The impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on marital outcomes and factors associated with divorce and separation.

Objective: To analyze marital outcomes, divorce or separation, and its association with demographic, socioeconomic, and clinicopathological factors among breast cancer (BC) survivors after 2-years of diagnosis. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of marital status at baseline and at years 1 and 2 of follow-up of women aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with invasive BC participating in the AMAZONA III (GBECAM0115) study. The BC diagnosis occurred between January 2016 and March 2018 at 23 institutions in Brazil. Results: Of the 2974 women enrolled in AMAZONA III, 599 were married or living under common law at baseline. Divorce or separation occurred in 35 (5.8%) patients at 2 years of follow-up. In the multivariate analysis, public health insurance coverage was associated with a higher risk of marital status change (8.25% vs. 2.79%, RR 3.09, 95% CI 1.39 - 7.03, p = 0.007). Women who underwent mastectomy, adenomastectomy or skin-sparing mastectomy were associated with a higher risk of divorce or separation (8.1% vs. 4.49%, RR 1.97, 95 CI 1.04 - 3.72, p = 0.0366) than those who underwent breast-conserving surgery. Conclusion: Women covered by the public health system and those who underwent mastectomy, adenomastectomy or skin-sparing mastectomy were associated with a higher risk of divorce or separation. This evidence further supports the idea that long-term marital stability is associated with a complex interplay between socioeconomic conditions and stressors, such as BC diagnosis and treatment. ClinicalTrials Registration: NCT02663973.

Development of geriatric oncology in Latin America: A report from the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group.

Population aging represents a critical issue for global cancer care, notably in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Latin America is a large region composed of 21 countries with notable diversity in both human development and access to quality healthcare. Thus, it is necessary to understand how care for older individuals is being delivered in such large and diverse regions of the world. This review describes the recent advances made in Mexico, Brazil, and Chile, focusing on the creation and implementation of educational, research, and clinical activities in geriatric oncology. These initiatives intend to change healthcare professionals' perceptions about the care for older adults and to improve the way older patients are being treated.

Current Scenario of Clinical Cancer Research in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), progress has been made in some national and regional cancer control initiatives, which have proved useful in reducing diagnostic and treatment initiation delays. However, there are still significant gaps, including a lack of oncology clinical trials. In this article, we will introduce the current status of the region's clinical research in cancer, with a special focus on academic cancer research groups and investigator-initiated research (IIR) initiatives. Investigators in LAC have strived to improve cancer research despite drawbacks and difficulties in funding, regulatory timelines, and a skilled workforce. Progress has been observed in the representation of this region in clinical trial development and conduct, as well as in scientific productivity. However, most oncology trials in the region have been sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, highlighting the need for increased funding from governments and private foundations. Improvements in obtaining and/or strengthening the LAC cancer research group's financing will provide opportunities to address cancer therapies and management shortcomings specific to the region. Furthermore, by including this large, ethnic, and genetically diverse population in the world's research agenda, one may bridge the gap in knowledge regarding the applicability of results of clinical trials now mainly conducted in populations from the Northern Hemisphere.

Multicenter Database of Patients with Germ-Cell Tumors: A Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group Registry (LACOG 0515).

INTRODUCTION: Germ-cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common malignancy in young men. There is a paucity of data on GCTs in developing countries. LACOG 0515 study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with GCTs from Brazilian cancer centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating male patients diagnosed with GCTs from 2000 to 2018 in 13 Brazilian hospitals. We described baseline characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 1232 patients were included, with a median age of 30 years. Histology was seminoma in 47.1% and non-seminoma GCT (NSGCT) in 52.9%. The primary tumor site was testis in 96.5%. At diagnosis, clinical stage I was present in 68.1% and 34.7% and clinical stages IS/II/III in 31.9% and 65.2% of patients with seminoma and NSCGT, respectively. Following orchiectomy, 55.2% of patients with clinical stage I were managed with surveillance. The 5-year disease-free survival rates among patients with stage I were 98.0% in seminoma and 92.3% in NSGCT, with 5-year OS of 99.6% and 97.6%, respectively. Among patients with advanced disease (IS, II, and III), the 5-year PFS were 88.7% in seminoma and 68.7% in NSGCT, with 5y-OS of 97.6% and 82.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the largest Brazilian cohort of GCTs. Our results show a high rate of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with clinical stage I. Although our data demonstrate slightly inferior PFS compared with the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group and other contemporary series, the OS rates were similar.

