Physicians' Perceptions as Predictors of the Future Use of the National Death Information System in Peru: Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: A computer application called the National Death Information System (SINADEF) was implemented in Peru so that physicians can prepare death certificates in electronic format and the information is available online. In 2018, only half of the estimated deaths in Peru were certified using SINADEF. When a death is certified in paper format, the probability being entered in the mortality database decreases. It is important to know, from the user's perspective, the factors that can influence the successful implementation of SINADEF. SINADEF can only be successfully implemented if it is known whether physicians believe that it is useful and easy to operate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the perceptions of physicians and other factors as predictors of their behavioral intention to use SINADEF to certify a death. METHODS: This study had an observational, cross-sectional design. A survey was provided to physicians working in Peru, who used SINADEF to certify a death for a period of 12 months, starting in November 2019. A questionnaire was adapted based on the Technology Acceptance Model. The questions measured the dimensions of subjective norm, image, job relevance, output quality, demonstrability of results, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention to use. Chi-square and logistic regression tests were used in the analysis, and a confidence level of 95% was chosen to support a significant association. RESULTS: In this study, 272 physicians responded to the survey; 184 (67.6%) were men and the average age was 45.3 (SD 10.1) years. The age range was 24 to 73 years. In the bivariate analysis, the intention to use SINADEF was found to be associated with (1) perceived usefulness, expressed as "using SINADEF avoids falsifying a death certificate" (P<.001), "using SINADEF reduces the risk of errors" (P<.001), and "using SINADEF allows for filling out a certificate in less time" (P<.001); and (2) perceived ease of use, expressed as "I think SINADEF is easy to use" (P<.001). In the logistic regression, perceived usefulness (odds ratio [OR] 8.5, 95% CI 2.2-32.3; P=.002), perceived ease of use (OR 10.1, 95% CI 2.4-41.8; P=.001), and training in filling out death certificates (OR 8.3, 95% CI 1.6-42.8; P=.01) were found to be predictors of the behavioral intention to use SINADEF. CONCLUSIONS: The behavioral intention to use SINADEF was related to the perception that it is an easy-to-use system, the belief that it improves the performance of physicians in carrying out the task at hand, and with training in filling out death certificates.

Validación del instrumento "Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q)" para la evaluación del síndrome visual informático en personal de salud de Lima

Objetivos: Determinar la validez y confiabilidad del instrumento "Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q)" en la medición del Síndrome Visual Informático en personal de salud de Lima. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y de corte transversal, de tipo evaluación de cuestionario, realizado en 82 trabajadores de salud. La validez de contenido se evaluó mediante juicio de expertos con método estadístico de V de Aiken; Validez de constructo, mediante análisis factorial; validez discriminante, a través de la curva operador-receptor (ROC) contrastada con el cuestionario CSSV17; confiabilidad de consistencia interna, con alfa de Cronbach; confiabilidad test - re-test (con 7 días de diferencia); con Rho de Spearman y Coeficiente de Correlación Intraclase (CCI), con intervalos de confianza (IC) del 95%. Se empleó para el procesamiento el software SPSS versión 20.0 para Windows con licencia de prueba. Resultados: El V de Aiken obtuvo un valor de 100%. El análisis factorial extrajo 3 componentes principales que explicaron el 69,455% de la varianza total. El área bajo la curva ROC fue 0,889 [(0,845-0,934); IC=0,95] (p=0,000), sensibilidad 72,22% y especificidad 100%. El alfa de Cronbach fue 0,939, Rho de Spearman 0,884 (p=0,000) y CCI 0,856 [(0,777 - 0,907); IC=0,95] (p=0,000). Conclusiones: El Cuestionario CVS-Q es válido y confiable para ser aplicado sobre el grupo ocupacional de profesionales de la salud con buenas propiedades psicométricas.

