Gestión de la calidad de atención en laboratorios clínicos de hospitales públicos en Maracaibo, Venezuela / Managing the quality of attention in public hospitals' clinical laboratories in Maracaibo, Venezuela

Objetivo Evaluar la gestión de calidad de los laboratorios según la perspectiva de sus usuarios externos, determinándose las dimensiones de la calidad relacionadas con su satisfacción y con las características sociodemográficas. Métodos El estudio es descriptivo, la muestra estuvo conformada por 1 875 pacientes de consulta externa que asistieron a laboratorios de hospitales públicos tipo III y IV nivel de atención ubicados en el área metropolitana del Estado Zulia, entre Octubre a Diciembre de 2008. Se aplicó una encuesta previamente validada. Para el análisis, se empleó distribución de frecuencias, análisis multivariante y análisis de la varianza. Resultados Los resultados mostraron que la mayoría de los usuarios son pacientes de sexo femenino (72,7 por ciento), de procedencia local (87,9 por ciento); en edades entre 15 y 45 años (65,7 por ciento) y con grado de instrucción primaria y secundaria (70,5 por ciento). El análisis multifactorial demostró que el componente Gestión de Calidad, puede ser valorado por las dimensiones: Accesibilidad, Elementos tangibles, Capacidad de Respuesta, Competencias profesionales y Seguridad. Hubo diferencias altamente significativas (p<0,001) entre los distintos grados de instrucción y la edad al calificar la gestión de calidad. Se detectaron debilidades en cuanto a tiempo de espera en recepción, comodidad de la sala de espera y uso de medidas de seguridad del personal técnico. Conclusión Los resultados permitirán establecer acciones tendentes a evaluar el grado de mejoramiento del servicio y las metas propuestas en pro de mejorar la calidad de atención, medidas que formarán parte de un programa de aseguramiento de la calidad conforme la normativa internacional.

Objective Evaluating how clinical laboratories' quality was being managed according to the view of external users, thereby determining the dimensions of quality related to their satisfaction and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods The study was descriptive; the sample consisted of 1,875 outpatients attending the laboratories of type 3 and 4 care level public hospitals located in the metropolitan area of Zulia State in Venezuela between October and December 2008. A previously validated survey was applied. Frequency allocation, multivariate analysis and variance analysis were used for analysing data. Results The results showed that the most users were female (72.7 percent), of local origin (87.9 percent), aged between 15 and 45 (65.7 percent) and had received primary and secondary education (70.5 percent). Multivariate analysis showed that quality management could be evaluated in terms of accessibility, tangible elements, response ability, safety and professional competence. There were highly significant differences (p<0.001) between educational level and age when evaluating management quality. Weaknesses were revealed concerning time spent waiting in reception, waiting room comfort and safety measures used by technical staff. Conclusions The results should lead to establishing action aimed at evaluating the degree of improvement in service and proposed targets for improving the quality of attention; such measures will form part of a quality assurance programme in accordance with international standards.

Evaluación de las prácticas de control de infecciones de los trabajadores de la salud en un hospital de Lima Metropolitana, durante la epidemia de Influenza A H1N1 / Evaluating healthcare workers' infection control practice in a Lima metropolitan hospital during the influenza A(H1N1) epidemic

Objetivo Determinar el nivel de cumplimiento de las prácticas de control de infecciones en los trabajadores de la salud en un hospital de Lima Metropolitana durante la epidemia de Influenza A H1N1. Material y métodos Se realizó un estudio observacional y transversal, se incluyó 165 trabajadores de la salud que brindaban atención a pacientes hospitalizados en áreas de riesgo como servicios de urgencias, emergencia, unidades de cuidados intensivos y hospitalización. El tamaño muestral se calculó a través del programa EpiInfo versión 2000 y se basó en el muestreo sistemático simple. Se utilizó una ficha ad hoc validada por juicio de expertos. Resultados Del total de encuestados, 23,6 % (39/165) se lavaron las manos antes y después de tener contacto con el paciente, 72,7 % (96/132) utilizaron guantes durante la atención de salud cuando asi estaba indicado, 61,0 % (64/105) se lavaron las manos después de quitarse los guantes, mientras que 58,0 % (76/131) de los que tuvieron contacto con material contaminado lo hicieron después de dicho contacto. Solo 14,5 % (24/165) de los trabajadores tuvieron prácticas adecuadas. Conclusiones La proporción de prácticas adecuadas de los trabajadores de la salud sobre el control de infecciones durante la epidemia de influenza A H1N1 del 2009 fue baja en el hospital de estudio.

Objective Determining healthcare workers' level of compliance with infection control practices in a Lima hospital during the influenza A(H1N1) epidemic. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was made of 165 healthcare workers who provided inpatient care in risk areas like emergency services, emergency, intensive care and hospitalisation. The sample size was calculated using EpiInfo software (version 2000) and was based on simple systematic sampling. An ad hoc format validated by experts' judgement was used. Results 23.6 % (39/165) of the respondents washed their hands before and after contact with patients, 72.7 % (96/132) wore gloves for healthcare when so indicated, 61.0 % (64/105) washed their hands after removing gloves, while 58.0 % (76/131) of those who had contact with contaminated material did so after such contact. Only 14.5 % (24/165) of workers engaged in good practice. Conclusions The percentage of healthcare workers' engaging in infection control practice in the study hospital during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) epidemic was low.

