Revista Espanola de Salud Publica

[Functions of the speech therapist in spanish Stroke Units and their interrelation with other disciplines. A review]
Pérez Naranjo N, Sevilla Torrijos G, Beatriz OR and Ramírez Pérez L
Stroke Units (SU) are specialized in-hospital spaces in our Public Health system. They require multidisciplinary professional specialization and an exhaustive evaluation and treatment of patients. The aim of this study was to describe the presence and usefulness of the work performed by speech therapists in Spanish SU and to define their professional functions.
[Relationship between semen quality and anthropometric parameters in males]
Piera-Jordán C, Serrano de la Cruz Delgado V, Prieto L, García Velert MB, Tordera C, Tuells J, Martín Manchado L, Sánchez-San Segundo M, Hurtado-Sánchez JA and Zaragoza Martí A
Infertility problems affect 15% of the world's population, with male factors accounting for up to 30% of cases. The relationship between male infertility and nutritional status remains inconclusive, as most studies rely on BMI without considering other parameters in their evaluation. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively assess male body composition and its impact on semen parameters. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between seminal quality (seminogram) and nutritional status (body mass index, waist-hip index and percentage of muscle, fat and visceral mass).
[Anesthesiologists' self-reported sustainable attitudes and practices to mitigate climate change]
Marroquí-Calero A, Cruz Mañas J and Bermúdez-Tamayo C
Healthcare systems are a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In hospitals, the areas with the greatest environmental impact are anesthetic-surgical practice and intensive care. The aim of the study was to identify self-reported sustainable practices and attitudes of anesthesiologists at a public university hospital, their opinion on priority practices and barriers to their implementation.
[Impact of anchoring bias in medical diagnostic decision-making: an experimental study]
Sánchez Ordóñez M, Rubio Moraga Á and Bermejo Velasco P
Cognitive biases, such as anchoring bias, significantly influence clinical decisions and contribute to up to 75% of diagnostic errors. Anchoring bias affects both general practitioners and specialists, although its impact may vary depending on the clinician's experience and other factors. Biases are responsible for a substantial proportion of medical errors, highlighting the need to address them through interventions in training and clinical practice. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the impact of anchoring bias on diagnostic decision-making among general practitioners and specialists in the Spanish healthcare system.
[Efectividad de la citisiniclina y diagnóstico precoz de EPOC en la atención integral al fumador: protocolo de investigación]
Majo García R, Fernández-Martínez MN, Espinosa Villoria MG, Almaraz García M, Gómez-Salgado J, Navarro González EM, Casado-Verdejo I and Fernández-García D
Smoking is a chronic addictive disease with high morbidity and mortality, and its consumption patterns vary by sex. Among its many associated pathologies, smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It represents the principal Public Health issue in our country and a global epidemic. Its treatment encompasses the use of pharmacological therapies for nicotine dependence, cognitive-behavioural interventions, and fundamental Public Health measures aimed at promoting health and preventing initiation. Since 2023, cytisinicline has been available as a publicly funded active ingredient for smoking cessation. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of cytisinicline and explore the benefits of pulmonary function tests for the early detection of smoking-related pulmonary diseases.
[Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding allergen management (specifically, gluten) in food services in the hospital setting]
Geles Carmona K and Troncoso Piedrahita LM
Three clinical conditions related to wheat consumption and associated with gluten are recognized: celiac disease; gluten sensitivity; wheat allergy. The World Health Organization defines food safety as a fundamental aspect of public health. Allergen management is an integral part of the food safety management system. The objective of this study was to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food handlers, administrative, and care staff involved in the production of gluten-free food in hospital settings for patients with disorders related to gluten consumption.
[The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on renal replacement therapy]
López Blasco R, Ibáñez Ruiz J, Puente-Santamaría L, González Álvarez B, Tellería Orriol C, Parra Moncasi E, Paúl Ramos FJ and Gutiérrez Dalmau Á
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by progressive renal function loss, often necessitates replacement therapies to prevent mortality, with kidney transplantation being the most effective option. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected healthcare systems, reducing transplant activities and lengthening waiting times. This study assesses differences in kidney transplant activity, waiting list durations, and renal replacement therapy usage during pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.
