Services In Spain Research Articles

Remote Interpreting in Spain after the Irruption of COVID-19: A Mapping Exercise

Remote interpreting, particularly telephone interpreting, was implemented in Spain less than 20 years ago and, since then, it has become increasingly common. Its use has even increased during the last months, due to COVID-19 circumstances and the subsequent growth of telecommuting. This paper aims at mapping remote interpreting services in Spain. With that purpose, structured qualitative interviews were conducted with representatives of the six main Spanish companies offering these services. The results show a diffusion of telephone interpreting across the country and an incipient presence of video-link interpreting. Nevertheless, more attention to quality performance and working conditions should be paid.
 Keywords: Telephone interpreting, Video-link interpreting, Mapping, Qualitative interviews, Spain

Sustainable and Nutritional Recommendations for the Development of Menus by School Food Services in Spain.

Recommendations for the development of school menus can promote healthier, more sustainable food systems. In Spain, these recommendations depend on regional governments (Autonomous Communities-CCAAs) that develop their own guides. The objective of this study was to explore the nutritional and sustainability recommendations for the development of menus by school food services in Spain. Guides were reviewed that were available on the official web pages of the councils of health and education. Twenty-four variables were studied and organized into three categories: characteristics, nutritional recommendations and sustainability. The number of recommendations included in each guide was counted. The weekly frequency of the suggested food provision for each food group was calculated, as was the average, median, standard deviation, confidence interval and interquartile index. Overall, 13 guides were reviewed from different CCAAs. All of them included at least three of the nutritional recommendations, two suggested restrictions in the provision of foods with high quantities of salt and six suggested restrictions in foods with high levels of trans and saturated fats and sugars. All except one guide recommended the weekly provision of foods by food group: protein-rich foods (n = 8), cereals and root vegetables (n = 6), vegetables (n = 5.2) and fruit (n = 4.3). Of the eight criteria for sustainability studied, nine guides included one or none. Guides for the provision of meals at school in Spain promote the incorporation of healthy foods; however, they rarely restrict foods with high levels of fat, salt and sugar, and the promotion of food sustainability is only just beginning. These guides should be reviewed and updated to include recommendations that promote healthy and sustainable food systems.

Trends in cardiovascular care in the National Health System in Spain. Data from the RECALCAR project 2011-2020

Introduction and objectivesThe RECALCAR project (Resources and Quality in Cardiology), an initiative of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, aims to standardize information to generate evidence on cardiovascular health outcomes. The objective of this study was to analyze trends in the resources and activity of cardiology units and/or services and to identify the results of cardiovascular care during the last decade in Spain. MethodsThe study was based on the 2 annual data sources of the RECALCAR project: a survey on resources and activity of cardiology units and/or services (2011-2020) and the minimum data set of the National Health System (2011-2019), referring to heart failure (HF), STEMI, and non-STEMI. ResultsThe survey included 70% of cardiology units and/or services in Spain. The number of hospital beds and length of stay decreased, while there was a notable increase in the number of cardiac imaging studies and percutaneous therapeutic procedures performed. Age- and sex-adjusted admissions for HF tended to decrease, despite an increase in mortality and the percentage of readmissions. In contrast, the trend in mortality and readmissions was highly favorable in STEMI; in non-STEMI, although positive, the trend was less marked. ConclusionsThe information provided by the RECALCAR project shows a favorable trend in the last decade in resources, activity and results of certain cardiovascular processes and constitutes an essential source for future improvements and decision-making in health policy.

Description of the experience of a clinical ethics consultation service from 2019 to 2021

IntroductionClinical ethics consultation services (CEC) are useful model for ethical counselling, albeit with scarce implementation in European countries. This article shares the experience of one of the first ethics consultation services in Spain. Materials and methodsThis work is a retrospective, observational study of all consultations received by the CEC service at La Princesa University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2021. The demographic, logistic, and ethical variables of the cases were analyzed. ResultsA total of 63 cases were analyzed in which a total of 124 ethical conflicts were identified. Forty-one percent of the cases (n = 26) were emergency consultations and 38% (n = 24) were preferential inquiries. An initial evaluation was performed with 24 h in 50 cases (79%). The department that consulted most often was the Intensive Care Unit (9; 14%). The preferred contact methods were via pager (36; 57%), the electronic medical record system (13; 21%), or direct conversations with consulting team (7; 11%). The most common ethical conflicts were those related to the adequacy of treatment measures (24; 19%), refusal of treatment (19; 15%), communication with the patient or his/her family (29; 23%), or the patient's capacity (13; 11%). ConclusionCEC services provide quick, efficient assistance for resolving ethical problems in daily practice. Their implementation in Spain is feasible.

