Perception of abortion in first-year students of the Faculty of Medicine after the Human Embryology course.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have been recorded regarding the perception of abortion among students in the health area. OBJECTIVE: To know if medical-scientific training is sufficient to generate a change in the perception of first-year students of the National Autonomous University of Mexico Faculty of Medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was applied in two times, with the level of relationship between the items of each dimension being analyzed using Cramer's V test. The results were compared to analyze if there was a change in the perception of abortion after the human embryology course. RESULTS: With an initial population of 2,150 students, 393 pre-course and 394 post-course surveys were conducted. The results indicated that despite the existence of changes in the perception of Faculty of Medicine students with regard to abortion, they are not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The medical-scientific training provided by the human embryology course is not enough to provide foundations to the perception of students on issues such as abortion or conscientious objection.

ANTECEDENTES: Actualmente se han registrado diversos estudios sobre la percepción del aborto en el alumnado del área de la salud. OBJETIVO: Conocer si la formación médico-científica puede generar un cambio en la percepción del alumnado que cursa el primer año en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se aplicó una encuesta transversal en dos tiempos y se analizó el nivel de relación de los ítems de cada dimensión mediante coeficiente V de Crámer. Los resultados se compararon para identificar si existió un cambio de percepción acerca del aborto después del curso de embriología humana. RESULTADOS: Con una población inicial de 2150 alumnos, se realizaron 393 encuestas previas al curso y 394 encuestas posteriores. Los resultados indicaron que a pesar de existir cambios en la percepción de los alumnos de la Facultad de Medicina sobre el aborto, no fueron significativos. CONCLUSIONES: La formación médico-científica que proporciona el curso de embriología humana no es suficiente para fundamentar la percepción del alumnado en temas como el aborto o la objeción de conciencia.

Percepción del aborto en alumnado de primer año de la Facultad de Medicina posterior al curso de embriología humana / Perception of abortion in first-year students of the Faculty of Medicine after the Human Embryology course

Resumen Antecedentes: Actualmente se han registrado diversos estudios sobre la percepción del aborto en el alumnado del área de la salud. Objetivo: Conocer si la formación médico-científica puede generar un cambio en la percepción del alumnado que cursa el primer año en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Material y métodos: Se aplicó una encuesta transversal en dos tiempos y se analizó el nivel de relación de los ítems de cada dimensión mediante coeficiente V de Crámer. Los resultados se compararon para identificar si existió un cambio de percepción acerca del aborto después del curso de embriología humana. Resultados: Con una población inicial de 2150 alumnos, se realizaron 393 encuestas previas al curso y 394 encuestas posteriores. Los resultados indicaron que a pesar de existir cambios en la percepción de los alumnos de la Facultad de Medicina sobre el aborto, no fueron significativos. Conclusiones: La formación médico-científica que proporciona el curso de embriología humana no es suficiente para fundamentar la percepción del alumnado en temas como el aborto o la objeción de conciencia.

Abstract Background: Multiple studies have been recorded regarding the perception of abortion among students in the health area. Objective: To know if medical-scientific training is sufficient to generate a change in the perception of first-year students of the National Autonomous University of Mexico Faculty of Medicine. Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was applied in two times, with the level of relationship between the items of each dimension being analyzed using Cramer's V test. The results were compared to analyze if there was a change in the perception of abortion after the human embryology course. Results: With an initial population of 2,150 students, 393 pre-course and 394 post-course surveys were conducted. The results indicated that despite the existence of changes in the perception of Faculty of Medicine students with regard to abortion, they are not significant. Conclusions: The medical-scientific training provided by the human embryology course is not enough to provide foundations to the perception of students on issues such as abortion or conscientious objection.

Dating Violence among Undergraduate Medical Students at a Public University in Mexico City: An Exploratory Study.

