[Evaluation of users and health professionals on teleconsultation in primary care: A cross-sectional study]. / Valoración de usuarios y profesionales sanitarios sobre la teleconsulta en Atención Primaria: estudio transversal.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perceptions and preferences of users and health professionals on teleconsultation in primary care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with a telephone survey of users and a face-to-face survey of professionals carried out at 2021. SETTING: Urban primary health care. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of users with teleconsultations in the last year, stratified by sex and age, and doctors and nurses from participating centres. MEASUREMENTS: Likert variables assessing teleconsultation according to consultation motives, preferences and related aspects. Descriptive analysis and comparison of proportions and means. RESULTS: Three hundred patients and 48 professionals answered the questionnaire. Both groups value positively the teleconsultation for the management of the electronic prescription (EP) (83% and 83%, respectively), sick leave (SL) (80% and 64%) and issues related to COVID-19 (71% and 58%). The positive assessment of teleconsultation decreases for the treatment of acute pathologies (47% and 25%) and chronic diseases (49% and 33%). Globally, people <70 years value teleconsultation more highly (P<.001), without differences between sexes. Users and professionals prefer face-to-face consultation for chronic diseases (82% and 83%) and acute pathologies (82% and 94%), and teleconsultation for EP (68.7% and 88.6%). 52% of users prefer face-to-face visits for SL compared to 29% of professionals (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Teleconsultation implementation has been well valued by both patients and professionals. The face-to-face visit is preferred for chronic and acute pathologies, especially in the elderly. It will be necessary to define in which cases teleconsultation is the best tool according to the characteristics of each population.

Tecnologías de la información como apoyo organizacional para luchar contra el COVID-19: el discurso de los enfermeros

Objetivo: analizar el discurso de los enfermeros sobre el potencial que tienen las tecnologías de la información como apoyo organizacional a las acciones en la lucha contra el COVID-19 en la Atención Primaria de Salud. Método: estudio cualitativo y exploratorio, realizado en unidades de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia, en la ciudad de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. La recolección de datos se realizó de septiembre a noviembre de 2021 con 26 enfermeros seleccionados mediante la técnica de bola de nieve, utilizando un formulario de entrevista semiestructurada. El material empírico fue organizado en el software Atlas.ti 9 y se basó en el aporte teórico-metodológico del Análisis del Discurso de la escuela francesa. Resultados: se observaron tres bloques discursivos: innovación desde las redes sociales;acciones de educación para la salud;resolutividad en las acciones organizacionales, que muestran la importancia de las aplicaciones WhatsApp®, Instagram® y Facebook® como recursos estratégicos, que colaboran en el área de Atención Primaria de Salud con la organización de las acciones de salud contra el COVID-19 que llevan a cabo los enfermeros. Conclusión: las unidades de salud tienen potencial para fortalecer la atención a través de dispositivos organizacionales digitales, pero necesitan apoyo político que invierta en la estructura y en estrategias para mejorar la organización de las acciones de salud.Alternate : Objective: to analyze nurses' discourse about the potentialities in using information technologies as organizational support for the COVID-19 coping actions in Primary Health Care. Method: a qualitative and exploratory study conducted in the Family Health Strategy units from the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Data collection was carried out from September to November 2021 with 26 nurses selected through the snowball technique, resorting to a semi-structured interview script. The empirical material was organized in the Atlas.ti 9 software and grounded on the theoretical-methodological contribution of Discourse Analysis, French Line. Results: three discursive blocks were evidenced: innovation based on social media;health education actions;resoluteness in organizational actions, presenting the relevance of the WhatsApp®, Instagram® and Facebook® apps as strategic resources, in order to collaborate in the Primary Health Care are with the organization of health actions against COVID-19 by nurses. Conclusion: health units have the potential to strengthen the assistance provided through digital organizational devices;however, they need political support that invests in the structure and strategies to enhance organization of the health actions.

Open data for monitoring COVID-19 in Spain: Descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The indicators of the pandemic have been based on the total number of diagnosed cases of COVID-19, the number of people hospitalized or in intensive care units, and deaths from the infection. The aim of this study is to describe the available data on diagnostic tests, health service used for the diagnosis of COVID-19, case detection and monitoring. METHOD: Descriptive study with review of official data available on the websites of the Spanish health councils corresponding to 17 Autonomous Communities, 2 Autonomous cities and the Ministry of Health. The variables collected refer to contact tracing, technics for diagnosis, use of health services and follow-up. RESULTS: All regions of Spain show data on diagnosed cases of COVID-19 and deaths. Hospitalized cases and intensive care admissions are shown in all regions except the Balearic Islands. Diagnostic tests for COVID-19 have been registered in all regions except Madrid region and Extremadura, with scarcely information on what type of test has been performed (present in 7 CCAA), requesting service and study of contacts. CONCLUSIONS: The information available on the official websites of the Health Departments of the different regions of Spain are heterogeneous. Data from the use of health service or workload in Primary Care, Emergency department or Out of hours services are almost non-existent.