Evolución de la asistencia cardiovascular en el Sistema Nacional de Salud de España. Datos del proyecto RECALCAR 2011-2020

Introduction and objectivesThe RECALCAR project (Resources and Quality in Cardiology), an initiative of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, aims to standardize information to generate evidence on cardiovascular health outcomes. The objective of this study was to analyze trends in the resources and activity of cardiology units and/or services and to identify the results of cardiovascular care during the last decade in Spain. MethodsThe study was based on the 2 annual data sources of the RECALCAR project: a survey on resources and activity of cardiology units and/or services (2011-2020) and the minimum data set of the National Health System (2011-2019), referring to heart failure (HF), STEMI, and non-STEMI. ResultsThe survey included 70% of cardiology units and/or services in Spain. The number of hospital beds and length of stay decreased, while there was a notable increase in the number of cardiac imaging studies and percutaneous therapeutic procedures performed. Age- and sex-adjusted admissions for HF tended to decrease, despite an increase in mortality and the percentage of readmissions. In contrast, the trend in mortality and readmissions was highly favorable in STEMI; in non-STEMI, although positive, the trend was less marked. ConclusionsThe information provided by the RECALCAR project shows a favorable trend in the last decade in resources, activity and results of certain cardiovascular processes and constitutes an essential source for future improvements and decision-making in health policy.Full English text available from:www.revespcardiol.org/en

Descripción de la experiencia de un servicio de consultoría en ética clínica en el período 2019-2021

IntroductionClinical ethics consultation services (CEC) are useful model for ethical counselling, albeit with scarce implementation in European countries. This article shares the experience of one of the first ethics consultation services in Spain. Materials and methodsThis work is a retrospective, observational study of all consultations received by the CEC service at La Princesa University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2021. The demographic, logistic, and ethical variables of the cases were analyzed. ResultsA total of 63 cases were analyzed in which a total of 124 ethical conflicts were identified. Forty-one percent of the cases (n=26) were emergency consultations and 38% (n=24) were preferential inquiries. An initial evaluation was performed with 24hours in 50 cases (79%). The department that consulted most often was the Intensive Care Unit (9; 14%). The preferred contact methods were via pager (36; 57%), the electronic medical record system (13; 21%), or direct conversations with consulting team (7; 11%). The most common ethical conflicts were those related to the adequacy of treatment measures (24; 19%), refusal of treatment (19; 15%), communication with the patient or his/her family (29; 23%), or the patient's capacity (13; 11%). ConclusionCEC services provide quick, efficient assistance for resolving ethical problems in daily practice. Their implementation in Spain is feasible.

Reducing Unnecessary Treatment of Bronchiolitis Across a Large Regional Health Service in Spain.

A bronchiolitis integrated care pathway (BICP) proved useful in reducing the use of unnecessary medications at a local level. The aim of this study was to reduce overtreatment by scaling up the BICP across our regional health service in the 2019 and 2020 bronchiolitis season. We conducted a quality improvement (QI) initiative in 115 primary care (PC) centers and 7 hospitals in the Basque Country, Spain, from October 2019 to March 2020. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of children prescribed salbutamol comparing the rate to that in the previous bronchiolitis season (October 2018-March 2019). Secondary outcomes were the use of other medications. Balancing measures were hospitalization and unscheduled return rates. We included 8153 PC visits, 3424 emergency department (ED) attendances, and 663 inpatient care episodes, of which 3817 (46.8%), 1614 (47.1%), and 328 (49.4%) occurred in the postintervention period, respectively. Salbutamol use decreased from 27.1% to 4.7%, 29.5% to 3.0%, and 44.4% to 3.9% (P < .001) in PC centers, Eds, and hospital wards, respectively. In PC, corticosteroid and antibiotic prescribing rates fell from 10.1% to 1.7% and 13.7% to 5.1%, respectively (P < .001). In EDs and hospital wards, epinephrine use rates fell from 14.2% to 4.2% (P < .001) and 30.4% to 19.8% (P = .001), respectively. No variations were noted in balancing measures. The scaling up of the BICP was associated with significant decreases in the use of medications in managing bronchiolitis across a regional health service without unintended consequences.

Assessment of the treatment needs of community recovery Services in Spain: From the perspective of service users, families, and mental health professionals.

