TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL LEARNING AND ITS EFFECTS: TECHNOSTRESS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19.

This research work aims to analyze the level of technostress, causes and effects in students of the University of Guadalajara, under the context of online education, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodology used is quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental. The instrument used was Salanova’s «technostress» questionnaire (RED-ICT), «effects» by Jena, and «causes» by Suh and Lee, instruments with verifiable acceptable levels of reliability and validity. Survey applied virtually through Google Froms, to a sample of 221 university students. The findings show that students report having a moderate level of technostress. The dimensions that most influence this condition are: work overload, role ambiguity, and individual aspects, such as neuroticism. Regarding the effects, it was found that university students are not satisfied with the online modality;they recognize that their learning has not been entirely satisfactory. It was concluded that it is essential and necessary to propose projects and strategies to reduce this condition in students. It is suggested to take actions and allocate resources, in order to improve the satisfaction, performance and quality of education. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo analizar el nivel del tecnoestrés, sus causas y efectos, en estudiantes de la Universidad de Guadalajara, bajo el contexto de la educación online, durante la pandemia de la COVID-19. La metodología empleada es de enfoque cuantitativo, tipo descriptivo, no experimental. El instrumento utilizado fue el Cuestionario de Tecnoestrés (RED-TIC) de Salanova, los «efectos» por Jena, y las «causas» por Suh y Lee: instrumentos con niveles de confiabilidad y validez aceptables, y comprobables. Con una encuesta aplicada virtualmente a través de Google Froms, a una muestra de 221 estudiantes universitarios. Los hallazgos encontrados exponen que los estudiantes manifiestan tener un nivel moderado de tecnoestrés. Las dimensiones que más influyen en este padecimiento son: sobrecarga de trabajo;ambigüedad de rol, y aspectos individuales, como el neuroticismo. Respecto de los efectos, se encontró que los universitarios no están satisfechos con la modalidad online y reconocen que su aprendizaje no ha sido del todo satisfactorio. Se concluyó que es primordial y forzoso plantear proyectos y estrategias, que reduzcan este padecimiento en los estudiantes. Se sugiere tomar acciones y asignar recursos, con la finalidad de mejorar la satisfacción, el rendimiento y la calidad de la educación. (Spanish) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Revista Panamericana de Pedagogía: Saberes y Quehaceres del Pedagogo is the property of Universidad Panamericana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

A Multicenter Study on the Impact of Gender, Age, and Dual Diagnosis on Substance Consumption and Mental Health Status in Outpatients Treated for Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 Lockdown.

Objective COVID-19 and lockdown measures impacted mental health globally and had a particular impact on patients with substance use disorders (SUD). However, the impact of gender, age, and dual diagnosis on consumption patterns and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown among patients with SUD has not been analyzed in depth. Therefore, this study aimed to examine substance use and mental health status during COVID-19 lockdown considering gender, age, and previous dual diagnosis in patients with SUD treated in different outpatient addiction clinics in Catalonia. Methods: Thirteen clinics participated and 588 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 70.7% were men and 29.3% were women. The mean age was 48 ± 11.3 years, and 63.2% had dual diagnoses. Results: Men reported significantly more frequent alcohol and cocaine consumption during lockdown, while women experienced more anxiety and depressive symptoms. Younger patients more frequently reported consuming cocaine and cannabis, breaking the lockdown rule, worsened family relationships, and reduced incomes. Older patients more frequently reported maintaining abstinence. Previous dual diagnosis was more often associated with benzodiazepine use disorder, less active working during lockdown, and more anxiety and depressive symptoms than not having previous dual diagnosis. Conclusions: Both new psychiatric symptoms and general worsening of existing symptoms were frequent during the lockdown. Differences based on the gender, age, and dual diagnosis of outpatients treated for substance use disorders should be considered in the planning of protection measures such as home confinement.

COVID-19 Lockdown and Consumption Patterns among Substance Use Disorder Outpatients: A Multicentre Study.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has had a great impact on mental health in the general population. However, few studies have focused on patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). This research aimed to compare the clinical status and substance use patterns of SUD outpatients, before and during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This multicentre study recruited 588 patients (29.2% women; M age = 47.4 ± 11.7 years) in thirteen centres for addiction treatment in Catalonia, Spain. All subjects were evaluated with validated instruments and ad hoc questionnaires. The sample was divided into 3 groups according to how the substance consumption pattern changed during lockdown (maintained pattern, worsened pattern, and improved pattern). RESULTS: More than 62% of the patients maintained or worsened their consumption pattern during confinement, and about 38% improved throughout this time. Diverse factors were associated with the changes in pattern like age, addiction severity, psychological distress during lockdown, social and familial issues, and therapeutic variables. CONCLUSION: The home lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with major implications for substance consumption and psychiatric distress among SUD outpatients. Considering this, the need to plan appropriate interventions in cases of similar health crises is highlighted.

