The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Service-Learning Experiences Among Undergraduate Public Health Students in Hawai'i.

Service-learning is a high-impact educational practice at the core of the undergraduate public health degree at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM). This practice provides an invaluable learning experience and professional opportunity for students to collaborate with community partners and make significant contributions in the field. The COVID-19 pandemic halted or disrupted service-learning experiences as community partners adapted to shifting mandates and emergency orders. Surveying the rapidly evolving landscape of partner organizations to support service-learning is a challenge. Assessing changes to the program mentorship or satisfaction is the first step to developing protocols to ensure standardization of service-learning during times of crisis. This study will address if and how the pandemic impacted students' satisfaction with required service-learning experiences. Furthermore, authors hope to create a comprehensive list of practicum partnering organizations, both focused on pandemic response and, more generally, of the service-learning students at UHM, with the intent to increase students and community partners in local service-learning. Assessments were conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on undergraduate students' experiences with service-learning through use of a program exit survey. The authors hypothesized pandemic-related adjustments would not affect student satisfaction or skill development. Despite challenges associated with the pandemic and emergency online transitions, students persisted in personal and professional growth associated with service-learning. This developed resilience supports students as they graduate and enter a workforce adapting to remote work demands and community needs.

Experiencias en Cuba sobre la utilización de métodos colaborativos de aprendizaje en asignaturas de la carrera Ciencias de la Información / Cuban experiences in the use of collaborative learning methods in Information Sciences undergraduate courses

Los métodos colaborativos permiten desarrollar habilidades y actitudes en los estudiantes para descubrir y construir conocimientos por ellos mismos, a la vez que promueven la interdependencia a la hora de resolver problemas profesionales. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo mostrar las experiencias y los resultados del trabajo con métodos colaborativos en tres asignaturas de la carrera Ciencias de la Información de dos universidades cubanas. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en el que se utilizaron métodos empíricos, como un análisis documental clásico, entrevistas semiestructuradas a los jefes de equipos y encuestas estructuradas a 70 estudiantes (100 por ciento) que constituyeron la población. Se constató que, de forma general, la aplicación de técnicas didácticas activas mostró resultados positivos tanto en la evaluación de los resultados docentes como en la asistencia a clases. De igual manera, se logró que los alumnos diseñaran su estructura de interacciones y asumieran diferentes roles para intervenir en las comunidades desde una perspectiva informacional. Las opiniones de los estudiantes se tuvieron en cuenta para realizar mejoras en el diseño de las asignaturas. Por las condiciones impuestas por la pandemia COVID 19, las clases se adaptaron a condiciones no presenciales, lo que conllevó un incremento en el uso de las redes sociales digitales para la comunicación entre los alumnos y los profesores(AU)

Collaborative methods provide students with the skills and attitudes required to discover and build knowledge by themselves, and foster interdependence when solving professional problems. The purpose of the study was to present the experiences and results obtained from the use of collaborative methods in three Information Sciences undergraduate courses taught in two Cuban universities. A descriptive study was conducted based on empirical methods such as classic document analysis, semi-structured interviews with team leaders, and structured surveys to 70 students (100 percengt), who made up the study population. It was found that the use of active didactic techniques generally led to positive academic results and better attendance to class. Students could also design their own structure of interactions, taking on different roles to intervene in communities from an information perspective. Students' opinions were taken into account for curriculum development. Due to the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, classes were not attended physically, expanding the use of digital social networking for communication between students and teachers(AU)

2012 - The year when BAOMS and its officers prevented closure of all UK shortened medical and dental courses.

In Spring 2011 the Department of Health (DH) received a request to review European Union Directive 2005/36 EU - the directive relating to the recognition of professional qualifications. The Department of Health lawyer raised concerns that the existing shortened dental courses may be in breach of EU law. There were three shortened dental courses in the UK: 4year graduate entry courses in Liverpool/Peninsula and 3-year Dental Programme for Medical Graduates (DPMG) in Kings, London. During the summer the General Dental Council (GDC) was made aware of these concerns. In autumn 2011 the Chief Dental Officer for England with the GDC, told the Dental Deans' Council (DDC) that shortened dental courses were illegal. On 12th Jan 2012 students on the DPMG were told that they would have to complete a full 5-year dental degree. The GDC said that this interpretation of EU law would also impact on shortened medical courses. In view of the potentially enormous impact that this would have on OMFS training, BAOMS engaged all the resources it could and by assembling legal opinions including written contributions from Sir David Edward, whose opinion was being misinterpreted by the GDC and DH, and by sharing these resources with all the stakeholders, BAOMS was able to preserve shortened dental and medical courses. Now that the UK has left the European Union, negotiations around mutual recognition of qualifications may mean this issue will resurface. We should remain vigilant.

Intervalo de confianza para el porcentaje poblacional de profesores con categoría docente Asistente / Confidence interval for the percent of teaching population with category of Teaching Assistant

RESUMEN En el proceso de autoevaluación de las carreras de Estomatología y Medicina para su acreditación en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Matanzas en Cuba, dentro de la variable profesores se señala como una debilidad de los claustros docentes, el no predominio de las categorías principales titular y auxiliar, con un grupo de profesores mayoritariamente en la categoría de asistente, lo que motivó que se realizara la estimación de un intervalo de confianza para el verdadero valor del porcentaje de profesores con categoría asistente en el claustro de la Universidad con el objetivo de opinar basado en un método sólido y sencillo el rango de valores donde posiblemente se encuentre el valor real, utilizando las fórmulas del intervalo estándar y el de Wilson (AU).

