Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) promote better quality and equity in health care and potentially they could improve patients’ outcomes. However, their implementation is hindered by a number of factors including some related to health care professionals. Aim: To assess the perceptions and attitudes of primary care physicians regarding CPGs developed by the Chilean Ministry of Health in the context of the Health Sector Reform. Material and Methods: An adaptation of the survey “Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards Clinical Practice Guidelines” was sent to 1,264 primary care physicians in Chile and answered completely by 354. The analysis assessed the attitudes towards CPG, their use in primary care and their relationship with socio demographic features of respondents. Results: Eighty two percent of respondents reviewed the flowcharts of the guidelines, 85% consulted their online version. The classification of evidence levels and the strength of recommendations generated a high level of confidence with the guidelines in 70 and 64% of respondents. Eighty five percent considered that CPG could help to standardize clinical practice. The most relevant barrier hindering CPG use was the lack of a brief, simple and easy to access format in 63% of respondents. The three dimensions of the theory of planned behavior (attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) were associated with a greater frequency of guideline use. A higher age and not being Chilean were associated with a lower frequency of use. Conclusions: The identified factors associated with CPG use should be considered in future guideline design.

Abstract: A 67-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction secondary to severe mitral regurgitation in treatment with metoprolol, spironolactone, and digoxin. She was diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) because of the presence of arthritis, alopecia, thrombocytopenia, direct positive Coombs +++, positive ANAs 1:1,280 and positive lupus anticoagulant. The rheumatology service indicated hydroxychloroquine 200 mg every 24 hours. She presented atrial fibrillation, and amiodarone was initiated. Two weeks later the patient was admitted because of presyncope, electrocardiogram showed sinus bradycardia with long QT interval. A temporary pacemaker was placed, and hydroxychloroquine and amiodarone suspended. Twenty-four hours later, a new electrocardiogram was taken showing pacemaker rhythm with reduction of the QT interval. After 72 hours the temporary pacemaker was removed and on the fifth day the patient was discharged with an electrocardiogram in sinus rhythm with a corrected QT (Bazett) of 456 miliseconds. The hydroxychloroquine was reinitiated following discharge. She presented another episode of atrial fibrillation, and was treated with amiodarone, hydroxychloroquine was suspended previously, and she did not present prolongation of QT interval. The long QT syndrome was present when amiodarone and hydroxychloroquine interacted.

Resumen: Paciente femenina de 67 años, con diagnóstico de insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de expulsión preservada, secundaria a insuficiencia mitral severa, en tratamiento con metoprolol, espironolactona y digoxina. Le fue diagnosticado lupus eritematoso sistémico, debido a la presencia de artritis, alopecia, trombocitopenia, Coombs directo positivo +++, anticuerpos antinucleares positivos 1:1,280 y anticoagulante lúpico positivo. El Servicio de Reumatología indicó hidroxicloroquina 200 mg cada 24 horas. Presentó fibrilación auricular, por lo que se le inició amiodarona. Dos semanas posteriores la paciente es ingresada debido a un episodio de presíncope, se le realizó electrocardiograma que demostró bradicardia sinusal con un intervalo QT prolongado. Se le colocó un marcapasos temporal, además de que se suspendió hidroxicloroquina y amiodarona. Después de 72 horas se retiró el marcapasos, y al quinto día se egresó con un electrocardiograma en ritmo sinusal con el intervalo QT corregido por Bazett de 456 milisegundos. La hidroxicloroquina fue reiniciada al egreso. La paciente presentó otro episodio de fibrilación auricular y fue tratada con amiodarona, previa suspensión de hidroxicloroquina, sin presentar prolongación del intervalo QT. El síndrome de QT largo sólo se presentó con la interacción de amiodarona con hidroxicloroquina.

