Análisis de la incapacidad temporal en trabajadores de la rama sanitaria de un área de salud / Analysis of short-term time off of health workers in a health area

Objetivo. Describir las características de la incapacidad temporal (IT): duración, causas y distribución por edad y sexo. Diseño. Estudio observacional, descriptivo. Emplazamiento. Área 1 de Madrid. Participantes. Trabajadores del sector sanitario en situación de IT adscritos al Área 1 de Madrid durante los primeros 6 meses de 2003. Mediciones principales. Las variables estudiadas fueron: fecha de alta, fecha de baja, duración de la IT, causa de la baja (CIE-9), edad y sexo. Resultados. Se incluyó a 418 trabajadores del sector sanitario (3,7%). La edad media fue de 32,7 ± 20 años, con un 78,79% de mujeres. La enfermedad respiratoria es la causa más frecuente de IT (38%) en ambos sexos y en todos los grupos de edad, excepto en los más jóvenes ( 56 años) con menos IT pero de mayor duración (57,18; IC del 95%, 10,74-103,63), aunque no es estadísticamente significativo. Conclusiones. La causa que origina la IT es el factor que más determina la duración de la baja laboral. Su prevención supondría la mejor herramienta de gestión

Objective. To describe the characteristics of short-term time off work (STT): duration, causes and distribution by age, and sex. Design. Descriptive, observational study. Setting. Area 1, Madrid, Spain. Participants. Health workers with STT in Area 1, Madrid, during the first 6 months of 2003. Main measurements. The variables studied were: date of start and finish of STT, its duration, its cause (ICD-9), age, and sex. Results. Four-hundred eighteen health workers (3.7%), with a mean age of 32.7±20 years old and 78.79% women. Respiratory pathology was the most frequent cause of STT (38%) in both sexes and in all age-groups, except in the youngest (56), which had less, but longer-lasting STT (57.18; 95% CI, 10.74-103.63), though this was not statistically significant. Conclusions. The pathology causing STT is the factor that most determines STT's duration. Its prevention would be the best way of managing STT

Cognitive assessment of the non-demented elderly community dwellers in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of cognitive impairment and population normative values for cognitive function were assessed, for the first time, in 2,630 subjects representative of the non-demented community dweller population > or =65 years in Spain, a southern European country with a sizable proportion of illiterate senior citizens. METHODS: Data were collected cross-sectionally by interview, using a structured questionnaire. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Examen Cognoscitivo (MEC; Spanish-validated version of the Mini-Mental State Examination). RESULTS: A total of 22.4% of the subjects presented with cognitive impairment (MEC < or =22). The proportion of subjects with cognitive impairment was double in women versus men, rose to 46.2% in subjects aged > or =85 years and to 34.8% in subjects with no formal education, and was higher among those who had limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (p < 0.001). In subjects with no formal education, 25% registered mean MEC scores compatible with probable cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: One of every 5 Spanish senior citizens presents with cognitive impairment, a proportion that increased among women, subjects with no formal education and with higher age.

[Analysis of short-term time off of health workers in a health area]. / Análisis de la incapacidad temporal en trabajadores de la rama sanitaria de un área de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of short-term time off work (STT): duration, causes and distribution by age, and sex. DESIGN: Descriptive, observational study. SETTING: Area 1, Madrid, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Health workers with STT in Area 1, Madrid, during the first 6 months of 2003. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The variables studied were: date of start and finish of STT, its duration, its cause (ICD-9), age, and sex. RESULTS: Four-hundred eighteen health workers (3.7%), with a mean age of 32.7+/-20 years old and 78.79% women. Respiratory pathology was the most frequent cause of STT (38%) in both sexes and in all age-groups, except in the youngest (<25), in whom bone and muscle pathology was more common. In decreasing order of frequency appeared bone and muscle pathology (26%), infections (13%), and mental illness (10%). The average duration of STT was 38.8+/-88.7 days. There was a statistically significant relationship between the duration of STT and its cause. Respiratory pathology was the shortest (8.85; 95% CI, 6.54-11.17) and mental illness, the longest (153.8; 95% CI, 87-220.75). The age group with most STT (37-45 years old) had a mean length of STT lower (26.93; 95% CI, 16.34-37.51) than the oldest age group (>56), which had less, but longer-lasting STT (57.18; 95% CI, 10.74-103.63), though this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The pathology causing STT is the factor that most determines STT's duration. Its prevention would be the best way of managing STT.

Risk factors for low birth weight: a review.

Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the main predictors of infant mortality. The global incidence of LBW is around 17%, although estimates vary from 19% in the developing countries (countries where it is an important public health problem) to 5-7% in the developed countries. The incidence in Spain in the decade 1980-1989 was about 5.7%. LBW is generally associated with situations in which uterine malnutrition is produced due to alterations in placental circulation. There are many known risk factors, the most important of which are socio-economic factors, medical risks before or during gestation and maternal lifestyles. However, although interventions exist to prevent many of these factors before and during pregnancy, the incidence of LBW has not decreased.

[Vaccine storage cold chain at primary care centers in one area of Madrid: keeping the chain intact and degree of knowledge]. / Cadena del frío para la conservación de las vacunas en los centros de atención primaria de un area de Madrid: mantenimiento y nivel de conocimientos.

