02.05.01. Investigación y comunicación científica

Design and validation of a questionnaire to study healthy habits among adolescents aged 12-14 years

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Design and validation of a questionnaire to study healthy habits among adolescents aged 12-14 years Jiménez-Candel, María-Isabel; Carpena-Lucas, Pedro-Juan; Ceballos-Santamaría, Guillermo; Mondéjar-Jiménez, José INTRODUCTION: Social and cultural changes are altering young people's habits. Some surveys measure such behaviors, but are hard to interpret. The objective of this study was to design and validate a homogeneous questionnaire to study habits among adolescents aged 12-14 years. POPULATION AND METHODS: Descriptive and crosssectional study to validate a questionnaire. Items were selected after a bibliographic review and expert assessment. The pre-test was administered to a pilot sample. Reliability was established using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and construct validity, using a factor analysis. It was administered to a sample of parents of students from 4 secondary schools. RESULTS: Cronbach's coefficient showed values close to 0.7 in 3/4 subscales and an overall value of 0.629, showing accuracy and stability. Factor analysis determined an adequate construct validity, with 4 factors: eating, physical activity, new technologies, and environment. The final questionnaire included 26 items and was administered to 421 participants. Poor habits were observed in 24.8 % and very unhealthy, in 3.4 %. Girls had poorer scores in physical activity (p < 0.001), and boys, in new technologies, although it was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The final instrument was valid, reliable, and easily administered to assess modifiable behaviors in adolescents. The inclusion of technologies and environment helps to adapt the questionnaire to current changes. The greatest deficit was observed in the technology use and physical activity domains; and girls were more sedentary.

Family influence on childhood excess weight in the Region of Murcia, Spain

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Family influence on childhood excess weight in the Region of Murcia, Spain Jiménez-Candel, María-Isabel; Mondéjar-Jiménez, José; Gómez-Navarro, Antonio-J; Monreal-Tomas, Ana-B INTRODUCTION: In Spain, childhood obesity is worrying, and its development might be influenced by the family setting. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of excess weight among adolescents, evaluate family variables that could affect it, and determine parents' body perception. POPULATION AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study; students from five secondary schools in health area V of the Region of Murcia were included. Students' anthropometric measurements were recorded and a survey was administered to parents, including variables such as weight, height, exercise, level of education, family structure, and body perception. The analysis was done using contingency tables and the association with Somers' D measures. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty one students participated (age: 12.8 ± 0.6 years old); 21.1 % were overweight and 19.5 %, obese. There was an association between parent and child excess weight (Somers' D with a p value < 0.05). If both parents had a sedentary lifestyle, their children would exercise less. The higher the level of parental education, the lower the rate of childhood overweight (p < 0.05). Overweightobesity among children was higher in separated or single-parent families. In total, 32 % of parents misperceived their children's excess weight and 53 %, their own. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, the prevalence of excess weight was 40.6 %. Parents' nutritional status, level of education, and family structure were associated with childhood obesity. Mothers had a greater influence on the development of their children's overweight. Parents underestimated obesity.

Epilepsia y desigualdad: descripción demográfica y análisis de la dificultad para el acceso a recursos avanzados en una población de un área de salud pequeña

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Epilepsia y desigualdad: descripción demográfica y análisis de la dificultad para el acceso a recursos avanzados en una población de un área de salud pequeña Pérez-Navarro, Víctor-Manuel; Cánovas-Iniesta, María; Palazón-Cabanes, Begoña; Navarro-Lozano, Marta INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a very common neurological disease with high morbidity and mortality. Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) poses a major therapeutic challenge, even for experts in the field. Despite this, access to advanced resources for this type of patient remains difficult and unequal. The aim of this study is to analyse inequality in a population belonging to a first level hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An analytical observational cross-sectional study was conducted on epileptic patients attending neurology consultations in Area IX of the Murcian Health Service. Demographic, clinical, therapeutic, prognostic and equity variables are described, and significant differences between different subgroups are analysed. RESULTS: The study included 68 patients with a mean age of 42.93 years. Focal epilepsy was the main type (64.7%), and the most commonly used drugs were levetiracetam (33.8%), valproic acid (27.9%) and lamotrigine (22.1%). DRE occurred in 18 patients (26.5% of the total) and only four were under active follow-up in an epilepsy unit, meaning that 71% did not have access to a necessary resource (advanced therapeutic gap). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that epilepsy inequality continues to be a problem, especially in certain geographical areas, with a lack of access to advanced care for patients who need it most. The solution can be achieved by increasing human and material resources to improve overall patient care, thus strengthening both referral hospitals and epilepsy units.

