Índice C en médicos de dos centros hospitalarios chilenos según el test de competencia moral de Lind / Assessment of moral competence of physicians

Background: Moral competence (MC) in physicians is fundamental, given the increasing complexity of medicine. The "Moral Competence Test" (MCT © Lind) evaluates this feature and its indicator is the C Index (CI). Aim: To explore moral competence and its associated factors among physicians working in Chile. Material and Methods: The MCT was answered by 236 physicians from two medical centers who voluntarily participated in the study. Besides the test, participants completed an encrypted form giving information about gender, years in practice and post-graduate studies. Results: The average CI value of the participants was 20,9. Post-graduate studies had a significant positive influence on CI. There was a significant decrease in CI, between 16 and 20 years of professional exercise. Gender and the area of post-graduate studies did not have a significant influence. Conclusions: The studied physicians showed a wide range of CI which was positively affected by the postgraduate studies performed. The years of professional practice had a negative influence. Expanding training opportunities during professional practice could have a positive effect on CM as measured by CI.

Necesidades de aprendizaje en bioética de residentes y especialistas de Nefrología en Cuba / The needs of bioethics learning in specialists and residents in nephrology specialty in Cuba

Introducción: La enfermedad renal, como proceso crónico tratable pero progresivo a la terminalidad, condiciona la necesidad de que los médicos conozcan y apliquen el enfoque bioético en su desempeño profesional. Objetivo: Identificar las necesidades de aprendizaje en aspectos bioéticos por médicos especialistas y residentes en Nefrología. Material y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con 81 médicos (41 especialistas y 40 residentes) en tres servicios de Nefrología del país entre 2014-2015. Se utilizó una encuesta estructurada para la recogida de la información y se emplearon diferentes métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos para el procesamiento de la información. En el procesamiento estadístico se empleó el software R. Resultados: Los cuatros principios de la Bioética anglosajona fueron reconocidos como importante para la práctica profesional dentro del hospital (9.4 puntos), así como la implicación personal en su aplicación (9.89 puntos) sin diferencias significativas entre especialistas y residentes. Se reconoce falta de capacitación en diferentes temas relacionados con la Bioética como: cuidados paliativos (82,75 por ciento), habilidades comunicativas (80,2 por ciento), principio de proporcionalidad terapéutica (72,83 por ciento), conflictos ético-clínicos (72,83 por ciento), planes de cuidados continuos en estos pacientes (76,54 por ciento), cuidados avanzados y al final de la vida (81,18 por ciento) y prevención del Burnout (81,48 por ciento), mayores en residentes que en los especialistas, en especial, la proporcionalidad terapéutica (p= 0.007) y los conflictos ético-clínicos (p= 0.029). Conclusiones: Se otorga gran importancia a los aspectos bioéticos aplicados a la práctica nefrológica. Se identifican necesidades de aprendizaje modificables en áreas específicas mediante planes de perfeccionamiento educativo en el postgrado(AU)

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease as a treatable process but progressive to end stage, determines the need for physicians know and apply a bioethical focus on their professional performance. Objective: To identify learning needs in bioethical issues by nephrologists. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study with 81 physicians (41 specialists and 40 residents) in three nephrology services in the country between 2014-2015 was performed. A structured questionnaire for collecting information and different quantitative and qualitative methods for processing information was used. For the statistical processing, R software was used. Results: Anglo-Saxon bioethics' four principles were recognized as important for professional practice at the hospital (9.4 points) as well as personal involvement in its implementation (9.89 points) with no significant differences between specialists and residents. Lack of training is recognized in various bioethics issues such as palliative care (82.75 percent), communication skills (80.2 percent), therapeutic principle of proportionality (72.83 percent), ethical-clinical conflicts (72, 83 percent), continuous care plans in these patients (76.54 percent), advanced care and end of life (81.18 percent) and prevention of Burnout (81.48 percent), higher in residents than in specialists; especially therapeutic proportionality (p = 0.007) and clinical - ethical conflict (p = 0.029). Conclusions: Great importance to bioethical aspects applied to nephrology practice is granted. Customizable learning's needs are identified in specific areas through education plans development during post graduated learning(AU)

[Assessment of moral competence of physicians]. / Índice C en médicos de dos centros hospitalarios chilenos según el test de competencia moral de Lind.

BACKGROUND: Moral competence (MC) in physicians is fundamental, given the increasing complexity of medicine. The "Moral Competence Test" (MCT © Lind) evaluates this feature and its indicator is the C Index (CI). AIM: To explore moral competence and its associated factors among physicians working in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The MCT was answered by 236 physicians from two medical centers who voluntarily participated in the study. Besides the test, participants completed an encrypted form giving information about gender, years in practice and post-graduate studies. RESULTS: The average CI value of the participants was 20,9. Post-graduate studies had a significant positive influence on CI. There was a significant decrease in CI, between 16 and 20 years of professional exercise. Gender and the area of post-graduate studies did not have a significant influence. CONCLUSIONS: The studied physicians showed a wide range of CI which was positively affected by the postgraduate studies performed. The years of professional practice had a negative influence. Expanding training opportunities during professional practice could have a positive effect on CM as measured by CI.

