Collection: Revista Chilena de Medicina Familiar

Introduction: Approximately 14,000 people died in Chile because of smoking related diseases in 2002. Tobacco companies affirm that smokers know about the smoking health risks. However, medical evidence concludes the opposite. Objectives: To study the level of knowledge and the personal risk perception of smoking related diseases in a group of current smokers in Santiago. Methods: A voluntary survey was administered by trained interviewers to 251 current smokers consulting in two Family Medicine centers in Santiago, between April and June 2006. Results: 27% of respondents answered incorrectly questions about smoking health effects. 43% of respondents do not perceived a greater personal risk of cancer or acute myocardial infarction respect to other people of the same age. Conclusions: An important percentage of current smokers do not know the effects of smoking on heath and only a half of them perceive a greater personal health risk. lt is necessary to apply public health strategies in order to improve the knowledge and the personal risk perception of smoking health effects. Medical advice should be also improved.

Photoaging is considered as a group of clinical manifestations due to chronic exposure to solar ultraviolet irradiation (UV). Although it ‘spathophysiology is not totally clean reactive oxygen species are known to be generated by UV radiation causing dermic damage, as well as an augmentation in transcription of metallioproteinases (MMPs) due to radiation UV: MMPs produce damage in extracellular matrix and accumulates tissue damage; all that conducing to photoaging Multiple treatments have bemproposed to stop damagingeects  UV Amongthem, reducing skin exposure to UV radiation remains as the most importan,  followed by the use of antioxidants and treatments which moderate gene expression of MMPs. However, we are only able to diminish photoagingdamage since a specific tmatment to photoaging has not yet been found.

Equity is one of the objectives of the current health reform. For promoting equity in primary health care, the financing mechanism must adjust for the socioeconomic status of the beneficiaries. The objective of this work was to revise the current formula and propose an alternative and most accurate indicator. The current indicator of poverty (municipality ‘s financial power) shows low correlation with the information from the National Survey of Socioeconomic Status (CASEN) for 2003 (R2 = 0.38). In contrast, the Public Health Fund (FONASA) definition of poverty (Group A) shows a significant improvement (R2 = 0.59).

Cough is a respiratory reflex, or defensive mechanism, that allows to eliminate thepresentmaterial in the bronchial tree to maintain its permeability. It is chronic when itperszsts by more than 8 weeks. It has a prevalence of23% in healthy people and nonsmokers. 13% of older peoplehave chronic cough, and it is described as the mostfrequent ambulatory cansultatiorz,predominantly in women. The reason to consult is the fear to steer an oncogenk disease, also the secondary upheavals to thepersistent cough,like bad sleeping, synco and urinary incontinence in women. Thepnzsent review shows the dOrential diagnosis ofthronic cough and their management accarrlingto the consensus ofthe evidence and to the possibilities at primazy care

El término integridad profesional o profesionalismo, como suele traducirse al esañol la palabra professionalism, es el termino que designa un movimiento de carácter ético, originado en ámbitos académicos de los EE.UU. en los años ochenta, por el que se definen los rasgos esenciales del buen hacer de la profesión médica. Abarca aspectos aspectos como la reflexión sobre los valores de la profesión, la actuación profesional (praxis) correcta y las implicaciones curriculares en pre y post grado.

El uso de corticoides en el manejo agudo de la parálisis facial periférica no muestra mayor efectividad que placebo en la recuperación de la función motora facial a los 6 meses.

Nowadays, oral child’s health is one of our country’s priorities. Promotion of an adequate oral hygiene should be frequently discussed with patients and parents, both as primary and secondary prevention. On the other hand, even so dental caries are highly prevalent, we doctors have very little information in the subject. Consequently, we don’t get involved in the field very often. The present article is intended to review  general aspects of etiopathology of caries and what are the recommendations we shouId follow as primary care physicians to prevent them in pediatric population. The appropriate timing for stating toothbrushing or when to prescribe toothpaste are some of the aspects discussed, making an emphasis in critical appraisal of the literature.

This paper is the first of two articles, discussing Urinary Incontinence, to be published in this journal. First, we will discuss briefly some aspects related to basic physiology and physiopathology of storage and voiding, ending with a review of the main evaluation Strategies available to patients suffering from incontinence. In the second article (to be publish in the next issue of this journal), we will summarize the main aspects related to treatment options, either physical, pharmacological or surgical. Articles were written to fulfil the needs of updated medical information of family practioners.

Las organizaciones actuales, de todo tipo y naturaleza, enfrentan cada vez más un ambiente dinámico y cambiante, “cambiar o morir” es el grito de aliento entre los administradores de todo el mundo.
Los cambios están ocurriendo de forma muy rápida, asociados principalmente a la generación y difusión de nuevos conocimientos. Esto es especialmente cierto en salud, ámbito en el que para lograr impacto en los usuarios, los cambios deben ser traducidos en intervenciones concretas ajustadas a la mejor Informa disponible. Esto sitúa a la capacidad de adaptación  de 
Los cambios están ocurriendo de forma muy rápida, asociados principalmente a la generación y difusión de nuevos conocimientos. Esto es especialmente cierto en salud, ámbito en el que para lograr impacto en los usuarios, los cambios deben ser traducidos en intervenciones concretas ajustadas a la mejor Informa disponible. Esto sitúa a la capacidad de adaptación  de las organizaciones de salud como un elemento central en la sustentabilidad y el logro del cuidado de salud de las personas acorde al conocimiento disponible.