Relationship Between Sexual Abuse and Substance Use Among Students from Caribbean Colombian.

Sexual abuse is a public health problem due to its negative impact on physical and mental health. This study aimed to determine the association between sexual abuse and the use of psychoactive substances among high-school adolescents in Colombia. A cross-sectional analytical study was designed in which tenth and eleventh-grade students were included. Overall, a history of sexual abuse was explored with the Trauma Symptom Checklist, and lifetime substance use was assessed with the United States Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Questionnaire. The prevalence of sexual abuse was 17.4%, lifetime alcohol use was 77.4%, cigarette 22.4%, cannabis 11.6%, cocaine 2.7%, and other substances 5.1%. History of sexual abuse was associated with alcohol use (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.10-2.30), cigarette (OR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.51-2.85), cannabis (OR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.66-3.56), cocaine (OR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.25-5.04) and use of other substances (OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.31-4.13). The history of sexual abuse is related to the use of substances in high school adolescents in the Caribbean Region of Colombia. More studies are needed to identify the impact of sexual abuse on short-term and lifelong mental health.

Effect of synchronous remote-based interventions on suicidal behaviours: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is among the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. The impact of suicide affects the personal, social and economic levels. Therefore, its prevention is a priority for public health systems. Previous studies seem to support the efficacy of providing active contact to people who have made a suicide attempt. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the efficacy of distance suicide prevention strategies implemented through synchronous technology-based interventions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol is designed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. The bibliographical searches were conducted in the databases PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science in April 2022, with no restrictions on the time of publication and limited to publications in English or Spanish. The search strategy was performed using free-text terms and Medical Subject Headings terms: suicide, follow-up, synchronous, remote, telehealth, telephone, hotline, video-conference and text message. Two reviewers will independently conduct study screening, selection process, data extraction and risk of bias assessment. The analysis and synthesis of the results will be both qualitative and quantitative. A narrative synthesis, presented in a comprehensive table, will be performed and meta-analysis will be conducted, as appropriate, if sufficient data are provided. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The present review and meta-analysis will not require ethical approval, as it will use data collected from previously published primary studies. The findings of this review will be published in peer-reviewed journals and widely disseminated. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021275044.

Predictive factors of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students: a study in six Ibero-American countries / Factores predictivos del impacto psicológico de la pandemia de COVID-19 en estudiantes universitarios: un estudio en seis países iberoamericanos

Background/Objective: During Covid-19, high prevalences of anxiety and depression were reported among university students, suggesting that they may be at higher risk than the general population of developing psychological disorders in lockdown situations. This study aimed to analyze how sociocultural factors and individual differences contributed to explaining the psychological impact of the pandemic among Ibero-American university students from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, and Uruguay. Method: The study was carried out on 7601 university students (72% women). Data were collected through an online questionnaire that measured anxiety (GAD-2), depression (PHQ-2), somatic symptoms (SSQ-5), post-traumatic growth (PTGI), loneliness (UCLS), personality (NEO-FFI), Resilience (CD-RISC-2), Perceived Competences (PCS) and sociodemographic data. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression model were performed. Results: Analysis indicated a high prevalence (46.15%) of distress among university students, regardless of country and significantly higher than in the general population (28.27%). Greater feelings of loneliness and greater neuroticism were significantly associated with anxiety, depression, and somatization. Likewise, male gender and higher levels of resilience were found to be protective factors, while post-traumatic growth was also higher in men and was associated with higher levels of resilience, perceived competence, and responsibility. Conclusions: The results suggest the need to consider individual risk factors such as being a woman, presenting higher levels of neuroticism and loneliness in understanding the psychological impact of the pandemic on university students. It is concluded that universities should offer specific interventions to address mental health problems and manage the added complications of crisis events on the health of students.(AU)

Antecedentes/Objetivo: Durante el Covid-19, se informaron altas prevalencias de ansiedad y depresión entre estudiantes universitarios, lo que sugiere que pueden tener un mayor riesgo que la población general de desarrollar trastornos psicológicos en situaciones de encierro. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar cómo los factores socioculturales y las diferencias individuales contribuyeron a explicar el impacto psicológico de la pandemia entre estudiantes universitarios iberoamericanos de Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, España, México y Uruguay. Método: El estudio se realizó en 7601 estudiantes universitarios (72% mujeres). Los datos fueron recolectados a través de un cuestionario en línea que midió ansiedad (GAD-2), depresión (PHQ-2), síntomas somáticos (SSQ-5), crecimiento postraumático (PTGI), soledad (UCLS), personalidad (NEO-FFI), Resiliencia (CD-RISC-2), Competencia Percibida (PCS) y datos sociodemográficos. Se realizó estadística descriptiva y modelo de regresión lineal múltiple. Resultados: Los análisis indicaron una alta prevalencia (46,15%) de angustia entre los estudiantes universitarios, independientemente del país y significativamente mayor que en la población general (28,27%). Mayores sentimientos de soledad y mayor neuroticismo se asociaron significativamente con ansiedad, depresión y somatización. Asimismo, el género masculino y mayores niveles de resiliencia resultaron ser factores protectores, mientras que el crecimiento postraumático también fue mayor en los hombres y se asoció con mayores niveles de resiliencia, competencia percibida y responsabilidad. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de considerar factores de riesgo individuales como ser mujer, presentar mayores niveles de neuroticismo y soledad en la comprensión del impacto psicológico de la pandemia en estudiantes universitarios. Se concluye que las universidades deben ofrecer intervenciones específicas para abordar los problemas de salud mental y manejar las complicaciones añadidas de los eventos de crisis sobre la salud de los estudiantes.(AU)

The Third Half: A Pilot Study Using Evidence-Based Psychological Strategies to Promote Well-Being among Doctoral Students.

