Self-reported perceptions and knowledge of telemedicine in medical students and professionals who enrolled in an online course in Peru.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine has become more relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, medical students and professionals do not acquire competences in telemedicine during their training. Our objective was to describe the self-reported perception and baseline knowledge of telemedicine among medical students and professionals enrolled in a virtual course. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that included physicians or medical students aged 18 years or older who were interested in a free virtual telemedicine course and who completed the data collection questionnaire. We used a Likert scale to assess the self-reported perceptions of four domains related to telemedicine. The participants were grouped into three levels for each domain: low, medium and high. We also objectively assessed telemedicine knowledge by means of 10 questions, with a cut-off point of 50% of correct answers. The Fisher's exact test, the Chi-square test, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for the comparison of categorical data. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We included 161 participants: 118 medical students and 43 physicians. We observed no significant differences between medical students and physicians in self-reported perceptions of knowledge, security, or utility of telemedicine. However, students had a high self-reported perception of the disadvantages of telemedicine especially related to patient security (p = 0.018), efficiency of care (p = 0.040), and the possibility of medical malpractice (p = 0.010) compared to physicians. Nearly half of the students (n = 53,44.9%) and physicians (n = 22,51.7%) answered 50% or more of the questions related to telemedicine knowledge correctly. CONCLUSION: Among the physicians and medical students enrolled in the course, the students perceived the disadvantages of telemedicine more frequently. Although physicians and students have limited knowledge of telemedicine, there appears to be no influence of experience and prior training in telemedicine.

Prevalence and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its epidemiology in Latin America and the Caribbean is not well described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of COPD in Latin America and the Caribbean. METHODS: We searched systematically in Web of Science (WoS)/Core Collection, WoS/MEDLINE, WoS/Scielo, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase from 2010 to 2021. Studies assessing the prevalence and incidence of COPD according to the GOLD classification were included. The overall prevalence of COPD was calculated as a function of the general population using a random-effects model. RESULTS: 20 studies (19 cross-sectional and 1 cohort) met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of COPD in the general population older than 35 years was 8.9%. The prevalence in men was 13.7% and in women 6.7%. The prevalence in smokers and ex-smokers was 24.3%. The incidence in the general population of COPD according to one study was 3.4% at 9 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: COPD is prevalent in Latin America, especially in men and in smokers and ex-smokers. Further prevalence and incidence studies in the general population are needed, as well as health policies and strategies to address the disease.

Recommendations for nutritional assessment across clinical practice guidelines: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: CPGs propose several methods and criteria to perform nutritional assessment, a key process to determine the type and severity of malnutrition, which generates variability in clinical practice and outcomes. The aim of the study was to describe the criteria considered by clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for nutritional assessment. METHODS: We performed a scoping review systematically searching in PubMed, Trip Database, Google Scholar, and Google, until November 5, 2021. We included all CPGs mentioning tools or criteria for nutritional assessment in adults from the general population or with any specific pathology or condition. Two authors independently reviewed and decided on study selection and data extraction. RESULTS: We included 18 CPGs (12 elaborated in Europe). The CPGs recommended heterogeneous criteria for nutritional assessment: 16/18 CPGs included at least one body composition parameter (e.g., loss of muscle mass, loss of subcutaneous fat), 15/18 included history related to dietary intake, 15/18 included clinical history (e.g., weight loss), 10/18 included anthropometric measurement (e.g., low body mass index [BMI]), 11/18 included biochemical criteria (e.g., albumin, C-reactive protein), 8/18 included physical examination (e.g., fluid retention, sarcopenia, loss of subcutaneous fat), 8/18 included functional test (e.g., decreased handgrip strength), and 1/18 included catabolic state. Also, 9/18 CPGs mentioned a tool for nutritional assessment, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) the most common (8/18). None of the CPGs justified the inclusion of any of the tools or criteria they mentioned. CONCLUSIONS: The CPGs mentioned heterogeneous criteria for nutritional assessment. The most commonly mentioned criteria were decreased food intake, loss of muscle mass, weight loss, and low BMI. The most mentioned tool was the SGA. None of the CPGs provided a clear rationale for using certain criteria or tools for nutritional assessment.

Alineamiento de la producción científica a las prioridades de investigación en el Seguro Social de Salud del Perú: Propuesta de fortalecimiento y descentralización de la investigación / Alignment of scientific production to research priorities in the Peruvian Health Social Health Insurance: Purpose to strengthening and decentralization of research

Introducción: Uno de los indicadores del impacto del establecimiento de prioridades en investigación en salud es la producción científica. EsSalud planteó nueve temas de investigación prioritarios (TIP) y 20 preguntas de investigación prioritarias (PIP) 2017-2019. Evaluamos el alineamiento a estas prioridades de investigación en los artículos científicos publicados con filiación de EsSalud durante 2017-2020, y caracterizamos aquellos financiados por esta institución. Material y Métodos: Análisis de los artículos científicos registrados en la base de datos de producción científica de EsSalud 2017-2020. Empleamos una metodología estandarizada y por duplicado para evaluar el alineamiento a los TIP y PIP 2017-2019 de EsSalud. La evaluación del alineamiento a las PIP sólo lo realizamos en artículos originales y resúmenes de congreso. Reportamos frecuencias de alineamiento a cada TIP y PIP, y frecuencia de alineamiento a por lo menos un TIP según características de los artículos. Además, se reportó las características de los artículos financiados por EsSalud. Resultados: Un total de 170 de 1283 artículos se alinearon a al menos un TIP. Ocho de las veinte PIP no fueron respondidas. Los artículos con autores que pertenecen o recibieron financiamiento del IETSI-EsSalud tuvieron la mayor tasa de alineación. Finalmente, los artículos financiados por EsSalud fueron principalmente estudios observacionales, guías de práctica clínica y revisiones sistemáticas. Conclusión: Los artículos científicos publicados con filiación de EsSalud durante el 2017 al 2020 tienen baja alineación con las prioridades de investigación de la institución. Por lo tanto, es necesario generar un proceso de gestión de implementación, seguimiento y evaluación de las prioridades de investigación en la institución.