SUMMARY The non-predominance of the main categories of Main Professor and Lecturer, with a group of professors mostly in the category of Assistant was pointed out in the variable Teachers, as weakness of the faculties in the auto evaluation process of Stomatology and Medicine undergraduate studies for their accreditation in the University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas in Cuba; it motivated the estimation of a confidence interval for the true value of the percent of teachers with category of Assistant in the University staff with the aim of holding a position based on a solid and simple method, on the rank of values where possibly is the real value, using the standard and Wilson´s interval formula (AU).

The Road to Becoming a Psychologist: Indicators of Success and Hardship during the University Years.

In order to become a full-fledged psychologist, one must undertake a long, demanding, and quite difficult journey in academia. The academic journey holds a promise of delivering knowledge, interesting theories, and strategies on helping those who need psychological assessment and/or treatment. However, the constant expectation of keeping up with the material, of succeeding in tests and exams, and of preparing to proceed to the next educational level can be daunting and exhausting. In line with the topic of this special issue, this paper addresses factors contributing to academic success at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels of psychology. Utilizing the available literature on the Big Five personality classification scheme, high conscientiousness was found to be the most consistent predictor of success, although curiously, this relationship was only found to be reliable at the undergraduate level. Less robust findings included high agreeableness and low neuroticism as predictors of general academic success in all tertiary levels of education. The importance of mentorship figures in psychology, and a highlight of its lack of widespread implementation at the undergraduate level, are also addressed. Additionally, we discuss the negative implications of the impostor phenomenon and of loneliness, which students at all levels may experience as common barriers to scholastic success in psychology. Following a discussion of each factor as outlined above, there is a brief literature review regarding ways that its constraining effects may be limited or its positive effects possibly enhanced.

Currículos de salud sexual y reproductiva en programas de educación superior para América Latina / Sexual and reproductive health curricula in higher education programs for Latin America / Grades curriculares de saúde sexual e reprodutiva nos programas de ensino superior para a América Latina

Objetivo: identificar la inclusión de la propuesta temática curricular de la Federación Latinoamericana de Obstetricia y Ginecología (FLASOG) sobre salud sexual y reproductiva en programas de pregrado (Medicina) y posgrado (Obstetricia y Ginecología) en un grupo de universidades e instituciones de educación superior de Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Método: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el cual se aplicó una encuesta a universidades de Latinoamérica y El Caribe durante el año 2017 para determinar si los contenidos de los programas con relación a salud sexual y reproductiva corresponden a la propuesta temática de la FLASOG, tanto en pregrado (Medicina) como en posgrado (Obstetricia y Ginecología). Resultados: todos los programas de pregrado evaluados incluyen dentro del currículo los siguientes temas: m étodos anticonceptivos, aborto y morbimortalidad materna y el 36,4 % contemplan salud sexual en la tercera edad. Todos los programas de posgrado evaluados estudian métodos anticonceptivos, anticoncepci ón en posparto y posaborto, morbimortalidad materna, aborto, y maternidad saludable. Solo el 55,6 % de ellos tienen temáticas relacionadas con interrupción voluntaria del embarazo y salud sexual en la tercera edad. Conclusiones: los programas evaluados cuentan con docentes dedicados a educación en salud sexual y reproductiva en sus programas, aunque en la mayoría de las instituciones (76,9 % ) no existe un proceso formal de evaluación y retroalimentación. Todas las universidades que respondieron la encuesta trabajan tres temas en sus contenidos curriculares de pregrado: aborto, anticoncepción y morbimortalidad materna, t ópicos que han sido considerados de alto impacto en la salud sexual y reproductiva de las mujeres. La interrupción voluntaria del embarazo se discute en dos de cada tres universidades que respondieron la encuesta. El tema de salud sexual en la tercera edad no se incluye en los programas.

Objective: to identify if Latin American and Caribbean higher education institutions include in their curriculum the sexual and reproductive health topics proposed by the Latin American Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FLASOG for its acronym in Spanish) in undergraduate and graduate programs. Methods: descriptive, cross sectional study developed in the year 2017. A survey was sent to universities in Latin America and the Caribbean to evaluate if the sexual and reproductive health contents in the curriculum of undergraduate (medicine) and graduate schools (obstetrics and gynecology) correspond to the ones proposed by FLASOG. Results: 100 % of assessed undergraduate programs include the following topics in their curriculum: birth control methods, abortion, maternal morbidity and mortality, and 36.4 % include sexual health in the elderly. 100 % of graduate programs evaluated include: birth control methods, maternal morbidity and mortality, abortion, and healthy maternity, and 55.6 % include legal pregnancy termination and sexual health in the elderly. Conclusions: All the higher education programs evaluated have faculty for sexual and reproductive health, but most institutions (76 .9 % ) do not have a formal process for evaluation and feedback. All the universities include in their undergraduate programs the following topics: abortion, birth control methods and maternal morbidity and mortality, all of which have been considered of high impact in sexual and reproductive health of women. However, topics such as legal termination of pregnancy are only included in two out of three universities evaluated, and sexual health in the elderly is rarely included in the curriculum.