Hospital care: assessment of users' satisfaction during hospital stay / Atención hospitalaria: evaluación de la satisfacción de los pacientes durante su período de internación / Assistência hospitalar: avaliação da satisfação dos usuários durante seu período de internação

Health care teams have followed the National Health System's (SUS) principles to ensure quality improvement in healthcare, and patient satisfaction is one of the instruments used to evaluate quality. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction regarding the assistance to their needs during hospitalization, in a general hospital of a city in the interior of São Paulo. Data were collected through participant observation and use of focal group techniques in this qualitative research. A theme guide was used and a total of 20 subjects participated in the study. Data were analyzed through content analysis and interpreted through triangulation. Study results demonstrate that patients were satisfied with the care rendered. However, the researcher concluded that the institution's work organization is not directed to the attainment of quality.

El equipo de salud ha tomado como base los principios del SUS para asegurar la calidad de la atención. La satisfacción de los pacientes ha sido utilizada como uno de los instrumentos de evaluación. Este estudio busca evaluar la satisfacción de los pacientes con la atención de sus necesidades durante la internación, en un hospital general del interior de Sao Paulo. Se adoptó como metodología la investigación cualitativa y, como técnica de recolecta de datos, la observación participante y el grupo focal. Se utilizó un guía de temas y participaron en la investigación doce sujetos. El análisis de los datos se basó en el análisis de contenido. Para la interpretación se utilizó la técnica de triangulación. Los resultados demostraron que los pacientes se sintieron satisfechos con la atención. No obstante, la investigadora concluyó que la forma de organización del trabajo de la institución no evidencia una preocupación por la calidad de la atención.

A equipe de saúde tem se baseado nos princípios do SUS para assegurar a melhoria do atendimento dos serviços de saúde e a satisfação dos usuários e tem sido utilizada como um dos instrumentos de avaliação da qualidade. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a satisfação dos usuários com o atendimento de suas necessidades durante a internação, num hospital geral do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Adotou-se, como metodologia, a pesquisa qualitativa e, como técnica de coleta de dados, a observação participante e o grupo focal. Foi utilizado um guia de temas e participaram da pesquisa doze sujeitos. Realizou-se a análise de conteúdo dos dados e, para a interpretação, utilizou-se a técnica de triangulação. Os resultados demonstraram que os usuários ficaram satisfeitos com o atendimento. Entretanto, a pesquisadora concluiu que a organização do trabalho da instituição não tem como meta o alcance da qualidade.

Epidemiological and Trauma Injury and Severity Score (TRISS) analysis of trauma patients at a tertiary care centre in India.

BACKGROUND: An observational study was done to obtain the epidemiological profile of Indian trauma patients. We used the Trauma Injury and Severity Score (TRISS) and survival evaluation methodologies to compare the mortality with norms established by the Major Trauma Outcome Study of the USA to assess the quality of emergency medical care provided to trauma patients at our centre. This would allow comparisons and may help propagate the routine use of trauma scales. METHODS: An instrument to collect detailed epidemiological and TRISS data was created and validated. All patients with trauma who were admitted to the surgery service were included in the study. The details of all patients were recorded and they were followed till discharge or death during a 6-week period. RESULTS: Of the 180 trauma patients studied, 123 were men (70.3%) with a mean age of 24.7 years; 143 patients had blunt injuries while 32 patients had penetrating injuries. A nearly equal percentage of men were injured on the road (39.8%) as at home (39.0%), while most women (65.4%) were injured at home. The mortality rate was 31.4%. TRISS methodology was applied to 88.6% of patients. All the 113 survivors had a probability of survival > or = 0.5 and were considered expected survivors. Among the 42 deaths, 32 had a probability of survival > or = 0.5 and were considered unexpected deaths, while 10 of the deaths had a probability of survival <0.5 and were expected deaths. The reasons for the unexpected deaths were septicaemia, mannitol nephrotoxicity, aspiration and a direct result of the injury, especially in patients with burns. CONCLUSIONS: Our centre has a high rate of unexpected deaths. Although it is the major trauma referral centre in the region, the care provided to trauma patients needs to be improved.

Study on performance following Key Performance Indicators for trauma care: Khon Kaen Hospital 2000.

This study was conducted in 2000-2001 in order to improve the quality of trauma care by establishing the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as a guideline in providing trauma care service and to study the personnel's performance following 27 indexes of KPIs for trauma care in Khon Kaen Hospital. After the implementation of the KPIs by the method of participatory action research (PAR), the trauma preventable death rate was decreased to 1.3 per cent which was statistically different from the preventable death rate in 1997 (2.0%).