Time interval between diagnosis to treatment of breast cancer and the impact of health insurance coverage: a sub analysis of the AMAZONA III Study (GBECAM 0115).

PURPOSE: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer among women in Brazil. Evidence shows that delayed treatment onset is associated with increased mortality. This study aimed to evaluate median days between diagnosis and treatment and factors associated with delayed start of treatment (> 60 days after diagnosis): stage, treatment received, subtype, epidemiological characteristics, and type of healthcare coverage. METHODS: This analysis included 1709 stage I-III BC patients from AMAZONA III, a prospective, observational study, diagnosed from January 2016 to March 2018 in 22 centers in Brazil. RESULTS: The median number of days from diagnosis to beginning of first oncologic treatment was 46 days (IQR 28-75) overall, 43 days (IQR 25-75) for stage I disease, 49 days (IQR 28-81) for stage II, and 44 days (IQR 30-68) for stage III, (p = 0.1180). According to first treatment received, diagnosis-to-treatment interval was 43 days (IQR 29-65) for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 48 days (IQR 26-81) for surgery. Diagnosis-to-treatment interval was higher in women treated in the public system versus the private system (56 vs. 34 days, p < 0.0001). Patients in the public system had an increased odds of delayed treatment initiation (OR 4.74 95% CI 3.09-7.26, p < .0001). The longer interval from diagnosis to treatment in the public system was independent of clinical stage, type of treatment (systemic vs surgery first), subtype and region of the country. CONCLUSION: By characterizing the delays in care delivery, our study will aid stakeholders to better design interventions and allocate resource to improve timely treatment for breast cancer in Brazil. CLINICALTRIALS: gov Identifier: NCT02663973, registered on January, 26th, 2016.

Current scenario and future perspectives of clinical research in Brazil: a national survey.

Background: Epidemiological and clinical cancer research is essential to understanding tumour behaviour and developing new therapies in oncology. However, several countries including Brazil as well as many other regions of the world have limited participation in cancer research. Despite 625,000 new cancer cases recorded in Brazil in 2022, only 2.2% of ongoing cancer clinical trials are available in the country. We conducted an online survey to describe physician engagement with research and to identify the main barriers precluding participation in and conduct of clinical cancer research in the country. Methods: An anonymous online survey of 23 objective questions was sent by e-mail to Brazilian members of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group and the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology. The first 13 questions addressed demographic information, medical training and previous research participation. In the second part, the main barriers to engagement and participation in clinical trials in Brazil were addressed. Continuous variables were measured by median and range. Analyses were performed using SAS statistical software (version 9.4; SAS Institute, Inc. Cary, NC). Results: 109 physicians answered the survey. Most participants were oncologists (N = 98, 89.9%), living in capital cities (N = 84, 77.1%), were from the Southeast region of Brazil (N = 63, 57.8%) and worked at institutions providing exclusively private healthcare (N = 59, 54.1%). Of the 109 respondents, 83 (76.1%) reported working in research centres (as investigators or sub-investigators). Surprisingly, 31.2% of physicians recognised they invite less than 1% of their patients to participate in clinical trials, even though 98 (89.9%) considered the participation of patients in clinical trials extremely relevant. The main barriers compromising the conduct of research in the country were the low number of available trials (48.2%) and the lack of qualified human resources to staff research sites (22.9%). Other reported barriers were the lengthy regulatory approval process (42.2%), followed by a lack of awareness of clinical research by patients resulting in low recruitment rates (24.1%). Of the 26 (23.8%) respondents not working with research, 25 (96.1%) reported interest in being involved, 31.8% have tried participating in research and 62.4% reported limited knowledge of trial procedures. Conclusion: These results suggest a clear need to further engage physicians in clinical research activities in Brazil. Patient education strategies should improve the low recruitment rates and secondarily increase the number of proposed trials in the country.

