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BACKGROUND: Colombia has experienced decades of conflict between the government and non-state actors. Attacks on healthcare have been a grave but regular facet of that violence. In response, the Misión Médica (MM) program was developed to support, protect, and defend healthcare. Sporadic violence continues, with many recent attacks perpetrated not by armed actors but by residents. Given the history of conflict and ongoing violence, we sought to capture the perspectives of both healthcare workers (HCWs) and community members (CMs) regarding the characteristics and impacts of attacks on health in Colombia to gain insight into how to better prevent violence and mitigate its impacts. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2021 in seven departments in Colombia in regions that witnessed attacks on healthcare. Questionnaires were administered to HCWs and CMs via purposive sampling, probing their experiences with attacks on health with both closed and open-ended questions. The categorical responses were stratified by health worker vs. non-health worker and descriptively analyzed. Narrative responses were analyzed via a hybrid deductive/inductive thematic approach. RESULTS: Seventy-three individuals participated in the study (36 HCWs and 37 cm). Approximately 77% of HCWs believed that attacks on healthcare impacted health outcomes while 68% of CMs did not see a direct connection between violence against healthcare and poor health outcomes. Awareness of the MM program was significantly different between HCWs (83.3%) and CMs (37.8%). The survey responses explored the characteristics of attacks on health, compounded impacts of violence on the health system, personal impacts, and perspectives on mitigation efforts. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that: (1) attacks on healthcare are context-dependent and require a local lens for mitigation and management; (2) both HCWs and CMs have critical perspectives that must be considered, (3) the impacts of violence against healthcare are complex and compounded and (4) that awareness of the legal protections of the Geneva Conventions must be combined with education on the health impacts for robust protection strategies. Critically, Both CMs and HCWs experience fear and psychosocial ramifications of these attacks, suggesting the need for stronger protections and resources to support the health workforce and the local community.
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Introducción: Las redes sociales son formas de interacción social, que fomentan un intercambio dinámico entre personas, grupos e instituciones en contextos disímiles. Objetivo: Socializar la experiencia y los logros de la salud pública y la Colaboración Médica Cubana desde las redes sociales en Venezuela desde enero de 2021 hasta octubre de 2022. Métodos: Se realiza una investigación de tipo observacional descriptiva en el periodo comprendido desde enero de 2021 hasta octubre de 2022 y aplicado en la Misión Médica Cubana en Venezuela con una población de 14 213 profesionales de la salud dividida en 24 estados. Resultados: En el año 2021 se realizaron 21 tuitazos con un millón 876 898 tuits. Para el año 2022 Facebook se comportó con 32 489 seguidores, Twiter con 16 832, Instagram Cubacooperave, 3 905, Yotube.com/c/cubacooperave 2 830, Tiktok 890 y Telegram 371 suscriptores. Se realizaron 26 actividades nacionales, 11 Tuitazos y 15 Jornadas en las Redes, 144 en TV, 200 en Radio y 100 en la Prensa escrita. Conclusiones: El reto es utilizar la posibilidad que ofrece la tecnología para ampliar los horizontes del uso de las redes sociales, realizar acciones de alfabetización informacional dirigidas a los gestores y usuarios de las mismas en pos de una divulgación adecuada del trabajo en la Misión Médica Cubana en Venezuela.
Introduction: Social networks are forms of social interaction that foster a dynamic exchange among people, groups, and institutions in dissimilar contexts. Objective: To socialize the experience and achievements of public health and the Cuban Medical Collaboration in social networks in Venezuela from January 2021 to October 2022. Method: An observational descriptive research was conducted from January 2021 to October 2022 and applied to the Cuban Medical Mission in Venezuela in a population of 14 213 health professionals divided into 24 states. Results: In the year 2021, there was a total of 21 tweets with 1 876 898 tweets published. In 2022, the Facebook network had 32 489 followers; Twitter, 16 832; Instragram Cubacooperave, 3 905; the Yotube.com/c/Cubacooperave channel, 2 830; Tik Tok, 890; and Telegram had 371 subscribers. A total of 26 national activities such as 11 Tuits, 15 Network Events; 144 TV, 200 Radio, and 100 written Press activities were performed. Conclusions: The challenge is to use the possibility offered by technology to broaden the horizons of the use of social networks, as well as to establish information literacy actions directed towards the managers and users of these networks for the sake of an adequate dissemination of the work carried out by the Cuban Medical Mission in Venezuela.
