Dietas vegetarianas en alumnos universitarios / Vegetarian diets in first year university students

INTRODUCCIÓN: Se ha observado un aumento en la popularidad de las dietas vegetarianas, en especial en la población adolescente y adulto joven. Estas dietas se presentan como saludables y balanceadas pero las recomendaciones son controversiales en cuanto a los potenciales déficit nutricionales. OBJETIVO: Identificar la frecuencia y tipos de dieta vegetariana utilizada, su motivación y fuentes de información. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Estudio transversal y analítico en universitarios de primer año de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC). Se realizó una encuesta vía online obteniendo información demográfica y caracterización de dietas de aquellos que se consideraban vegetarianos. Las variables fueron analizadas mediante el software IDM SPSS Statistics® y en planilla Excel® de forma cuantitativa. RESULTADOS: 152 alumnos respondieron la encuesta (15,2% del total), siendo el 49,4% de estos vegetariano. El 32,4% inició este patrón alimentario entre los 12-18 años; sus motivaciones más frecuentes fueron las medio ambientalistas (91,9%) y animalistas (72,9%). El 52,9% de los vegetarianos reciben suplementación de vitamina b 12 pero solo un 15,9% reportó presentar este déficit. El 75,7% obtiene información relacionada acerca de las dietas vegetarianas a través de medios digitales. CONCLUSIÓN: Se encontró un alto porcentaje de estudiantes vegetarianos en las encuestas contestadas, lo que hace necesario que los profesionales de salud estén capacitados en esta área para asegurar una adecuada educación nutricional, suplementación si es necesario, y seguimiento.

INTRODUCTION: There has been an increase in the popularity of vegetarian diets, especially among adolescents and young adults. These diets seem to be healthy and balanced, but the recommendations are contro versial regarding potential nutritional deficits. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency and types of ve getarian diet used, their motivation, and sources of information. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sec tional analytical study in freshmen students from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC). Through an online survey, we collected demographic information and diet characterization of those who considered themselves as vegetarians. Variables were analyzed using IDM SPSS Statistics® soft ware and in Excel® spreadsheet in a quantitative way. RESULTS: 152 students answered the survey (15.2% of the sample) and, out of these, 49.4% were vegetarian. 32.4% started this eating pattern bet ween the ages 12 and 18 and among their most frequent motivations were environmentalists (91.9%) and animalists (72.9%). 52.9% of vegetarians take vitamin B 12 supplementation but only 15.9% reported having this deficiency. 75.7% obtain information related to vegetarian diets through digital media. CONCLUSION: In the surveys answered, we found a high percentage of vegetarian students, the refore, health professionals need to be trained in this area to assure adequate nutritional education, supplementation if necessary, and follow-up.

Vegetarian diets in first year university students. / Dietas vegetarianas en alumnos universitarios.

INTRODUCTION: There has been an increase in the popularity of vegetarian diets, especially among adolescents and young adults. These diets seem to be healthy and balanced, but the recommendations are contro versial regarding potential nutritional deficits. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency and types of ve getarian diet used, their motivation, and sources of information. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sec tional analytical study in freshmen students from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC). Through an online survey, we collected demographic information and diet characterization of those who considered themselves as vegetarians. Variables were analyzed using IDM SPSS Statistics® soft ware and in Excel® spreadsheet in a quantitative way. RESULTS: 152 students answered the survey (15.2% of the sample) and, out of these, 49.4% were vegetarian. 32.4% started this eating pattern bet ween the ages 12 and 18 and among their most frequent motivations were environmentalists (91.9%) and animalists (72.9%). 52.9% of vegetarians take vitamin B 12 supplementation but only 15.9% reported having this deficiency. 75.7% obtain information related to vegetarian diets through digital media. CONCLUSION: In the surveys answered, we found a high percentage of vegetarian students, the refore, health professionals need to be trained in this area to assure adequate nutritional education, supplementation if necessary, and follow-up.

[Transition from pediatric to adult health care services for adolescents with chronic diseases: Recommendations from the Adolescent Branch from Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría]. / Transición de adolescentes portadores de enfermedades crónicas desde servicios pediátricos a servicios de adultos: Recomendaciones de la Rama de Adolescencia de la Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría.

The Adolescent Branch from Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría supports the implementation of planned programs for transition from child to adult health centers, oriented to adolescents with chronic diseases, in order to ensure an appropriate follow-up and a high-quality health care. Recommendations for care are set out in the FONIS and VRI PUC project carried out by the Division of Pediatrics of the Universidad Católica de Chile: “Transition process from pediatric to adult services: perspectives of adolescents with chronic diseases, caregivers and health professionals”, whose goal was to describe the experience, barriers, critical points, and facilitators in the transition process. Critical points detected in this study were: existence of a strong bond between adolescents, caregivers and the pediatric team, resistance to transition, difficulty developing autonomy and self-management among adolescents; invisibility of the process of adolescence; and lack of communication between pediatric and adult team during the transfer. According to these needs, barriers and critical points, and based on published international experiences, recommendations are made for implementation of gradual and planned transition processes, with emphasis on the design and implementation of transition policies, establishment of multidisciplinary teams and transition planning. We discuss aspects related to coordination of teams, transfer timing, self-care and autonomy, transition records, adolescent and family participation, need for emotional support, ethical aspects involved, importance of confidentiality, need for professional training, and the need for evaluation and further research on the subject.

