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The aim of this study was to estimate the level of empathy among primary care (PC) health professionals and its relationship with their approach to patients at risk due to alcohol consumption. This is an observational, descriptive, and multicenter study that included 80 PHC professionals. The professionals completed a questionnaire comprising socio-occupational questions and inquiries regarding their actions when dealing with patients suspected of risky alcohol consumption. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy was used to measure their level of empathy and was completed by 80 professionals, of whom 57.5% were family physicians, 10% were nurses, and 32.5% were family- and community-medicine residents. The mean age was 39.5 ± 13.1 (SD) (range of 24-65 years) and 71.3% were females. The mean empathy level score was 112.9 ± 11.1 (95% CI: 110.4-115.4; range: 81-132 points). Actions that stood out for their frequency were providing health advice in the general population, offering advice to pregnant women, and recommending abstinence to users of hazardous machinery or motor vehicles. The level of empathy was associated with age ( p = 0.029), the health center's scope ( p = 0.044), systematic alcohol exploration ( p = 0.034), and follow-ups for patients diagnosed with risky consumption ( p = 0.037). The mean score obtained indicated a high level of empathy among professionals. Professionals with greater empathy more frequently conducted systematic screening for risky alcohol consumption.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) of the upper limb is a very common condition in women undergoing breast cancer treatment; it can cause considerable alterations in the daily life of patients and a decrease in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Currently, there are many conservative therapies that try to palliate the symptoms, but the results are still controversial and there are still no globally accepted treatments. The purpose of this article is to determine the effect, according to the current available evidence, on HRQoL of different conservative interventions in the rehabilitation of BCRL in the upper limb in women. Eighteen articles that compared the effects of standard treatments, such as manual lymphatic drainage-based decongestive therapy or compression measures, and other newer treatments, including new technologies and other types of treatment programs, were reviewed. According to the results of this review, the most recommended modality for the improvement of HRQoL would be a complex decongestive technique without manual lymphatic drainage. Although there are clinical trials that have demonstrated the effectiveness of various treatments, the results of the positive effects on HRQoL remain highly controversial. There is a need to continue to develop studies to help guide therapeutic decisions that can promote HRQoL in women affected by upper limb BCRL.

Health professionals have been one of the groups most affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Currently, there is little scientific evidence on the similarities and differences between COVID-19 infection and the development of long COVID in primary care (PC) workers. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse their clinical and epidemiological profiles in depth. This study was observational and descriptive, including PC professionals who were divided into three comparison groups based on the diagnostic test for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The responses were analysed using descriptive and bivariate analysis to examinate the relationship between independent variables and the presence or not of long COVID. Binary logistic regression analysis was also conducted, with each symptom as the dependent variable and each group as the independent variable. The results describe the sociodemographic characteristics of these population groups, revealing that women in the health sector are the most affected by long COVID and that being in this group is associated with its development. Furthermore, individuals with long COVID exhibited the highest number of symptoms and pathologies. Certain symptoms were found to be associated with long COVID development in this population, including an altered sense of smell, pneumonia, fever, and sore throat, among others. Similarly, altered senses of smell and taste, chest tightness, and joint pain, among others, were found to be associated with acute COVID-19 infection. Additionally, patients with pre-existing overweight or obesity were more likely to experience acute COVID-19 and develop long COVID. The data obtained can be crucial for improving the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of long COVID patients, ultimately leading to an enhancement in their quality of life.

Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) could be a method for minimizing alcohol-related harm. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of a brief intervention, based on a MI, in patients with risky alcohol use attended in Primary Care (PC)., Materials and Methods: A cluster-randomized, two-arm parallel, multicenter, open-label, controlled clinical trial. Fifty PC healthcare professionals from the province of Córdoba (Spain) will be randomized to one of the two study groups: (1) Experimental Group (EG): MI-based approach; (2) Control Group (CG): Usual care based on health advice. EG intervention: Professionals will receive a training program focused on MI, consisting of a training workshop and the use of pre- and post-workshop questionnaires to measure knowledge and skills acquired, as well as the degree of empathy, with a videotape of the health professionals with standardized patients, before and after the workshop, and subsequent training feedback. CG intervention: Workshop on the management of risky alcohol use based on health advice; participants will also complete the pre-and post-workshop questionnaires and be videotaped. Study population: Patients ≥ 14 years old with risky alcohol consumption (28 Standard Drink Units-SDU-/week in men and 17 SDU/week in women) or excessive alcohol use (≥ 6 SDU in men or ≥ 4 SDU in women, in less than 2 h). It would be necessary to include 110 subjects/group to find a difference of 20% between the percentage of patients in abstinence between EG (37%) and CG (20%), alpha error of 5%, and statistical power of 80%. Assuming a loss rate of 5% and the cluster design effect, the number of subjects to be recruited is estimated at 197/group. The follow-up period will be 12 months. The primary outcome variables will be the self-reported alcohol use level and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire score., Discussion: The study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the motivational approach in the comprehensive treatment of the patient with risky alcohol use, improving the empathy of the healthcare professionals and strengthening the healthcare professional-patient relationship to achieve the behavioral change of the patients with this problem in primary care consultations., Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Romero-Rodríguez, Pérula-Jiménez, Fernández-López, Cabello-Gracia, Fernández-García, Pérula-de Torres, Roldán-Villalobos, Leiva-Cepas, Fernández-Márquez, Parras-Rejano and ALCO-AP-20 Collaborative Study Group.)

Clinicians' risk behaviors, including their personal alcohol use, may influence patients' attitudes and motivation to make changes in their lifestyle, as well as the provision of clinical preventive services to reduce unhealthy behaviors. The aim of the systematic review was to summarize the existing evidence on the association between clinicians' alcohol consumption and their preventive practices to reduce unhealthy alcohol use. The review was conducted following Cochrane guidelines and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidance. Three databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, Web of Science) were queried from July 1, 2021, through November 30, 2021. We included quantitative observational studies reporting clinicians' alcohol use associations with relevant preventive practices. Two reviewers independently screened articles for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the quality of selected studies. Ten studies, published from 1986 to 2018, were included. We found a statistically significant association between clinicians' alcohol consumption and their preventive practices to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in eight of the 10 studies. Clinicians who drank larger quantities of alcohol offered less screening and counseling to their patients about alcohol use. Clinicians who drank regularly (3 days a week or more) were less likely to screen for alcohol use, and the frequency of alcohol use by those professionals was inversely related to recommending quitting. Clinicians' alcohol use appears to be associated with their screening for unhealthy alcohol use and counseling to reduce it. The frequency and quantity of clinicians' alcohol consumption were also associated with their practices to address unhealthy alcohol use., (© 2023 Research Society on Alcohol.)

