Suicide prevention, dysphagia and respiratory physiotherapy, leading research in 'I Dissemination Cycle IIS Aragón, Health and Science Conference'

The IIS carries out the I IIS Aragón Dissemination Cycle, Health and Science Conferences, in collaboration with the Ibercaja Foundation, with the aim of bringing its research projects closer to the public. Yesterday, five prestigious projects aimed at achieving excellence in care were presented. The following sessions will deal with the role of nurses in science (October 16) and the involvement in the health of children (November 7).

The Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) resumed yesterday its I IIS Aragón Dissemination Cycle, Health and Science Conference, in the Patio de la Infanta Fundación Ibercaja with a session entitled 'Conference on health research, in search of excellence in care'. Different researchers presented five highly prestigious projects aimed at achieving excellence in care.

The objective of this cycle is to disseminate research in care to improve people's quality of life, in addition to trying to promote a culture that brings research to daily care practice.

BPSO Project: Prevention of suicidal behavior

Leyre Ledo Belascoain, nurse specialist in Mental Health at the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital and researcher at IIS Aragón, explained the BPSO Project: Prevention of suicidal behavior. This project operates at a national level and aims to promote, facilitate and support the implementation, evaluation and maintenance of nursing practice in any environment.

As part of this project, a guide has been created, which is already implemented in the Clinical Hospital and in sector III of Zaragoza, to prevent suicidal behavior. Contains recommendations and resources so that nursing professionals can detect situations and measure the risk of suicide and know how to act in response to them implementing the necessary interventions. It also contains guidelines so that they can minimize patients' feelings of guilt. The goal is to reduce the risk of suicidal ideation and behavior and promote the safety of both the patient and the rest of the people around them.

Nutrifag Project

We swallow around 2600 times a day and 30 muscles are involved in this daily action. It is an act of great magnitude and complexity, so if it fails, complications such as dehydration and even malnutrition may arise. He spoke about it Marta Charlo Bernardos, nurse, PhD from the University of Zaragoza, training area supervisor at the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital and researcher at the IIS Aragón.

Charlo presented the Nutrifag Project: Impact of hospitalization on nutritional status and risk of dysphagia in people aged 65 or older, which aims to evaluate the risk of malnutrition and nutritional status at admission and its evolution until discharge, in patients aged 65 or older admitted to the medical and surgical hospitalization units of a tertiary hospital. Charlo pointed out that around 80% of people who suffer from dysphagia are not treated or diagnosed. He also commented that one in three hospitalized patients over 65 years of age suffers from malnutrition, which can have more complications and can even increase mortality.

Seven Autonomous Communities participate in this project, which plans to have a total of 4077 patients. Till the date, At the Clinical Hospital we have worked with 216 patients, as detailed Jessica Montero Marco, nurse, PhD from the University of Zaragoza, supervisor of the Research Unit at the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital and researcher at the IIS Aragón.

It should be noted that malnutrition in these age segments is a common problem at all levels of health care, and dysphagia is one of the main alterations associated with said risk. It is estimated that one in three patients over 65 years of age admitted to a hospital is malnourished.

Project Move It

Carlos Alejandro Rodríguez, MIR of Occupational Health of the Zaragoza III Health Sector and researcher at the IIS Aragón, and Begoña del Pilar González Pérez, MIR of Occupational Health of the Zaragoza III Health Sector and researcher at IIS Aragón, detailed the Muévelo Project: Intervention on the physical and emotional well-being of HCULB internal medicine plant workers who mobilize patients.

The objective of this project, as indicated by the researchers, is to improve working conditions and promote the health of professionals from an internal medicine unit of a tertiary hospital that regularly performs patient mobilization tasks; also analyze the factors that influence the patient mobilization process and plan and implement improvement strategies related to patient mobilization, manual load handling and maintenance of musculoskeletal well-being. Is about reduce the risk of injury to both patients and workers.

Respiratory physiotherapy project in adult patients with bronchiectasis

Beatriz Herrero Cortina is a respiratory physiotherapist, PhD from the University of Zaragoza and researcher at the IIS Aragón, and explained the Respiratory physiotherapy project in adult patients with bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis is a very prevalent chronic lung condition, which often coexist with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with this disease generally present with a continuous cough with the need to cough up secretions, as well as a feeling of shortness of breath and frequent respiratory infections. 

What can respiratory physiotherapy do for patients with bronchiectasis? Among other actions, Herrero noted: teach techniques that help eliminate bronchial secretions, implement pulmonary rehabilitation programs that seek to improve the ability to function, reduce the sensation of dyspnea and promote more active lifestyles or proceed with early mobilization to achieve weaning from the ventilator, so that patients can recover their functional status . Regarding secretion elimination techniques, Herrero explained: “We seek to empower the patient to carry out these techniques alone and thus improve their lifestyle.”

Project: Mapping of environmental risk factors related to exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in sector III of Zaragoza

Ana Anguas Gracia, nurse, PhD from the University of Zaragoza, associated professor at the University of Zaragoza and researcher at IIS Aragón, detailed the Project: Mapping of environmental risk factors related to exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in sector III of Zaragoza.

The objective is to design a map of healthy neighborhoods of the health sector III of Zaragoza so that the patients diagnosed with COPD improve their quality of life, by being able to reduce their exposure to atmospheric risk factors that cause an exacerbation of the disease. Air pollution is a sufficient environmental risk factor for the exacerbation of COPD, increasing the need for healthcare in both primary and specialized care, as well as the number of hospitalizations.

Anguas explained that in Aragon (with pre-Covid figures), COPD was the sixth cause of death for women and the fourth for men. “It is time to bet on healthy cities without forgetting anything or anyone“Anguas pointed out.

The following quotes from this cycle

The cycle will continue October 16 with the session 'Nurses in science: projects and patients that inspire', which is intended to bring closer the work of these workers who are present in caring for the population at all stages of life and who are the health agents closest to people, both in acute and chronic diseases. Showing the results of this research facilitates cooperation and enriches the relationship between professionals and citizens. On this occasion, the speakers are all nurses, each one specialized in a specific field: Luis Hijós Larraz, Paula Manero Montañés, María Alonso Esteban y Elisa Civitani Monzón.

Finally, the cycle will end on November 7th with the day'Society and research: Implication on the health of children. Can we do something during pregnancy and early childhood?' In it, the impact it has on the future health of children life habits during pregnancy, as well as the importance of nutrition, exercise and early stimulation in early childhood.

The speakers will be specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Hospital Clínico de Zaragoza, professors and researchers from the IIS Aragón, Cristina Paules and Daniel Orós; the head of the Neonatology section of the same hospital, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Zaragoza and researcher at the IIS Aragón, Gerardo Rodriguez; the specialist in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Hospital Quirón Salud, Jesus Gonzalez; the child neuropsychologist at the NeuroActivate Center, Maria Guallart Valet; and the professor of Physical Activity and Health at the University of Zaragoza, José Antonio Casajús.

Each of the sessions that make up the cycle is presented in the form of small and pleasant informative pills for the general public by health researchers and different agents who work in the field of health, with space for debate and interaction with the audience. 

All talks are free, but prior registration is required: prior: https://www.fundacionibercaja.es/actividades/ciclos-y-programas/i-ciclo-de-divulgacion-iis-aragon-jornadas-de-salud-y-ciencia-zaragoza/