Empathy, Components of Empathy and Curricular Evaluation of the Faculty of Dentistry, Evangelical University of El Salvador

Objective: To estimate empathy levels in general and empathic growth potential in dental students. Material and Methods: This is an exploratory, transversal study. The study population is made up of students from the first to fifth academic year of the career of dentistry of the Evangelical University of El Salvador (El Salvador) (148/240, 61.67% of the population studied). The participants were given the Jefferson Empathy Medical Scale, the Spanish version for medical students, validated in Chile and Mexico, and culturally adapted in El Salvador. A bifactorial variance analysis (model III) was applied to find differences in the means between the courses, between the genders and in the interaction between these two factors. The data were described using simple arithmetic graphs, processed with SPSS 22.0. Total growth potential was estimated. Results: Differences were found between academic years, but not in gender of empathy in general and in its components. The levels of empathy and its components are low in relation to other studies. The behavior of the levels of empathy agrees with the concept of empathic decline. The masculine gender presented levels of empathy, in absolute values, greater than the feminine. There is considerable potential for growth in empathy and that of its components. Conclusion: The behavior of the levels of empathy observed in this work does not agree with the concept of empathic decline. The differences observed between the genders were not consistent with those reported by other authors and it is possible that these findings constitute further evidence that empathy itself is not a female attribute.

Evaluación radiográfica de las vías aéreas superiores en niños de 3 a 13 años de edad / Radiographic evaluation of the upper airways in children 3 to 13 years of age

El objetivo de la investigación es efectuar una evaluación a través de radiografías cefalométricas y panorámicas de las Vías Aéreas Superiores (VAS) en niños de 3 a 13 años que visitaron la clínica de la Facultad Odontología de la Universidad de ElSalvador en los ciclos I 2003 al I 2005. Al presentarse síndrome de respiración bucal, hay cambios en las VAS como: disminución en la distancia de faringe superior e inferior (McNamara), obstrucción en la ventilación de la vertical pterigoidea (Ricketts), posición anormal del tabique nasal, asimetría de senos maxilares y obstrucción de fosas nasales (Simoes). El estudio se realizó en 231 Radiografías cefalométricas y panorámicas seleccionadas previamente, los criterios de selección fueron, que la radiografía no esté manchada, rallada, que las estructuras a investigar se observen claramente. Se utilizó la observación, realizando las respectivas mediciones, previamente se determinó que los investigadores trabajaran de la misma manera. La investigación es Descriptiva Observacional Retrospectiva. Los materiales utilizados fueron: acetatos, plumones indelebles, negatoscopio, regla milimetrada, entre otros. Los resultados coinciden con los autores, concluyendo que estas medidas son extrapolables a los salvadoreños. Se recomienda incluir un análisis radiográfico de VAS al sospechar síndrome de respiración bucal.

The objective of the research is to carry out an evaluation through cephalometric and panoramic radiographs of the Superior Airways (VAS) in children from 3 to 13 years old who visited the clinic of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of El Salvador in cycles I 2003 to I 2005. When mouth breathing syndrome occurs, there are changes in the VAS such as: decrease in the distance of the upper and lower pharynx (McNamara), obstruction in the ventilation of the vertical pterygoid (Ricketts), abnormal position of the nasal septum, asymmetry of maxillary sinuses and nasal passage obstruction (Simoes). The study was carried out on 231 previously selected cephalometric and panoramic X-rays, the selection criteria were that the X-ray is not stained, scratched, that the structures to be investigated are clearly observed. Observation was used, making the respective measurements, previously it was determined that the researchers worked in the same way. The research is Descriptive Observational Retrospective. The materials used were: acetates, indelible markers, X-ray viewer, millimeter ruler, among others. The results coincide with the authors, concluding that these measures can be extrapolated to Salvadorans. It is recommended to include a radiographic analysis of VAS when suspecting mouth breathing syndrome.