Background A number of attributes of recommendations included in clinical guidelines influence their implementation in clinical practice. Aim To assess the association between those attributes and the uptake of recommendations included in four Clinical Guidelines of the Chilean Ministry of Health. Material and Methods The compliance with recommendations was assessed auditing a random sample of 1,547 electronic medical records of patients with four selected clinical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, depression and asthma) in three primary care centers. Nine evaluators judged the presence or absence of six attributes in each recommendation (restrictive/prescriptive, complexity, trialability, actionability, observability, flexibility). We compared the degree of uptake of recommendations with the presence of these attributes. Results The compliance with recommendations was highly variable, with a median of 51% and ranging from 0 to 98%. There was an association between the uptake of recommendations and the presence of three of the above mentioned attributes. There was a higher implementation of restrictive rather than prescriptive recommendations, of rigid rather than flexible recommendations and those recommendations susceptible to be experimented first. Conclusions We have identified three attributes associated with the implementation of recommendations included in four primary care clinical guidelines. These findings could be useful for the guidelines development process in the Chilean national guidelines program.

RESUMO Fundamentar o processo de formulação de políticas de saúde com as melhores evidências científicas disponíveis tornou-se indispensável nos sistemas de saúde em todo o mundo. As plataformas de tradução de conhecimento, como as Redes de Políticas Informadas por Evidências (EVIPNet) da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), são parte de uma estratégia comprovada para vincular a pesquisa à ação. Este informe descreve a experiência de implantação da EVIPNet no Chile: dos objetivos, estrutura organizacional, estratégia, atividades e principais resultados à evolução ao longo do primeiro ano de atividade. As lições aprendidas são também apresentadas. Das atividades iniciadas pela EVIPNet-Chile, o Serviço de Resposta Rápida mostrou ser um bom ponto de partida para atrair a participação dos formuladores de políticas. Os seminários de capacitação e os colóquios sobre políticas com os interessados relevantes renderam bons resultados. Além disso, a EVIPNet-Chile elaborou um modelo para atrair a participação das instituições acadêmicas na formulação de políticas com uma rede dedicada ao preparo de resumos de evidências. Um dos muitos desafios identificados é modificar os métodos para produzir sínteses rápidas de evidências. Este modelo de implantação da plataforma de tradução de conhecimento sediado em um ministério da saúde poderia contribuir para a elaboração de iniciativas semelhantes em outros sistemas de saúde.

ABSTRACT Informing the health policymaking process with the best available scientific evidence has become relevant to health systems globally. Knowledge Translation Platforms (KTP), such as the World Health Organization's Evidence Informed Policy Networks (EVIPNet), are a recognized strategy for linking research to action. This report describes the experience of implementing EVIPNet in Chile, from its objectives, organizational structure, strategy, activities, and main outputs, to its evolution over the course of its first year. Lessons learned are also covered. Of the activities initiated by EVIPNet-Chile, the Rapid Response Service proved to be a good starting point for engaging policymakers. Capacity building workshops and policy dialogues with relevant stakeholders were also successful. Additionally, EVIPNet-Chile developed a model for engaging academic institutions in policymaking through a network focused on preparing evidence briefs. A number of challenges, such as changing methods for producing rapid evidence syntheses, were also identified. This KTP implementation model located in a Ministry of Health could contribute to the development of similar initiatives in other health systems.

RESUMEN Para los sistemas de salud a nivel mundial se ha vuelto cada vez más importante contar con la mejor evidencia disponible como información para el proceso de formulación de políticas de salud. Las plataformas de traducción del conocimiento, como la Red de Políticas Informadas por la Evidencia (EVIPNet, por su sigla en inglés) de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, son estrategias reconocidas para vincular la investigación a la acción. En este informe se describe la experiencia de la utilización de EVIPNet en Chile, sus objetivos, estructura orgánica, estrategia, actividades y resultados principales de su evolución en el curso de su primer año. Se incluyen asimismo las enseñanzas extraídas. De las actividades iniciadas por EVIPNet en Chile, el servicio de respuesta rápida resultó ser un buen punto de partida para interesar a los responsables de las políticas. También fueron exitosos los talleres que se llevaron a cabo sobre creación de capacidades y los diálogos de política con los interesados directos pertinentes. Además, EVIPNet en Chile elaboró un modelo para invitar a instituciones académicas a participar en el proceso de formulación de políticas por medio de una red centrada en la preparación de resúmenes de datos científicos. Se encontraron también varios retos, como el cambio de métodos para producir síntesis rápidas de datos científicos. Este modelo de aplicación de plataformas de traducción del conocimiento, ubicado en un Ministerio de Salud, podría contribuir al desarrollo de iniciativas similares en otros sistemas de salud.

