User satisfaction in the spanish health system: trend analysis

OBJETIVO: Analizar la tendencia de indicadores de opinión y satisfacción del sistema nacional de salud español de 2005 a 2017 MÉTODOS: Estudio ecológico de series temporales analizando la tendencia de ocho indicadores de opinión y satisfacción sobre el sistema nacional de salud y sus comunidades autónomas de 2005 a 2017. Los datos se obtuvieron del Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad y del Barómetro Sanitario. Se utilizó el método de autoregresión de Prais-Winsten. RESULTADOS: Se observó una tendencia estática en la percepción de los usuarios sobre el funcionamiento del sistema sanitario (APC = 1,898; IC95% -0,954–4,751) y decreciente sobre la opinión en la mejora de la atención primaria (APC = -0.283; IC95% -0,335– -0.121), especializada (APC = -0,241; IC95% -0.74– -0.109) y hospitalización (APC = -0.171; IC95% -0,307– -0,036). La satisfacción con el conocimiento y seguimiento por el médico de familia y pediatra mostró una tendencia creciente (APC = 7,939; IC95% 3,965–11,914). La satisfacción con los profesionales de medicina y enfermería fue estática. No se observaron grandes diferencias en las tendencias de los indicadores estudiados en las comunidades autónomas. CONCLUSIONES: Se observó una tendencia negativa en la opinión de los usuarios del sistema nacional de salud español. Financiación, recursos humanos, sistemas de gestión de calidad y diferencias en las comunidades autónomas pueden ser algunas de las causas.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the trend of opinion and satisfaction indicators of the Spanish national health system from 2005 to 2017 METHODS: Ecological study of time series analyzing the trend of eight indicators of opinion and satisfaction on the Spanish national health system and its autonomous communities from 2005 to 2017. The data was obtained from the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality and from the Health Barometer. The Prais-Winsten regression method was used. RESULTS: A static tendency was observed in the perception of users on how the health system works (APC = 1.898, 95%CI -0.954 – 4.751) and decreasing opinion on the improvement of primary care (APC = -0.283; 95%CI -0.335 – -0.121), specialized (APC = -0.241, 95%CI -0.74 – -0.109) and hospitalization (APC = -0.171, 95%CI -0.307 – -0.036). Satisfaction with knowledge and follow-up by the family doctor and pediatrician showed an increasing trend (APC = 7.939, 95%CI 3.965 – 11.914). Satisfaction with medical and nursing professionals was static. No large differences were observed in the trends of the indicators studied in the autonomous communities. CONCLUSIONS: A negative trend was observed in the opinion of the Spanish national health system users. Financing, human resources, quality management systems and differences in the autonomous communities may be some of the causes

Variability in Healthcare Expenditure According to the Stratification of Adjusted Morbidity Groups in the Canary Islands (Spain).

Morbidity is the main item in the distribution of expenditure on healthcare services. The Adjusted Morbidity Group (AMG) measures comorbidity and complexity and classifies the patient into mutually exclusive clinical categories. The aim of this study is to analyse the variability of healthcare expenditure on users with similar scores classified by the AMG. Observational analytical and retrospective study. Population: 1,691,075 subjects, from Canary Islands (Spain), aged over 15 years with data from health cards, clinical history, Basic Minimum Specialised Healthcare Data Set, AMG, hospital agreements information system and Electronic Prescriptions. A descriptive, bivariant (ANOVA coefficient η2) and multivariant analysis was conducted. There is a correlation between the costs and the weight of AMG (rho = 0.678) and the prescribed active ingredients (rho = 0.689), which is smaller with age and does not exist with the other variables. As for the influence of the AMG morbidity group on the total costs of the patient, the coefficient η2 (0.09) obtains a median effect in terms of the variability of expenditure, hence there is intra- and inter-group variability in the cost. In a first model created with all the variables and the cost, an explanatory power of 36.43% (R2 = 0.3643) was obtained; a second model that uses solely active ingredients, AMG weight, being female and a pensioner obtained an explanatory power of 36.4%. There is room for improvement in terms of predicting the expenditure.S

