Calidad de vida de los profesionales en el modelo de gestión clínica de Asturias / Professional quality of life in the clinical governance model of Asturias (Spain)

Objetivo: Analizar la calidad de vida profesional en el modelo de gestión clínica de Asturias y comprobar si hay diferencias en los centros donde el modelo lleva implantado más tiempo o en función del ámbito asistencial (atención primaria o especializada). Métodos: Se aplicó el CVP-35 (35 preguntas), anónimo y autocumplimentado, con tres preguntas adicionales. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo, univariado y bivariado, de las preguntas por separado y según las subescalas "Apoyo directivo" (AD), "Cargas de trabajo" (CT) y "Motivación intrínseca" (MI), siendo las principales variables independientes el ámbito asistencial y el tiempo como unidad o área de gestión clínica. Resultados: De la población de estudio, 2572 profesionales, respondieron 1395 (54%) (el 67% en primaria y 51% en especializada). El 87% llevaba 5 años o más en su puesto. Para el 33% era su primer año en gestión clínica. El ítem con mayor puntuación fue la capacitación para el trabajo (8,39 ± 1,42) y el más bajo los conflictos con los compañeros (3,23 ± 2,2). Primaria obtiene resultados más altos en AD y calidad de vida en el trabajo, y especializada en CT. Respecto a la gestión clínica, las mejores puntuaciones se obtienen en las de 3 años y las peores en las de primer año. Las diferencias son especialmente favorables a la gestión clínica en especializada: las que más tiempo llevan perciben menos CT y más MI y calidad de vida. Conclusiones: Llevar más tiempo en el modelo de gestión clínica se asocia con mejores percepciones en la calidad de vida profesional, sobre todo en atención especializada (AU)

Objective: To evaluate professional quality of life in our clinical governance model by comparing differences according to the time since the model's implementation (1-3 years) and the setting (primary or hospital care). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. The 35-item, anonymous, self-administered Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire, with three additional questions, was applied. A minimum sample size for each clinical governance unit/area (CGU/CGA) was calculated. Descriptive, univariate and bivariate analyses were performed using the 35 items separately. The subscales of "management support", "workload" and "intrinsic motivation" were used as dependant variables, and the setting and time since implementation of the CGU/CGA as independent variables. Results: Of the study population of 2572 professionals, 1395 (54%) responded (67% in primary care and 51% in hospital care). A total of 87% had been working for 5 years or more in their positions. Thirty-three percent had worked for less than a year in clinical governance. The item with the highest score was job training (8.39 ± 1.42) and that with the lowest was conflicts with peers (3.23 ± 2.2). Primary healthcare professionals showed better results in management support and quality of life at work and hospital professionals in workload. The clinical governance model obtained the best scores at 3 years and the worst at 1 year. These differences were especially favorable for clinical governance in hospitals: professionals working longer perceived a lower workload and more intrinsic motivation and quality of life. Conclusions: A longer time working in the clinical governance model was associated with better perception of professional quality of life, especially in hospital care (AU)

[Professional quality of life in the clinical governance model of Asturias (Spain)]. / Calidad de vida de los profesionales en el modelo de gestión clínica de Asturias.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate professional quality of life in our clinical governance model by comparing differences according to the time since the model's implementation (1-3 years) and the setting (primary or hospital care). METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. The 35-item, anonymous, self-administered Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire, with three additional questions, was applied. A minimum sample size for each clinical governance unit/area (CGU/CGA) was calculated. Descriptive, univariate and bivariate analyses were performed using the 35 items separately. The subscales of « management support ¼, « workload ¼ and « intrinsic motivation ¼ were used as dependant variables, and the setting and time since implementation of the CGU/CGA as independent variables. RESULTS: Of the study population of 2572 professionals, 1395 (54%) responded (67% in primary care and 51% in hospital care). A total of 87% had been working for 5 years or more in their positions. Thirty-three percent had worked for less than a year in clinical governance. The item with the highest score was job training (8.39 ± 1.42) and that with the lowest was conflicts with peers (3.23 ± 2.2). Primary healthcare professionals showed better results in management support and quality of life at work and hospital professionals in workload. The clinical governance model obtained the best scores at 3 years and the worst at 1 year. These differences were especially favorable for clinical governance in hospitals: professionals working longer perceived a lower workload and more intrinsic motivation and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: A longer time working in the clinical governance model was associated with better perception of professional quality of life, especially in hospital care.

