Health education in primary school: Alicante city (Spain) teachers’ opinions

Objetivo: Explorar la opinión del profesorado de educación primaria de la ciudad de Alicante sobre las actividades de salud realizadas en la escuela. Método: Estudio exploratorio mediante análisis de contenido cualitativo. Se formaron tres grupos de discusión (8-9 participantes) con profesorado de educación primaria (14 mujeres y 11 hombres) procedentes de 14 escuelas públicas y 7 concertadas de la ciudad de Alicante. La información se obtuvo preguntando a los/las participantes sobre las actividades de salud realizadas en el aula o en el centro escolar. Resultados: El profesorado diferenció las actividades que forman parte de las programaciones escolares de educación para la salud de las que proceden de programas de otras instituciones públicas o privadas. Consideró que los programas externos son impuestos, no tienen continuidad y responden a modas pasajeras. Aunque mostró una actitud más favorable y comprometida con las actividades y programaciones escolares, identificó la educación para la salud como una tarea secundaria. En su opinión, incrementar su formación en salud, implicar a los padres y las madres, profesionales sanitarios y la administración educativa fomentaría la educación para la salud en la escuela. Conclusiones: El profesorado muestra una opinión más favorable y un mayor compromiso hacia las actividades de salud que complementan y facilitan su tarea educativa. Su programación docente y opinión deben tenerse en cuenta para maximizar la eficiencia de las actividades de promoción y educación para la salud promovidas por instituciones, compañías y fundaciones externas a la escuela.Objective: This study explores the opinions of primary school teachers about health activities carried out in schools in Alicante city (Spain). Methods: An exploratory study was conducted through qualitative content analysis. Three focus groups were conducted with 25 primary school teachers (14 women and 11 men) working in 14 public and 7 private schools in the city of Alicante. Participants were asked about the health activities carried on in their schools. Results: Teachers distinguished between health education activities promoted by the school and those included in external programmes promoted by public and private institutions. External programmes were considered as impositions, lacking continuity and chosen according to passing fads. Although teachers demonstrated a more positive attitude towards activities arising from their own initiative, they identified health education as a secondary task. Teachers considered that improving their own health education training and promoting the involvement of parents, health professionals and public institutions were the most appropriate ways to promote health education in the school. Conclusion: Teachers showed a more positive opinion and greater commitment towards health activities that complement and facilitate their teaching tasks. Their didactic programme and opinion should be taken into account to maximise the efficiency of the health promotion and education activities promoted by external organisations.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por la Escuela Valenciana de Estudios en Salud (EVES) de la Generalitat Valenciana nº 044/2006

Efecto de la estigmatización del VIH/SIDA en usuarios de drogas intravenosas en el acceso a los servicios sanitarios según género

Se ha elaborado un estudio con enfoque cualitativo basado en encuestas semiestructuradas, en el periodo 2007-2008, de usuarios de drogas intravenosas de los Centros de Información y Prevención del Sida. Los profesionales, que atienden de forma esporádica a pacientes VIH los estigmatizan en mayor medida debido a la desinformación, miedo y falta de empatía. Se detecta diferente comportamiento de uso en ex consumidores de drogas. Las mujeres se ajustan más a las normas y son menos conflictivas, se desenganchan más y recaen menos. A las mujeres se les atiende rápidamente en los servicios sanitarios no específicos. Ambos sexos usan estrategias contra la estigmatizació

Pro‑vegetarian food patterns and cardiometabolic risk in the PREDIMED‑Plus study: a cross‑sectional baseline analysis