Spanish nursing and medical students' knowledge, confidence and willingness about COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Background: COVID-19 challenges world governments. In Spain, measures to contain the pandemic are novel, and include the possibility of contracting Nursing and Medical students who might not be ready or willing to treat infected cases. Objectives: To study Spanish Nursing and Medical students' knowledge about COVID-19 community transmission prevention measures, treating infected patients, and their confidence and willingness to treat cases. To learn their views about the first public health policy measures adopted by the Spain government to contain the pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings and participants: 237 Spanish Nursing and Medical students. Methods: An online questionnaire was designed on the knowledge, confidence and willingness to treat, and the suitability of the public health policy measures adopted in Spain. The data were collected through social net-works. The results were compared according to their university degree. Results: Knowledge about community prevention was suitable, unlike knowledge about treating infected patients. Students had little confidence in treating cases, but their willingness and moral responsibility were high. Very few significant differences were found in their university degrees. Medical students evaluated the measures taken in Spain more favorably. Conclusions: Students' knowledge about COVID-19 community prevention measures was adequate, but not about preventive measures when treating patients with COVID-19. They felt little confidence despite being willing to treat infected patients. The sample agreed with the public health measures adopted in Spain

Cuestionario de calidad del cuidado de enfermería (CUCACE): Validez y fiabilidad en Colombia

Objetive To determine the validity and reliability of the CUCACE (Quality of Nursing Care Questionnaire) in Colombia. Every day there is a growing interest in measuring the quality of care received from nursing personnel as a tangible element of care; however, not having reliable and valid instruments is an obstacle, especially in Colombia. Method A psychometric and evaluative instrumental study was conducted. Data of interest from CUCACE filled out in Spanish were extracted together with demographic information of the participants. Results Confirmed the validity of the content and construct validity of the scales of care, attention to nursing care and the perception of care in a Colombian hospital. Cronbach’s alpha was higher than 0.7, and its reliability is accepted in the context. Conclusion The CUCACE is adequate to measure the satisfaction and experience of patients with nursing care in the Colombian context. The questionnaire with its two scales is useful, clear, precise, valid and reliable to evaluate the quality of nursing care.Objetivo Determinar la validez y confiabilidad del CUCACE (Cuestionario de Calidad de la Atención de Enfermería) en Colombia. Cada día hay un interés creciente en medir la calidad de la atención recibida por parte del personal de enfermería como elemento tangible de la atención; sin embargo, un obstáculo para medir la satisfacción del paciente es la no tenencia de instrumentos confiables y válidos, especialmente en Colombia. Método Se realizó un estudio instrumental psicométrico y evaluativo. Se extrajeron datos de interés del CUCACE cumplimentados en español, junto con la información demográfica de los participantes. Resultados Se confirmó la validez del contenido y construcción de las escalas de atención, atención al cuidado de enfermería y percepción del cuidado en un hospital colombiano. El alfa de Cronbach fue superior a 0,7; por lo tanto su fiabilidad se acepta en el contexto. Conclusión El CUCACE es adecuado para medir la satisfacción y experiencia de los pacientes con los cuidados de enfermería en el contexto colombiano. El cuestionario con sus dos escalas es útil, claro, preciso, válido y confiable para evaluar la calidad de la atención de enfermería

Improving Nursing Assessment in Adult Hospitalization Units: A Secondary Analysis

