[Utility of an information system for primary care].
OBJECTIVE
To know the usefulness and applicability of an information system for basic health areas put into operation 16 years ago.


METHODS
Descriptive study of selected indicators registered in 1994 and 2004.


METHODS
Basic health areas of Barcelona, Spain.


METHODS
Population living in Barcelona, Spain, during 1994 and 2004.


METHODS
The following indicators were described, and standardized taking the Barcelona 2004 population as reference: proportion of foreign population, proportion of unemployment, number of mothers less than 20 years old, AIDS incidence rate, tuberculosis incidence rate, and traffic accident, ischaemic disease, lung cancer (for men), breast cancer (for women), and total mortality rates. Results were presented for one basic health area, its corresponding district, and Barcelona. Moreover, users of the information system were interviewed about their level of knowledge, and the adequacy, usefulness, and limitations of the system.


RESULTS
Disaggregated annual information allows comparing indicators between different fields and years. The information system was found useful to users to describe the level of health of the community and to design preventive interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some of the indicators did not show the desired level of accuracy, the information system for basic health areas showed to be useful to know the level of health of the population assigned to primary healthcare teams.
Grau
María
M
Servei de Sistemes d'Informació Sanitària, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
García-Altés
Anna
A
Pasarín
M Isabel
MI
Arribas
Pere
P
Borrell
Carme
C
Brugal
Teresa
T
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology