South Health and Policy (Journal)
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Performance of the virtual tutor in the comprehensive medicine discipline at the latin american school of medicine
No full textIntroduction. There is growing interest in the study of tutoring work and the relevance of virtual tutor performance.Objective. To characterize the initial state of virtual tutor performance in the General Medicine discipline at the Latin American School of Medicine.Methods. An observational study was conducted during the years 2020-2022. It included 31 professors from the Comprehensive General Medicine Department. Theoretical inquiries were conducted through documentary analysis, logical history, and systematization. Empirical inquiries included document review, surveys, and performance observation.Results. The diagnosis confirmed a low level of virtual tutor performance. The availability of the institution\u27s Virtual Campus online was recognized as a potential benefit, and limitations in the virtual tutor\u27s mastery of functions were identified as problems.Conclusion. The study allowed for the characterization of the initial state of virtual tutor performance in the General Medicine discipline, the results of which revealed a low level of performance. The most significant aspect of the research was the recognition of potential and identified problems, serving as a starting point for the rationale, organization, and evaluation of a professionalization program
Risk factors for high blood pressure in adults
No full textHypertension is a lethal non-communicable disease. This disease has been linked to a series of risk factors that are usually present in most people who suffer from it, grouped into modifiable and non-modifiable factors. The study of these risk factors for hypertension in older people is the central focus of this work, which aimed to describe the risk factors for high blood pressure in adults by establishing a bibliographic reference that allows for consideration of the novelty of the topic. To achieve this objective, 12 bibliographies were consulted. It was concluded that the main risk factors for this disease in adults are those associated with lifestyle, sedentary habits, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, race, gender, age, diabetes mellitus, family history of hypertension, eating habits, obesity, marital status, employment status, area of origin, and lack of physical activity
Clinical Governance and Evidence-Based Practices: An Essential Pillar for Safe and Quality Healthcare
No full textIntroduction: The increasing complexity of health systems requires evidence-centered models, continuous improvement and professional accountability. The aim is to reflect on the integration between Clinical Governance and Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) as essential pillars for safe and quality health care. Methods: A critical literature review was conducted in May 2025 using the WOS, EBSCO, and Scopus databases, including publications from 2018 to 2024 in Portuguese and English. The reflection was also chosen by the Clinical Governance curricular unit and the authors’ professional experience.Results: Evidence-Based Practice was characterized as a process combining scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values. Clinical Governance was presented as an ethical and organizational framework promoting safety, efficiency, and transparency. Their integration strengthened care quality, team engagement, and institutional performance. Barriers such as resistance to change and limited scientific literacy were identified. Transformational leadership and shared governance emerged as key facilitators.Conclusions: The convergence of Clinical Governance and Evidence-Based Practice is essential for translating knowledge into person-centered clinical practice. Promoting ethical leadership, ongoing professional development, and supportive organizational structures is crucial to fostering a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare
Academic stress factors and associated symptoms in nursing students
No full textIntroduction: Academic stress is a recurring phenomenon among university students, especially in demanding programs such as Nursing. It can trigger a range of physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms that affect students\u27 academic performance and mental health. Objective: To determine the relationship between academic stress factors and associated symptoms in nursing students at the National University of San Martín during the 2022-I academic semester. Methods: A basic, quantitative, descriptive-correlational study with a non-experimental cross-sectional design was conducted. The population consisted of 355 students, from which a sample of 183 was selected using simple random sampling. Two previously validated questionnaires were administered: the Academic Stressors Scale (ECEA) and the Questionnaire on Reactions to Stressful Stimuli. Results: The main stress factors identified were methodological deficiencies of the teaching staff, exams, and student overload. At the symptom level, average levels predominated for physical symptoms (43.2%) and psychological symptoms (53.5%), while low levels predominated for behavioral symptoms (55.2%). A significant correlation was found between academic stress factors and physical (r = 0.513), psychological (r = 0.584), and behavioral (r = 0.514) symptoms. Conclusions: There is a direct and significant relationship between academic stress factors and associated symptoms, highlighting the need to implement institutional strategies to prevent stress and promote student well-being
