Respiratory and physical health consequences in older adults in a high-risk volcanic area: Comparison of two rural villages.

INTRODUCTION: Volcanism is an important natural producer of pollution that impacts health and the quality of the environment. Lung changes caused by exposure to volcanoes have been previously studied. However, limited information exists regarding the effects of prolonged exposure to volcanic compounds. So, this study aimed to analyze the pulmonary effects and stress tolerance in older adults for chronic exposure to the volcanic ashes of the Galeras volcano. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study of association included rural inhabitants aged over 60 years from Genoy, a village located in a high volcanic hazard zone of Galeras volcano, 2603 meters above sea level. Those in this group, called exposed, were contrasted with a sample of El Encano inhabitants with similar socioeconomic and cultural characteristics. Both villages belong to the rural area of San Juan de Pasto in Colombia. RESULTS: It was found that of 31 exposed participants, 18 had obstructive alteration, and in the control group, it was found that of 31 subjects, 6 presented this alteration. The difference between the two groups was significant (p<0.001). A similar situation occurred with distal airway obstruction assessed with the forced expiratory flow of 25-75%. No significant differences were found in restrictive alteration between the exposed and unexposed groups. CONCLUSION: Chronic exposure to volcanic compounds has generated obstructive changes in the population, and these changes were greater in number and severity than those in the control group of unexposed people.

Asociación de la fuerza prensil con el riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores sedentarios / Association of grip strength with cardiovascular risk in sedentary workers

RESUMEN Objetivo Evaluar la fuerza prensil en trabajadores sedentarios como escrutinio de riesgo cardiovascular. Método Se realizó un estudio transversal con personal administrativo. Se midió la fuerza prensil y se relacionó con las variables antropométricas, el nivel de estilo de vida adoptado por los trabajadores, estimado con la prueba FANTÁSTICO, y el nivel de Actividad física, valorado con el Cuestionario IPAQ. Resultados En 152 participantes, no se encontró asociación de la fuerza prensil con las mediciones de actividad física y estilos de vida. Tampoco con marcadores tempranos de riesgo cardiovascular. La población tenía buenos estilos de vida con alto nivel de sedentarismo. A diferencia de otras investigaciones, nuestra población tenía índices de comorbilidad muy bajos y no eran ancianos. Esto podría explicar los resultados diferentes. Conclusión La fuerza prensil no parece ser útil en las evaluaciones de programas de estilos de vida en trabajadores sedentarios adultos con bajo nivel de comorbilidades.

ABSTRACT Objective To assess prehensile strength in administrative personnel as screening for cardiovascular risk. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out with administrative personnel. Prehensile strength was measured and was related to anthropometric variables, the level of lifestyle adopted by the workers, estimated with the FANTASTIC Test, and the level of physical activity, assessed with the IPAQ Questionnaire. Results In 152 participants, no association of prehensile strength was found with physical activity and lifestyles measurements. Nor with early cardiovascular risk markers. The population had good lifestyles with a high level of sedentary behavior. Unlike other investigations, our population had very low comorbidity rates and were not elderly. This could explain the different results. Conclusion Prehensile force does not seem to be useful in evaluating lifestyle programs in administrative personnel with a low level of comorbidities.

Características de la prescripción por enfermería en la ciudad de Cali, Colombia / Prescription characteristics given by nurses in the city of Cali, Colombia / Características da prescrição por enfermagem na cidade de Cali, na Colômbia

Objetivo. Describir las labores de prescripción de medicamentos que realizaron los profesionales de enfermería en la ciudad deCali (Colombia) durante el año 2008. Metodología. Se realizó una encuesta a 135 enfermeras que laboran en diferentes tipos de servicios asistenciales o administrativos sobre hábitos de formulación, percepciones sobre su formación, capacidades y necesidades para ejercer la prescripción de medicamentos. Resultados. La prescripción de medicamentos es una práctica frecuente en la mayoría de la población encuestada, sin relación con el trabajo que desempeñan, la formación de postgrado o la experiencia laboral. Para ejercer esta labor, los encuestados consideran que necesitan formación en farmacología más que un respaldo legal; sin embargo, no reconocen esta actividad como parte de las funciones de su profesión. La prescripción de medicamentos por enfermeras se presenta en algunos casos como una función de la institución donde laboran. Conclusión. La prescripción de medicamentos es una práctica que se ejerce entre los enfermeros de la ciudad, y de acuerdo con los resultados presentados, requiere un debate académico, legal y gremial para ser considerada entre el que hacer de la profesión.

Objective. To describe the drug prescription duties held by nursing professionals in the city of Cali (Colombia) during the year of 2008. Methodology. A survey was applied to 135 nurses who work in different kinds of healthcare or administrative services about prescription habits, perceptions about their education, abilities and necessities to prescribe drugs. Results. Drug prescription is a frequent practice in most of the surveyed population, unrealeted to the work performed, the postgraduate degree or the job experience. The surveyed consider they need more than a legal support the pharmacological training to prescribe drugs; however they don’t recognize this practice as part of their professional job. Nurses’ drug prescription is sometimes presented as part of their occupation tasks into the institution. Conclusion. Drug prescription is a practice performed by the city nurses and according to the presented results they require an academic, legal, professional debate to be considered between their tasks.

Objetivo. Descrever os labores de prescrição de medicamentos que realizaram os profissionais de enfermgem na cidade de Cali (Colômbia) durante o ano 2008. Metodologia. Realizou-se uma enquete a 135 enfermeirasque laboram em diferentes tipos de serviços assistenciais ou administrativos sobre hábitos de formulação, percepções sobre sua formação, capacidades e necessidades para exercer a prescrição de medicamentos. Resultados. A prescrição de medicamentos é uma prática frequente na maioria da população interrogada, sem relação com o trabalho que desempenham, a formação de pós-graduação ou a experiência trabalhista. Para exercer este labor, os interrogados consideram que precisam formação em farmacologia mais do que um respaldo legal; no entanto, não reconhecem esta atividade como parte das funções de sua profissão. A prescrição de medicamentos por enfermeiras se apresenta em alguns casos como uma função da instituição onde laboram. Conclusão. a prescrição de medicamentos é uma prática que se exerce entre os enfermeiros da cidade, e de acordo com os resultados apresentados, requer um debate acadêmico, legal e do grêmio para ser considerada entre o afazer da profissão.