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Antecedente: el Programa Más Médicos (PMM) fue una respuesta para aumentar la cobertura de salud en Brasil, reducir la escasez de médicos y renovar la formación médica, los médicos cubanos ocuparon más del 67 % de ellos en el estado de Pernambuco (PE) Objetivo: describir el proceso de implementación, logros y desafíos desde el 2013 -2017 Métodos: investigación descriptiva, transversal y cualitativa, entrevistas a profundidad a informantes claves como coordinadores de atención básica supervisores académicos, secretarios de salud, médicos cubanos y análisis documental de investigaciones sobre el programa más médicos realizadas en municipios del Estado de Pernambuco (PE) y algunos estudios de casos en municipios seleccionados del propio Estado Resultados: se refleja el proceso de implementación, en el Estado de PE, que no defiere del resto del país. Se exponen los logros como la alta satisfacción y aceptación del PMM, calidad de la atención médica, promoción de una cultura de autocuidado, reducción de la inequidad etc. Se mencionan desafíos pendientes de resolver Conclusiones: A pesar de las resistencias iniciales al PMM, sobre todo de la clase médica brasileña, de las incomprensiones y dudas, el PMM se impuso como una estrategia innovadora y buena práctica, extensible a otros países.
Subject(s)
Global Health , International Cooperation , National Health Programs , Primary Health Care , Program Evaluation , BrazilABSTRACT
En este trabajo se ofrece una síntesis de la estrategia curricular implementada por el personal de la Cátedra de Laboratorio Clínico de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara en la Misión Médica Docente Cubana en Eritrea, África, cuyo objetivo fue lograr la excelencia en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en ese país hermano, lo cual marcó huellas del actuar y desempeño de los docentes revolucionarios cubanos, seguidores de las ideas internacionalistas que caracterizan a una Cuba, que desde 1959 hasta hoy, y para siempre, será eternamente solidaria(AU)
In this work, a synthesis of the curricular strategy implemented by the staff of the Clinical Laboratory Department from the Medical Sciences University in Villa Clara at the Cuban Teaching Medical Mission in Eritrea, Africa is offered, which objective was to achieve the excellence in the teaching-learning process in that brother country, tracing the way of performing of the Cuban teaching revolutionaries, followers of the internationalist ideas that characterize Cuba, which, since 1959 up to now, and forever, will be eternally solidary(AU)
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Humans , Male , Female , Eritrea , International Educational Exchange , Faculty , Universities , Universities , Teaching , International Cooperation , CommunicationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Participation in primary care-focused medical service trips (MSTs) by North American providers is increasingly common, with many of these being conducted in Latin America. The literature has yet to comprehensively explore the nature of MST practice, including the use of evidence-based clinical guidelines. This integrative review presents an analysis of guidelines employed in MSTs in Latin America. METHODS: MEDLINE and LILACs were searched using the terms 'medical brigades', 'Latin America', 'primary health care' and related terms. The search was limited to articles published between 2000 and 2015 in any language. Qualitative or quantitative articles were subsequently included if they described management protocols in the context of patient care on an MST occurring in Latin America. Additional publications were identified by searching the citations of articles reviewed in full. Themes were extracted to an Excel file, and objective instruments were used to evaluate article quality (Mixed Methods Assessment Tool) and the quality of guidelines (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II). RESULTS: Of 391 abstracts screened, eight met inclusion criteria. All described MSTs operating in rural settings in Central America. Five were qualitative descriptive, including two travel reports, an ethics thesis paper, and a description of a dermatologic MST. Four described subjective clinician experiences while describing non-evidence-based treatment suggestions or practices. Only one described evidence-supported primary care interventions. Three studies were quantitative descriptive, including two epidemiological articles, one of which used case definitions for select diagnoses. One described the application of American Family Physician guidelines to the description of UTI prevalence on a MST. Article scores in MMAT quality domains were variable, and only one article achieved a positive overall AGREE II score for guideline quality. CONCLUSIONS: Existing literature demonstrates minimal development or use of clinical guidelines on MSTs in Latin America. Future work must focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of culturally sensitive, evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients receiving care from MSTs.
