Estado actual de la reumatología en el sector sanitario público de Cataluña / Rheumatology Manpower in the Public System in Catalonia (Spain)

Objetivo: Determinar el estado actual de la reumatología en Cataluña, y actualizar la información respecto a los estudios previos. Material y métodos Diseño: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. Recogida de datos de enero a junio de 2017. Muestra: Reumatólogos que ejercen actividad asistencial pública en Cataluña. Se envió un cuestionario en línea recabando información tanto de forma individual como colectiva de los servicios de reumatología. Resultados: Se obtuvo información de 34 hospitales y de 109 reumatólogos: 39 varones y 70 mujeres; edad media: 47±9 años. El número de reumatólogos aumentó un 8% en los últimos 5 años. La obtención del título fue en 101 (92,7%) casos por vía MIR. Noventa y seis (88,1%) facultativos tenían dedicación completa. Un 50% de los reumatólogos ejercían además en el sector privado. La actividad asistencial suponía un 76% de la jornada laboral. Se constató que 24 (70%) servicios de reumatología dependían jerárquicamente de otra especialidad. En 6 hospitales de Cataluña no disponen de reumatólogo. Conclusiones: El número de reumatólogos aumentó respecto hace 5 años. La edad media de los reumatólogos es avanzada y existe un claro predominio femenino en la especialidad. Un gran número de unidades de reumatología dependen de otros servicios. La actividad reumatológica se centra en Barcelona.(AU)

Objective: To determine the current state of Rheumatology in Catalonia and to update the information regarding previous studies. Material and methods Design: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data collection from January to June 2017. Sample: Rheumatologists practising public healthcare activity in Catalonia. An online questionnaire was sent to gather individual data and data from rheumatology services/sections. Results: Information was obtained on 109 rheumatologists: 39 men and 70 women; mean age: 47±9 years. The number of rheumatologists has increased by 8% over the past 5 years. One hundred and one (92.7%) doctors qualified as rheumatologists through the MIR. Rheumatology practice was mostly in a hospital setting: 68 (62.4%) physicians. Ninety-six (88.1%) rheumatologists were full-time practitioners. Fifty-four (50%) rheumatologists also practiced in the private sector. Clinical practice was predominant: 76% of daily time was devoted to this area. Of note, it was found that most of the rheumatology services, 24 (705), were dependent hierarchically on other services, namely internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery. There are still 6 hospitals in Catalonia without a rheumatologist. Conclusions: The number of rheumatologists in the public health sector of Catalonia has increased over the past 5 years. The mean age of rheumatologists is advanced and there is a clear predominance of female practitioners in the specialty. Many rheumatology services depend on other services. Rheumatology activity is primarily focussed in the city of Barcelona.(AU)

Rheumatology manpower in the public system in Catalonia (Spain).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current state of Rheumatology in Catalonia and to update the information regarding previous studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS DESIGN: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data collection from January to June 2017. SAMPLE: Rheumatologists practising public healthcare activity in Catalonia. An online questionnaire was sent to gather individual data and data from rheumatology services/sections. RESULTS: Information was obtained on 109 rheumatologists: 39 men and 70 women; mean age: 47±9 years. The number of rheumatologists has increased by 8% over the past 5 years. One hundred and one (92.7%) doctors qualified as rheumatologists through the MIR. Rheumatology practice was mostly in a hospital setting: 68 (62.4%) physicians. Ninety-six (88.1%) rheumatologists were full-time practitioners. Fifty-four (50%) rheumatologists also practiced in the private sector. Clinical practice was predominant: 76% of daily time was devoted to this area. Of note, it was found that most of the rheumatology services, 24 (705), were dependent hierarchically on other services, namely internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery. There are still 6 hospitals in Catalonia without a rheumatologist. CONCLUSIONS: The number of rheumatologists in the public health sector of Catalonia has increased over the past 5 years. The mean age of rheumatologists is advanced and there is a clear predominance of female practitioners in the specialty. Many rheumatology services depend on other services. Rheumatology activity is primarily focussed in the city of Barcelona.

