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SEAIC Specialty Forum: Analysis of the Current Situation of Allergology in Spain and Outlook for the Future

Sastre J1*, Valero Santiago A2*, Montoro Lacomba J3, Quirce S4, Vidal Pan C5, Dávila González I6, Olaguibel Rivera JM7, Torres Jaén MJ8, Rodríguez Vázquez V9, Antolin Amerigo D10, Ojeda Fernández P11

1Allergology Service, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
2Pneumology and Allergy Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
3Allergology Service, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, Valencia, Spain
4Department of Allergy, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
5Allergology Service, Santiago de Compostela Hospital Universitario, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
6Service of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
7Allergology Service, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
8Allergology Service, Regional Hospital of Malaga, Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Malaga, Spain
9Santiago de Compostela Hospital Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
10Allergology Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
11Ojeda Asthma and Allergy Clinic, Madrid, Spain
*Contributed equally to the manuscript as first authors.

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2021; Vol 31(2) : 120-131
doi: 10.18176/jiaci.0473

Background: Allergology has been a recognized medical specialty in Spain, with fully defined aims and competencies for more than 4 decades. However, in recent years, its visibility seems to have decreased somewhat.
Objectives: To identify which specific factors have contributed to the waning of the importance of the specialty and find tangible solutions to consolidate its place as a front-line medical specialty.
Material and methods: An online population survey comprising 60 items of interest was prepared. The degree of agreement and the level of satisfaction with each item were assessed, and implementable initiatives in the short, medium, and long terms were defined in order to provide solutions to the issues identified.
Results: The survey was completed by a total of 167 specialists with an average of 18 years’ experience. Most were from public reference hospitals, and 29.3% were heads of department. The line of action for which a good degree of agreement was achieved was to promote the inclusion of an allergist in multidisciplinary teams. The priority lines of action were to improve undergraduate and graduate training in allergology and specialized nursing, to identify curricula in Spain, and to develop robust teaching projects.
Conclusions: The results revealed a high degree of homogeneity between professionals. The basic pillars highlighted were as follows: quality training, knowledge, and research in immunotherapy; an innovative portfolio of services endorsed by clinical practice guidelines; and presence in multidisciplinary teams and relevant hospital committees.

Key words: Allergology, Visibility, Multidisciplinary, Strategic plan, Portfolio of services, Scientific development, SEAIC (Spanish Society of Allergology Clinical Immunology)

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