Period poverty and mental health in a representative sample of young women in Barcelona, Spain.

BACKGROUND: The intersection between poverty and mental health is clear. Period poverty, understood as the lack of access to menstrual products, has been gaining attention especially among low and middle-income countries as an overlooked aspect of gendered poverty. Less is known about the incidence of period poverty in high-income countries and its association with mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine this association in a representative sample of young women living in an urban setting in southern Europe. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from a representative survey of individuals aged 15 to 34 in the city of Barcelona (Spain), with a sample group of 647 young women. Subjects were selected through a systematic stratified random sampling method. A proportional quota sampling was used. The information was registered using CAPI data collection method. Period poverty was measured by a combination of three questions about the lack of access or misuse of menstrual products for economic reasons. The GHQ-12 was used to measure the risk of poor mental health. The analysis was carried out using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: From our sample, 15.3% of young women reported having experienced period poverty. Higher odds of poor mental health were estimated for women facing period poverty (AOR = 1.85 p < 0.05). This effect is statistically significant after controlling by their income status and level of deprivation. Young women living in poorer households have a higher probability of poor mental health than those living in high-income households (AOR = 0.47 p < 0.05). Finally, material deprivation was associated to an increased risk of poor mental health among young women reporting period poverty (AOR = 2.59 p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We found that a considerable number of young women living in an urban setting in a high-income country cannot afford menstrual products, and this may have an impact on their mental wellbeing. The relationship between period poverty and respondents' mental health is significant when controlling for factors known to confer an increased risk of poor mental health. If confirmed by further research, the public health burden of poor mental health in young women could be reduced by policy-level interventions to improve access to menstrual products.

Uso de biomodelos impresos en 3D para la planificación preoperatoria de artroplastia total de cadera luego de fractura acetabular: reporte de un caso / 3D printed biomodels for preoperative planning of total hip arthroplasty following an acetabular fracture: a case report

Introducción. Las fracturas de acetábulo constituyen un reto para los ortopedistas por la dificultad de su tratamiento y las complicaciones asociadas.Presentación del caso. Hombre de 53 años que ingresó al servicio de urgencias de un hospital del tercer nivel de atención por policontusión en tórax y pelvis causada por un accidente de tránsito. Presentó dolor en tórax y cadera, y no se identificó lesión ósea, por lo que se dio el alta a las 48 horas. Siete días después, el paciente asistió al servicio de urgencias por dolor en la cadera izquierda y limitación para caminar. En los exámenes imagenológicos, se evidenció fractura de acetábulo izquierdo, pero fue operado luego de dos meses debido a dificultades económicas y del aseguramiento en salud. Se realizó reducción abierta más fijación interna y relleno con injerto de cresta ilíaca, y artroplastia total de cadera (ATC). A los seis meses, el paciente presentó capacidad de ambulación limitada y dolor en la cadera izquierda. Luego de los exámenes físico e imagenológico, se diagnosticó deformación severa del acetábulo izquierdo con migración posterosuperior de la cabeza femoral, necrosis de la cabeza femoral completa y defecto óseo posterosuperior de acetábulo (tipo IIIB según clasificación de Paprosky), por lo que se realizó ATC asistida por biomodelos 3D. El paciente presentó una recuperación óptima. Conclusión. Utilizar biomodelos 3D impresos optimiza la planificación preoperatoria, ya que permite reconocer la lesión, plantear el abordaje más adecuado, elegir los mejores implantes y disminuir el tiempo de operación, el sangrado y las complicaciones

Introduction: Acetabulum fractures are a challenge for orthopedic surgeons due to the difficulty of their treatment and associated complications. Case presentation: A 53-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital due to multiple trauma to the chest and pelvis following a traffic accident. He presented with chest and hip pain, but no bone lesion was identified, so he was discharged after 48 hours. Seven days later, the patient attended the emergency department again due to pain in the left hip and limited walking. Imaging tests showed a fracture of the left acetabulum, but he was operated on only after two months owing to economic and health insurance difficulties. Open reduction internal fixation and filling with iliac crest graft and total hip arthroplasty (THA) were performed. After six months, the patient presented limited ambulation capacity and pain in the left hip. Upon physical and imaging examinations, severe deformity of the left acetabulum with posterosuperior migration of the femoral head, necrosis of the entire femoral head, and posterosuperior bone defect of the acetabulum (type IIIB according to Paprosky's classification) were diagnosed, so 3D biomodel-assisted THA was performed. The patient had an optimal recovery.Conclusion: The use of 3D printed biomodels optimizes preoperative planning, as it allows identifying the lesion, planning the most appropriate approach, choosing the best implants, and reducing operating time, bleeding and complications