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a great variability of symptoms that affect all organs and systems of the body has been identified in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection; this symptomatology can sometimes persist over time, giving rise to the so-called long COVID or post-COVID. The aim of this study is to delve into the clinical characterization of these patients, as well as to take into account the influence of factors such as hospitalization, admission to ICU, history of pneumonia, or vaccination status on the persistence of symptoms., Material and Methods: An observational, descriptive, multicenter, and retrospective study was designed with a series of cases of people who presented long COVID, which includes univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. Data were obtained from an online ad hoc questionnaire, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Software Version 25 (IBM-Inc., Chicago, IL, USA)., Results: Hospitalization, ICU admission, history of pneumonia, and vaccination were predictive factors (positive or negative) for the following long-COVID symptoms: headache, menstrual disorders, joint pain, cough, chills, nasal congestion, back pain, abdominal pain, weight loss, eye discomfort, facial erythema, itching, tremors, dizziness, seizures, sleeping difficulty, dry eyes, palpitations, fatigue, paresthesia, dyspnea, aphonia, chest pain, high blood pressure, vomiting, memory loss, brain fog, hypothermia, low blood pressure, sputum or phlegm, lack of concentration, hair loss, and erectile dysfunction., Conclusion: This study provides evidence on the clinical characterization of patients suffering from long COVID in order to offer them the most appropriate treatments., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Romero-Rodríguez, Pérula-de Torres, Castro-Jiménez, González-Lama, Jiménez-García, González-Bernal, González-Santos, Vélez-Santamaría, Sánchez-González and Santamaría-Peláez.)

Aims: To identify the factors conditioning the feasibility of an intervention to reduce social isolation and loneliness in noninstitutionalized older adults from the perspective of the intervention agents., Design: A Dimensional Grounded Theory study conducted from December 2019 to January 2020., Methods: Twelve participants were recruited from an experimental study developed in a health district of a southern Spanish city. Data were collected through focus group meetings, individual interviews, biograms, anecdote notebooks, and the field diaries of two participants not included in the other techniques. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis., Findings: Findings were divided into three themes: (a) the elderly between the walls of loneliness, economic difficulties, losses, and the past; (b) intervention agents/volunteers between the walls of inexperience in the management of psychological/emotional processes, lack of moral authority, and difficulty in planning results adapted to the (elderly) person; and (c) intervention between the walls of (interest in) company and assistance at home, lack of involvement ("waiting for you to save them"), and withdrawal/"abandonment"., Conclusion: A profile of the specialized intervention agent, professionalized (or at least a mentored agent), with both technical and relational competencies; a clear understanding of the purposes of the intervention (empowerment, as opposed to having company or being helped with household chores) and the commitment to active participation by the elder; or adequate management of the completion of the intervention (flexibility, attachment management) are some of the main factors contributing to the feasibility of these approaches., Impact: The findings have potential implications in the field of primary healthcare because primary and community healthcare services can implement corrections to the proposed intervention and ensure its effectiveness under feasible conditions. The nurse is shown as the most appropriate profile to conduct this intervention, although more research is needed to analyze the feasibility of this type of intervention in the daily practice of community nurses.

In primary health care, the work environment can cause high levels of anxiety and depression, triggering relevant expert and individual change. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs reduce signs of anxiety and depression. The purpose of this sub-analysis of the total project, was to equate the effectiveness of the standard MBSR curriculum with the abbreviated version in minimizing anxiety and depression. This randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled 112 mentors and resident specialists from Family and Community Medicine and Nurses (FCMN), distributed across six teaching units (TU) of the Spanish National Health System (SNHS). Experimental group participants received a MBRS training (abbreviated/standard). Depression and anxiety levels were measured with the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) at three different time periods during the analysis: before (pre-test) and after (post-test) participation, as well as 3 months after the completion of intervention. Taking into account the pre-test scores as the covariate, an adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed significant depletion in anxiety and depression in general (F (2.91) = 4.488; p = 0.014; η 2 = 0.090) and depression in particular (F (2, 91) = 6.653; p = 0.002; η 2 = 0.128 at the post-test visit, maintaining their effects for 3 months (F (2.79) = 3.031; p = 0.050; η 2 = 0.071-F (2.79) = 2.874; p = 0.049; η 2 = 0.068, respectively), which is associated with the use of a standard training program. The abbreviated training program did not have a significant effect on the level of anxiety and depression. The standard MBSR training program had a positive effect on anxiety and depression and promotes long-lasting effects in tutors and resident practitioners. New research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of abbreviated versions of training programs.

Health professionals and students in training are key for early diagnosis of cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the awareness of Family Medicine (FM) residents and Medicine and Nursing undergraduate students in Spain regarding the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC). This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, and multicenter study., Location: Teaching Units of FM of Cordoba and Ceuta and Schools of Medicine and Nursing of the Universities of Cordoba and Francisco de Vitoria of Madrid (Spain)., Participants: residents of FM and Medicine and Nursing undergraduate Spanish students., Intervention: self-administered questionnaire to assess the awareness about the ECAC. A total of 651 subjects participated (52.4% [95% CI 48.5-56.2] Nursing students, 34% [95% CI 30.3-37.6] Medicine students, and 13.6% [95% CI 11.0-16.3] FM residents). Of the total subjects participated, 74.8% were women. Mean age: 22.34 years (standard deviation, 4.68; range, 18-52; 95% CI, 21.98-22.70). A total of 76.8% (95% CI 73.5-80.1) declared to be unaware of the ECAC. Those referring to be aware of the ECAC mainly knew it through degree subjects (7.5% [95% CI 5.5.5-9.6]). Residents of FM (p < 0.001), older participants (p < 0.001), and those belonging to the Teaching Units (p = 0.002) showed a better awareness of the ECAC. Our findings reveal the unawareness on the ECAC in three out of four participants. The access to the advice described in the ECAC through the Medicine and Nursing Schools and FM Teaching Units is poor. The awareness of the ECAC of postgraduate residents is higher than that the awareness of the undergraduate students., (© 2020. American Association for Cancer Education.)

Stress is one of the most common problems among healthcare professionals, as they are exposed to potentially stressful and emotionally challenging situations in the workplace. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training programs have been shown to decrease stress. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of an abbreviated 4-weeks MBSR training program in relation to a standard 8-weeks one on the stress levels. A controlled and randomized clinical trial was designed, in which 112 tutors and resident intern specialists in Family and Community Medicine and Nursing of six Spanish National Health System teaching units (TUs) participated. Participants included in the experimental groups (EGs) received a MBRS training program (standard or abbreviated), while control group (CG) participants did not receive any intervention. The stress levels were assessed by the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) in three different moments during the study: before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention. Adjusted covariance analysis (ANCOVA), using pretest scores as the covariate, showed a significant reduction in stress (F (2,91) = 5.165; p = 0.008; η 2 = 0.102) in the post-test visit, attributable to the implementation of the standard training program, but without the maintenance of its effects over time. No significant impact of the abbreviated training program on stress levels was observed in the intergroup comparison. A standard 8-weeks MBSR training program aimed at tutors and resident intern specialists in Family and Community Medicine and Nursing produces significant improvements in stress levels compared with the abbreviated intervention and no intervention. New studies about abbreviated training programs are needed to provide effective treatments which improve well-being of these professionals.

