Study on the approach to HIV: health management and the healthcare process in Spain

INTRODUCTION

HIV continues to represent a problem of great relevance for public health in Spain. This study aims to carry out an analysis that will provide in-depth knowledge of the resources, clinical care, and management during the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment phases of HIV infection in Spain.

METHODS

In the first phase, a multidisciplinary Scientific Committee designed an information collection tool in the form of a survey. In the second phase, carried out in the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Catalonia, and La Rioja, a multidisciplinary group of 42 experts, representatives of the public administration, clinical profiles, and representatives of NGOs in the field of HIV answered the survey.

RESULTS

The assessment of HIV resources is generally positive. As regards diagnosis, the experts considered that there was good coordination between Primary and Hospital care. Regarding treatment, the evaluations reflected good opinions on therapeutic conciliation and adherence, with a negative opinion in the evaluation of drug interactions with antiretroviral treatment. Regarding follow-up, the perception expressed was disparate concerning the coordination between Hospital and Primary Care as well as the adaptation of care to chronicity, aging, fragility, mental health, and oncological processes.

CONCLUSION

There are certain processes that can be improved in the management of HIV infection in people with HIV in Spain, including protocols for follow-up and coordination between primary and hospital care in the treatment and follow-up of the disease.

[What about the weekend effect? Impact of the day of admission on in-hospital mortality, length of stay and cost of hospitalization]

INTRODUCTION

There is no agreement on the existence of the weekend effect in healthcare or, if it exists, on its possible causes. The objective of the study was to evaluate the differences in healthcare outcomes between patients admitted on weekdays or weekends in a high-complexity hospital.

METHODS

Observational and retrospective study of patients admitted between 2016 and 2019 in a public hospital with more than 1300 beds. Hospitalization episodes were classified according to whether admission took place between Friday at 3:00 p.m. and the following Monday at 8:00 a.m. (weekend admission) or not (admission on weekdays). Mortality, length of stay and associated costs were compared, applying their respective risk-adjustment models.

RESULTS

Of the total 169,495 hospitalization episodes analyzed, 48,201 (28.44%) corresponded to the weekend, presenting an older age (54.9 years vs. 53.9; P<.001), a higher crude mortality rate (5.22% vs. 4.59%; P<0.001), and a longer average length of stay (7.42 days vs. 6.74; P<.001), than those admitted on weekdays. The median crude cost of stay was lower (€731.25 vs. €850.88; P<0.001). No significant differences were found when applying the adjustment models, with a risk-adjusted mortality ratio of 1.03 (0.99-1.08) vs. 0.98 (0.95-1.01), risk-adjusted length of stay of 1.002 (0.98-1.005) vs. 0.999 (0.997-1.002) and risk-adjusted cost of stay of 0.928 (0.865-0.994) vs. 0.901 (0.843-0.962).

CONCLUSION

The results of the study reveal that the assistance provided during the weekends does not imply worse health outcomes or increased costs. Comparing the impact between hospitals will require a future homogenization of temporal criteria and risk adjustment models.

Factors associated with diagnosis delay in head and neck cancer

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Tumour stage is an important prognostic factor in head and neck tumours. Many tumours are diagnosed in advanced stages despite almost universal healthcare and their being symptomatic. This paper seeks to determine the diagnostic delay in head and neck tumours in our health department, to analyse factors associated with delay and if it is associated with diagnosis in advanced stages.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 137 patients with head and neck cancer diagnosed from 2016-2018. Patient delay, delay in primary health care, delay in secondary health care, diagnostic delay and possible associated factors (smoking, location, stage, …) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Many patients (44.5%) were diagnosed in advanced stages. The median patient delay was 30 days. The median referral to otorhinolaryngology was 3.5 days. If the referral was made by another specialist (p = .008), the patients were under previous treatment (P=.000) and the tumours were in initial stages (P=.038) this delay was greater. The median from the first visit to otorhinolaryngology was 15 days, higher in regular referrals (43%) (P=.000). The median diagnostic delay was 12 days, higher in surgical biopsies (P=.000). The median professional delay was 58.5 days and total delay was 118.5 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Many head and neck tumours are diagnosed in advanced stages. A relationship was not found between diagnosis in advanced stages and diagnostic delay. However, steps must be taken to reduce these excessive delays.

Factors associated with diagnosis delay in head and neck cancer

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Tumour stage is an important prognostic factor in head and neck tumours. Many tumours are diagnosed in advanced stages despite almost universal healthcare and their being symptomatic. This paper seeks to determine the diagnostic delay in head and neck tumours in our health department, to analyse factors associated with delay and if it is associated with diagnosis in advanced stages.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 137 patients with head and neck cancer diagnosed from 2016-2018. Patient delay, delay in primary health care, delay in secondary health care, diagnostic delay and possible associated factors (smoking, location, stage, …) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Many patients (44.5%) were diagnosed in advanced stages. The median patient delay was 30 days. The median referral to otorhinolaryngology was 3.5 days. If the referral was made by another specialist (p=.008), the patients were under previous treatment (P=.000) and the tumours were in initial stages (P=.038) this delay was greater. The median from the first visit to otorhinolaryngology was 15 days, higher in regular referrals (43%) (P=.000). The median diagnostic delay was 12 days, higher in surgical biopsies (P=.000). The median professional delay was 58.5 days and total delay was 118.5 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Many head and neck tumours are diagnosed in advanced stages. A relationship was not found between diagnosis in advanced stages and diagnostic delay. However, steps must be taken to reduce these excessive delays.