Reduction of pharmaceutical expenditure by a drug appropriateness intervention in polymedicated elderly subjects in Catalonia (Spain) / Reducción del gasto farmacéutico mediante una intervención de adecuación de medicamentos en ancianos polimedicados de Cataluña (España

Objective: To assess the monetary savings resulting from a pharmacist intervention on the appropriateness of prescribed drugs in community-dwelling polymedicated (≥8 drugs) elderly people (≥70 years). Method: An evaluation of pharmaceutical expenditure reduction was performed within a randomised, multicentre clinical trial. The study intervention consisted of a pharmacist evaluation of all drugs prescribed to each patient using the "Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice" algorithm and the "Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment" criteria (STOPP/START). The control group followed the routine standard of care. A time horizon of one year was considered and cost elements included human resources and drug expenditure. Results: 490 patients (245 in each group) were analysed. Both groups experienced a decrease in drug expenditure 12 months after the study started, but this decrease was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (−14.3% vs.−7.7%; p=0.041). Total annual drug expenditure decreased 233.75 Euros/patient (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 169.83-297.67) in the intervention group and 169.40 Euros/patient (95%CI: 103.37-235.43) in the control group over a one-year period, indicating that 64.30 Euros would be the drug expenditure savings per patient a year attributable to the study intervention. The estimated return per Euro invested in the programme would be 2.38 Euros per patient a year on average. Conclusions: The study intervention is a cost-effective alternative to standard care that could generate a positive return of investment

Objetivo: Evaluar los ahorros monetarios resultantes de la intervención de un farmacéutico orientada a mejorar la adecuación de los fármacos prescritos en ancianos (≥70 años) polimedicados (≥8 medicamentos) de la comunidad. Método: Se evaluó la reducción del gasto farmacéutico en el marco de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado y multicéntrico. La intervención del estudio consistió en una evaluación de todos los fármacos prescritos a cada paciente utilizando el algoritmo Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice y los criterios Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (STOPP/START). El grupo control siguió la práctica clínica habitual. Se consideró un horizonte temporal de un año y los elementos de costes incluyeron los recursos humanos y el gasto en medicamentos. Resultados: Se analizaron 490 pacientes (245 por grupo). La disminución del gasto farmacéutico a los 12 meses fue significativamente mayor en el grupo de intervención que en el grupo control (−14,3% vs.−7,7%; p=0,041). El gasto anual en medicamentos disminuyó 233,75 Euros por paciente (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 169,83-297,67) en el grupo de intervención y 169,40 Euros por paciente (IC95%: 103,37-235,43) en el grupo control, indicando un ahorro farmacéutico de 64,30 Euros por paciente/año atribuible a la intervención del estudio. Se ha estimado un retorno de 2,38 Euros por cada euro invertido en el programa. Conclusiones: La intervención en estudio es una alternativa rentable a la atención estándar, que podría generar un retorno positivo de la inversión

Reduction of pharmaceutical expenditure by a drug appropriateness intervention in polymedicated elderly subjects in Catalonia (Spain).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the monetary savings resulting from a pharmacist intervention on the appropriateness of prescribed drugs in community-dwelling polymedicated (≥8 drugs) elderly people (≥70 years). METHOD: An evaluation of pharmaceutical expenditure reduction was performed within a randomised, multicentre clinical trial. The study intervention consisted of a pharmacist evaluation of all drugs prescribed to each patient using the "Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice" algorithm and the "Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment" criteria (STOPP/START). The control group followed the routine standard of care. A time horizon of one year was considered and cost elements included human resources and drug expenditure. RESULTS: 490 patients (245 in each group) were analysed. Both groups experienced a decrease in drug expenditure 12 months after the study started, but this decrease was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (-14.3% vs.-7.7%; p=0.041). Total annual drug expenditure decreased 233.75 €/patient (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 169.83-297.67) in the intervention group and 169.40 €/patient (95%CI: 103.37-235.43) in the control group over a one-year period, indicating that 64.30 € would be the drug expenditure savings per patient a year attributable to the study intervention. The estimated return per Euro invested in the programme would be 2.38 € per patient a year on average. CONCLUSIONS: The study intervention is a cost-effective alternative to standard care that could generate a positive return of investment.