Background and Objective: Olfactory and taste dysfunction (OD, TD) have been considered symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, its presence in certain populations, especially those with mild clinical symptoms, has not been clarified. The objective was to estimate the frequency of OD and TD, and its predictive validity in patients detected in Primary Care., Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Spanish National Health System. An epidemiological survey was administered to patients who were requested the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. Odds ratio (OR) were estimated to measure the magnitude of the association between OD and TD and the existence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of these symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 infection were calculated., Results: Of 1038 patients screened, 20.1% had SARS-CoV-2 infection. OD and DG were present in 64.4% (95% CI 56.0-72.1) and 56.2% (95% CI 47.9-64.2) of the subjects with infection, respectively. The OR for OD was 12.2 (95% CI 8.26-18.06) and for TD was 7.95 (95% CI 5.48-11.53). TD presented a sensitivity of 41.1% (95% CI 34.4-46.1), a specificity of 91.9% (95% CI 89.8-93.7), a PPV of 56.2% (95% CI48.0-64.2) and a NPV of 86.1% (95% CI 83.6-88.3), while the OD showed a sensitivity of 45.0% (95% CI 37.6-51.5), a specificity of 93.7% (95% CI 91.8-95.0), a PPV of 64.4% (95% CI 56.0-72.1) and a NPV of 87.1% (95% CI 84.7-89.2)., Conclusions: More than half of the subjects with SARS-CoV-2 infection have OD or TD. The presence of OD or TD could be of diagnostic utility due to its ability to predict infection in more than half of the cases., (© 2021 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Health professionals are among the most vulnerable to work stress and emotional exhaustion problems. These health professionals include tutors and resident intern specialists, due to the growing demand for the former and the high work overload of the latter. Mindfulness training programs can support these professionals during times of crisis, such as the current global pandemic caused by the coronavirus-19 disease. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of an abbreviated Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training program in relation to a standard training program on the levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-perceived empathy in tutors and resident intern specialists of Family and Community Medicine and Nursing. A total of 112 professionals attached to six Spanish National Health System teaching units (TUs) participated in this randomized and controlled clinical trial. Experimental Group (GE) participants were included in the standard or abbreviated MBSR programs. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Self-Compassion Scale short form (SCS-SF), and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) were administered three times during the study: before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention. Adjusted covariance analysis (ANCOVA), using pretest scores as the covariate, showed a significant increase in mindfulness (F (2,91) = 3.271; p = 0.042; η 2 = 0.067) and self-compassion (F (2,91) = 6.046; p = 0.003; η 2 = 0.117) in the post-test visit, and in self-compassion (F (2,79) = 3.880; p = 0.025; η 2 = 0.089) in the follow-up visit, attributable to the implementation of the standard training program. The standard MBSR and MSC training program improves levels of mindfulness and self-compassion, and promotes long-lasting effects in tutors and resident intern specialists. New studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of abbreviated training programs.

Aim: To develop a training program in Motivational Interviewing for Family Physicians and assess the impact., Study Design: Multicenter, double blind and randomized clinical essay, with 2arms, Experimental (EG) and Control (CG) of Family Physicians with a follow up of 12 months., Location: 32 Primary Healthcare Centers., Sample Description: 54 physicians (CG=28, EG=26)., Interventions: Training Program MOTIVA in ME with an initial presential course (16h), followed by online activities during 12months, and presential meetings (Problem BasedInterviewing with expert feedback)., Main Measurements: Communicative skills in MI were assessed based on video-recordings (VR) with the EVEM 2.0 scale by peer reviewers. 236 VR with standardized patients and 96 VR with real patients., Results: Average results in EVEM scale (up to 56 points) at the beginning of the study were EG=21.27 (CI 95% 15.8-26.7) and CG=20.23 (CI95% 16.4-23.9) with no differences between both groups (P=.79). After the training, EG punctuation increased by 13.89 points (P<.001), average 35.16 (CI 95% 29.8-40.6). Real patients' VR in EG over a 12 month period keep their MI skills with an average of 36.9 points (CI 95% 30.3-43.6) versus CG 15.9 points (CI 95% 9.8-22.0). Once ended the MOTIVA Training Program, the EG maintains the acquired skills: final average EG=37.6 (CI 95% 33.2-41.1) versus CG=24.3 (CI95% 19.0-29.2) (P<.001)., Conclusions: The MOTIVA Training Program improves Motivational Interviewing skills, significatively improving after a presential course and sequential keep-alive activities. The effectiveness of the Program has been proven in the Third and Fourth steps of Miller's Pyramid., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a major public health issue. More than one out of five women treated for breast cancer will develop lymphedema in an upper extremity. Current evidence advocates transdisciplinary oncological rehabilitation. Therefore, research in this area is necessary since limited consensus having been reached with regard to the basic essential components of this rehabilitation. Consensus has, however, been reached on the use of decongestive lymphedema therapy (DLT), but due to a lack of tests, the necessary dosages are unknown and its level is moderately strong. This study attempts to verify both the efficacy of activity-oriented proprioceptive antiedema therapy (TAPA), as compared to conventional treatments such as DLT or Complex Physical Therapy (CPT), as well as its efficiency in terms of cost-effectiveness, for patients affected by breast cancer-related arm lymphedema., Methods: Controlled, randomized clinical trial with dual stratification, two parallel arms, longitudinal and single blind. 64 women with breast cancer-related arm lymphedema will take part in the study. The experimental group intervention will be the same for stage I and II, and will consist of neuro-dynamic exercises oriented to the activity, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation activities and proprioceptive anti-edema bandaging. The control group intervention, depending on the stage, will consist of preventive measures, skin care and exercise-prescribed training in the lymphedema workshop as well as compression garments (Stage I) or conservative Complex Decongestive Therapy treatment (skin care, multi-layer bandaging, manual lymphatic drainage and massage therapy) (Stage II)., Results: Sociodemographic and clinical variables will be collected for the measurement of edema volume and ADL performance. Statistical analysis will be performed on intent to treat., Discussion: It has been recommended that patient training be added to DLT, as well as a re-designing of patient lifestyles and the promotion of health-related aspects. In addition, clinical trials should be undertaken to assess neural mobilization techniques and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation should be included in the therapy. Cohesive bandaging will also be performed as an early form of pressotherapy. The proposed study combines all of these aspects in order to increased comfort and promote the participation of individuals with lymphedema in everyday situations., Limitations: The authors have proposed the assessment of the experimental treatment for stages I and II. One possible limitation is the lack of awareness of whether or not this treatment would be effective for other stages as well as the concern for proper hand cleansing during use of bandages, given the current COVID-19 pandemic situation., Trial Registration: This trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03762044 ). Date of registration: 23 November 2018. Prospectively Registered.