[Attacks on personnel assigned to the Primary Care Management of Tenerife and the SARS-CoV2 pandemic]. / Agresiones a personal adscrito a la Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Tenerife y pandemia por SARS-CoV2.

OBJECTIVE: To measure and characterize the aggressions suffered by health professionals in the field of primary care in Tenerife between 2018-2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020-2021 (pandemic). Secondly, to analyze the degree of knowledge of the professionals in relation to the procedure for action against aggressions as well as the existing security measures and aspects that could be improved for their protection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study using a self-completed form electronically. It was disseminated through the different communication channels with health professionals, being available between March and April 2022. The quantitative variables were analyzed using measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the qualitative variables in percentage, also performing a bivariate analysis using the Chi square and Student's T. RESULTS: 72.50% of the participants have suffered some type of aggression in the workplace and they are more frequent causes in the metropolitan area of Tenerife, which are produced fundamentally by the patient and their relatives. These aggressions are mostly verbal and occur in greater quantity towards women with the category of nurse. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing is the category that suffers the most aggressions in primary care in Tenerife, regardless of the area of the island where they carry out their work.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnosis of respiratory diseases in the Northern Metropolitan Area in Barcelona (Spain).

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great effect on the management of chronic diseases, by limiting the access to primary care and to diagnostic procedures, causing a decline in the incidence of most diseases. Our aim was to analyze the impact of the pandemic on primary care new diagnoses of respiratory diseases. METHODS: Observational retrospective study performed to describe the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of respiratory diseases according to primary care codification. Incidence rate ratio between pre-pandemic and pandemic period was calculated. RESULTS: We found a decrease in the incidence of respiratory conditions (IRR 0.65) during the pandemic period. When we compared the different groups of diseases according to ICD-10, we found a significant decrease in the number of new cases during the pandemic period, except in the case of pulmonary tuberculosis, abscesses or necrosis of the lungs and other respiratory complications (J95). Instead, we found increases in flu and pneumonia (IRR 2.17) and respiratory interstitial diseases (IRR 1.41). CONCLUSION: There has been a decrease in new diagnosis of most respiratory diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare aspects of peritonsillar infection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: This study assessed if the healthcare system overload and the organizational changes made in response to COVID-19 may be having an impact on clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the peritonsillar infection (PTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective longitudinal and descriptive follow-up, we reviewed the circumstances of the patients attended during 5 years, from 2017 to 2021, in two hospitals, one regional and other tertiary. Variables related to underlying pathology, history of tonsillitis, time of evolution, previous visits to Primary Care, diagnostic findings, abscess/phlegmon ratio, and length of hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: From 2017 to 2019, the incidence of the disease ranged between 14 and 16 cases/100,000 inhabitants-year, and decreased to 9.3 in 2020, a 43% less. Patients with PTI consulting in pandemic time were visited much less often in Primary Care services. They showed a greater severity of symptoms and the period of time between their appearance and diagnosis was longer. Additionally, there were more abscesses and the need for hospital admission greater than 24h was 66%. There was hardly a causal relationship with acute tonsillitis, although 66% of the patients evidenced history of recurrent tonsillitis, and 71% concomitant pathology. All these findings showed statistically significant differences with the pre-pandemic cases. CONCLUSIONS: The protection of airborne transmission, the social distancing and the lockdown adopted in our country are measures that seem having been able to modify the evolution of PTI, with a much lower incidence, a longer recovery period and a minimal relationship with acute tonsillitis.

[COVID-19 pandemic impact on primary care emergency services activity: Comparative study between 2019 and 2020 periods]. / Impacto de la pandemia de la COVID-19 en la actividad de los servicios de urgencias de atención primaria: estudio comparativo entre periodos de 2019 y 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the care provided by primary care emergency services during the COVID19 lockdown (March-June 2020) and the same period in 2019. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Basic Health Area of Granada. POPULATION: 10.790 emergency reports, 3.319 in 2020 and 7.471 in 2019. OUTCOMES: Age, sex, service, shifts, referrals, priority levels, care times, previous processes, and reasons for consultation. T-Student and Chi Square were used for continuous and categorical variables. Effect size (Cohen's d) and OR along with 95% CI were calculated. RESULTS: The patients attended by primary care emergency services decreased in 2020 compared to 2019, but the percentage of Priority V cases (p<0.01), home discharges (p=0.01) and hospital transfers (p<0.01) increased, and referrals to family doctors (p<0.01) decreased. In 2020, the percentage of emergencies at night (p<0.01) and in low-income neighborhoods (p<0.01) increased. Waiting time for classification decreased (p<0.01), but total care time increased in 2020 (p<0.01). The patients seen in 2020 were older (p<.001), and with a greater number of previous processes (p<0.01), highlighting patients with anxiety, depression, or somatization (p<0.01) and diabetes (p=0.041). Consultations related to various symptoms of COVID19, mental health problems and chronic pathologies increased. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care emergency services offer additional advantages in situations such as the COVID19 pandemic, as they allow channeling part of the health demand.