Effects of undocumented immigrants exclusion from health care coverage in Spain.

BACKGROUND: In 2012 the Spanish government passed Royal Decree-Law 16/2012 (RDL) aimed at containing public expenditure in response to the economic crisis. This RDL redefined just who would be entitled to public health care. As a result, a large proportion of undocumented immigrants in Spain were excluded from basic publicly financed health care with access only being granted under particular circumstances (emergency care, maternal care, children under 18, asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking). AIM: The aims of this paper are to identify the specific traits of this policy, review its impact on health and health care access, and to evaluate its economic impact. RESULTS: Most political parties and health professional groups opposed the RDL, and a large number of Spanish regions either declined to apply it or opted to apply it partially. To date, the RDL has had a considerable impact on the access of undocumented immigrants to public health care, with evidence suggesting that approximately 870,000 people have been excluded. A slight increase in infectious diseases has been reported, albeit not as high as originally predicted, and recent evidence points to an increase in mortality among this population subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Regional legislation favouring the coverage of undocumented immigrants might have acted as a counterweight and thus contained the negative health effects in this population subgroup. But the Constitutional Court invalidated all regional arrangements obliging regions to comply with the RDL.

The use of clinical practice guidelines in primary care: professional mindlines and control mechanisms / El uso de guías de práctica clínica en atención primaria: entre el conocimiento tácito y los mecanismos de control

Objective: To identify the relevant barriers and enablers perceived by primary care professionals in implementing the recommendations of clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with primary care physicians and nurses in Catalonia (Spain) between October and December 2012. Thirty-nine health professionals were selected based on their knowledge and daily use of CPG. Finally, eight general practitioners and eight nurses were included in the discussion groups. Participants were asked to share their views and beliefs on the accessibility of CPG, their knowledge and use of these documents, the content and format of CPG, dissemination strategy, training, professional-patient relationship, and the use of CPG by the management structure. We recorded and transcribed the content verbatim and analysed the data using qualitative analysis techniques. Results: Physicians believed that, overall, CPG were of little practical use and frequently referred to them as a largely bureaucratic management control instrument that threatened their professional autonomy. In contrast, nurses believed that CPG were rather helpful tools in their day-to-day practice, although they would like them to be more sensitive to the current role of nurses. Both groups believed that CPG did not provide a response to most of the decisions they faced in the primary care setting. Conclusions: Compliance with CPG recommendations would be improved if these documents were brief, non-compulsory, not cost-containment oriented, more based on nursing care models, sensitive to the specific needs of primary care patients, and integrated into the computer workstation (AU)

Objetivo: Identificar barreras y facilitadores percibidos por los profesionales de atención primaria en la aplicación de las recomendaciones de las guías de práctica clínica (GPC). Método: Dos grupos focales con profesionales médicos y de enfermería (atención primaria) en Cataluña entre octubre y diciembre de 2012. Se seleccionaron 39 profesionales según su conocimiento y uso de las GPC. Finalmente se incluyeron ocho médicos/as de familia y ocho profesionales de enfermería. Se solicitó a los/las participantes compartir sus opiniones y creencias sobre accesibilidad, conocimiento y uso de las GPC, su contenido y formato, difusión, capacitación, relación profesional-paciente, y su utilización por parte de la estructura de gestión. Los contenidos fueron grabados, transcritos y analizados utilizando técnicas de análisis cualitativos. Resultados: Los/las médicos/as creen que las GPC son en general de relativa utilidad práctica y con frecuencia se refieren a ellas como un instrumento de control burocrático que amenaza su autonomía profesional. Por el contrario, el grupo de enfermería consideró las GPC como herramientas bastante útiles en la práctica, aunque aún poco sensibles al papel actual de la enfermería. Ambos grupos creen que las GPC no ofrecen una respuesta a la mayor parte de las decisiones en el ámbito de la atención primaria. Conclusiones: El cumplimiento de las GPC mejoraría con recomendaciones breves, no obligatorias, no orientadas a la contención de costes y sensibles a las necesidades específicas de los/las pacientes en atención primaria, integrándolas en la estación de trabajo clínica (AU)

