Prevalence and predictors of cigarette smoking among people with HIV in Western Jamaica.

With highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV infection has become a treatable chronic disease. However, modifiable risk factors such as cigarette smoking continue to impact the morbidity and mortality of people with HIV (PWH). We assessed the prevalence and factors associated with cigarette smoking and motivation to quit among PWH in Western Jamaica. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 392 adults seeking HIV care at health facilities in Western Jamaica completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Current smoking prevalence among participants was 17.4%. Current smoking was significantly associated with being male (OR = 2.99), non-Christian/non-Rastafarian (OR = 2.34), living or working with another smoker (aOR =1.86), being moderate to severely depressed (OR = 3.24), having an alcohol drinking problem (OR = 1.84), and never being asked by a healthcare provider if they smoked (OR = 3.24). Among the PWH who currently smoke, 36.7% are moderately to highly dependent on nicotine. One-third of people who smoke (33.8%) started smoking for the first time after HIV diagnosis, while 66.2% initiated smoking before; 88% were willing to quit smoking. These findings provide baseline information for designing and implementing a comprehensive smoking cessation program that considers the needs of PWH in Jamaica, with the potential of becoming a replicable model for other HIV-specialized healthcare settings in the Caribbean.

Testing the accuracy of autofluorescence device in diagnosing oral potentially malignant disorders among people with HIV seeking dental care.

OBJECTIVES: Although many studies have assessed the diagnostic accuracy of autofluorescence in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), there has been a paucity of such information in high-risk populations. Our study thereby tested the accuracy of using autofluorescence in the oral examination of suspicious lesions among patients seeking care at an HIV-specialized dental clinic in Houston, Texas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective single-arm design in which forty-four (44) HIV-infected individuals seeking dental care at a specialized-HIV dental clinic were recruited. Each subject had their oral cavity examined under conventional lighting and then used a fluorescence light-based handheld device (OralID®). Biopsy was obtained from unresolved suspicious OPMDs at the 15-day follow-up, and histopathological analysis was conducted. The oral lesions, not the patient, were treated as the unit of analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were calculated using SPSS. RESULTS: The results showed that OPMDs could be identified with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 18%, an NPV of 86%, a PPV of 24% using the fluorescence light-based handheld device, with a diagnostic accuracy of 55%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low specificity, fluorescence light can complement clinical oral cancer screening and aid identification of OPMDs during biopsy procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest that autofluorescence devices could supplement clinical oral examination and aid the identification of OPMDs during biopsy procedures, potentially improving oral cancer screening among HIV-positive patients seeking care.

Las Competencias de Salud Global para Estudiantes de Enfermería: Percepciones de Docentes en América Latina / Global Health Competencies among Nursing Students: Perceptions of Teachers in Latin America / As Competências de Saúde Global para Estudantes de Enfermagem: Percepções de Docentes na América Latina

Resumen: Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio fue describir las percepciones de docentes de enfermería de habla hispana en América Latina, sobre las competencias relacionadas a la salud global que deben mostrar los estudiantes de enfermería del pregrado. Métodos: Este estudio descriptivo fue basado en una muestra de docentes de escuelas de enfermería miembros de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Escuelas y Facultades de Enfermería (ALADEFE) y de la Asociación de Escuelas de la Zona Centro Sur de México, las cuales recibieron un correo electrónico con una liga para responder una encuesta electrónica por Survey Monkey©. La encuesta incluyó una lista de 30 competencias en salud global dividida en seis dimensiones. Los docentes indicaron en una escala Likert de 4 puntos la relevancia de cada competencia para la educación de enfermería en el nivel de pregrado (1 = Completamente en desacuerdo; 2 = En desacuerdo; 3 = De acuerdo; 4 = Completamente de acuerdo). Resultados: En total, 110 profesores de nueve países respondieron a la encuesta. El promedio de cada ítem fue entre 3.0 - 4.0, esto indica que los profesores estuvieron de acuerdo en que todas las competencias son relevantes para la formación de estudiantes de enfermería a nivel de pregrado. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio sugirieron que estas competencias deben ser incluidas en los currículos de enfermería a nivel de pregrado, para formar a los estudiantes en su labor como enfermeras y enfermeros en un mundo globalizado y prepararlos para contribuir a la Cobertura y el Acceso Universal a la Salud (Salud Universal).

Abstract: Objective: To describe the perceptions of Spanish-speaking nursing teachers in Latin America on the global health competences which, undergraduate nursing students should demonstrate. Methods: This descriptive study was based on a sample of teachers of nursing schools belonging to the Latin American Association of Nursing Schools and Faculties, and the Association of Schools of the Center-South Zone in Mexico. These institutions received an invitation via e-mail to respond to a survey through the Survey Monkey© platform. The survey included a list of 30 Global Health competencies grouped in 6 dimensions. Teachers indicated through a 4-point Likert scale their perception on the relevance to undergraduate nursing education of each of these competencies (1 = total disagreement, 2 = disagreement, 3 = agreement, 4 = total agreement). Results: In total, 110 professors of 9 countries responded to the survey. The average score per item was 3.0 - 4.0 suggesting that the teachers agreed that all competencies are relevant to the formation of undergraduate nursing students. Conclusions: These results suggested that these competencies should be part of the objectives of undergraduate nursing curricula in order to prepare the students to contribute to the Coverage and Access to Universal Health agenda.

Resumo: Objetivo: O propósito deste estudo foi descrever as percepções de docentes de enfermagem de fala hispana na América Latina, sobre as competências relacionadas à saúde global que devem mostrar os estudantes de enfermagem de graduação. Métodos: Este estudo descritivo foi baseado em uma amostra de docentes de escolas de enfermagem membros da Associação Latino-americana de Escolas e Faculdades de Enfermagem (ALADEFE) e da Associação de Escolas da Zona Centro Sul do México, as quais receberam um e-mail electrónico com um link para responder uma enquete electrónica por Survey Monkey©. A enquete incluiu uma lista de 30 competências em saúde global dividida em seis dimensões. Os docentes indicaram em uma escala Likert de 4 pontos a relevância de cada competência para a educação de enfermagem no nível de graduação (1 = Completamente em discordância; 2 = Em discordância; 3 = Em concordância; 4 = Completamente em concordância). Resultados: Em total, 110 professores de nove países responderam à enquete. A média de cada item foi entre 3.0-4.0, isto indica que os professores concordaram em que todas as competências são relevantes para a formação de estudantes de enfermagem a nível de graduação. Conclusões: Os resultados deste estudo sugeriram que estas competências devem ser incluídas nos currículos de enfermagem a nível de graduação, para formar aos estudantes em seu labor como enfermeiras e enfermeiros em um mundo globalizado e prepará-los para contribuir à Cobertura e o Acesso Universal à Saúde (Saúde Universal).