Profile of Community Recovery Services users has changed over the years and has become more diverse. To explore the evolution of treatment needs, this study aimed to identify users' needs, from the point of view of different agents implicated in the recovery process. We explored the consistency between the agents using the focus group technique. We defined four groups (n=58): service users, family members, professionals, and referring professionals. We pre-identified topics related to recovery, such as illness-related losses, imaginary of CRS, expectations, activities, and life goals. All agents recognised losses related to the mental illness, the need for carrying activities out of the Community Recovery Services, and for including families in the recovery process. The groups differed in some areas, such as the identification of activities that should be encouraged, or the importance of promoting vital expectations. Our findings suggest that it is important to identify the needs of different agents involved in the recovery process. There is consistency in the service users' needs, but there are some differences that need to be considered. Interventions should be personalised, covering functional, cognitive, and relational losses related to the mental illness.

The Spanish and Italian Healthcare Professionals' Contribution to the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire Short Form in the Operating Room: Construct Validity and Reliability.

The aims of the study are to determine the construct validity and reliability of the Spanish and Italian versions of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire Short Form and to study the capability of this scale of distinguishing between different countries, types of healthcare professionals, and attitudes around patient safety. This was a cross-sectional study of the scale among registered nurses, surgeons, and anesthetists providing direct patient care at surgical inpatient units within public health services in Spain (Sistema Nacional de Salud) and Italy (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale). Construct validity, in both countries, was firstly assessed by exploratory factor analysis. Then, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, and finally an assessment was performed by means of hypothesis testing. The reliability of the scale was calculated using Cronbach α coefficient. A total of 499 healthcare professionals completed the questionnaire (Spain, n = 183; Italy, n = 316). The questionnaire showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.85). An exploratory factor analysis identified a new factor model of the scale. The confirmatory factor analysis performed on this new model reflected the fair dimensionality of the construct (χ2 = 1193.63, root mean square error of approximation < 0.05, standardized root mean square residual < 0.08; nonnormed fit index, comparative fit index, incremental fit index, and goodness of fit index values = 0.90, indicating a good fit). This study provides scientific evidence of the construct validity and reliability of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire Short Form in both Spain and Italy, showing the capability of this scale of distinguishing between different countries, types of healthcare professionals, and attitudes around patient safety.

What fuels suboptimal care of peripheral intravenous catheter-related infections in hospitals? A qualitative study of decision-making among Spanish nurses

BackgroundPeripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) are commonly used in hospital worldwide. However, PIVC are not exempt from complications. Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) increase morbidity and mortality rates, and costs for the healthcare organization. PIVC care is shaped by the complex mix of professional and organizational culture, such as knowledge gaps, low perception of impact of PIVCs on patient safety, or lack of hospital guidelines.AimTo explore determinants of decision-making about the prevention of PIVC-BSI among nurses in Spanish hospitals.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive qualitative study with semi-structured interviews in three public hospitals, the Balearic Islands Health Care Service in Spain. We considered hospital ward nurses working routinely with inpatients at any of the three hospitals for enrolment in the study. We approached relevant informants to identify suitable participants who recruited other participants through a ‘snowball’ technique. Fourteen inpatient nurses from the hospital took part in this study between September and November 2018. We employed several triangulation strategies to underpin the methodological rigour of our analysis and conducted the member checking, showing the information and codes applied in the recording of the interviews to identify the coherence and any discrepancies of the discourse by participants. We used the COREQ checklist for this study.FindingsWe identified four major themes in the analysis related to determinants of care: The fog of decision-making in PIVC; The taskification of PIVC care; PIVC care is accepted to be suboptimal, yet irrelevant; and chasms between perceived determinants of poor PIVC care and its solutions.ConclusionThe clinical management of PIVCs appear ambiguous, unclear, and fragmented, with no clear professional responsibility and no nurse leadership, causing a gap in preventing infections. Furthermore, the perception of low risk on PIVC care impact can cause a relevant lack of adherence to the best evidence and patient safety. Implementing facilitation strategies could improve the fidelity of the best available evidence regarding PIVC care and raise awareness among nurses of impact that excellence of care.

