Real-time surveillance systems: Applicability for the control of influenza in acute care.

Background: The high morbidity and mortality caused by influenza viruses translate into a great impact on specialized health care. Apart from the annual vaccination, the relevance of other measures to prevent and control this infection is unknown. The objective of our research was to determine the importance of a real-time surveillance system to establish early extended transmission precautions.

[Impact of nosocomial transmission of influenza virus in an acute hospital].

Objective: The increase in morbidity and mortality associated the influenza virus infections represents an important global challenge, with particular relevance within health institutions.The aim of the study was to highlight the impact, repercussions and characteristics of the nosocomial transmission of influenza virus.

Methods: A sample of 286 hospitalized patients in a third-level hospital with confirmed influenza (virus RNA in respiratory specimens) is included.

In-hospital mortality rates after CABG by autonomous regions in Spain.

Purpose: The paper's purpose is twofold: to provide a predictive model for estimating in-hospital mortality rates after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Spanish autonomous regions (AR) after adjusting relevant factors; and to determine whether there is a difference between expected and observed mortality rates.

Design/methodology/approach: All patients registered in a minimum basic data set (MSBD) undergoing CABG between 2000 and 2004 were selected. After bivariate analysis to explore associations between in-hospital death and other variables, a multivariate analysis using logistic regression was conducted.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess satisfaction with hospital emergency care.

Objective: To develop and validate a questionnaire to determine satisfaction with the hospital emergency department.

Design: Cross-sectional study to validate a telephone questionnaire designed in Spanish by a panel of experts.

Setting: The emergency department of Hospital Gregorio Marañón, a tertiary level hospital of the Spanish national health system.

[Hospital care of patients with A/H1N1 influenza: evaluation of the first 1000 reported cases in Spain].

Introduction And Objectives: Influenza A is expected to have a great impact in countries in the northern hemisphere yet little has been reported about how this outbreak can affect hospital care. The aim of this study is to assess patients who demand care for flu symptoms and their outcome.

Material And Methods: From the beginning of the outbreak a specific protocol was established for the care of patients with potential influenza A in admission, emergency and hospitalization ward.

LQAS usefulness in an emergency department.

Purpose: This paper aims to explore lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) applicability and usefulness in the evaluation of quality indicators in a hospital emergency department (ED) and to determine the degree of compliance with quality standards according to this sampling method.

Design/methodology/approach: Descriptive observational research in the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (HGUGM) emergency department (ED). Patients older than 15 years, diagnosed with dyspnoea, chest pain, urinary tract colic or bronchial asthma attending the HGUGM ED from December 2005 to May 2006, and patients admitted during 2005 with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or acute meningitis were included in the study.

[Design and validation of a questionnaire of the hospital outpatient clinics in Madrid, Spain, 2006].

Background: In order to improve the quality of health care it is necessary to know the point of view of the patients through satisfaction surveys. Satisfaction surveys need some psychometric properties to guarantee its reliability and validity. The aim of this paper is to design and to validate a questionnaire to determine the satisfaction of patients of the hospital outpatient clinics.

[Variations on in-hospital mortality rates based on an administrative database aortocoronary bypass mortality rate].

Background: The aim of this work is to assess outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft in Spain, studying in-hospital mortality rates, comparing results across hospitals where this procedure is performed, investigating the variables associated with mortality, and trying to determine whether the differences in each hospital could be explained by differences in quality or by differences in the selection of patients.

Patients And Methods: Observational study. Patients were registered in the UHDMDS from year 1994 with the codes of ICD 9 CM: 36.