Objective: To analyze the situation, evaluation and proposals for improvement of the Preventive Activities and Health Promotion Program (PAPPS)., Material and Methods: A qualitative study of situation analysis was carried out for the evaluation of the PAPPS in 2 phases: 1) Generation of ideas and collection of information through a DAFO matrix, using 2 types of criteria: internal (strengths and weaknesses), and external (threats and opportunities); 2) Prioritization of the improvement proposals collected. Selection of participants: Key informants were identified taking into account their relationship and knowledge of the PAPPS program. All members of the PAPPS, expert groups and members with past participation were included, as well as the coordinators, including the autonomous leaders of the PAPPS. Two invitations to participate in the study were sent: the first from December 29, 2017 to February 11, 2018, and the second from January 10 to 23, 2019. The information was obtained from a questionnaire designed to be self-completed., Results and Conclusions: A total of 73 subjects answered the questionnaire. 35% of the participants were members of the PAPPS working groups, followed by family doctors from other areas, with 20.5%. The order of prioritization of the improvement proposals was as follows: 1) Unify recommendations with other semFYC working groups; 2) Prepare lists with "Recommendations not to do" from the point of view of prevention; 3) Incorporate PAPPS in the political agenda; 4) Greater coordination and interaction between groups with common competences; 5) Teaching in undergraduate and teaching units; 6) Review, update and dissemination of the program in Primary Care., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Health professionals' training is a key element to address unhealthy alcohol use in Primary Care (PC). Education about alcohol use can be effective in improving PC provider's knowledge and skills addressing alcohol-related problems. The aim of the study was to evaluate the training of health professionals to address unhealthy alcohol use in PC., Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study was performed., Location: PC centres of the Spanish National Health System (SNHS)., Participants: Family physicians, residents and nurses completed an online questionnaire that inquired about their training (none, basic, medium or advanced), knowledge and preventive practices aimed at reducing unhealthy alcohol use. The study population was recruited via random sampling, stratified by the regions of the SNHS's PC centre, and by email invitation to members of two Spanish scientific societies of Family Medicine., Results: A total of 1760 professionals participated in the study. Sixty-seven percent (95% CI: 67.5-71.8) reported not having received specific training to address unhealthy alcohol use, 30% (95% CI: 27.4-31.7) reported having received basic training, and 3% (95% CI: 2.3-4.0) medium/advanced training. The training received was greater in younger providers (p < 0.001) who participated in the PAPPS (Preventive Activities and Health Promotion Programme) (p < 0.001). Higher percentages of providers with intermediate or advanced training reported performing screening for unhealthy alcohol use (p < 0.001), clinical assessment of alcohol consumption (p < 0.001), counselling of patients to reduce their alcohol intake (p < 0.001) or to abstain, in the cases of pregnant women and drivers (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our study reveals a low level of training among Spanish PC providers to address unhealthy alcohol use. A higher percentage of screening, clinical assessment and counselling interventions aimed at reducing unhealthy alcohol use was reported by health professionals with an intermediate or advanced level of training.