ENTREN-F family-system based intervention for managing childhood obesity: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial at primary care

BackgroundPediatric obesity is a primary public health concern, and designing effective programs for managing it is of the utmost importance. The objective of this study was to describe the protocol study of a three-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial aimed at assessing the efficacy of a family-system-based intervention (“ENTREN-F” program) for managing childhood obesity, compared to the “ENTREN” program (no “F” - without specific family-system-based workshop) and a control group (behavioral monitoring). Methods/designThe ENTREN-F program was a multicomponent family-system-based intervention carried out by a multidisciplinary team in the primary health care setting. The program targeted children between 8 and 12 years with overweight and obesity (P ≥ 85th). Parents were actively involved in the process. The contents were designed using the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles. The program comprised individual behavioral monitoring, a healthy habits workshop for children and their parents, a CBT workshop for children, and a family-system-based workshop for parents, enhancing parental management skills plus family functioning. The trial’s primary outcomes included changes in child body mass index (BMI) z-scores, child’s psychological well-being, and family functioning over six months. Secondary outcomes included changes in eating behavior, physical activity, self-esteem, parental distress, parental feeding practices, and parental modeling. DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is one of the few randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of a multicomponent program that considers health from a comprehensive perspective, trying to improve children’s psychological well-being and family functioning besides weight loss. This study, therefore, addresses a gap in the literature. If found to be efficacious, it suggests a new potential health service for translation into National Primary Health Care services in Spain, one of the ten countries with the highest prevalence of obesity in Europe.

Meanings of Loneliness for Women Using Social Services in Spain: An Intersectional Analysis

Loneliness and social isolation are widely recognized problems facing society. Women in situations of economic and social vulnerability are particularly impacted by loneliness. Yet, we know less about the intersectional dimensions of women’s experiences. The study, carried out in Basque Country (Spain) used phenomenological interviews and non-random sampling ( N = 8) to explore the subjective experiences of loneliness among women clients at community social services using an intersectional approach as an analytical strategy. Intersectionality theory provides insight into how different forms of marginalization intersect to shape the experiences of loneliness of women with high social disadvantages. Among other aspects, the study explores the intersection of loneliness with different variables such as gender, socio-economic and residential inequality, migratory status, as well as physical or mental health problems. The results yielded four themes associated with the loneliness of women, with an interweaving of gender in different axes of exclusion: loneliness and unfulfilled need for meaningful relationships; vulnerability to situations of violence suffered during life; social and economic inequality and responsibility for care; and multiple stigma and discrimination. From a practical perspective, this study identifies policy implications that can be used by social workers to understand and mitigate women’s loneliness in community social services.

Women and Covid-19. The Perspective of Spanish Female Social Workers during the First Wave of the Pandemic

This paper aims to analyse the impact of Covid-19 on women professionals in social services in Spain and to determine which variables may have affected them to a greater or lesser extent. The consequences of the pandemic are not gender-neutral, so it is particularly relevant to know the perspective of this highly feminised professional group, which continued to carry out its essential activity during the hardest moments of the pandemic. For this purpose, a sample of 466 women professionals in the sector was obtained in fieldwork carried out between 1 and 19 April 2020. The results showed that social workers perceived great difficulty in continuing to carry out their functions in this context, as well as a notorious affectation both personally and professionally, with the youngest, those with the least seniority in the organisation and those with dependent children being the most affected in some of the different aspects analysed.

Frailty and prognosis of older patients with chronic heart failure

Introduction and objectivesHeart failure (HF) is prevalent in advanced ages. Our objective was to assess the impact of frailty on 1-year mortality in older patients with ambulatory HF. MethodsOur data come from the FRAGIC study (Spanish acronym for “Study of the impact of frailty and other geriatric syndromes on the clinical management and prognosis of elderly outpatients with heart failure”), a multicenter prospective registry conducted in 16 Spanish hospitals including outpatients ≥ 75 years with HF followed up by cardiology services in Spain. ResultsWe included 499 patients with a mean age of 81.4±4.3 years, of whom 193 (38%) were women. A total of 268 (54%) had left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, and 84.6% was in NYHA II functional class. The FRAIL scale identified 244 (49%) pre-frail and 111 (22%) frail patients. Frail patients were significantly older, were more frequently female (both, P <.001), and had higher comorbidity according to the Charlson index (P=.017) and a higher prevalence of geriatric syndromes (P <.001). During a median follow-up of 371 [361-387] days, 58 patients (11.6%) died. On multivariate analysis (Cox regression model), frailty detected with the FRAIL scale was marginally associated with mortality (HR=2.35; 95%CI, 0.96-5.71; P=.059), while frailty identified by the visual mobility scale was an independent predictor of mortality (HR=2.26; 95%CI, 1.16-4.38; P=.015); this association was maintained after adjustment for confounding variables (HR=2.13; 95%CI, 1.08-4.20; P=.02). ConclusionsIn elderly outpatients with HF, frailty is independently associated with mortality at 1 year of follow-up. It is essential to identify frailty as part of the comprehensive approach to elderly patients with HF.

