Valoración estudiantil de la Disciplina Informática en la Carrera de Enfermería, Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, 2021 / Student Assessment of the Informatics Discipline in the Nursing Career, Bolívar State University, 2021

Introducción: El desarrollo tecnológico actual incide de manera especial en el sector de la salud originando cambios en la actuación de sus profesionales, en particular la actividad de enfermería es un espacio donde la disponibilidad de recursos tecnológicos aporta precisión, dinamismo e inmediatez, que facilitan análisis asertivos y toma de decisiones para con el paciente, a favor de la mejora en su calidad de vida. El profesional de enfermería requiere de conocimientos y habilidades durante su formación que le faciliten su inserción en el espacio laboral en correspondencia con la realidad actual. Objetivo: Describir la apreciación de los estudiantes de Enfermería del Programa de Rediseño de la Universidad Estatal de Bolívar con respecto al beneficio que les proporciona el estudio de la disciplina Informática. Método: Estudio transversal con carácter exploratorio y descriptivo, se aplica encuesta estructurada. Resultados: Se identifica como muy beneficioso el estudio de las materias informáticas como parte de su formación profesional, así como por su aplicación en la atención primaria de salud. Conclusiones: Los estudiantes tienen la percepción de que las materias informáticas estudiadas son de relevancia como parte de su formación, y de que estas influyen en su desempeño profesional futuro(AU)

Introduction: The current technological development has a special impact on the health sector, causing changes in the performance of its professionals; the nursing activity is in particular a space where the availability of technological resources provides precision, dynamism, and immediacy that facilitate analysis assertiveness and decision-making with the patient, in favor of improving their quality of life. The nursing professional requires knowledge and skills during their training that facilitate their insertion into the workplace in accordance with the current reality. Objective: To describe the appreciation of nursing students of the Bolívar State University Redesign Program regarding the benefit provided by the study of the Informatics discipline. Method: Cross-sectional study with an exploratory and descriptive nature, a structured survey is applied. Results: The study of computer science subjects as part of their professional training is identified as very beneficial, as well as for their application in primary health care. Conclusions: Students have the perception that the computer science subjects studied are relevant as part of their training, and that they influence their future professional performance(AU)

Data, capacity-building, and training needs to address rural health inequities in the Northwest United States: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: Rural public health system leaders struggle to access and use data for understanding local health inequities and to effectively allocate scarce resources to populations in need. This study sought to determine these rural public health system leaders' data access, capacity, and training needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington with individuals expected to use population data for analysis or decision-making in rural communities. We used content analysis to identify themes. RESULTS: We identified 2 broad themes: (1) challenges in accessing or using data to monitor and address health disparities and (2) needs for training in data use to address health inequities. Participants faced challenges accessing or using data to address rural disparities due to (a) limited availability or access to data, (b) data quality issues, (c) limited staff with expertise and resources for analyzing data, and (d) the diversity within rural jurisdictions. Participants also expressed opportunities for filling capacity gaps through training-particularly for displaying and communicating data. DISCUSSION: Rural public health system leaders expressed data challenges, many of which can be aided by informatics solutions. These include interoperable, accessible, and usable tools that help capture, access, analyze, and display data to support health equity efforts in rural communities. CONCLUSION: Informatics has the potential to address some of the daunting data-related challenges faced by rural public health system leaders working to enhance health equity. Future research should focus on developing informatics solutions to support data access and use in rural communities.

Public Health and Epidemiology Informatics: Recent Research and Trends in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To survey advances in public health and epidemiology informatics over the past three years. METHODS: We conducted a review of English-language research works conducted in the domain of public health informatics (PHI), and published in MEDLINE between January 2012 and December 2014, where information and communication technology (ICT) was a primary subject, or a main component of the study methodology. Selected articles were synthesized using a thematic analysis using the Essential Services of Public Health as a typology. RESULTS: Based on themes that emerged, we organized the advances into a model where applications that support the Essential Services are, in turn, supported by a socio-technical infrastructure that relies on government policies and ethical principles. That infrastructure, in turn, depends upon education and training of the public health workforce, development that creates novel or adapts existing infrastructure, and research that evaluates the success of the infrastructure. Finally, the persistence and growth of infrastructure depends on financial sustainability. CONCLUSIONS: Public health informatics is a field that is growing in breadth, depth, and complexity. Several Essential Services have benefited from informatics, notably, "Monitor Health," "Diagnose & Investigate," and "Evaluate." Yet many Essential Services still have not yet benefited from advances such as maturing electronic health record systems, interoperability amongst health information systems, analytics for population health management, use of social media among consumers, and educational certification in clinical informatics. There is much work to be done to further advance the science of PHI as well as its impact on public health practice.

What do women know about government services and benefits?

This article examines how much women know about government services and benefits and discusses why this type of knowledge matters. Using data from a survey as well as focus groups conducted in Montreal and Toronto, we show that the women who are most likely to need information about these programs are often the least likely to be aware of them. This is especially true of low-income women, older women, and women who came to Canada as immigrants. We end by suggesting some steps that could be taken to address these knowledge gaps.

A curious jumble: the Canadian approach to online consumer health information.

As part of a larger e-health strategy, Canadian governments have invested millions in online health information services for the lay public. These services are intended to reduce demands on the primary health care system by encouraging greater individual responsibility for health and are often promoted using the language of personal empowerment. In this paper, we describe how lay searchers generally look for online health information and discuss the disempowering challenges they are likely to face in (a) locating Canadian government-sponsored health information sites and (b) finding useful information on these sites to address everyday health concerns. We conclude with several recommendations for policy changes.

Building public health skills and capacity in the English regions.

Local public health departments have variable access to a public health intelligence function, and information skills are scarce. Public health observatories are supporting the development of professional standards for public health intelligence specialists and offer training opportunities for both defined public health specialists and generalist public health specialists. In addition observatories support public health practice through educational programmes in health impact assessment, health equity audit, public health intelligence, and the provision of toolkits and advice on methods. Observatories have a key role in supporting and developing networks, in particular public health analysts, and the use of interoperable websites is enhancing these opportunities.

The public health workforce.

The development of a fully-competent public health workforce as a key component of the nation's public health infrastructure has become the focus of increasing attention. The subject is included in one, and is the major topic of a second, report from the Institute of Medicine published late in 2002. Workforce issues have stimulated the convening of the majority of public health-related associations in a range of collaborations on the subjects of defining, enumerating, credentialing, educating, and studying the workforce. The authors review the major questions confronting the field and introduce key components of current thinking about approaches to improvement.

Public health workforce development: progress, challenges, and opportunities.

The public health workforce is key to strengthening public health infrastructure. National partners have articulated a vision of a sustainable and competent workforce prepared to deliver essential public health services. Six strategic elements provide a framework for action: monitoring workforce composition; identifying competencies and developing related curriculum; designing an integrated life-long learning delivery system; providing individual and organizational incentives to ensure competency development; conducting evaluation and research and assuring financial support. Partners convened in January 2003 to review progress and to re-evaluate strategies in light of the recently released Institute of Medicine reports on infrastructure and workforce issues. Although significant challenges remain, there is convergence on priorities for competency development, research questions to be addressed and next steps in the national dialogue on certification and credentialing in public health.