[Factors influencing the use of mechanisms for coordinating healthcare levels in Colombia].

Objective: To analyse the factors influencing the use of mechanisms for the clinical coordination of two Colombian public healthcare networks' healthcare levels in Bogotá from the main social actors' perspective.

Method: This was a descriptive-interpretative, qualitative study of two public healthcare networks. Discussion groups and semi-structured interviews were used for collecting information.

[Knowledge and use of clinical coordination mechanisms in healthcare networks in Latin America].

Objective: To analyze the level of knowledge and use, and the characteristics of use, of care coordination mechanisms in public healthcare networks of six Latin America countries.

Method: Cross-sectional study based on a survey using the COORDENA® questionnaire with primary and secondary care doctors (348 doctors/country) of public healthcare networks in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay (May-October 2015). Analyzed variables: degree of knowledge and use of information coordination (referral/reply letter, discharge report, phone, e-mail) and of clinical management coordination (shared clinical guidelines, joint meetings) mechanisms.

Doctors' opinions on clinical coordination between primary and secondary care in the Catalan healthcare system.

Objective: To analyse doctors' opinions on clinical coordination between primary and secondary care in different healthcare networks and on the factors influencing it.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive-interpretative study was conducted, based on semi-structured interviews. A two-stage theoretical sample was designed: 1) healthcare networks with different management models; 2) primary care and secondary care doctors in each network.

[Adaptation and validation of the CCAENA(©) scale for the measurement of continuity of care between healthcare levels in Colombia and Brazil].

Objective: To adapt and to validate the scale of the questionnaire Continuity of Care between Care Levels (CCAENA(©)) in the context of the Colombian and Brazilian health systems.

Methods: The study consisted of two phases: 1) adaptation of the CCAENA(©) scale to the context of each country, which was tested by two pretests and a pilot test, and 2) validation by means of application of the scale in a population survey in Colombia and Brazil. The following psychometric properties were analyzed: construct validity (exploratory factor analysis), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha and item-rest correlations), the multidimensionality of the scales (Spearman correlation coefficients), and known group validity (chi-square test).

[Immigrants' access to health care in Spain: a review].

Background: An important proportion of the population in Spain is immigrant and the international literature indicates their inadequate access to health services. The objective is to contribute to improving the knowledge on access to health care of the immigrant population in Spain.

Methods: Review of original papers published (1998-2012) on access to health services of the immigrant population in Spain published in Medline and MEDES.

[Determinants of the use of different healthcare levels in the General System of Social Security in Health in Colombia and the Unified Health System in Brazil].

Objective: To compare the use of different healthcare levels, and its determinants, in two different health systems, the General System of Social Security in Health (GSSSH) and the Unified Health System (UHS) in municipalities in Colombia and Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, based on a population survey in two municipalities in Colombia (n=2163) and two in Brazil (n=2155). Outcome variables consisted of the use of primary care services, outpatient secondary care services, and emergency care in the previous 3 months.

[Preventable infant mortality and barriers to access to primary care in Recife, Northeastern Brazil].

Objective: Analyze the factors infl uencing avoidable infant mortality from the perspective of the protagonists involved.

Methods: Qualitative study with a critical-constructivist approach, examining children's access to health care and avoiding preventable infant mortality through health care campaigns and services in Health District I of Recife, Northeastern Brazil, between February 2007 and February 2008. The theoretical sample was designed in two stages: I) institutions providing health services to children; II) interviewees: managers (11); professionals from the Family Health Strategy and Programme of Community Health Workers (48); and from outpatient clinics (12); mothers (20), with sample size defi ned by "saturation of the speeches".

Impact of economic crisis on mental health of migrant workers: what happened with migrants who came to Spain to work?

Objectives: To assess changes in mental health in a sample of migrant workers after the eruption of the economic crisis in Spain.

Methods: 318 migrant workers were interviewed. Mental health, sociodemographic, and economic crisis related variables were obtained through face-to-face (2008) and phone (2011) interviews.

Awareness of the healthcare system and rights to healthcare in the Colombian population.

Objectives: To analyze changes in users' awareness of the healthcare system and of their rights to healthcare in Colombia in the last 10 years, as well as the factors that influence users' awareness.

Methods: We carried out a descriptive study to compare the results of two cross-sectional studies based on two surveys of users of the Colombian healthcare system. The first survey was performed in 2000 and the second in 2010.

Factors associated to experienced continuity of care between primary and outpatient secondary care in the Catalan public healthcare system.

Objective: To analyze patient's reported elements of relational, informational and managerial (dis)continuity between primary and outpatient secondary care and to identify associated factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study by means of a survey of a random sample of 1500 patients attended in primary and secondary care for the same condition. The study settings consisted of three health areas of the Catalan health system.

[Design and validation of a questionnaire to measure continuity between care levels from the user's perspective].

Objectives: To design and validate an instrument that measures continuity between levels of care from the user's perspective to be applied in any healthcare system providing a continuum of care.

Methods: 1) A questionnaire for the measurement of continuity of care was designed, based on a literature review, and 2) the questionnaire was validated using an expert group, two pretests and a pilot test to a sample of 200 healthcare users. We assessed the questionnaire's comprehensibility, content validity and interviewer burden, as well as the reliability and construct validity of the scale.

[Health policies of national and regional level for the immigrant population in Spain].

Objectives: To analyze the content of health policies for the immigrant population developed by central and regional governments in Spain.

Methods: A descriptive comparative study of central and regional healthcare policies for the immigrant population was conducted in Spain through content analysis. The selected regions were Andalusia, Valencia, Madrid and the Basque Country as these regions have specific policies, distinct proportions of immigrants and policy evaluations.

[Coordination among healthcare levels: systematization of tools and measures].

Improving healthcare coordination is a priority in many healthcare systems, particularly in chronic health problems in which a number of professionals and services intervene. There is an abundance of coordination strategies and mechanisms that should be systematized so that they can be used in the most appropriate context. The present article aims to analyse healthcare coordination and its instruments using the organisational theory.

[Displaced women's opinion of the impact of forced displacement on their health].

Objective: To analyze the adaptation process of women internally displaced to the city and the relationship between displacement and their self-perceived main health problems.

Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study was carried out by means of semi-structured individual interviews with a maximum variation sample of 25 internally displaced women. A narrative content analysis was conducted with mixed generation of categories and data segmentation by age and themes.

[Social participation in health: user community leaders, managers and policy makers in Colombia. A qualitative view].

Background: Health sector reforms taking place in Colombia during the Nineties included policies to promote social participation in the health system, which is considered essential to its functioning. The aim of this article is to analyse the meaning and the significance of participation in health for the different social actors involved in implementing policies in Colombia.

Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study was carried out using focal groups (FG) and semi-structured individual interviews (I) of the different social actors: 210 users (FG), 40 community leaders (FG), 3 policy makers (E) and 36 healthcare professionals (E).