Influence of sociodemographic factors on academic performance in the subject of human gross anatomy / Influencia de los factores sociodemográficos en el rendimiento académico en la asignatura de anatomía macroscópica humana

SUMMARY: It has been demonstrated that the teaching and learning process of human anatomy is influenced by different external factors that can affect, in the short and long term, the academic and professional performance of medical students. In this sense, the present work aims to determine the relationship between sociodemographic factors and the academic performance of students belonging to the program of Medicine and Surgery of the Universidad del Valle, in Cali-Colombia, who were enrolled in the course of Human Gross Anatomy. Based on the organization of the course plan, the average grades obtained by the students in the different exams taken in the course were compared. Through a survey, sociodemographic data that have been reported as influential factors in academic performance were asked. The first stage of the analysis consisted of identifying the characteristics of the variables, then the correlation of the sociodemographic variables with the students' academic performance, and finally, a multiple linear regression model was implemented. Although the results did not show statistically significant correlations between the variables analyzed, a close relationship was observed with the sex and place of origin of the students, obtaining that women and students from other towns and cities presented lower academic performance compared to their peers. This highlights the importance of including activities to strengthen the learning process, as well as guiding support programs to maintain academic performance and reduce the inequality gap.

Se ha demostrado que en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje de la anatomía humana inciden diferentes factores externos que pueden afectar, a corto y largo plazo, el desempeño académico y profesional de los estudiantes de Medicina. En este sentido, el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar la relación existente entre los factores sociodemográficos y el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes que pertenecen al programa de Medicina y Cirugía de la Universidad del Valle, en Cali-Colombia, matriculados en la asignatura de Anatomía Macroscópica Humana. A partir de la organización del plan del curso, se comparó el promedio de las notas obtenidas por los estudiantes en los diferentes exámenes realizados en la asignatura. A través de una encuesta, se preguntaron algunos datos sociodemográficos que han sido reportados como factores influyentes en el rendimiento académico. La primera etapa del análisis consistió en identificar las características de las variables, a continuación, la correlación de las variables sociodemográficas con el desempeño académico de los estudiantes y, finalmente, se implementó un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple. Si bien los resultados no arrojaron correlaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las variables analizadas, sí se observó una estrecha relación con el sexo y el lugar de procedencia de los estudiantes, obteniendo que las mujeres y los estudiantes foráneos presentaron menor rendimiento académico en comparación con los demás compañeros. Esto resalta la importancia de incluir actividades que permitan fortalecer el proceso de aprendizaje, así como guiar programas de apoyo para mantener el rendimiento académico y disminuir la brecha de desigualdad.

Impact of a virtual learning environment on the conscious prescription of antibiotics among Colombian dentists.

Appropriate antibiotic prescription contributes to reducing bacterial resistance; therefore, it is critical to provide training regarding this challenge. The objective of this study was to develop a virtual learning environment for antibiotic prescription and to determine its impact on dentists' awareness, attitudes, and intention to practice. First, the learning content on multimedia resources was developed and distributed into three challenges that participants had to overcome. Then, a quasi-experimental study was performed in which the virtual learning environment was implemented on dentists from seven Colombian cities. The median of correct answers and the levels of awareness, attitudes, and intention to practice were compared before, immediately after, and 6-months post-intervention. Wilcoxon signed-rank and McNemar's tests were used to determine the differences. A total of 206 participants who finished the virtual learning environment activities exhibited a favorable and statistically significant impact on the median of correct answers of awareness (p < 0.001), attitudes (p < 0.001), and intention to practice (p = 0.042). A significant increase occurred in the number of participants with a high level of awareness (p < 0.001) and a non-significant increase in participants with high levels of attitudes (p = 0.230) and intention to practice (p = 0.286). At 6 months, the positive effect on the median of correct answers on awareness and intention to practice persisted (p < 0.001); however, this was not evident for attitudes (p = 0.105). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the number of participants who showed low levels of awareness (p = 0.019) and a slight increase in those with high levels of the same component (p = 0.161). The use of a virtual learning environment designed for dentists contributed to a rapid improvement in awareness and intention to practice antibiotic prescription; however, their attitudes and information retention need reinforcement.