[Analysis of the XIDE system in the management of overdemand for care]. / Análisis del sistema XIDE en la gestión de la sobredemanda asistencial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact and suitability of the XIDE citation system in the management of over-demand for care at the Monforte de Lemos Health Center (Lugo, Spain). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional, observational and analytical study. The study population was the patients with appointments to the elderly in the ordinary agenda as «forced¼ or «urgent forced¼. The population sample was obtained during the period from July 15 to August 15, 2022. The comparative analysis was performed with periods prior to the implementation of XIDE and the XIDE/observer concordance was estimated by calculating Cohen's kappa index. RESULTS: We observed an increase in care pressure, both in the number of consultations/day and in the proportion of forced consultations, which have increased by 30-34%. The group over 85 years of age and women are the majority in excess demand. The 83.04% of urgent consultations were cited through the XIDE system, the most frequent reason for consultation being «suspected COVID¼ (24.64%), with a concordance of 51.4% in this group and 65.5% globally. We appreciate a high overtriage in the assigned attention times, even when the reason for consultation coincides, with a poor statistical concordance with the observers. The high proportion in the overdemand of patients belonging to other places in the health center stands out, so that adequate management of human resources with adequate coverage of absences would reduce it by 48.5%, while the XIDE system (in the ideal assumption of absolute concordance) would only manage to reduce it by 43%. CONCLUSIONS: The low reliability of the XIDE is mainly due to inadequate triage, rather than the failure to reduce overdemand, so it cannot replace a triage system performed by health personnel.

How patients with diabetes experience physical activity promotion during nursing consultations in the Spanish context.

OBJECTIVE: Although physical activity (PA) is a key behaviour for controlling Type 2 Diabetes, problematic adoption and/or adherence continues to impair disease management. This study aims to understand how patients with T2D live and experience nurses PA promotion during consultations in Spanish context. METHOD: The present study is a qualitative research. In 2019-2020, pre-COVID-19, Twenty-two people living with T2D from Barcelona province contributed either to focus groups (n = 5) or to semi-structured interviews (n = 4). All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using conventional content analysis approach through constant comparative method. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed two major themes with sixteen subthemes. The two major themes include: "Intra-personal conscious PA adoption processes" and "Structural unconscious PA (non)adherence processes". CONCLUSION: Patients' experiences reflect two concurrent and interconnected issues. First, most patients readily adopted new PA after encouragement from nurses, who were the main proponents of PA. Indeed, adoption seemed to be most nurses' PA priority and it was effective for most patients. Second, few nurses discussed adherence, making it an almost universal problem and source of disappointment. For adherence, patients experience that nurses' attention needs to focus on activating processes and skills that support continued involvement in already-adopted PA.

Management in the care of people living with hiv in primary health care / Gestión en la atención a personas con vih en la atención primaria de la salud / Gestão no cuidado às pessoas com hiv na atenção primária à saúde

ABSTRACT Objective to understand the best management practices in the health care provided to people living with HIV in Primary Health Care services from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Method a qualitative research study anchored in the Constructivist Grounded Theory. The study participants were nurses and managers involved with management practices in the care provided to people living with HIV in the municipality. The data were collected between July and September 2020 from intensive interviews with 12 nurses in four Basic Health Units and with five managers of the Municipal Health Department, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, totaling 17 participants. Data collection and analysis took place concomitantly, following the initial and focused coding phases. Results this resulted in the phenomenon entitled "Unveiling the best management practices in the care provided to people living with HIV related to decentralized, shared and evidence-based care", supported by three categories that point to decentralization of the clinical management of the HIV infection to Primary Health Care in Florianópolis, to instrumentalization and training of professionals to manage the infection through the use of scientific evidence, and to the care practices developed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion decentralization of care for people living with HIV to Primary Health Care was presented as the foundation of the best practices, supported by teamwork and evidence-based clinical management.

