Prehospital care for ovarian cancer in Catalonia: could we do better in primary care? Retrospective cohort study

Objective To assess the impact of prehospital factors (diagnostic pathways, first presentation to healthcare services, intervals, participation in primary care) on 1-year and 5-year survival in people with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Design Retrospective quasi-population-based cohort study. Setting Catalan Integrated Public Healthcare System. Participants People with EOC who underwent surgery with a curative intent in public Catalan hospitals between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2014. Outcome measures Data from primary and secondary care clinical histories and care processes in the 18 months leading up to confirmation (signs and symptoms at presentation, diagnosis pathways, referrals, diagnosis interval) of the EOC diagnosis (stage, histology type, treatment). Diagnostic process intervals were based on the Aarhus statement. 1-year and 5-year survival analysis was undertaken. Results Of the 513 patients included in the cohort, 67.2% initially consulted their family physician, while 36.4% were diagnosed through emergency services. In the Cox models, survival was influenced by advanced stage at 1 year (HR 3.84, 95% CI 1.23 to 12.02) and 5 years (HR 5.36, 95% CI 3.07 to 9.36), as was the type of treatment received, although this association was attenuated over follow-up. Age became significant at 5 years of follow-up. After adjusting for age, adjusted morbidity groups, stage at diagnosis and treatment, 5-year survival was better in patients presenting with gynaecological bleeding (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.79). Survival was not associated with a starting point involving primary care (HR 1.39, 95% CI 0.93 to 2.09), diagnostic pathways involving referral to elective gynaecological care from non-general practitioners (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.26), or self-presentation to emergency services (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.31). Conclusions Survival in EOC is not associated with diagnostic pathways or prehospital healthcare, but it is influenced by stage at diagnosis, administration of primary cytoreduction plus chemotherapy and patient age

Unemployment and work disability in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a community-based cross-sectional study from Spain

Chronic fatigue syndrome; Comorbidity; Myalgic encephalomyelitisSíndrome de fatiga crònica; Comorbiditat; Encefalomielitis miàlgicaSíndrome de fatiga crónica; Comorbilidad; Encefalomielitis miálgicaBACKGROUND: Few reports have examined the association between unemployment and work disability in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). This study explored the key determinants of work disability in a CFS/ME cohort. METHODS: A community-based prospective study included 1086 CFS/ME patients aged 18-65 years. Demographic and clinical characteristics and outcome measures were recorded. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify key risk indicators of work disability. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty patients with CFS/ME were employed (41.4%) and 636 were unemployed (58.6%). Older age at pain onset (OR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1. 12-1.84, autonomic dysfunction (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.71-2.87), neurological symptom (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1. 30-2.13) and higher scores for fatigue (OR: 2.61; 95% CI: 2.01-3.39), pain (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.47-2.97), depression (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1. 20-3.26), psychopathology (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.51-2.61) and sleep dysfunction (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1. 14-1.90) were all associated with a higher risk of work disability due to illness. CONCLUSIONS: Using an explanatory approach, our findings suggest that unemployment is consistently associated with an increased risk of work disability due to CFS/ME, although further more rigorous research is now needed to help in targeting interventions at the workplace

A propensity-score-matched analysis of laparoscopic vs open surgery for rectal cancer in a population-based study

Aim: the oncological risk/benefit trade-off for laparoscopy in rectal cancer is controversial. Our aim was to compare laparoscopic vs open surgery for resection of rectal cancer, using unselected data from the public healthcare system of Catalonia. Methods: this was a multicentre retrospective cohort study of all patients who had surgery with curative intent for primary rectal cancer at Catalonian public hospitals from 2011 to 2012. We obtained follow-up data for up to 5 years. To minimize the differences between the two groups, we performed propensity score matching on baseline patient characteristics. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to assess locoregional relapse at 2 years and death at 2 and 5 years. Results: of 1513 patients with Stage I-III rectal cancer, 933 (61.7%) had laparoscopy (conversion rate 13.2%). After applying our propensity score matching strategy (2:1), 842 laparoscopy patients were matched to 517 open surgery patients. Multivariate Cox analysis of death at 2 years [hazard ratio (HR) 0.65, 95% CI 0.48, 0.87; P = 0.004] and 5 years (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.5, 0.75; P < 0.001) and of local relapse at 2 years (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27, 0.72; P = 0.001) showed laparoscopy to be an independent protective factor compared with open surgery. Cconclusions: laparoscopy results in lower locoregional relapse and long-term mortality in rectal cancer in unselected patients with all-risk groups included. Studies using long-term follow-up of cohorts and unselected data can provide information on clinically relevant outcomes to supplement randomized controlled trials

Socioeconomic Status and Distance to Reference Centers for Complex Cancer Diseases: A Source of Health Inequalities? A Population Cohort Study Based on Catalonia (Spain)

The centralization of complex surgical procedures for cancer in Catalonia may have led to geographical and socioeconomic inequities. In this population-based cohort study, we assessed the impacts of these two factors on 5-year survival and quality of care in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer (2011-12) and pancreatic cancer (2012-15) in public centers, adjusting for age, comorbidity, and tumor stage. We used data on the geographical distance between the patients' homes and their reference centers, clinical patient and treatment data, income category, and data from the patients' district hospitals. A composite 'textbook outcome' was created from five subindicators of hospitalization. We included 646 cases of pancreatic cancer (12 centers) and 1416 of rectal cancer (26 centers). Distance had no impact on survival for pancreatic cancer patients and was not related to worse survival in rectal cancer. Compared to patients with medium-high income, the risk of death was higher in low-income patients with pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio (HR) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.86) and very-low-income patients with rectal cancer (HR 5.14, 95% CI 3.51-7.52). Centralization was not associated with worse health outcomes in geographically dispersed patients, including for survival. However, income level remained a significant determinant of survival