Gender-based violence (GBV) and cyber-aggression are growing problems in Mexico, but there is a dearth of information on their associated risks. We aimed to determine the prevalence of dating violence (DV) and cyber-aggression in a public campus and compared students' acceptability of abusive DV based on their sex and sexual orientation. We employed a cross-sectional design to survey 964 first-year medical students attending a public university. We analyzed who found "acceptable" abusive behaviors from a dating partner and carried out descriptive analyses of sample characteristics by sex. We included 633 women and 331 men. Homosexual and bisexual orientation was lower among women (1.5%, 4.8%) vs. men (16.9%, 7.2%). Of women and men, respectively, 64.2% and 35.8% reported having been in a dating relationship. Experiencing abusive behaviors in the year prior to the study was associated with students' level of "acceptability". A total of 43.5% of the students who experienced cyber-aggression did not report any mental health consequences, 32.6% did not seek professional help, and 17.4% reported feeling depressed. Students that accepted emotionally abusive DV behaviors displayed a fourfold risk of experiencing physical abuse. Women and sexual minorities are more at risk of experiencing GBV and DV. More male students reported being victims of cyber-aggression.

The burden of cardiovascular disease in Mexico 1990-2021. Summary of the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality, with economic implications for the health system. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the burden of CVD in Mexico from 1990 to 2021 based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, to address the burden of health and disease, its implications for public health and for the development of the health care system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CVD mortality in Mexico is described, and the extent to which population growth and aging explain the observed trends, sex differences, and geographic patterns is examined. RESULTS: CVD is the leading cause of mortality, mainly due to hypertensive heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke. A change of trend was observed in men and women, with higher mortality in people older than 80 years and in the northern states of the country. CONCLUSIONS: Mexico must invest in public health programs to address modifiable risks, promote healthy aging, and reduce premature death due to CVD.

ANTECEDENTES: La enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) es una causa importante de mortalidad, con implicaciones económicas para el sistema de salud. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar la carga de ECV en México de 1990 a 2021 con base en el estudio Global Burden of Disease (GBD), para abordar la carga de salud y enfermedad, sus implicaciones en la salud pública y el desarrollo del sistema de atención médica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se describe la mortalidad de las ECV en México y se examina en qué medida el crecimiento y el envejecimiento de la población explican las tendencias, las diferencias por sexo y los patrones geográficos. RESULTADOS: Las ECV representan la primera causa de mortalidad, principalmente por cardiopatía hipertensiva, hemorragia intracerebral, hemorragia subaracnoidea, cardiopatía isquémica y accidente cerebrovascular isquémico. Se observó un cambio de tendencia en hombres y mujeres, mayor mortalidad en mayores de 80 años y en estados del norte del país. CONCLUSIONES: México debe invertir en programas de salud pública para abordar los riesgos modificables, promover el envejecimiento saludable y reducir la muerte prematura por ECV.

Effect of Omicron on the prevalence of COVID-19 in international travelers at the Mexico city international airport. December 16th, 2021 to January 31st, 2022.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 continues to have a high rate of contagion worldwide. The new variant of concern, Omicron, has mutations that decrease the effectiveness of vaccines and evade antibodies from previous infections resulting in a fourth wave of the pandemic. It was identified in Mexico in December 2021. METHODS: The Traveler's Preventive Care Clinic from the Faculty of Medicine UNAM at Mexico City International Airport has performed rapid antigen and PCR SARS CoV2 tests since January 2021 to comply with the new travel requirements. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected from each passenger and the fourth wave of the pandemic in Mexico mainly caused by Omicron was analyzed in the travelers. RESULTS: A total of 5176 travelers attended the clinic between the second half of December 2021 and January 2022. Ten percent of all the tests performed were positive (13% of PCR and 9.3% of antigens, p = 0.001). Most of the SARS CoV2 positive cases were asymptomatic (78%), with a ratio of 3.5:1 over the symptomatic. By age groups, this ratio was higher for those under 20 years old (8.7:1). DISCUSSION: This study shows the rapid escalation of positivity that occurred in Mexico, detected in travelers, from the second half of December 2020 and throughout the month of January 2021. The incidence of COVID-19 was extremely high in travelers who were mostly asymptomatic for the period under study.