[Validation of the Spanish version of the POSIT as a broad-spectrum tool for the early detection of problematic alcohol and substance use in adolescence]
García-Couceiro N, Gómez P, Isorna M, Villanueva-Blasco VJ and Rial A
The current situation of alcohol and substance use in Spain suggests the need to invest efforts in early detection and intervention. It is necessary for professionals to have simple instruments that are adapted to consultation times and that have demonstrated their psychometric properties. This study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the POSIT as a generic tool for the detection of a possible alcohol or substance use disorders, thus enhancing its use compared to the simultaneous application of different screening scales specific to each use.
[Understanding the health practices of male migrants who engage in prostitution: a qualitative study in Colombia]
Perilla-Portilla FE and Ortiz-Martínez W
The health of male migrants who engage in prostitution in Colombia has historically been invisible in academic research. This population faces structural and symbolic barriers that shape health practices shaped by exclusion, stigma and precariousness. From the critical perspective of collective health, this research is justified in the need to analyse health practices as an expression of historical, social, economic and cultural processes that structure ways of living, to become ill and take care of oneself, in line with the social determinant of health approach. The aim of this paper was to analyse the health practices of male migrants who engaged in prostitution in the cities of Cali or Popayán (Colombia).
[Suicide epidemiology in the province of Málaga (Spain) [2024]: a retrospective analysis using machine learning techniques]
Romero-Olóriz C, López Hidalgo E, Villalba Soria MV and Guerrero Díaz M
Suicide constitutes a Public Health challenge whose demographic and geographical heterogeneity demands targeted interventions. The paucity of subnational studies integrating advanced data analytics restricts the precise identification of risk patterns. We therefore aimed to characterise the sociodemographic, temporal, and forensic profiles of suicides in Málaga during 2024, through integration of data from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (IMLCF).
[Racism: the invisible social determinant of health in Spain]
Bee Nchama M, Manzano J, Pajunen MG, Zhang Yim JI, González-Rábago Y, Jacques-Aviñó C and La Parra-Casado D
The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed an increased focus on strategies to combat racism as a public health issue. However, this trend contrasts sharply with the stagnation in the response to these inequities in Europe, and in particular in Spain. This article offers a comprehensive diagnosis and proposes a roadmap to address racism as a social determinant of health in Spain. The paradigm in which the invisibilization of racism prevails manifests through the marginalization of racial stratification as a legitimate topic of discussion, the delegitimization of race as a valid analytical category, and the attribution of its effects to alternative variables such as social class or immigration status. In addition, it is noted that current initiatives tend to have significant limitations in both their approach and methodology. These initiatives often adopt an individual perspective to the detriment of a structural vision, and exhibit a culturalist bias that minimizes the importance of hierarchies of power. As a result, ethnicity is prioritized over race and interculturality over racial equity. The article concludes with a call to action, proposing a roadmap aimed at institutional actors to promote greater racial equity in the field of health in Spain. Key lines for the effective integration of racism as a critical component in public health analysis and the implementation of more equitable policies, are highlighted.
[Factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 vaccination in young adults: a systematic review]
Escandell Rico FM and Pérez Fernández L
Young adults may be more likely to spread COVID-19 as they have low adherence to public health guidelines and are more reluctant to get vaccinated. The purpose of this review was to provide the most current evidence regarding the assessment of adherence to COVID-19 vaccination in young adults.
[The relevance of surgical waiting list objectives in healthcare program contracts]
Núñez Díaz S, Muñoz Darias C, Espinilla Yagüe C, Mahtani Mahtani V and Bermúdez Brito MA
This paper examines the significance of surgical waiting list objectives within healthcare program contracts from eight Spanish regional health services in 2024. Healthcare program contracts are strategic tools used to set clear objectives, measurable indicators, and efficient resource allocation between health authorities and care facilities. Common goals identified include reducing surgical waiting times, establishing maximum waiting periods, applying clinical prioritization criteria, and incorporating complementary indicators linked to surgical efficiency and demand refinement. However, the analysis identifies significant limitations, notably the limited use of postoperative outcome indicators and patient satisfaction metrics. The authors conclude by recommending the standardization of objectives and indicators across autonomous communities, systematic integration of pre- and postoperative quality evaluations, adequate financial planning, and enhancement of health information systems to promote transparency and efficiency in Spain's National Health System.
