Rationale, design and organization of the delayed antibiotic prescription (DAP) trial: a randomized controlled trial of the eficacy and safety of delayed antibiotic prescribing strategies in the non-complicated acute respiratory tract infections in general practice

Background: Respiratory tract infections are an important burden in primary care and it's known that they are usually self-limited and that antibiotics only alter its course slightly. This together with the alarming increase of bacterial resistance due to increased use of antimicrobials calls for a need to consider strategies to reduce their use. One of these strategies is the delayed prescription of antibiotics. Methods: Multicentric, parallel, randomised controlled trial comparing four antibiotic prescribing strategies in acute non-complicated respiratory tract infections. We will include acute pharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, acute bronchitis and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (mild to moderate). The therapeutic strategies compared are: immediate antibiotic treatment, no antibiotic treatment, and two delayed antibiotic prescribing (DAP) strategies with structured advice to use a course of antibiotics in case of worsening of symptoms or not improving (prescription given to patient or prescription left at the reception of the primary care centre 3 days after the first medical visit). Discussion: Delayed antibiotic prescription has been widely used in Anglo-Saxon countries, however, in Southern Europe there has been little research about this topic. The DAP trial wil evaluate two different delayed strategies in Spain for the main respiratory infections in primary care

A Pilot Study to Assess the Feasibility of the Spanish Diabetes Self-Management Program in the Basque Country

is properly cited. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of the Spanish Diabetes Self-Management Program (SDSMP) in the primary care setting of the Basque Health Service and offer initial estimations of the randomized controlled trial (RCT) effects. Methods. Ten health centers (HCs) participated in a single-arm pilot study with a 6-month follow-up period between February 2011 and June 2012. Recruitment was performed via invitation letters, health professionals, and the local media. Each intervention group consisted of 8-15 people. The ability of each HC in forming up to 2 groups, participants' compliance with the course, and coordination and data collection issues were evaluated. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was the main outcome variable. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular risk factors, drugs consumption, medical visits, quality of life, self-efficacy, physical exercise, and diet. Results. Two HCs did not organize a course. A total of 173 patients initiated the program, 2 dropped out without baseline data, and 90% completed it. No pre-post HbA1c differences existed. Certain improvements were observed in blood pressure control, self-efficacy, physical activity, and some dietary habits. Conclusion. The SDSMP is feasible in our setting. Our experience can be of interest when planning and conducting this program in similar health settings. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01642394

Attitudes and perceptions about clinical guidelines: a qualitative study with Spanish physicians

Estudio cuyo objetivo es la evaluación de las actitudes y percepciones los médicos españoles con relación las Guías de práctica clínica. Spanish physicians towards CGs

Conceptos. Medicina mínimamente disruptiva

Resumen: En este artículo se presentan algunos conceptos acerca del sobrediagnóstico y sus consecuencias: sobretratamiento y medicalización de la sociedad. Se recuerda el origen del término a partir del cribado y diagnóstico del cáncer y se revisan las estrategias para «sobrediagnosticar», como la modificación de los umbrales diagnósticos de las enfermedades y la conversión de procesos vitales normales, así como los factores de riesgo, en enfermedad. Se exponen algunas estrategias para afrontar el sobrediagnóstico «desde la consulta», como son el manejo de la incertidumbre y la toma compartida de decisiones a través de la correcta interpretación de los estimadores de resultado de diagnóstico y de tratamiento. Finalmente, se presenta la medicina mínimamente disruptiva como la mejor estrategia para afrontar la carga de enfermedad a la que conduce el sobretratamiento en los pacientes con multimorbilidad. Abstract: This paper presents some concepts about overdiagnosis and its consequences: overtreatment and the medicalization of the society. It recalls the origin of the term, that comes from the screening and diagnosis of cancer, and it reviews the strategies to overdiagnose. Furthermore, it analyses the conversion of illnesses diagnostic thresholds as well as the transformation of normal and vital processes and risk factors in illnesses. It shows some strategies to confront overdiagnosis at the time of medical consultation, including the management of uncertainty and the shared decision making through the right interpretation of the diagnosis results and treatment estimators. Finally, it shows the minimally disruptive medicine as the best strategy to face the disease burden induced by the overtreatment in patients suffering from multimorbidity. Palabras clave: Sobrediagnóstico, Atención centrada en el paciente, Multimorbilidad, Medicina basada en la evidencia, Keywords: Medical overuse, Patient centered care, Multimorbidity, Evidence based medicin