The main objective of this study was to analyze the impact of a multifaceted strategy to improve the assessment of functional capacity, risk of pressure injuries, and risk of falls at the time of admission of patients in adult hospitalization units. This was a secondary analysis of the VALENF project databases during two periods (October-December 2020, before the strategy, and October-December 2021, after the strategy). The quantity and quality of nursing assessments performed on patients admitted to adult hospitalization units were evaluated using the Barthel index, Braden index, and Downton scale. The number of assessments completed before the implementation of the new strategy was n = 686 (28.01%), versus n = 1445 (58.73%) in 2021 (p < 0.001). The strategy improved the completion of the evaluations of the three instruments from 63.4% (n = 435) to 71.8% (n = 1038) (p < 0.001). There were significant differences depending on the hospitalization unit and the assessment instrument (p < 0.05). The strategy employed was, therefore, successful. The nursing assessments show a substantial improvement in both quantity and quality, representing a noticeable improvement in nursing practice. This study was not registered.This research was funded by Universitat Jaume I, grant number UJI-A2020-08.S

Diagnostic accuracy study of the VALENF instrument in hospitalization units for adults: a study protocol

Recently, the VALENF instrument, Nursing Assessment by its acronym in Spanish, was developed as a meta-tool composed of only seven items with a more parsimonious approach for nursing assessment in adult hospitalization units. This meta-tool integrates the assessment of functional capacity, the risk of pressure injuries and the risk of falls. The general objective of this project is to validate the VALENF instrument by studying its diagnostic accuracy against the instruments commonly used in nursing to assess functional capacity, the risk of pressure injuries and the risk of falls. An observational, longitudinal, prospective study is presented, with recruitment and random selection based on admissions to six adult hospitalization units of the Hospital Universitario de La Plana. The study population will be made up of patients hospitalized in these units. The inclusion criteria will be patients over 18 years of age with a nursing assessment within the first 24 h of admission and an expected length of stay greater than 48 h and who sign the informed consent form. The exclusion criteria will be transfers from other units or centers. A sample of 521 participants is estimated as necessary. The evaluation test will be the VALENF instrument, and the reference tests will be the Barthel, Braden and Downton indices. Sociodemographic variables related to the care process and results such as functional loss, falls or pressure injuries will be collected. The evolution of functional capacity, the risk of falls and the risk of pressure injuries will be analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values of the VALENF instrument will be calculated and compared to those of the usual instruments. A survival analysis will be performed for pressure injuries, falls and patients with functional loss. The VALENF instrument is expected to have at least the same diagnostic validity as the original instruments.Trial registration The study will be retrospectively registered (ISRCTN 17699562, 25/07/2023).This project is funded by Valencian Generalitat (CIGE/2022/150).S

Development and Validation of a Meta-Instrument for the Assessment of Functional Capacity, the Risk of Falls and Pressure Injuries in Adult Hospitalization Units (VALENF Instrument) (Part II)

The nursing assessment is the first step of the nursing process and fundamental to detecting patients' care needs and at-risk situations. This article presents the psychometric properties of the VALENF Instrument, a recently developed meta-instrument with only seven items that integrates the assessment of functional capacity, risk of pressure injuries and risk of falls with a more parsimonious approach to nursing assessment in adult hospitalization units. A cross-sectional study based on recorded data in a sample of 1352 nursing assessments was conducted. Sociodemographic variables and assessments of the Barthel, Braden and Downton instruments were included at the time of admission through the electronic health history. Thus, the VALENF Instrument obtained high content validity (S-CVI = 0.961), construct validity (RMSEA = 0.072; TLI = 0.968) and internal consistency (Ω = 0.864). However, the inter-observer reliability results were not conclusive, with Kappa values ranging between 0.213 and 0.902 points. The VALENF Instrument has adequate psychometric properties (content validity, construct validity, internal consistency and inter-observer reliability) for assessing the level of functional capacity, risk of pressure injuries and risk of falls. Future studies are necessary to establish its diagnostic accuracy.This research was funded by Universitat Jaume I, grant number UJI-A2020-08.S

Development and Validation of the Breastfeeding Literacy Assessment Instrument (BLAI) for Obstetric Women