Purpose We explored the cross-sectional association between the adherence to three diferent provegetarian (PVG) food patterns defned as general (gPVG), healthful (hPVG) and unhealthful (uPVG), and the cardiometabolic risk in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS) of the PREDIMED-Plus randomized intervention study. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 6439 participants of the PREDIMED-Plus rand omized intervention study. The gPVG food pattern was built by positively scoring plant foods (vegetables/fruits/legumes/ grains/potatoes/nuts/olive oil) and negatively scoring, animal foods (meat and meat products/animal fats/eggs/fsh and seafood/dairy products). The hPVG and uPVG were generated from the gPVG by adding four new food groups (tea and cof fee/fruit juices/sugar-sweetened beverages/sweets and desserts), splitting grains and potatoes and scoring them diferently. Multivariable-adjusted robust linear regression using MM-type estimator was used to assess the association between PVG food patterns and the standardized Metabolic Syndrome score (MetS z-score), a composed index that has been previously used to ascertain the cardiometabolic risk, adjusting for potential confounders. Results A higher adherence to the gPVG and hPVG was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk in multivariable models. The regression coefcients for 5th vs. 1st quintile were − 0.16 (95% CI: − 0.33 to 0.01) for gPVG (p trend: 0.015), and − 0.23 (95% CI: − 0.41 to − 0.05) for hPVG (p trend: 0.016). In contrast, a higher adherence to the uPVG was associated with higher cardiometabolic risk, 0.21 (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.38) (p trend: 0.019). Conclusion Higher adherence to gPVG and hPVG food patterns was generally associated with lower cardiovascular risk, whereas higher adherence to uPVG was associated to higher cardiovascular risk

Coffee Consumption and All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality in an Adult Mediterranean Population

We assessed the association between usual coffee consumption and all-cause, cardiovascular (CV), and cancer mortality in an adult population in Spain, taking into account both the amount and type of coffee consumed. We used baseline data on coffee consumption and other personal variables, and the number of deaths during an 18-year follow-up period, for 1567 participants aged 20 years and older from the Valencia Nutrition Study in Spain. Total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During the 18-year follow-up period, 317 died; 115 due to CV disease and 82 due to cancer. Compared with no-consumption, the consumption of 1 cup per day and >1 cup per day of coffee was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, HR = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.56–0.97) and HR 0.56 (95% CI: 0.41–0.77), respectively. A lower cancer mortality was observed among drinkers of more than 1 cup per day compared with nondrinkers, HR 0.41 (95% CI 0.20–0.86). Regarding the type of coffee, only the overall consumption of caffeinated coffee was associated with lower all-cause mortality at 12 and 18 years of follow-up, HR = 0.66 (95% CI:0.46–0.94) and HR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.44–0.79), respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests that the moderate consumption of coffee, particularly caffeinated coffee (range 1–6.5 cups per day), is associated with a lower all-cause and cancer mortality after a long follow-up period. No significant association was found between coffee consumption and CVD mortality

Adherence to Pro-Vegetarian Food Patterns and Risk of Oesophagus, Stomach, and Pancreas Cancers: A Multi Case–Control Study (The PANESOES Study)

We aimed to evaluate the association between three previously defined pro-vegetarian (PVG) food patterns and the cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, and pancreas in a multi case-control study. We analyzed data from a multi-case hospital-based study carried out in two Mediterranean provinces in Spain. A total of 1233 participants were included in the analyses: 778 incident cancer cases, histologically confirmed (199 oesophagus, 414 stomach, and 165 pancreas) and 455 controls. A dietary assessment was performed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Three PVG food patterns (general, healthful, and unhealthful) were estimated using 12 food groups for the general PVG (gPVG), scoring positive plant-based foods and negative animal-based foods, and 18 food groups, for the healthful (hPVG) and unhealthful (uPVG) food patterns. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate relative risk ratios (RRR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) for quintiles of adherence to PVG patterns and as a continuous variable. The RRR (95% CI) for the highest vs. the lowest quintile of gPVG were, RRR = 0.37 (0.32, 0.42) for the oesophagus, RRR = 0.34 (0.27, 0.43) for the stomach, and RRR = 0.43 (0.35, 0.52) for pancreas cancer. For the hPVG, the RRR were RRR = 0.72 (0.58, 0.90) for the oesophagus, RRR = 0.42 (0.34, 0.52) for the stomach, and RRR = 0.74 (0.59, 0.92) for pancreas cancer. The uPVG was associated with a higher risk of stomach cancer RRR = 1.76 (1.42, 2.18). Higher adherence to gPVG and hPVG food patterns is associated with a lower risk of oesophageal, stomach, and pancreas cancers, while a higher adherence to a uPVG food pattern is associated with a higher risk of stomach cancer.Funding: This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS 91/0435, RCESP C03/09), the Generalitat Valenciana (EVES 030/2005, CTGCA/2002/06, G03/136), CIBERESP

Pro-vegetarian food patterns and cardiometabolic risk in the PREDIMED-Plus study: a cross-sectional baseline analysis