RESUMEN Objetivo comprender las mejores prácticas de gestión de la atención médica provista a personas que viven con VIH en los servicios de Atención Primaria de la Salud de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Método investigación cualitativa, basada en la Teoría Fundamentada en los Datos constructivista. Los participantes del estudio fueron enfermeros y gerentes con participación en las prácticas de gestión de la atención provista a personas que viven con VIH en el municipio. Los datos se recolectaron entre julio y septiembre de 2020 a partir de entrevistas intensivas con 12 enfermeros en cuatro Unidades Básicas de Salud y con cinco gerentes de la Secretaría Municipal de Salud de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil, totalizando 17 participantes. La recolección y el análisis de los datos tuvieron lugar simultáneamente, para luego desarrollar las fases de codificación inicial y focalizada. Resultados se arribó al fenómeno llamado "Revelando las mejores prácticas de gestión de la atención provista a personas que viven con VIH relacionadas con la asistencia descentralizada, compartida y basada en evidencias", sustentado por tres categorías que apuntan a la descentralización del manejo clínico de la infección por VIH al ámbito de la Atención Primaria de la Salud en Florianópolis, a la instrumentalización y capacitación de los profesionales para el manejo de la infección aplicando evidencias científicas, y a las prácticas de atención desarrolladas frente a la pandemia de COVID-19. Conclusión la descentralización de la atención provista a personas que viven con VIH al ámbito de la Atención Primaria de la Salud se presentó como la base de las mejores prácticas, sustentadas en el trabajo en equipo y el manejo clínico basado en evidencias.

RESUMO Objetivo compreender as melhores práticas de gestão no cuidado à saúde das pessoas que vivem com HIV em serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde em Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Método pesquisa qualitativa, ancorada na teoria fundamentada nos dados construtivista. Os participantes do estudo foram enfermeiros e gestores envolvidos com as práticas de gestão no cuidado às pessoas que vivem com HIV no município. Os dados foram coletados entre julho e setembro de 2020, a partir de entrevistas intensivas com 12 enfermeiros, em quatro Unidades Básicas de Saúde e cinco gestores da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil, totalizando 17 participantes. A coleta e análise dos dados ocorreram de forma concomitante, seguindo as fases de codificação inicial e focalizada. Resultados chegou-se ao fenômeno intitulado "Desvelando as melhores práticas de gestão no cuidado às pessoas que vivem com HIV relacionadas com o cuidado descentralizado, compartilhado e baseado em evidências," sustentado por três categorias que apontam para a descentralização do manejo clínico da infecção por HIV para a Atenção Primária à Saúde em Florianópolis, a instrumentalização e treinamento dos profissionais para o manejo da infecção mediante o uso de evidências científicas e as práticas de cuidado desenvolvidas frente à pandemia de Covid-19. Conclusão a descentralização do cuidado às pessoas que vivem com HIV para a Atenção Primária à Saúde foi apresentada como alicerce das melhores práticas, amparadas no trabalho em equipe e manejo clínico baseado em evidências.

The relegated value of primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nursing perspective / El valor relegado de la atención primaria durante la pandemia COVID-19: una perspectiva de enfermería

RESUMEN El 11 de marzo del 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) caracteriza una nueva enfermedad denominada COVID-19 como una pandemia. En respuesta a ella, proporciona una serie de lineamientos y en el último de estos se visualiza la atención primaria de la salud como protagonista, sin embargo, es una gran tarea con pocos recursos disponibles, más aún cuando nos encontramos con un nivel de atención históricamente desatendido. En dicho contexto, se gesta el presente artículo que responde al objetivo de relevar la importancia de la atención primaria de la salud de América Latina en respuesta al plan estratégico desarrollado recientemente por la OMS. La necesidad de su fortalecimiento es referida por múltiples realidades como Chile, Perú, Brasil, México, Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Paraguay y Bolivia. A su vez, se ha descrito que la enfermería presenta un rol preponderante ante la problemática, pues son estos profesionales quienes prestan hasta el 90% de los servicios de salud, con resultados en los pacientes comparables o mejores que las contrapartes médicas. No obstante, su capacidad está limitada por las leyes estatales y federales. Se describen cuatro obstáculos que restringen el poderoso aporte de la atención primaria de la salud.

ABSTRACT On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) describes a new disease called COVID-19 as a pandemic. In response to this it provides a series of guidelines, with primary health care as the protagonist in the last of these. However, it is a great task with few available resources, even more so when we find a historically neglected level of care. In this context, this article responds to the objective of highlighting the importance of primary health care of Latin America in response to the strategic plan recently developed by the WHO. The need for its strengthening is referred to by multiple realities such as Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Likewise, it has been described that nursing has a preponderant role in the face of the problem since these are professionals who provide up to 90% of health services, with patient outcomes comparable to or better than medical counter- parts. However, their capacity is limited by state and federal laws. Four obstacles are described which restrict the powerful contribution of primary health care.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on notifiable diseases in Northern Brazil / Impacto da COVID-19 em doenças de notificação compulsória no Norte do Brasil / Impacto de la COVID-19 en las enfermedades de notificación compulsoria del Norte de Brasil