Objective: The identification of atrial fibrillation in older patients who come to Primary Care consultations is a topic of interest that has been scarcely studied. The objective of this work was to estimate the frequency of new cases of atrial fibrillation and to analyze the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of patients 65 years of age or older, detected in Primary Care in Spain., Methods: An observational, descriptive, national, multicenter study was carried out in 48 health centers, in which 218 doctors and 101 Primary Care nurses recruited 7,068 patients, who underwent an arterial pulse and an electrocardiogram. in case of being abnormal or doubtful, determining the presence of atrial fibrillation and other rhythm disorders, symptoms and signs compatible with atrial fibrillation and comorbidity and cardiovascular risk factors. A univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis (multiple logistic regression) was performed., Results: The patients had a mean age of 74.41±6.78 (DT) years. 2.3% presented atrial fibrilation (95% CI: 2.0-2.7), being its frequency higher in men (2.9%; p<0.001), and as age increased (p<0.001). The most frequent symptoms present among patients with atrial fibrillation were palpitations (Odds Ratio -OR-=3.50; 95% CI: 2.28-5.37), dyspnea (OR=2.71; 95% CI: 1.87-3.90), general discomfort (OR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.15-4.63), and dizziness (OR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.20-3.51). The 21.8% were asymptomatic., Conclusions: The frequency of new cases of atrial fibrillation in the Spanish population of 65 years or older is high, being higher in men and increasing with age. Two out of ten patients are asymptomatic. Palpitations and dyspnea are the predominant symptoms in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention in non-institutionalized older people. This effectiveness will be assessed in terms of reducing social isolation and loneliness and improving Health-Related Quality of Life., Background: The concern for social isolation and loneliness in non-institutionalized older adults has increased in recent decades. In addition, their relationship with numerous negative health outcomes is amply demonstrated., Design: A mixed-method design including a cluster randomized controlled clinical trial and an exploratory qualitative study with focus groups was used., Method: Each study group consists of 57 subjects. The experimental group will be subjected to a multicomponent intervention comprising six domiciliary face-to-face sessions and five telephone calls that will be interspersed. Interventions will be conducted by healthcare professionals and volunteers. The control group will not be subjected to any systematized intervention. We are going to consider social isolation, loneliness, and Quality of Life as the primary outcomes. However, the factors that influence both primary outcomes and the feasibility of the intervention in clinical practice will also be assessed., Discussion: Despite the negative influence of social isolation and loneliness on clinical outcomes is widely evidenced, few early detection programs are available, especially interventions at the community setting. This study will examine the effectiveness of the intervention in the Spanish community setting. At the same time, this study will identify the feasibility of this intervention in Primary Care clinical practice., Impact: Substantial evidence indicates the detrimental health impact of social isolation and loneliness, particularly on mental wellness. Knowing that mental disorders are associated with high economic cost, this project would have strong clinical implication to inform nursing practice on managing social isolation and loneliness. The findings may also inform primary health policy setting in Spain and the wider European countries., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of training activities directed at Primary Health Care personnel on the management of patients with alcohol consumption problems., Design: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials., Data Sources: Trip Database, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Science Database - ETOH and FAMILY RESOURCES DATABASE. The search was performed in June 2017., Study Selection: The final sample was n=3 studies. Randomised controlled trials, indexed until 30 May 2017, with the objective of assessing the effectiveness of training programs directed at Primary Care providers in the management of patients with alcohol abuse disorder were included., Data Extraction: The main variables were expressed in terms of effectiveness of the training program: level of global implementation, screening of alcohol consumption, intervention in patients with a consumption risk, and level of support required., Results: Three Randomised controlled trials, published from 1999 to 2004, were included. Both screening and short intervention techniques showed an increase of its application in the three studies after the development of the three training programs. Statistical significance in terms of effectiveness was achieved in 2 of the 3 selected trials: both in detection of risk consumers, and in short intervention., Conclusion: The development of training programs in the management of patients with alcohol abuse disorder is an effective strategy for Primary Care providers, allowing the implementation of population screening, as well as the application of intervention techniques., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the impact of a training program targeted to Primary Care (PC) professionalson the acquisition of communication skills, attitudes, and knowledge about the prevention and management of unhealthy alcohol use., Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre- and post-intervention study was performed in PC centers of Cordoba (Spain). Family doctors, residents and nurses participated in the study. The intervention was based on a motivational interviewing training program, which consisted in a workshop on learning skills, attitudes and knowledge about the alcohol management. PC providers were videotaped with a standardized patient in order to check the clinical and communication competencies acquired. A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis was carried out (p < 0.05)., Results: PC providers' communication skills and attitudes showed significant improvements in the variables studied (p < 0.001), as well as in the clinical interview evaluation parameters., Conclusion: The present study reveals the impact of a training program targeted to PC professionals on communication skills, attitudes, and knowledge about the prevention and management of patients with unhealthy alcohol use., Practice Implications: Training activities targeted to PC providers represent a valuable strategy to improve communication skills, attitudes and knowledge of these professionals in their clinical practice., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The precise age distribution and calculated stroke risk of screen-detected atrial fibrillation (AF) is not known. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the number needed to screen (NNS) to identify one treatable new AF case (NNS-Rx) (i.e., Class-1 oral anticoagulation [OAC] treatment recommendation) in each age stratum. If the NNS-Rx is known for each age stratum, precise cost-effectiveness and sensitivity simulations can be performed based on the age distribution of the population/region to be screened. Such calculations are required by national authorities and organisations responsible for health system budgets to determine the best age cutoffs for screening programs and decide whether programs of screening should be funded. Therefore, we aimed to determine the exact yield and calculated stroke-risk profile of screen-detected AF and NNS-Rx in 5-year age strata., Methods and Findings: A systematic review of Medline, Pubmed, and Embase was performed (January 2007 to February 2018), and AF-SCREEN international collaboration members were contacted to identify additional studies. Twenty-four eligible studies were identified that performed a single time point screen for AF in a general ambulant population, including people ≥65 years. Authors from eligible studies were invited to collaborate and share patient-level data. Statistical analysis was performed using random effects logistic regression for AF detection rate, and Poisson regression modelling for CHA2DS2-VASc scores. Nineteen studies (14 countries from a mix of low- to middle- and high-income countries) collaborated, with 141,220 participants screened and 1,539 new AF cases. Pooled yield of screening was greater in males across all age strata. The age/sex-adjusted detection rate for screen-detected AF in ≥65-year-olds was 1.44% (95% CI, 1.13%-1.82%) and 0.41% (95% CI, 0.31%-0.53%) for <65-year-olds. New AF detection rate increased progressively with age from 0.34% (<60 years) to 2.73% (≥85 years). Neither the choice of screening methodology or device, the geographical region, nor the screening setting influenced the detection rate of AF. Mean CHA2DS2-VASc scores (n = 1,369) increased with age from 1.1 (<60 years) to 3.9 (≥85 years); 72% of ≥65 years had ≥1 additional stroke risk factor other than age/sex. All new AF ≥75 years and 66% between 65 and 74 years had a Class-1 OAC recommendation. The NNS-Rx is 83 for ≥65 years, 926 for 60-64 years; and 1,089 for <60 years. The main limitation of this study is there are insufficient data on sociodemographic variables of the populations and possible ascertainment biases to explain the variance in the samples., Conclusions: People with screen-detected AF are at elevated calculated stroke risk: above age 65, the majority have a Class-1 OAC recommendation for stroke prevention, and >70% have ≥1 additional stroke risk factor other than age/sex. Our data, based on the largest number of screen-detected AF collected to date, show the precise relationship between yield and estimated stroke risk profile with age, and strong dependence for NNS-RX on the age distribution of the population to be screened: essential information for precise cost-effectiveness calculations., Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: GYHL reports consultancy and speaker fees from Bayer, Bayer/Janssen, BMS/Pfizer, Biotronik, Medtronic, Boehringer Ingelheim, Microlife, Roche, and Daiichi-Sankyo outside the submitted work. No fees were received personally. YC reports grants from Bayer during the conduct of the study. DDM reports grants from National Institutes of Health, grants and other research support from Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, grants, personal fees and other from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, other research support from Apple, Samsung Electronics, grants from National Science Foundation during the conduct of the study; other from Mobile Sense Technologies and grants from Philips outside the submitted work. MP reports consultancy activity for Boehringer Ingelheim. JJO reports grants from Pfizer, nonfinancial support from Alivecor, outside the submitted work. JW reports grants from Bayer during the conduct of the study. GHM reports grants from Belgian Heart Rhythm Association during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo, BMS/Pfizer, St Jude Medical outside the submitted work. RBS reports personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer Pharma outside the submitted work. JSH reports grants from Medtronic, grants from Bristol-Meyers-Squibb/Pfizer outside the submitted work. FDRH reports personal fees from BMS/Pfizer, BI, and Bayer outside the submitted work. FRQ reports personal fees from Bayer, personal fees from Servier, grants from Bayer, grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, personal fees from BMS outside the submitted work. BF reports grants, personal fees and nonfinancial support from Bayer, grants, personal fees and nonfinancial support from BMS-Pfizer, personal fees and non-financial support from Daiichi-Sankyo outside the submitted work. PSW reports grants and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, grants from Philips Medical Systems, grants and personal fees from Sanofi-Aventis, grants and personal fees from Bayer Vital, grants from Daiichi Sankyo Europe, personal fees from Bayer HealthCare, personal fees from Astra Zeneca, personal fees and nonfinancial support from DiaSorin, nonfinancial support from I.E.M., grants from Evonik, outside the submitted work. FK reports grants from Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work. RT reports grants and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim during the conduct of the study. In addition, RT has a patent as a co-inventor of the MyDiagnostick with royalties paid. The following authors have declared that no competing interests exist: VWL, AD, JH, NL, JO, LAPDT, AKR, RKS, SAC, TFC, JN, EMR, WK, JM, JM, LN, JWM, BPY, TM, JJGD, AS, BS, JSL, and DAF.

Background: Alcohol use by health care professionals is one of the potential factors that may affect the prevention of hazardous drinking in Primary Care (PC). The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use by PC professionals and assess the existing relationship between socio-demographic and occupational variables of PC professionals and their alcohol use., Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study was performed., Location: PC sites of the Spanish National Health Care System (NHS)., Participants: Physicians and nurses, who completed an online questionnaire intended to identify the pattern of hazardous alcohol use through the AUDIT-C test. The study population was recruited through random sampling stratified by regions of the PC sites in the NHS. The primary measurements: Frequency of alcohol use, number of drinks containing alcohol on a typical day, frequency of six or more drinks on one occasion., Results: One thousand seven hundred sixty professionals completed the questionnaire. Hazardous alcohol use was detected in 27.80% (95% CI: 25.5-29.7) of PC providers. The prevalence of hazardous alcohol use was higher in males (34.2%) [95% CI: 30.4-37.6] and professionals aged 56 years or over (34.2%) [95% CI: 28.2-40.2]. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a higher hazardous use in males (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.22-1.90), PC physicians (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.01-2.02) and professionals with more time worked (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05)., Conclusion: Our study shows the current prevalence of hazardous alcohol use among Spanish PC providers, revealing a higher percentage of hazardous alcohol use in healthcare professionals compared to the Spanish general population. Further interventions are required to increase the awareness of negative consequences derived from alcohol use among PC professionals and its impact on the clinical setting.

