Research in primary care as an area of knowledge. SESPAS Report 2012

Primary care offers huge potential for research. This setting is an area of knowledge that must expand to improve the quality of its services and patients' health. Population-based clinical studies with a focus on health promotion and primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention offer unique research opportunities. Developing research in the biopsychosocial model of clinical practice and new models of integrated healthcare and community care is therefore a priority. The framework and activities carried out by the Research Network in Preventive Activities and Health Promotion have been instrumental in the development of research in primary care in Spain. Despite the efforts invested by various institutions, foundations, teaching and research departments in primary care research, the projected outputs in terms of volume, quality and impact have not been achieved. The involvement of primary care professionals in research platforms is insufficient, with scarce contribution toward investment in specific primary care research projects. To change the current status of research in primary care, a number of measures are required, namely, the consolidation of research organisms specific to primary care with adequate allocation of funding and staff, and the allocation of specific time for research to primary care professionals to enable them to produce significant projects and consolidate established research lines in their areas of expertise, with applications mainly in quality improvement and innovation of primary care services.     

Use of urine dipstick evaluating young infants with fever without a source and positive urine culture

We analyzed 239 febrile infants <3 months of age with a positive urine culture to examine their characteristics. Patients with altered urine dipstick showed more commonly alterations of the biologic markers for bacterial infection, and Escherichia coli was more commonly isolated. Febrile young infants with positive urine culture and negative urine dipstick may not have a urinary tract infection and less aggressive management can be considered.     

Análisis bibliométrico de la autoría femenina en artículos originales en la revista ATENCIÓN PRIMARIA

ObjectivesTo determine the percentage of female authors in original articles published during 2 periods, in the journal of Atención Primaria (Primary Care), and to examine the differences between the categories of authorship (first, last author, and co-author) between both periods.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingFeminine scientific production published during the periods 2007-2008 and 2017-2018.ParticipantsThe study was focused on original articles.Main measurementsThe following variables were collected in an ad hoc form: gender based on the name of the author, total number of women and men appearing as authors, and order of authorship. Absolute and relative authorship frequencies were calculated, and the χ² test was used to examine the evolution of the percentages by type of authorship and gender.ResultsA total of 108 articles were analysed in 2007-2008, and 100 in 2017-2018. No statistically significant differences were observed between the mean numbers of women authors within and between periods. In 2007-2008 a total of 548 female authors were identified and 540 in 2017-2018, the percentage of female authors was 48.7% and 54.4%, respectively. Only an increase in the percentage of first authors was observed between periods.ConclusionsPractically one out of every 2 authors of original articles published in the journal Atención Primaria was female. There was also a significant increase in the percentage of female first authors between the 2 periods. Nevertheless, and despite the greater number of health workers, the number of latest female authors remain unchanged, which points to the persistence of female under-representation.