The use of clinical practice guidelines in primary care: professional mindlines and control mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the relevant barriers and enablers perceived by primary care professionals in implementing the recommendations of clinical practice guidelines (CPG). METHODS: Two focus groups were conducted with primary care physicians and nurses in Catalonia (Spain) between October and December 2012. Thirty-nine health professionals were selected based on their knowledge and daily use of CPG. Finally, eight general practitioners and eight nurses were included in the discussion groups. Participants were asked to share their views and beliefs on the accessibility of CPG, their knowledge and use of these documents, the content and format of CPG, dissemination strategy, training, professional-patient relationship, and the use of CPG by the management structure. We recorded and transcribed the content verbatim and analysed the data using qualitative analysis techniques. RESULTS: Physicians believed that, overall, CPG were of little practical use and frequently referred to them as a largely bureaucratic management control instrument that threatened their professional autonomy. In contrast, nurses believed that CPG were rather helpful tools in their day-to-day practice, although they would like them to be more sensitive to the current role of nurses. Both groups believed that CPG did not provide a response to most of the decisions they faced in the primary care setting. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with CPG recommendations would be improved if these documents were brief, non-compulsory, not cost-containment oriented, more based on nursing care models, sensitive to the specific needs of primary care patients, and integrated into the computer workstation.

Cuts drive health system reforms in Spain.

The economic crisis is largely shaping health policy in Spain. This paper reports on major changes in the health care system, both nationally and regionally, as a consequence of sizable cutbacks and new pieces of legislation. The most relevant changes to the system introduced during the last year are having an impact on who is insured, which benefits are covered, and what share of the cost of service provision is contributed by the population, while at the same time reducing salaries and working conditions in the sector. We further report on the consequences these changes are having, and the roles played by key actors and organisations in the system.

Development and test of a decision support tool for hospital health technology assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and test a decision-support tool for prioritizing new competing Health Technologies (HTs) after their assessment using the mini-HTA approach. METHODS: A two layer value/risk tool was developed based on the mini-HTA. The first layer included 12 mini-HTA variables classified in two dimensions, namely value (safety, clinical benefit, patient impact, cost-effectiveness, quality of the evidence, innovativeness) and risk (staff, space and process of care impacts, incremental costs, net cost, investment effort). Weights given to these variables were obtained from a survey among decision-makers (at National/Regional level and hospital settings). A second layer included results from mini-HTA (scored as higher, equal or lower), which compares the performance of the new HT (in terms of the abovementioned 12 variables) with the available comparator. An algorithm combining the first (weights) and second (scores) layers was developed to obtain an overall score for each HT, which was then plotted in a value/risk matrix. The tool was tested using results from the mini-HTAs for three new HTs (Surgical Robot, Platelet Rich Plasma, Deep Brain Stimulation). RESULTS: No significant differences among decision-makers were observed as regards the weights given to the 12 variables, therefore, the median aggregate weights from decision-makers were introduced in the first layer. The dot plot resulting from the mini-HTA presented good power to visually discriminate between the assessed HTs. CONCLUSION: The decision-support tool developed here makes possible a robust and straightforward comparison of different competing HTs. This facilitates hospital decision-makers deliberations on the prioritization of competing investments under fixed budgets.

Measuring the payback of research activities: a feasible ex-post evaluation methodology in epidemiology and public health.

Most ex-post evaluations of research funding programs are based on bibliometric methods and, although this approach has been widely used, it only examines one facet of the project's impact, that is, scientific productivity. More comprehensive models of payback assessment of research activities are designed for large-scale projects with extensive funding. The purpose of this study was to design and implement a methodology for the ex-post evaluation of small-scale projects that would take into account both the fulfillment of projects' stated objectives as well as other wider benefits to society as payback measures. We used a two-phase ex-post approach to appraise impact for 173 small-scale projects funded in 2007 and 2008 by a Spanish network center for research in epidemiology and public health. In the internal phase we used a questionnaire to query the principal investigator (PI) on the outcomes as well as actual and potential impact of each project; in the external phase we sent a second questionnaire to external reviewers with the aim of assessing (by peer-review) the performance of each individual project. Overall, 43% of the projects were rated as having completed their objectives "totally", and 40% "considerably". The research activities funded were reported by PIs as socially beneficial their greatest impact being on research capacity (50% of payback to society) and on knowledge translation (above 11%). The method proposed showed a good discriminating ability that makes it possible to measure, reliably, the extent to which a project's objectives were met as well as the degree to which the project contributed to enhance the group's scientific performance and of its social payback.

