Incidencia de la babesiosis humana en España basada en los diagnósticos al alta hospitalaria / Incidence of human babesiosis in Spain obtained from the diagnoses at hospital discharge

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Comparative study of the perceived quality of life of patients in treatment for cocaine and heroin dependence in Spain: differences by gender and time in treatment.

This is a cross-sectional study in which we compared the perceived quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving outpatient treatment for cocaine (n = 727) and heroin dependence (n = 469), by analyzing differences by gender and time in treatment. Participants were recruited from addictive behavior centers in Spain in 2004. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-Bref) was used as a measure. Analysis of covariance and multivariate linear regression were used. This study shows the relevance of considering the role of gender in QoL studies, and the need to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment in the improvement of QoL. Limitations of the study were noted.

Predictors of driving after alcohol and drug use among adolescents in Valencia (Spain).

BACKGROUND: Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs has been identified as a risk factor for road traffic crashes. We have assessed the prevalence and predictor factors for driving after alcohol and drug use by adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey involving 11,239 students aged 14-18 years from 252 private and public schools in the Valencia region of Spain was conducted. The prevalence and predictors of driving after alcohol use, alcohol and drug use, or drug use during the previous 6 months were measured. RESULTS: Of the students who reported driving (20%), 45.1% indicated driving after alcohol and drug use. The consumption of various drugs was higher among students who drove a vehicle compared with those who did not. The likelihood of driving after consuming alcohol, or alcohol and drugs, increased in line with the number of standard drink units per week, reports of any lifetime alcohol- or drug-related problems, and poor family relationship. In addition, masculine gender and early alcohol use increased the likelihood of driving after consuming alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Driving after alcohol and drug use is quite prevalent among adolescents in the Valencia region of Spain. There is a need for implementation of targeted policies for adolescents. This should focus on education and information on alcohol/drug use and driving.

[Christmas work dinners. A pattern of recreational use of alcohol and other drugs?]. / Las cenas navideñas de empresa. Un modelo de consumo recreativo de alcohol y otras drogas?

The aim of this study was to develop an exploratory approach to characterizing the pattern of recreational abuse of alcohol and other drugs abuse at Christmas work dinners. An adaptation of the rapid assessment methodology RARE was carried out through the combination of quantitative (rapid assessment surveys, n=444) and qualitative (observations and semistructured interviews, n=8) techniques. The fieldwork was carried out at 13 restaurants in Valencia and Alicante (Spain) in December 2007. In general we observed a marked increase in the use of alcohol and other substances compared to the rest of the year, though restaurant staff perceived a decrease in alcohol abuse attributable to new road traffic legislation. Cocaine is perceived as the illicit substance most widely used at such events. Younger coworkers initiate older ones in the use of illicit drugs, and the the latter may use this behaviour as a means of feeling younger and more uninhibited. Christmas work dinners propitiate a recreational substance-use pattern that requires adapted preventive and restrictive interventions, such as the introduction of suitable transport initiatives and the restriction of alcohol serving hours.

Las cenas navideñas de empresa. ¿Un modelo de consumo recreativo de alcohol y otras drogas? / Christmas work dinners. A pattern of recreational use of alcohol and other drugs?

El objetivo del presente estudio fue realizar una aproximación exploratoria para caracterizar el patrón de consumo recreativo abusivo de alcohol y otras drogas que se da en las cenas navideñas de empresa. Para ello se ha empleado una adaptación de la metodología de estimación rápida RARE, mediante la combinación de técnicas cuantitativas (encuestas de estimación rápida, n=444) y cualitativas (observaciones y entrevistas semiestructuradas, n=8). El trabajo de campo se desarrolló en 13 restaurantes de las ciudades de Valencia y Alicante (España) durante el mes de diciembre de 2007. En líneas generales se percibe un notable aumento del consumo de alcohol y otras sustancias en comparación al resto del año, si bien este año el consumo abusivo de alcohol, según los hosteleros, ha bajado respecto a años anteriores debido a la legislación vigente en materia de controles de tráfico. La cocaína es la sustancia ilegal percibida como más consumida en estos eventos. Los jóvenes inician en el consumo de sustancias ilegales a los adultos, quienes utilizan dicha conducta como vía de rejuvenecimiento y desinhibición. Las cenas navideñas de empresa propician un patrón de consumo recreativo que requiere de medidas preventivas y restrictivas adaptadas, tales como la puesta en marcha de medios de transporte adecuados para estos eventos y la restricción de horarios para el servicio de alcohol (AU)

The aim of this study was to develop an exploratory approach to characterizing the pattern of recreational abuse of alcohol and other drugs abuse at Christmas work dinners. An adaptation of the rapid assessment methodology RARE was carried out through the combination of quantitative (rapid assessment surveys, n=444) and qualitative (observations and semistructured interviews, n=8) techniques. The fieldwork was carried out at 13 restaurants in Valencia and Alicante (Spain) in December 2007. In general we observed a marked increase in the use of alcohol and other substances compared to the rest of the year, though restaurant staff perceived a decrease in alcohol abuse attributable to new road traffic legislation. Cocaine is perceived as the illicit substance most widely used at such events. Younger coworkers initiate older ones in the use of illicit drugs, and the latter may use this behaviour as a means of feeling younger and more uninhibited. Christmas work dinners propitiate a recreational substance-use pattern that requires adapted preventive and restrictive interventions, such as the introduction of suitable transport initiatives and the restriction of alcohol serving hours (AU)

[Hospital admissions for infectious diseases: 1999-2003 incidence in one health district in the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain]. / Ingresos hospitalarios por enfermedades infecciosas: incidencia desde 1999 hasta 2003 en un area sanitaria de la Comunidad Valenciana.