A residência médica: articulações entre a prática e o ensino / Medical residence: articulations between practice and teaching

O objetivo desta tese de doutorado é o estudo da residência médica e de suas articulações com o campo educacional e o da saúde. Propõe-se uma análise histórico - dialética, tomando como ponto de partida a articulação da medicina e da educação na estrutura social. Parte-se da concepção segundo a qual a prática e o saber no campo educacional e na saúde estão ligados à transformação histórica do processo de produção econômica. Essa compreensão remete à chamada determinação em última instância: a estrutura econômica determina o lugar e a forma de articulação da medicina e da educação na estrutura social. Para compreender as peculiaridades do ensino e da residência médica no Brasil faz-se uma caracterização da assistência médica, sobretudo do papel assumido pelo Estado na configuração do campo: primeiro, a adoção de um sistema em que compete ao Estado a responsabilidade pela universalização da atenção básica, através de serviços próprios ou em parceria com organizações não governamentais; segundo, a atenção especializada, com maior incorporação tecnológica, seria prestada pelo setor privado, mediante incentivos concedidos pelo Estado. Dessa divisão, resulta, no desenho atual, ao invés de um único sistema, a conformação de dois ou mais sistemas de saúde, em que a segmentação da assistência implica em práticas diferenciadas. O efeito desta divisão no mercado de trabalho repercute na escola e na residência médicas. A residência, em particular, por suas características de treinamento em serviço, responde diretamente aos condicionantes do mundo do trabalho, reproduzindo o modelo de prática hegemônica.

La ética en el paciente pediátrico portador de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles / Ethics in the pediatric patient carrying a no transmisible chronic disease

Un dilema importante en nuestra práctica médica pediátrica es la atención del niño portador de Enfermedades Crónicas no Transmisibles, entidades que afectan permanentemente al niño, por lo que tienen limitaciones en varios aspectos de su vida, a las que se añade en muchos casos un pronóstico sombrío y a veces fatal; y que también repercuten en la familia y en el ambiente próximo en que éstos de desarrollan, generando en los padres y familiares múltiples interrogantes, lo que distorsiona toda la dinámica familiar y por lo que todos sus miembros deben encontrar en nosotros no sólo atención médica, sino además un gran respeto y comprensión que contribuya a disminuir la estigmatización que habitualmente condicionan estas enfermedades. Se analizan los problemas éticos que involucran tanto al médico como a la familia, situaciones en las que se hace necesario tomar decisiones en las que el derecho a la autonomía no puede siempre ejercerlo el paciente pediátrico por razones obvias de la edad; y el uso del consentimiento informado; todo ello sin olvidar que por difícil que resulte en ocasiones, es ineludible regir nuestra actuación por los principios de la ética del médico pediatra en sentido general y máxime en el caso que nos ocupa, combinado con la ética del niño y de su familia, porque es un derecho social en nuestro sistema y un principio ético de nuestra medicina, que como expresara Fidel en el concepto de Revolución: No debemos violar jamásAU

An important dilemma in our pediatric medical practice is the atention of the child carrying a no Transmisible Chronic Disease, permanently affecting the child and limiting several aspects of his life, to which is added, in many cases, a somber and sometimes fatal prognosis. All of these facts strike on the family and on the environment where they grow up, generating many questions among parents and relatives, and deforming familiar dynamics. That is why all the members of their families have to find in the health care workers not only medical attention, but also a great respect and comprenhesion contributing to diminish the stigmatization generated by these diseases. We analize ethic problems that involve not only the doctor but the family, situations in which there have to be taken desicions in which, for obvious age reasons, the autonomy right not always can be excerted by the pediatric patient; and the informed consent is needed; all of this without forgeting that, even if it is sometimes very difficult, it is unavoidable to direct our performance fy the principles of the pediatric doctor´s etics in general sense, combining it with the ethics of the child and his family because it is a social right in our system and an ethic principle of our medicine that, as Fidel said in the concept of Revolution We should never violate(AU)

La ética en el paciente pediátrico portador de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles / Ethics in the pediatric patient carrying a no transmisible chronic disease