Association between severity of COVID-19 symptoms and habitual food intake in adult outpatients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between habitual frequency of food intake of certain food groups during the COVID-19 pandemic and manifestations of COVID-19 symptoms in adult outpatients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN: We included 236 patients who attended an outpatient clinic for suspected COVID-19 evaluation. Severity of symptoms, habitual food intake frequency, demographics and Bristol chart scores were obtained before diagnostic confirmation with real-time reverse transcriptase PCR using nasopharyngeal swab. RESULTS: The results of the COVID-19 diagnostic tests were positive for 103 patients (44%) and negative for 133 patients (56%). In the SARS-CoV-2-positive group, symptom severity scores had significant negative correlations with habitual intake frequency of specific food groups. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and occupation confirmed that SARS-CoV-2-positive patients showed a significant negative association between having higher symptom severity and the habitual intake frequency of 'legumes' and 'grains, bread and cereals'. CONCLUSIONS: Increase in habitual frequency of intake of 'legumes', and 'grains, bread and cereals' food groups decreased overall symptom severity in patients with COVID-19. This study provides a framework for designing a protective diet during the COVID-19 pandemic and also establishes a hypothesis of using a diet-based intervention in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may be explored in future studies.

Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Prospective Study in a Rural Village Struck by the Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Information on the body composition of inhabitants of remote communities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is limited. Using a longitudinal population-based study design, we assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and changes in body composition. METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults living in a rural Ecuadorian village received body composition determinations before and 1 year after the pandemic as well as serological tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and abnormalities in body composition at follow-up was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data. RESULTS: Of 327 enrolled individuals, 277 (85%) received baseline and follow-up body composition determinations, and 175 (63%) of them became SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Overall, diet and physical activity deteriorated during the follow-up. Multivariate random-effects generalized least squares regression models that included the impact of time and seropositivity on follow-up body composition, showed that neither variable contributed to a worsening in body composition. Multivariate logistic regression models disclosed that the serological status at follow-up cannot be predicted by differences in body composition and other baseline covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Study results suggest no increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults with abnormal body composition and no significant changes as a result of worse physical activity and dietary habits or seropositivity during the length of the study. Together with a previous study in the same population that showed decrease in hand-grip strength after SARS-CoV-2, results confirm that dynapenia (and not sarcopenia) is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults.

Modelo predictivo PLS-SEM sobre intención de abandono académico universitario durante la COVID-19

Uno de los sectores donde mayor impacto ha tenido la pandemia de COVID-19 ha sido el educativo. De una manera precipitada y sin apenas tiempo para reaccionar, se ha tenido que llevar a cabo una interrupción de la normalidad académica y transitar a una modalidad de enseñanza virtual. No solo el profesorado, que ha tenido que adaptarse y modificar los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje, sino también el alumnado se ha visto afectado por este cambio de rumbo drástico que se ha producido en la educación superior. En una fase clave del curso, con unas condiciones sociales y familiares no siempre favorables, con falta de recursos y con la distancia impuesta por las medidas de alarma, los estudiantes se han visto sometidos a una presión que ha puesto en riesgo la continuidad en los estudios. METODO El estudio realizado con una muestra de 475 estudiantes de diferentes titulaciones de grado de la Universidad de La Laguna (España), tuvo como objetivo validar un modelo predictivo sobre la intención de abandono, mediante un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales. Concretamente, se analizó el valor predictivo que el modelo de enseñanza virtual, el agotamiento académico y las expectativas de autoeficacia tenían en la intención de abandono del alumnado universitario. RESULTADOS Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto que el modelo resultante era válido para predecir la variable de intención de abandono de los estudios. DISCUSIÓN Los datos obtenidos pueden ayudar a prevenir en el futuro situaciones de riesgo de abandono, mediante la puesta en práctica de programas de orientación, información, apoyo académico y seguimiento al alumnado.Alternate abstract: One of the sectors where the COVID-19 pandemic has had the greatest impact has been education. In a hasty way and with little time to react, an interruption of academic normality had to be carried out and a virtual teaching modality had to be transitioned. Not only the teachers, who have had to adapt and modify the teaching-learning processes, but also the students have been affected by this drastic change of direction that has occurred in higher education. In a key phase of the course, with social and family conditions not always favorable, with lack of resources and with the distance imposed by alarm measures, students have been subjected to pressure that has put the continuity of studies. METHOD The study carried out with a sample of 475 students from different undergraduate degrees from the University of La Laguna (Spain), aimed to validate a predictive model on the intention to abandon, using a structural equation model. Specifically, the predictive value that the virtual teaching model, academic exhaustion and expectations of self-efficacy had in the intention of dropping out of university students was analyzed. RESULTS The results showed that the resulting model was valid to predict the variable of intention to abandon the studies. DISCUSSION The data obtained can help prevent situations of risk of abandonment in the future, through the implementation of guidance, information, academic support and student monitoring programs.