Prescribing antibiotics by dentists in Colombia: Toward a conscientious prescription.

OBJECTIVES: Inappropriate prescription of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the awareness, attitudes, and intention to practice of dentists prescribing antibiotics in Colombia in order to design a virtual learning environment on this subject. METHODS: In a descriptive study across seven cities, 700 dentists from different Colombian cities were requested to complete a validated questionnaire containing five sections: general information, awareness on antibiotic effectiveness and antibiotic resistance, attitudes regarding prescription decision, intention to practice concerning clinical cases, and complementary information. The level of awareness, attitudes, and intention to practice was determined and Chi-square test was used to determine the existence of significant differences among cities. RESULTS: The majority of dentists showed a medium level regarding the number of correct answers on awareness (62.4 percent) and attitudes (88.7 percent) and a high level on intention to practice (91.7 percent). Common errors within the awareness section included the meaning of the term "antibiotic resistance" (35 percent) and most dentists were not convinced that such resistance could be derived from prescription of antibiotics (51.2 percent). In the attitudes section, only 45 percent declared that they prescribe antibiotics based mainly on symptoms, and the intention to practice section showed a significant percentage of unnecessary prescription (51 percent for pacemaker users) or absence of prescription (53.9 percent for ventricular septal defect) in antibiotic prophylaxis for infectious endocarditis (IE). CONCLUSION: The dentists interviewed should be trained and made aware of antibiotic resistance, microbiological and clinical foundations, and current antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines.

La descodificación biológica y las alteraciones craneofaciales, una mirada desde las ciencias básicas / Biological decoding and craniofacial alterations, a view from basic sciences

Antecedentes: La Descodificación Biológica propone la correspondencia entre el estrés ante una situación desbordante y la aparición de síntomas. La ciencia ha logrado profundizar en los componentes biológicos de los trastornos del desarrollo que podrían explicar lo queocurre en algunos preceptos de esta teoría. Objetivo: Determinar a partir de la revisión de literatura científica, la relación entre el estrés y algunas hormonas, con las alteraciones craneofaciales. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda en SciELO, PubMed y SCOPUS buscando artículos relacionados conel estrés, trastornos fisiológicos y esqueléticos y la hormona de crecimiento. Resultados: Se encontraron 17 artículos que relacionan el estrés con alteraciones fisiológicas, 18 artículos que muestran del el papel de los el estrés en el sistema nervioso central y la alteración de la hormona de crecimiento, además 16 artículos que relacionan la hormona de crecimiento con alteraciones esqueléticas craneofaciales. Conclusión: Se encontró evidencia que muestran cómo algunos supuestos de la teoría de la "Descodificación biológica" pueden ser explicados a partir del papel del estrés y de los estresores que podrían estimular respuestas a nivel del sistema nervioso central y llevar a cambios en estructuras óseas en pacientes en periodo de crecimiento o maduración ósea.

Background: Biological Decoding proposes the correspondence between stress in an overwhelming situation and the appearance of symptoms. Science has managed to investigate into the biological components of developmental disorders that could explain what happens in some precepts of this theory. Objective: To determine from the review of scientific literature, the relationship between stress and some hormones, with craniofacial alterations.Materials and methods: A search was carried out in SciELO, PubMed and SCOPUS looking for articles related to stress, physiological and skeletal disorders and growth hormone. Results: 17 articles were found that relate stress with physiological alterations, 18 articles that show the role of stress in the central nervous system and alteration of growth hormone, in addition 16 articles that relate growth hormone with alterations craniofacial skeletal. Conclusion: Evidence was found that shows how some assumptions of the "biological decoding" theory can be explained from the role of stress and stressors that could stimulate responses at the level of the central nervous system and lead to changes in bone structures in patients in a period of bone growth or maturation.