Purpose We explored the cross-sectional association between the adherence to three different provegetarian (PVG) food patterns defined as general (gPVG), healthful (hPVG) and unhealthful (uPVG), and the cardiometabolic risk in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS) of the PREDIMED-Plus randomized intervention study. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 6439 participants of the PREDIMED-Plus randomized intervention study. The gPVG food pattern was built by positively scoring plant foods (vegetables/fruits/legumes/grains/potatoes/nuts/olive oil) and negatively scoring, animal foods (meat and meat products/animal fats/eggs/fish and seafood/dairy products). The hPVG and uPVG were generated from the gPVG by adding four new food groups (tea and coffee/fruit juices/sugar-sweetened beverages/sweets and desserts), splitting grains and potatoes and scoring them differently. Multivariable-adjusted robust linear regression using MM-type estimator was used to assess the association between PVG food patterns and the standardized Metabolic Syndrome score (MetS z-score), a composed index that has been previously used to ascertain the cardiometabolic risk, adjusting for potential confounders. Results A higher adherence to the gPVG and hPVG was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk in multivariable models. The regression coefficients for 5th vs. 1st quintile were − 0.16 (95% CI: − 0.33 to 0.01) for gPVG (p trend: 0.015), and − 0.23 (95% CI: − 0.41 to − 0.05) for hPVG (p trend: 0.016). In contrast, a higher adherence to the uPVG was associated with higher cardiometabolic risk, 0.21 (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.38) (p trend: 0.019). Conclusion Higher adherence to gPVG and hPVG food patterns was generally associated with lower cardiovascular risk, whereas higher adherence to uPVG was associated to higher cardiovascular risk

Mediterranean and Western dietary patterns in adult population of a Mediterranean area; a cluster analysis

Antecedentes/objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio ha sido identificar patrones dietéticos a partir de los datos recogidos en la Encuesta de Nutrición y Salud de la Comunidad Valenciana realizada sobre una muestra representativa de población adulta y explorar los posibles factores asociados a los patrones identificados. Metodología: Un total de 1.803 individuos adultos (973 mujeres) participaron en la encuesta de Nutrición y Salud realizada en 1994 en la Comunidad Valenciana. La dieta fue evaluada mediante cuestionario de frecuencia alimentaria (CFA) validado de 93 ítems alimentarios. Las ingestas de alimentos se ajustaron por mil calorías y se crearon 26 grupos de alimentos usando valores estandarizados (z-scores) para la identificación de patrones dietéticos por el método análisis de k-medias prefijando 3 clúster. Se usó regresión logística multinomial múltiple para explorar la asociación entre patrones y variables sociodemográficas, antropométricas y de estilos de vida. Resultados: Se identificaron tres patrones dietéticos denominados como Prudente, Mediterráneo y Occidental. El patrón Prudente (57,2%) se caracterizó por un consumo intermedio de los principales grupos de alimentos; el Mediterráneo (29,1%) destacó por un elevado consumo de frutas, verduras y pescado; y el Occidental (13,7%) por un alto consumo de carnes rojas, embutidos, platos preparados, croquetas, bebidas azucaradas, dulces, chocolates y bebidas alcohólicas. El patrón Mediterráneo presentó las mayores puntuaciones para varios índices de calidad alimentaria analizados y definidos a priori en la literatura. Usando como referencia el patrón Mediterráneo, los que seguían un patrón Occidental fueron significativamente más jóvenes, un mayor número de hombres y fumadores; los que seguían un patrón Prudente presentaron un mayor número de hombres, no practicaban actividad física regular y menor consumo de alcohol. Conclusión: De los tres patrones dietéticos identificados como Prudente, Mediterráneo y Occidental en adultos de la Comunidad Valenciana a mediados de los noventa, el patrón Prudente fue el más prevalente, el Mediterráneo el que se asoció a conductas y hábitos de vida más saludables, y el Occidental el menos frecuente aunque fue más seguido entre jóvenes, hombres y fumadores. Se deberían realizar encuestas nutricionales que permitan hacer vigilancia nutricional y analizar la evolución de estos patrones dietéticos y sus posibles efectos sobre la mortalidad en población española.Objective: To identify dietary patterns among participants in a representative nutritional survey in the Valencia Community, and to analyze the association with socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyles. Methods: Data for this study were from 1803 participants (973 women) in the Nutrition and Health Survey conducted in 1994 on a representative sample of adult population of Valencia Community. Diet was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Foods intakes were adjusted for 1,000 calories and grouped in 26 groups. Cluster analysis was used to identify dietary patterns using standardized values of the variables (zscores). Results: Three dietary patterns were identified and labeled as follows: the Prudent pattern (57.2%), characterized by a low-medium intake of most food of groups; the Mediterranean pattern (29.1%) characterized by high intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, cheese, and legumes; and the Western pattern (13.7%) characterized by high intake of meat and processed meats, high fat content foods, sweets and sugar, beverages, and alcoholic beverages. The Mediterranean pattern obtained higher scores for known diet quality index defined a priori. Using the Mediterranean pattern as reference, Western pattern included significantly more young people, higher number of men and smokers, and the Prudent pattern higher number of men, lower physical activity and lower alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Three dietary patterns were identified among participants in the Nutrition Survey of Valencia conducted in the mid-1990S: Prudent, Mediterranean and Western. The Prudent pattern was the most prevalent; the Mediterranean pattern was associated with healthier lifestyles and behaviors; and the Western pattern, the less prevalent although more frequently followed by youth, men and smokers. Further Nutrition Surveys should be carried out to make nutritional surveillance and analyze health effects of these observed patterns.Proyectos Consellería Sanitat-Generalitat Valenciana (CTGCA/2002/06; G03/136; ACOMP/2010/115). CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