Rheumatology Manpower in the Public System in Catalonia (Spain). / Estado actual de la reumatología en el sector sanitario público de Cataluña.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current state of Rheumatology in Catalonia and to update the information regarding previous studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS DESIGN: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data collection from January to June 2017. SAMPLE: Rheumatologists practising public healthcare activity in Catalonia. An online questionnaire was sent to gather individual data and data from rheumatology services/sections. RESULTS: Information was obtained on 109 rheumatologists: 39 men and 70 women; mean age: 47±9 years. The number of rheumatologists has increased by 8% over the past 5 years. One hundred and one (92.7%) doctors qualified as rheumatologists through the MIR. Rheumatology practice was mostly in a hospital setting: 68 (62.4%) physicians. Ninety-six (88.1%) rheumatologists were full-time practitioners. Fifty-four (50%) rheumatologists also practiced in the private sector. Clinical practice was predominant: 76% of daily time was devoted to this area. Of note, it was found that most of the rheumatology services, 24 (705), were dependent hierarchically on other services, namely internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery. There are still 6 hospitals in Catalonia without a rheumatologist. CONCLUSIONS: The number of rheumatologists in the public health sector of Catalonia has increased over the past 5 years. The mean age of rheumatologists is advanced and there is a clear predominance of female practitioners in the specialty. Many rheumatology services depend on other services. Rheumatology activity is primarily focussed in the city of Barcelona.

Criterios de acreditación para la formación de especialistas de reumatología / Formation of specialists in rheumatology: accreditation criteria

La Comisión Nacional de Reumatología es el garante de la formación postgrado en reumatología. Se presentan a continuación los criterios de acreditación de unidades docentes. Estos criterios tienen en cuenta 4 dominios, a saber: la estructura, la asistencia, la docencia y la investigación. Cada dominio se subdivide en subdominios e ítems. Algunos de ellos son de obligado cumplimiento. Este documento es el marco de referencia para las evaluaciones de las solicitudes de acreditación. Es un documento que puede ser revisado en un futuro (AU)

The National Rheumatology Board is responsible for postgraduate formation in rheumatology. Herein we present the new criteria for accreditation of teaching units. These criterion contemplate four domains, namely: structure, clinical work, teaching and research. Each domain is divided in subdomains and items. Some of them are of an obligatory nature. This document serves as reference for future applications. The document may be reviewed in the future (AU)

Evidence-based consensus recommendations to improve the quality of life in prostate cancer treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the tumours with the highest incidence in recent years. PC therapies have several adverse effects. A panel consensus recommendation has been made to prevent or ameliorate complications in PC treatment to improve quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen specialists have met to analyse the different toxicities associated with PC treatment. Each medical specialist performed a National Library of Medicine PubMed search citations searching about these secondary effects and his specialty from 1999 to 2009 to propose measures for their prevention/amelioration. RESULTS: Surgery is associated with incontinence and impotence. Radiotherapy can produce acute, late urological and gastrointestinal toxicity. Brachytherapy can produce acute urinary retention. Chemotherapy is associated with haematotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy and diarrhoea, and hormone therapy can produce osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, cognitive and muscular alterations, cardiotoxicity, etc. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in surgical techniques and technology (IMRT/IGRT) can prevent surgical and radiotherapeutic toxicity, respectively. Brachytherapy toxicity can be prevented with precise techniques to preserve the urethra. Chemotherapy toxicity can be prevented with personalized schedules of treatment and close follow-up of iatrogenia and hormone therapy toxicity can be prevented with close follow-up of possible secondary effects.

[Formation of specialists in rheumatology: Accreditation criteria]. / Criterios de acreditación para la formación de especialistas de reumatología.

The National Rheumatology Board is responsible for postgraduate formation in rheumatology. Herein we present the new criteria for accreditation of teaching units. These criterion contemplate four domains, namely: structure, clinical work, teaching and research. Each domain is divided in subdomains and items. Some of them are of an obligatory nature. This document serves as reference for future applications. The document may be reviewed in the future.