[A prospective study of programmed nursing consultation in an urban health center]. / Estudio prospectivo de la consulta programada de enfermería en un centro de salud urbano.

A study of the programmed nurse clinic in a health center was carried out to evaluate its different health care activities, the time consumed in them, the type of patients cared for, and the mechanism of organization of the clinic. A remarkable finding was a high number of daily appointments (11.8 persons), with an excellent rate of compliance with the appointment (89.3%). It was found that most of the diseases cared for in the nurse clinic were those most commonly managed with a protocol design in primary care: hypertension (34.1%), diabetes (6.9%), hyperlipoproteinemia (9%) and obesity (12.8%). Other parameters were evaluated, such as mean time per visit, which was predominantly between five and ten minutes, or activities during the visits, with a clear predominance of the clinical protocols. There was a remarkably high efficiency of the nursing staff, with a low rate of referral to the medical clinic (6.9%). We conclude that nurse clinics play an important role in the health centers, as the only possible mechanism to guarantee the correct fulfillment of the different programs. This requires a definite constant physical space for a given minimal period of time of about 2 hours per day.

[Sleep apnea syndrome: apropos of 3 cases]. / Síndrome de apnea del sueño: a propósito de tres casos.

Three cases of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are reported. The diagnosis was suspected by the family physician and was later documented by the pertinent polygraphic sleep recordings. The patients were middle aged obese males who consulted for minor problems and reported daytime hypersomnolence, loud snoring and startled sleep. The important role of the primary care physician in the suspicion of this syndrome is stressed, as well as the relevance of early diagnosis which permits adequate therapy.