Validation of self-reported weight and height university population and factors associated with differences between self reported and measured antropometrics

Introducción: La obesidad es un problema de salud pública importante que se asocia a un mayor riesgo muerte por enfermedades crónico-degenerativas como diabetes, enfermedades cardiovasculares y varios cánceres. En estudios epidemiológicos de amplio tamaño donde a veces solo es posible obtener datos auto-referido de peso y talla, pueden surgir dudas sobre las estimaciones del índice de masa corporal (IMC). Objetivo: En este estudio se comparan datos auto-referido de peso, talla e IMC frente a datos obtenidos por medición directa en población adulta joven, y se analizan los factores asociados a la discrepancia entre datos referidos y medidos. Metodología: Entre 2006-2012 un total de 628 universitarios de ciencias de la salud (476 mujeres) aceptaron cumplimentar un cuestionario con preguntas sobre peso y talla y realizar posteriormente un examen físico con la toma del peso y talla siguiendo protocolos estandarizados en ropa ligera. El peso de la ropa ligera se sustrajo del peso medido en 1 kg para los hombres y 0,9 kg para las mujeres. Se analizó la validez de las estimaciones antropométricas auto-referidas frente a las medidas para peso, talla y obesidad mediante índices de sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos y índice kappa y se usó regresión lineal múltiple para analizar los factores asociados a las discrepancias entre datos referidos y medidos. Resultado: La media del peso, talla e IMC auto-referido fueron 62,5 kg, 167,6 cm y 22,1 kg/m2, y de los medidos, 62,6 kg, 167,4 cm y 22,2 kg/m2 respectivamente. Las correlaciones entre datos declararos y medidos fueron de r = 0,97, 0,96 y 0,95 respectivamente. La sensibilidad para detectar exceso de peso (IMC ≥ 25 kg/m2) mediante datos declarados fue del 81,0%, la especificidad del 98,5%, el valor predictivo positivo 90,6% y el índice kappa de 0,75. La discrepancia entre peso, talla e IMC medido y declarado se asoció significativamente con una mayor edad, y para la talla también con un mayor número de horas de sueño. Conclusiones: A pesar de una ligera infraestimación observada para el peso y el IMC y una sobreestimación para la talla auto-referidos, la validez de las medidas auto-referidas es adecuada para usar en estudios epidemiológicos en población joven.Introduction: Obesity is an important public health problem related to a higher risk of death from chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and several types of cancer. In epidemiological studies of big sample size, only self-reported weight and height can be collected for feasibility reasons and body mass index (BMI) estimates may be questioned. Objectives: In this study we compare self-reported and measured weight, height and BMI in a mostly young population of university students, and explore factors associated with discrepancies between self-reported and measured data. Methods: In the period 2006-2012, 628 University students (476 women) from health sciences subject gave consent to participate in this study. Self-reported weight and height were collected by questionnaire and compared with weight and height measured afterward in health exams wearing light clothes and using standardized protocols. The validity of self-reported anthropometric estimates was explored by correlation coefficients and sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and kappa to detect measured overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Multiple linear regression was used to explore the factors related to the discrepancies between self-reported and measured data. Results: The mean of self-reported weight, height and BMI was 62.5 kg, 167.6 cm and 22.1 kg/m2 and the mean of measured data was 62.6 kg, 167.4 cm y 22.2 kg/m2 respectively. Correlations between self-reported and measured data were r = 0.97 for weight, 0.96 for height and 0.95 for BMI. The sensitivity to detect overweight (IMC ≥ 25 kg/m2) using self-reported data was 81.0%, the specificity was 98.5%, the predictive value was 90.6% and the kappa index was 0.75. The discrepancy between measured and self-reported weight, height and BMI was associated with a higher age, and a higher sleeping time was also associated to discrepancies in self-reported and measured height. Conclusions: Despite the self-reported weight and BMI may underestimate the true weight and BMI, and self-reported height overestimate, the validity of self-reported anthropometric measures is adequate to use be used in epidemiological studies among young people with a high educational level.Este estudio ha sido financiado en parte por proyectos de la Consejería de Sanidad-Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP/2010/115; 087/2008; 084/2010). Fatoumata Rosita Savane es becaria predoctoral de AECID (Agencia de Cooperación Internacional para el desarrollo)