Objetivo: identificar a inclusão da proposta temática da Federação Latino-Americana de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia (FLASOG) em saúde sexual e reprodutiva nos programas de graduação (Medicina) e pós-graduação (Obstetrícia e Ginecologia) em um grupo de universidades e instituições de ensino superior da América Latina e do Caribe. Método: estudo descritivo transversal. Foi aplicado um questionário em programas de cursos de graduação e pós-graduação de universidades da América Latina e do Caribe em 2017, para determinar se o conteúdo dos programas relacionados à saúde sexual e reprodutiva correspondem à proposta temática da FLASOG no nível de graduação (Medicina) e de pós-graduação (Obstetrícia e Ginecologia). Resultados: todos os programas de graduação avaliados incluíram os seguintes tópicos no currículo: métodos contraceptivos, aborto e morbimortalidade materna; ainda, 36,4% dos programas abrangem temas relacionados à saúde sexual nos idosos. Todos os programas de pós-graduação avaliados estudam métodos contraceptivos, contracepção no pós-parto e pós-aborto, morbimortalidade materna, aborto e maternidade saudável. Apenas 55,6% desses programas têm tópicos relacionados à interrupção voluntária da gravidez e sobre a saúde sexual em idosos. Conclusões: os programas avaliados têm professores enfocados na educação da saúde sexual e reprodutiva, embora na maioria das instituições (76,9%) não exista um processo formal de avaliação e feedback. Todas as universidades que responderam à pesquisa trabalham com três tópicos em seu conteúdo curricular de graduação: aborto, contracepção e morbimortalidade materna, considerados de alto impacto na saúde sexual e reprodutiva das mulheres. A interrupção voluntária da gravidez é discutida em uma proporção de duas em cada três universidades que responderam ao questionário. A saúde sexual em idosos não está incluída nos programas

Practical ultrasound workshops to teach medical students basic concepts of ultrasound semiology. / Talleres prácticos de ecografía para estudiantes de Medicina como método de enseñanza de conceptos básicos de semiología ecográfica.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of practical ultrasound workshops for the acquisition and consolidation of conceptual learning about the basic physics and semiology of ultrasonography aimed at third-year medical school students doing the physical examination module of their studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out practical ultrasound workshops with two groups of 177 and 175 students in two consecutive academic years. All students had taken a class in basic radiology in the previous year. Students examined each other with ultrasonography under instructors' supervision in a two-hour session. Before and after the workshop, students did a seven-question multiple-choice test about basic semiology and answered two questions evaluating their degree of confidence in interpreting ultrasonographic images and handling the ultrasound scanner on a scale from 1 to 10. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the scores obtained in the two groups. Overall, the mean score on the multiple-choice test improved from 59.71% on the initial assessment to 88.29% on the post-workshop assessment (p <0.01). Confidence in interpreting images improved from 3.39/10 to 6.28/10 (p <0.01), and confidence in handling the equipment improved from 3.73/10 to 6.51/10 (p <0.01). CONCLUSION: Practical workshops were useful for learning basic concepts about ultrasound imaging, allowing students to significantly improve their scores on the multiple-choice test. Students had a low level of confidence in their ability to interpret ultrasound images and handle the equipment before starting the workshop, but their confidence improved significantly after completing the workshop.

Barriers to teaching communication skills in Spanish medical schools: a qualitative study with academic leaders.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, Spanish medical schools (MSs) have incorporated training in communication skills (CS), but how this training is being carried out has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To identify the barriers to the introduction and development of CS teaching in Spanish MSs. METHODS: In a previous study, 34 MSs (83% of all MSs in Spain) were invited to participate in a study that explored the factual aspects of teaching CS in these schools. The person responsible for teaching CS at each school was contacted again for this study and asked to respond to a single open-ended question. Two researchers independently conducted a thematic analysis of the responses. RESULTS: We received responses from 30 MSs (85.7% of those contacted and 73% of all MSs in Spain). Five main thematic areas were identified, each with different sub-areas: negative attitudes of teachers and academic leaders; organisation, structure and presence of CS training in the curriculum; negative attitudes of students; a lack of trained teachers; and problems linked to teaching methods and necessary educational logistics. CONCLUSIONS: The identified barriers and problems indicate that there are areas for improvement in teaching CS in most Spanish MSs. There seems to be a vicious circle based on the dynamic relationship and interdependence of all these problems that should be faced with different strategies and that requires a significant cultural shift as well as decisive institutional support at the local and national levels. The incorporation of CS training into MS curricula represents a major challenge that must be addressed for students to learn CS more effectively and avoid negative attitudes towards learning CS.

Graduação e Pós-Graduação em Psicologia na PUC-SP: mútua contribuição para o compromisso social na pesquisa e qualificação docente / Psychology Undergraduate and Graduate courses at PUC-SP: mutual contribution and social commitment in research and teacher qualification / Graduación y Postgrado en Psicología en PUC-SP: contribución mutua al compromiso social en la enseñanza de la investigación y la calificación docente

O artigo objetiva apresentar as mútuas relações e contribuições entre os Programas de Pós-Graduação stricto sensu e a Graduação em Psicologia da PUC-SP, para a construção do conhecimento da Psicologia como ciência, profissão e interdisciplinaridade. A fim de subsidiar a proposta, apresenta-se uma breve retomada histórica da implantação da Pós-Graduação na PUC-SP, a memória dos Programas de Psicologia: Social (1972), Clínica (1976) e Experimental - Análise do Comportamento (1999), e do Programa de Educação: Psicologia da Educação (1969) - um dos três primeiros da PUC-SP. Acrescentam-se dois exemplos de trabalhos pioneiros iniciados na, então, Faculdade de Psicologia e incorporados à Pós-Graduação da PUC-SP que se mantêm como referências nacional e internacional: o Laboratório de Estudos e Intervenções sobre o Luto - LELu, iniciativa da professora Maria Helena Pereira Franco, e a inserção da Psicologia Ambiental articulada à Saúde, pela professora Marlise Aparecida Bassani. Enfatiza-se o movimento de contribuições de docentes da Graduação em Psicologia titulados pelos Programas de Pós-Graduação da Universidade e a integração Pós-Graduação - Graduação na formação de profissionais de Psicologia, pesquisadores e docentes comprometidos com as questões e transformações sociais, na promoção de diálogos mais articulados com outras áreas do Saber, para avanços da ciência psicológica.