Symptom cluster analysis of long COVID-19 in patients discharged from the Temporary COVID-19 Hospital in Mexico City.

INTRODUCTION: Several reports have emerged describing the long-term consequences of COVID-19 and its effects on multiple systems. METHODS: As further research is needed, we conducted a longitudinal observational study to report the prevalence and associated risk factors of the long-term health consequences of COVID-19 by symptom clusters in patients discharged from the Temporary COVID-19 Hospital (TCH) in Mexico City. Self-reported clinical symptom data were collected via telephone calls over 90 days post-discharge. Among 4670 patients, we identified 45 symptoms across eight symptom clusters (neurological; mood disorders; systemic; respiratory; musculoskeletal; ear, nose, and throat; dermatological; and gastrointestinal). RESULTS: We observed that the neurological, dermatological, and mood disorder symptom clusters persisted in >30% of patients at 90 days post-discharge. Although most symptoms decreased in frequency between day 30 and 90, alopecia and the dermatological symptom cluster significantly increased (p < 0.00001). Women were more prone than men to develop long-term symptoms, and invasive mechanical ventilation also increased the frequency of symptoms at 30 days post-discharge. CONCLUSION: Overall, we observed that symptoms often persisted regardless of disease severity. We hope these findings will help promote public health strategies that ensure equity in the access to solutions focused on the long-term consequences of COVID-19.

The Paradoxical Effect of Living Alone on Cognitive Reserve and Mild Cognitive Impairment among Women Aged 60+ in Mexico City.

An elderly person who lives alone must often be autonomous and self-sufficient in daily living activities. We explored if living alone and marital status were associated with mild cognitive impairment and low cognitive reserve in a sample of Mexican women aged 60+ attending continuing education courses using a cross-sectional design. Objective cognitive functions were assessed using the MMSE and Blessed Dementia Scale. We administered the Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire. Independence skills were assessed with the Katz index and Lawton index. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. We recruited 269 participants (x¯ = 69.0 ± 5.8 years). Single, widowed, separated, and divorced women comprised 73% of the participants. A third lived alone and 84% had completed high school. Mild cognitive deficit was observed among 24.5-29.0%; the upper range for cognitive reserve was 61.7%. Living alone versus living with someone was associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 0.51, p = 0.04) and with low to medium cognitive reserve (OR = 0.51, p = 0.02) after adjusting for confounding variables. Living alone was an independent factor associated with a lower probability of displaying mild cognitive impairment and a higher probability of displaying high cognitive reserve. Women living alone in this study had a more robust cognitive framework and had built their own support networks.

Desigualdad social en México en el uso de servicios de tamizaje en adultos: un análisis de las encuestas nacionales de salud 2006 y 2012 / Social inequality in the use of screening tests in Mexico: an analysis of the national health surveys 2006 and 2012

Resumen Objetivo: Medir la desigualdad en el uso de servicios de tamizaje en adultos de 20 a 59 años, a partir de las encuestas nacionales de salud y nutrición 2006 y 2012. Material y métodos: A partir de la selección de cinco indicadores de tamizaje en adultos (detección de diabetes, hipertensión y cánceres de mama, cérvicouterino y de próstata) se estimaron el índice de Kuznets, el índice de desigualdad de la pendiente y el índice de concentración de salud, considerando como indicadores sociales la escolaridad, etnicidad, desempleo, nivel socioeconómico y tipo de protección en salud. Resultados: Las coberturas de las cinco pruebas se incrementaron, sin embargo, la desigualdad observada disminuyó únicamente en las intervenciones en mujeres; en el caso de la detección de cáncer de próstata se incrementó. Conclusión: Si bien es importante monitorear el desempeño de los servicios curativos, persiste el reto de asegurar el acceso efectivo y equitativo a servicios de diagnóstico temprano.