Individual clinicians and organizations making health care decisions should not only consider the magnitude of the benefits and harms of different courses of action (interventions), but also the confidence we can have in those estimates. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach offers a systematic and transparent way to summarize the evidence, to rate the confidence we can have in the effects of the interventions and to move from evidence to recommendations. The GRADE approach has been adopted by several organizations worldwide, including the World Health Organization and the Cochrane Collaboration. In Chile, this approach has already been used by guidelines produced by the Chilean Ministry of Health. In this paper we describe the core concepts of the GRADE approach to rate the quality of the evidence and to grade the strength of recommendations. As clinicians, being familiar with such concepts may be helpful to make decisions informed by the best available evidence.

Objective To develop and implement a method for the evaluation of “evidence briefs” and “deliberative dialogues” that could be applied to comparative studies of similar strategies used in the support of evidence-informed policy-making. Methods Participants who read evidence briefs and attended deliberative dialogues in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia were surveyed before the start of the dialogues – to collect their views on pre-circulated evidence briefs – and at the end of the dialogues – to collect their views on the dialogues. The respondents' assessments of the briefs and dialogues and the respondents' intentions to act on what they had learned were then investigated in descriptive statistical analyses and regression models. Findings Of the 530 individuals who read the evidence briefs and attended dialogues, 304 (57%) and 303 (57%) completed questionnaires about the briefs and dialogues, respectively. Respondents viewed the evidence briefs and deliberative dialogues – as well as each of their key features – very favourably, regardless of the country, issue or group involved. Overall, “not concluding with recommendations” and “not aiming for a consensus” were identified as the least helpful features of the briefs and dialogues, respectively. Respondents generally reported strong intentions to act on what they had learnt. Conclusion Although some aspects of their design may need to be improved or, at least, explained and justified to policy-makers and stakeholders, evidence briefs and deliberative dialogues appear to be highly regarded and to lead to intentions to act.

Resumen Objetivo Desarrollar e implementar un método para evaluar los «escritos de pruebas» y los «diálogos deliberativos» que podrían aplicarse a los estudios comparativos de estrategias similares destinadas a apoyar las políticas basadas en pruebas. Métodos Se encuestó a los participantes que leyeron los escritos de pruebas y asistieron a diálogos deliberativos en Burkina Faso, Camerún, Etiopía, Nigeria, Uganda y Zambia antes del inicio de los diálogos a fin de recoger sus opiniones sobre los escritos de pruebas predistribuidos y, al término de los diálogos, recopilar sus puntos de vista sobre los mismos. Se examinaron las evaluaciones de los escritos y los diálogos de los encuestados, así como la voluntad de actuar en base a lo aprendido por parte de los encuestados en análisis estadísticos descriptivos y modelos de regresión. Resultados De las 530 personas que leyeron los escritos de pruebas y asistieron a los diálogos, 304 (57 %) y 303 (57 %) completaron cuestionarios sobre los escritos y diálogos, respectivamente. Los encuestados mostraron una opinión favorable sobre los escritos de pruebas y los diálogos deliberativos, así como de sus características principales, con independencia del país, tema o grupo involucrado. En general, las características menos útiles de los escritos y diálogos fueron «no concluye con recomendaciones» y «no aspira al consenso», respectivamente. Los encuestados, por lo general, señalaron su firme voluntad de actuar en base a lo aprendido. Conclusión Aunque ciertos aspectos del diseño quizá deben mejorarse o, como mínimo, explicarse y justificarse ante los responsables políticos y las partes interesadas, los escritos de pruebas y los diálogos deliberativos parecen gozar de gran reputación y fomentar la voluntad de actuar.