Socioeconomic Impact of Cancer in Latin America and The Caribbean.

The incidence of cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is increasing yearly and is expected to reach 2.4 million new cases by 2040, with a more pronounced effect in Central America and South America. In addition, cancer is already the most frequent cause of premature death for most countries in LAC, and the second cause of death independent of country socioeconomic status, clearly demonstrating that the cancer burden in LAC should be addressed now rather than considered as an issue to be dealt with in the future. LAC countries performed in a mid-range zone in terms of income and mortality-to-incidence ratio compared to other countries globally. The LAC continent has, in general, a median income per capita and a median availability of radiotherapy (RDT) machines per capita. Patients that have private health coverage are more likely to receive preventive care such as pap smears and mammography in many countries of the LAC. The human development index was negatively related to mortality from oral cancer in the LAC countries with medium and low Human Development Index (HDI). Cancer treatment adverse events can negatively affect survivors' workability compromising their return to work after diagnosis. In conclusion, the cancer burden can be a major public health issue with a considerable socioeconomic impact in LAC countries. It is demonstrated in several studies that unequal access to optimal care is frequent in LAC and that health insurance type may impact patients' diagnosis and outcome.

Influence of physician's lifestyle on the prescription of healthy habits to breast cancer patients (LACOG 1218).

BACKGROUND: Healthy lifestyle is capable of positively modifying the survival of breast cancer (BC) patients. We aimed to evaluate how physician's lifestyle influences on the prescription of healthy habits to BC patients. METHODS: An online questionnaire to evaluate physician lifestyle and prescription of healthy habits to BC patients was developed and circulated by e-mail to physicians dedicated to treat BC patients. A multivariate Poisson regression analysis assessed which factors of physician lifestyle could influence on prescription of healthy habits. RESULTS: A total of 267 physicians answered the questionnaire from October to November 2018. In terms of physician lifestyle, 228 (85.4%) had healthy eating habits and 236 (88.4%) practiced physical activity. Overall, 84.3% of the physicians advised their BC patients on the importance of lifestyle modification. Physicians who did not exercise regularly have a higher probability of not advising for health lifestyle (RR 2.48; p = 0.0265) as opposite to physicians ≥ 50 years-old (RR 0.37; p = 0.0118). Obesity treatment and management was performed by 45.3% of physicians. Being a breast surgeon (RR 1.29; p = 0.0025) or radiation oncologists (RR 1.82; p = 0.0025) were associated with not performing obesity treatment and management. About 53.4% of physicians referred overweight or obese patients to a dietitian and/or endocrinologist. Male gender (RR 1.35; p = 0.0296), breast surgeons (RR 1.99; p = 0.0001), and clinical practice in public health system (RR 1.53; p = 0.0012) were associated with not referring as opposed to physicians ≥ 50 years-old (RR 0.46; p = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Our survey showed some influence of physician's lifestyle on the prescription of healthy habits to BC patients. Physicians who practice physical activity regularly had a higher probability of advising lifestyle modification and about half of physicians did some type of overweight and obese management.

Cancer control in Latin America and the Caribbean: recent advances and opportunities to move forward.