Background: One of the impact indicators of priorities in health research-setting is the scientific production that refers to these priorities. EsSalud raised nine priority research topics (PRT) and 20 priority research questions (PRQ) for the 2017-2019 period. We assess the alignment to these research priorities in the scientific articles published during the 2017-2020 period by EsSalud, and we characterize those financed by this institution. Material and Methods: Analysis of the scientific articles registered in the EsSalud scientific production database for the period 2017-2020. We used a standardized methodology and in duplicate to evaluate the alignment of a scientific article to the PRTand PRQ 2017-2019 of EsSalud. The evaluation of the alignment to the PRQs is only carried out in original articles and congress summaries. We report alignment frequencies to each PRTand PRQ, and we report the frequency of alignment to at least one PRT according to the articles' characteristics. In addition, the characteristics of the articles financed by EsSalud were reported. Results: 170 out of 1283 articles were aligned to at least one PRT. Eight of the twenty PRQs went unanswered. Articles with authors who belong to or received funding from IETSI-EsSalud had the highest alignment rate. Finally, the highly cited articles financed by EsSalud were mainly observational studies, clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews. Conclusion: The articles published by EsSalud during 2017 to 2020 have low alignment with institutional research priorities. Furthermore, it is necessary a process of implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of research priorities in the institution.

Producción científica y redes de colaboración en la Seguridad Social del Perú (EsSalud): Análisis bibliométrico 2008-2020 / Scientific production and collaborative networks in Peruvian Social Security (EsSalud): Bibliometric analysis 2008-2020

Introducción: La producción científica de EsSalud ha aumentado progresivamente. Sin embargo, no se ha descrito su producción científica e identificado sus redes de colaboración en las principales bases de datos bibliográficas a nivel internacional. Objetivos: Describir la producción científica de EsSalud en revistas científicas indizadas durante el periodo 2008-2020. Material y Métodos: Estudio bibliométrico que evaluó artículos científicos y resúmenes de congresos, con al menos una filiación institucional relacionada a EsSalud entre sus autores, que se encuentren indizadas en las bases de datos bibliográficas de Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid-Medline o Scielo Citation Index durante el periodo 2008-2020. Se reporta la producción científica anual total y por separado, según base. Se identificaron las redes de colaboración intra y extrainstitucionales. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 4159 registros y, tras aplicar los criterios de selección, quedaron 2333 artículos. Se observó un incremento de publicaciones en todas las bases de datos, excepto en Scielo Citation Index. La mayoría de los artículos fueron originales, observacionales y autofinanciados. Dos hospitales nacionales de EsSalud aportaron casi dos tercios de toda la producción científica evaluada. Se identifico poca colaboración entre instituciones de EsSalud de Lima con las de otras regiones y entre regiones, pero sí con las universidades locales. El área médica que más fue abordada por las publicaciones científicas fue la relacionada con las especialidades de medicina clínica. Conclusiones: La producción científica de EsSalud ha aumentado y ha mejorado en calidad, con una importante colaboración con universidades locales. Es importante impulsar iniciativas que promuevan la investigación y colaboración dentro de EsSalud, en el marco de las prioridades de investigación y de las principales causas de mayor carga de enfermedad en la institución y el país.

Background: Scientific production of Social Security in Perú (EsSalud) has progressively increased. However, there is no description of its scientific production and collaboration networks in relevant international databases. Objectives: Describe the scientific production of EsSalud in indexed journals during the 2008-2020 period. Material and Methods: Bibliometric study that evaluated scientific articles and meeting abstracts,with at least one institutional affiliation related to EsSalud among its authors, indexed in the Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid-Medline, or Scielo Citation Index databases published during the period 2008-2020. The total annual scientific production is reported and separately according to base. Intra and extra-institutional collaboration networks were evaluated. 4159 records were Results: obtained and, after applying the selection criteria, 2333 articles remained. Scientific production from all data bases, except for the Scielo Citation Index, had a progressive increase. Most of articles were original, observational, and self-funded. Two national hospitals from EsSalud accounted for almost two-thirds of all analyzed scientific production. Institutions from Lima had little collaboration with other institutions from other regions, leading to little interregional collaboration. On the other side, there was a noticeable collaboration with local universities. The medical area that was most addressed by scientific publications was that related to clinical medicine specialties. EsSalud's Conclusions:scientific production number and quality had increased during last years in collaboration with local universities.It is important to promote initiatives thar boost the research and collaboration within EsSalud's institutions,emphasizing research priorities and the leading causes of national morbidity and mortality.