Encuesta del Grupo de Trabajo de Cirugía Radioguiada (GTCRG) de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Nuclear e Imagen Molecular (SEMNIM): localización radioguiada de lesiones no palpables de mama con o sin indicación de biopsia selectiva de ganglio centinela: ROLL, SNOLL y semillas de 125I

ObjectiveTo know the current status of the technique of radioguided localisation of non-palpable breast lesions with or without indication for selective sentinel node biopsy -ROLL, SNOLL and 125I seeds- by conducting a national survey developed by the Working Group on Radioguided Surgery (GTCRG) of the Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SEMNIM). Material and methodsIn October 2020, the form was sent in digital format to the different nuclear medicine services in Spain. A response time of 2months with an overtime of 15 days was given. The number of ROLL/SNOLL procedures in each centre and the methodology used were obtained, including important technical details. In addition, a specific section on 125I seeds was included. The results were automatically downloaded into an Excel 2007 spreadsheet for subsequent analysis with the same program. ResultsThe survey was answered by 55 centres; 21 use wire-guided localisation while the remaining 34 use different radioguided surgery techniques (RGS) for the localisation of non-palpable breast lesions, with the results itemized into thirteen sections. The commonly used tracer dose is 111 MBq for the ROLL technique and 222 MBq for the SNOLL technique, with a volume of 0.2ml. The most common protocol is the two-day protocol. 26% of centres performing CRG use 125I seeds for both breast lesion and suspicious/pathological node detection, with the time between implantation and removal being about 3 days, with subsequent radiological control in most cases. ConclusionThe survey shows the relevance of radioguided surgery in the management of breast cancer patients at different stages of the disease, with disparity in the implementation of new techniques and tools, which responds to the multiple healthcare realities of Nuclear Medicine services.

Survey of the Radioguided Surgery Working Group (GTCRG-RGSWG) of the Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SEMNIM): Radioguided localization of non-palpable breast lesions with or without indication for selective sentinel node biopsy: ROLL, SNOLL and 125I seeds

ObjectiveTo know the current status of the technique of radioguided localisation of non-palpable breast lesions with or without indication for selective sentinel node biopsy -ROLL, SNOLL and 125I seeds- by conducting a national survey developed by the Working Group on Radioguided Surgery (GTCRG) of the Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SEMNIM). Material and methodsIn October 2020, the form was sent in digital format to the different nuclear medicine services in Spain. A response time of 2 months with an overtime of 15 days was given. The number of ROLL/SNOLL procedures in each centre and the methodology used were obtained, including important technical details. In addition, a specific section on 125I seeds was included. The results were automatically downloaded into an Excel 2007 spreadsheet for subsequent analysis with the same program. ResultsThe survey was answered by 55 centres; 21 use wire-guided localisation while the remaining 34 use different radioguided surgery techniques (RGS) for the localisation of non-palpable breast lesions, with the results itemized into thirteen sections. The commonly used tracer dose is 111 MBq for the ROLL technique and 222 MBq for the SNOLL technique, with a volume of 0.2 ml. The most common protocol is the two-day protocol. 26% of centres performing CRG use 125I seeds for both breast lesion and suspicious/pathological node detection, with the time between implantation and removal being about 3 days, with subsequent radiological control in most cases. ConclusionThe survey shows the relevance of radioguided surgery in the management of breast cancer patients at different stages of the disease, with disparity in the implementation of new techniques and tools, which responds to the multiple healthcare realities of Nuclear Medicine services.

Perceived Quality of Training in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Spanish Rheumatology Services.