The goal of this article is to present mutual relations and contributions between the Postgraduate and Undergraduate courses in Psychology at PUC-SP in contributing to the Science of Psychology, the professional life of psycholo-gists and interdisciplinary studies. In order to contextualize such proposal, we introduce a brief historic summary of how the post-graduate courses at PUC-SP came into existence, the history and memory of the different Psycho-logy Departments: Social Psychology (1972), Clinical Psychology (1976) and Experimental Psychology and Behavior Analysis (1999). We also dig into Education Psychology (part of the Education Department) (1969) ­ one of the first three courses at PUC-SP. We show two examples of pioneer works initiated in the Undergraduate courses which were incorporated into the Postgraduate environment which are considered national and international gold-standard interventions: the Laboratório de Estudos e Intervenções sobre o Luto - LELu (a laboratory dedicated to grief and grieving studies), initiated by Professor Maria Helena Pereira Franco, and the introduction of Environmental Psycho-logy focused on health studies by Professor Marlise Aparecida Bassani. We found a quite active field of professorial contributions from Undergraduate courses integrated with Postgraduate professors which aids in the qualification of committed Psychology professionals, researchers who dedicate themselves to studying social changes, interdisciplinary studies and focus on the advancing of psychological sciences.

El artículo tiene como objetivo presentar las relaciones y contribuciones mutuas entre los Programas de Posgrado stricto sensu y el Graduado de Psicología de PUC-SP, para la construcción del conocimiento de la Psicología como ciencia, profesión e interdisciplinariedad. Para apoyar la propuesta, presentamos una breve reanudación histórica de la implementación de los Programas de Posgrado en PUC-SP, la memoria de los Programas de Psicología: Social (1972), Clínica (1976) y Experimental - Análisis de Comportamiento (1999) y el Programa de Educación: Psicología Educativa (1969), uno de los primeros tres de PUC-SP. Además, dos ejemplos de trabajo pionero comenzaron en la entonces Facultad de Psicología y se incorporaron al Programa de Posgrado PUC-SP, que siguen siendo referencias nacionales e internacionales: el Labora-tório de Estudos e Intervenções sobre o Luto - LELu para personas que están de luto, iniciativa de la Profesora Maria Helena Pereira Franco, y la inserción de Psicología Ambiental articulada a la Salud, por la profesora Marlise Aparecida Bassani. Se enfatiza el movimiento de las contribuciones de los profesores de pregrado de psicología de los programas de posgrado universitarios y la inte-gración de posgrado - posgrado en la formación de profesionales de psicología, investigadores y docentes comprometidos con los problemas sociales y las transformaciones, en la promoción desde diálogos más articulados con otras áreas del conocimiento, hasta avances en la ciencia psicológica.

A importância do ensino sobre gênero na graduação em Saúde Coletiva: uma interseção necessária / The importance of teaching gender theory in undergraduate Public Health education: a necessary intersection

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é refletir, a partir de nossa experiência como docentes do curso de graduação em Saúde Coletiva da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), sobre o ensino dos conteúdos relativos à problemática/às questões de gênero para estudantes em formação profissional na área da saúde. Acatando o desafio proposto neste dossiê, buscamos analisar como esse bacharelado - per se, interdisciplinar - tem sido atravessado cotidiana e praticamente pelas ciências sociais, em particular pelas teorias que abordam o gênero como categoria analítica e importante ferramenta conceitual para uma compreensão crítica e política da realidade social. Acreditamos que tal aprendizado se torna imprescindível para uma atuação mais engajada com as desigualdades sociais em sentido lato (classe, raça/etnia, gênero), como a de futuros sanitaristas ou pesquisadores em saúde, tendo em vista o despertar do interesse e da sensibilidade discentes para o tema. A partir da conexão de suas próprias experiências e vivencias cotidianas como jovens, mulheres e homens, com pertencimentos étnico-raciais distintos, filiação de classe e inserção religiosa, temos assistido um processo de amadurecimento pessoal e profissional em nossos(as) estudantes que nos comprovam a fecundidade do ensino nessa direção.

Abstract The objective of this study is to reflect, based on our experience as teachers of the undergraduate course in Public Health of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, on the teaching of gender issues for students under professional training in the health field. By accepting the challenge proposed in this dossier, we sought to analyze how this bachelor's degree-interdisciplinary by nature-has been explored daily and in a practical manner by social sciences, particularly by theories that approach the genre as an analytical category and an important conceptual tool for a critical and political understanding of social reality. We believe that such learning is essential for a more engaged action with social inequalities (class, race/ethnicity, gender) as future sanitarians or health researchers, in order to awaken students' interest and sensibility to the subject. Based on the connection between their own daily experiences as young people, women and men, with distinct ethnic and racial backgrounds, class affiliation and religious inclusion, we have witnessed a process of personal and professional maturity in our students, which proves us the fecundity of teaching in this manner.

