La investigación científica: un reto en electromedicina

RESUMEN En Cuba se fomenta el desarrollo de investigaciones en el campo de las ciencias médicas, con el fin de introducir sus resultados a favor del progreso económico y social. El objetivo de este trabajo fue reflexionar sobre el papel de la ciencia en la gestión de equipos médicos, su aplicación en los departamentos de electromedicina de las instituciones sanitarias, y su impacto social. Todo ello a partir de la presentación de los aspectos teóricos fundamentales de las relaciones entre ciencia, gestión de equipos médicos y función social de la electromedicina, a partir de su situación actual. La investigación científica en electromedicina, permitiría formular nuevas teorías o modificar las existentes e incrementar los conocimientos, lo que posibilitaría el enriquecimiento de las ciencias médicas. Resulta necesaria como proceso, a fin de obtener información relevante para la verificación, corrección y aplicación del conocimiento, en aras de solucionar los problemas de las tecnologías sanitarias y su impacto socioeconómico.

ABSTRACT In Cuba, the development of research in the field of the medical sciences is promoted in order to introduce its results to favor the social and economic progress. The aim of this work was to reflect on the role of science in the management of medical devices, its application in the electromedicine departments of health facilities, and its social impact, all this from the presentation of the main theoretical aspects of the relations between science, medical devices management and electromedicine social function in its current situation. Scientific research in electromedicine would allow to formulate new theories or to modify the existent ones and to increase knowledge, what would make possible the enrichment of the medical sciences. As a process, scientific research is necessary in order to obtain relevant information for the validation, correction and application of the knowledge, for the sake of solving the problems of health technologies and its socioeconomic impact.

Microcurrent as an adjunct therapy to accelerate chronic wound healing and reduce patient pain.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim is to assess the efficacy of microcurrent, a form of electrical stimulation, as an adjunct therapy in accelerating healing in chronic wounds by reducing wound size and pain level. The secondary aim is to assess the qualitative changes in these parameters: inflammatory symptoms, vasodilation, sleep quality, gait and frequency of bowel movement. METHOD: Eligible patients with chronic wounds were enrolled between March and June 2016, from the Wound Care Unit, Hospital Kuala Lumpur in this consecutive case series. Standard wound care was performed with microcurrent as an adjunct therapy. Each patient was treated with an anti-inflammatory frequency, followed by a vasodilation frequency, while having their wounds cleansed during each dressing change. Patients were loaned a home-microcurrent device to treat themselves three times daily using a tissue repair frequency for four weeks. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients with chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers, were recruited. During the four-week treatment period, all patients had a reduction in wound size, with 16 having complete wound closure. All 89 of the 100 patients who complained of pain, associated with their wound, experienced reduced pain scores, with 11 being pain-free at the end of the four-week period. There was significant reduction (p<0.001) in both mean pain score and mean wound area during the treatment period, as well as improvements in other parameters, such as reduction in inflammatory symptoms (leg swelling, foot stiffness), increased vasodilation (skin discolouration, leg heaviness, early morning erection, sensation), improvement in sleep quality, gait, and frequency of bowel movement. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show there was significant reduction in wound area and pain score during the treatment period. The ease of use of microcurrent devices would advocate its use in accelerating wound healing.

Biblioteca virtual para el proceso formativo del tecnólogo en electromedicina: factibilidad de su implementación / Virtual library for training of the technologist in electromedicine: feasibility of its implementation

Se efectuó un estudio exploratorio en 20 tecnólogos de segundo año en electromedicina y 6 profesores de la Facultad de Tecnología de la Salud de Santiago de Cuba, seleccionados mediante un muestreo intencional en el Centro de Ingeniaría Clínica y Electromedicina, a fin de valorar la factibilidad de la implementación de una biblioteca virtual en el proceso formativo de estos profesionales, para lo cual se realizó un taller de socialización durante noviembre de 2010. Se comprobó que este producto informático, como material de consulta y apoyo a la docencia, destinado a elevar el nivel de conocimientos de los estudiantes sobre la gran variedad de equipos electromédicos que les son pertinentes, resultó factible.

An exploratory study was conducted in 20 second year-technologists in electromedicine and 6 teachers from the Faculty of Health Technology in Santiago de Cuba, selected through a purposive sampling at the Center for Clinical Engineering and Electromedicine in order to assess the feasibility of the implementation of a virtual library in the training of these professionals, for which a socialization workshop was carried out during November 2010. It was found that this software product was feasible as reference tool and teaching support, aimed at increasing the students' knowledge on the wide variety of electromedical devices that are relevant to them.