Un dilema importante en nuestra práctica médica pediátrica es la atención del niño portador de Enfermedades Crónicas no Transmisibles, entidades que afectan permanentemente al niño, por lo que tienen limitaciones en varios aspectos de su vida, a las que se añade en muchos casos un pronóstico sombrío y a veces fatal; y que también repercuten en la familia y en el ambiente próximo en que éstos de desarrollan, generando en los padres y familiares múltiples interrogantes, lo que distorsiona toda la dinámica familiar y por lo que todos sus miembros deben encontrar en nosotros no sólo atención médica, sino además un gran respeto y comprensión que contribuya a disminuir la estigmatización que habitualmente condicionan estas enfermedades. Se analizan los problemas éticos que involucran tanto al médico como a la familia, situaciones en las que se hace necesario tomar decisiones en las que el derecho a la autonomía no puede siempre ejercerlo el paciente pediátrico por razones obvias de la edad; y el uso del consentimiento informado; todo ello sin olvidar que por difícil que resulte en ocasiones, es ineludible regir nuestra actuación por los principios de la ética del médico pediatra en sentido general y máxime en el caso que nos ocupa, combinado con la ética del niño y de su familia, porque es un derecho social en nuestro sistema y un principio ético de nuestra medicina, que como expresara Fidel en el concepto de Revolución: No debemos violar jamás.

An important dilemma in our pediatric medical practice is the atention of the child carrying a no Transmisible Chronic Disease, permanently affecting the child and limiting several aspects of his life, to which is added, in many cases, a somber and sometimes fatal prognosis. All of these facts strike on the family and on the environment where they grow up, generating many questions among parents and relatives, and deforming familiar dynamics. That is why all the members of their families have to find in the health care workers not only medical attention, but also a great respect and comprenhesion contributing to diminish the stigmatization generated by these diseases. We analize ethic problems that involve not only the doctor but the family, situations in which there have to be taken desicions in which, for obvious age reasons, the autonomy right not always can be excerted by the pediatric patient; and the informed consent is needed; all of this without forgeting that, even if it is sometimes very difficult, it is unavoidable to direct our performance fy the principles of the pediatric doctor´s etics in general sense, combining it with the ethics of the child and his family because it is a social right in our system and an ethic principle of our medicine that, as Fidel said in the concept of Revolution We should never violate.

The asymmetrical relationship between the health care professional and the patient in public hospitals.

The relationship between the health care professional and the patient is universally seen, in medicine, as the core of medical practice. Through it, the doctor acquires professional abilities and pursues the objectives of medicine, among them, that of curing. This relation is contextualized here by using articles 47 and 48, from the chapter on Human Rights, found in the Code of Ethical Medicine of the Federal Council of Medicine of the Federative Republic of Brazil--both in the sense of the transformational link between two people, and as a relationship of interpersonal tolerance. The objectives of this article are: 1) to evaluate the asymmetry present in the clinical doctor-patient encounter, with respect to the doctor's social and political commitment regarding the patient. Recorded testimonies were used, of individuals who utilize medical assistance in Public Hospitals, carried out in the hallways of the 'das Clínicas Hospital' in Recife, Pernambuco; and 2) to weave an analogy with the book "Masters and Slaves" ('Casa Grande & Senzala'): 'Formation of the Brazilian Family under the Regime of a Patriarchal Economy', written by the Pernambucan sociologist Gilberto Freyre. Among the recorded talks, the resentment regarding discrimination and the authority of the doctor's position can be clearly observed. As a result, this power relation was considered the focus of our discussion--the same power relation as that which reigned over the Brazilian colonization period, in the times of "Masters and Slaves" (Casa Grande & Senzala).

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of healthcare ethics and law among doctors and nurses in Barbados.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare professionals in Barbados in relation to healthcare ethics and law in an attempt to assist in guiding their professional conduct and aid in curriculum development. METHODS: A self-administered structured questionnaire about knowledge of healthcare ethics, law and the role of an Ethics Committee in the healthcare system was devised, tested and distributed to all levels of staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados (a tertiary care teaching hospital) during April and May 2003. RESULTS: The paper analyses 159 responses from doctors and nurses comprising junior doctors, consultants, staff nurses and sisters-in-charge. The frequency with which the respondents encountered ethical or legal problems varied widely from 'daily' to 'yearly'. 52% of senior medical staff and 20% of senior nursing staff knew little of the law pertinent to their work. 11% of the doctors did not know the contents of the Hippocratic Oath whilst a quarter of nurses did not know the Nurses Code. Nuremberg Code and Helsinki Code were known only to a few individuals. 29% of doctors and 37% of nurses had no knowledge of an existing hospital ethics committee. Physicians had a stronger opinion than nurses regarding practice of ethics such as adherence to patients' wishes, confidentiality, paternalism, consent for procedures and treating violent/non-compliant patients (p = 0.01) CONCLUSION: The study highlights the need to identify professionals in the workforce who appear to be indifferent to ethical and legal issues, to devise means to sensitize them to these issues and appropriately training them.