[Injury rate and incidence of accidents with biological risk among infirmary students]. / Accidentalidad e incidencia de accidentes biológicos de riesgo en estudiantes de enfermería.

BACKGROUND: A study of the incidence and characteristics of biological accidents among infirmary students during their practicals at the hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study carried out at five centres by means of two questionnaires, one on the duration of the training and the rate of accidents and the other on the characteristics, precautions and ports exposure behaviour. RESULTS: Out of 397 students, 70,5% had accidents at a rate of 64% (CI 95%, 59-68). Of these, 15% were accidents with biological risk, the majority being jabs (39%) and splashes (32,5%). It is worth note that 49,2% occurred while putting away the material and 58% in the absence of any individual protective measures. One out of 8 accidents implied a biological risk. CONCLUSIONS: A very high rate of accidents was observed with important deficiencies in security.

[Chronic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus cared for at a health center]. / Complicaciones crónicas en los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 atendidos en un centro de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To know the chronic complications affecting a type-2 diabetic population in a health center, and to analyze the relationship between these complications and risk factors. DESIGN: Transversal study. SETTING: Puerto de Santa Maria-Norte Health Center, Cadiz, Spain. PATIENTS: Type-2 diabetic population (n = 504) included in the diabetes program of the center, aged over 12 years old, of both sexes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes recorded was 2.3%. Average age of the population was 63.9 years (SD 10.6), women representing 57.9% of total. Average length of evolution of the disease was 8.6 years (SD 11.4). 17.1% of patients were receiving insulin therapy, 65.4% were receiving oral antidiabetics, and 17.5% were on special diet. The most important risk factors found were: family history of diabetes (54.6%), obesity (51.2%), sedentary life style (41.1%), and hypertension (47.2%). Chronic complications affected 67.8% of the diabetic patients attending the center; predominant complications were peripheral vascular disease (31.7%), retinopathy (30.6%), ischemic heart disease (21.2%), cerebrovascular accident (10.7%), neuropathy (8.9%) and nephropathy (6.2%). The risk factors most associated with macrovascular complications were: length of evolution, smoking and age of diagnostic and hypertriglyceridemia. For the microvascular complications were: HbA1c, length of evolution and age. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significative prevalence of complications in spite of the average length of disease evolution time in the population not being very high. However the risk factors strongest associated with the existence of chronic complications are susceptible to be modified with a better metabolic control of the patients.

[Hospital infections. Risky practices of nursing students]. / Infección hospitalaria. Prácticas de riesgo en estudiantes de Enfermería.

In this study the health habits performed by nursing students during their practices in hospitals are describe in the province of Cádiz, Spain and the relationship between these activities involving risk, and the level of knowledge of Public Health of these students. A total of 397 nursing students were studied, 43% male, with an average age of 21.6 years (SD 2.9); the average practice period per student was 73 days. Washing of hands before and after each intervention is performed by 97% of students, and gloves are used on all the sanitary occasions recommended by only 21%; the groups using masks least are those not vaccinated for influenza and not subjected to a Mantoux test (p < 0.05). The relationship between taking unnecessary risk in hospital practice and the low level of knowledge is positive (collective protection p < 0.05, use of gloves p < 0.05, among others).

[Anthropometric profile and prevalence of overweight in schoolchildren in Ubrique, Cádiz]. / Perfil antropométrico y prevalencia de sobrepeso de los escolares de Ubrique, Cádiz.

BACKGROUND: Adult overweight is an important risk factor for a range of chronic illnesses, and seems to be linked with overweight in childhood. The identification of children at risk of overweight could therefore be a suitable means of preventing these illnesses in adults. The aim of our study was to determine the anthropometric profile and prevalence of overweight in a population of schoolchildren in a rural town in Cadiz, which is also a major industrial centre. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out, in which a representative sample of 493 schoolchildren of both sexes and aged from 4 to 14 years old was studied. They were measured for height, weight, arm circumference, triceps skinfold, and their IMC was calculated. The results were compared with a Spanish reference population. To measure obesity IMC > or = 25 kg/m2 was used. RESULTS: Height, weight, arm circumference, triceps skinfold and the IMC showed values that were slightly above those corresponding to the reference population, and there was a low incidence of overweight. These results are along the lines of studies published by the authors on the eating habits of this population.