Measuring the quality of early childhood education: Associations with children's development from a national study with the IMCEIC tool in Colombia.

National-level monitoring of quality of early childhood education (ECE) is key to achieving inclusive and equitable education. Most countries report structural quality while process characteristics are rarely observed at the national level. This study examined the associations between ECE and children's development in a middle-income country using data from a nationally representative sample of public centers serving Colombian children (N = 3163; M = 4.3 years, 50% girls; 42% Mestizo, 16% White, 15% Afro-Colombian, 4% Indigenous, 23% not reported). Descriptive findings evidenced low to moderate quality. Multilevel models showed several positive associations between structural and process quality and child outcomes. Results have implications for the existing literature and highlight the feasibility of quality monitoring in low- and middle-income countries.

Strengthening systems for integrated early childhood development services: a cross-national analysis of governance.

While there has been substantial growth in early childhood development (ECD) services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there is considerable inequity in their distribution and quality. Evidence-based governance strategies are necessary, but currently they are insufficient for widespread, quality implementation. In particular, there is a limited understanding of the use of systems approaches for the analysis of ECD services as they go to scale. The aim of this paper is to present findings from four countries, using a cross-national case study approach to explore governance mechanisms required to strengthen national systems of ECD services. While different sets of governance strategies and challenges were identified in each country, overarching themes also emerged with implications for systems strengthening. Study results focus on local, mid-level and central governance, with recommendations for effective coordination and the integration of ECD services in LMICs.

Determination of oxidative and occupational stress in palliative care workers.

BACKGROUND: In previous work, we demonstrated that some occupational workers in stressful conditions can have increases in several markers of oxidative stress when compared to other workers. We investigated two antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, according to demographics, lifestyle and occupational parameters in palliative care unit workers, and analyzed the relationship with occupational burnout. METHODS: Fifty-two palliative care unit workers and 50 gender- and aged matched healthy individuals as controls were surveyed. Spectrophotometric and high-pressure liquid chromatography methods were used for biochemical determinations. RESULTS: No significant variation with respect to gender were detected with respect to SOD and CAT activities, MDA concentrations or occupational burnout. MDA concentrations increased with age in controls and palliative care unit workers, and we observed significant differences in MDA between controls and palliative care unit workers for all age groups. Significant variation in MDA concentrations were detected between unmarried (287.22±8.31 nmol/mg hemoglobin) and married individuals (317.18±6.24 nmol/mg hemoglobin), but not with respect to divorced individuals (288.41±5.64 nmol/mg hemoglobin). Significant differences were detected between smokers and non-smokers for SOD, CAT and MDA, but not for alcohol, coffee, tea or cola consumption. Significant differences were seen in MDA concentrations between those who frequently practice some kind of sport (280.59±7.62 nmol/mg hemoglobin) and those who never practice any kind of sport (299.12±8.09 nmol/mg hemoglobin), and between those who frequently ate fruit and greens (291.05±8.11 nmol/mg hemoglobin) and those who never eat fruit and greens (316.31±7.42 nmol/mg hemoglobin). SOD activity and MDA concentrations are higher in palliative care workers who work the evening and night shifts (p<0.01), and these workers also show significantly higher levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that oxidative stress, occupational stress and occupational burnout levels are similar in men and women. Occupational stress increases oxidative stress levels probably as a response to increased generation of reactive oxygen species. Working during the evening and night shifts increases oxidative levels and burnout levels.

Evaluation of Halpern’s «Structural Component» for Improving Critical Thinking

Halpern (1998) proposed a four-component model for promoting the transfer of critical thinking. One of them, the «structural component», focuses on how to organize teaching so that critical thinking skills can be generalized. Here, we assess the efficiency of that type of organization. Thus, one group of university students received instruction following the suggestions specified in that component and their performance was compared with that of other university students who received instruction in the same skills but using a different procedure, and with that of a control group. In comparison with the control group, the performance of both instructed groups was better after training. However, no significant differences were observed between either instruction group; both forms of instruction afforded very similar results (AU)

Halpern (1998) propuso un modelo de cuatro componentes para promocionar la transferencia del pensamiento crítico. Uno de ellos, el «componente estructural», se centra en cómo organizar la enseñanza para que las habilidades del pensamiento crítico puedan generalizarse. En este trabajo, evaluamos la eficiencia de este tipo de organización. Así, un grupo de estudiantes universitarios recibieron instrucción siguiendo las sugerencias especificadas en ese componente y su ejecución se comparó con la de otro grupo de estudiantes universitarios que recibieron instrucción en las mismas habilidades pero usando un procedimiento diferente, y con la de un grupo control. En comparación con el grupo control, la ejecución de ambos grupos instruidos fue mejor después del entrenamiento. Sin embargo, no se observaron diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos de instrucción; ambas formas de instrucción produjeron resultados muy similares (AU)

Principales causas de hospitalización del anciano / Principal causes of aged hospitalization

La investigación persigue mostrar aspectos importantes de la realidad del anciano en las áreas intra y extrahospitalarias de la Novena Región. Arrojando datos sobre índices de morbilidad, letalidad, orígenes geográficos, aspectos administrativos, etc. Estos aspectos conforman un estadio de realidad del anciano y por supuesto inciden en las características de éste en relación a su salud. La investigacion entrega datos estadísticos, analizados e interpretando cada uno de estos aspectos. El presente trabajo pese a su exhaustividad, no es definitivo y constituye un primer paso para que eche las bases estadísticas para estudios posteriores de esta materia. Los afanes analíticos se vieron en gran medida limitados por las siguientes razones: a) Escasez de material bibliográfico o recopilaciones sobre esta situación, hecho que quitó bastante tiempo, pués, para obtener datos se realizaron visitas a CONAPRAN y a la revisión de registros del Ministerio de Salud. b) La investigación se desarrolló en forma paralela a las actividades docentes, los cual significaba sobrecarga intelectual que muchas veces no permitió enfrentar con profundidad la investigación por razones prioritarias. c) Por ser un campo de investigación poco trabajado, gran parte del tiempo se utilizó en recopilar datos, tabularlos, para luego de procesados, llevarlso al correspondiente análisis