INTRODUCTION Cuba’s science policy is grounded in a scientific and technological innovation system applicable to all institutions. In hospitals, the system should influence medical care and administrative and teaching processes, as well as promotion of scientific activity as such.

OBJECTIVE Describe results of the Scientific and Technological Innovation System at the Dr Gustavo Aldereguía Lima University Hospital, the main provincial hospital in Cienfuegos, Cuba.

METHOD This was a key informant survey and document review concerning the hospital’s scientific activity during 2000–2014. A questionnaire was administered to 22 key informants to select key indicators and area. Data on the hospital’s scientific activity related to these indicators were retrieved from hospital, provincial public health and scientific publishing databases. A second group of 35 key informants confirmed linkages between scientific outputs and the innovation system’s main activities.

RESULTS The following were reported over the study period: sustained development of scientific human resources (40% grade II specialists, 30% master’s degree holders and 11.4% accredited academic researchers among the hospital’s professional staff), high scientific output (annual average of 445 studies completed, 118 publications and 203 projects under way) and high visibility (national and international recognition) of the hospital’s achievements in science and innovation. Key informants considered that results related to development of scientific potential were influenced by the following activities of the Scientific and Technological Innovation System: promotion of grade II specialty training, researcher accreditation and awarding of master’s degrees and PhDs in the sciences, development of an extensive continuing education program (for researchers and their mentors), public recognition of professionals with good scientific results, promotion of research and other scientific activities, and the requirement that professional and technical staff participate in national events sponsored by scientific societies.

CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a Scientific and Technological Innovation System can contribute to a hospital’s scientific capacity and productivity.

KEYWORDS Hospitals, health services research, organizational deve-lopment, organizational innovation, technology, research, science, Cuba

INTRODUCTION With 333 million cases worldwide predicted for 2015, type 2 diabetes mellitus presents an important global health challenge. Its rising tide calls for health policies emphasizing prevention at the primary care level, including public education as well as early risk identification and intervention.

OBJECTIVES Estimate risk of developing type 2 diabetes in persons with no known glucose abnormalities, registered in a primary care setting in Pinar del Río city, Cuba, using FINDRISK.

METHODS A descriptive, cross-sectional study applied FINDRISK to 620 persons aged ≥18 years randomly selected from a universe of 1058 patients with no known glucose abnormalities, registered in family-doctor-and-nurse office No. 23 in the Turcios Lima Teaching Polyclinic health area, Pinar del Río city.

RESULTS The study population was predominantly aged ≤45 years (53.5%) and 80.2% was overweight or obese. At least moderate risk of diabetes was found in 74.4% of the sample, and 10.5% was at very high risk, meaning an estimated 120 patients in the sample could be expected to develop type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS Type 2 diabetes prevalence can be expected to increase substantially in this population over the next decade. We recommend design and timely implementation of intensive lifestyle change programs to eliminate or slow development of type 2 diabetes in at-risk individuals. We propose following cohorts identified by FINDRISK to assess its prognostic value in the Cuban population.

KEYWORDS Diabetes mellitus, risk factors, risk prediction, prevention, Cuba