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Health Services , International Cooperation , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Primary Health Care , Caribbean Region , Central America , Delivery of Health Care , Humans , Latin America , North AmericaABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio investigativo en el campo de la educación de posgrado, con el objetivo de caracterizar, desde la perspectiva de los tutores y personal administrativo de dirección, algunos factores del proceso de formación del especialista de Medicina General integral (MGI) en el Estado Miranda, durante el curso 2005-2006, para lo cual se emplearon métodos teóricos y empíricos de investigación. Se diseñó una encuesta y una entrevista a expertos. La encuesta fue dirigida a tutores de los médicos cubanos residentes que se presentaron a examen estatal en ese periodo, que sumaron 20, donde se incluyeron aspectos como: datos personales, categoría profesional y pedagógica, grado académico. Fueron identificados como factores, falta de categoría docente, pobre experiencia como tutor, deficiente preparación pedagógica, traslados de comunidad o salidas a Cuba por problemas personales, traslado a largas distancias para realizar las funciones, la vinculación con actividad no relacionada directamente con el postgrado y la ausencia a las actividades metodológicas del curso(AU)
A research study was conducted in the field of graduate education to characterize, from the tutors and the management staff perspectives, some factors present in the process of formation of General Family Medicine specialists in Miranda state during the 2005-2006 academic year. To this end, theoretical and empirical research methods were used. A survey and an interview for experts were designed. The surveys for tutors of the 20 Cuban resident physicians who took the board exam included personal data, professional and teaching category and the academic level. The identified factors were lack of adequate teaching category, poor experience as tutor, poor teaching preparation, movement to another community or trips to Cuba for personal reasons, long-distance travels to perform their tasks, involvement in activities not directly related to the graduate education work and absences to the methodological activities of the course(AU)
Subject(s)
Medical Missions , Mentoring , Education, Graduate , Family PracticeABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio investigativo en el campo de la educación de posgrado, con el objetivo de caracterizar, desde la perspectiva de los tutores y personal administrativo de dirección, algunos factores del proceso de formación del especialista de Medicina General integral (MGI) en el Estado Miranda, durante el curso 2005-2006, para lo cual se emplearon métodos teóricos y empíricos de investigación. Se diseñó una encuesta y una entrevista a expertos. La encuesta fue dirigida a tutores de los médicos cubanos residentes que se presentaron a examen estatal en ese periodo, que sumaron 20, donde se incluyeron aspectos como: datos personales, categoría profesional y pedagógica, grado académico. Fueron identificados como factores, falta de categoría docente, pobre experiencia como tutor, deficiente preparación pedagógica, traslados de comunidad o salidas a Cuba por problemas personales, traslado a largas distancias para realizar las funciones, la vinculación con actividad no relacionada directamente con el postgrado y la ausencia a las actividades metodológicas del curso
A research study was conducted in the field of graduate education to characterize, from the tutors and the management staff perspectives, some factors present in the process of formation of General Family Medicine specialists in Miranda state during the 2005-2006 academic year. To this end, theoretical and empirical research methods were used. A survey and an interview for experts were designed. The surveys for tutors of the 20 Cuban resident physicians who took the board exam included personal data, professional and teaching category and the academic level. The identified factors were lack of adequate teaching category, poor experience as tutor, poor teaching preparation, movement to another community or trips to Cuba for personal reasons, long-distance travels to perform their tasks, involvement in activities not directly related to the graduate education work and absences to the methodological activities of the course
Subject(s)
Education, Graduate , Family Practice , Medical Missions , MentoringABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To describe preparation of a medical mission from a pharmacy team's perspective. METHODS: Essential components of the medication planning process include the development of a separate medication budget, a medication formulary (based on needs assessment and availability) and acquisition of medications and medical supplies. RESULTS: For the medical mission to Jamaica, medications are often purchased or donated from various locations, including retail pharmacies, drug wholesalers, medication drives, pharmaceutical companies, and medication assistance programmes specific to medical missions. It is essential to understand the policy associated with the importation of medications which can be found in the Approval Process for Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, Medical devices, Precursor Chemicals and Narcotics, a paper developed by the Ministry of Health, Jamaica. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of planning and preparation are required for the medical mission to Jamaica to be a success; assistance and cooperation is necessary from all members of the interdisciplinary medical mission team. It is imperative to plan ahead, be organized and equipped to handle unexpected situations so that quality care can be delivered to the patients to be served.