Hand grip strength before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection in community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and decreased hand grip strength (HGS). DESIGN: Longitudinal population-based study. SETTING: Community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥60 years) living in a rural Ecuadorian village struck by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. PARTICIPANTS: Of 282 enrolled individuals, 254 (90%) finished the study. MEASUREMENTS: HGS was measured 3 months before (January 2020) and 9 months after the introduction of the virus into the population (January 2021). SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing was performed in two rounds: in May-June (early) and September-November (late), 2020. An independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and HGS decline was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data. Changes in HGS scores in SARS-CoV-2 seropositive subjects, according to the time elapsed since seroconversion, were compared with those who remained seronegative. RESULTS: Overall, 149 (59%) individuals became seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. The mean HGS (in kg) was 25.3 ± 8.3 at baseline and 23.7 ± 8.1 at follow-up (p = 0.028), with 140 individuals having >5% HGS decline between both measurements. The follow-up HGS measurement decreased by 1.72 kg in seropositive individuals, and by 0.57 kg in their seronegative counterparts (p < 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals were 2.27 times more likely (95% CI: 1.33-3.87) to have a lower HGS measurement at the time of follow-up than those who remained seronegative. When compared with seronegative subjects, seropositive patients with early seroconversion were 3.41 times (95% CI: 1.73-6.74) more likely to have >5% HGS decline at the time of the follow-up than those with later, i.e., more recent, infections. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an independent deleterious impact of SARS-CoV-2 on HGS that is more marked among individuals with infections that occurred more than 8 months before follow-up HGS. Results suggest the possibility of chronic damage to skeletal muscles by SARS-CoV-2.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on general surgery residency program in Peru: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: General surgey is a specialty of high demand and relevance. We aimed to collect the opinions of the residents and their tutors and heads of department, regarding the impact that this COVID-19 pandemic is having - and will probably have - on the training of future general surgeons in Peru. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Lima, Peru. We surveyed residents of general surgery, as well as their tutors and heads of surgery departments from 14 Peruvian hospitals. RESULTS: The impact of COVID-19 was considered severe in approximately 60% of first-year residents, 100% of second-year residents, 40% of third-year residents and about 80% of attending physicians. The 68.8% of the residents considered that the loss of surgical training opportunities during the pandemic would negatively affect their job performance. In addition, as of 03/16/2020, no residents had performed more than 25 elective surgeries, trauma surgeries or laparoscopic procedures. All the participants (including tutors and heads of departments) highlighted the need to extend the residency period. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the training of the general surgery residents. Deficiencies need to be identified in order to evaluate extending the period of the medical residency program in Peru.

High-flow nasal cannula for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) has been shown to be a useful therapy in the treatment of patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), but its efficacy is still unknown in patients with COVID-19. Our objective is to describe its utility as therapy for the treatment of ARDS caused by SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was performed at a single centre, evaluating patients with ARDS secondary to COVID-19 treated with HFNC. The main outcome was the intubation rate at day 30, which defined failure of therapy. We also analysed the role of the ROX index to predict the need for intubation. RESULTS: In the study period, 196 patients with bilateral pneumonia were admitted to our pulmonology unit, 40 of whom were treated with HFNC due to the presence of ARDS. The intubation rate at day 30 was 52.5%, and overall mortality was 22.5%. After initiating HFNC, the SpO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly better in the group that did not require intubation (113.4±6.6 vs 93.7±6.7, p=0.020), as was the ROX index (5.0±1.6 vs 4.0±1.0, p=0.018). A ROX index less than 4.94 measured 2 to 6 h after the start of therapy was associated with increased risk of intubation (HR 4.03 [95% CI 1.18 - 13.7]; p=0.026). CONCLUSION: High-flow therapy is a useful treatment in ARDS in order to avoid intubation or as a bridge therapy, and no increased mortality was observed secondary to the delay in intubation. After initiating HFNC, a ROX index below 4.94 predicts the need for intubation.