Résumé Objectif Développer et mettre en œuvre une méthode pour évaluer les «comptes rendus de preuves» et les «réunions délibératoires», qui pourrait être appliquée aux études comparatives de stratégies similaires utilisées pour appuyer l'élaboration de politiques basée sur des données probantes. Méthodes Les participants qui ont lu des comptes rendus de preuves et qui ont assisté à des réunions délibératoires au Burkina Faso, au Cameroun, en Éthiopie, au Nigeria, en Ouganda et en Zambie ont été interrogés avant le début des réunions (pour recueillir leurs points de vue sur les comptes rendus de preuves déjà distribués) et à la fin des réunions (pour recueillir leurs points de vue sur leur contenu). Les évaluations des comptes rendus de preuves et des réunions des répondants, ainsi que les intentions des répondants d'agir sur ce qu'ils avaient appris ont ensuite été étudiées dans des analyses statistiques descriptives et des modèles de régression. Résultats Sur les 530 personnes qui ont lu les comptes rendus de preuves et qui ont assisté aux réunions délibératoires, 304 (57%) et 303 (57%) des répondants ont rempli des questionnaires sur les comptes rendus et sur les dialogues, respectivement. Les répondants ont perçu les comptes rendus de preuves et les réunions délibératoires (ainsi que chacune de leurs principales caractéristiques) de manière très favorable, quel que soit le pays, le sujet ou le groupe impliqué. Dans l'ensemble, les caractéristiques «aucune conclusion avec des recommandations» et «aucun objectif de consensus» ont été identifiées comme celles étant les moins utiles dans les comptes rendus et les réunions, respectivement. Les répondants ont généralement affirmé avoir une forte intention d'agir sur ce qu'ils avaient appris. Conclusion Bien que certains aspects de leur structure aient certainement besoin d'être améliorés ou, tout du moins, expliqués et justifiés auprès des décideurs politiques et des parties prenantes, les comptes rendus de preuves et les réunions délibératoires semblent être hautement considérés, mais aussi stimuler les intentions d'agir.

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG), defined as "statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options", are tools currently present in every level of our health system. This article introduces guidelines development and implementation processes and it reviews the Chilean experience. The main stages in a CPG development are question formulation, search and analysis of the existing evidence related to those questions, and making judgments about that evidence in order to formulate recommendations for clinical practice. At the national level, guidelines development processes are conducted by the Ministry of Health, and even when recent evaluations show some good results, there are a number of aspects - such as applicability - that should be improved. On the other hand, CPG should be implemented using effective strategies in order to obtain changes in clinical practice and patients' outcomes. The existing evidence about the effects of the different implementation strategies shows modest and highly variable results. At the national level, there is a dearth of research about the design and evaluation of implementation strategies, and most of it has been focused in the evaluation of adherence to specific recommendations.

The purpose of this study has been the design and validation of a propensity scale of sports injuries in schools. The sample for the study has been formed of 254 children (M = 14.20, DT = 1.3). Psychometric properties of the scale were obtained through a process of content validity and a factorial analysis of main components. As a result, we obtained a questionnaire of 27 items consisting of 5 factors and adjusted to validity topics and scientific reliability. Significant differences were found in all factors of the scale in relation to sex, whilst significant differences were only observed in relation to the sensation seeking factor when considering the age of the subjects. This scale is an essential tool for preventing accidents and injuries in school sport by allowing the identification of sports accident-prone students.

El propósito de este estudio ha sido el diseño y validación de una escala de propensión al accidente deportivo en escolares. La muestra ha estado formada por 254 niños (M = 14.20, DT = 1.3). Las propiedades psicométricas de la escala se obtuvieron mediante un proceso de validez de contenido y un análisis factorial de los componentes principales. Como resultados obtuvimos un cuestionario de 27 ítems formado por cinco factores y ajustado a los tópicos de validez y fiabilidad científica. Se encontraron diferencias en todos los factores de la escala entre niños y niñas y sólo en el factor búsqueda de sensaciones al considerar la edad de los sujetos. Como conclusión, esta escala es un instrumento inédito que permite la organización de los recursos materiales y didácticos en el deporte de acuerdo a aspectos psicoeducativos relacionados con la propensión al accidente de los niños, lo que es esencial en la prevención de lesiones.