Os novos sanitaristas no mundo do trabalho: um estudo com graduados em saúde coletiva / The new sanitary workers in the world of labor: a study among collective health graduates / Los nuevos higienistas en el mundo del trabajo: un estudio con graduados en salud pública

Resumo Discorreremos sobre a inserção profissional dos bacharéis em Saúde Coletiva, especificamente quanto aos desafios, potencialidades e estratégias de inserção no mundo do trabalho. A produção dos dados ocorreu, principalmente, por três sessões de grupo focal com os egressos dos anos de 2012.2, 2013.2 e 2014.2, da graduação de Saúde Coletiva da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Os relatos extraídos foram sistematizados e submetidos à técnica de análise de conteúdo temática de Bardin. Sobre os desafios profissionais, debatemos as subcategorias: remuneração, reconhecimento da profissão em Saúde Coletiva, interferência política, e identidade. Já as potencialidades têm as seguintes subcategorias: vivências práticas durante a formação; núcleo de saber e prática da Saúde Coletiva; e cenário da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Natal. Quanto às estratégias para inserção profissional, identificamos ações de caráter individual e coletivo, um movimento organizado por egressos e estudantes, que visam divulgar o curso e seu profissional, bem como avançar no processo de construção de uma nova profissão.

Abstract We discuss the professional integration of Collective Health graduates, particularly regarding the challenges, the potentialities and the strategies of integration in the world of labor. The production of data occurred mainly by means of three focal group sessions with the graduates from the classes of 2012.2, 2013.2 and 2014.2 of the undergraduate course on Collective Health of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, in Portuguese). The resulting accounts were systematized and subjected to Bardin's thematic content analysis technique. Regarding the professional challenges, we discuss the subcategories: salary, recognition of the Collective Health profession, political interference, and identity. As for the potentialities, they have the following subcategories: practical experiences during the undergraduate studies; a center for knowledge and practice in Collective Health; and the circumstances within the Municipal Health Department of the state capital of Natal. Regarding the strategies for professional integration, we identified actions of an individual as well as collective nature, a movement organized by graduates and students, who aim to divulge the course and its professional, as well as to make progress in the process of construction of a new profession.

Resumen Discurriremos sobre la inserción profesional de los licenciados en Salud Pública, específicamente respecto a los desafíos, potencialidades y estrategias de inserción en el mundo laboral. La producción de los datos se produjo, principalmente, a través de tres sesiones de grupo focal con los egresados de los años de 2012.2, 2013.2 y 2014.2, de la licenciatura de Salud Pública de la Universidad Federal del estado de Rio Grande do Norte. Los relatos obtenidos fueron sistematizados y sometidos a la técnica de análisis de contenido temático de Bardin. Sobre los desafíos profesionales, debatimos las subcategorías: remuneración, reconocimiento de la profesión en Salud Pública, interferencia política e identidad. En el caso de las potencialidades tenemos las siguientes subcategorías: vivencias prácticas durante la formación; núcleo de saber y práctica de la Salud Pública; y escenario de la Secretaría Municipal de Salud de la ciudad de Natal. Respecto a las estrategias para inserción profesional, identificamos acciones de carácter individual y colectivo, un movimiento organizado por egresados y estudiantes que buscan divulgar la carrera y a su profesional, así como avanzar en el proceso de construcción de una nueva profesión.

Uniting the Pre-Health Humanities with the Introductory Composition Course.

Drawing on my experiences at a teaching-focused university, I show how locating the health humanities in first-year or introductory composition courses improves learning and offers an economical, flexible, and far-reaching approach to bringing a health humanities education to all baccalaureate-level learners, regardless of whether they aspire to careers in the health professions. In terms of improving learning, health humanities composition courses support the disciplinary aims of both fields. Accessible, relevant issues in the health humanities, such as interventions in health debates or representations of illness and healthcare settings, nourish the cognitive and social conditions needed to develop college-level writing skills. The health humanities' emphases on interdisciplinarity and suspending judgment also inform students' writing abilities. Composition trains students to write rhetorically by considering purpose, context, genre, mode, and other factors when addressing an audience. This approach to writing helps pre-health humanists communicate intentionally and compassionately about health topics as well as the larger issues they call into question. Because students enroll in health humanities composition courses at an early, formative moment in their studies, they are poised to carry or "transfer" their knowledge to other courses, including those that might prepare them for the workforce.

Advances and Challenges: Student Reflections From an Online Death and Dying Course.

This study describes nursing students' reflections on taking an online course on death and dying. In a semistructured paper, students described fears of caring for clients at end of life (EOL), important content learned, and remaining discomforts. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Consistent themes were noted among the papers. Student reflections on the knowledge they gained closely followed initial fears. Several students appreciated the ability to reflect on their experiences in a nonjudgmental setting. Overall, the data showed that nursing students can become more confident in EOL care through online education. Knowledge gains and continued fears about the same topics suggest EOL confidence lies along a continuum and may require ongoing education. Future research should focus on offering online continuing education on EOL to practicing nurses.

Teaching microbiology to undergraduate students in the humanities and the social sciences.

