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Mercè Peris

Publications and source records attributed to Mercè Peris.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Implementing and complying with the Smoke-free Hospitals Project in Catalonia, Spain.

The objective of the study was to describe the implementation of measures for preventing tobacco consumption developed in the Catalan Network of Smoke-free Hospitals. Information from 25 hospitals that are actively involved in the Catalan Network of Smoke-free Hospitals (April 2004) was used. The degree of implementation of the Smoke-free Hospitals Project was analysed by means of the Self-Audit Questionnaire of the European Network for Smoke-free Hospitals; each hospital was analysed globally and according to the duration of its Network membership (<1 year: implementation stage; > or =1 year: consolidation stage). In terms of global indicators, there were high levels of commitment (64.8%), communication (74.7%), tobacco control (77.4%) and implementation of smoke-free environments (81.0%). A lower degree of implementation (<50%) was found in education and training, health promotion and healthy workplaces. According to the duration of Network membership, significant differences were observed for communication, environment, healthy workplaces and follow-up. Deficits were observed in areas such as specialist training and cessation support, and further input is required here. By identifying areas needing attention, providing a guide for policy development and by administering it periodically, one can ensure that progress is kept on track.

Guideline Adherence↗
PubMed2005

Cancer risk perceptions in an urban Mediterranean population.

The objective of our study was to analyze the perceived (belief) or adopted (behavior) measures to reduce cancer risk in a Spanish population. We used cross-sectional data from the Cornella Health Interview Survey Follow-up Study (CHIS.FU). We analyzed 1,438 subjects who in 2002 answered questions about risk perceptions on cancer and related behavior (668 males and 770 females). The benefits of avoiding cigarette smoking (95.8%), sunlight exposure (94.9%) and alcohol (81.0%) were widely recognized. On the other hand, electromagnetic fields (92.1%), food coloring and other food additives (78.4%) or pesticides (69.4%), whose role in cancer occurrence, if any, remain unproven, were clearly considered as cancer risk factors in this population. Compared to men, women more frequently reported healthy behaviors, and the role of exogenous factors (i.e., environmental risk factors) were widely popular. There was a socioeconomic gradient on cancer risk perception with respect to several lifestyle or dietary factors. Individuals with higher educational level scored lower in several risk factors than those with primary or less than primary school education. Smokers reported adopting fewer healthy behaviors than former or never smokers. How people perceive health issues and risk or make choices about their own behavior does not always follow a predictable or rational pattern.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2005

Smoking reduction in a population-based cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the factors associated with smoking reduction in a population-based cohort study in Cornella de Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used data from the Cornella Health Interview Survey Follow-up Study (n = 2,500). We included for the analysis those subjects who declared to be daily smokers at baseline (1994) and continued smoking after eight years of follow-up (n = 234). We considered as operational definition of reduction to reduce > or = 10 cigarettes/day. We calculated the relative risk (RR) of smoking reduction vs. maintain or increase tobacco consumption and 95% confidence intervals (CI) by means of a Breslow-Cox regression model. RESULTS: The average reduction on number of cigarettes among subjects who reduced their tobacco consumption was similar in men and women (13 cigarettes/day). The consumption intensity and self-perceived health are the characteristics associated with reduction: smoking reduction was associated with being a smoker > 20 cigarettes/day (RR = 3.25; 95% CI: 1.69-6.25) and individuals who declared having a suboptimal health showed a 3-fold risk of reducing smoking (RR = 3.13; 95% CI: 1.52-6.43). CONCLUSION: Heavy smokers and smokers with poor health are those smokers more likely to reduce their tobacco consumption. Specific actions targeting them could lead to increase reduction and even smoking cessation.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Sex differences in hospital readmission among colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: While several studies have analysed sex and socioeconomic differences in cancer incidence and mortality, sex differences in oncological health care have been seldom considered. OBJECTIVE: To investigate sex based inequalities in hospital readmission among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Hospital Universitary in L'Hospitalet (Barcelona, Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred and three patients diagnosed with colorectal between January 1996 and December 1998 were actively followed up until 2002. Main outcome measurements and METHODS: Hospital readmission times related to colorectal cancer after surgical procedure. Cox proportional model with random effect (frailty) was used to estimate hazard rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals of readmission time for covariates analysed. RESULTS: Crude hazard rate ratio of hospital readmission in men was 1.61 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.15). When other significant determinants of readmission were controlled for (including Dukes's stage, mortality, and Charlson's index) a significant risk of readmission was still present for men (hazard rate ratio: 1.52, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.96). CONCLUSIONS: In the case of colorectal cancer, women are less likely than men to be readmitted to the hospital, even after controlling for tumour characteristics, mortality, and comorbidity. New studies should investigate the role of other non-clinical variable such as differences in help seeking behaviours or structural or personal sex bias in the attention given to patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Initiatives for smoking control: the Catalan Network of Smoke-Free Hospitals].

The Catalan Network of Smoke-Free Hospitals was created by the Catalan Institute of Oncology in 2000. Currently (December 2003), 45 of the 66 hospitals of the Public Health System in Catalonia are members of this network. Organization through a network promotes and strengthens the exchange of experiences in real time. It provides mutual support in education, training and evaluation and enables common continuing training. Such an initiative, based on consensual work through a network, facilitates progress in tobacco control.

Hospitals↗