[Diagnostic agreement of primary care and minor surgery in a basic health area]

AIM

Minor Surgery (MS) is an ever-increasing programmed activity in Primary Health Care Centres (PHC). The aim of this study is to establish the clinical and histopathology diagnostic agreement between PHC and MS and evaluating the efficacy of this activity.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective, observational, and reliability study was performed. A total of 234 patient specimens were sent to Histopathology between January 2014 and December 2018 in basic health area of San Benito-La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Of these, 203 specimens met criteria, with 31 being excluded due to death or absence of diagnosis. Sociodemographic and diagnostic variables were analysed, and 10 possible diagnoses were grouped into 3 categories according to their nature. Cohen kappa coefficient was used as the main evaluation measure.

RESULTS

The majority of specimens were obtained from women (51.2%), and the mean age was 52.82±17.82 years. The most frequently referred lesion was the epidermoid cyst (20.2-21.67%). A clinical-pathological agreement of 60% was obtained in Minor Surgery, with a specificity of 98.3% and a sensitivity of 61.9%. In Primary Care agreement was 36.1%, with a specificity of 98.4% and a sensitivity of 42.8%. Infectious lesions represented the largest concordance difference obtained, with 27% less in Primary Care compared to Minor Surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Minor Surgery is an effective support in the initial diagnosis of lesions referred for evaluation at Primary Care. However, it is necessary to implement improvements in diagnostic efficacy of Primary Care.

Teledermatology in Remote Parts of Chile: Experience in 4 Isolated Rural Areas

BACKGROUND

Teledermatology was introduced in Chile to make up for the lack of dermatologists and improve the primary care system's ability to resolve problems. This strategy was implemented in the province of Palena in 2013, but outcomes were not analyzed and reported until now.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Descriptive, cross-sectional study with analysis of inter-rater agreement on diagnoses. All the teledermatology consultations made on behalf of patients in Ayacara, Chaitén, Futaleufú, and Palena from 2013 through 2017 were analyzed. Data were extracted from the MINSAL platform. The κ statistic was used to assess diagnostic agreement.

RESULTS

A total of 326 teledermatology consultations were made. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 35.8 (22.4) years. The majority (59.8%) were female. Palena generated the largest volume of cases (40.8%). The mean time until a teledermatology diagnosis was given was 12.6 (22.8) days. This response time decreased to 6.4 (5.2) days after a staff dermatologist from Hospital Puerto Montt joined the program (P=.0005). Diagnosis concordance between the general practitioner and the dermatologist was moderate (κ=0.5). Physical examination by the dermatologist at the hospital of reference (Puerto Montt) was necessary for 20.6% of the patients, and time until a definitive diagnosis for the patient took longer in such cases (25.7 [41.2] days) than for the cases that didn't need a physical evaluation at the Hospital of Puerto Montt (P<.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Teledermatology provides a necessary diagnostic and therapeutic resource for general practitioners in isolated locations. Diagnostic agreement is moderate between the generalist and the specialist, similar to agreement in international studies but lower than agreement reported in other Chilean studies. The reduction in diagnostic response time after incorporation of a dermatologist on staff at the hospital of Puerto Montt was significant. The significant difference between the time for diagnosis under teledermatology and the delay when physical examination is required at the hospital of Puerto Montt identifies an aspect of care management to improve.

[Analysis of the medical prescription in institutionalised patients]

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate/assess the therapeutic concordance/agreement with prescribed medication in patients institutionalized diagnoses in two periods of time as well as the characteristics of this prescription.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Observational and descriptive study. Prescribing and clinical diagnoses of institutionalized patients were analyzed. These patients were treated by the same physicians during the period of time with a one-year interval (2010-2011), offering prescribing information in this period.

RESULTS

A total of 81 patients (78% women), mean age 84±7 years, and 5±2 diagnoses per patient. The number of drugs per patient was more than 8 in the 2 periods, being higher in 2011 compared to 2010. From all the prescription, we found that 8.88% in 2010 and 9.3% in 2011 are included as "limited clinical value" drugs. In 2010, it sees a concordance of 86.71±13.75 against 87.17±14.58 in 2011, it means, 87% of patients are treated with drugs in agreement with their diagnoses, representing an increase of 0.47 in 2011 regarding 2010. No statistically significant differences between the 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The prescriptions in institutionalized patients are very high and the number of drugs per patient increased after information. When we analyzed prescriptions we underline a high percentage of drugs included in the group of limited clinical value (citicoline). A significant percentage of prescriptions don't correspond with diagnoses avaiable in their clinical history.

[Diagnostic agreement between two glycosylated a1b hemoglobin methods in Primary Care]

OBJECTIVE

Several methods are available for measuring glycosylated A1c hemoglobin (HbA1c), all rapid methods for point of care use in a clinical or laboratory setting. This study attempts to compare the diagnostic agreement between two methods for detection of HbA1c.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study of diagnostic agreement was carried out in the Los Carmenes Health Centre. Two groups of patients -with and without type 2 diabetes- were consecutively included. A method for point-of-care use in a Primary Care Clinic setting (DCA(TM) Systems Siemens(®)) was compared with a laboratory test (chromatographic analysis). An analysis was made of the mean concentration of HbA1c, the agreement between methods, using the intra-class correlation coefficient (CCLA1) and the Bland-Altman method.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were included, 62 diabetic (60.8%) and 40 non-diabetic (39.2%). The overall mean HbA1c was 6.46% (SD=0.88) in the analysis using capillary blood in the clinic with the DCA™ system, and 6.44% (SD=0.86) using the laboratory test (P>.05). The degree of agreement between the two tests was 0.975 (95% CI: 0.963-0.983). The mean of the differences between the results of the two assessed tests was 0.024 (SD=0.27). The percentage of points outside the limits of optimal agreement, as defined in the Bland-Altman graph, was 2.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnostic agreement between a method for point-of-care use in a Primary Health Care Clinic and a laboratory test was very high. Detection at the point-of-care allows a quick and simple assessment of HbA1c.

Skin conditions in primary care: an analysis of referral demand

INTRODUCTION

Skin conditions are among the main reasons for seeking primary health care. Primary care physicians (PCPs) must diagnose skin conditions and determine their impact, and must therefore incorporate the relevant knowledge and skills into their education. The present study analyzes the reasons for primary care referral to dermatology (referral demand) as well as diagnostic agreement between PCPs and dermatologists informed by pathology where appropriate.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were collected for 755 patients and 882 initial dermatology appointments from February 1, 2012 through April 30, 2012 following primary care referral. Data obtained included age, sex, occupation, reason for referral, primary care diagnosis, and dermatologic diagnosis. Statistical analysis of the data for each diagnosed condition identified frequency, reasons for referral, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the κ statistic for diagnostic agreement.

RESULTS

The most common diagnoses were seborrheic keratosis, melanocytic nevus, actinic keratosis, and acne. The main reason for referral was diagnostic assessment (52.5%). For skin tumors, sensitivity of primary care diagnosis was 22.4%, specificity 94.7%, PPV 40.7%, and NPV 88.3%, with a κ of 0.211. For the more common diagnoses, primary care sensitivity was generally low and specificity high.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our results, primary care physicians are better qualified to rule out a given skin condition in a patient (high specificity) than to establish an accurate clinical diagnosis (poor sensitivity). This suggests that knowledge and skills training should be organized for primary care physicians to improve management of skin conditions-especially skin cancer, because of its impact. A more responsive system would ensue, with shorter waiting lists and better health care.