[Evaluation of the management of inhalers by the nursing personnel in a reference hospital].

Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge and skills of nurses on the management of inhaled therapy in different hospitalization wards.

Material And Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study, in which nurses were asked to perform a practical demonstration of the management of a pressurized canister with an inhalation chamber, without previous theoretical instruction about the technique. The inhalation technique was evaluated step by step following the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Pneumologists and Chest Surgeons (SEPAR).

Empiric treatment in hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia. Impact on mortality, length of stay and re-admission.

Objective: To evaluate adherence to guidelines when choosing an empirical treatment and its impact upon the prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods: A prospective multicentre study was conducted in 425 CAP patients hospitalized on ward. Initial empirical treatment was classified as adhering or not to Spanish guidelines.

[Design and validation of a questionnaire for the detection of major depression in elderly patients].

Background And Objective: The aim of this study was to design and validate a scale to detect major depressive disorders in elderly individuals in primary care (Detection of Depression in the Elderly Scale [DDES]).

Methods: We performed an observational and cross-sectional study for the validation of a scale, administered by means of a personal interview, in 259 patients aged 65 years old or older. Available instruments were reviewed and the questions were designed.

[Characteristics of tuberculosis in a tertiary hospital during the years 1993-1996. Influence of the coinfection with HIV].

To assess and compare epidemiological factors, clinical and radiological signs, laboratory results and drug resistance in patients with tuberculosis (TB) with and without AIDS. Retrospective study of TB diagnosed bacteriologically between January 1993 and December 1996 at Hospital Universitario La Fe. Annual rates were 41.