Over the last few years, various studies have reported decreasing well-being levels among doctoral students, who show a higher risk of suffering from psychological distress than the general population. Accordingly, European policies in higher education encourage well-being promotion programs among doctoral studies to enhance young researchers' well-being. However, programs using evidence-based practices for well-being promotion are not yet generalised in public universities. The present study describes a pilot experience designed to evaluate the efficacy of a well-being program among doctoral candidates of a public European university, the Autonomous University of Barcelona. 25 doctoral students (67% women) participated in a pre-post study consisting of six sessions of 3 h each and structured by the big five criteria coming from evidence-based practices for well-being promotion: outdoor green spaces exposure, physical activity, gamification, mentoring, positive and coaching psychology techniques. Results showed how participants experienced significant increases in several indicators of emotional well-being and decreased psychological distress after the Third Half program. These positive pilot results encourage further research and future replications to assess the impact of this evidence-based psychological program among the academic community. Results also lead the way towards the creation of healthier academic workplaces by implementing cost-effective interventions that improve researchers' psychosocial support and their overall well-being.

Suicide risk during the lockdown due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Colombia.

The study aimed to estimate the high suicide risk during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Colombian population. A total of 700 adults aged between 18 and 76 years (M = 37.1, SD = 12.7; 68.0% women) completed an online questionnaire. Findings showed that 7.6% of participants reported a high suicide risk. High suicide risk was associated with high perceived stress related to COVID-19, risk of depressive episode, and insomnia. Our study suggests that 1 out of 13 Colombians in a non-probability sample reports a high suicide risk during COVID-19. Findings need to be corroborated in a representative sample of Colombians.

Evaluación de las revistas científicas colombianas del área de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud por medio del Índice de Osk / Evaluation of Colombian medical and health sciences journals using the Osk Index

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo la evaluación de las revistas científicas colombianas del área de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud a través del sistema de medición integral de revistas científicas colombianas que se sustenta en el Índice de Osk. Se analizaron las 33 revistas científicas colombianas de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud indexadas en el Índice Bibliográfico Nacional Publindex en la convocatoria 768 del año 2016, de las cuales solo se tuvieron en cuenta las ediciones y las citas comprendidas entre el periodo del 01 de enero al 31 de diciembre del año 2017. La revista que mayor valor presentó fue Biomédica, con un índice para el año 2017 de 314,30, seguida de la Revista Colombiana de Cardiología con 206,81, y en tercer lugar la Revista de Salud Pública con 201,15, las cuales se agrupan en el nivel O1. En el otro extremo y agrupándose de mayor a menor en el nivel O4 se encuentran la revista Duazary (41,78), la Revista Facultad de Odontología Universidad de Antioquia (38,19) y Vitae (35,12). A modo de conclusión, se hace preciso revisar el modelo actual de clasificación de las revistas en Colombia Publindex, teniendo en cuenta las particularidades encontradas durante la revisión. Es por eso que se recomienda la implementación de un modelo o sistema de medición integral, como es en este caso el Índice de Osk(AU)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Colombian medical and health sciences journals using a comprehensive measurement system for Colombian scientific journals based on the Osk Index. An analysis was conducted of 33 Colombian medical and health sciences journals indexed in the National Bibliographic Index Publindex as of call for papers number 768 of 2016, from which only editions and citations from 1 January to 31 December 2017 were considered. The publication with the highest score was Biomédica, with an index of 314.30 for the year 2017, followed by Revista Colombiana de Cardiología with 206.81 and Revista de Salud Pública with 201.15, all three of them in level O1. On the opposite end, and grouped from highest to lowest in level O4 are the journals Duazary (41.78), Revista Facultad de Odontología Universidad de Antioquia (38.19) and Vitae (35.12). Conclusions point to the need to review the classification model currently applied to Colombian journals, Publindex, bearing in mind the particular features revealed by the study. It is therefore recommended to implement a comprehensive measurement model or system, as is the case with the Osk Index(AU)

La salud general percibida y su asociación al síndrome de burnout académico e ideación suicida en universitarios colombianos / Perceived general health and its association with academic burnout syndrome and suicide ideation in Colombian university students