The increasing burden of cancer represents a substantial problem for Latin America and the Caribbean. Two Lancet Oncology Commissions in 2013 and 2015 highlighted potential interventions that could advance cancer care in the region by overcoming existing challenges. Areas requiring improvement included insufficient investment in cancer control, non-universal health coverage, fragmented health systems, inequitable concentration of cancer services, inadequate registries, delays in diagnosis or treatment initiation, and insufficient palliative services. Progress has been made in key areas but remains uneven across the region. An unforeseen challenge, the COVID-19 pandemic, strained all resources, and its negative effect on cancer control is expected to continue for years. In this Series paper, we summarise progress in several aspects of cancer control since 2015, and identify persistent barriers requiring commitment of additional resources to reduce the cancer burden in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Perspectives on emerging technologies, personalised medicine, and clinical research for cancer control in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Challenges of health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean include accessibility, inequity, segmentation, and poverty. These challenges are similar in different countries of the region and transcend national borders. The increasing digital transformation of health care holds promise of more precise interventions, improved health outcomes, increased efficiency, and ultimately reduced health-care costs. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the adoption of digital health tools is in early stages and the quality of cancer registries, electronic health records, and structured databases are problematic. Cancer research and innovation in the region are limited due to inadequate academic resources and translational research is almost fully dependent on public funding. Regulatory complexity and extended timelines jeopardise the potential improvement in participation in international studies. Emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, big data, and cancer research represent an opportunity to address the health-care challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean collectively, by optimising national capacities, sharing and comparing best practices, and transferring scientific and technical capabilities.

Should platinum-based chemotherapy be preferred for germline BReast CAncer genes (BRCA) 1 and 2-mutated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Recent studies have shown that 4-20% of patients with PDAC have a germline BReast CAncer (gBRCA) genes 1 and 2 mutation (m). Because homologous recombination is impaired in patients with gBRCAm, some reports suggested that these tumors may be more sensitive to platinum compounds. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis focused on benefit of patients with gBRCAm receiving a platinum-based chemotherapy (PtCh) compared with those treated with a non-platinum-based chemotherapy (NPtCh). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The following electronic databases were searched from inception to May 12, 2018: PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Abstracts from conferences were also reviewed for inclusion. Cohort, case-control and randomized studies of patients with PDAC and gBRCAm were eligible for inclusion if they provided data to compare patients receiving PtCh vs NPtCh. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) in the PtCh group vs the NPtCh group in patients with clinical stage III (locally advanced) or IV (metastatic) (CS III-IV) PDAC. RESULTS: Of 112 studies identified, 6 were included (total of 108 patients); of these, 4 provided sufficient data for meta-analysis. Half of the patients were males, with a mean age ranging from 58 to 63 years. The OS in the 85 patients with CS III-IV PDAC was higher in the PtCh group (23.7 vs 12.2 months; mean difference of 10.21 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.05-15.37; P < 0.001; very low quality of evidence). PtCh was associated with a lower mortality (62.3 vs 87.5%; relative risk of 0.80, 95%CI 0.66-0.97; P = 0.021; very low quality of evidence). CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the hypothesis that patients with CS III-IV gBRCAm preferably benefit from a PtCh compared with NPtCh. However the very low quality of evidence should induce to be careful about the risk of potential biases. The generated hypothesis should be prospectively investigated in homogenous clinical settings.

Complications of central venous catheter insertion in a teaching hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Central venous catheters are fundamental to daily clinical practice. This procedure is mainly performed by residents, often without supervision or structured training. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of central venous catheterization and the complication rate related to it. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study. Adult patients undergoing central venous catheter insertion out of the intensive care unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital were selected from March 2014 to February 2015. Data were collected from medical charts using an electronic form. Clinical and laboratory characteristics from patients, procedure characteristics, and mechanical and infectious complications rates were assessed. Patients with and without complications were compared. RESULTS: Three hundred and eleven (311) central venous catheterizations were evaluated. The main reasons to perform the procedure were lack of peripheral access, chemotherapy and sepsis. There were 20 mechanical complications (6% of procedures). Arterial puncture was the most common. Procedures performed in the second semester were associated with lower risk of complications (odds ratio 0.35 [95CI 0.12-0.98; p=0.037]). Thirty-five (35) catheter-related infection cases (11.1%) were reported. They were related to younger patients and procedures performed by residents with more than one year of training. Procedures performed after the first trimester had a lower chance of infection. CONCLUSION: These results show that the rate of mechanical complications of central venous puncture in our hospital is similar to the literature, but more attention should be given to infection prevention measures.

