A primary healthcare information intervention for communicating cardiovascular risk to patients with poorly controlled hypertension: The Education and Coronary Risk Evaluation (Educore) study-A pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial.

Purpose: Uncertainty exists regarding the best way to communicate cardiovascular risk (CVR) to patients, and it is unclear whether the comprehension and perception of CVR varies according to the format used. The aim of the present work was to determine whether a strategy designed for communicating CVR information to patients with poorly controlled high blood pressure (HBP), but with no background of cardiovascular disease, was more effective than usual care in the control of blood pressure (BP) over the course of a year.

Methods: A pragmatic, two-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial was performed.

[Clinical empathy among family and community medicine residents and tutors. The view of physicians and patients].

Aim: To determine the degree of clinical empathy among family medicine residents and tutors. To gauge whether there is a relationship between physicians' self-perceived empathy levels and their patients' assessments.

Study Design: Observational, cross-sectional survey.

[Research and protection of personal data in Primary Care].

Research is one of the fundamental functions that have to be carried out in Primary Care. The clinical information stored in different records arising from medical care is a basic tool for this activity. The use of personal data for the purposes of research is legitimate according to our laws; however, this information must be treated confidentially at all times.

EDUCORE project: a clinical trial, randomised by clusters, to assess the effect of a visual learning method on blood pressure control in the primary healthcare setting.

Background: High blood pressure (HBP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). European hypertension and cardiology societies as well as expert committees on CVD prevention recommend stratifying cardiovascular risk using the SCORE method, the modification of lifestyles to prevent CVD, and achieving good control over risk factors. The EDUCORE (Education and Coronary Risk Evaluation) project aims to determine whether the use of a cardiovascular risk visual learning method--the EDUCORE method--is more effective than normal clinical practice in improving the control of blood pressure within one year in patients with poorly controlled hypertension but no background of CVD;

Methods/design: This work describes a protocol for a clinical trial, randomised by clusters and involving 22 primary healthcare clinics, to test the effectiveness of the EDUCORE method.

[Community outbreak of hepatitis A in a marginal population. Vaccination for its control and acceptance of the measure].

Objective: To study a community outbreak of hepatitis A in a marginal population and the public health response in order to bring it under control.

Design: Descriptive study of the outbreak that occurred in February-June, 2004. An epidemiological survey was conducted to detect prior cases and active vigilance was set up.

[Tuberculosis and immigration in a health sanitary area in Madrid, Spain. Trends in 1994-2003].

Background And Objective: To describe trends and epidemiological characteristics of immigrant and native populations with tuberculosis.

Population And Method: Population-based, descriptive analysis of case data reported to the Regional Registry of Tuberculosis Cases from 1994 to 2003 living in the south of Madrid, Spain (755,202 inhabitants).

Results: The number of cases reported was 2211, of which 269 (12.