[Identification of occupational risks associated with diseases suspected to be of possible occupational origin seen in the National Health System]. / Identificación de los riesgos laborales asociados a enfermedad sospechosa de posible origen laboral atendida en el Sistema Nacional de Salud.

In an earlier study, we identified 26 diseases of possible occupational origin, seen in different settings within the national health system in Catalonia. In this literature review we identify those occupational risk factors most strongly associated with these pathologies. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria to 754 reviews, meta-analyses and/or practice guidelines, 37 articles remained that were rated for study quality by 3 reviewers. Of these, the 31 studies of highest quality were examined in depth, and summarised in a final table. Ergonomic risk factors (manual handling of materials, highly repetitive movements and awkward postures), especially for musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity, and exposures to chemical products and physical agents, were prominent. These results provide an additional resource for primary care physicians to assist them with the identification of possible occupational illness and to improve communication between the National Health Service and social security system.

[Community health: integration of primary care and public health competencies. SESPAS report 2010]. / Salud comunitaria: una integración de las competencias de atención primaria y de salud pública. Informe SESPAS 2010.

Primary care and public health have run on parallel tracks with scarce points of contact or coordination in community action to improve the population's health. If community health is defined as the "health of individuals and groups in a defined community, determined by the interaction of personal and familial factors and by the socioeconomic-cultural and physical environments" and of community intervention is defined as local action to improve community health, primary care and public health are the key players to implement this aim. However, their actions should take into account other local actors, including the population. The inclusion of community health as an objective of the health system highlights the need to achieve more coordinated and comprehensive action, and to introduce advances in several areas, which include training for health professionals, contracts to service providers, systems for defining service portfolios, and organizational aspects of services.

[Semicircular lipoatrophy: a new occupational disease]. / Lipoatrofia semicircular: un nuevo trastorno de salud relacionado con el trabajo.

In February 2007, an outbreak of 200 cases of a rare condition called semicircular lipoatrophy was notified by a company of Barcelona with about 1,000 workers. In September of that year, more that 600 cases had been notified in other workplaces, most of them in Barcelona, but also in other Spanish cities. A case-control study identified the low indoor relative humidity and working tables with thin edges as risk factors. Four months after the onset of the outbreak, the guidelines for the management of similar work-related outbreaks were published. They were addressed to health care workers of occupational health services and insurance organisations of occupational injuries and professional diseases. The implementation of the recommended interventions has been followed by a dramatic reduction of the incidence of new cases as well as by the recovery of a significant proportion of cases.

[Planning criteria based on types of health, social health and public healthcare services: trends in the development and adaptation of services and healthcare integration]. / Criterios de planificación según tipos de servicios sanitarios, sociosanitarios y de salud pública: tendencias sobre desarrollo y adecuación de servicios e integración asistencial.

This article points out the trends established by the Health Map of Catalonia for types of services (primary healthcare, specialised acute care, mental health care, social healthcare, emergency care and home healthcare). The drawing up of planning criteria for the 2015 horizon includes the identification of a strategic vision for the healthcare model, the revision of healthcare processes and the adaptation to demand, the estimation of the health care capacity required and the proposal of territorial coverage objectives. Also included are planning guidelines for health services, in the context of ongoing change. Strategies and instruments for encouraging the integration of services are also considered, perceiving the healthcare network as a framework of relationships between professionals and services, which depend on continuity in healthcare and efficiency in the provision of services.