Nationwide Implementation of Double Reflex Testing for Hepatitis Delta in Spain: Results From the Retrospective Phase of the Spain-DDR Study

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Nationwide Implementation of Double Reflex Testing for Hepatitis Delta in Spain: Results From the Retrospective Phase of the Spain-DDR Study Alberola, Ana; De-Salazar, Adolfo; Fuentes, Ana; Carracedo, Raquel; Illescas-lopez, Marta; Rodríguez-Baños, María-del-Carmen; Freyre, Carolina; Becerril, Berta; Viciana, Isabel; López-rodriguez, Inmaculada; Montiel, Natalia; Domínguez-Castaño, Ana-María; Luzón-García, María-Pilar; Ramírez-Arellano, Encarnación; Liébana-martos, Carmen; Franco-Álvarez-de-Luna, Francisco; Lozano, María-del-Carmen; Palop, Begona; Sampedro, Antonio; Pérez, Ana-Belén; Algarate, Sonia; Rojo-Alba, Susana; Fraile, Pablo; Ocete, Dolores; Alcaraz, María-Jesús; Rodríguez, Juan-Carlos; Hernández-Felices, Francisco-Javier; Martínez, Olalla; Domínguez, Victoria; Orta, Nieves; Gómez, Dolores; Cortell, Carmen; Camacho, Jorge; Sabater, Susana; Iglesias-Sánchez, Luis-Ángel; Martin, Yasmina; Vallejo, Aldara; Molina, Lourdes; Aroca, María; Castro, Beatriz; Lara, Magdalena; Pena, María-José; Rodríguez-fernández, Ana; González-Praetorius, Alejandro; Blas, José-Joaquín; Beteta, Alicia; Gómez, Cesar; Rodríguez, María-José; Illescas, Soledad; Abreu, Melanie; García-Díez, Julio; Beltran, Inocencio; Sandoval-Torrientes, Marta; Sáez, Ruth; Martín, Teresa; Tajada-Alegre, Pilar; Lorenzo, Belén; García-Valero, María-Teresa; Jiménez-Sansegundo, Isabel; García-de-Cruz, Susana; Garcinuno, Sonsoles; Saiz, Miguel-Ángel; Muñoz, Santiago; Fernández, Isabel; Lorenzo-Juanes, Helena-Miriam; Vidal-Acuña, María-Reyes; Moldes, Luz-María; Calvo, Noelia; Trigo, Matilde; Gude, María-José; Ordonez, Patricia; Cortizo, Sandra; Blasco, Miriam; Sigcha, Mayra; Falcés, Iker; Galan, Juan-Carlos; Arribi, Ana; Alonso, Roberto; Iborra-Bendicho, María-Asunción; del-Amor-Espín, María-Jesús; Cascales-Alcolea, Eva; Pérez-Pardo, Cayetano; Fernández, Pablo; Navarro-Martínez, María-Dolores; Núñez-Trigueros, María-Luz; Galán-Ros, Jorge; Gil-gallardo, Luis-Javier; Miqueleiz, Ana; Reina, Gabriel; Elorduy, Luis; Macho, Mikele; Gómez, Carmen; Liendo, Paloma; Salicio, Yolanda; Aguilera, Antonio; García, Federico BACKGROUND: Hepatitis delta virus accelerates liver disease progression in chronic hepatitis B, yet remains underdiagnosed. Guidelines recommend double reflex diagnostic testing with antibody testing followed by viral load testing, but uptake remains inconsistent. AIMS: To evaluate double reflex diagnostic implementation in Spain during the retrospective phase of the Spain Double Reflex Diagnostic study. METHODS: Nationwide, multicenter retrospective analysis of individuals positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (2022-2024) from 80 centers. Laboratory data included hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis delta virus antibody and hepatitis delta virus viral load. Uptake rates, hepatitis delta virus antibody positivity, viral load confirmation and viral load-confirmed prevalence were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Among 65,763 individuals positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis delta virus antibody testing uptake increased from 55.1% (54.4-55.8) in 2022 (n = 18,986) to 72.5% (71.9-73.1) in 2023 (n = 22,463) and 85.8% (85.1-86.4) in 2024 (n = 24,314; p < 0.0001). Antibody positivity remained stable (5.6%, 4.9%, 5.3%). Viral load confirmation among antibody-positive patients improved from 72.6% in 2022 to 90.8% in 2023 and 91.0% in 2024. Viral load-confirmed prevalence among antibody-positive individuals was 40.3% in 2022, 31.6% in 2023, and 30.1% in 2024. Regional heterogeneity was marked, with several autonomous communities achieving near-universal uptake (> 95%). CONCLUSION: Between 2022 and 2024, double reflex diagnostic implementation expanded rapidly, demonstrating national feasibility and describing hepatitis D virus seroprevalence. However, regional inequities persist. Sustained uptake will require standardised reflex protocols, harmonization of viral load assays and continuous training to reduce underdiagnosis and improve care of coinfected patients.