Atopic dermatitis and indoor use of energy sources in cooking and heating appliances.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence has considerably increased worldwide in recent years. Studying indoor environments is particularly relevant, especially in industrialised countries where many people spend 80% of their time at home, particularly children. This study is aimed to identify the potential association between AD and the energy source (biomass, gas and electricity) used for cooking and domestic heating in a Spanish schoolchildren population. METHODS: As part of the ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) phase III study, a cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted with 21,355 6-to-7-year-old children from 8 Spanish ISAAC centres. AD prevalence, environmental risk factors and the use of domestic heating/cooking devices were assessed using the validated ISAAC questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (cOR, aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained. A logistic regression analysis was performed (Chi-square test, p-value < 0.05). RESULTS: It was found that the use of biomass systems gave the highest cORs, but only electric cookers showed a significant cOR of 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01-1.27). When the geographical area and the mother's educational level were included in the logistic model, the obtained aOR values differed moderately from the initial cORs. Electric heating was the only type which obtained a significant aOR (1.13; 95% CI: 1.00-1.27). Finally, the model with all selected confounding variables (sex, BMI, number of siblings, mother's educational level, smoking habits of parents, truck traffic and geographical area), showed aOR values which were very similar to those obtained in the previous adjusted logistic analysis. None of the results was statistically significant, but the use of electric heating showed an aOR close to significance (1.14; 95% CI: 0.99-1.31). CONCLUSION: In our study population, no statistically significant associations were found between the type of indoor energy sources used and the presence of AD.

Accuracy of ImmunoCAP Rapid in the diagnosis of allergic sensitization in children between 1 and 14 years with recurrent wheezing: the IReNE study.

It is estimated that at least one out of three children with recurrent wheezing is atopic. Reliable diagnostic tools are needed in primary care that allow for adequate identification of these children. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of ImmunoCAP Rapid (ICR) Wheeze-Rhinitis Child in the identification of atopy with the use of 10 selected allergens in children with recurrent episodes of wheezing. A multicenter population study is based on primary care. It included children managed consecutively at the health center, who had three or more episodes of wheezing, at least one of them in the last 12 months. Each child completed a physical examination, an epidemiological survey, one capillary blood sampling (110 microl) for ICR, and one venous blood sampling for determination of Phadiatop Infant, total IgE and 10 specific IgE measurements. The children were identified as atopic, based on their clinical signs and symptoms and at least one positive specific IgE (0.35 kU(A)/l or higher), before knowing the results of ICR, Phadiatop Infant and total IgE. ICR was read by two independent observers. Six classes were evaluated, negative without any color and five positive degrees of pink-red color. Two hundred and fifteen children aged between 1 and 14 years were studied (138 boys); 50.7% were identified as atopic, 39.1% were sensitized only to inhalant allergens, 6.5% to food allergens and 5.1% to both. The predominant allergen was the dust mite (39.3%). For ICR, there were 2134 valid double observations. The Kappa index, comparing the negative results vs. any positive result, was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.88-0.94). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.98-0.99). In the identification of a child as atopic, the positive post-test probability of ICR depended on the color degrees considered: 88.4% for any positive and 97.6% for the most intense tones. The positive post-test probability of Phadiatop Infant and total IgE was 95.6% and 68.2% respectively. ICR showed good reliability for the most prevalent allergen, the dust mite, with a sensitivity of 90.5% (95% CI: 82.1-95.8) and specificity of 88.5% (95% CI: 81.7-93.4). The analysis of the other allergens was limited by the small number of sensitized children. The analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves revealed an area under the curve of 0.84 (95% CI 0.80-0.88) for the cut-off point of specific IgE of 0.35 kU(A)/l and of 0.94(CI 0.91-0.97) for 2 kU(A)/l. A greater intensity of color of the lines of ICR was related to higher levels of specific IgE in blood. ICR is a reliable test for the identification of atopy in children, which identifies most children as atopic, and shows a good correlation in allergen-by-allergen identification. This suggests that it should be regarded as a first-rate tool, in the primary care clinic, for the evaluation of children with recurrent wheezing.

[Time trends in prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis in 13-14 year-old schoolchildren in 8 areas of Spain between 1993-1994 and 2001-2002 according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)]. / Evolución temporal de la prevalencia de síntomas de rinitis alérgica en escolares de 13-14 años de 8 áreas españolas entre 1993-1994 y 2001-2002 según el Estudio Internacional sobre Asma y Alergias en la Infancia (ISAAC).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to estimate the time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) and its geographic variations. POPULATION AND METHOD: During 2001-2002, the phase 3 of ISAAC study was carried out, and a comparison with the phase 1 (1993-1994) was done. This cross sectional study included 30,046 schoolchildren 13-14 years-old from 9 centers (Asturias, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Castellon, Madrid, Pamplona, Valencia, and Valladolid). A questionnaire about rhinitis symptoms self-administered to schoolchildren was used at schools and institutes with a participation rate of 100% to 75.8%. RESULTS: A divergent time trend of AR prevalence symptoms was observed with a decrease in Barcelona and Bilbao, a stabilization in Cartagena, Pamplona, and Valencia, and an increase in Castellon; Madrid and Valladolid; however, there was an overall increase in nasal allergy. The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in the past year (Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 1,13; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.07-1.19) and nasal allergy ever (PR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.15-1.30) increased after adjusting for gender, center and season change. The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis and nasal allergy varied according to centres, Madrid, Asturias, Cartagena and Bilbao exhibiting the higher prevalence. Taken as a whole, these data indicate a middle prevalence of AR when compared with other countries following an ISAAC methodology. CONCLUSIONS: Two patterns of time trend of prevalence of symptoms of AR were observed. The investigation of risk factors at local level could be important in order to undertake preventive measures.