This paper summarizes my experiences teaching a 28-hour course on the bacterial world for undergraduate students in the humanities and the social sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This course was offered in the framework of a program in which students must obtain credit points for courses offered by other faculties to broaden their education. Most students had little biology in high school and had never been exposed to the basics of chemistry. Using a historical approach, highlighting the work of pioneers such as van Leeuwenhoek, Koch, Fleming, Pasteur, Winogradsky and Woese, I covered a broad area of general, medical, environmental and evolutionary microbiology. The lectures included basic concepts of organic and inorganic chemistry necessary to understand the principles of fermentations and chemoautotrophy, and basic molecular biology to explain biotechnology using transgenic microorganisms and molecular phylogeny. Teaching the basics of microbiology to intelligent students lacking any background in the natural sciences was a rewarding experience. Some students complained that, in spite of my efforts, basic concepts of chemistry remained beyond their understanding. But overall the students' evaluation showed that the course had achieved its goal.

Educação e trabalho na saúde coletiva brasileira: estudo de caso sobre a criação dos cursos de Graduação na área de Saúde Coletiva nos cenários nacional e local / Education and work in Brazilian collective health: a case study on the creation of undergraduate courses in the area of Collective Health in the national and local scenarios

Introdução: Este estudo trata dos Cursos de Graduação na área da Saúde Coletiva (CGSC) e sua contribuição para o enfrentamento dos desafios apontados pelo trabalho na Saúde. Trata-se de um estudo de caso, composto pelos olhares dos cenários nacional e local. Analisa a conjuntura de surgimento dos CGSC no cenário nacional, bem como suas contribuições ao desenvolvimento do trabalho em saúde num contexto local. Objetivos: Como objetivos específicos, identifica os atores, cenários e acontecimentos que desencadearam a criação dos CGSC no Brasil; descreve o desenho curricular e o cotidiano de um CGSC; analisa aproximações e afastamentos entre o currículo do curso descrito e o trabalho no espaço da Saúde Coletiva, em especial no cotidiano do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) local. Material e métodos: As técnicas utilizadas foram análise documental, diário de campo, entrevista semi-estruturada e grupo focal. A análise do material foi realizada partindo dos referenciais da análise de conjuntura e da formação orientada pela memória de inovação. Resultados: Os resultados apontam para a análise de que a formação graduada em Saúde Coletiva poderá contribuir para o enfrentamento dos desafios apontados pelo trabalho na Saúde Coletiva Brasileira na medida em que estabelecer diálogos efetivos e movimento articulados entre a universidade e o âmbito das práticas na Saúde Coletiva, seja junto ao Sistema Único de Saúde e outras políticas sociais, bem como nos demais espaços, como os movimentos populares, produzindo conhecimento de forma coordenada e conectada às inovações produzidas no cotidiano.

Introduction: The current study refers to the Undergraduate Courses on Collective Health Care (CGSC ­ Portuguese acronym) and their contribution to face the challenges that the Brazilian Health work is pointing out. It is a research study configurated by the looks of the national and local scenarios. It analyzes the national context that gave birth to the CGSC, as well as its contributions to the development of Collective Health Care actions within a local context. Objectives: Based on its specific goals, it identifies players, scenarios and events that initiated the CGSC in Brazil; it describes the curricular structure of courses and the CGSC's day-to-day life; it analyzes situations where the outlined curriculum structure and the work on collective health care come close one another and move away from each other, particularly considering the local daily situations within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Material and methods: The study was carried out by means of documentary analysis, field diary, semi-structured interviews and focus group. The fundamental process framework to analyze the research material was based on the situation analysis and the training of memory-driven innovation. Results: The outcome signals out that the Undergraduate Courses on Collective Health Care may contribute to addressing the challenges faced by the Brazilian Collective Health Care work, insofar as establishing effective dialogue and articulated movements between the university and the scope of practice in Public Health, considering the Unified Health System and other social policies, as well as in other areas, like the popular movements, producing knowledge in a coordinated and connected manner to the innovations produced in everyday life

Dificultades en el desarrollo de las habilidades investigativas en los estudiantes de Medicina / Difficulties in developing research skills in medical students

Fundamento: no hay verdadera educación superior sin actividad de investigación explícita e implícita, ella forma parte del proceso enseñanza aprendizaje y tiene un gran valor en la formación profesional. Métodos: se realizó una investigación aplicando los enfoques dialéctico materialista y mixto con el propósito de describir las principales dificultades en el desarrollo de las habilidades investigativas en los estudiantes de Medicina en la Filial de Ciencias Médicas "Lidia Doce Sánchez", durante el curso 2011-2012. El universo de estudio estuvo constituido por 100 informes de trabajos científicos de estudiantes de 3ro al 5to años, la muestra: 60 de ellos. Para la revisión se confeccionó una guía, además se realizó entrevista a la jefa de departamento de la carrera y a la presidenta de la Federación Estudiantil Universitaria. Los datos obtenidos fueron procesados aplicando la estadística descriptiva con distribución de frecuencia absoluta y relativa y la triangulación de fuentes. Resultados: predominan en los estudiantes de 3er año las mayores dificultades en el desarrollo de las habilidades investigativas. El diseño de la investigación fue el aspecto más afectado, fundamentalmente en el planteamiento del problema, la formulación de los objetivos y las hipótesis. Conclusiones: se evidenció la necesidad de continuar elevando la preparación investigativa para que la actividad científica estudiantil alcance mayor calidad. Las asignaturas y disciplinas del currículo, los tutores, y la FEU, como organización estudiantil, deben intensificar su trabajo de forma tal que contribuya a elevar la motivación y participación de los estudiantes en los forum científicos estudiantiles, lo que tributaría a un mayor desarrollo de las habilidades investigativas.