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da pandemia COVID-19 em doenças de notificação compulsória no Norte do Brasil. Métodos: Estudo descritivo e retrospectivo realizado com dados das bases Sinan (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) e SIH/SUS (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS) sobre meningite bacteriana e viral, dengue, febre hemorrágica da dengue, arboviroses, sífilis, tuberculose, hanseníase e hepatites virais. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva para avaliação da variação nos números absolutos das notificações e internações do período de 2015 a 2020 e suas variações médias. Resultados: As notificações e internações de meningite, arboviroses não-dengue, hanseníase, leptospirose e hepatites virais, em geral, demonstraram redução de 50 até 80% em relação a períodos anteriores. Houve variabilidade regional com dengue e febre hemorrágica da dengue, com aumentos e reduções independentes. As sífilis adquirida, gestacional e congênita demonstraram queda de até 60% nas notificações e nas internações, exceto sífilis congênita, que se manteve em estabilidade. As notificações e as internações de tuberculose se mantiveram estáveis em toda a região. Conclusão: Houve redução geral de mais da metade das notificações e das internações hospitalares, apresentando um impacto variável, dependendo do Estado e do processo de endemia de cada sub-região.

Objective: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on notifiable diseases in Northern Brazil. Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted using data from the Notifiable Disease Information System (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação ­ Sinan) and SUS Hospital Information System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS ­ SIH/SUS) on bacterial and viral meningitis, dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever, arboviruses, syphilis, tuberculosis, leprosy, and viral hepatitis. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the variation in absolute numbers of notifications and hospitalizations from 2015 to 2020 and their average variations. Results: Notifications and hospitalizations for meningitis, non-dengue arboviruses, leprosy, leptospirosis, and viral hepatitis exhibited a general decrease of 50 to 80% compared to previous years. There was regional variation in dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, with independent increases and decreases. Acquired, gestational and congenital syphilis presented a 60% decrease in notifications and hospitalizations, except for congenital syphilis, which remained stable. Tuberculosis notifications and hospitalizations remained stable in the entire region. Conclusion: There was an overall decrease of more than a half of notifications and hospitalizations, representing a variable impact depending on the state and the endemic process of each subregion.

Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de la pandemia de la COVID-19 en las enfermedades de notificación compulsoria del Norte de Brasil. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo realizado con datos de las bases SINAN (Sistema de Información de Agravios de Notificación) y SIH/SUS (Sistema de Informaciones Hospitalarias del SUS) sobre la meningitis bacteriana y viral, el dengue, la fiebre hemorrágica del dengue, las arbovirosis, la sífilis, la tuberculosis, la lepra y las hepatitis virales. Se utilizó de la estadística descriptiva para la evaluación de la variación de los números absolutos de las notificaciones y los ingresos del periodo entre 2015 y 2020 y sus variaciones medias. Resultados: Las notificaciones y los ingresos de meningitis, arbovirosis no-dengue,la lepra, la leptospirosis y las hepatitis virales, en general, han demostrado una disminución del 50 hasta el 80% respecto los periodos anteriores. Hubo variabilidad por región respecto el dengue y fiebre hemorrágica del dengue con subidas y bajadas independientes. Las sífilis adquirida, gestacional y congénita han demostrado caída hasta el 60% de las notificaciones e ingresos excepto la sífilis congénita que se mantuvo estable. Las notificaciones y los ingresos por tuberculosis se mantuvieron estables em toda la región. Conclusión: Hubo una disminución general de más de la mitad de las notificaciones y los ingresos hospitalarios, presentando un impacto variable, a depender del Estado y del proceso de endemia de cada sub-región.

Predictive factors for hospitalization in a cohort of primary healthcare patients with suspected COVID-19

