Distribución demográfica de especialistas en endocrinología y diabetes, Chile 2022 / Demographic distribution of specialists in endocrinology and diabetes in Chile, 2022

En abril de 2021 el ministerio de salud de Chile da a conocer un estudio que explicita un importante déficit de médicos con especialidades derivadas de la Medicina Interna. En endocrinólogos de adultos se estima un déficit de 14 profesionales en el sistema público de Salud al año 2024, así como un endocrinólogo infantil y 10 diabetólogos; y una lista de espera estimada en 23.000 consultas de la especialidad para 2020. OBJETIVOS: cuantificar el número de especialistas en endocrinología de adultos, infantil y diabetología de nuestro país, y su distribución en nuestro territorio. MÉTODOS: Se realiza la búsqueda de todos los médicos registrados bajo la especialidad endocrinología y diabetología en la Superintendencia de Salud, su distribución por regiones del país, en relación del número de habitantes regional y nacional. RESULTADOS: Existen 340 especialistas en endocrinología y 188 diabetólogos a nivel nacional; 1.93 y 1.33 por cada 100.000 habitantes, respectivamente. El 75% de ellos se registra en las regiones Metropolitana, Valparaíso y Bio Bío. En 5 regiones del país se registra un profesional para toda la región; en una región no se registran profesionales de endocrinología ni diabetología. CONCLUSIONES: Este trabajo da cuenta de una desigual distribución regional de especialistas en endocrinología y diabetes en Chile. Se deben plantear estrategias de corto y mediano plazo para incentivar a especialistas que migren hacia regiones de alta necesidad.

In April 2021, the Ministry of Health of Chile unveiled a report showing a significant deficit of medical doctors with specialties derived from Internal Medicine. In adult endocrinologists, a deficit of 14 professionals in the public health system is estimated as of 2024, as well as one pediatric endocrinologist and 10 diabetologists; and a waiting list estimated of 23,000 consultations for the specialty by 2020. OBJECTIVES: to quantify the number of specialists in adult and pediatric endocrinology and diabetology, and their geographic distribution. METHODS: A search for all physicians registered under the endocrinology and diabetology specialties was carried out in the Superintendence of Health website; their geographic distribution according to regional and national inhabitants was studied. RESULTS: There are 340 endocrinology and 188 diabetes' specialists at the national level, 1.93 and 1.33 per 100.000 inhabitants, respectively. A 75% of them are registered in the Metropolitan, Valparaíso and Bio Bío areas. In five regions, just one professional is registered; there are no endocrinology or diabetology professionals registered in one region. CONCLUSIONS: our work accounts for an unequal regional distribution of specialists in endocrinology and diabetes in Chile. Short- and medium-term strategies should be proposed to encourage specialists to migrate to regions of high demand.

The clinical workforce caring for emerging adults with diabetes in New Zealand is under resourced.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic disorders in emerging adults (15-25 years of age), and the prevalence of both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in New Zealand continues to increase in this age group. Tight glycaemic control in both T1D and T2D is well known to reduce diabetic microvascular and macrovascular complications and improve survival. However, in New Zealand and worldwide, emerging adulthood is typically the period of worst glycaemic control in the lifespan due to the high prevalence of psychosocial stressors and increased insulin resistance of puberty and risk-taking behaviours. In addition, the glycaemic control of emerging adults with diabetes in New Zealand often deteriorates due to the loss of support from family and friends from moving regions, the failure of support from paediatric services to extend to emerging adulthood and the loss of public funding for insulin pump therapy as glycaemic targets are no longer met. Given the high prevalence of psychosocial stressors and the loss of support, the International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes's (ISPAD's) guidelines recommend that emerging adults with diabetes receive ambulatory care from a dedicated multidisciplinary team consisting of 0.75 full time equivalent (FTE)/100 patients of an endocrinologist, 1-1.25 FTE/100 patients of a diabetes nurse specialist, 0.5 FTE/100 patients of a dietitian, 0.3 FTE/100 patients of a psychologist and 0.3 FTE/100 patients of a social worker or youth worker.

The Neighborhood Deprivation Index and Provider Geocoding Identify Critical Catchment Areas for Diabetes Outreach.

