Social networks help chronic patients not to abandon his treatment.

Lleida, February 2012. Social media in the field of health (health 2.0) help to take control of chronic patients, diabetic or hypertensive, and that they comply with the recommendations of health professionals. Thus agree that different works presented in the day update on Cardiovascular risk factors organized by the Santa Maria Hospital of Lleida in collaboration with the Catalan society d ’ Hipertensió Arterial, open forum for health professionals involved in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

A study published in January in the journal International Journal of Medical Informatics describes the potential of social networks of patients, families and professionals health in diseases of long duration: increase the adherence to the treatment and care that these patients in self-management of your health ”, according to the authors, Institute of public health of the University of Twente in the Netherlands. These findings confirm those obtained in previous research with diabetic patients published in the Journal of Health Communication Magazine, he claimed social networks that connect chronic patients with relatives and friends offer positive results of adherence to treatment and medication; as well as in the evolution of the disease ”. Also concluded that these patients experience clear improvements emotional and conduct, which accrues an improvement of their State of health ”.

Diabetes is a chronic disease with more tools for monitoring by health professionals and patients via the Internet and mobile devices, highlights the Coordinator of the seminar, Dr. Jacint Cabau, cardiologist of the Hospital de Santa Maria. Among them is TuAnalyze, where patients can publish their haemoglobin levels and feed an interactive map where to reflect the trends of this disease worldwide. Diabetes as TuDiabetes.org or Estudiadiabetes.org social networks have tens of thousands of members and are present in almost all countries.

However, other cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, still have a long way to go ”, adds Dr. Mònica Moro, e-business group manager Menarini, rapporteur for the day. “In your opinion, could use the experience with efforts to control that already work for diabetics to other chronic disorders such as hypertension”. Many hypertensive patients are unaware that they are (masked hypertension) and about half of those diagnosed leaves the treatment during the first year, according to the Spanish society of Hipertensión-Liga Spanish for the fight against Arterial hypertension. Non-compliance is greater in the recommended higiénico-dietéticas measures: 85%. “Take advantage of the tools available in environments of health 2.0 and hypertension can contribute to reducing these figures,” adds Dr. Moro.

Another possibility in health 2.0, in primary care, according to doctor Cabau, is “interact with other professionals and patients to collect data transferred by the chronically ill to help detect trends and patterns for research and the discovery of new therapies ”.

“Pediatricians ilerdenses

In Pediatrics, teamwork over the network is working in Lleida to the Group Pediatres de Ponent. One of its coordinators, Dr. Ramón Capdevila, who presents his experience on the day, pointed out that medical or health information flows today in a very agile manner and ceases to be the monopoly of a few editorials or specialists ”. In his view, is more frequent parents to attend the consultation of Pediatrics with lot of information have been gathered on the Internet but pediatricians must be able to teach our patients to find, choose and save that information ”, concludes. This work of the online information filter may not correspond to a doctor on an individual basis, pointed out another of the speakers, Dr. Clara Benedict, Center Health El Greco of Getafe, Madrid, but collective. Dr. Benedict launched last year a blog aimed at analysing the 12 challenges and most widespread concerns among family physicians, with the aim of stimulate discussion and revitalize the PA in Spain ”. These challenges include attention to the immigrant patient, the humanization of medicine and work on computer, among others. Networking has allowed, notes, “debate will enrich and improve the assistance”.

In addition to these interventions, two round tables are scheduled. The first on Arterial hypertension, involving Dr. Angela Felip and Dr. Ernest Vinyoles, President and Vice-President of the Catalan society of Arterial hypertension, respectively. The second round table will be charge of the doctor Xavier Pintó, head of the unit of Vascular risk of the Hospital of Bellbitge, who will address the treatment of dyslipemias.