[The introduction of a program of preventive activities at a health center]. / Implantación de un programa de actividades preventivas en un centro de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To define the effect of preventive activities on the population served by a health centre; and to make a comparison between the two different shifts, on one of which a preventive programme functioned, whereas on the other it did not. DESIGN: A descriptive study, using systematic random sampling and internal crossed auditing of the health centre's clinical records. SETTING: An urban primary care centre. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Two samples of 175 patients from both morning and afternoon shifts were compared. INTERVENTIONS: The following were studied: antitetanus and German measles vaccinations; control of arterial tension; control of cholesterolaemia; a questionnaire on tobacco and alcohol consumption. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No differences were observed in the homogeneity of the tests carried out (DVS = 413.28, p = NS; chi squared = 9.67, p = NS). Important differences were observed in the percentages for the preventive activities carried out. These differences were in favour of the morning shift, where the tests were part of the programme, and were statistically significant for all tests. Differences were greater in the younger age-groups. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing and integrating a programme of preventive activities into the daily activity of the consulting room, significantly improves the effectiveness of these activities. We believe therefore that the introduction of such activities in the form of a programme should be encouraged.

[Gastric cancer]. / Cáncer gástrico.

Gastric cancer represents a disorder which incidence has come down last years. Its etiology is unknown, but diet is the principal determinant risk of suffering it. Clinic history is not much useful, because in the early stage symptoms can fail and in the late stage are inespecific. Election diagnosis is endoscopy. Surgery is the only curative treatment. By these features, it would be useful to left under vigilance to: a) patients 40 years older with dispepsia; b) patients following gastric operations; c) patients with disorders presenting aclorhidria. The authors report a clinic case that can be of frequent presentation in primary assistance.