PURPOSE: In designing a Project ECHO™ type 1 diabetes (T1D) program in Florida and California, the Neighborhood Deprivation Index (NDI) was used in conjunction with geocoding of primary care providers (PCPs) and endocrinologists in each state to concurrently identify areas with low endocrinology provider density and high health risk/poverty areas. The NDI measures many aspects of poverty proven to be critical indicators of health outcomes. METHODS: The data from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates were used to create NDI maps for California and Florida. In addition, geocoding and 30-minute drive-time buffers were performed using publicly available provider directories for PCPs and endocrinologists in both states by Google Geocoding API and the TravelTime Search Application Programming Interface (API). RESULTS: Based on these findings, we defined high-need catchment areas as areas with (1) more than a 30-minute drive to the nearest endocrinologist but within a 30-minute drive to the nearest PCP; (2) an NDI in the highest quartile; and (3) a population above the median (5199 for census tracts, and 1394 for census block groups). Out of the 12 181 census tracts and 34 490 census block groups in California and Florida, we identified 57 tracts and 215 block groups meeting these criteria as high-need catchment areas. CONCLUSION: Geospatial analysis provides an important initial methodologic step to effectively focus outreach efforts in diabetes program development. The integration of the NDI with geocoded provider directories enables more cost-effective and targeted interventions to reach the most vulnerable populations living with T1D.

RECALSEEN. La atención al paciente en las unidades de Endocrinología y Nutrición del Sistema Nacional de Salud / Patient care in the Endocrinology and Nutrition Units of the National Health System. The RECALSEEN study

Objetivos: Elaborar un registro de situación de los Servicios y Unidades de Endocrinología y Nutrición (S°EyN) del Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) y valorar sus recursos asistenciales para desarrollar, a partir de los resultados obtenidos, propuestas de políticas de mejora en los S°EyN. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal de los pacientes atendidos en los S°EyN en hospitales generales de agudos del SNS en 2016. Se utilizaron datos obtenidos mediante RECALSEEN 2017, una encuesta «ad hoc» diseñada específicamente para este fin y de las altas dadas por los S°EyN registradas en el CMBD del SNS (2015). Resultados: De un total de 125 hospitales generales de agudos de más de 200 camas instaladas del SNS español, se han obtenido 88 respuestas de los S°EyN, que representan el 70%. El 47% de los S°EyN que respondieron eran servicios y el 31% secciones. El promedio de endocrinólogos por S°EyN era de 7,4±4,4, siendo la tasa media de endocrinólogos por cada 100.000 habitantes de 2,3±1. Las actividades asistenciales más relevantes eran la consulta (promedio de 12,3 primeras consultas por mil habitantes y año), hospital de día (mediana de 2.000 sesiones/año) e interconsulta hospitalaria (mediana de 900 interconsultas/año). El 83% de los S°EyN incorporaban una Unidad de Nutrición Clínica. La dotación de dietistas, técnicos en nutrición y bromatólogos en las Unidades de Nutrición Clínica era baja. En relación con la gestión de la calidad se detectó un amplio margen de mejora; solamente un 35% de los S°EyN tenían responsable de calidad y el 38% había implantado una gestión por procesos para aquellos más frecuentemente atendidos por la unidad. Existen notables diferencias en estructura, recursos y actividad de los S°EyN entre Comunidades Autónomas. Conclusiones: La encuesta RECALSEEN 2017 es útil para el análisis de los S°EyN. La notable variabilidad hallada en los indicadores de estructura, actividad y gestión probablemente indica relevantes diferencias y, por tanto, un amplio margen de mejora

Objectives: To elaborate a diagnosis of the situation regarding the assistance in the Services and Units of Endocrinology and Nutrition (S°EyN) of the National Health System of Spain (SNHS) and to develop, based on the results obtained, proposals for improvement policies in the S°EyN. Material and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of the patients treated in the S°EyN departments of acute general hospitals of the SNHS in 2016. Data were obtained through RECALSEEN 2017, an "ad hoc" survey designed specifically for this purpose, and the Minimum Basic Data Set of discharges given by the S°EN of the SNHS (2015). Results: 88 responses of S°EyN have been obtained forma total of 125 acute general hospitals of more than 200 beds installed in the SNHS (70% answers). 47% of the S°EyN respondents were services and 31% sections. The average of endocrinologists by S°EyN was 7.4±4.4, and the average rate of endocrinologists per 100,000 inhabitants was 2.3±1. The most relevant care activities were the consultation (average of 12.3 first consultations per thousand inhabitants and year), day hospital (median of 2,000 sessions/year) and in-hospital consultations (median of 900 in-hospital consultations/year). 83% of S°EyNhad a Clinical Nutrition Unit. The number of dietitians, nutrition technicians and nutritionists in the Clinical Nutrition Unit was low. In relation to quality management, a large margin for improvement was detected; only 35% of S°EyN had a responsible of quality and 38% had implemented process management for those most frequent processes in the unit. There were notable differences in structure, resources and activity of S°EyN between Autonomous Communities. Conclusions: RECALSEEN 2017 survey is a useful tool for the analysis of S°EyN. The remarkable variability found in the structure, activity and management indicators probably indicates significant differences and, therefore, a wide margin for improvement