BACKGROUND: . Infectious diseases are still currently one of the leading causes of death and illness. Their dynamic nature justifies the epidemiological study thereof. This study is aimed at analyzing the incidence of infectious diseases most often conditioning hospital admissions. METHODS: A study was conducted of those individuals admitted to hospital during the 1999-2003 period whose main diagnosis at admission to hospital had been encoded according to the International Disease Classification (ICD 9-CM) as an infectious disease in the Minimum Basic Data Set. A total of 2010 active infectious disease codes were selected and were grouped into 25 groups as per the ICD 9-CM. The target population was that of one district in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. RESULTS: A total of 9.7% of the admissions during the period under study (8,585 records) were due to an infectious disease. Those affected averaged 38 years of age, median age of 37, standard deviation 31 and the range of 1-102 years. The admissions of males (54.5%) prevailed over females (48.5%). The incidence rate of admissions due to infectious diseases was 728 cases / 100,000 inhabitants / year. The highest rate of admissions was among young children and the elderly. The groups of diseases showing the largest number of admissions were, in descending order, infectious digestive, respiratory and genitourinary diseases. CONCLUSION: The hospital admissions due to infections diseases totaled one tenth of the admissions, and 7/1000 inhabitants/year required hospitalization for an infectious disorder. The highest incidence rates were found for intestinal diseases, digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tract diseases among the childhood-aged population, but also, although in smaller percentages, among individuals over 65 years of age.

[Gender and accessibility barriers to treatment in alcohol abuse patients in the Autonomous Region of Valencia]. / Género y barreras de accesibilidad al tratamiento en pacientes adictos al alcohol de la Comunidad Valenciana.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed at identifying the factors that contribute to delaying the access of alcohol abuse patients to specific treatment centres in the Autonomous Region of Valencia (Spain). METHOD: 563 patients from Addictive Behaviours Units (UCA) and Alcohology Units (UA) were interviewed. A survey was conducted which included items on previous requested treatment in other centres and on barriers of accessibility to treatment in specific ambulatory centres. A descriptive analysis and t-student and ANOVA with Scheffé post-hoc tests were carried out. RESULTS: 59.7% of respondents said they had requested previous treatment in non-specific resources due to physical or psychical trouble that they now relate to their alcohol use although they did not do so at the time, in addition to being motivated by their own alcohol abuse (42.8%). The most attended resources were Primary Care and Specialist Unit Care. Women showed a higher demand for treatment in Mental Health Services (p < 0,05). The most important treatment barriers were included in the axis "unawareness of illness and related problems" (2.2; dt = 0,6). Women obtained higher scores in the axes "stigmatisation and environment response" and "treatment intrinsic factors". CONCLUSIONS: gender differences in barriers that delay access to treatment do exist. It is necessary to build gender-adapted intervention guidelines to be used in Primary Care and Mental Health services to reduce the accessibility barriers to treatment.

Ingresos hospitalarios por enfermedades infecciosas: incidencia desde 1999 hata 2003 en un area sanitaria de la Comunidad Valenciana / Hospital admissions for infectious diseases: 1999-2003 incidence in one health district in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, Spain

Fundamento: La enfermedad infecciosa persiste en la actualidad como una de las principales causas de mortalidad y morbilidad. Su naturaleza dinámica justifica el estudio epidemiológico de las mismas. El objetivo del trabajo fue analizar la incidencia de enfermedades infecciosas que con mayor frecuencia condicionan el ingreso hospitalario. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de las personas ingresadas entre los años 1999-2003 cuyo diagnóstico principal al alta hospitalaria se hubiera codificado, de acuerdo a la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE 9-MC), como enfermedad infecciosa en el Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos. Se seleccionaron 2.010 códigos de enfermedades infecciosas en actividad y se concentraron en 25 grupos adaptados al CIE 9- MC. La población diana fue la correspondiente a un area de la Comunidad Valenciana. Resultados: El 9,7% de los ingresos durante el periodo estudiado (8.585 registros) se debió a una enfermedad infecciosa. La media de edad de las personas afectadas fue 38 años, la mediana 37, la desviación típica 31 y el rango entre 0-102 años. Predominó el ingreso de varones (54,5%) sobre el de mujeres (45,5%). La tasa de incidencia de ingresos por enfermedades infecciosas fue de 728 casos/100.000 habitantes y año. La mayor tasa de ingreso se produjo en niños y ancianos. Los grupos de enfermedades con mayor número de ingresos fueron, en orden decreciente, las enfermedades infecciosas digestivas, respiratorias y genitourinarias. Conclusión: Los ingresos hospitalarios por enfermedades infecciosas alcanzaron la décima parte de los ingresos y 7 de cada 1.000 habitantes al año requirió ser hospitalizado con motivo de una patología infecciosa. Fue mayor la incidencia de las enfermedades intestinales, de aparato digestivo, respiratorio y genitourinario en la población infantil pero también, aunque en menor proporción, en los mayores de 65 años

