Background: In 2012, 11 standards describing best supportive care (BSC) in clinical trials in advanced cancer were defined through consensus statements. The consensus included 15 key components. Our objective was to analyze whether clinical trials that involved patients with advanced cancer and that included BSC in at least 1 arm met the standards and contained the key components. Methods: We reviewed clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, the ISRCTN (International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number) registry, the EU Clinical Trials Register, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for 2012–2018. We selected only phase iii studies in patients with advanced cancer that included BSC in at least 1 arm. We describe the characteristics of the trials, together with the definition and components of BSC. We analyzed how the trials met the standards and adopted the key components of BSC. Results: Of 193 trials retrieved, only 64 met the inclusion criteria; 36 of those trials (56%) had no definition of BSC. Less than 7% of the trials included even 3 of the 8 BSC standards that were defined to be included in the design of trials. Furthermore, trials mentioned only 5 of the 15 key components that the consensus defined to be fundamental, with symptom management appearing in 22% of trials and the other 4 components appearing in less than 8%. Summary: Most clinical trials registered during 2012–2018 that involved patients with cancer and an arm with BSC did not define the BSC concept. Hence, the design of those trials does not meet the consensus recommendations.

Objective: This study describes a nurse‐led intervention aimed at improving mental health literacy (MHL), reducing stigma, and encouraging help‐seeking behaviour. Design: A quasi‐experimental design involved 578 responses ranging in age from 13 to 52 years ( M = 20.28, SD = 6.29), including secondary school pupils, nursing undergraduates, and trainee secondary school teachers. Measurements: Pre‐ and post‐intervention assessments examined a wide range of health indicators. These included six scales assessing mental health knowledge (MHLI), mental health support intentions (MHSSA), body dissatisfaction (EBIC), eating disorder risk (SCOFF), problematic pornography use (PPCS‐6), and health‐protective sexual communication (HPSC). The intervention focused on reducing stigma, encouraging help‐seeking behaviour, and developing practical skills to support peers facing mental health challenges. Results: Post‐intervention results indicated significant improvements in MHL, attitudes, and behavioural intentions across all groups. Adolescents initially exhibited lower baseline scores than university participants. However, both groups demonstrated substantial gains. The most pronounced improvements were observed among women, individuals with prior experience of mental health issues, and university students. Conclusion: This study underscores the vital role of nurses as facilitators in school‐based mental health promotion and in the interdisciplinary education of future health professionals. The nurse‐led mental health education into secondary and higher education curricula foster population‐wide mental well‐being.

In Spain, health competencies are decentralized, and each autonomous community implements its own plans. Our aim is to determine if the existence of regional palliative care plans implies an improvement in health care coverage. We reviewed regional palliative care plans published in Spain and analyzed the following variables: number and profile of palliative care resources, guidelines and objectives of implementation of resources of these plans, and compliance with European standards. The publication of regional plans is associated with an increase in specific resources in the following years. From 2004 to 2009, the implementation of plans in 6 autonomous communities was associated with an increase in palliative care resources compared to those without a strategy (odds ratio: 1.58, P = .02) or with a settled plan (odds ratio: 1.40, P = .07). The same phenomenon was observed between 2009 and 2015 in 4 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities compared with those without a strategy (odds ratio: 2.49, P = .001) and those that implemented a plan before 2009 (odds ratio: 2.62, P < .001). Updating and evaluating these regional plans are also associated with the growth of palliative care resources.

Background/Objectives: According to the World Health Organization, more than one million deaths each year are attributable to bacterial resistance, making it one of today’s main public health threats that could cause up to 10 million deaths by 2050. In this study, antibiotic prescription rates at primary healthcare centers) within Castile and Leon are analyzed over the period 2013–2023, and some of the sociodemographic variables that might influence the prescription of antibiotics are determined. Methods: A descriptive, observational, ecological study was conducted based on data gathered by Concylia (pharmaceutical information system—Castile and Leon Health Service). Comparable variables (time of prescription and type of health center) and variables of results (Defined Daily Doses per 1000 health center card-holders per day and qualitative antibiotic selection variables) were analyzed. Results: During the first years under analysis, prescription rates increased, followed by a reduction at the start of 2015 that continued up until 2021. Another rise was then recorded, and prescriptions once again reached values in 2023 that were comparable to those observed in 2019 (17.62 and 17.45 Defined Daily Doses per 1000 health center card-holders per day). Throughout Castile and Leon as a whole, there were more prescriptions within urban areas; but when analyzed by provinces, prescriptions were mainly higher in rural areas within most provinces. The percentage of macrolides was higher in urban areas, whereas the percentage of fluoroquinolones was higher in rural areas. Conclusions: The variation was repeated throughout the period under study in a similar way in all the provinces of Castile and Leon and at a national level. Different prescription rates were observed by province within the autonomous region. Moreover, higher prescription rates were observed in the rural areas of most provinces. The data source did not allow linking prescriptions to diagnoses, limiting interpretation.

Background/Objectives: According to the World Health Organization, bacterial resistance is one of the main threats to public health and could within a short time become the principal cause of death. This study proposes to study antibiotic prescription rates at Basic Health Centres (BHC) within Castile and Leon over the period 2013-2023, and to determine which sociodemographic variables might influence the prescription of antibiotics. Methods: A descriptive, observational, ecological study was conducted on the basis of data provided by Concylia (Pharmaceutical information system-Castile & Leon Health Service). Comparable variables (time of prescription and type of Health Centre) and variables of results (Defined Daily Dose per 1000 health-center card-holders per day and qualitative antibiotic selection variables) were analyzed. Results: During the first years under analysis, prescriptions increased, followed by a reduction at the start of 2015 that continued up until 2021, after which a new increase was recorded and they once again reached values in 2023 that were comparable to those observed in 2019. Throughout all of Castile and Leon, there were more prescriptions within urban areas; but when analyzed by provinces, prescriptions were mainly higher in rural areas within most provinces. The percentage of macrolides was higher in urban areas, whereas the percentage of fluoroquinolones was higher in rural areas. Conclusions: The variation was repeated throughout the period under study in a similar way in all the provinces of Castile and Leon and at a national level. Differences were observed in prescriptions between the provinces of the autonomous region. Higher prescriptions rates were observed in the rural areas of most provinces.