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to identify clinical and demographic factors predictive of hospitalization in primary healthcare patients diagnosed with suspected COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was used. Patients attended in Casanova primary healthcare centre (CAP) (Barcelona, Spain) for symptoms compatible with possible or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between February 24 and May 30, 2020, were included. Data was collected through the electronic medical record and by telephone interview. RESULTS: 518 patients were included, of whom 283 (54.6%) were female. The median age was 50.2 years and 19.3% were aged ≥65 years: 79% were followed on an outpatient basis while the rest were hospitalized. Predictive factors for hospital admission were male sex, older age, a history of ischemic heart disease and the presence of dyspnoea, haemoptysis, nausea and vomiting, with a sensitivity of 48% and a specificity of 95.4%. Odynophagia and nasal congestion were predictors of a good prognosis. Mortality was 2.3% and 25% of deaths did not occur in hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 80% of primary healthcare patients received only outpatient care. Male sex, older age, a history of ischemic heart disease and symptoms like dyspnoea, haemoptysis, nausea and vomiting could lead to a greater risk of an unfavorable evolution during COVID-19. Patients with at least one of the above factors, which correlate with a higher hospital admission rate, should receive a closer follow-up to early detect when they can benefit from a hospital evaluation based on their clinical evolution. Resumen INTRODUCCIÓN: El objetivo del estudio fue identificar factores clínicos y demográficos predictivos de hospitalización en pacientes de atención primaria con diagnóstico de sospecha de COVID-19 al inicio de la pandemia. MÉTODOS: Cohorte retrospectiva, con pacientes atendidos en el centro de atención primaria (CAP) de Casanova (Barcelona, España) por síntomas compatibles con infección por SARS-CoV-2, entre 24 de febrero y 30 de mayo de 2020. Los datos se recogieron de la historia clínica electrónica y mediante entrevista telefónica. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 518 pacientes. 283 (54.6%) fueron mujeres. La edad media fue 50.2 años. Un 19.3% tenían 65 años o más. El 79% se siguieron de forma ambulatoria y el resto ingresaron en el hospital. Los factores predictivos de ingreso fueron sexo masculino, edad, antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica y la presencia de disnea, hemoptisis, náuseas o vómitos, con una sensibilidad del 48% y una especificidad del 95.4%. Odinofagia y congestión nasal fueron factores predictores de buen pronóstico. La mortalidad fue del 2.3%. El 25% de los pacientes que fallecieron no lo hicieron en el ámbito hospitalario. CONCLUSIONES: Casi el 80% de los pacientes atendidos en Atención Primaria recibieron únicamente atención ambulatoria. Sexo masculino, edad avanzada, antecedente de cardiopatía isquémica y síntomas como disnea, hemoptisis, náuseas y vómitos, podrían conllevar un mayor riesgo de evolución desfavorable. Los pacientes con al menos uno de los factores anteriores, deben recibir un seguimiento más estrecho para detectar precozmente cuándo pueden beneficiarse de una evaluación hospitalaria en función de su evolución clínica.

Use of antibiotics in Paediatric Primary Health Care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Consumption of antibiotics is high in Spain, primarily in children. Excessive use of then contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of our study is to analyse the evolution of antibiotic consumption at the Primary Health Care in the paediatric population of Asturias, Spain, from 2014 to 2021, and to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on it. METHODS: Retrospective and observational study using data about antibacterial agents for systemic use dispensed for official prescriptions to children under 14 years in Primary Care. Antibiotic consumption is expressed as defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). RESULTS: The antibiotic consumption rate dropped from 13.9 DID in 2014 to 4.0 in 2021 (ß=-1,42, p=0,002), with and inflection point in 2019. From 2019 to 2020 antibiotic use dropped by 47.1%. Antibiotic consumption remained very low from April 2020 to September 2021, and then moderately increased from October 2021. Prevalence of antibiotic use dropped from 39.9% in 2014 to 17.5% in 2021 (ß=-3,64, p=0,006). Relative consumption of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid decreased, while those of amoxiciline and third-generation cephalosporins increased. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric antibiotic consumption collapsed in Asturias in 2020, coinciding with COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring of antimicrobial usage indicators will allow to check if these changes are sustained over time.

Experiencias de los pacientes con diabetes sobre la promoción de la actividad física durante las consultas enfermeras en Cataluña

Resumen Objetivo Aunque la actividad física (AF) es un comportamiento clave para el control de la diabetes tipo 2 (DT2), los problemas de adopción-adherencia a la AF dificultan el manejo de la enfermedad. Este estudio tiene como objetivo entender cómo los pacientes con DT2 experimentan la promoción de la AF durante las consultas de enfermería en centros de atención primaria de Cataluña. Método Estudio cualitativo. Entre 2019-2020, en pre-COVID-19, 22 pacientes con DT2 de la provincia de Barcelona participaron en cinco grupos focales y/o cuatro entrevistas semiestructuradas. Todas las reuniones fueron registradas, transcritas y analizadas usando el enfoque de análisis de contenido convencional a través del método comparativo constante. Resultados El análisis de datos reveló dos temas principales con 16 subtemas. Los dos temas principales fueron: «Procesos conscientes intrapersonales de adopción de la AF» y «Procesos inconscientes estructurales de (no)adherencia a la AF». Conclusión La experiencia de los pacientes refleja dos problemas concurrentes e interconectados. En primer lugar, la mayoría adoptan rápidamente la AF después del apoyo de las enfermeras, los cuales fueron los principales promotores de la AF. En efecto, según los pacientes, la adopción de la AF parece ser la prioridad de la mayoría de las enfermeras. En segundo lugar, los pacientes perciben que pocas enfermeras dedican tiempo a la adherencia, lo que la convierte en un problema casi universal y una fuente de decepción para el paciente. Para la adherencia, los pacientes experimentan que la atención de las enfermeras debe centrarse en la activación de procesos y habilidades que apoyen la participación continua en la AF ya adoptada. Objective Although physical activity (PA) is a key behaviour for controlling Type 2 Diabetes, problematic adoption and/or adherence continues to impair disease management. This study aims to understand how patients with T2D live and experience nurses PA promotion during consultations in Spanish context. Method The present study is a qualitative research. In 2019-2020, pre-COVID-19, 22 people living with T2D from Barcelona province contributed either to focus groups (n = 5) or to semi-structured interviews (n = 4). All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using conventional content analysis approach through constant comparative method. Results Data analysis revealed two major themes with 16 subthemes. The two major themes include: «Intra-personal conscious PA adoption processes» and «Structural unconscious PA (non)adherence processes». Conclusion Patients' experiences reflect two concurrent and interconnected issues. First, most patients readily adopted new PA after encouragement from nurses, who were the main proponents of PA. Indeed, adoption seemed to be most nurses' PA priority and it was effective for most patients. Second, few nurses discussed adherence, making it an almost universal problem and source of disappointment. For adherence, patients experience that nurses' attention needs to focus on activating processes and skills that support continued involvement in already-adopted PA.