BacKground:. Infectious diseases are still currently one of the leading causes of death and illness. Their dynamic nature justifies the epidemiological study thereof. This study is aimed at analyzing the incidence of infectious diseases most often conditioning hospital admissions. Methods: A study was conducted of those individuals admitted to hospital during the 1999-2003 period whose main diagnosis at admission to hospital had been encoded according to the International Disease Classification (ICD 9-CM) as an infectious disease in the Minimum Basic Data Set. A total of 2,010 active infectious disease codes were selected and were grouped into 25 groups as per the ICD 9-CM. The target population was that of one district in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. Results: A total of 9.7% of the admissions during the period under study (8,585 records) were due to an infectious disease. Those affected averaged 38 years of age, median age of 37, standard deviation 31 and the range of 1-102 years. The admissions of males (54.5%) prevailed over females (48.5%). The incidence rate of admissions due to infectious diseases was 728 cases / 100,000 inhabitants / year. The highest rate of admissions was among young children and the elderly. The groups of diseases showing the largest number of admissions were, in descending order, infectious digestive, respiratory and genitourinary diseases. Conclusion: The hospital admissions due to infections diseases totaled one tenth of the admissions, and 7/ 1,000 inhabitants / year required hospitalization for an infectious disorder. The highest incidence rates were found for intestinal diseases, digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tract diseases among the childhood-aged population, but also, although in smaller percentages, among individuals over 65 years of age

Género y barreras de accesibilidad al tratamiento en pacientes adictos al alcohol de la Comunidad Valenciana / Gender and accessibility barriers to treatment in alcohol abuse patients in the Autonomous Region of Valencia

Introducción: el objetivo principal del presente estudio fue la identificación de los motivos que retrasan el acceso de los pacientes dependientes de alcohol de la Comunidad Valenciana a centros específicos de tratamiento. Método: fueron entrevistados 563 pacientes de Unidades de Conductas Adictivas y Unidades de Alcohología. Se les administró una encuesta sobre tratamientos previos en otros centros y sobre barreras que retrasan el acceso al tratamiento en centros ambulatorios específicos. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los ítems y se utilizó la t de student y el test de ANOVA con prueba de Scheffé. Resultados: el 59,7% de los entrevistados manifestaba haber solicitado previamente tratamiento en algún centro no especializado en drogodependencias por alguna molestia física o psíquica que actualmente considera relacionada con el consumo de alcohol o drogas y que en su momento no atribuyó al mismo, o por el propio consumo de sustancias (42,8%). Los servicios más consultados fueron Atención Primaria y Especializada, presentando las mujeres una mayor demanda de tratamiento en los Centros de Salud Mental (p<0,05). La barreras de tratamiento más importantes estaban incluidas en el eje “no conciencia de enfermedad ni problemas asociados” que obtuvo la mayor puntuación media (2,2; dt=0,6). Las mujeres presentaban puntuaciones medias más elevadas en los ejes “estigmatización y respuesta del entorno” y “factores intrínsecos al tratamiento”. Conclusiones: existen diferencias intergénero en las barreras que retrasan el acceso a tratamiento. Es necesario elaborar protocolos de intervención adaptados al género de los pacientes para utilizar en centros de Atención Primaria y de Salud Mental y que permitan disminuir las barreras de accesibilidad al tratamiento

Introduction: this study aimed at identifying the factors that contribute to delaying the access of alcohol abuse patients to specific treatment centres in the Autonomous Region of Valencia (Spain). Method: 563 patients from Addictive Behaviours Units (UCA) and Alcohology Units (UA) were interviewed. A survey was conducted which included items on previous requested treatment in other centres and on barriers of accessibility to treatment in specific ambulatory centres. A descriptive analysis and t-student and ANOVA with Scheffé post-hoc tests were carried out. Results: 59.7% of respondents said they had requested previous treatment in non-specific resources due to physical or psychical trouble that they now relate to their alcohol use although they did not do so at the time, in addition to being motivated by their own alcohol abuse (42.8%). The most attended resources were Primary Care and Specialist Unit Care. Women showed a higher demand for treatment in Mental Health Services (p<0,05). The most important treatment barriers were included in the axis “unawareness of illness and related problems” (2.2; dt=0,6). Women obtained higher scores in the axes “stigmatisation and environment response” and “treatment intrinsic factors”. Conclusions: gender differences in barriers that delay access to treatment do exist. It is necessary to build genderadapted intervention guidelines to be used in Primary Care and Mental Health services to reduce the accessibility barriers to treatment