Manipulação e fabricação de dados em pesquisa científica: as consequências são tão simples como pensamos? / Data manipulation and fabrication in scientific research: are the consequences as simple as we think?

A má conduta científica vem sendo observada ao longo da história da ciência, entretanto, nas últimas décadas teve um crescimento exponencial, e um exemplo disso foi a época da pandemia da COVID-19. Ficamos a refletir sobre o potencial impacto que uma evidência frágil pode gerar a partir de um convencimento de uma prática ou tomada de decisão profissional. Isso pode ocorrer devido a falhas no sistema educacional, na formação de pesquisadores e até mesmo a desvios morais e éticos.

Scientific misconduct has been observed throughout the history of science. However, it has grown exponentially in recent decades, an example of which was the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. We reflect on the potential impact of weak evidence from a convincing practice or professional decision-making. This situation can occur due to educational system failures, training of researchers, and even moral and ethical deviations.

True-false analysis reveals inherent flaws in multiple true-false tests

Background: Multiple true-false tests (MTF), a component of our assessment system, have consistently generated low scores and many failures. This was attributed to the negative marking scheme. However, no study was conducted to explore the issue further. Item analysis revealed that students omitted false options more frequently and answered them wrongly more frequently than true options. The aim of this study was to determine the performance discrepancy between true and false options of MTF tests and the reasons for such discrepancy and the poor performance of MTF in general.Methods: The student performance of past 7 years of year-3 medicine end-of-posting examinations was analysed. The item analysis reports of 23 MTF tests were used to determine the significance of the differences in omission rates, correct-answer rates and the discrimination index of true and false options.Results: There were statistically significant differences in the omission rates, correct-answer rates and discrimination index values of true and false options. This study revealed that the false options consistently let down student performance. Although negative marking could be partly blamed for the situation, no justification could be found for the use of false options to test knowledge.Conclusions: Some publications endorse MTF, but many highlight its drawbacks. The use of false options in MTF was seen as an inherent defect in this instrument. As viable alternatives like VSAQ and Constructed Response Tests are in the horizon, we conclude that MTF ought to be discarded as an assessment instrument.

Implementación de la Lista de Verificación de Seguridad en las Hojas de Indicaciones Médicas del Servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Aeronáutico Central / Implementation of Safety Checklist in Medical Prescriptions Sheets in the General Surgery Service at the Hospital Aeronáutico Central

Desde la iniciativa de la OMS “la cirugía segura salva vidas” la utilización de “checklists” ha demostrado disminuir las fallasy prevenir los eventos adversos en los pacientes quirúrgicos. Es imprescindible la existencia de un sistema de vigilancia para la valoración de las fallas en las hojas de indicaciones para evitardañar al paciente. Objetivos: Identificar acciones que permitan brindar una mayor seguridad al paciente desde un checklist previo a la prescripciónmédica. Material y Método: Se analizaron 315 hojas de Indicaciones yrespectivos checklists, entre los meses Abril/Mayo de 2014. Se analizaron las fallas detectadas, ejecutando una comparación con el análisis del periodo Agosto/Diciembre 2013. Resultados: En especificaciones de alergias, constatamos 6 (1.91%) fallas como alergias sin consignar. En cuanto asuspensiones, 84 (46.67% de las suspensiones) poseían algunafalla. En cuanto a indicaciones farmacológicas, en total 1998,encontramos fallas en 177 (8.86%), todas sin dosis específica, subdividiendo este grupo en 103 (5.16% del total, 58.19% de las fallas) indicaciones con nombre comercial del fármaco. No se evidenció falla con respecto a vía. Conclusiones: La Lista de Verificación de las Hojas de Indicaciones Médicas es un sistema de control y registro útil para los médicos ypara la seguridad de los pacientes. Es menester desarrollar una educación permanente en todas las áreas de la salud para lograr una política de finida sobre seguridad del paciente y más importante aún, generar una cultura deseguridad...

Since the WHO initiative “Safe Surgery Saves Lives” the employment of checklists proved to minimize errors and prevent adverse events in surgical patients. It is essential the existence of a monitoring system for assessing failures in theprescription sheets to prevent patient’s damages. Objectives: Identify actions to provide greater security for thepatient from a previous prescription checklist. Material and method: We analyzed 315 prescription sheets andrespective checklists, between April / May 2014, and the detected faults were analyzed by running a comparison with the analysis of the August / December 2013 period. Results: In specificated allergies, we found six (1,91%) failuresas allergies without specification. As for suspensions is concern, 84 (46,67% of suspensions) had a failure. Regardingpharmacological indications, in a total of 1998, we found flaws in 177 (8,86%), all without specific dose, subdividing this group in 103 (5,16% of the total, 58,19% of flaws) indications with thebrand name drug. No failure is evidence regarding way of administration.Conclusions: Checklist for Medical Indication Sheets is an useful control system and registry for doctors and safety for the patient. It is necessary to develop a continuing education in all areas of health to achieve a defined policy on patient safety and moreimportantly, a culture of safety...