Introduction: Primary care (PC) professionals' knowledge about alcohol use has been identified as one of the barriers PC providers face in their clinic. Both PC professionals' level of training and attitude are crucial in the clinical practice regarding alcohol use., Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices of Spanish PC physicians and nurses towards alcohol use., Design: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-center study., Methodology: Location: PC centers of the Spanish National Health System (NHS). Participants: PC physicians and nurses selected randomly from health care centers, and by sending an e-mail to semFYC and SEMERGEN members. Healthcare providers completed an online survey on knowledge, attitude, and follow-up recommendations for reducing alcohol intake. A descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analysis was conducted (p<0.05)., Results: Participants: 1,760 healthcare providers completed the survey (75.6% [95% CI 73.5-77.6] family physicians; 11.4% [95% CI 9.9-12.9] medical residents; and 12.5% [95% CI 10.9-14.1] nurses), with a mean age of 44.7 (SD 11.24, range: 26-64, 95% CI: 47.2-48.2). Knowledge was higher in family physicians (p<0.001), older professionals (Spearman's r = 0.11, p<0.001), and resident trainers (p<0.001). The PC professional most likely to provide advice for reducing alcohol use was: a nurse (p <0.001), female (p = 0.010), between 46 and 55 years old (p <0.001)., Conclusions: PC providers' knowledge and preventive practices regarding alcohol use are scarce, hence specific training strategies to increase their knowledge and improve their attitude and skills with regard to this health problem should be considered a healthcare policy priority., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption and analyse the drinking patterns among primary healthcare (PHC) providers., Design: Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study., Setting: PHC centres in the Spanish National Health System (SNHS)., Participants: Doctors and nurses who completed an online questionnaire which explored their alcohol intake, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) alcohol assessment tool. The study population was recruited by random sampling stratified by regions of the SNHS PHC centres., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Frequency of alcohol consumption, number of alcohol drinks on a typical day, frequency of more than six standard drinks (SDs) intake., Results: A total of 1760 PHC providers completed the questionnaire. The frequency of alcohol consumption was: abstention (12%, 95% CI 10.4% to 13.5%); one or less SDs/month (26%, 95% CI 23.8% to 27.9%); 2-4 SDs/month (32.2%, 95% CI 29.7% to 34.1%); 2-3 SDs/week (17.9%, 95% CI 16.0% to 19.6%); four or more SDs/week (11.9%, 95% CI 10.3% to 13.3%). The number of drinks on a typical day was: none (45.6%, 95% CI 42.9% to 47.6%); 1-2 drinks (47.3%, 95% CI 23.8% to 27.9%); 3-4 drinks (6.5%, 95% CI 5.3% to 7.6%). The percentage of hazardous drinking, according to AUDIT-C criteria, was 32% (95% CI 26.7 to 37.3), with a greater frequency of intake in older professionals (p<0.001), in contrast to a higher number of drinks consumed on a typical day by younger providers (p<0.001). Intake was higher among males (p<0.001), primary care physicians (p<0.001) and resident trainers (p<0.001)., Conclusions: Our study discloses the most up-to-date portrait of current alcohol consumption among Spanish PHC providers, showing a higher prevalence of alcohol intake, compared with the general population. Preventive strategies should be implemented to improve the awareness and training of PHC professionals towards alcohol consumption., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic illness that increases in prevalence with age. Treatment includes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. Studies about the use of CPAP in the elderly are scarce. The main objective of this study is to determine whether CPAP contributes to improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQL) in elderly patients with OSA., Method: This was a prospective, pre-/postintervention assessment of a cohort of patients ≥65 years of age with OSA diagnosis by polysomnography who were being treated with CPAP and were physically independent and had good cognitive status. We determined HRQL before and after 3 months of CPAP treatment using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36, a 36-item, patient-reported survey) and Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI). The effect of CPAP on daytime sleepiness was assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)., Results: Of the 103 participants with a mean age of 71.5 ± 4.19 years, 66% were male. After 3 months of therapy, the mean CPAP usage was 6.3 ± 1.41 hr/day. The effectiveness of CPAP in controlling the OSA was demonstrated (mean difference pre- and posttherapy: 34.30 ± 18.52 events/hr, p < .001). Postintervention, the categories of the SF-36 improved meaningfully ( p < .001). Moreover, all categories of SAQLI improved ( p < .001) with the exception of "symptoms" ( p = .073). ESS scores also improved significantly (difference = 5.2 ± 4.47, p < .001) postintervention., Conclusion: Therapy with CPAP in elderly patients with OSA helps improve their HRQL and reduces daytime sleepiness.