Background: there is no true higher education without explicit and implicit research activity, it is part of the teaching-learning process and has a great value in professional education. Methods: A study was conducted applying the dialectical materialist approach and the mixed approach in order to describe the main difficulties in the development of research skills in medical students from the Lidia Doce Sánchez Medical Sciences Branch during the academic year 2011-2012. The universe consisted of 100 scientific reports prepared by students from 3rd to 5th years; the sample consisted of 60 of these reports. A guide was devised for the review. In addition, an interview was conducted with the head of department of the faculty and the president of the Federation of University Students. The data were processed using descriptive statistics with distribution of absolute and relative frequency and triangulation of sources. Results: the greatest difficulties in developing research skills predominated in 3rd year students. The design of the research had the biggest difficulties, mainly in the statement of the problem, the formulation of objectives and the hypotheses. Conclusions: there is a need to continue improving research training in order to improve the quality of students' scientific activity. The curriculum subjects and disciplines, tutors, and the FEU, as a student organization, must intensify their work in a way that would help increase motivation and participation of students in the student scientific forums, which would contribute to a further development of research skills.

Plan Marta Abreu y su contribución a la descentralización de los estudios médicos en Cuba / Marta Abreu Plan and its contribution to the decentralization of medical studies in Cuba

Antecedentes: el estudio aborda las acciones emprendidas para la descentralización de los estudios médicos en Cuba, y el proceso de organización y fundación de la Escuela de Medicina en la entonces provincia de Las Villas. Objetivo: identificar hechos relevantes que distinguieron el plan de acción ejecutado durante el surgimiento y desarrollo de los estudios de Medicina en la Universidad Central de Las Villas. Métodos: se realiza análisis documental y entrevistas a informantes claves que podían brindar información fidedigna sobre los hechos ocurridos en ese trascendental momento, además se emplean métodos teóricos que permiten el análisis del objetivo de estudio sustentado en la interacción de lo histórico y lo lógico, y desde las dimensiones temporal y espacial. Luego se efectúa triangulación metodológica para arribar a consideraciones integradoras. Resultados: se abordan los antecedentes históricos de los estudios médicos en Cuba, el desarrollo de la política de descentralización de la docencia, el surgimiento de la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad Central de Las Villas, y el "Plan Marta Abreu" como estrategia para la fundación y consolidación de los estudios médicos en esta provincia. El estudio revela los elementos que lo caracterizaron y sus diferencias con el "Plan Santiago". Conclusiones: es fundada la tercera Escuela de Medicina del país mediante el "Plan Marta Abreu", programa concebido y desarrollado por el doctor Ricardo Jorge Oropesa. Ostenta elementos distintivos acordes a las necesidades de este contexto, y concretó la creación y consolidación de la descentralización de los estudios médicos en Cuba.

Background: the study deals with the actions for decentralizing medical studies in Cuba, and the process of organization and foundation of the School of Medicine at the former province of Las Villas. Objective: to identify significant events that characterized the action plan which was implemented during the emergence and development of medical studies at the Central University of Las Villas. Methods: a documentary analysis was conducted, as well as interviews with key informants who could provide reliable information on the events that occurred during that significant period. Theoretical methods were also used, which allowed the analysis of the study objective based on the interaction of the historical and logical aspects, and from temporal and spatial dimensions. A methodological triangulation was subsequently conducted to arrive at integrative considerations. Results: the historical background of medical studies in Cuba are dealt with, as well as the development of the decentralization policy in teaching, the emergence of the School of Medicine at the Central University of Las Villas, and the Marta Abreu Plan as a strategy for the foundation and consolidation of medical studies in this province. The study reveals the elements that characterized it and the differences with the Santiago Plan. Conclusions: the third School of Medicine in the country was founded by the Marta Abreu Plan, a program designed and developed by Dr. Ricardo Jorge Oropesa. It had distinctive elements that met the needs of this context, and made possible the implementation and consolidation of the decentralization of medical studies in Cuba.

Evolución histórica sobre la formación del estudiante de Medicina en la atención al adulto mayor / Historical evolution of the medical students' training in elderly care

Antecedentes: se realiza un análisis de la evolución histórica que ha caracterizado a la formación del médico cubano en función de la atención integral al adulto mayor a partir del triunfo de la Revolución. Objetivo: determinar la evolución histórica que ha tenido la formación del estudiante de la carrera de Medicina con respecto a la atención al adulto mayor. Métodos: teóricos: histórico lógico; análisis y síntesis y hermenéutico-dialéctico. El análisis se realizó sobre la base de los siguientes indicadores: presencia del adulto mayor en los modelos de atención médica, tratamiento curricular de la atención al adulto mayor en la formación del médico y aprendizaje de habilidades específicas en el tratamiento al adulto mayor. Resultados y discusión: el análisis efectuado permitió determinar las siguientes etapas y sus características: Etapa I: (1959-1969): Formación inicial del médico en el contexto del Sistema Nacional Único Integral de Salud. Etapa II: (1970-1979): Formación del médico en el nuevo modelo de la Medicina comunitaria. Etapa III: (1980-1989): Formación del Médico General Básico en el modelo del médico y la enfermera de la familia. Etapa IV: (1990-1999): Perfeccionamiento en la formación del médico para la atención al adulto mayor. Etapa V: (2000 hasta la actualidad) Formación del Médico General Integral Básico (MGIB) en el contexto de la universalización. Conclusiones: se advierte el carácter socio histórico del proceso, y quedan precisadas en cada una de las etapas las dificultades evidenciadas en el proceso formativo del estudiante de Medicina, para la atención al adulto mayor. Palabras clave: evolución histórica, adulto mayor, carrera de Medicina, formación.