SUMMARY Objectives: To determine the validity and reliability of the instrument "Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q)" in the measurement of the Computer Visual Syndrome in health personnel in Lima. Methods: A quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and questionnaire study was carried out in 82 health workers. Content validity was evaluated by expert judgment with the Aiken V statistical method; construct validity, through factor analysis; discriminant validity, through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve contrasted with the CSSV17 questionnaire; internal consistency reliability, with Cronbach's alpha; reliability test - re-test (7 days apart); with Spearman's Rho and Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) with 95% CI. The SPSS software version 20.0 for Windows with a trial license was used for its processing. Results: The V of Aiken obtained a value of 100%. The factor analysis extracted 3 main components that explain 69.455% of the total variance. The area under the ROC curve was 0.889 [(0.845-0,934); CI=0.95] (p=0.000), sensitivity 72.2% and specificity 100%. Cronbach's alpha was 0.939, Spearman's Rho 0.884 (p=0.000) and ICC 0.856 [(0.777 - 0.907); CI=0.95] (p=0.000). Conclusions: The CVS-Q questionnaire is valid and reliable to be applied in the health professionals' occupational group with good psychometric properties.

[Clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients with coronary ectasia in a reference hospital]. / Características clínicas y angiográficas de pacientes con ectasia coronaria en un hospital de referencia.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients with coronary ectasia found on coronary angiography. Materials and methods: : Descriptive study of patients admitted to the cardiac catheterization laboratory of the Hospital Guillermo Almenara with coronary ectasia, during the years 2012 to 2020. The frequency of coronary ectasia, clinical, angiographic and coronary flow characteristics were determined. Results: 7504 catheterizations were reviewed, and 91 patients were found to have coronary ectasia (1.21%). Of these patients, 71 cases were male (78%), and the mean age was 67.74 ± 9.9 years. The 38.5% of cases were obese or overweight; 39.6% were hypertensive; 11% diabetic; 13.2% smoked; 3.3% had chronic kidney disease and 3.3% had polyglobulia. Sixty-one percent of cases had a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, and 24% of cases had high-risk stable angina. The artery most frequently involved by ectasia was the right coronary artery (70%). The average diameter of the ectatic artery was 5.7 mm. Occlusive thrombus was found in 19.8% of cases. There was a significant association between TIMI flow and diameter of the ectatic artery (p=0.000), and there was also an association between coronary ectasia and acute coronary syndrome among patients living at an altitude of more than 2500 m (p=0.000). Conclusions: coronary ectasia was an infrequent entity among patients who underwent coronary angiography, was predominantly male, mainly involved the right coronary artery, was associated with lower TIMI flow, and acute coronary syndrome among residents above 2500 m of altitude.

Posibilidad de sesgo en estudio retrospectivo de ivermectina para COVID-19 / Bias Possibility in a Retrospective Study of Ivermectin for COVID-19

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[Comparative analysis of myocardial deformation in patients recovered from mild SARS-CoV-2 infection]. / Análisis comparativo de la deformación miocárdica en pacientes recuperados de infección leve por SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: During acute infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, myocardial involvement has been demonstrated; it is unknown if cardiovascular sequelae in patients recovered from this infection and if these are associated with global morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to compare myocardial deformation in patients recovered from mild SARS-CoV-2 virus infection with healthy controls. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study that included 33 subjects recovered from mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, who were diagnosed in the previous three to six months, and 31 healthy volunteers, both groups free of cardiovascular risk factors. The study of myocardial deformation was performed using echocardiography with the speckle tracking modality. Clinical and anthropometric variables were compared. Results: The 2D global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle was lower in the subjects recovered from mild SARS-CoV-2 infection than the controls (-20.2% ± 2.6 v -21.6% ± 2.4; p: 0.036). Both groups presented differences in the three ventricular levels, significant at the apical level (-21.2 ± 4.0 vs -23.4% ± 4.2; p: 0.044). The effect by levels shows an inverse Takotsubo pattern. The left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved in both groups (p: 0.153). Conclusions: Left ventricular myocardial deformation is affected in subjects recovered from mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, while the ejection fraction was found in normal ranges. Our study shows a potential role of global longitudinal strain in the detection of subclinical myocardial alterations in patients who had SARS-CoV-2.