Introduction: The aim of the study is to analyse the prevalence of smoking among resident physicians at a regional university hospital. In addition, we examined the trends in the smoking behaviour of physicians in relation to results obtained in other studies carried out previously at this hospital, as well as those published nationally and internationally METHOD: A cross-sectional observational study evaluating tobacco consumption in young physicians was carried out at the level of secondary healthcare in a regional university hospital in Cordoba, Spain. All the study subjects were resident physicians who underwent a mandatory preliminary occupational health examination between 2012 and 2016. There was no sampling selection as anyone who took this examination was considered to be within the target population. We calculated the proportions of smokers, former smokers and non-smokers, with 95% CIs. Univariate and multivariate analyses (binary logistic regression) were used to analyse the results (P<0.05)., Results: The response rate was 99.4%, with a sample size of 324 out of a possible 326 physicians. The average age was 28.6±3.7-DT-(95% CI 28.2 to 29.0), and 62.3% (202/324; 95% CI 57.3 to 67.2) were women. Smoking prevalence was 6.5% (21/324; 95% CI 3.5 to 9.3) with a further 5.2% (17/324; 95% CI 2.7 to 7.8) being ex-smokers. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of tobacco consumption according to age (P=0.266), sex (9.0% for men and 5.0% for women; P=0.128), medical specialty (P=0.651) or year of residency (P=0.975). A 52.7% decline in the number of young physician smokers was noted between 1986 and 2016 (95% CI -44.0 to -63.5), together with a 64.4% increase in non-smokers (95% CI 55.2 to 77.3)., Conclusions: We observed a significantly low prevalence of tobacco use among trainee physicians in the cohort, an effect of new antismoking laws, with positive role model implications for new physicians and medical students., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the opportunistic search of HIV according to primary care doctors' experience. To set up the profile of the physician involved in this study., Design: Observational, transversal study., Location: Primary Care Centers of the National Health System., Participants: General practitioners and residents who participated in VIH-AP study to measure the acceptability of HIV opportunistic search by patients., Main Measurements: Self-filling survey to collect data on age, sex, teaching skills, amount of years dedicated to research, time working with the same quota of patients, acceptability and feasibility of opportunistic HIV search., Results: A total of 197 physicians with a mean age of 45.2±9.7 (SD) years. 18.8% were under 36years old, 70.1% were women and 62.4% had teaching skills. 55.8% worked in towns with a population over 100,000 inhabitants and the mean of years working with the same quota of patients was 6.4±6.6. 91.9% (95%CI: 88.1-98.7) of them considered the opportunistic search of HIV acceptable and 89.3% (95%CI: 85.0-93.6), feasible to perform. The multivariate analysis showed positive relation between the acceptability/feasibility and teaching skills (OR: 2.74; 95%CI: 1.16-6.49). The acceptance of the screening by patients was 93.1% and this was positively related to how long the doctor had worked with the same quota, teaching skills and the amount of years dedicated to research., Conclusions: HIV opportunistic search is an acceptable and feasible method for primary care professionals., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of opportunistic screening through pulse palpation in the early detection of atrial fibrillation in subjects aged≥65 years versus detection through an active search for patients with symptoms and/or complications and sequelae associated., Material and Methods: This was a cluster randomized controlled trial performed in 48 primary care centers of the Spanish National Healthcare System. A total of 368 physicians and nurses were randomized. The researchers in the experimental group (EG) performed opportunistic screening for auricular fibrillation, whereas the researchers in the control group (CG) actively searched for symptomatic patients. An ECG was performed on patients found to have an irregular heartbeat to confirm the diagnosis of auricular fibrillation., Results: A total of 5,465 patients with a mean age of 75.61 years were recruited for the EG, and 1,525 patients with a mean age of 74.07 years were recruited for the CG. Of these, 58.6% were female, without significant differences between groups. Pulse was irregular in 4.3 and 15.0% of the patients in the EG and the CG, respectively (P<.001). A total of 164 new cases of atrial fibrillation were detected (2.3%), 1.1% in the EG and 6.7% in the CG (adjusted OR: 0.29; 95% CI 0.18-0.45)., Conclusions: Case finding for atrial fibrillation in patients aged≥65 years with symptoms or signs suggestive of atrial fibrillation is a more effective strategy than opportunistic screening through pulse palpation in asymptomatic patients., Trial Registration: The trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01291953; February 8, 2011)., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented method to help patients change behaviour. Tools that are often used to measure MI are the motivational interviewing skills code' (MISC), the 'motivational interviewing treatment integrity' (MITI) and the 'behaviour change counselling index' (BECCI). The first two instruments have not been designed to be used in primary healthcare (PHC) settings. The BECCI actually is time-consuming. The motivational interviewing assessment scale (MIAS, 'EVEM' in Spanish) was developed to measure MI in PHC encounters as an alternative to the previous instruments., Objectives: To validate MIAS as an instrument to assess the quality of MI in PHC settings., Methods: (a), Development: Sixteen experts in MI participated in the design, face and consensus validity, using a Delphi-type methodology. (b), Setting: 27 PHC centres located in Spain., Subjects: four experts in MI tested its psychometric properties with 332 video recordings coming from the Dislip-EM study (consultations provided by 37 practitioners)., Measurements: dimensionality, internal consistency, reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient-ICC), sensitivity to change and convergent validity with the BECCI scale., Results: A 14-item scale was obtained after the validation process. Factor analysis: two factors explained 76.6% of the total variance. Internal consistency, α = 0.99. Reliability: intra-rater ICC = 0.96; inter-rater ICC = 0.97. Sensitivity to change: means before and after training were 23.63 versus 38.57 (P < 0.001). Spearman's coefficient between the MIAS and the BECCI scale was 0.98 (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The MIAS is a consistent and reliable instrument to assess the use of MI in PHC settings. [Box: see text].

Background: It is known that making people change their habits is challenging. It is crucial to identify the most effective approach that general practitioners (GPs) should use to help their patients change unhealthy habits. The objective this study was to assess the efficacy of a multifactorial intervention based on Motivational Interviewing performed by general practitioners to enhance lipid levels in patients with dyslipidemia, as compared to standard care., Methods: A multicenter, controlled, randomized, cluster, two-parallel arm trial with a 12-month follow-up conducted in 25 community health centers of the Spanish. 38 GPs and 227 primary care patients with uncontrolled dyslipidemia were included in the trial. GPs performed an intervention based either on Motivational Interviewing (MI) or standard practice. Lipid levels were measured, and the control degree was analyzed based on the criteria of clinical guidelines., Results: 107 were assigned to the Experimental Group (EG) and 120 to the Control Group (CG). An overall improvement was achieved in total cholesterol levels (Mean Difference -MD- = -19.60; 95 % CI: -15.33 at -23.87 mg/dl; p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol levels (MD = -13.78; 95 % CI: -9.77 at -17.79 mg/dl; p < 0.001) and triglycerides (MD = -19.14; CI 95 %: -11.29 at -26.99 mg/dl; p < 0.001). No differences were found between the two groups. However, when we assessed the degree of lipid control by combining cholesterol <200 mg/dl and LDL-cholesterol < 130 mg/dl parameters, it was observed that a higher percentage of patients achieved target figures in the EG versus CG (13.1 % vs. 5.0 %; adjusted OR = 5.77, 95 % CI: 1.67-19.91)., Conclusion: A Motivational Interviewing-based approach conducted by Primary Care physicians aimed at patients with dyslipidemia, achieved a significant reduction in all lipid parameters, cardiovascular risk, weight reduction and the adherence to the Mediterranean diet, similar to that obtained with the usual intervention and superior in the proportion of patients achieving combined lipid control goals and the level of physical exercise., Trial Registration: the trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01282190 ; January 21, 2011).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Spanish population's knowledge of and beliefs regarding the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) recommendations. This was a cross-sectional, observational, multicentric study that used self-administered surveys. Ten individuals, between the ages of 15 and 69 years old, were enrolled by each participating primary care professional in their respective surgery consultations. This study used 2058 individuals who were recruited by 205 professionals from 106 health centres. Their average age was 41.5 years (52.2% women). The majority believe that smoking [94.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 93.1-95.2], sun exposure (91%; 95% CI: 89.7-92.3) and alcoholism (72.1%; 95% CI: 70.1-74.1) are factors related to cancer. The least relevant are infection by the hepatitis B virus (25.7%; 95% CI: 23.8-27.7) and having multiple sexual partners (25%; 95% CI: 23.1-26.9). In all, 86.7% (95% CI: 85.2-88.2) had never heard about the ECAC. Patients adequately identify the carcinogenic effect of tobacco, alcohol or sun exposure. Moreover, they inadequately identify having hepatitis B and multiple sexual partners as being related to cancer. A large majority of individuals have not heard of the ECAC, which raises the need to conduct outreach campaigns at an institutional level and/or through scientific associations and activities promoting health education among primary care professionals.