Background: Despite international efforts to protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for infants up to six months of age, global rates of EBF continue to fall short of the targets proposed by the WHO for 2025. Previous studies have shown a relationship between the level of health literacy and the duration of EBF, although this relationship was not determinant, probably due to the use of a generic health literacy questionnaire. Therefore, this study aims to design and validate the first specific breastfeeding literacy instrument. Methods: A Breastfeeding Literacy instrument was developed. Content validation was carried out by a group of 10 experts in health literacy, breastfeeding or instrument validation, obtaining a Content Validity index in Scale (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.912. A multicentre cross-sectional study was carried out in three Spanish hospitals to determine the psychometric properties (construct validity and internal consistency). The questionnaire was administered to 204 women during the clinical puerperium. Results: The Kaiser-Meier-Oklin Test (KMO = 0.924) and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity (X2 = 3119.861; p ≤ 0.001) confirmed the feasibility of the Exploratory Factor Analysis, which explained 60.54% of the variance with four factors. Conclusions: The Breastfeeding Literacy Assessment Instrument (BLAI) consisting of 26 items was validated.This research was funded by Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana (FISABIO) grant number UGP-20-250 2nd Call for R&D&I Grants in Nursing, 2020.S

Impact of hospitalization on nutritional status in persons aged 65 years and over (NUTRIFRAG Study): Protocol for a prospective observational study

Background: Malnutrition is a recurring problem that has become more relevant in recent years. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of malnutrition and nutritional status on admission and its evolution until discharge in patients aged 65 and over admitted to medical and surgical hospitalization units in hospitals of the Spanish National Health System. Methods: Prospective observational study to be carried out in the medical-surgical hospitalization units of 9 public hospitals between 01/09/2022 and 31/12/2024. Using consecutive sampling, a total of 4077 patients will be included (453 in each hospital). Variables included are related to the care process, functionality, cognition and comorbidity, risk profile, nutritional status and dysphagia; as well as frailty, dietary quality and contextual variables. The incidence of risk of malnutrition, undernutrition and dysphagia during the care process and at discharge will be calculated. The association with risk factors will be studied with logistic regression models and multivariate Cox regression models. In addition, an analysis of participants' satisfaction with food services will be carried out. The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee on 30/09/2020, approved for funding on 02/12/2021 and with registration number RBR-5jnbyhk in the Brazilian clinical trials database (ReBEC) for observational studies. Discussion: Some studies address nutritional status or dysphagia in older people in various care settings. However, there is a lack of large sample studies including both processes of the impact of hospitalization. The results of the project will provide information on the incidence and prevalence of both pathologies in the study subjects, their associated factors and their relationship with the average length of stay, mortality and early readmission. In addition, early detection of a problem such as malnutrition related to the disease and/or dysphagia during a hospital stay will favor the action of professionals to resolve both pathologies and improve the health status of patients.This study has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) through the project "PI21/00738" and co-funded by the European Union. The funders did not and will not have a role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.S

Obstetric–neonatal care during birth and postpartum in symptomatic and asymptomatic women infected with SARS-CoV-2: a retrospective multicenter study

This study analyses the obstetric–neonatal outcomes of women in labour with symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19. A retrospective, multicenter, observational study was carried out between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 in eight public hospitals in the Valencian community (Spain). The chi-squared test compared the obstetric–neonatal outcomes and general care for symptomatic and asymptomatic women. In total, 11,883 births were assisted in participating centers, with 10.9 per 1000 maternities (n = 130) infected with SARS-CoV-2. The 20.8% were symptomatic and had more complications both upon admission (p = 0.042) and during puerperium (p = 0.042), as well as transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). The percentage of admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was greater among offspring of symptomatic women compared to infants born of asymptomatic women (p < 0.001). Compared with asymptomatic women, those with symptoms underwent less labour companionship (p = 0.028), less early skin-to-skin contact (p = 0.029) and greater mother–infant separation (p = 0.005). The overall maternal mortality rate was 0.8%. No vertical transmission was recorded. In conclusion, symptomatic infected women are at increased risk of lack of labour companionship, mother–infant separation, and admission to the ICU, as well as to have preterm births and for NICU admissions