[Continuity of care between levels perceived by users of the health system in Catalonia, Spain].

Background: Rapid technological advances, organizational changes in health services and the rise of complex chronic diseases mean that users receive care from a wide variety of providers, threatening continuity of care (CC). The aim is to analyse users' perception of CC, as well as their experienced elements of (dis)continuity in the Catalonian health services.

Methods: Cross-sectional study by means ofa questionnaire survey to a sample of 200 healthcare users attended by more than one level of care for the same condition in the previous 3 months.

Evaluating management contracts.

The current medical environment is characterized by a rise in expenditure in excess of the general rise and an increase in the demands made by its users. Management contracts are a tool designed with the intention of sharing the responsibility of healthcare management with the medical profession without reducing quality. Although this is an attractive project, it also involves risks.

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.

[Relationship among the degree of control of arterial hypertension, comorbidity and costs in individuals over age 30 during 2006].

Background: Arterial hypertension is one of the main reasons for primary care consultations. This study is aimed at determining the relationship among the degree to which arterial hypertension is controlled, comorbidity and the direct costs in primary care.

Methods: Retrospective, multi-centre design.

[Calculation of morbidity, use of resources and costs of patients treated with tiotropium bromide for COPD in a Spanish population].

Objective: To determine the co-morbidity and economic impact of treatment with tiotropium bromide (TB) for COPD, in a population cared for by Spanish primary care teams (PCTs) and specialist physicians, in the context of routine clinical practice.

Design: Retrospective multi-centre study.

Setting: Four PCTs and 2 urban hospitals.

[Comparative study at 4 health centres of efficiency, measured on the basis of ambulatory care groups].

Objective: To measure efficiency in the use of resources for the care lists of four primary care centres (PCC), by using ambulatory care Groups (ACGs).

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Setting: Four PC teams.