Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Health workers knowledge about medical
hydrology in Spain
Medialdea V (1) , Carlos-Bejarano J (1) , De la Torre M (1) , Marín J (1) , Vela L (1) ,
Rodríguez-Carballeira M (2) , Maraver F (1)
(1) Professional School of Medical Hydrology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad
Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
(2) Hospital Universitario Mútua de Terrassa, Terrassa, Spain
acinorev300479@hotmail.com
Introduction and Objectives
This study wants to determine the degree of knowledge about basic aspects of
medical hydrology among the health personnel working in the spanish National
Health Service and to evaluate the attitude, perceptions and experience of the health
workers regarding medical hydrology.
Materials and Methods
Design: Descriptive study. Anonymous survey with closed questions.
Participants: Health personnel (physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational
therapists) of four different autonomous communities (Cantabria, Castilla-
León, Cataluña and Comunidad Valenciana) working for the spanish National
Health Service.
Main variables: Demographic data of the interviewed health workers were collected
and they were asked about their knowledge and experience about medical
hydrology and their perceptions regarding medical hydrology. Data were collected
in an access file and analysed with a statistical program (SPSS 15.0)
Results
A total of 172 health workers (mean age: 42 years, mean working experience 17
years) were included. Women made up 62% of the sample. We interviewed 172
health workers, 83 physicians, 70 nurses, 7 physiotherapists and 12 others (occupational
therapy, students). 39% of the interviewed ones worked in a primary care
center, 33% in a hospital, 9% in a penitenciary and 2% in the ambulance. The
autonomous community were they worked was Cataluña 44%, Cantabria 32%,
Comunidad Valenciana 17% and Castilla-León 6%. Asking about the level of
knowledge about basics aspects of medical hydrology, around the half of the sample
gave an incorrect definition of a \"spa\", 80% didn’t know about \"medicinal mineral
water\", 86% ignored the definition about \"medical hydrology\", 72% about
\"hydrotherapy\", 86%about \"thalassotherapy\", 94%about \"climatotherapy\" and
98% about \"Kneipp’s hydrotherapy\". When they were asked if they knew the
indications and contraindications of a thermal cure, 75% answered no, 67% had
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 436-437
436
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4