La atención primaria del futuro: ¿qué puede aprender la atención primaria europea de las innovaciones y retos de la pandemia de COVID-19?

Resumen La diversidad organizativa y financiera que caracteriza la atención primaria europea ha permitido responder extraordinariamente a la pandemia de COVID-19 con soluciones innovadoras: reorganización de la oferta de servicios, digitalización, nuevos roles profesionales e inclusión de nuevas profesiones en atención primaria, y pagos añadidos por la realización de actividades. La telemedicina ha transformado la atención al paciente. Las crisis humanitarias (inmigración y refugiados) requieren todavía nuevas soluciones en Europa. Los cuidados paliativos en atención primaria se han transformado. La novedosa educación médica virtual debe ser evaluada. La disminución de la burocracia es una clara necesidad, al igual que la coordinación con los servicios de medicina preventiva y de salud pública. La práctica en solitario versus los equipos de atención primaria, el acceso a la prescripción de ciertos fármacos, la hiperprescripción, las actividades preventivas, y las migraciones de médicos constituyen los retos del futuro para la atención primaria europea. Summary The organisational and financial diversity that characterizes European primary care has made it possible to respond extraordinarily to the COVID-19 pandemic with innovative solutions: reorganisation of the scope of services, digitization, new professional roles and inclusion of new professions in primary care, and the use of additional fees for service. Telemedicine has transformed patient care. Humanitarian crises (immigration and refugees) still require new solutions in Europe. Palliative care in primary care has been transformed. The new virtual medical education must be evaluated. The reduction of bureaucracy is a clear need, as is coordination with preventive medicine and public health services. Solo practice versus primary care teams, access to the prescription of certain drugs, over-prescription, preventive activities, and migration of physicians constitute future challenges for European primary care.

Reflexiones sobre la atención primaria del siglo xxi

Resumen La atención primaria debe de afrontar los nuevos desafíos del siglo xxi que ya han comenzado con la pandemia de la covid-19. Desafíos que tienen que ver con una nueva realidad sociosanitaria caracterizada por un aumento de la prevalencia de la comorbilidad y fragilidad ligada al envejecimiento y al impacto de los determinantes de la salud;cambios en la población con pacientes más informados y que reclaman participar en las decisiones que afectan a su salud en una sociedad cada vez más digitalizada. En ese contexto la atención primaria debe de resolver nuevos retos como cambiar su funcionamiento con equipos más cohesionados que puedan incorporar nuevos perfiles que aporten valor y donde exista un compromiso con la docencia y la investigación. La gestión de todos estos desafíos requiere que los profesionales que trabajan en atención primaria en el siglo xxi profundicen en sus competencias mirando más allá de las consultas de su centro de salud. Competencias como la selección y el uso del mejor conocimiento, el pensamiento crítico, el uso de la comunicación para acercarse a los valores y las preferencias de los pacientes, la toma de decisiones compartida y la conciencia social. Para que todos estos cambios se puedan realizar hace falta un impulso institucional con múltiples medidas insistentemente reclamadas por los profesionales. Entre las que están, en primer lugar, una mayor inversión en personal y equipamiento, así como apostar por modelos organizativos avalados por la evidencia destinados a obtener una atención más coordinada e integrada entre la atención primaria, el hospital, la salud mental, la salud pública y los servicios sociales la utilización juiciosa de las soluciones de la e-salud o la incorporación de un área de conocimiento sobre atención primaria en la universidad. Primary care must face the new challenges of the XXI century that have already started with the Covid-19 pandemic. These challenges have to do with a new sociosanitary reality characterized by a rise of the prevalence of the comorbidity and fragility linked to the eldering and the impact of the determinants of the health. Changes in the population, one with more informed patients who demand participating in the decisions that affect their health in a society that is increasingly digitalized. In this context the primary care must solve its challenges such as changing its way of functioning in more cohesive teams that can incorporate new profiles that are really needed and that bring value and where a compromise with teaching and investigation exists. The management of these challenges requires that the professionals working in primary care in the XXI century deepen in their competences looking further than the limits of their health centres. Competences such as the selection and use of the best knowledge, the critical thought, the use of communication to approach to the values and preferences of their patients, the shared decision making and social conscience. In order to these changes to pursue, an institutional impulse is necessary, one with the, many times insistently claimed by the professionals, measures. Among which is, firstly, a bigger inversion in personnel and equipment as well as the commitment with evidently proved models intended to obtain a more coordinated and integrated attention between the primary care, the hospital, the mental health, the public health and the social services, the judicious use of the e-health solutions or the incorporation of a knowledge area of primary care in the University.