Family History and Gastric Cancer Risk: A Pooled Investigation in the Stomach Cancer Pooling (STOP) Project Consortium

Although there is a clear relationship between family history (FH) and the risk of gastric cancer (GC), quantification is still needed in relation to different histological types and anatomical sites, and in strata of covariates. The objective was to analyze the risk of GC according to first-degree FH in a uniquely large epidemiological consortium of GC. This investigation includes 5946 cases and 12,776 controls from 17 studies of the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project consortium. Summary odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by pooling study-specific ORs using fixed-effect model meta-analysis techniques. Stratified analyses were carried out by sex, age, tumor location and histological type, smoking habit, socioeconomic status, alcohol intake and fruit consumption. The pooled OR for GC was 1.84 (95% CI: 1.64-2.04; I2 = 6.1%, P heterogeneity = 0.383) in subjects with vs. those without first-degree relatives with GC. No significant differences were observed among subgroups of sex, age, geographic area or study period. Associations tended to be stronger for non-cardia (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.59-2.05 for subjects with FH) than for cardia GC (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 0.98-1.77), and for the intestinal (OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.62-2.23) than for the diffuse histotype (OR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.28-1.96). This analysis confirms the effect of FH on the risk of GC, reporting an approximately doubled risk, and provides further quantification of the risk of GC according to the subsite and histotype. Considering these findings, accounting for the presence of FH to carry out correct prevention and diagnosis measures is of the utmost importance

The use of lower or higher than recommended doses of folic acid supplements during pregnancy is associated with child attentional dysfunction at 4–5 years of age in the inma project

We assessed the association between the use of lower-and higher-than-recommended doses of folic acid supplements (FAs) during pregnancy and attentional function in boys and girls at age of 4–5. We analyzed data from 1329 mother-child pairs from the mother-child cohort INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project (INMA) study. Information on FAs use during pregnancy was collected in personal interviews at weeks 12 and 30, and categorized in <400, 400–999 (recommended dose), and ≥1000 µg/day. Child attentional function was assessed by Conners’ Kiddie Continuous Performance Test. Multivariable regression analyses were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and beta coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Compared to recommended FAs doses, the periconceptional use of <400 and ≥1000 µg/day was associated with higher risk of omission errors—IRR = 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01; 1.29) and IRR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02; 1.33), respectively. The use of FAs < 400 µg/day and ≥1000 µg/day was significantly associated with deficits of attentional function only in boys. FAs use < 400 µg/day was associated with higher omission errors with IRR = 1.22 and increased hit reaction time (HRT) β = 34.36, and FAs use ≥ 1000 µg/day was associated with increased HRT β = 33.18 and HRT standard error β = 3.31. The periconceptional use of FAs below or above the recommended doses is associated with deficits of attentional function in children at age of 4–5, particularly in boys