Effect of the comprehensive smoke-free law on time trends in smoking behaviour in primary healthcare patients in Spain: a longitudinal observational study.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the impact of comprehensive smoke-free legislation (SFL) on the prevalence and incidence of adult smoking in primary healthcare (PHC) patients from three Spanish regions, overall and stratified by sex.

Design: Longitudinal observational study conducted between 2008 and 2013.

Setting: 66 PHC teams in Catalonia, Navarre and the Balearic Islands (Spain).

Adaptive capacity of the Adjusted Clinical Groups Case-Mix System to the cost of primary healthcare in Catalonia (Spain): a observational study.

Objectives: To describe the adaptive capacity of the Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) system to the cost of care in primary healthcare centres in Catalonia (Spain).

Design: Retrospective study (multicentres) conducted using computerised medical records.

Setting: 13 primary care teams in 2008 were included.

Effectiveness of organizational interventions to reduce emergency department utilization: a systematic review.

Background: Emergency department (ED) utilization has dramatically increased in developed countries over the last twenty years. Because it has been associated with adverse outcomes, increased costs, and an overload on the hospital organization, several policies have tried to curb this growing trend. The aim of this study is to systematically review the effectiveness of organizational interventions designed to reduce ED utilization.

Obtaining the mean relative weights of the cost of care in Catalonia (Spain): retrospective application of the adjusted clinical groups case-mix system in primary health care.

Objective: The study aims to obtain the mean relative weights (MRWs) of the cost of care through the retrospective application of the adjusted clinical groups (ACGs) in several primary health care (PHC) centres in Catalonia (Spain) in routine clinical practice.

Methods: This is a retrospective study based on computerized medical records. All patients attended by 13 PHC teams in 2008 were included.

[Research in primary care as an area of knowledge. SESPAS Report 2012].

Primary care offers huge potential for research. This setting is an area of knowledge that must expand to improve the quality of its services and patients' health. Population-based clinical studies with a focus on health promotion and primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention offer unique research opportunities.

[Comparison of three methods for measuring multiple morbidity according to the use of health resources in primary healthcare].

Objective: To compare three methods of measuring multiple morbidity according to the use of health resources (cost of care) in primary healthcare (PHC).

Design: Retrospective study using computerized medical records.

Setting: Thirteen PHC teams in Catalonia (Spain).

[Analyzing the coronary heart disease mortality decline in a Mediterranean population: Spain 1988-2005].

Introduction And Objectives: To examine the extent to which the decrease in coronary heart disease mortality rates in Spain between 1988 and 2005 could be explained by changes in cardiovascular risk factors and by the use of medical and surgical treatments.

Methods: We used the previously validated IMPACT model to examine the contributions of exposure factors (risk factors and treatments) to the main outcome, changes in the mortality rates of death from coronary heart disease, among adults 35 to 74 years of age. Main data sources included official mortality statistics, results of longitudinal studies, national surveys, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses.

The relationship between effectiveness and costs measured by a risk-adjusted case-mix system: multicentre study of Catalonian population data bases.

Background: The main objective of this study is to measure the relationship between morbidity, direct health care costs and the degree of clinical effectiveness (resolution) of health centres and health professionals by the retrospective application of Adjusted Clinical Groups in a Spanish population setting. The secondary objectives are to determine the factors determining inadequate correlations and the opinion of health professionals on these instruments.

Methods/design: We will carry out a multi-centre, retrospective study using patient records from 15 primary health care centres and population data bases.