Abstract Objective: To measure health inequality in the use of screening services in adults from 20 to 59 years of age from the 2006 and 2012 national health and nutrition surveys. Materials and methods: Considering the selection of five indicators of screening in adults (detection of diabetes, hypertension, breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer), the Kuznets index, the slope inequality index and the health concentration index were estimated. Considering as social indicators schooling, ethnicity, unemployment, socioeconomic level and type of health protection. Results: The coverage of the five tests increased, but the inequality observed only decreased in the interventions in women; and in the case of the detection of prostate cancer it was increased. Conclusions: While it is important to monitor the performance of curative services, the challenge remains to ensure effective and equitable access to early diagnosis services.

[Social inequality in the use of screening tests in Mexico: an analysis of the national health surveys 2006 and 2012]. / Desigualdad social en México enel uso de servicios de tamizaje en adultos: un análisis de las encuestas nacionales de salud 2006 y 2012.

OBJECTIVE: To measure health inequality in the use of screen-ing services in adults from 20 to 59 years of age from the 2006 and 2012 national health and nutrition surveys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: dults (detection of diabetes, hypertension, breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer), the Kuznets index, the slope inequality index and the health concentration index were estimated. Considering as social indicators schooling, ethnicity, unemployment, socioeconomic level and type of health protection. RESULTS: The coverage of the five tests increased, but the inequality observed only decreased in the interventions in women; and in the case of the detection of prostate cancer it was increased. CONCLUSIONS: While it is important to monitor the performance of curative services, the challenge remains to ensure effective and equitable access to early diagnosis services.

OBJETIVO: Medir la desigualdad en el uso de servicios de tamizaje en adultos de 20 a 59 años, a partir de las encuestas nacionales de salud y nutrición 2006 y 2012. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: A partir de la selección de cinco indicadores de tamizaje en adultos (detección de diabetes, hipertensión y cánceres de mama, cérvicouterino y de próstata) se estimaron el índice de Kuznets, el índice de desigualdad de la pendiente y el índice de concentración de salud, considerando como indicadores sociales la escolaridad, etnicidad, desempleo, nivel socioeconómico y tipo de protección en salud. RESULTADOS: Las coberturas de las cinco pruebas se incrementaron, sin embargo, la desigualdad observada disminuyó únicamente en las intervenciones en mujeres; en el caso de la detección de cáncer de próstata se incrementó. CONCLUSIONES: Si bien es importante monitorear el desempeño de los servicios curativos, persiste el reto de asegurar el acceso efectivo y equitativo a servicios de diagnóstico temprano.

Regulatory peptides and systems biology: A new era of translational and reverse-translational neuroendocrinology.

Recently, there has been a resurgence in regulatory peptide science as a result of three converging trends. The first is the increasing population of the drug pipeline with peptide-based therapeutics, mainly in, but not restricted to, incretin-like molecules for treatment of metabolic disorders such as diabetes. The second is the development of genetic and optogenetic tools enabling new insights into how peptides actually function within brain and peripheral circuits to accomplish homeostatic and allostatic regulation. The third is the explosion in defined structures of the G-protein coupled receptors to which most regulatory peptides bind and exert their actions. These trends have closely wedded basic systems biology to drug discovery and development, creating a "two-way street" on which translational advances travel from basic research to the clinic, and, equally importantly, "reverse-translational" information is gathered, about the molecular, cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of action of regulatory peptides, comprising information required for the fine-tuning of drug development through testing in animal models. This review focuses on a small group of 'influential' peptides, including oxytocin, vasopressin, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, ghrelin, relaxin-3 and glucagon-like peptide-1, and how basic discoveries and their application to therapeutics have intertwined over the past decade.

Sexual health educational intervention in medical students.