[Intervention protocol for deprescribing antidepressants in Primary Care: a randomized community clinical trial]
Madueño-Caro AJ, Chávez-Gata L, Álvarez-Harana L, Gómez-Salgado J, García-Iglesias JJ and Allande-Cussó R
The consumption of antidepressants has increased considerably worldwide, including in Spain. Despite their efficacy in cases of moderate to severe depression, their long-term use in mild cases is questioned. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a deprescribing intervention in Primary Care, to reduce the unnecessary consumption of these drugs and improve patients' quality of life.
[Mental Health and Desradicalization in Prisons: A Public Health Approach]
Fernández Vázquez R
The Spanish prison system faces a growing challenge regarding the mental health of inmates, especially those convicted of crimes related to Islamist terrorism. A recent study by the Elcano Royal Institute, based on interviews with twenty-four inmates, has revealed the psychological complexities involved in the reintegration of these prisoners, particularly those who have renounced jihadist ideology. This analysis not only addresses the difficulties in the deradicalization process but also underscores the need for effective mental health strategies that address the emotional and psychological demands of inmates, from a comprehensive public health perspective.
[Benzodiazepines and inappropriate prescription in older adults: a Public Health problem that needs greater attention]
Borda Borda MG, Murguiondo Pérez R, Esparza Salazar F, Santacruz JM, Verhelst Forero P and Tarazona-Santabalbina FJ
The use of benzodiazepines (BZD) in the geriatric population represents a significant public health concern due to their high prevalence and associated risks. We present the case of an eighty-five-year-old patient illustrating the consequences of polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing, including the concurrent use of multiple BZDs. This case highlights the need to limit BZD use in older adults and to prioritize evidence-based deprescribing strategies. Robust evidence confirms that BZD use increases the risk of adverse events, compromising functional independence and quality of life in older adults. Strengthening healthcare professionals' training in rational and appropriate prescribing is essential.
[Artificial Intelligence. Latin american perspective: interoperability and environmental effect]
Guijarro-Castro C and Quispe Munayco GO
[Development of a predictive model for estimating healthcare costs in women with non-metastatic breast cancer]
Rodríguez-Abellón MJ, Acea-Nebril B and Balboa-Barreiro V
The justification for the research was the economic approach to breast cancer in order to introduce improvements. The objectives were to know the final cost in each subgroup of women with non-metastatic breast cancer, to know the average cost per patient, to predict the cost and to identify groups with the greatest economic impact for health systems.
[Current situation of people with polio and post-polio syndrome in Spain]
Fernández-Solana J, González-Bernal JJ, Vélez-Santamaría R and González-Santos J
Poliomyelitis and post-polio syndrome (PPS) continue to affect many people in Spain. Despite the eradication of the virus in much of the world, its sequelae persist and cause significant functional and social limitations. The lack of recent studies on the reality of this population makes it difficult to design appropriate interventions. This study aimed to investigate the current situation of individuals with polio and PPS, focusing on their functional, nutritional, psychological, emotional, and social status.
[Addressing dual pathology through integrative models from a gender perspective]
Rodríguez-Tamayo A, Climent-Rodríguez JA, Navarro-Abal Y, García-Iglesias JJ, Prieto-Callejero B and Gómez-Salgado J
Currently, substance use and mental health problems are on the rise. Gender-integrated treatments for dual pathology exist, although no specific therapies have been found for major depressive disorder co-occurring with alcoholism in women. Women initiate alcohol consumption later than men but experience a faster escalation of addiction, although they seek help earlier. Among women, depressive disorder, somatomorphic disorder, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cluster C personality disorders are more prevalent. Alcohol is the primary substance consumed by women. Although ten gender-integrated models have been identified any models of this kind have been found for the treatment of dual depression. Sociocultural differences in the development of dual diagnosis between genders are influenced by changing gender roles in alcohol consumption and variations in the prevalence of specific disorders.
[Population Health Surveys in Spain: description of methodologies and contents]
Sánchez-Cantalejo Garrido C, Neira León M, Cabrera León A and Zoni Matta AC
Population-based Health Surveys (PHS) are essential tools for assessing population health status and its determinants. Since 1977, the World Health Organization (WHO) has promoted their development in various countries to enhance the planning and assessment of health policies. The aim of this study was to identify the PHS carried out by the autonomous communities of Spain, and to describe their administrative, methodological, content-related, and dissemination characteristics.