Correction to: Efficiency as a determinant of loyalty among users of a Community of Clinical Practice: a comparative study between the implementation and consolidation phases.

Following publication of the original article [1], in order to comply with the current regulations for the submission of Doctoral Thesis by compendium of articles, the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona Doctoral School asks us to update the affiliation number 3, adding "Departament de Medicina" at the beginning, as follows.

Efficiency as a determinant of loyalty among users of a Community of Clinical Practice: a comparative study between the implementation and consolidation phases.

Background: A community of clinical practice called the Online Communication Tool between Primary and Hospital Care (ECOPIH) was created to enable primary care and specialist care professionals to communicate with each other in order to resolve real clinical cases, thereby improving communication and coordination between care levels. The present work seeks to analyse whether ECOPIH makes it possible to reduce the number of referrals. To that end, the objectives are: (1) To find out the degree of loyalty among ECOPIH users, by comparing the medical professionals' profiles in the tool's implementation phase to those in its consolidation phase.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL intervention for non-specific SUBACUTE low back pain in a working population: a cluster randomized clinical trial.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a multifactorial condition with individual and societal impact that affects populations globally. Current guidelines for the treatment of LBP recommend pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. The aim of this study was to compare usual clinical practice with the effectiveness of a biopsychosocial multidisciplinary intervention in reducing disability, severity of pain and improving quality of life in a working population of patients with subacute (2-12 weeks), non-specific LBP.

Effect of the comprehensive smoke-free law on time trends in smoking behaviour in primary healthcare patients in Spain: a longitudinal observational study.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the impact of comprehensive smoke-free legislation (SFL) on the prevalence and incidence of adult smoking in primary healthcare (PHC) patients from three Spanish regions, overall and stratified by sex.

Design: Longitudinal observational study conducted between 2008 and 2013.

Setting: 66 PHC teams in Catalonia, Navarre and the Balearic Islands (Spain).

Comparative analysis of methods for identifying multimorbidity patterns: a study of 'real-world' data.

Objective: The aim was to compare multimorbidity patterns identified with the two most commonly used methods: hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in a large primary care database. Specific objectives were: (1) to determine whether choice of method affects the composition of these patterns and (2) to consider the potential application of each method in the clinical setting.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Effect of comprehensive smoke-free legislation on asthma and coronary disease trends in Spanish primary care patients.

Background: To examine the impact of comprehensive smoke-free legislation (SFL) (Law 42/2010) on the incidence and prevalence of adult asthma and coronary disease in primary health care (PHC) patients from three Spanish regions, overall and stratified by sex.

Methods: Longitudinal observational study conducted between 2007 and 2013 in the population over 15 years of age assigned to 66 PHC teams in Catalonia, Navarre and the Balearic Islands. Crude rates and age-standardized (truncated: asthma ≥ 16 years and coronary disease ≥ 35 years) incidence and prevalence rates using the direct method based on the European Standard Population were estimated based on data from PHC electronic health records.

Risk Factors of Mortality from All Asbestos-Related Diseases: A Competing Risk Analysis.

Background: The mortality from all malignant and nonmalignant asbestos-related diseases remains unknown. The authors assessed the incidence and risk factors for all asbestos-related deaths.

Methods: The sample included 544 patients from an asbestos-exposed community in the area of Barcelona (Spain), between Jan 1, 1970, and Dec 31, 2006.

Pharmacological control of diabetes and hypertension comorbidity in the elderly: A study of "real world" data.

Aims: The study aimed to determine which drug combinations achieve better control in comorbid diabetes and hypertension in a pragmatic sample of primary health care patients.

Methods: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: 251 primary health care centres in Catalonia, Spain.

Characteristics of COPD patients initiating treatment with aclidinium or tiotropium in primary care in Catalonia: a population-based study.

Objective: To describe and compare demographic and clinical profile of patients newly initiated on aclidinium (ACL) or tiotropium (TIO) and identify factors associated with newly initiated ACL in real-life clinical practice during 2013 in Catalonia.

Design: We performed a population-based, retrospective, observational study with data obtained from the Information System for Research Development in Primary Care, a population database that contains information of 5.8 million inhabitants (more than 80% of the Catalan population).

Prevalence and incidence of bronchiectasis in Catalonia, Spain: A population-based study.

Background: Insufficient epidemiological data are available on bronchiectasis in southern European populations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of bronchiectasis in Catalonia, Spain and describe the characteristics of patients with an active diagnosis of bronchiectasis in 2012.

Methods: This study used data from a population database containing information from 5.

[Multimorbidity patterns in young adults in Catalonia: an analysis of clusters].

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify multimorbidity patterns in patients from 19 to 44 years attended in primary care in Catalonia in 2010.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: 251 primary care centres.

Pneumococcal pneumonia in adults 60 years or older: Incidence, mortality and prevention.

Background: This study investigated the burden (incidence, mortality and serotype distribution) of pneumococcal pneumonia among older adults in the region of Tarragona (Spain).

Methods: Population-based cohort study involving 27,204 individuals ≥60 years in Tarragonès county (Southern Catalonia), who were prospectively followed between 01/12/2008 and 30/11/2011. Bacteremic and nonbacteremic (positive sputum culture and/or urinary antigen test) pneumococcal pneumonias were recruited.