BACKGROUND Hot flushes are common in women with a history of breast cancer. Hormonal therapies are known to reduce these symptoms but are not recommended in women with a history of breast cancer due to their potential adverse effects. The efficacy of non-hormonal therapies is still uncertain. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of non-hormonal therapies in reducing hot flushes in women with a history of breast cancer. METHODS Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), Medline, Embase, Lilacs, CINAHL, PsycINFO (August 2008) and WHO ICTRP Search Portal. We handsearched reference lists of reviews and included articles, reviewed conference proceedings and contacted experts. Selection criteria: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing non-hormonal therapies with placebo or no therapy for reducing hot flushes in women with a history of breast cancer. Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently selected potentially relevant studies, decided upon their inclusion and extracted data on participant characteristics, interventions, outcomes and the risk of bias of included studies. MAIN RESULTS Sixteen RCTs met our inclusion criteria. We included six studies on selective serotonin (SSRI) and serotonin-norepinephrine (SNRI) reuptake inhibitors, two on clonidine, one on gabapentin, two each on relaxation therapy and homeopathy, and one each on vitamin E, magnetic devices and acupuncture. The risk of bias of most studies was rated as low or moderate. Data on continuous outcomes were presented inconsistently among studies, which precluded the possibility of pooling the results. Three pharmacological treatments (SSRIs and SNRIs, clonidine and gabapentin) reduced the number and severity of hot flushes. One study assessing vitamin E did not show any beneficial effect. One of two studies on relaxation therapy showed a significant benefit. None of the other non-pharmacological therapies had a significant benefit. Side-effects were inconsistently reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Clonidine, SSRIs and SNRIs, gabapentin and relaxation therapy showed a mild to moderate effect on reducing hot flushes in women with a history of breast cancer.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines are widely used as tools for improving quality of health care. However, there is increasing concern about limitations in their development process conducting to inconsistent recommendations. During the last decade the use of guidelines has been promoted in the Chilean health system, but their quality has not yet been evaluated systematically. Aim: To assess the quality of clinical practice guidelines developed by the Chilean guidelines program. Material and Methods: All the guidelines developed by the Chilean program between 2005 and 2009 were retrieved from the Ministry of Health website. Each guideline was assessed independently by three appraisers using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument. Standardized scores were obtained for each dimension in each guideline and across the whole set of guidelines. Results: Sixty guidelines were assessed. The 'scope and purpose' dimension scored significantly higher (mean 82.2%, range: 25.9%-100%) and the 'applicability' dimension scored significantly lower (mean 23.3%, range: 0%-72.4%) than any other dimension. 'Publication date' was the only variable consistently associated with dimension scores. Conclusions: The quality of Chilean clinical practice guidelines is far from ideal. Although they seem to have a strong sense of purpose and vision, methodological procedures should be strengthened, especially those related to applicability.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are widely used as tools for improving quality of health care. Guidelines developed elsewhere, can be adapted using a valid and systematic process. Aim: To describe the methodology used in the process of adaptation of a guideline for the management of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a private health care organization. Material and Methods: We used the ADAPTE framework involving three main phases. At the set-up phase a guideline adaptation group integrated by medical specialists from different disciplines, a methodologist and a nurse coordinator was formed. At the adaptation phase, the specific clinical questions to be addressed by the guidelines were identified. Results: Twenty five guidelines were initially retrieved. After their assessment, the number was reduced to only three. Recommendations from these guidelines were 'mapped' and focused searches were carried out where 'evidence gaps' were identified. An initial draft was written and revised by the adaptation group. At the finalization phase, the external review of the guideline was carried out and a process for the regular review and update of the adapted guideline was defined. Conclusions: We developed a guideline for the management of adults with CAP, adapted to the local context of our health care system, using guidelines developed elsewhere. This guideline creation method can be an efficient means of saving professional resources.

Background: There are doubts about the real usefulness of clinical guidelines to induce changes in practice, specially in primary health care. Those guidelines with inconsistent recommendations can even be misleading. Aim: To assess the quality of Chilean primary health care guidelines and to identify factors associated with high quality guidelines. Material and methods: Chilean primary care guidelines published and disseminated using any strategy 1999 and 2004 were analyzed. Each selected guideline was assessed independently by two evaluators using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument following standardized instructions. Descriptive statistics for each dimension of the AGREE instrument were calculated for each guideline. Results: A total of 33 guidelines were retrieved. Fifteen were located using a manual search and 18 from electronic sources. Twenty four did not match our definition of guidelines, therefore only nine were included in the final assessment. There were important differences in the scores obtained by each guideline in different dimensions, with relevant methodological shortcomings. However, no significant differences in scores were found when guidelines were compared by year of elaboration. Conclusions: Our results suggest that previous efforts in primary health care guideline development were misdirected and that important changes are necessary to generate high quality guidelines

Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease in which Streptococcus mutans is a principal protagonist. Although it is widely believed that pregnancy is harmful to teeth, the effect of pregnancy on the development of caries is not clear. Considering this situation, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of infection and to differentiate bacterial species with cariogenic potential in pregnant women from the Araucania region in Chile, by bacteriological and molecular analysis. In this work, we evaluated 51 pregnant women aged 15 to 40 years. The results show that 100% of women are infected by mutans streptococci Group, and 70.6% exhibited high levels of infection (> 500.000 cfu/mL). The molecular analysis shows that Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus frequencies were 92.1% and 1.9%, respectively. In conclusion, our data suggest that pregnant women are a high risk group for caries development

La caries dental es una enfermedad infecciosa, en la cual Streptococcus del grupo mutans, son los principales protagonistas. Aunque está ampliamente difundida la creencia de que el embarazo es perjudicial para la salud dental, el real efecto de esta condición sobre el desarrollo de caries aún no está claro. Considerando esta situación, el objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue evaluar los niveles de infección en mujeres embarazadas de la Región de La Araucanía (Chile) y diferenciar especies bacterianas con potencial cariogénico, de aquellas sin este potencial, mediante análisis bacteriológico y molecular. En el presente estudio fueron evaluadas 51 mujeres gestantes con edades que fluctuaron entre 15 y 40 años. Los resultados muestran que 100%) de las mujeres se encuentran infectadas por Streptococcus del grupo mutans, de las cuales 10,6% muestra un riesgo elevado de desarrollar caries (>500.000 ufc/ml). El análisis molecular mostró que las frecuencias de Streptococcus mutans y Streptococcus sobrinus fueron 92,1% y 1,9%, respectivamente. En conclusión, nuestros datos sugieren que las mujeres embarazadas son un grupo de alto riesgo para el desarrollo de caries dental

Debido a los sesgos que afectan a la publicación de ensayos clínicos y sus resultados, los estudios cuyos resultados son positivos son más fáciles de encontrar que los que tienen resultados sin significación estadística y a ello se debe que los primeros estén sobrerrepresentados. Para contrarrestar este tipo de sesgo se ha propuesto ingresar en un registro toda investigación, desde sus comienzos. No obstante, estos registros se encuentran en distintas fases de evolución, especialmente en países en desarrollo, de tal manera que la Red Cochrane Iberoamericana, parte de la Colaboración Cochrane, ha establecido el Registro Latinoamericano de Ensayos Clínicos en Curso (LATINREC, por Latin American Clinical Trial Registry) con la idea de facilitar el registro de los datos contenidos en el protocolo de todo ensayo clínico que se esté llevando a cabo en un momento dado y poner esa información a la disposición del público. El LATINREC, que viene a respaldar los objetivos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), representa un intento por reducir la duplicación de trabajo y el financiamiento poco equitativo de la investigación sobre enfermedades rezagadas al olvido; por evitar que se efectúen investigaciones sobre asuntos de poca cuantía o que se midan resultados poco útiles; y por fomentar las prácticas éticas y la transparencia. Se han detectado algunos obstáculos mayores que hasta ahora han impedido crear un registro único y común de ensayos clínicos. Con el fin de franquearlos, LATINREC será un registro gratuito que permitirá hacer búsquedas y que se ceñirá a la Plataforma Internacional de Registro de Ensayos Clínicos (ICTRP) de la OMS. Además, LATINREC permitirá que los investigadores ingresen en el registro cualquier modificación del protocolo, así como los resultados preliminares. LATINREC ofrecerá grandes ventajas para los consumidores, el gobierno, los profesionales de la salud pública y la industria farmacéutica al incrementar la accesibilidad de la información y la participación en los ensayos clínicos. La disponibilidad de información objetiva acerca de todo ensayo clínico que se inicie ayudará a garantizar que todos tengan libre acceso a los conocimientos generados.