[Health policy strategies for Patient Blood Management implementation throughout the Spanish health systems]

Los programas de Patient Blood Management (PBM) permiten reducir intervenciones sanitarias innecesarias e incorporar prácticas clínicas de alto valor que mejoran los resultados en salud y la eficiencia. Su adopción en España es todavía limitada y con una alta variabilidad entre hospitales. Las recientes guías de la Unión Europea sobre cómo implementar el PBM, así como las recomendaciones de expertos, indican que para conseguir un avance en este campo se requiere, no solo de la implicación de los profesionales, sino también de las autoridades sanitarias y direcciones hospitalarias. Este artículo proporciona algunas propuestas en materia de gestión y política sanitaria para promover el desarrollo del PBM en los sistemas de salud en España.

Will neurological care change over the next 5 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Key informant consensus survey

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic will give rise to long-term changes in neurological care, which are not easily predictable.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A key informant survey was used to enquire about the changes expected in the specialty over the next 5 years. The survey was completed by heads of neurology departments with broad knowledge of the situation, having been active during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Despite a low level of consensus between participants, there was strong (85%) and moderate consensus (70%) about certain subjects, mainly the increase in precautions to be taken, the use of telemedicine and teleconsultations, the reduction of care provided in in-person consultations to avoid the presence of large numbers of people in waiting rooms, the development of remote training solutions, and the changes in monitoring visits during clinical trials. There was consensus that there would be no changes to the indication of complementary testing or neurological examination.

CONCLUSION

The key informant survey identified the foreseeable changes in neurological care after the pandemic.

Management of neurological care during the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to the need for unprecedented decisions to be made to maintain the provision of neurological care. This article addresses operational decision-making during the epidemic.

DEVELOPMENT

We report the measures taken, including the preparation of a functional reorganisation plan, strategies for hospitalisation and emergency management, the use of telephone consultations to maintain neurological care, provision of care at a unit outside the hospital for priority patients, decisions about complementary testing and periodic in-hospital treatments, and the use of a specific telephone service to prioritise patients with epileptic seizures.

CONCLUSION

Despite the situation of confinement, neurology departments must continue to provide patient care through different means of operation. Like all elements of management, these must be evaluated.

Has clinical activity in paediatric neurology changed in the past 11 years?

INTRODUCTION

We believe that the demand for paediatric neurology (PN) care has increased over the past decade, and that reasons for requesting consultations have also changed. The objective of this study is to complete a registry study to profile the demand for PN care in 2013 and compare results to those from a study performed in 2002.

METHODS

A prospective registry of PN healthcare activities was completed at Hospital Universitario de Getafe in 2013. Results were compared with those from a prospective registry study conducted in 2002.

RESULTS

The number of visits increased from 1,300 in 2002 to 1,982 in 2013 (a 52.46% increase), and from 32.6 visits per 1,000 children to 57.48 (a 76.32% increase). Outpatient consultations accounted for 92.2% of all PN consultations in 2013. Currently, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequent diagnosis (27.6% in 2013 vs. 8.1% in 2002). Although the percentage of headache consultations has decreased (19% in 2013 vs. 22% in 2002), headache was still the most common reason for an initial visit in 2013 (32.1%), followed by ADHD (19.1%). Epilepsy remains the most frequent diagnosis in hospitalised patients (30.3% in 2013 vs. 36.7% in 2002).

CONCLUSIONS

PN is fundamentally an outpatient activity that has increased considerably in recent years. This increase is mainly due to neurodevelopmental disorders, especially ADHD. We might state that the role of ADHD in PN is comparable to that of dementia in general neurology.

Study of outpatient neurological care in the Region of Madrid: The impact of implementing free choice of hospital

INTRODUCTION

A new model permitting free choice of hospital has been introduced in the Region of Madrid. This may result in changes in how outpatient neurological care is provided and managed. The purpose of this study is to analyse initial visits to a general neurology department in the Region of Madrid and record the health district corresponding to each patient's residence.

METHODS

Observational and prospective study of a cohort of patients making initial outpatient visits to a neurology department between 16 September 2013 and 16 January 2014.

RESULTS

The study included 1109 patients (63.8% women, mean age 55.2±20.5). The most frequent diagnostic groups were periodic headache, cognitive disorders, and neuromuscular diseases. Non-neurological diseases were diagnosed in 1.1% of the cases. The mean time of delay was 7.2±5.1 days. Residents within the hospital's health district made up 73.8% of the total, while 26.2% chose a hospital outside of the health district corresponding to their residences. In the latter group, 59.5% made the choice based on the level of care offered, while 39.7% changed hospitals due to shorter times to consultation. The patients who came from another health district were younger (50.7 vs 57.3, P<.0001) and had a lower rate of discharges on the first visit (16.4% vs 30.1%, P<.0001).

CONCLUSION

The model of free choice of hospital delivers significant changes in healthcare management and organisation. Reasons given for choosing another hospital are more ample experience and shorter delays with respect to the home district hospital. Management of patients from outside the health district is associated with greater complexity.