OBJECTIVES: To develop a model for detecting cases of organized fraud in Chile based on data from the legal forms for medically authorized leave (formulario legal de licencia médica curativa-MAL) and to establish the relevance of this data to fraud detection. METHODS: A binomial logistic regression model was employed using four variables from the MAL form, a national requirement for illness-related work absences: the number of legal absences taken by a single person, the number of days authorized by the prescribing doctor, the total cost per illness, and a dichotic variable reflecting whether or not the diagnosis is one that can be proven. The analysis involved 4 079 MAL forms that had been submitted in 2003 to a private health provider and of which 356 were already identified as fraudulent by a panel of medical fraud experts. RESULTS: The model successfully identified 99.71% of the fraudulent medical authorizations and 99.86% of the non-fraudulent, according to the criteria of the panel of fraud experts. Three of the variables employed had statistically-significant independent predictive power. The positive predictive value of the proposed model was 98.59%, while its negative predictive value was 99.97%. CONCLUSIONS: The binomial logistic model that was developed uses four variables that are common to all MAL forms in use by Chile's public as well as private insurers, permitting separation of fraudulent from non-fraudulent requests to be more accurate, more timely, and at a cost lower that of an expert panel.

OBJETIVOS: Desarrollar un modelo para detectar casos de fraude planificado en Chile a partir de los datos contenidos en los formularios de licencia médica curativa (LMC) y establecer la contribución relativa de esos datos a su detección. MÉTODOS: SE aplicó un modelo de regresión logística binominal a partir de cuatro variables contenidas en el formulario legal de LMC exigido nacionalmente para justificar las ausencias al trabajo por motivos de enfermedad: el número de licencias médicas asignadas a una misma persona, el número de días de licencia médica otorgados por el médico tratante, el monto total a pagar por la enfermedad y una variable dicotómica que refleja si el diagnóstico es comprobable o no. Se analizaron 4 079 LMC presentadas el año 2003 a una institución privada de salud previsional, de las cuales 356 estaban ya clasificadas como fraudulentas por un panel de médicos expertos en fraude. RESULTADOS: El modelo logró identificar correctamente 99,71% de las licencias médicas fraudulentas y 99,86% de las no fraudulentas según el criterio del panel de expertos en fraude. Tres de las variables empleadas presentaron un poder predictivo independiente estadísticamente significativo. El valor predictivo positivo del modelo propuesto fue de 98,59%, mientras el valor predictivo negativo fue de 99,97%. CONCLUSIONES: El modelo logístico binomial desarrollado, basado en cuatro variables de uso universal en los formularios de LMC utilizados por todas las entidades aseguradoras de Chile, tanto públicas como privadas, permite discriminar de forma precisa y más rápidamente y con menor costo que los paneles de expertos las solicitudes fraudulentas de las no fraudulentas.

Background: During 2006, Chilean universities had 586,000 students, corresponding to 41% of the population aged 18 to 23 years. Aim: To evaluate the situation of health care teaching in Chile. Material and Methods: Data from 6,212 careers were elaborated, considering the area of knowledge taught, level of teaching, geography, number and type of students, admission and tuition fees. Results: There are 537 programs for health care teaching in Chile. Of these, 231 are for nursing or dentistry aide personnel. The system has 60,648 matriculated students and it collected a total of US$250 millions in tuition fees. Only 9,8% of programs are accreditated. The students who chose health careers had the highest scores in the National University Selection Examination or PSU. Between 2000 and 2006, there was a significant increase in the number of medical students and every year, 1,000 new physicians will receive their title. During 2007, 1,634 new posts were offered in medical schools, 3,873 in nursing and 5,671 for kinesiology. Conclusions: There is a disharmonic growth of University teaching in Chile, that will solve historical deficits of professionals such as nurses but will introduce important changes in Chilean medicine

