Tratamiento vía Internet con contactos semanales por e-mail utilizado en una unidad de tabaquismo: utilidad clínica y predictores de éxito / An Internet treatment with weekly e-mail contacts used in a Tobacco Unit: clinical utility and predictors of outcome

Este trabajo presenta datos preliminares sobre la utilidad clínica y los predictores de éxito de la "Página web de San Francisco para dejar de fumar" (San Francisco Stop Smoking Internet Site, SFSSIS; Lenert et al., 2003) junto a contactos semanales vía e-mail y el tratamiento farmacológico habitual. Cincuenta fumadores participaron en la presente serie de casos, 24 varones y 26 mujeres, con una edad media de 43,24 (DT = 10,24) años. Treinta y dos participantes comienzan el tratamiento. La tasa de abstinencia en el postratamiento es de 78,1% y en el seguimiento al año es de 53,1%. El mejor predictor de éxito en el postratamiento es la puntuación en el Inventario para la depresión de Beck(R2 = 0,46; β = 0,51; p < 0,05), en cambio en el seguimiento al año son la cooximetría (β1 = 0,39; p < 0,05) y la edad de comienzo a fumar (R2 = 0,60; β2 = 0,43; p < 0,05). Es importante destacar que los participantes están motivados para comenzar el tratamiento y satisfechos al finalizarlo. Estos resultados preliminares apoyan la utilidad clínica del SFSSIS para dejar de fumar

This work presents preliminary data on the clinical utility and outcome predictors of The San Francisco Stop Smoking Internet Site (SFSSIS) (Lenert et al., 2003) used with weekly e-mail contacts and the usual pharmacological treatment. Fifty smokers participated in the current series of cases, 24 males and 26 females, with an age average of 43.24 (SD = 10.24) years old. Thirty-two of the participants started the treatment. The abstinence rate in the postreatment is 78.1% and in the one year follow-up 53.1%. The best outcome predictor in the postreatment is the Beck Depression Inventory score (R2 = 0.46, β = 0.51, p < 0.05), however in the one year follow-up the predictors are the carbon monoxide test (β1 = 0.39, p < 0.05) and the age at time of starting to smoke (R2 = 0.60, β2 = 0.43, p < 0.05). It is important to emphasize that the participants were motivated to start the treatment and satisfied with it at the end. These preliminary results support the clinical utility of the SFSSIS for giving up smoking

Quality-of-Life assessment in malignant pleural effusion treated with indwelling pleural catheter: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural effusion is a clinical problem that impairs Quality of Life in patients with advanced malignancies. An indwelling pleural catheter is an alternative treatment to palliate some of the symptoms. AIM: To evaluate the Quality of Life of outpatients with malignant pleural effusion who were treated with an indwelling pleural catheter. Questionnaire compliance, catheter patency time, and survival were analyzed. DESIGN: A multicenter observational study was conducted across five hospitals in Spain. Quality of Life was assessed at three different time points (before catheter placement and at 30 and 60 days post-placement) using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire QLQ-C30. For lung cancer patients, the QLQ-LC13 was also used. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusion treated with an indwelling pleural catheter. RESULTS: A total of 51 outpatients completed the baseline QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Of these, 28 completed the questionnaire at 30 days. Of these 28 patients, 13 completed the questionnaire at 60 days. Scores showed a significant improvement in symptoms scales at 30 days (p = 0.03). Global health status and functional scales showed a non-significant trend to improvement at 30 and 60 days. A total of 27 lung cancer patients completed the QLQ-LC13 questionnaire. Items assessing dyspnea showed a significant improvement following catheter placement (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Indwelling pleural catheter is useful for palliative management of recurrent malignant pleural effusion in that it benefits Quality of Life in outpatients with advanced malignancies. In lung cancer patients, scores indicated that indwelling pleural catheter also provides significant relief of dyspnea.