The motivational interview has been widely used as a clinical method to promote behavioural changes in patients, helping them to resolve their ambivalence to obtain their own motivations. In the present article, a review is made of the main meta-analyses and systematic and narrative reviews on the efficacy of the motivational interview in the primary health care environment., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Background: Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend using peripheral blood pulse measuring as a screening test for Atrial Fibrillation. However, there is no adequate evidence supporting the efficacy of such procedure in primary care clinical practice. This paper describes a study protocol designed to verify whether early opportunistic screening for Atrial Fibrillation by measuring blood pulse is more effective than regular practice in subjects aged 65 years attending primary care centers., Methods/design: An cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in Primary Care Centers of the Spanish National Health Service. A total of 269 physicians and nurses will be allocated to one of the two arms of the trial by stratified randomization with a 3:2 ratio (three practitioners will be assigned to the Control Group for every two practitioners assigned to the Experimental Group). As many as 12 870 patients aged 65 years or older and meeting eligibility criteria will be recruited (8 580 will be allocated to the Experimental Group and 4 290 to the Control Group). Randomization and allocation to trial groups will be carried out by a central computer system. The Experimental Group practitioners will conduct an opportunistic case finding for patients with Atrial Fibrillation, while the Control Group practitioners will follow the regular guidelines. The first step will be finding new Atrial Fibrillation cases. A descriptive inferential analysis will be performed (bivariate and multivariate by multilevel logistic regression analysis)., Discussion: If our hypothesis is confirmed, we expect Primary Care professionals to take a more proactive approach and adopt a new protocol when a patient meeting the established screening criteria is identified. Finally, we expect this measure to be incorporated into Clinical Practice Guidelines., Trial Registration: The study is registered as NCT01291953 (ClinicalTrials.gob).

Objectives: To find out the views of the patient on their participation in decision making (DM) when visiting their family physician., Design: A cross-sectional, qualitative and quantitative study., Setting and Participants: Patients attending their family doctors in diverse geographical Health Centres., Measurements: Personal interviewing using different kinds of questions (close-ended, close-ended with options and open-ended questions)., Results: Patients participation: 658 (52 ± 17.4 years, 62% females, consulting with 97 doctors (from urban centres: 36 (458); rural centres: 22 (200). Most patients (94%; 620) declared to be satisfied with DM and up to 41% (266) thought that DM should be taken only by the doctor. Nevertheless, after the consultation 60% of patients (360) confirmed that they would have liked the physician to have asked them for their opinion, but the doctor did not encourage them to do this. Furthermore, patients considered information, discussion about options, ways to make decisions, medical advice, active listening and empathy as key aspects to encourage them to participate., Conclusions: After a medical consultation, most patients wanted to give their opinion about the proposals of treatment. Nevertheless, they felt that their doctors offered them these opportunities on very few occasions. Some types of questions are better than others in detecting of these kinds of needs, and are more useful to design strategies for involving patients in the DM process., (© 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Background: Different aspects of the doctor-patient relationship were associated with satisfaction and other outcomes of the consultation. However, measurements of the perception of communication quality are often limited by the "ceiling effect". To evaluate the relationship and differences between three ways to obtain information regarding patient satisfaction and perception of unmet needs in communication aspects with your doctor., Methods: An observational descriptive study was design. Patient perception regarding four communicational domains when attending family doctors measured by means of three different type of questions., Participation: 658 (91%) patients attending the consultation of 97 physicians in 58 Health Centres. 401 (62%) of them were females. Average age 52 years (TD:17,4; CI95%: 50,6-53,3 years), 401 females (62%: CI95%: 58,7-66,4%). In close ended questions, patients declared high rates of satisfaction for all the communicative domains studied: relationship 99,7% (CI95%: 98,8-99,9%), explaining reasons for consultation (CI95%: 94,4-97,7%), information regarding causes 96,2% (CI95%: 89,9- 94,3%), and therapeutic plan 97,9% (CI95%:96,7-99,1%). Patients declared as insatisfied gave high number of suggestions or showed more discrepancy of frequency (p<0.05); nevertheless, up to 28,9% of satisfied patients made suggestions for improving communication (p<0,001)., Conclusions: [corrected] Designing open-ended questions where patient can make suggestions, seems to be a good method for detecting unmet needs in doctor patient communication that close-ended question about satisfaction or those exploring possible discrepancy on the frequency of some behaviours.

Aims: To assess patient preferences their satisfaction level and their participation in decision making with nurses., Methods: Cross-sectional and mixed quantitative-qualitative study carried out in people attending the nursing services of 9 Health Centres in Andalusia. Patients were interviewed immediately after receiving nursing treatment using two different questionnaires for assessing their opinions, satisfaction and perception of involvement in the decisional process. A descriptive analysis using the χ(2) test (P<.05) was performed to assess the differences among close-ended and open-ended questions. Qualitative analysis: Open-ended questions were grouped into categories by a process involving three researchers independently., Results: A total of 235 patients took part, of whom 59% (138) preferred a collaborative role with the nurse when making decisions. In the closed questions, 96.2% (228) of the surveyed patients declared to be satisfied or very satisfied with the decision making process; nevertheless 17.4% (41) made specific suggestions for improving this process. For them the main improvement areas were related to: general communication skills or a more specific one such as: strategies for helping them make decisions, reaching common ground or giving advice., Conclusions: Nurses should be aware that most patients wish to be involved in decision making and in clinical practice this participation can be improved by obtaining specific communicational skills. Surveys that include open-ended questions are more useful to assess the quality of care., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the level of preventive activities carried out by Family and Community Medicine medical residents during their stay in the Health Centre, as well as to estimate the time involved in carrying them out., Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study., Setting: Teaching Health Centres in the Central- Cordoba and Guadalquivir Primary Care Districts., Participants: Forty medical residents and 384 clinical interviews with patients who were seen at the clinic., Main Measurements: The consultations were video recorded and looked at by three medical residents who recorded the preventive activities carried out according to the 2005 PAPPS (Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Activities) recommendations, as well as the time employed in performing these activities., Results: No preventive activities were performed in 72.1% (95% CI: 67.6 to 76.5%) of the consultations. The most frequent activities were secondary prevention (70.1%), mainly the taking of blood pressure (8.1%). The mean consultation time when there were no preventive activities carried out was 5.6 min (SD=3.1), whilst in those that did perform them it was 7.04 min (SD=3.05) (P<0.0001)., Conclusions: The performing of preventive activities by medical residents in Primary Care clinics is very limited. A consultation that includes preventive activities requires a significantly longer time than in those that do not include them., (Copyright © 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)