Quality of care and satisfaction of users attended by interns of the Growth and Development Control area
No full textIntroduction: The quality of healthcare is a key factor in ensuring user satisfaction, especially in services targeting early childhood, such as the Growth and Development Monitoring area. However, few studies evaluate the care provided by nursing interns in this context. Methods: A basic study was conducted with a quantitative approach, a non-experimental design, and a descriptive-correlational level. The population consisted of 850 mothers of children under five years of age cared for by interns in the CRED area. Simple random probability sampling was applied, obtaining a sample of 265 participants. Two validated questionnaires were used: one based on the Donabedian model to measure the quality of care and another adapted from SERVQUAL to assess satisfaction. Data were analyzed in SPSS v. 26 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 100% of the users perceived a high level of quality in the human and environmental dimensions, while 89.8% did so in the technical dimension. Regarding satisfaction, 100% reported a high level of reliability and responsiveness, and 99.6% reported a high level of empathy. A positive and significant correlation was identified between the quality of care and satisfaction (r = 0.211; p = 0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that the quality of care provided by nursing interns was positively related to user satisfaction, demonstrating good training performance in real-life healthcare settings
Asthma, allergies and COVID-19: a review of what we know
No full textIntroduction: Allergies are exaggerated reactions of the immune system to normally harmless substances, while asthma is a chronic disease that inflames the airways. Although people with asthma may be more susceptible to respiratory infections, the relationship between COVID-19 and asthma and allergies is contradictory and a matter of debate.Objective: To summarize the theoretical background on the relationship between allergic diseases, such as asthma, and COVID-19.Development: There is no conclusive evidence on the relationship between asthma, especially the allergic phenotype, and COVID-19. However, several aspects of immunopathogenesis may influence this interaction. The type I interferon response in asthmatics does not seem defective, and ACE2 underexpression could slow down the infection, allowing an adequate antiviral response. Eosinophils, which protect against viral infections, could compensate for the eosinopenia observed in COVID-19. The elevated presence of Th2 cells in asthmatics could also offer protection against severe forms of the disease. Despite this, asthma can predispose to severe symptoms due to inflammation and changes in the respiratory microbiota.Conclusions: The relationship between asthma, allergies and COVID-19 is complex and subject to debate, influenced by multiple factors. Additional studies are needed to better understand these interactions and the genetic and environmental factors that may affect the prevalence and response to these diseases
Pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
No full textIntroduction: Neurodegenerative diseases are hereditary or acquired pathologies that cause progressive dysfunction of the central nervous system. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the most important of the degenerative diseases that can affect motor neurons. The disease is inexorably progressive and leads to death by respiratory paralysis.Objective: To characterize the evolution and general features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Materials and methods: A search was conducted in Medline, Pubmed, and Google Scholar, limited to Spanish and English, and documents published mainly in the last five years were selected. However, due to their interest, several papers prior to the established time limit were included. Sixteen papers were included in the review, representing a 62.5% update.Development: In most patients, risk factors for this disease cannot be identified. Symptoms generally do not appear until after the age of 50. In diagnosing this disease, the neurologist must perform a clinical examination and a series of tests to rule out other diseases that mimic ALS. Although there is no cure, the symptoms can be treated to seek the best possible quality of life.Conclusions: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affects adults of any race or ethnicity. When the muscles of the diaphragm and chest wall fail, breathing becomes impossible without the aid of artificial ventilation. Treatment should be multidisciplinary, offering all patients the opportunity to receive riluzole
Fanconi Anemia: a lethal genetic challenge with therapeutic hope
No full textIntroduction: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by genomic instability, congenital malformations, and progressive bone marrow failure. It presents a high predisposition to hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, making it a significant clinical and social concern.
