Use of a Respiratory Care Model in Population Older Than 15 Years in Orizaba, Veracruz Mexico

Background. Mexico is lacking guidelines that provide an integral approach for the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in adults. The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a "Practical Approach to Lung Health" (PAL) using generic guidelines to be used in primary health care settings for diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases. These guidelines were adapted to the Mexican context as AIRE campaign by the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico. Objective. To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a model of care for respiratory diseases in adults based on AIRE guidelines,. Materials and methods. Prospective quasi-experimental pre-post study. During 03-08/2013 (phase 1), investigators recruited consenting subjects older than 15 years of age seeking medical care in primary care centers in Orizaba, Veracruz. Researchers investigated sociodemographic, epidemiological and clinical information before consultation. On patients who had been diagnosed with respiratory disease by a physician, researchers investigated prescribed treatment on leaving the physician´s office. A month later conducted a home visit to investigate clinical outcome. During 09/2014 we trained doctors from the participating health centers in "AIRE" guidelines. From 10/2014 to 03/2015 (phase 2) researchers again surveyed all consenting subjects older than 15 years of age who received health services in the same health centers following the same procedures as in phase 1.