Introduction: Science has proven the importance of early childhood development. In Chile, infants and pre-school children undergo serial standardized screening tests, aiming for early detection and intervention of developmental delays. Objective: to identify risk factors (RF) for developmental delay in pre-school children who belong to a Family Health Center serving a low-income urban/rural community, in the Metropolitan Region (North Area) of Santiago. Method: Retrospective review of 159 healthy pre-school children files (including personal and family charts), who had their TEPSI development screening test at 4 years-old, according to the program during 2003. The study group (SG) included all children with developmental deficits, and the control group (CG) was obtained from sequential selection of charts from children with normal test performed during the last trimester of 2003. Results: In 2003, 541 of 610 children under control at the Family Health Center had the TEPSI test due at age 4. SG included 76 children with developmental delay (abnormal test); CG included 83 children with normal development. 23% of the CG had some abnormal sub-test (usually involving language). RF for developmental deficit: male sex (p0.0006), poorer families (p0.0018), Family Health Center registration after 12 month of age (p 0.0075), not attending pre-school education (p 0.0075), suspected developmental deficit in previous evaluations (p 0.0013) and illiterate mother (p 0.018). Conclusions: In a low-income population, preventive actions including health promotion and education play a protective role on infant development. To know the risk factors for developmental disability helps to identify those children who require a more intensive intervention, in order to promote the expression of their potential

Introducción: La ciencia ha demostrado la importancia del desarrollo infantil temprano. En nuestro país se realizan evaluaciones seriadas y estandarizadas del desarrollo psicomotor (DSM) en lactantes y preescolares, con el propósito de pesquisar e intervenir precozmente trastornos del desarrollo. Objetivo: Identificar factores de riesgo (FR) para déficit DSM en preescolares de bajo nivel socioeconómico, pertenecientes a un centro de salud familiar (CESFAM), comuna urbano rural, área norte, Región Metropolitana. Metodología: Revisión retrospectiva de 159 fichas individuales y familiares de preescolares sanos, con TEPSI correspondiente a los 4 años, realizado, según programa, el 2003. Grupo estudio (GE): todos los niños con déficit del DSM. Grupo comparación (GC): selección secuencial de fichas con test normal realizado durante el último trimestre. Resultados: El 2003 se realizó TEPSI a 541/610 niños en control en el CESFAM. GE 76 niños con déficit, GC 83 preescolares con DSM normal. 23% GC tenía algún subtest alterado, generalmente lenguaje. FR déficit DSM: varones (p 0,0006), familias de mayor pobreza (p 0,0018), captación en CESFAM posterior a 12 meses de edad (p 0,0075), no asistencia a educación preescolar (p 0,0075), sospecha de déficit DSM en evaluaciones previas (p 0,0013) y madres analfabetas (p 0,018). Conclusiones: Se identifican los factores de riesgo de déficit del desarrollo psicomotor en la infancia, destacando el bajo nivel socioeconómico y las acciones de prevención y educación. La importancia de conocer los FR es identificar aquellos niños que requieren de una intervención más dirigida, para favorecer la expresión de su potencial

Background: The issue of medically justified work absenteeism has a great relevance in Chile at the present moment. Aim: To analyze sick leaves among people working in hospitals, mines, automotive industry and universities. Material and methods: Analysis of 14 thesis and research papers about absenteeism in Chile. The incapacity rate (number of days with sick leave per worker per yea), the frequency rate (number of sick leaves per year per worker) and the severity rate (mean duration of sick leaves) were calculated. The diseases causing the highest rates of absenteeism were also recorded. Results: The mean age of the studied populations was 36 years old and the most common diseases causing absenteeism were respiratory, rheumatologic and trauma. Hospital workers had the highest incapacity rate with 14.3 days of sick leave per worker per year, followed by mining industry with 12 days, automotive industry with 7.1 days and universities with 6 days. Conclusions: In Chile, respiratory diseases are the main cause of sick leaves and hospital workers have the highest incapacity rate (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 1100-8)