Aim: To comprehensively characterize the clinical progression, diagnosis, and treatment of Fanconi anemia through an updated literature review.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted using 24 documents; including articles, clinical guidelines, and specialized manuals were reviewed, focusing on recent and relevant data on FA\u27s diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment.
Results: FA results from mutations in over 22 genes affecting the DNA repair pathway. Diagnosis is confirmed by chromosomal breakage tests using diepoxybutane or mitomycin C. Clinically, it presents with pancytopenia, multiple congenital anomalies, and cancer predisposition. The most effective treatment is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, although supportive therapies like androgens and growth factors are also used. Lifelong multidisciplinary follow-up is essential to improve life quality and expectancy.
Conclusions: Fanconi anemia is a severe and complex genetic disease. Prognosis has improved significantly due to advances in hematopoietic transplantation. Early diagnosis, interdisciplinary management, and continuous follow-up are key to optimizing clinical outcomes. Establishing regional disease registries is urgently needed to enhance care and research in Latin America.
Maternity: science, art and history
No full textIntroduction: Maternity is not only a natural fact, it is also a multi-determined cultural construction, defined and organized by norms that arise from the needs of a specific social group and from a defined period of its history. Women are considered as historical beings and a source of inspiration for artists and creators through motherhood. Objective: Characterize the impact of motherhood in science, history and art. Methods: A literature review was conducted by consulting original articles, case reports, and open access systematic reviews in peer-reviewed academic journals from the last 5 years. Search terms include motherhood, science, art, and history, as well as their English translations. Results: From a biological perspective, the mother is the living being that assumes this condition from the moment of fertilization. From a cultural perspective, it constitutes an essential element in the upbringing of individuals, as well as in the constitution of the family institution. Conclusions: It was concluded that it is necessary to emphasize that motherhood and upbringing should be the subject of a renewed and constant psychosocial study that does not ignore that they will always be closely related to the different conceptions of children, social class, customs and social, historical and cultural norms. This concept has been the central axis of multiple artistic creations where the feminist art movement stands out
Diseases Due To Free-Living Amebas
No full textIntroduction: Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris and Naegleria fowleri are pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) and are commonly found in the environment, particularly in soil. This pathogenic FLA causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) or primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) that affects the central nervous system and can also cause keratitis and skin infections. Objectives: In the present study, our objective was to determine the quantitative concentration of Acanthamoeba spp., B. mandrillaris and N. fowleri in soil samples collected from places where human contact is high by means of an assay and to reach the conclusion of contagion in these. Materials and methods: A systematic review was performed in the following databases: PubMed; EMBASE; Cochrane; BVS, Cinahl and Web of Science. After the initial steps, the most relevant data were extracted from each article and compiled in full text in topics according to the chosen outcome.Results: The qPCR assay detected a total of 45.71 % (n = 16) of Acanthamoeba spp., 20 % (n = 7) of B. mandrillaris and 17.4 % (n = 6) of N. fowleri in five different soil sources. The quantitative concentration of Acanthamoeba spp., B. mandrillaris,5 - 6 × 10 2 , 47 × 10 4 to 39 × 10 3 , and 9 × 10 3 - 8 × 10 2 plasmid copies/gr, respectively. While the highest quantitative concentration of Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris was determined in garden soil samples, N. fowleri was detected in potting soil samples. Three different genotypes T2 (18.75 %), T4 (56.25 %) and T5 (25 %) were identified from Acanthamoeba positive soil samples. The T4 genotype of Acanthamoeba was the most frequently detected genotype in soil samples and is also the most common genotype causing infection in humans and animals. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to identify the T5 genotype in soil samples from Turkey. Conclusion: people and especially children should be aware of the hidden danger in the garden and potting soil samples they come into contact with most frequently. Public health awareness of human infections that may arise due to contact with soil should be increased. Public health specialists should raise awareness of this hidden danger in soil