INTRODUCTION: The National Autonomous University of Mexico Faculty of Medicine created the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, which is aimed at students. OBJECTIVE: To determine the sexual-reproductive health profile of medical students through a diagnostic questionnaire and of those who participated in an educational intervention on sexuality (three modules). METHOD: First-year undergraduate students, schoolyear 2017-2018, participated. Students were considered to be trained when they took at least one module. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 1157 students, 21.9 % participated in at least one module, 43.1% had initiated sexual activity and 25 % received the educational intervention. Not having used a condom in their last intercourse was identified in 20 %, and a high prevalence of intercourse under the influence of alcohol was observed. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for specific sexuality competences to be promoted among those who will be doctors in the future.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México creó el Programa de Prevención de Embarazo en Adolescentes, dirigido a estudiantes. OBJETIVO: Determinar el perfil de la salud sexual-reproductiva de estudiantes de medicina mediante un cuestionario diagnóstico y de quienes participaron en una intervención educativa de sexualidad (tres módulos). MÉTODO: Participaron estudiantes del primer año de la carrera, ciclo 2017-2018. Se consideró que el estudiante fue capacitado cuando cursó al menos un módulo. RESULTADOS: Contestaron el cuestionario 1157 estudiantes, 21.9 % participó en al menos un módulo, 43.1 % había iniciado vida sexual y 25 % recibió la intervención educativa. El 20 % no usó condón en su última relación y se observó alta prevalencia de relaciones sexuales bajo el influjo de alcohol. CONCLUSIONES: Es importante promover competencias específicas en sexualidad entre quienes serán los futuros médicos.

Intervención educativa sobre salud sexual en estudiantes de medicina / Sexual health educational intervention in medical students

Resumen Introducción: La Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México creó el Programa de Prevención de Embarazo en Adolescentes, dirigido a estudiantes. Objetivo: Determinar el perfil de la salud sexual-reproductiva de estudiantes de medicina mediante un cuestionario diagnóstico y de quienes participaron en una intervención educativa de sexualidad (tres módulos). Método: Participaron estudiantes del primer año de la carrera, ciclo 2017-2018. Se consideró que el estudiante fue capacitado cuando cursó al menos un módulo. Resultados: Contestaron el cuestionario 1157 estudiantes, 21.9 % participó en al menos un módulo, 43.1 % había iniciado vida sexual y 25 % recibió la intervención educativa. El 20 % no usó condón en su última relación y se observó alta prevalencia de relaciones sexuales bajo el influjo de alcohol. Conclusiones: Es importante promover competencias específicas en sexualidad entre quienes serán los futuros médicos.

Abstract Introduction: The National Autonomous University of Mexico Faculty of Medicine created the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, which is aimed at students. Objective: To determine the sexual-reproductive health profile of medical students through a diagnostic questionnaire and of those who participated in an educational intervention on sexuality (three modules). Method: First-year undergraduate students, schoolyear 2017-2018, participated. Students were considered to be trained when they took at least one module. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 1157 students, 21.9 % participated in at least one module, 43.1% had initiated sexual activity and 25 % received the educational intervention. Not having used a condom in their last intercourse was identified in 20 %, and a high prevalence of intercourse under the influence of alcohol was observed. Conclusions: It is important for specific sexuality competences to be promoted among those who will be doctors in the future.

Twelve years after abortion decriminalization in Mexico City: Can we still remain an island of liberties?

Latin America hosts the most restrictive abortion legislation globally. In 2007, Mexico, the second largest Catholic country in the world, decriminalized elective abortion within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy in the capital: Mexico City (also known as Federal District of Mexico). Following the reform, the Mexico City Ministry of Health (MX-MOH) implemented safe and legal services. Free services are provided to Mexico City residents and a sliding fee of up to $100 is applied to women from other Mexican states. Conscientious objection (CO) was addressed and included in service provision guidelines. Since 2007, 18 of 32 states amended their penal codes to restrict abortion. The road toward increasing access to abortion services at the MX-MOH included a shift from dilation and curettage (D&C) to medical abortion (MA), first with the misoprostol-alone regimen, followed by the combined mifepristone-misoprostol regimen. Manual vacuum aspiration is offered to out-of-state-women or to those beyond the gestational age where MA is less effective. Contraceptive uptake among abortion seekers is high (up to 95% of them prefer a free method of their choice). The Legal Interruption of Pregnancy program at the MX-MOH continues to provide effective, safe, reliable, and free services. However, women from indigenous groups residing in rural areas, those with low schooling, and adolescents with an unintended pregnancy who live in rural, urban, peri-urban districts, and at the state level are underserved despite being legally eligible to receive abortion services. Therefore, information and services for the disadvantaged groups need to be strengthened.