BACKGROUND: Vaccines are heat-labile medications, and to guarantee their immunogenicity and safeguarding effectiveness as part of immunization programs, it is absolutely essential that the "Cold Chain" go unbroken. Fundamental thereto is the personnel responsible for the vaccines, who must know the stability-related characteristics of each preparation so as to prevent handling errors. The purpose of this study was that of ascertaining how the cold chain is kept intact in primary care systems in one healthcare area of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, as well as determining the degree of information possessed by those responsible for vaccines as far as their heat-stability is concerned. METHODS: A cross-sectional study has been made at 46 primary care vaccination points. The data was gathered by means of a personal interview by one single researcher. RESULTS: The participation rate was 93.5% (43/46). In all cases, there was a maximum and minimum thermometer and monthly temperature record. An unsuitable temperature was found in three cases (6.97%). The percentage of professionals who were aware of the effect freezing has on vaccines varied greatly: 53.5%, 51.2%, 44.2% and 53.5% for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), hepatitis B (HBV), oral polio (OPV) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) respectively. And only 32% were familiar with the shake test. CONCLUSION: The professionals were found to be properly trained regarding the effect which high temperatures have on vaccines, but it is necessary for their training with regard to the instability of adsorbed preparations when frozen must be further strengthened.

Cadena del frío para la conservación de las vacunas en los centros de atención primaria de un area de Madrid: mantenimiento y nivel de conocimientos / Vaccine Storage Cold Chain at Primary Care Centers in one Area of Madrid: Keeping the Chain Intact and Degree of Knowledge

Fundamento. Las vacunas son medicamentos termolábiles y para garantizar su inmunogenicidad y eficacia protectora, dentro de los programas de inmunización, es imprescindible mantener la cadena de frío. El elemento fundamental en esta cadena es el personal responsable de las vacunas, que debe conocer las características de estabilidad de cada preparado con el fin de evitar errores durante su manipulación. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer cómo se realiza el mantenimiento de la cadena del frío en equipos de atención primaria de un área sanitaria de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, así como establecer el grado de información que poseen los responsables de las vacunas con respecto a la termoestabilidad de las mismas.Métodos. Se ha realizado un estudio transversal en 46 puntos de vacunación en atención primaria. La recogida de los datos se realizó mediante entrevista personal por un único investigador.Resultados. La tasa de participación fue del 93,5 per cent (43/46). En todos los casos existía termómetro de máxima y mínima y registro mensual de la temperatura. Se observó una temperatura inadecuada en tres ocasiones (6,97 per cent). El porcentaje de profesionales que conocía el efecto que la congelación producía sobre las vacunas fue muy diverso: 53.5 per cent, 51.2 per cent, 44.2 per cent y 53.5 per cent para difteria-tétanos-pertussis (DTP), hepatitis B (VHB), polio oral (VPO) y rubéola-sarampión-paperas (RSP) respectivamente. Y sólo el 32 per cent conocía el test de agitación.Conclusión. La formación de los profesionales sobre el efecto que las altas temperaturas ocasionan en las vacunas era correcta, pero es necesario reforzar su formación sobre la inestabilidad que presentan los preparados adsorbidos cuando se someten a congelación (AU)

Background: Vaccines are heat-labile medications, and to guarantee their immunogenicity and safeguarding effectiveness as part of immunization programs, it is absolutely essential that the «Cold Chain» go unbroken. Fundamental thereto is the personnel responsible for the vaccines, who must know the stability-related characteristics of each preparation so as to prevent handling errors. The purpose of this study was that of ascertaining how the cold chain is kept intact in primary care systems in one healthcare area of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, as well as determining the degree of information possessed by those responsible for vaccines as far as their heat-stability is concerned. Methods. A cross-sectional study has been made at 46 primary care vaccination points. The data was gathered by means of a personal interview by one single researcher. Results. The participation rate was 93.5% (43/46). In all cases, there was a maximum and minimum thermometer and monthly temperature record. An unsuitable temperature was found in three cases (6.97%). The percentage of professionals who were aware of the effect freezing has on vaccines varied greatly: 53.5%, 51.2%, 44.2% and 53.5% for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), hepatitis B (HBV), oral polio (OPV) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) respectively. And only 32% were familiar with the shake test. Conclusion. The professionals were found to be properly trained regarding the effect which high temperatures have on vaccines, but it is necessary for their training with regard to the instability of adsorbed preparations when frozen must be further strengthened (AU)

Changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their risk factors in Spain, 1987-1997.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of the changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity with the changes in some of their risk factors in Spain from 1987 to 1997. METHODS: Data were obtained from three interview-based health surveys, covering representative samples of the noninstitutionalized Spanish population aged 16 years and over and undertaken in 1987 (n = 17,434), 1995 (n = 4,736), and 1997 (n = 4,678). To compensate for the different sample sizes, the 1995 and 1997 surveys were combined. Risk factors for obesity and overweight considered in this study were age, educational level, physical activity at work, physical activity during leisure time, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and civil status. Data analysis was performed with logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (body mass index >or= 25 kg/m(2)) rose from 35.6% in 1987 to 40.9% in 1995/1997 among women and from 47.1 to 56.2% among men. In the period 1987-1995/1997, the proportion of persons with secondary or university education increased by 11.3% in women and 10.8% in men. Similarly, the prevalence of intense or regular leisure-time physical activity increased by 5.7 and 6.2% in women and men, respectively. The remaining risk factors for overweight and obesity registered no substantial change in prevalence over the study period. The prevalence of overweight and obesity expected in 1995/1997, had educational level and leisure-time physical activity been the same as in 1987, is higher than the observed figures; for educational level, expected figures are 7.3 and 1.4% higher than those observed among women and men, respectively, while for leisure-time physical activity corresponding values are 2.8 and 1.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spain from 1987 to 1997 may have been attenuated by an increase in leisure-time physical activity and by an improvement in educational level, particularly among women. The contribution to overweight and obesity trends attributable to physical activity at work or to tobacco and alcohol consumption appears to be small or null.