Creencias y actitudes del alumnado universitario hacia la violencia de género / Beliefs and attitudes of university students towards gender violence

INTRODUCCIÓN: La violencia de género es un grave problema de salud pública que requiere la intervención, entre otros, de personal sanitario. Los profesionales señalan la falta de conocimientos como una de las dificultades para afrontarlo. Se han puesto de manifiesto actitudes y percepciones erróneas en el alumnado universitario debido a una formación inadecuada o insuficiente. Nuestro objetivo ha sido evaluar las creencias y actitudes sobre la violencia de género en estudiantes de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Un total de 491 estudiantes de medicina, enfermería, derecho y criminología de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela completaron un cuestionario de 30 preguntas, voluntario y anónimo. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los participantes en la encuesta (70,9%) eran mujeres, con una edad media de 22,7 años. Aunque el 53,6% del alumnado había recibido formación previa, los datos muestran que los estudiantes tienen algunas ideas equivocadas sobre la violencia de género. Casi el 96% considera que es un problema importante en nuestra sociedad y cree que debe mejorarse la atención a las víctimas. Cerca del 90% se mostró en contra de que se considerase un asunto privado, apoyando la denuncia de estos casos por parte del personal sanitario. CONCLUSIONES: Se muestra la necesidad de ofrecer más oportunidades educativas sobre la violencia de género, sobre todo entre el alumnado de aquellas profesiones implicadas en el abordaje de este problema. Una correcta preparación de los futuros profesionales mejorará la detección precoz y el tratamiento de las víctimas

INTRODUCTION: Gender violence is a major public health problem that requires the intervention of health personnel, among others. Professionals indicate that lack of knowledge is one of the main difficulties of facing this problem. The attitudes and misperceptions among university students might be due to inadequate or insufficient training. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beliefs and attitudes towards gender violence among students of the University of Santiago de Compostela. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 491 undergraduate students (Medicine, Nursing, Criminology and Law) of the University of Santiago de Compostela completed an anonymous 30-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Most (70.9%) participants in the survey were women, with a mean age of 22.7 years. Although 53.6% of students had received previous training, data show that they have some misperceptions on gender violence. Nearly 96% consider it as an important problem in our society, and believe that attention to the victims has to be improved. Almost 90% of respondents disagreed about considering it a private matter, supporting the legal complaint by health personnel. CONCLUSIONS: Data shows the necessity to offer more educational opportunities on gender violence, especially to students of those professions involved in this problem. An appropriate education of the future professionals would improve the detection and treatment of the victims

Attitudes towards physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in Spanish university students / Actitudes hacia la eutanasia y el suicidio medicamente asistido en estudiantes universitarios españoles / Atitudes em relação a eutanásia e suicídio medicamente assistido em estudantes universitários espanhóis

Abstract Attitudes toward physician-assisted death among medical students differ between populations. The aim of this study was to explore attitudes towards euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide among Spanish university students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by asking undergraduate students (Medicine, Nursing and Law) of the University of Santiago de Compostela to complete an anonymous 17-item questionnaire. Most participants exhibited a positive attitude towards physician-assisted suicide (54%) and euthanasia (75%), as well as towards their legalization. Attitudes were consistent with the underlying ethical reasoning, with no differences in terms of age, gender or academic degree. In addition, consistency was found between attitudes and willingness to participate in physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, should they be legal. The results showed that the attitudes of medical students towards euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide were positive and similar to non-medical students.

Resumen La actitud de los estudiantes de Medicina ante a la muerte médicamente asistida difiere entre poblaciones. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido explorar las actitudes hacia la eutanasia y el suicidio médicamente asistido en estudiantes universitarios españoles. Se realizó una encuesta transversal en estudiantes de grado (Medicina, Enfermería y Derecho) de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela que completaron un cuestionario anónimo de 17 preguntas. La mayoría de los participantes mostraron una actitud positiva hacia el suicidio médicamente asistido (54%) y la eutanasia (75%), así como hacia su legalización. Las actitudes fueron coherentes con los argumentos éticos, no encontrando diferencias en relación con la edad, el sexo o la titulación. Asimismo, las actitudes estaban de acuerdo con la intención de participar en estos procedimientos, si fueran legales. Los resultados muestran que la actitud de los estudiantes de medicina hacia la eutanasia y el suicidio asistido es positiva y similar a la de estudiantes de enfermería y derecho.