Spanish health care cuts: penny wise and pound foolish?

The purpose of this paper is to convey the specific health care actions and policies undertaken by the Spanish government, as well as by regional governments, as a result of the economic crisis. Throughout the last two years we have witnessed a number of actions in areas such as human capital, activity and processes, outsourcing and investment that, poorly coordinated, have shaped the nature of financial cuts on public services. This paper discloses the size and magnitude of these actions, the main actors involved and the major consequences for the health sector, citizens and patients. We further argue that there are a number of factors which have been neglected in the discourse and in the actions undertaken. First, the crisis situation is not being used as an opportunity for major reforms in the health care system. Further, the lay public and professionals have remained as observers in the process, with little to no participation at any point. Moreover, there is a general perception that the solution to the Spanish situation is either the proposed health care cuts or an increase in cost sharing for services which neglects alternative and/or complementary measures. Finally, there is a complete absence of any scientific component in the discourse and in the policies proposed.

Spanish adaptation of the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) for schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: The Beck Cognitive Insight Scale has been designed to evaluate the cognitive insight capacity, that is to say, the practice of self-reflectiveness as a meta-cognitive mechanism for examining and analysing the disorder's symptoms, it also permits a continuous re-evaluation of inadequate interpretations. METHODOLOGY: The aim of this study is to examine the psychometric properties, the dimensional structure and the internal validity of the Spanish version of Beck's Cognitive Scale of Insight (BCIS). In this paper we also analyse its relation with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS). The Cognitive Insight Scale was translated and adapted to Spanish with 129 in- and out-schizophrenic patients. RESULTS: Principal component analysis showed a two-factor structure that was similar to the original one, recognizable as self-reflectiveness (R) and self-certainty (C) with similar reliability as the American version. Self-reflectiveness and the R-C index correlated with loss of insight of the PANSS scale. In general, BCIS showed significant associations with the PANSS subscales. Out patients scored self-reflectiveness and R-C index signicantly higher than in-patients and lower in self-certainty. CONCLUSION: Psychometric properties obtained with the adapted Spanish version of BCIS guarantee the adequate evaluation of cognitive insight.

Adaptación española de la Escala de Insight Cognitivo de Beck (EICB) en esquizofrénicos / Spanish Adaptation of the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) for Schizophrenia

Introducción. La Escala de Insight Cognitivo de Beck ha sido diseñada para evaluar la capacidad de insight cognitivo esto es, la práctica de la auto-reflexión como mecanismo metacognitivo de examen y análisis de los síntomas de la enfermedad que permite la reevaluación continua de interpretaciones inadecuadas. Metodología. Este estudio examina las propiedades psicométricas, la estructura dimensional y la validez interna de la versión española de la Escala de Insight Cognitivo de Beck (EICB). Igualmente se analiza su relación con la Escala de Síndrome Positivo y Negativo en Esquizofrenia (PANSS). La escala de Insight Cognitivo fue traducida y adaptada al castellano en 129 pacientes esquizofrénicos ingresados y no ingresados. Resultados. El análisis de componentes principales mostró una estructura de dos factores semejantes a la original reconocibles como auto-reflexión (R) y auto-certeza (C), con similar fiabilidad a la versión americana. Auto-reflexión y el índice R-C correlacionaron con pérdida de insight de la PANSS. En general la EICB se asoció significativamente con subescalas de la PANSS. Los pacientes comunitarios puntuaron significativamente más alto en autoreflexión y el índice R-C que los ingresados y más bajo en autocerteza. Conclusión. Las propiedades psicométricas obtenidas con la versión española adaptada de la EICB garantizan la adecuada evaluación del insight cognitivo (AU)