Resumen Objetivo: Describir la prevalencia de la salud general percibida y su asociación al síndrome de burnout académico e ideación suicida en universitarios de una institución pública de la ciudad de Santa Marta. Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional de corte transversal con componente analítico, en una muestra de 807 estudiantes de una universidad pública, quienes respondieron la escala de salud general (GHQ), el inventario de burnout académico (MBI-SS) y la escala de ideación suicida (CES-D-IS). Resultados: Mostraron el 60 % de los participantes eran mujeres con edades entre 18 a 47 años. El 28 % informa malestar en su salud general percibida. La ideación suicida (OR = 3,16; IC 95 % 1,82 5,49), el agotamiento (OR = 2,22; IC 95 % 1,51 3,25), el cinismo (OR = 1,61; IC 95 % 1,14 2,28), y la ineficacia académica (OR = 1,60; IC 95 % 1,122,28) se asociaron a malestar general percibido. Conclusiones: La ideación suicida y las dimensiones del burnout (agotamiento, cinismo e ineficacia académica) son factores de riesgo para la salud general percibida en los estudiantes universitarios. Se necesita más investigación acerca del papel de variables contextuales en la salud general de los estudiantes universitarios.

Abstract Objective: To describe the prevalence of perceived general health and its association to academic burnout syndrome and suicide ideation in university students of a public institution in the city of Santa Marta. Method: A cross-sectional observational study with analytical component was conducted in a sample of 807 students from a public university, who answered the general health scale (GHQ), the academic burnout inventory (MBI-SS) and the suicide ideation scale (CES-D-IS). Results: They showed 60 % of the participants were women between the ages of 18 and 47,28 % reported an impairment in their perceived general health. Suicidal ideation (OR = 3,16; IC 95 % 1,82 5,49), exhaustion (OR = 2,22; IC 95 % 1,51-3,25), cynicism (OR = 1,61; IC 95 % 1,142,28), and academic inefficacy (OR = 1,60; IC 95 % 1,122,28) were associated with perceived general malaise. Conclusions: Suicidal ideation, and burnout dimensions (exhaustion, cynicism and academic inefficiency) are risk factors for perceived general health in university students. More research is needed on the role of contextual variables in the general health of university students.

Healthcare workers' distress and perceived discrimination related to COVID-19 in Colombia.

This study examined the association of perceived discrimination related to COVID-19 with psychological distress in healthcare workers in the Colombian Caribbean region. The authors designed and conducted a cross-sectional study, recruiting a non-probabilistic sample by email or instant messaging. Participants filled out a questionnaire including scales for perceived discrimination, anxiety, depression, perceived stress related to COVID-19, and suicide risk. Healthcare workers (n = 150) aged 18 to 68 years participated; of these, 72% were women, and the breakdown by occupation was 39.3% nursing assistants, 18.0% nurses, and 42.7% physicians. Perceived discrimination scores showed positive correlations with depressive symptoms among nursing assistants and physicians (rs  = 0.34), and suicide risk in nursing assistants (rs  = 0.35) and physicians (rs  = 0.31). Among nurses, all measurements were independent of perceived discrimination. Nursing assistants scored highest in perceived discrimination. Physicians scored higher for COVID-19 perceived stress than nursing assistants, and nurses showed similar scores to physicians. In conclusion, perceived discrimination is related to depressive symptoms and suicide risk among nursing assistants and physicians. Nursing assistants report more perceived discrimination than nurses and physicians.

Efectos del cambio climático en la salud de la población colombiana / Efectos del cambio climático en la salud de la población colombiana

El cambio climático es uno de los fenómenos ambientales que se ha atribuido a la actividad humana, el cual ha afectado las actividades económicas, el bienestar de la población y los ecosistemas. El presente estudio tiene por objetivo identificar y describir los efectos directos e indirectos del cambio climático en la salud de la población que reside en Colombia a través de los casos de morbilidad y mortalidad asociados a la variabilidad climática, eventos climáticos e hidrometeorológicos en Colombia. Se realizó un estudio bibliométrico retrospectivo y descriptivo. En esta investigación se llevó a cabo la revisión de la página oficial de 33 revistas científicas nacionales del área Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud indexadas en el Índice Bibliográfico Nacional Publindex. Los resultados indican que las altas precipitaciones, sequías y las fluctuaciones de temperaturas tienen efectos en la trasmisión de enfermedades por vectores. La contaminación atmosférica está relacionada con el aumento de consultas por infecciones respiratorias y las altas temperaturas son consideradas un factor de riesgo en personas con diagnóstico por enfermedades cerebrovasculares y cardiacas.

Climate change is one of the environmental phenomena attributed to human activity, which has affected economic activities, population welfare and ecosystems. This study aims to identify and describe the direct and indirect effects of climate change on the health of the population residing in Colombia through morbidity and mortality associated with variability climate, climate and hydrometeorological events in Colombia. A retrospective and descriptive bibliometric study was conducted. This research carried out the review of the official website of 33 national scientific journals in the area of Medical and Health Sciences indexed in the Publindex National Bibliographic Index. The results indicate that high rainfall, drought and temperature fluctuations have effects on vector disease transmission. Air pollution is associated with increased respiratory infections and high temperatures are considered a risk factor in people diagnosed with cerebrovascular and heart disease.