Complications of central venous catheter insertion in a teaching hospital / Complicações de punções venosas centrais em um hospital de ensino

Summary Introduction: Central venous catheters are fundamental to daily clinical practice. This procedure is mainly performed by residents, often without supervision or structured training. Objective: To describe the characteristics of central venous catheterization and the complication rate related to it. Method: Retrospective cohort study. Adult patients undergoing central venous catheter insertion out of the intensive care unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital were selected from March 2014 to February 2015. Data were collected from medical charts using an electronic form. Clinical and laboratory characteristics from patients, procedure characteristics, and mechanical and infectious complications rates were assessed. Patients with and without complications were compared. Results: Three hundred and eleven (311) central venous catheterizations were evaluated. The main reasons to perform the procedure were lack of peripheral access, chemotherapy and sepsis. There were 20 mechanical complications (6% of procedures). Arterial puncture was the most common. Procedures performed in the second semester were associated with lower risk of complications (odds ratio 0.35 [95CI 0.12-0.98; p=0.037]). Thirty-five (35) catheter-related infection cases (11.1%) were reported. They were related to younger patients and procedures performed by residents with more than one year of training. Procedures performed after the first trimester had a lower chance of infection. Conclusion: These results show that the rate of mechanical complications of central venous puncture in our hospital is similar to the literature, but more attention should be given to infection prevention measures.

Resumo Introdução: Cateteres venosos centrais são fundamentais na prática clínica diária. Em hospitais de ensino, esse procedimento é realizado por médicos residentes, frequentemente sem supervisão ou treinamento estruturado. Objetivo: Descrever as características das punções venosas centrais e a taxa de complicações relacionadas. Método: Estudo de coorte retrospectiva. Foram selecionados pacientes adultos submetidos a punção venosa central fora de unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) de um hospital de ensino no ano letivo de 2014 (março de 2014 a fevereiro de 2015). Os dados foram coletados por meio de revisão de prontuários com o uso de formulário eletrônico. Foram avaliadas características clínicas e laboratoriais dos pacientes, características do procedimento, taxa de complicações mecânicas e infecciosas relacionadas. Foram comparados os pacientes com complicações em relação àqueles sem complicações. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 311 punções venosas centrais. Os principais motivos para realização do procedimento foram falta de rede periférica, quimioterapia e sepse. Ocorreram 20 complicações mecânicas (6% dos procedimentos); punção arterial foi a mais comum. Procedimentos realizados no segundo semestre do ano letivo foram associados a menor risco de complicações (razão de chances de 0,35 [IC95 0,12-0,98; p=0,037]). Foram descritos 35 casos de infecção relacionada ao cateter (11,1%). Casos de infecção foram associados a pacientes mais jovens e procedimentos realizados por residentes com mais de um ano de treinamento. Procedimentos realizados após o primeiro trimestre tiveram menor chance de infecção. Conclusão: Esses resultados mostram que a taxa de complicações mecânicas de punção venosa central em nosso hospital é semelhante à da literatura; porém, maior atenção deve ser dada para medidas de prevenção de infecção.

The diagnosis of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a prevalent genetic disease characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, presenting dynamic obstruction of outflow tract with subaortic gradient happening at rest in 30% of the cases. It is attributed to the intricate interaction between the anterior mitral leaflet, the interventricular septum and altered flow vectors generated in left ventricle along with changes in outflow tract geometry. Mitral regurgitation in varying degrees is found with or without association with structural deformities of the valve apparatus. The exercise echocardiogram evidences latent obstruction easily induced by exercise in 60 to 75% of non-obstructive forms. The determination of the gradient under this condition must be considered in routine investigation of patients with mild or no obstruction at rest. The evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy incorporates methods based on the ultrasound image, which, along with MRI, allow recognizing ventricular obstruction generating mechanisms, thus facilitating the diagnosis and management of obstructive and latent obstructive forms.

