Influence of learning styles on student performance in self-instructional courses.

This study aimed to analyze the learning style of dentistry students in self-instructional courses to assist in pedagogical planning and to choose the most appropriate educational resources for the students' learning profile. A sample of 122 students who responded to the Learning Styles Questionnaire was analyzed. For statistical purposes, correlation analysis, chi-square test, odds ratio, and Student's t-test were performed. In the analyzed sample, there was a higher prevalence of students in the theoretical and reflector styles, and a lower prevalence of students in the activist and pragmatic styles. An analysis of educational resources demonstrated the predominance of theoretical and reflective content. The data show a statistically significant reduction of about 74% in the chances of passing for the activist-pragmatists group compared to other students (χ2(1, N = 122) = 5.795, p < 0.05, odds ratio = 0.26). On the other hand, reflector students who exhibited a lower preference for the activist style had a higher chance of course completion, with a 3.33-fold increase in the likelihood of passing the course (χ2(1, N = 122) = 5.637, p < 0.05, odds ratio = 3.33). These findings highlight the importance of considering students' learning styles in educational planning and resource selection to optimize student performance. Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings and to investigate additional factors that may influence student success in self-instructional courses.

Health and oral health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate if health and oral health status of children and adolescents with different stages of CKD are associated with their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and socioeconomic and demographic conditions. METHODS: One hundred children and adolescents with CKD were age and gender matched to 100 individuals without CKD (mean age ± SD = 13.04 ± 2.57). Oral health was characterised by means of gingival bleeding index (GBI), plaque index (PI), the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the developmental enamel defect (DED) index. All children and adolescents answered two Peds QL® instruments (general and oral health scales). RESULTS: Comparing the mean scores of HRQoL and OHRQoL between groups, we observed that CKD group demonstrated worse perceptions when compared to non-CKD group. Multiple linear regression analysis with bootstrap estimation of variance (1000 replications) showed association between dental caries experience (p < 0.001), gingival inflammation (p < 0.001) and diagnosis of CKD (p = 0.027) with the OHRQoL and between physical and the emotional domain of HRQoL, when moderate/severe gingival inflammation and hypoplasia were present. CONCLUSION: The implementation of public policies that contemplate the early dental preventive intervention in CKD children and adolescents should occur aiming to improve their oral health, once oral manifestations can directly affect the aspects of the HRQoL and OHRQoL of these individuals.

Patterns of Internet and smartphone use by parents of children with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Smartphones have become a part of universal technology by combining mobile and handheld functions, enabling expanded access to health information sources available on the Internet. The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of smartphones and Internet use to search for health information by parents of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was applied to 111 parents of patients in a Brazilian pediatric nephrology center. Descriptive assessments were performed on Internet use patterns, and associative analyses were made of the influence of the smartphone use pattern on the search for health information. RESULTS: Of the 111 participants, 91% (101/111) accessed the Internet, 88% (89/101) searched for health information, and 90% (80/89) searched for CKD information. Smartphones were the most commonly used devices to access the Internet. There was no significant difference between age groups, schooling levels, places of residence and smartphone use to search information about CKD. Physicians continue to be primary sources of information (87%, 88/101), but now they share space with the Internet, which surpassed traditional sources such as books and other health professionals. There seems to be some discomfort on the part of the parents in admitting their research habit to the physician, considering that 65% (52/80) said they did not discuss the fact that they had looked for information on the Internet with their doctor. Obtaining more information about the disease and gaining knowledge regarding its complications were the main reasons that led to performing a search on the Internet, whose results were considered useful by 93% (74/80). CONCLUSION: Parents of children with CKD have been using the Internet largely through smartphones to research about CKD, irrespective of age, schooling and place of residence. Given its wide use, the Internet can be an important vehicle for health education and contribute to providing the support needed by parents and patients to cope with the disease.

A diretriz do Plano Nacional de Pós-Graduação de articulação com a Educação Básica: relato do projeto Experimentando Ciência / The Guideline of the National Postgraduate Plan for articulation with Basic Education: reporting the project Experimenting Science

O Plano Nacional de Pós-Graduação recomenda que o Sistema Nacional de Pós-Graduação desenvolva estudos tendo em vista as necessidades e os interesses dos estudantes da educação básica. Buscando seguir esta diretriz, o Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Odontológicas da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo estabeleceu uma parceria com instâncias gestoras da rede pública de educação no município de São Paulo, formulando e implementando o projeto Experimentando Ciência. O objetivo foi de aproximar os estudantes do ensino fundamental do conhecimento científico produzido na universidade, promovendo a popularização da ciência e da tecnologia. A partir da delimitação de um problema em sala de aula, quatro grupos de dez alunos, percorriam cinco laboratórios da faculdade, com o objetivo de levantar hipóteses, ensaiar e testar desenhos experimentais. Participaram, ao longo do ano de 2016, cinco escolas, perfazendo um total de 200 alunos. Os resultados foram apresentados em conjunto na forma de relatórios, relatos de experiência, e divulgados para a comunidade escolar, no sentido de compartilhar e multiplicar o conhecimento. De acordo com os relatos, os estudantes tiveram a oportunidade de ampliar o entendimento da ciência de forma prática, instigando a curiosidade pela pesquisa e despertando a percepção de que a educação superior é uma etapa possível de ser alcançada no ciclo educacional. Para a universidade, o projeto demonstrou a viabilidade e importância da articulação interdisciplinar e entre os diferentes níveis educacionais (AU).

The Brazillian National Postgraduate Plan recommends that the National Graduate System develop studies in view of the needs and interests of students in basic education. Seeking to follow this guideline, the Graduate Program in Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo established a partnership with management bodies of the public education network in the city of São Paulo, formulating and implementing the Experimenting Science project. The objective was to bring the students of basic education closer to scientific knowledge, produced in the university, promoting the popularization of science and technology. From the delimitation of a problem in the classroom, four groups of ten students, ran five college labs, with the purpose of hypothesizing and testing experimental designs. Throughout the year 2016, five schools participated, making a total of 200 students. The results were presented in the form of reports, reports of experience, and disseminated to the school community, in order to share and multiply knowledge. According to the reports, students had the opportunity to broaden the understanding of science in a practical way, instigating curiosity for research and awakening the perception that higher education is a possible stage of achievement in the educational cycle. For the university, the project demonstrated the feasibility and importance of the interdisciplinary articulation and between the different educational levels (AU).