Introduction. The Beck Cognitive Insight Scale has been designed to evaluate the cognitive insight capacity, that is to say, the practice of self-reflectiveness as a meta-cognitive mechanism for examining and analysing the disorder’s symptoms, it also permits a continuous reevaluation of inadequate interpretations. Methodology. The aim of this study is to examine the psychometric properties, the dimensional structure and the internal validity of the Spanish version of Beck’s Cognitive Scale of Insight (BCIS). In this paper we also analyse its relation with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS). The Cognitive Insight Scale was translated and adapted to Spanish with 129 in- and out- schizophrenic patients. Results. Principal component analysis showed a two factor structure that was similar to the original one, recognizable as self-reflectiveness (R) and self-certainty (C) with similar reliability as the American version. Self-reflectiveness and the R-C index correlated with loss of insight of the PANSS scale. In general, BCIS showed significant associations with the PANSS subscales. Out patients scored self-reflectiveness and R-C index signicantly higher than in-patients and lower in self-certainty. Conclusion: Psychometric properties obtained with the adapted Spanish version of BCIS guarantee the adequate evaluation of cognitive insight (AU)

Effectiveness of family work interventions on schizophrenia: evidence from a multicentre study in Catalonia.

BACKGROUND: Despite their proven efficacy, family work interventions on families of patients with schizophrenia are not being implemented in routine clinical practice in contexts where expressed emotion levels among caregivers are relatively high. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a family work intervention in a Mediterranean environment in Catalonia, Spain. METHOD: Participants were 23 patients and 35 key relatives in five different clinical settings. The family intervention was provided by 10 trained health care professionals during a nine-month period. A six-month follow-up was also conducted. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were found in patients' clinical status, global functioning and social functioning levels, as well as in caregivers' burden of care. These results were maintained during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to explore the effectiveness of family intervention in a high-expressed emotion context in Catalonia. The findings add weight to the growing literature supporting these interventions in different cultural settings.

Patrones de utilización de los servicios sanitarios en Cataluña / Health services’ utilization patterns in Catalonia, Spain

El objetivo de este artículo es conocer el uso de servicios sanitarios de la población catalana según necesidades de salud y analizar patrones de utilización por niveles asistenciales de atención primaria, atención especializada, atención hospitalaria y atención urgente. Con los datos de la Encuesta de Salud de Cataluña 2006 se construyeron modelos de regresión logística de cada nivel asistencial para la población general y la de hombres, mujeres, adultos y menores. Las variables explicativas fueron: necesidad de salud, estilos de vida, demográficas, nivel socioeconómico, país de origen y lugar de residencia. Las mujeres utilizan más los servicios en todas las líneas asistenciales. Los menores y los adultos mayores de 64 años utilizan más atención primaria, que se asocia a clase social desfavorecida. Los jóvenes, los adultos-jóvenes y los inmigrantes infrautilizan todos los servicios excepto el de atención urgente. La atención especializada se asocia a la clase social acomodada, a personas con estudios universitarios, seguro sanitario privado y residencia en Barcelona, mientras que la atención hospitalaria se asocia a necesidad de salud. Se concluye que la utilización de servicios sanitarios no sólo se explica en función de la necesidad percibida, sino también por factores demográficos, socioeconómicos y territoriales (AU)

The purpose of this article is disclose services utilization patterns among the Catalan population with particular emphasis on primary care, specialised care, hospital care and emergency care. A number of logistic regression models were used to explain the utilization of the various types of services. Variables in the analysis included self-perceived need, lifestyles, and sociodemographic variables. Separate analyses were performed for male, female, adults, and children as well as for the general population. Women use all types of services more often than men. Children and people over 64 are more frequent users of primary care. Primary care is also associated to lower socioeconomic conditions. Young adults and the migrant population in general are found to be under users of services, except of emergency care services. The use of specialised care is associated to the better-off, to those with university level education attainment, individual private insurance, and those living in the city of Barcelona. Hospital care is largely associated to need variables. The use of health services is explained by self-perceived need as well as by demographic, socioeconomic and geographical factors (AU)