[Impact of the pandemic on primary care. SESPAS Report 2022]. / Impacto de la pandemia en la atención primaria. Informe SESPAS 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which last 2 years and still goes on, has pushed the primary health care (PC) to a current worrying situation of saturation and exhaustion. It is a community infectious disease, with a great amount of cases (around 10 million declared in January 2022) due to that, PC has made an extraordinary effort to pay attention on mild cases and on PC and to detect potentially serious cases early. Unfortunately, up to now, a global evaluation of the actions has not been carried out, in order to allow us to learn from this new experience. This article describes the different phases of the pandemic and its impact on PC. Finally, solutions are proposed to reinforce the central criteria that allow PC to be maintained as the foundation of the welfare state, longitudinality, resolution, accessibility, and care coordination and continuity, thanks to the contribution of resources and skills given to the PC. In conclusion, PC must still being the basis of the health system and it is mandatory to recover and claim those competencies and resources that should always have been a part of PC.

[What have we missed because of COVID-19? Missed diagnoses and delayed follow-ups. SESPAS Report 2022]. / ¿Qué hemos dejado de atender por la COVID-19? Diagnósticos perdidos y seguimientos demorados. Informe SESPAS 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health emergency have affected patients and health services in non-COVID-19 pathologies. Several studies have shown its dissociation from health services, with a decrease in emergency department visits, in hospital admissions for non-COVID-19 pathologies, as well as in the reported weekly incidence of acute illnesses and new diagnoses in primary care. In parallel, the pandemic has had direct and indirect effects on people with chronic diseases; the difficulties in accessing health services, the interruption of care, the saturation of the system itself and its reorientation towards non-face-to-face formats has reduced the capacity to prevent or control chronic diseases. All this has also had an impact on the different areas of people's lives, creating new social and economic difficulties, or aggravating those that existed before the pandemic. All these circumstances have changed with each epidemic wave. We present a review of the most relevant studies that have been analyzing this problem and incorporate as a case study the results of a retrospective observational study carried out in Primary Care in the Madrid Health Service, which provides health coverage to a population of more than 6 million people, and whose objective was to analyze the loss of new diagnoses in the most prevalent pathologies such as common mental health problems, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and breast and colon tumors, in the first and second waves. Annual incidence rates with their confidence interval were calculated for each pathology and the monthly frequency of new codes recorded between 1/01/2020 and 12/31/2020 was compared with the monthly mean of observed counts for the same months between 2016 and 2019. The annual incidence rate for all processes studied decreased in 2020 except for anxiety disorders. Regarding the recovery of lost diagnoses, heart failure is the only diagnosis showing an above-average recovery after the first wave. To return to pre-pandemic levels of diagnosis and follow-up of non-COVID-19 pathology, the healthcare system must reorganize and contemplate specific actions for the groups at highest risk.

[Frailty impact on COVID-19 disease in an older cohort from the city of Barcelona]. / Impacto de la fragilidad y COVID-19 en una cohorte de gente mayor de la ciudad de Barcelona.

Objetive To describe the incidence and mortality of the first wave of COVID-19 in the elderly population of Barcelona, according to their previous levels of frailty. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Population aged 65 or over assigned to the Barcelona Primary Care centres of the Institut Català de la Salut, followed between March and June 2020. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Frailty was calculated at baseline from the computerised medical records. Results during follow-up: diagnosis of COVID-19, possible or confirmed with PCR and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: 251788 patients over 64 years of age were analysed, 61.3% had some level of frailty, 27.8% moderate or severe. The incidence of COVID-19 was 3.13 cases per 100 inhabitants (N=7883) and the mortality from COVID-19 was 21.5% (N=1691). Both the incidence and mortality from COVID-19 were higher at older age, in men, at greater deprivation and at a higher level of frailty. Individuals with mild, moderate, and severe frailty had an adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) for COVID-19 disease of 1.47, 2.08, and 3.50, respectively. Among subjects with COVID-19, those with mild, moderate, and severe frailty had an adjusted HR for COVID-19 mortality of 1.44, 1.69, and 2.47, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We consider it necessary to address frailty also in a pandemic situation, since it is a treatable condition and in turn a more serious risk factor for COVID-19, where the role of primary care is essential, due to its accessibility and longitudinal character.