Multimorbidity Patterns in Elderly Primary Health Care Patients in a South Mediterranean European Region: A Cluster Analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify clusters of diagnoses in elderly patients with multimorbidity, attended in primary care.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: 251 primary care centres in Catalonia, Spain.

Influence of chronic illnesses and underlying risk conditions on the incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults.

Objective: To investigate hospitalizations from pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults with specific underlying chronic conditions, evaluating the influence of these conditions in developing pneumonia.

Methods: Population-based cohort study involving 27,204 individuals ≥ 60 years old in Southern Catalonia, Spain. All cases of hospitalization from pneumococcal pneumonia (bacteremic and nonbacteremic) were collected since 01/12/2008 until 30/11/2011.

Variability in screening prevention activities in primary care in Spain: a multilevel analysis.

Background: Despite evidence of the benefits of prevention activities, studies have reported only partial integration and great variability of screening in daily clinical practice. The study objectives were: 1) To describe Primary Health Care (PHC) screening for arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption in 2008 in 2 regions of Spain, based on electronic health records, and 2) To assess and quantify variability in screening, and identify factors (of patient, general practitioners and PHC team) associated with being screened, that are common throughout the PHC population.

Methods: Multicentre, cross-sectional study of individuals aged ≥ 16 years (N = 468,940) who visited the 426 general practitioners (GPs) in 44 PHC teams in Catalonia and Navarre in 2008.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a health coaching intervention to improve the lifestyle of patients with knee osteoarthritis: cluster randomized clinical trial.

Background: The prevalence of osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis in the Spanish population is estimated at 17% and 10.2%, respectively. The clinical guidelines concur that the first line treatment for knee osteoarthritis should be non-pharmacological and include weight loss, physical activity and self-management of pain.

Efficacy of a smoking prevention programme in Catalan secondary schools: a cluster-randomized controlled trial in Spain.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of a school-based educational programme in reducing the incidence and prevalence of smoking in secondary school students (compulsory secondary education: CSE) in Catalonia (Spain).

Design: Cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Schools in the Tarragona Health Care Region of Spain.

Oxidative stress is associated with an increased antioxidant defense in elderly subjects: a multilevel approach.

Background: Studies of associations between plasma GSH-Px activity and cardiovascular risk factors have been done in humans, and contradictory results have been reported. The aim of our study was to assess the association between the scavenger antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in plasma and the presence of novel and classical cardiovascular risk factors in elderly patients.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study with baseline data from a subsample of the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) study in Spain.

Burden of multimorbidity, socioeconomic status and use of health services across stages of life in urban areas: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The burden of chronic conditions and multimorbidity is a growing health problem in developed countries. The study aimed to determine the estimated prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in urban areas of Catalonia, stratified by sex and adult age groups, and to assess whether socioeconomic status and use of primary health care services were associated with multimorbidity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Catalonia.

Impact of multimorbidity: acute morbidity, area of residency and use of health services across the life span in a region of south Europe.

Background: Concurrent diseases, multiple pathologies and multimorbidity patterns are topics of increased interest as the world's population ages. To explore the impact of multimorbidity on affected patients and the consequences for health services, we designed a study to describe multimorbidity by sex and life-stage in a large population sample and to assess the association with acute morbidity, area of residency and use of health services.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Catalonia (Spain).

Evaluating clinical effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination in preventing stroke: the CAPAMIS Study, 3-year follow-up.

Background: Cerebrovascular benefits using the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) are controversial. This study assessed clinical effectiveness of PPV23 in preventing ischemic stroke in people older than 60 years.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study involving 27,204 individuals of 60 years or older in Tarragona, Spain, who were prospectively followed from December 01, 2008, until November 30, 2011.

Effectiveness of a mindfulness education program in primary health care professionals: a pragmatic controlled trial.

Introduction: Burnout is a very prevalent type of stress among health professionals. It affects their well-being, performance, and attitude toward patients. This study assessed the effectiveness of a training program for primary health care professionals designed to reduce burnout and mood disturbance, increase empathy, and develop mindfulness.

Effectiveness of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine against community-acquired pneumonia in the general population aged ≥ 60 years: 3 years of follow-up in the CAPAMIS study.

Background: The benefits of using the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) are controversial. This study assessed clinical effectiveness of PPV23 in preventing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among the general population aged ≥ 60 years.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study involving 27 204 individuals aged ≥ 60 years in Tarragona, Spain, who were prospectively followed from 1 December 2008 until 30 November 2011.

Factors associated with changes in quality of life of COPD patients: a prospective study in primary care.

Background: A primary objective in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is to improve their health status.

Objective: To identify the factors associated with changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with COPD after one year of follow-up in primary care.

Method: Multicenter, prospective study with one year of follow-up.

[Effectiveness of a mindfulness program in primary care professionals].

Objectives: To determine the long-term effects of a mindfulness program on burnout, mood states, empathy, and mindfulness in primary care professionals.

Methods: A repeated measures before-after study was performed in 87 participants working in primary care. The variables evaluated were scores of the Burnout Inventory (Maslach), mood states (Profile of Mood States [POMS]), empathy (Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy [JSPE]) and mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire [FFMQ]), adherence to the intervention, and changes in attitudes.