O diagnóstico da obstrução da via de saída do ventrículo esquerdo na cardiomiopatia hipertrófica / The diagnosis of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A cardiomiopatia hipertrófica é uma doença genética prevalente caracterizada por hipertrofia ventricular esquerda, em que obstrução dinâmica da via de saída com geração de gradiente subaórtico incide em repouso em 30% dos casos. A obstrução é atribuida complexa interação entre o folheto anterior mitral, o septo interventricular e vetores anômalos de fluxo gerados no ventrículo esquerdo aliada a modificações na geometria da via de saída. Regurgitação mitral em grau variável é detectada associada ou não a deformidades estruturais do aparelho valvar. O ecocardiograma de esforço demonstra obstrução latente facilmente induzida por exercício em 60 a 75% das formas não obstrutivas. A determinação do gradiente nessas condições impõe-se na investigação de rotina dos pacientes com obstrução leve ou ausente em repouso. A avaliação da cardiomiopatia hipertrófica incorpora métodos de imagem baseados no ultrassom, os quais, adicionados ressonância magnética, possibilitam o reconhecimento de mecanismos geradores de obstrução ventricular, de modo a favorecer o diagnóstico e o manejo das formas obstrutivas e obstrutivas latentes.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a prevalent genetic disease characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, presenting dynamic obstruction of outflow tract with subaortic gradient happening at rest in 30% of the cases. It is attributed to the intricate interaction between the anterior mitral leaflet, the interventricular septum and altered flow vectors generated in left ventricle along with changes in outflow tract geometry. Mitral regurgitation in varying degrees is found with or without association with structural deformities of the valve apparatus. The exercise echocardiogram evidences latent obstruction easily induced by exercise in 60 to 75% of non-obstructive forms. The determination of the gradient under this condition must be considered in routine investigation of patients with mild or no obstruction at rest. The evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy incorporates methods based on the ultrasound image, which, along with MRI, allow recognizing ventricular obstruction generating mechanisms, thus facilitating the diagnosis and management of obstructive and latent obstructive forms.

Avaliação qualitativa do efeito do ensino de pedagogia médica sobre a atividade docente em alunos do curso de Pós-Graduação em Medicina / Qualitative assessment of the effect of a medical pedagogy course on the teaching activity of graduate medical students

A situação atual do ensino médico, principalmente referente à formação de seus professores vem sendo questionada e sofrendo adaptações nos currículos de pós-graduação visando ao aprimoramento dos métodos de ensino dos docentes. O programa de pósgraduação em Medicina da UFCSPA, buscando adequar-se aos padrões ideais de formação pedagógica docente, inseriu no seu programa a disciplina de Pedagogia Médica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade de ensino dos alunos do programa de Pósgraduação que cursam a disciplina de Pedagogia Médica. Foram avaliados 2 grupos: o primeiro, constituído por 120 alunos que realizaram a prática didática simultaneamente às aulas teóricas de Pedagogia e o segundo grupo, também com 120 alunos, porém que realizaram a prática didática após a conclusão da disciplina. Em conclusão, os alunos do grupo 2 apresentaram uma melhor qualidade no processo de ensino-aprendizagem pelo uso de maior variedade dos métodos de ensino, recursos audiovisuais e formas de avaliação (AU)

Introduction: The current situation of medical education in our community, particularly concerning the preparation of university professors, has been questioned and eventually submitted to changes in the postgraduate curricula in order to improve the teaching methods of medical professors. Seeking to catch-up with the optimal standards for the pedagogical formation of professors, the postgraduate program of medicine has included the discipline of Medical Pedagogy in its curriculum. Methods: Two groups were evaluated. Group 1, composed of 120 students, performed the didactical practice concurrently with the theoretical classes of Pedagogy, and Group 2, composed of 120 students as well but who attended the didactical classes after having completed the discipline. Results and Conclusion: Students in Group 2 presented a higher quality in the teaching/ learning process because of their wider use of teaching methods, audiovisual resources, and evaluation forms (AU)