Ultrasound has been included in the training of residents in rheumatology in recent years, as a result of its increased use in daily clinical practice. Our objective is to evaluate the perceived quality of ultrasound training of residents in rheumatology services in Spain. Online survey aimed at rheumatologists who began their training in rheumatology between 2009 and 2019. One hundred thirty-nine rheumatologists participated in the survey, of which 97.1% had at least one ultrasound machine in their training centre. Up to 51.1% performed a rotation in ultrasound and 56% had an ultrasound consultation. Access to SER courses was high (87.8%) while access to EULAR courses was limited (17.3%) and up to 69.1% of residents did not complete the competency accreditation. Training in evaluation of inflammatory joint activity, entheses and microcrystalline diseases received the highest scores. Evaluation of ultrasound training during the residency was good in 36% of cases, fair in 28.1%, poor in 18% and excellent in 12.9%. Of those surveyed, 88% consider their clinical practice as a rheumatologist to have improved. Most residents have performed ultrasound rotations. Participation in SER ultrasound courses is high and moderate in EULAR courses, while only a minority completed the competency accreditation. The overall degree of satisfaction with training in ultrasound during residency is good and, in the opinion of residents, contributes to the improvement of their skills as rheumatologists.

Fragilidad y pronóstico de los pacientes mayores con insuficiencia cardiaca

Introduction and objectivesHeart failure (HF) is prevalent in advanced ages. Our objective was to assess the impact of frailty on 1-year mortality in older patients with ambulatory HF. MethodsOur data come from the FRAGIC study (Spanish acronym for “Study of the impact of frailty and other geriatric syndromes on the clinical management and prognosis of elderly outpatients with heart failure”), a multicenter prospective registry conducted in 16 Spanish hospitals including outpatients ≥ 75 years with HF followed up by cardiology services in Spain. ResultsWe included 499 patients with a mean age of 81.4±4.3 years, of whom 193 (38%) were women. A total of 268 (54%) had left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, and 84.6% was in NYHA II functional class. The FRAIL scale identified 244 (49%) pre-frail and 111 (22%) frail patients. Frail patients were significantly older, were more frequently female (both, P <.001), and had higher comorbidity according to the Charlson index (P=.017) and a higher prevalence of geriatric syndromes (P <.001). During a median follow-up of 371 [361-387] days, 58 patients (11.6%) died. On multivariate analysis (Cox regression model), frailty detected with the FRAIL scale was marginally associated with mortality (HR=2.35; 95%CI, 0.96-5.71; P=.059), while frailty identified by the visual mobility scale was an independent predictor of mortality (HR=2.26; 95%CI, 1.16-4.38; P=.015); this association was maintained after adjustment for confounding variables (HR=2.13; 95%CI, 1.08-4.20; P=.02). ConclusionsIn elderly outpatients with HF, frailty is independently associated with mortality at 1 year of follow-up. It is essential to identify frailty as part of the comprehensive approach to elderly patients with HF.

Discovering Key Topics in Emergency Medical Dispatch from Free Text Dispatcher Observations.

The objective of this work was to discover key topics latent in free text dispatcher observations registered during emergency medical calls. We used a total of 1374931 independent retrospective cases from the Valencian emergency medical dispatch service in Spain, from 2014 to 2019. Text fields were preprocessed to reduce vocabulary size and filter noise, removing accent and punctuation marks, along with uninformative and infrequent words. Key topics were inferred from the multinomial probabilities over words conditioned on each topic from a Latent Dirichlet Allocation model, trained following an online mini-batch variational approach. The optimal number of topics was set analyzing the values of a topic coherence measure, based on the normalized pointwise mutual information, across multiple validation K-folds. Our results support the presence of 15 key topics latent in free text dispatcher observations, related with: ambulance request; chest pain and heart attack; respiratory distress; head falls and blows; fever, chills, vomiting and diarrhea; heart failure; syncope; limb injuries; public service body request; thoracic and abdominal pain; stroke and blood pressure abnormalities; pill intake; diabetes; bleeding; consciousness. The discovery of these topics implies the automatic characterization of a huge volume of complex unstructured data containing relevant information linked to emergency medical call incidents. Hence, results from this work could lead to the update of structured emergency triage algorithms to directly include this latent information in the triage process, resulting in a positive impact in patient wellbeing and health services sustainability.

The Antimilitarist Campaign against Compulsory Military Service in Spain during the 1970s and 1980s

The present article focuses on the political and social influence of the antimilitarist movement in Spain during the 1970s and 1980s. The article shows how throughout the 1970s the issue of conscientious objection became part of a wider context of struggle for the individual and collective rights and freedoms the Francoist dictatorship denied the Spanish population, achieving an important political impact by concentrating its action on Spain's external image. Throughout the following decade, the antimilitarist movement grew within a context of large-scale mobilisations and public debate around pacifism and antimilitarism, on the occasion of the referendum on Spain's permanence in NATO. The most important campaign was that of resistance both to military service and the alternative social service, the so-called insumisión.