Background: an analysis is performed on the historical evolution that has characterized the Cuban medical training in terms of a comprehensive care for the elderly since the triumph of the Revolution. Objective: to determine the historical evolution of the medical student training with regard to the care of the elderly. Methods: theoretical methods: historical logical method; analysis and synthesis, and hermeneutical_dialectical method. The analysis was performed on the basis of the following indicators: presence of the elderly in health care models, curricular treatment of elderly care in medical training, learning specific skills in treating the elderly. Results and discussion: the following stages and characteristics were identified: Stage I (1959-1969): Initial training of physicians in the context of the Health Comprehensive Unified National System. Stage II (1970-1979): Physicians' training in the new form of community medicine. Stage III (1980-1989): Training of the Basic General Doctor in the program of the family doctor and family nurse. Stage IV (1990-1999): Improvement in physicians' training for elderly care. Stage V (2000 to present): Training of the Basic Comprehensive General Doctor in the context of universalization. Conclusions: this analysis made evident its historical socio-historical nature, specifying, in each of the stages, the difficulties found in the training process of medical students for elderly care.

La ingeniería biomédica en Colombia: una perspectiva desde la formación del pregrado / Biomedical engineering in colombia: an undergraduate studies approach

El presente artículo expone el estado de la formación en Ingeniería Biomédica en Colombia a nivel de pregrado. Se revisaron programas de la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos. A nivel nacional, se revisaron, bajo la categoría de Ingeniería Biomédica y Bioingeniería, los planes de estudio de quince instituciones de educación superior a partir de tres fuentes de información: Páginas Web de Universidades, Sistema de Información de Educación Superior y Observatorio Laboral (Ministerio de Educación Nacional). Se encontró que la oferta de los programas nacionales de Ingeniería Biomédica y Bioingeniería en su conjunto en la ciudad de Bogotá D.C. representa el 30% de la totalidad de la oferta en el país, Antioquia (Medellín) representa el 27%, Valle del Cauca (Cali) el 13% y los demás departamentos representan el 30% restante. Los programas de educación superior en Ingeniería Biomédica muestran una uniformidad en cuanto a la duración y a las competencias a desarrollar con ligeras diferencias en los énfasis y los perfiles de egreso. Actualmente existen al menos 528 Ingenieros Biomédicos y Bioingenieros graduados en el país (0,27% del total de las ingenierías). La tasa de graduados por año, entre 2001 y 2007 es en promedio de 75 Ingenieros Biomédicos y Bioingenieros. Se puede concluir que a pesar de la oferta de programas activos de Ingeniería Biomédica a nivel nacional, la tasa de graduados es baja con relación a: la población colombiana que va en aumento, el incremento de personas con discapacidad y adultos mayores y el número de graduados de otras ingenierías. Se propone la reflexión, sobre el reto que imponen los avances científicos y tecnológicos mundiales que de alguna manera se convierten en directrices de formación.

This academic paper presents the state of Colombia`s undergraduate education in Biomedical Engineering. Programs of the European Union and of the United States were reviewed. In the national level, fifteen programs of different higher education institutions were reviewed under the category of Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering, based on three information sources: University official Website, Information System on higher education and work observatory of the National Education Ministry. It was found that the total offer of national undergraduate programs in Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering in Bogota D.C represents the 30% of the total offer in the country, Antioquia (Medellín) represents the 27%, Valle del Cauca (Cali) the 13% and the other departments represent the 30% left. The undergraduate programs in Biomedical Engineering show similar standards regarding length, and professional developing competences with slight differences in the graduation profiles and the emphasis. In the present, there are at least 528 graduated Biomedical Engineering and bioengineers in the country (0,27% of all engineering graduates). The rate of graduates per year, between 2001 and 2007, is close to 75 biomedical Engineers and bioengineers. It can be concluded, that despite the offer of active programs in the national level, the rate of graduates is low in relation to: the Colombian population which is growing, the growth of the number of people with disabilities and elders, and the number of graduates from other engineering fields. A reflection is proposed, regarding the challenges that worldwide scientific and technological advances present, which in some measure become formation directives.

Urgencias: una especialidad para el mundo moderno / Emergency medicine: a specialty por the modern world

Las urgencias se han considerado siempre en el contexto de otras disciplinas que las incluyen, de tal manera que tanto en la práctica como en la educación médica se han tratado en bloque con cada una de las especialidades. El aumento en el volumen y en la complejidad de la información ha mostrado que este enfoque no es válido en la actualidad y así lo comprendió la Universidad de Antioquia, por lo cual emprendió de un tiempo para acá la tarea de implementar reformas en este sentido. En el presente trabajo se muestra, después de hacer un análisis general del problema, cómo se está dando dentro de la Universidad el cambio en la enseñanza de las urgencias tanto en el pregrado como en el posgrado y al final se plantean algunas conclusiones al respecto.

Both in medical education and in medical practice emergencies have always been included within the framework of other specialties. Increasing volumes of information and its higher complexity have demonstrated that this is no longer a valid approach. The University of Antioquia, in Medellín, Colombia, is in the process of implementing reforms leading to undergraduate and postgraduate training in emergency medicine. In this article the worldwide evolution of emergency medicine is discussed and the programs of this University are described in the context of the Colombian health situation.