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Biomedical subjects

G Foz

Publications and source records attributed to G Foz.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Impact of the primary health care reform on the use of the hospital emergency services].

BACKGROUND: The overutilization of the hospital emergency areas (HEA) in recent years has been related to an inadequate functioning of the primary health care and can be corrected by the implementation of the primary health care reform. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Home interview of a sample of residents of the city of Mataró (Barcelona, Spain), where the primary health care reform affects to four of the seven basic health areas. Collection of information on health care utilization and attitudes to its use. RESULTS: Of the 1,974 studied subjects 27% (CI 95%, 25-29) reported to have used the HEA in the former year, and the frequency of visits was 0.48 (CI 95%, 0.44-0.54) per person. For the 1880 beneficiaries of the national health system, these results were somewhat lower between the users of reformed centres (27%, 0.46) than those of non-reformed centres (30%, 0.50) (p = NS); differences were attributed mainly to adult women. Users of reformed centres expressed more preference for the ambulatory in case of a non-severe emergency (37% and 17%; p < 0.0001) and consulted more often before going to the HEA (17 and 10%; p = 0.03). Among the reasons to go to the HEA, users of the reformed model perceived less necessity of an immediate action (43 and 52%; p = 0.05) and greater time barriers with the basic health areas (23 and 15%; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the lack of overall differences in the use of HEA between users of reformed centres and non-reformed centres we observed a lower utilization in some age and sex groups from reformed centres. Some elements of the demand of the HEA are more appropriate and attributed to the primary health care reform. However, the reasons prompting to use the HEA show that an unjustified utilization is still done, independently of the primary health care model.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Eating habits and the frequency of food consumption in 8th-grade schoolchildren from a Basic Health Area of Mataró].

OBJECTIVE: To find the food habits and the qualitative food consumption of 8th-year school students, covered by a Base Health Area in Mataró (Barcelona), as the basis for a programme of health education. DESIGN: A descriptive study, carried out by means of an open questionnaire on the frequency of food consumption over three consecutive days in a week, on an individual basis, self-filled and of a prospective character. SETTING: The schools within the catchment area of a Base Health Area in Mataró (Barcelona). PARTICIPANTS: All the 8th-year EGB students of those schools (216). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 180 students answered the questionnaire. Four were excluded for not meeting the conditions laid out. There were 81.4% of valid questionnaires. 98.2% did not have a healthy diet. 64% consumed milk products or derivatives once or less per day. 88.6% consumed raw vegetables less than once a day. 86.9% consumed cooked vegetables less than once per day. 40% consumed fresh fruit less than once per day and 55.1% consumed animal proteins less than once per day. 34.6% consumed two or more units per day of cakes or buns and 21.6% consumed three or more units per day of sweets. 31% did not vary their breakfast and 12% took nothing solid for breakfast on at least one of the study's three days. 13.1% did not vary their evening meal and 17% took nothing solid for their evening meal on at least one of the three days. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show not very healthy eating habits, with insufficient consumption of milk products, vegetables and fruit and a an insufficient breakfast.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Human immunodeficiency virus infection at a primary care center].

We report a descriptive study of 56 cases of HIV infection in a primary care center to evaluate its impact on the population on care, the practices at risk, the associated infections and the difficulties for control. The distribution by age, sex and practices at risk is in agreement with most series from our area. Remarkably, there is a greater rate of drug abusers and sexual promiscuity, related with the marginal type of population on care. We found a high prevalence of the most commonly associated infections, tuberculosis, syphilis and hepatitis B. This association justifies screening for these diseases and the use of the adequate prophylactic and therapeutic measures. We found important difficulties for the follow up of these patients. All these facts emphasize the need to approach this increasing health problem from the primary care setting, basically from the health education of the person with practices at risk and the overall follow-up of the involved patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

[The reasons for medical and nursing appointments in a primary health care center (Barcelona)].

The programmed visit, which is basically generated by the health care team, permits a rationalization of the demand and the introduction of health promoting activities. We have evaluated our motives (medical and nurse practices) for the appointment of patients during 1987. We have also recorded the age, sex, compliance and source of the appointment in a sample of 198 medical and 223 nurse appointments. 62.5% of the appointed visits corresponded to females and more than 50% to patients over 59 years. The most common type of appointment was to control chronic disease, owing to its high prevalence and the protocolization of its care. In individuals under 45 years appointments were mostly for diagnostic approach and to record the clinical history. The implementation of preventive measures appeared as one of the least common causes. Failure to comply was seen in 25%, being higher in patients under age 45 and in the appointments to record the clinical history. These results point to the need of restructuring the concertation priorities. The health problems of the population and its vulnerability are the factors that should guide health planning.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

[Tuberculosis in a primary care center in a socioeconomically depressed area: variables associated with giving up treatment].

We report the features of 72 patients with tuberculosis of a low socioeconomical level, seen at the primary care center of Perecamps (Barcelona). We identify the factors associated with giving up therapy. We found a predominance of males and of the 40-59 years age group. In 1988 we found an increased rate of young patients (20-39 years) and PDA/HIV+. Twenty-five patients (35%) had had previous episodes of tuberculosis. 19 had had inadequate chemotherapy because of abandonment. The rate of follow-up losses was high (36%). A history of previous PDA/HIV+ were associated with giving up therapy. We indicate the several measures to be applied in our area to improve compliance with chemotherapy in patients with tuberculosis.

Adult↗