Estilos de vida de los médicos de atención primaria: percepción e implicaciones sobre la prevención cardiovascular / Lifestyles of primary care physicians: perception and implications on cardiovascular prevention

Objetivos. Analizar los estilos de vida de los médicos de familia, su influencia sobre las actividades de prevención cardiovascular realizadas a sus pacientes y las dificultades para efectuarlas. Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal, utilizando como instrumento un cuestionario ad hoc, preparado para ser contestado directamente por los encuestados y anónimo aplicado durante el año 2010. Emplazamiento. Atención primaria de Mallorca. Participantes. Muestra de 185 médicos representativos de los profesionales de atención primaria de Mallorca. Resultados. Tasa de respuestas: 78,9% (146/185). Características de los médicos encuestados: la edad media era de 43,6 años, el 24,6% seguía una dieta saludable, el 18,6% era fumador, el 32,7% no consumía alcohol y el 80,8% realizaba ejercicio físico. La actividad preventiva realizada a sus pacientes con más frecuencia fue el consejo antitabaco (52,3%), seguida de las relacionadas con los factores de riesgo cardiovascular (HTA, DM, dislipidemia) (22,7%), el consejo dietético (14,4%), la asesoría sobre ejercicio (5,3%) y sobre el consumo de alcohol (0,8%). Los médicos fumadores y con mayor consumo de alcohol realizaban menos actividades preventivas a sus pacientes (p < 0,05). La carencia de tiempo fue el principal factor limitante para realizar de manera adecuada las actividades de prevención. Conclusiones. Existe vinculación entre los hábitos de vida de los médicos de atención primaria y las actividades preventivas efectuadas a sus pacientes. Los médicos de familia tienen unos estilos de vida relativamente saludables y promueven las actividades preventivas entre sus pacientes. Cabe señalar la escasa indagación sobre el consumo de alcohol (AU)

Objectives: To analyze the lifestyles of family physicians, their influence on cardiovascular prevention activities carried out on their patients and the difficulties in carrying them out. Material and methods: Design cross-sectional study, using as an anonymous ad hoc questionnaire, implemented in 2010. Location: Primary care of Mallorca. Participants: Representative sample of 185 primary care medical professionals of Mallorca. Results: There was a response rate of 78.9% (146/185). Characteristics of physicians surveyed: the mean age was 43.6 years, 24.6% following a healthy diet, 18.6% were smokers, 32.7% did not consume alcohol, and 80.8% performed physical exercise. The most frequent prevention activity on their patients was anti-smoking advice (52.3%), followed by those related to cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia (22.7%), dietary advice (14.4%), advice about exercise (5.3%), and alcohol consumption (0.8%). Doctors who smoked and drank more alcohol offered less preventive activities to their patients (P<.05). Lack of time was the main limiting factor to properly perform prevention activities. Conclusions: There is a relationship between lifestyle habits of primary care physicians and preventive activities carried out with their patients. Family physicians have relatively healthy lifestyles and promote preventive activities among their patients. The limited investigation into alcohol consumption should be noted (AU)

[Lifestyles of primary care physicians: perception and implications on cardiovascular prevention]. / Estilos de vida de los médicos de atención primaria: percepción e implicaciones sobre la prevención cardiovascular.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the lifestyles of family physicians, their influence on cardiovascular prevention activities carried out on their patients and the difficulties in carrying them out. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Design cross-sectional study, using as an anonymous ad hoc questionnaire, implemented in 2010. LOCATION: Primary care of Mallorca. PARTICIPANTS: Representative sample of 185 primary care medical professionals of Mallorca. RESULTS: There was a response rate of 78.9% (146/185). Characteristics of physicians surveyed: the mean age was 43.6 years, 24.6% following a healthy diet, 18.6% were smokers, 32.7% did not consume alcohol, and 80.8% performed physical exercise. The most frequent prevention activity on their patients was anti-smoking advice (52.3%), followed by those related to cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia (22.7%), dietary advice (14.4%), advice about exercise (5.3%), and alcohol consumption (0.8%). Doctors who smoked and drank more alcohol offered less preventive activities to their patients (P<.05). Lack of time was the main limiting factor to properly perform prevention activities. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between lifestyle habits of primary care physicians and preventive activities carried out with their patients. Family physicians have relatively healthy lifestyles and promote preventive activities among their patients. The limited investigation into alcohol consumption should be noted.

[The evaluation of an incentive system for the primary care professionals of Mallorca]. / Valoración de un sistema de incentivos por los profesionales de atención primaria de Mallorca.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the assessment made by Mallorca's primary care professionals of the economic incentives system set up in 1994 and find their opinions of financial incentives and other motivating mechanisms. DESIGN: A descriptive, crossover study. SETTING: Primary care in Mallorca (INSALUD of the Balearics). PARTICIPANTS: All the health professionals and ancillary workers (554) of Mallorca's 24 Health Centres. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A self-filled questionnaire was used as a measuring instrument. There was a 74% reply rate. Their assessment of the incentives system used was that the distribution of the incentives was unjust and a cause of tension. However, expectations as to the amount received had been met to a reasonable extent. Self-management was a stronger motivating force than incentives (48.4% vs 13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The incentives system used displayed certain faults (in distribution and the work atmosphere generated). However, decentralization was shown to be a powerful motivating force. Monitoring professionals' expectations and the fulfillment of them should be integrated into management habits.

[The waiting times in a health center]. / Tiempos de espera en un centro de salud.

Variables of geographical and functional accessibility were evaluated with a questionnaire in 322 users of a health center with spontaneous demand of medical care. A remarkable finding was that, while the time from the patient's home to the health center was 9.3 minutes, the mean waiting time in the clinic was over two hours (121 min). Surprisingly, only 30.2% of the surveyed population considered this waiting time as "long or very long". By contrast, when they were asked about what would be their optimal waiting time the mean response was 35.5 min. The factors possibly involved in those long waiting times and their relation with the user's satisfaction are evaluated. It becomes obvious that a widespread "time-oriented" appointment system should be implemented.