Gaceta sanitaria
-
To evaluate the readability of the informed consent documents (ICD) used in the health centers of Asturias (Spain) with the aim of verifying whether the ICD are understandable and sufficient as a vehicle of information to empower patients to participate in decisions related to their diagnosis and treatment. ⋯ ICD written in Spanish achieved low readability scores in the Flesch index and require corrective measures. Three quarters of the ICD were acceptable due to the use of simple sentences in the text. We believe that readability indexes should be used when drafting or improving informed consent documents.
-
As tuberculosis control programs have reached acceptable levels in the identification and treatment of persons with active tuberculosis, the next step should be to develop methods of preventing new cases. Persons with latent tuberculosis infection (LTI) are considered to have a higher risk of developing active tuberculosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of LTI and its associated factors in the contacts of tuberculosis patients. ⋯ The overall prevalence of LTI in the contacts of patients with tuberculosis was high. Among the factors studied, delayed treatment in the index case was independently associated with the frequency of LTI in tuberculosis contacts. Measures for the early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis should be intensified.