Objectives: To find how much the detection of two factors of cardiovascular risk, over-consumption of alcohol and anti-tetanus vaccination, has been incorporated into clinical practice in the treatment of adults in the primary care reform; and to what extent the objectives on these questions of the Health Plan for Catalonia 1993-1995 were met.
Design: A descriptive crossover study of a sample of primary care clinical histories (PCCHs).
Patients: A random sample of 3000 PCCHs of patients aged 15 and over attended during 1995 in the Health Districts in Catalonia which had been in operation for over three years.
Measurements and main results: The following data were obtained from the PCCHs: patients' age and sex, whether blood pressure values were recorded, cholesterol levels, glucose levels, weight, size, tobacco habit, alcohol consumption, antitetanus vaccination and explicit documentation of diagnoses in relation to risk factors studied. The results showed that recording was above the level established in the Plan for cholesterol levels (64.4%), glucose levels (72.1%) and tobacco habit (66.5%); and slightly below, for blood pressure (57.8%) and alcohol consumption (9.6%). Among the youngest of the target population, detection was less common, especially for tobacco habit and alcohol consumption. Antitetanus vaccinations were recorded in 24.3% of the PCCHs.
Conclusions: In general the objectives set in the plan have been reached. The detection of cardiovascular risk factors and over-consumption of alcohol was adequate for the target population groups established. Antitetanus vaccination is the preventive activity with the least compliance.