[General characteristics of medical education in Mexico. A look from medical schools]. / Características generales de la educación médica en México. Una mirada desde las escuelas de medicina.

OBJECTIVE: To know the characteristics of medical education and identify its strengths and weaknesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A transversal and quantitative study of the characteristics of medical education in 29 medical schools in Mexico was carried out, between April and September 2017. Questionnaire with Likert scale was applied to explore context, regulation, structure, process, results and impact of medical education. Bivariate analysis was performed with a Chi square test and the significance level was equal to or less than 0.05. RESULTS: The political context obtained 64%, economical context 10% and mechanisms of regulation 31%. The educational structure was 61% and the social impact was 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Public policies, regulatory mechanisms and public investment must be strengthened to improve the quality of medical education.

OBJETIVO: Conocer las características de la educación médica e identificar sus fortalezas y debilidades. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal y cuantitativo para conocer las características de la educación médica en 29 escuelas de medicina en México, entre abril y septiembre de 2017. Se utilizó un cuestionario con escala tipo Likert para explorar el contexto, la regulación, la estructura, el proceso, los resultados y el impacto de la educación médica. Se realizó un análisis bivariado con ji cuadrada y una significancia estadística de p igual o menor a 0.05. RESULTADOS: El contexto político obtuvo 64%, el contexto económico 10%, los mecanismos de regulación 31%, la estructura educativa 61% y el impacto social 93%. CONCLUSIONES: Se requiere fortalecer las políticas públicas, la regulación y la inversión pública, para mejorar la calidad de la educación médica.

[Educating general practitioners in Latin America: a challenge for universal healthFormação de clínicos gerais na América Latina: um desafio para a saúde universal]. / Formación de médicos generales en América Latina: un reto para la salud universal.

OBJECTIVE: To gather opinions from medical schools regarding the existence of public policies on the health workforce (human resources for health) and whether sufficient public financing and regulatory mechanisms are in place for undergraduate medical education; and to identify areas of opportunity to improve the availability of general practitioners in the Region of the Americas. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted with 105 medical schools (51 public and 54 private) in 17 countries. A questionnaire with a Likert scale was used to explore three dimensions (political, economic, and regulatory contexts) composed of 4, 2, and 4 variables each, respectively, and validated with the Delphi method. Frequencies of responses to the questions were estimated. A frequency analysis was performed, as well as a bivariate analysis to identify differences between public and private schools, applying the Chi-square test to compare percentages. RESULTS: The political context was considered favorable by 64% of the schools; the economic context, by 37%; and the regulatory context, by 23%. The only significant differences between public and private schools were in the financial resources they administer. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to strengthen public policies, public investment, and the regulation of medical education in order to improve the education and availability of general practitioners in the countries of the Region.

OBJETIVO: Conhecer a opinião das faculdades de medicina sobre o volume de políticas públicas e financiamento público e mecanismos reguladores para graduação médica e identificar áreas que possibilitem aumentar o número de clínicos gerais na Região das Américas. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal descritivo realizado com 105 faculdades de medicina (51 públicas e 54 particulares) em 17 países. Um questionário com uma escala tipo Likert foi usado para explorar três dimensões (contexto político, contexto econômico e regulamentação), contendo 4, 2 e 4 variáveis cada, e foi validado com o método Delphi. As frequências de respostas às perguntas do questionário foram calculadas e analisadas. A fim de identificar diferenças entre as faculdades públicas e particulares, uma análise bivariada com teste qui-quadrado foi realizada para comparar porcentagens. RESULTADOS: O contexto político foi considerado favorável por 64% das faculdades; o contexto econômico por 37%; e a regulamentação por 23%. Apenas foi observada diferença significativa entre as faculdades públicas e particulares na variável recursos financeiros geridos. CONCLUSÕES: É necessário fortalecer as políticas públicas, o investimento público e a regulamentação da educação médica para melhorar a formação e aumentar o número de clínicos gerais nos países da Região.