[Cost comparison of three treatments for localized prostate cancer in Spain: radical prostatectomy, prostate brachytherapy and external 3D conformal radiotherapy]. / Comparación de costes de tres tratamientos del cáncer de próstata localizado en España: prostatectomía radical, braquiterapia prostática y radioterapia conformacional externa 3D.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the initial costs of the three most established treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer according to risk, age and comorbidity groups, from the healthcare provider's perspective. METHODS: We carried out a cost comparison study in a sample of patients consecutively recruited between 2003 and 2005 from a functional unit for prostate cancer treatment in Catalonia (Spain). The use of services up to 6 months after the treatment start date was obtained from hospital databases and direct costs were estimated by micro-cost calculation. Information on the clinical characteristics of patients and treatments was collected prospectively. Costs were compared by using nonparametric tests comparing medians (Kruskall-Wallis) and a semi-logarithmic multiple regression model. RESULTS: Among the 398 patients included, the cost difference among treatments was statistically significant: medians were € 3,229.10, € 5,369.00 and € 6,265.60, respectively, for the groups of patients treated with external 3D conformal radiotherapy, brachytherapy and radical retropublic prostatectomy, (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis (adjusted R(2)=0.8), the average costs of brachytherapy and external radiotherapy were significantly lower than that of prostatectomy (coefficient -0.212 and -0.729, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Radical prostatectomy proved to be the most expensive treatment option. Overall, the estimated costs in our study were lower than those published elsewhere. Most of the costs were explained by the therapeutic option and neither comorbidity nor risk groups showed an effect on total costs independent of treatment.

[Health services' utilization patterns in Catalonia, Spain]. / Patrones de utilización de los servicios sanitarios en Cataluña.

The purpose of this article is disclose services utilization patterns among the Catalan population with particular emphasis on primary care, specialised care, hospital care and emergency care. A number of logistic regression models were used to explain the utilization of the various types of services. Variables in the analysis included self-perceived need, lifestyles, and sociodemographic variables. Separate analyses were performed for male, female, adults, and children as well as for the general population. Women use all types of services more often than men. Children and people over 64 are more frequent users of primary care. Primary care is also associated to lower socioeconomic conditions. Young adults and the migrant population in general are found to be under users of services, except of emergency care services. The use of specialised care is associated to the better-off, to those with university level education attainment, individual private insurance, and those living in the city of Barcelona. Hospital care is largely associated to need variables. The use of health services is explained by self-perceived need as well as by demographic, socioeconomic and geographical factors.

Adaptation and validation of the quality-of-life scale: Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale by Baker and Intagliata.

OBJECTIVES: There are few quality-of-life instruments specifically for schizophrenia; thus, the objective of our study is to adapt and validate the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale (SLDS) by Baker and Intagliata. METHOD: This is a validation study in which the subjects were evaluated on 2 occasions (24-48 hours). The sample is composed of people with schizophrenia from 18 to 65 years old and who were seen in one of the following centers: Sant Joan de Déu-SSM, Hospital Clínic, Hospital de Mataró and Hospital Pere Mata. The SLDS was administered, along with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Clinical General Impression for Schizophrenia, Global Assessment of Function, Disability Assessment Scale--short version, Beck Cognitive Insight, and the Strauss and Carpenter Prognostic Scale. The Cronbach alpha test was carried out, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess test-retest reliability, along with Pearson correlations for discriminating validity. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients oscillated between 0.51 and 0.83. The SLDS did correlate with any of the other instruments with the exception of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale general subscale and the Strauss and Carpenter prognostic scale. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the SLDS was shown to be valid and reliable and provides a fast and specific measure for schizophrenia.

Adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the Strauss and Carpenter Prognostic Scale for Schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to validate the Spanish version of the Strauss and Carpenter Prognostic Scale for Schizophrenia (Strauss and Carpenter, 1977). METHOD: We performed a multicenter, longitudinal, descriptive study. Forward and backtranslation of the original scale was performed. The sample was composed of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia aged between 18 and 65 years. We calculated interrater reliability, construct validity according to the Global Assessment Scale (GAS), Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale (SLDS), the Global Clinical Impression-Schizophrenia (GCI) scale, The World Health. Organization Short Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and predictive validity at the 1-year follow-up using three criterion measures of the GCI, WHO-DAS and GAS scales. RESULTS: The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.70. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.54 to 0.99, except for item 5 (resources for the current treatment), which was -0.13. The correlation between the distinct scales (measuring construct validity) was significant, with a p-value of < 0.01, except for the SLDS, which showed a higher p-value (p<0.05). The Strauss-Carpenter score correlated with all three scores at 1 year (GCI, GAS and WHO-DAS) with an alpha of less than 0.01, showing good predictive validity. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish adaptation of the Strauss and Carpenter prognostic scale is reliable and valid and allows a more severe disease course to be predicted.