Resumo A atitude dos estudantes de medicina ante a morte medicamente assistida difere entre populações. O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar as atitudes para a eutanásia e o suicídio medicamente assistido em estudantes universitários espanhóis. Foi realizada uma pesquisa transversal em estudantes de graduação (medicina, enfermagem e direito) da Universidade de Santiago de Compostela que completaram um questionário anônimo de 17 perguntas. A maioria dos participantes mostrou atitude positiva para o suicídio medicamente assistido (54%) e a eutanásia (75%), bem como para a sua legalização. As atitudes foram coerentes com os argumentos éticos, não encontrando diferenças em relação a idade, sexo ou titulação. Assim mesmo, as atitudes estavam de acordo com a intenção de participar nestes procedimentos, se fossem legais. Os resultados mostram que a atitude dos estudantes de medicina para a eutanásia e o suicídio assistido é positiva e similar à de estudantes de enfermagem e direito.

Características y consecuencias de la violencia de género: estudio de casos confirmados por sentencia judicial / Features and consequences of gender violence: study of cases confirmed by a conviction

Introducción. La violencia de género constituye un importante problema de salud pública con un gran impacto sociofamiliar y económico. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar las características y circunstancias del maltrato, incluyendo a los sujetos implicados (víctima y agresor) y su relación de pareja, así como las peculiaridades del abuso y sus consecuencias lesivas. Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo, de tipo descriptivo, de los casos clasificados como violencia de género por la Fiscalía de Área de Santiago de Compostela, durante el período 2005-2012. Se analizaron 398 casos de violencia de género con sentencia firme condenatoria. Resultados. Las víctimas eran, sobre todo, mujeres jóvenes (media 36,6 años), de nacionalidad española (82,91%), casadas (39,70%), con hijos (69,85%), empleo remunerado (40,45%) y nivel socioeconómico bajo (53,52%). Los agresores tenían una edad media de 39,5 años, con predominio de españoles (85,93%), de nivel socioeconómico bajo (37,44%). En el momento de la agresión, el 56,03% de las parejas convivían y un 62,22% compartía la vivienda con los hijos. El maltrato, fundamentalmente combinación de abuso físico y psicológico (43,72%), se produjo sobre todo en el domicilio (65,08%) y fue presenciado por terceras personas (64,57%). Como consecuencia de la agresión, el 53,02% de las mujeres sufrieron lesiones físicas, básicamente contusiones o hematomas (41,21%), localizadas principalmente en los miembros superiores (26,88%) y en la cara (24,37%). Conclusiones. La información obtenida sobre las características y circunstancias del maltrato es fundamental para adaptar, en base a la evidencia, las medidas de intervención y tratamiento de este problema (AU)

Introduction. Gender violence is a major public health problem with a significant socio-family and economic impact. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics and circumstances of abuse, including the subjects involved (victim and aggressor), their intimate relationship, as well as the peculiarities of abuse and its harmful consequences. Material and methods. Retrospective and descriptive study of cases classified as gender violence from the prosecutor's office of Santiago de Compostela between 2005 and 2012. A total of 398 cases of gender violence with a final conviction were analysed. Results. Victims were mainly young women (mean age 36.6 years), of Spanish nationality (82.91%), married (39.70%), with children (69.85%), employed (40.45%) and with low socioeconomic status (53.52%). Aggressors had an average age of 39.5 years, were predominantly Spanish (85.93%) and of low socioeconomic status (37.44%). At the time of abuse, 56.03% of the couples lived together and 62.22% shared the house with children. The maltreatment, mainly a combination of physical and psychological abuse (43.72%), occurred most often at home (65.08%) and was witnessed by others (64.57%). As a result of the aggression, 53.02% of women suffered physical injuries, generally bruises or haematomas (41.21%) located mainly on the upper limbs (26.88%) and face (24.37%). Conclusions. The information obtained on the characteristics and circumstances of abuse is an essential step in order to formulate evidence-based intervention and treatment strategies (AU)

University students' attitudes towards Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy.

An evaluation of the future professional trends was performed by analyzing the attitudes of university students to the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy (VIP). An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 300 students (Medicine, Nursing and Law) of the University of Santiago de Compostela, with questions on their personal beliefs, opinion on the law and intention to participate in VIP. Of the 245 respondents (response rate 82%), 66.5% were pro-abortion and their attitudes towards VIP were consistent with their opinion on the beginning of life and with the ethical arguments related to the fetus and the mother. No differences were found with age, sex or degree. The students showed to be well informed on the VIP law, and the majority of them considered unsuitable termination of pregnancy in minors without parental consent. Students' intentions to take part in abortion provision were influenced by their views on abortion, level of participation and circumstances of pregnancy. Although the majority of participants would be willing to perform VIP in situations that affect fetus and mother's life or health (87-66%), their intentions clearly diminished in other situations, such as abortion on demand (17%). These data suggest that conscientious objection of health professionals can even increase with the new policy, a fact that might affect VIP availability. It is important to stress the need of ethical training to help in the solution of conflicts between patient and health professional values.