Acercamiento al estudio de la comunicación educativa en una facultad universitaria en salud / Approach to the study of educational communication in a medical school

Introducción: el proceso de educación es un proceso comunicativo, de ahí que la preparación en comunicación es una de las líneas principales de la preparación pedagógica. Una adecuada comunicación en el aula se erige como factor esencial para el logro de un proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje eficiente y de mayor calidad, por lo que es de vital importancia su estudio. Objetivo: identificar características del proceso comunicativo en el aula en el contexto de un centro de educación superior. Métodos: fue aplicada una encuesta a un grupo de estudiantes y profesores del 2do. año de una de las carreras del centro de educación superior escogido para la investigación, donde fueron recogidos datos que permiten identificar algunas características de la comunicación educativa. Resultados: las características recogidas aportaron información sobre la posición que expresan estos profesores y estudiantes respecto al tipo de comunicación predominante y la importancia de su identificación y observancia en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Conclusión: han sido identificadas importantes fallas desde el punto de vista comunicativo, sobre todo relacionadas con los estilos comunicativos de los profesores, con la percepción interpersonal y el saber escuchar y aceptar a los estudiantes

Introduction: the education process is communicative, so communication is one of the main lines in pedagogic training. Adequate communication in the classroom becomes a key factor for attainment of an efficient teaching-learning process of higher quality, and thus it is vital to study it. Objective: to identify the characteristics of the communication process in a classroom of a higher education center. Methods: a survey was administered to a group of students and professors of the second year of one of the careers in a higher education center selected for this research study, where data were collected to identify some characteristics of the educational communication. Results: the found characteristics provided information on the positions of these professors and students in terms of the predominant type of communication and the importance of their identification and observance in the teaching-learning process. Conclusions: there were identified significant faults in the communicative process, mainly those related to the communicative styles of the professors, to the interpersonal perceptions and to knowing how to listen to and to accept the students

Causas de fallas del bloqueo subaracnoideo; formas de evitarlas

resumen La anestesia subaracnoidea es una técnica relativamente fácil de realizar con la cual se consigue analgesia y relajación muscular de buena calidad, aunque en las mejores manos puede fracasar. Se encontraron resultados muy dispares de fallas, con una incidencia tan baja como el 0.46% a otra tan alta como el 35%. Analizamos los distintos factores que afectan el éxito o el fracaso, los cuales pueden determinar una falla parcial o total del bloqueo. Consideramos algunas conductas que pueden tomarse frente al fracaso y que nos permiten superar la situación.

summary The Subarachnoid Anesthesia is a relatively easy technique of carrying out, with an excellent quality of analgesia and muscular relaxation; but still in the best hands, it could happen a failure. There have been found a wide range of failures, with such a low incidence from 0.46 % to high ones of 35 %. We analyzed the different factors that affect the success or the failure of the technique, and the ones that could determine a partial or total flaw of the blockade. We consider some aspects that could be taken into account in case of inadequate blockade, so that we could be able to resolve the situation.

resumo A anestesia subaracnoidea é uma técnica relativamente fácil de ser realizada, com excelentes resultados para obter analgesia e relaxamento muscular de boa qualidade, porém, nas melhores mãos pode ocorrer um fracaso. Têm-se encontrado resultados muito diferentes, com uma incidencia de falhas tão baixas como a de 0.46 % e tão altas como a de 35 %. Analizamos os diferentes factores que atingem o suceso ou o fracaso e que podem determinar uma falha parcial ou total. Consideramos algumas conductas que podem ser tomadas frente a um bloqueio insuficiente e que nos permitem superar a situação.

Estudio de prevalencia en salud visual en una poblacion escolar de Bogota, Colombia, 2000 / Visual health prevalence study in a scholl population in Bogota, Colombia 2000

Las deficiencias visuales en los escolares, pueden implicar problemas en el aprendizaje y retardo en el desarrollo psicosocial. Debido a la poca información sobre esta problemática en el Distrito, se realizo este estudio de tipo descriptivo, con el objeto de determinar la prevalencia de alteraciones oculares‐visuales, en una muestra de 1.250 niños de 5 a 14 años de establecimientos oficiales y privados en Bogotá. El 42% de los niños escolares presento algún grado de deficiencia en la AV (20/25 o menor). De deficiencia disminuye a medida que aumenta la edad. En cuanto a los defectos refractivos se presentaron: hipermetropía (59.2%), astigmatismo (28.2%), miopía (4.0% y emetropía (9.0%). De los niños que presentaban déficit de la AV, el 9.6% utilizaba corrección óptica. De los que presentaban algún grado de déficit de la AV y no usaban gafas al momento del examen, el 62% eran de colegios públicos y el 38% de colegios privados. Es necesario tanto identificar el problema de salud visual como revisar las estrategias de intervención, debido al impacto positivo que la solución a este problema puede generar especialmente en la población escolar.

The visual deficiencies in schoolchildren can imply learning problems and a delay in psychosocial development. Due to lack of information in this area in the District a descriptive type of study was conducted having as its objective to determine the prevalence of visual‐ocular alterations, in a sample of 1.250 children from 5 to 14 years of age in public and private schools in Bogota. Forty two (42%) percent of schoolchildren presented some degree of deficiency in the following were the results: hypermetry (59.2%), astigmatism (28.2%), myopia (4.0%) and emetropy (9.0%). Among children that presented a deficit of AV, 9.6% used optic correctives. Among those that represented some degree of AV deficit and didn´t use eyeglasses at the moment of the exam: 62% came from public schools and 38% from private school. It is necessary to identify the visual health problem and to review the intervention strategies given the positive impact of the solution that may generated, especially in the schoolchildren.