Formación de médicos generales en América Latina: un reto para la salud universal

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Conocer la opinión de las escuelas de medicina sobre la existencia de políticas públicas y la suficiencia de financiamiento público y mecanismos regulatorios para la formación médica de pregrado e identificar áreas que permitan mejorar la disponibilidad de médicos generales en la Región de las Américas. Métodos. Estudio transversal, descriptivo realizado con 105 escuelas de medicina, 51 públicas y 54 privadas, de 17 países. Se utilizó un cuestionario con una escala tipo Likert para explorar tres dimensiones (contextos político, económico y regulatorio) integradas por 4, 2 y 4 variables cada una, respectivamente, y validado con el método Delphi. Se estimaron frecuencias de respuestas a las preguntas del cuestionario. Se realizó un análisis de frecuencias, y para identificar diferencias entre escuelas públicas y privadas se efectuó un análisis bivariante aplicando la prueba de Chi cuadrado para comparar porcentajes. Resultados. El contexto político fue favorable para 64% de las escuelas, el contexto económico, para 37% y la regulación, para 23%. Sólo hubo diferencias significativas entre escuelas públicas y privadas en la variable recursos financieros que ellas administran. Conclusiones. Es necesario fortalecer las políticas públicas, la inversión pública y la regulación de la educación médica, para mejorar la formación y disponibilidad de médicos generales en los países de la Región.

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To gather opinions from medical schools regarding the existence of public policies on the health workforce (human resources for health) and whether sufficient public financing and regulatory mechanisms are in place for undergraduate medical education; and to identify areas of opportunity to improve the availability of general practitioners in the Region of the Americas. Methods. Cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted with 105 medical schools (51 public and 54 private) in 17 countries. A questionnaire with a Likert scale was used to explore three dimensions (political, economic, and regulatory contexts) composed of 4, 2, and 4 variables each, respectively, and validated with the Delphi method. Frequencies of responses to the questions were estimated. A frequency analysis was performed, as well as a bivariate analysis to identify differences between public and private schools, applying the Chi-square test to compare percentages. Results. The political context was considered favorable by 64% of the schools; the economic context, by 37%; and the regulatory context, by 23%. The only significant differences between public and private schools were in the financial resources they administer. Conclusions. It is necessary to strengthen public policies, public investment, and the regulation of medical education in order to improve the education and availability of general practitioners in the countries of the Region.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Conhecer a opinião das faculdades de medicina sobre o volume de políticas públicas e financiamento público e mecanismos reguladores para graduação médica e identificar áreas que possibilitem aumentar o número de clínicos gerais na Região das Américas. Métodos. Estudo transversal descritivo realizado com 105 faculdades de medicina (51 públicas e 54 particulares) em 17 países. Um questionário com uma escala tipo Likert foi usado para explorar três dimensões (contexto político, contexto econômico e regulamentação), contendo 4, 2 e 4 variáveis cada, e foi validado com o método Delphi. As frequências de respostas às perguntas do questionário foram calculadas e analisadas. A fim de identificar diferenças entre as faculdades públicas e particulares, uma análise bivariada com teste qui-quadrado foi realizada para comparar porcentagens. Resultados. O contexto político foi considerado favorável por 64% das faculdades; o contexto econômico por 37%; e a regulamentação por 23%. Apenas foi observada diferença significativa entre as faculdades públicas e particulares na variável recursos financeiros geridos. Conclusões. É necessário fortalecer as políticas públicas, o investimento público e a regulamentação da educação médica para melhorar a formação e aumentar o número de clínicos gerais nos países da Região.