OBJETIVO: Describir la preparación de una misión médica desde la perspectiva de un team de farmacia. MÉTODOS: Componentes esenciales del proceso de planificación de la medicación incluyen el desarrollo de un presupuesto separado de medicamentos, un formulario de medicamentos (basado en la evaluación de las necesidades y la disponibilidad) y la adquisición de medicamentos y suministros médicos. RESULTADOS: Para la misión médica a Jamaica, se obtienen medicamentos a menudo comprados o donados desde varias localidades, incluyendo farmacias minoristas, mayoristas de medicamentos, campañas de venta de medicamentos, compañías farmacéuticas y programas de asistencia de medicamentos específicos para misiones médicas. Es esencial comprender la política asociada con la importación de medicamentos que se pueden hallar en el Proceso de Aprobación para Alimentos, Medicamentos, Cosméticos, Equipos Médicos, Precursores Químicos y Narcóticos - un documento elaborado por Ministerio de Salud, Jamaica. CONCLUSIONES: Se requieren niveles elevados de planificación y preparación para que la misión médica a Jamaica sea un éxito. Hace falta la asistencia y cooperación de todos los miembros del equipo médico interdisciplinario de la misión. Es imperativo planificar con tiempo, ser organizados, y estar bien equipados a fin de dar solución a situaciones inesperadas, de manera que se pueda ofrecer una atención de calidad a los pacientes.
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Humans , Medical Missions/organization & administration , Pharmaceutical Services/organization & administration , JamaicaABSTRACT
En octubre de 2002 se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo de corte con el propósito de investigar sobre el conocimiento y la aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario (DIH) y la Misión Médica (MM), en los servicios de urgencias localizados en municipios del oriente del departamento de Antioquia, región que sufre desde hace varios años las consecuencias del conflicto armado colombiano y que refleja la problemática general del país. El estudio se hizo encuestando a los directores de esos servicios de urgencias para averiguar qué formación habían tenido sobre DIH y MM y qué pautas había en las instituciones que representaban para la aplicación de estas normas. Los directores encuestados manifestaron tener muy poca información acerca del DIH y la MM. Durante su formación académica de pregrado y posgrado no recibieron educación formal al respecto. Estuvieron de acuerdo en la importancia del tema, la necesidad de capacitarse y la posibilidad de aplicarlo. Por otra parte, en las instituciones de salud que cuentan con servicios de urgencias en el oriente antioqueño se carece de protocolos o manuales sobre el DIH y la MM así como de actividades de formación continua que permitan al personal sanitario actuar a la luz de estas normas; además, el conocimiento previo de estos aspectos no es requisito para laborar en las instituciones de salud que cuentan con servicios de urgencias en la región.
In october ctober 2002 a descriptive study was made to find out the grade of knowledge in the Emergency Services of the East region of Antioquia of the International Human Right, (IHR) and the Medical Mission (MM). This region has been suffering since many years the consequences of the war that show what has been happening in the entire country. A questionnaire was filled by the directors of the hospitals in this region about both items. They agree on the importance of the items but said they have little knowledge about them and they have received few instructions regarding those items. In their hospitals there are neither guides nor education programs for the personnel in this regard. To be posted in a hospital, a person needs not show proficiency in IHR or MM