Millora de l’atenció al càncer de recte a Catalunya en el període 2005-2016

Càncer de recte; Atenció; IndicadorsCáncer de recto; Atención; IndicadoresRectal cancer; Attention; IndicatorsL’objectiu d’aquest informe és el d’analitzar l’evolució de l’atenció al càncer de recte al llarg del període cobert per les tres auditories bianuals efectuades (2005-7, 2011-12 i 2015-16)

Results of the IROCA international clinical audit in prostate cancer radiotherapy at six comprehensive cancer centres

To assess adherence to standard clinical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of patients undergoing prostate cancer (PCa) radiotherapy in four European countries using clinical audits as part of the international IROCA project. Multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study of 240 randomly-selected patients treated for PCa (n = 40/centre) in the year 2015 at six European hospitals. Clinical indicators applicable to general and PCa-specific radiotherapy processes were evaluated. All data were obtained directly from medical records. The audits were performed in the year 2017. Adherence to clinical protocols and practices was satisfactory, but with substantial inter-centre variability in numerous variables, as follows: staging MRI (range 27.5-87.5% of cases); presentation to multidisciplinary tumour board (2.5-100%); time elapsed between initial visit to the radiation oncology department and treatment initiation (42-102.5 days); number of treatment interruptions ≥ 1 day (7.5-97.5%). The most common deviation from standard clinical practice was inconsistent data registration, mainly failure to report data related to diagnosis, treatment, and/or adverse events. This clinical audit detected substantial inter-centre variability in adherence to standard clinical practice, most notably inconsistent record keeping. These findings confirm the value of performing clinical audits to detect deviations from standard clinical practices and procedures

Avaluació dels resultats de la concentració de la cirurgia oncològica digestiva d’alta especialització a Catalunya: actualització 2014-2015

Cirurgia oncològica; Avaluació; IndicadorsCirugía oncológica; Evaluación; IndicadoresOncological surgery; Evaluation; IndicatorsEl presente trabajo corresponde a la segunda evaluación de los resultados de la cirugía oncológica digestiva de alta especialización con intención curativa de cirugía de esófago, de páncreas y de hígado (que incluye metástasis hepáticas desde la primera evaluación, actualmente ampliado a vías biliares y tumor hepático primario) para los años 2014 y 2015. A diferencia de la primera evaluación basada en el uso de la auditoría clínica "externa", la metodología aplicada en esta segunda evaluación incorpora información directa de los propios profesionales. En ambos casos ha habido feedback, y validación de los resultados finales por su parte.El present treball correspon a la segona avaluació dels resultats de la cirurgia oncològica digestiva d’alta especialització amb intenció curativa de cirurgia d’esòfag, de pàncrees i de fetge (que inclou metàstasis hepàtiques des de la primera avaluació, actualment ampliat a vies biliars i tumor hepàtic primari) per als anys 2014 i 2015. A diferència de la primera avaluació basada en l’ús de l’auditoria clínica “externa”, la metodologia aplicada en aquesta segona avaluació incorpora informació directa dels propis professionals. En ambdós casos hi ha hagut feedback, i validació dels resultats finals per part seva.The present work corresponds to the second evaluation of the results of the digestive oncology surgery of high specialization with a curative intention of surgery of the esophagus, pancreas and liver (which includes hepatic metastases from the first evaluation, currently extended to bile ducts and primary hepatic tumor) for the years 2014 and 2015. Unlike the first evaluation based on the use of the "external" clinical audit, the methodology applied in this second evaluation incorporates direct information from the professionals themselves. In both cases there has been feedback, and validation of the final results on his part

La situación de las personas mayores en el municipio de Zamora

El informe que se presenta es el resultado de la investigación sobre la situación de las personas mayores en el municipio de Zamora, realizada por un equipo de docentes e investigadores procedentes de áreas de conocimiento afines y complementarias (Sociología, Educación Social, Trabajo Social y Comunicación), que ha trabajado de manera muy activa para alcanzar los objetivos previstos en el convenio de colaboración entre BREAMO EDITORIAL, S.L. y la Universidad de Salamanca a través, en este caso, del Grupo de Investigación Reconocido (GIR) “Sociedad, Educación, Violencia e Infancia”.La investigación sobre la situación de las personas mayores en el municipio de Zamora que aquí se presenta concuerda con las preocupaciones de la Red Mundial de Ciudades y Comunidades Adaptadas a las Personas Mayores, proyecto promovido por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS)1. Basada en este enfoque de la OMS hacia el envejecimiento activo, se trata de que las ciudades se comprometan a ser más amigables con la edad, con el fin de aprovechar el potencial que representan las personas mayores mediante la optimización de las oportunidades de salud, participación y seguridad. Y todo ello con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas a medida que envejecen. Por consiguiente, tanto el objetivo como la descripción y las características técnicas de las diferentes fases de la investigación, que se presentan en los siguientes apartados, deben entenderse en este contexto tan ambicioso

Etnobotánica, aprovechamiento tradicional de plantas y patrimonio cultural como instrumento de innovación para el desarrollo sostenible

Memoria ID-0147. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2017-2018

Percepción, valores y actitudes sobre el medio ambiente y el tratamiento de la problemática ambiental en los medios de comunicación

Memoria ID-0142. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015