire was 54.05%, obtaining 84 items, the most frequent Respect and Comprehensive Attention. The 2nd questionnaire with RR = 48.6%, obtained 52 items with a degree of agreement greater than 75%. The RR of the 3rd questionnaire was 52.7%, obtaining 21 items with a score> 9. The highest values corresponded to essential aspects of PCA: respect, comprehensive care, biopsychosocial approach, patient autonomy, and participation in decision-making.ConclusionsNew dimensions were identified: Prevention and health promotion, Resource Management and Clinical Competence, added to those previously described: Biopsychosocial perspective, Doctor as a person, Patient as a person, Doctor-patient relationship and Shared Power and Responsibility.Respect, comprehensive care, the biopsychosocial approach, the patient's autonomy and their participation in decision-making, are the most valued aspects among those selected by the participating professionals.     

La precariedad laboral en inmigrantes en situación irregular en España y su relación con la salud

ObjectiveTo describe the characteristics of precarious employment in undocumented immigrants in Spain and its relationship with health.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted using analytic induction. Criterion sampling, based on the Immigration, Work and Health project (Inmigración, Trabajo y Salud [ITSAL]) criterion (current definitions of ‘legal immigrant’ in Spain and in the literature) was used to recruit 44 undocumented immigrant workers from four different countries, living in four Spanish cities.ResultsThe characteristics of precariousness perceived by undocumented immigrants included high job instability; disempowerment due to lack of legal protection; high vulnerability exacerbated by their legal and immigrant status; perceived insufficient wages and lower wages than coworkers; limited social benefits and difficulty in exercising their rights; and finally, long hours and fast-paced work. Our informants reported they had no serious health problems but did describe physical and mental problems associated with their employment conditions and legal situation.ConclusionsOur results suggest that undocumented immigrants’ situation may not fit the model of precarious employment exactly. However, the model's dimensions can be expanded to better represent undocumented immigrants’ situation, thus strengthening the general model. Precarious employment in this group can be defined as «extreme», as it affects their working and social lives. If these workers continue to be exposed to such precarious conditions, the impact on their health may increase.     

Herramienta multidimensional para la medición de la calidad de la participación en salud

Health strategies, programs and activities have historically been the result of institutional practices with a limited participatory component. Traditionally, institutional action is mainly determined by the criteria of the political actors and, in the best of cases, by the criteria of healthcare professionals. New forms of governance for health equity advocate for the inclusion of the community in the design of strategies, programmes and activities in health. For this reason, a growing concern in the field of participation in health is the measurement of the participatory quality of new designs of institutional practices. This article aims to develop an operational proposal to design, measure or describe the scope in participatory terms of the health planning processes. The proposal elaborates six dimensions for the measurement and assessment of participatory process: inclusivity, information flow, deliberative quality, decision making, institutional commitment and community empowerment.