[Qualitative research methodology in health care]. / La investigación cualitativa: un aporte para mejorar los servicios de salud.

Health care research requires different methodological approaches such as qualitative and quantitative analyzes to understand the phenomena under study. Qualitative research is usually the least considered. Central elements of the qualitative method are that the object of study is constituted by perceptions, emotions and beliefs, non-random sampling by purpose, circular process of knowledge construction, and methodological rigor throughout the research process, from quality design to the consistency of results. The objective of this work is to contribute to the methodological knowledge about qualitative research in health services, based on the implementation of the study, “The transition process from pediatric to adult services: perspectives from adolescents with chronic diseases, caregivers and health professionals”. The information gathered through the qualitative methodology facilitated the understanding of critical points, barriers and facilitators of the transition process of adolescents with chronic diseases, considering the perspective of users and the health team. This study allowed the design of a transition services model from pediatric to adult health services based on the needs of adolescents with chronic diseases, their caregivers and the health team.

La investigación cualitativa: un aporte para mejorar los servicios de salud / Qualitative research methodology in health care

Health care research requires different methodological approaches such as qualitative and quantitative analyzes to understand the phenomena under study. Qualitative research is usually the least considered. Central elements of the qualitative method are that the object of study is constituted by perceptions, emotions and beliefs, non-random sampling by purpose, circular process of knowledge construction, and methodological rigor throughout the research process, from quality design to the consistency of results. The objective of this work is to contribute to the methodological knowledge about qualitative research in health services, based on the implementation of the study, “The transition process from pediatric to adult services: perspectives from adolescents with chronic diseases, caregivers and health professionals”. The information gathered through the qualitative methodology facilitated the understanding of critical points, barriers and facilitators of the transition process of adolescents with chronic diseases, considering the perspective of users and the health team. This study allowed the design of a transition services model from pediatric to adult health services based on the needs of adolescents with chronic diseases, their caregivers and the health team.

Transición de adolescentes portadores de enfermedades crónicas desde servicios pediátricos a servicios de adultos: Recomendaciones de la Rama de Adolescencia de la Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría

La Rama de Adolescencia de la Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría apoya la implementación de programas planificados de transición de servicios pediátricos a adultos para adolescentes portadores de enfermedades crónicas, con objeto de asegurar la continuidad de una atención de salud de alta calidad acorde a las necesidades de desarrollo de esta etapa. Se plantean recomendaciones de atención que se enmarcan en el Proyecto FONIS y VRI PUC realizado por la División de Pediatría de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: “El proceso de transición de servicios pediátricos a adultos: visión de adolescentes portadores de enfermedades crónicas, sus cuidadores y los profesionales de salud”, cuyo objetivo es describir la experiencia, barreras, puntos críticos y facilitadores percibidos por adolescentes portadores de enfermedades crónicas, cuidadores y profesionales de salud, en el proceso de transición. Los puntos críticos detectados en este estudio fueron: resistencia a la transferencia a servicios de adultos, tanto de adolescentes y cuidadores, como del equipo pediátrico; existencia de fuerte vínculo entre profesional, adolescente portador de enfermedad crónica y cuidador; dificultad en el desarrollo de la autonomía del adolescente portador de enfermedad crónica; invisibilidad de la adolescencia propiamente tal en el proceso de atención de la enfermedad crónica; y dificultad en la coordinación entre el equipo pediátrico y adulto durante la transferencia. Acorde a estas necesidades, barreras y puntos críticos y en base a experiencias internacionales publicadas, se plantean recomendaciones para la implementación de procesos graduales y planificados de transición, con énfasis en el diseño e implementación de políticas de transición, constitución de equipos multidisciplinarios y la planificación de la transición. Se discuten aspectos relativos a la coordinación de equipos, momento de transferencia, autocuidado y autonomía, registros para transferencias, participación de familias y adolescentes, necesidad de apoyo emocional, aspectos éticos involucrados, importancia de la confidencialidad, necesidad de adecuación de los servicios hospitalarios y de capacitación profesional, y la necesidad de evaluación y mayor investigación en el tema.

The Adolescent Branch from Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría supports the implementation of planned programs for transition from child to adult health centers, oriented to adolescents with chronic diseases, in order to ensure an appropriate follow-up and a high-quality health care. Recommendations for care are set out in the FONIS and VRI PUC project carried out by the Division of Pediatrics of the Universidad Católica de Chile: “Transition process from pediatric to adult services: perspectives of adolescents with chronic diseases, caregivers and health professionals”, whose goal was to describe the experience, barriers, critical points, and facilitators in the transition process. Critical points detected in this study were: existence of a strong bond between adolescents, caregivers and the pediatric team, resistance to transition, difficulty developing autonomy and self-management among adolescents; invisibility of the process of adolescence; and lack of communication between pediatric and adult team during the transfer. According to these needs, barriers and critical points, and based on published international experiences, recommendations are made for implementation of gradual and planned transition processes, with emphasis on the design and implementation of transition policies, establishment of multidisciplinary teams and transition planning. We discuss aspects related to coordination of teams, transfer timing, self-care and autonomy, transition records, adolescent and family participation, need for emotional support, ethical aspects involved, importance of confidentiality, need for professional training, and the need for evaluation and further research on the subject.

Mortalidad por causas violentas en adolescentes y jóvenes: un desafio para la región de las Américas / Mortality from violent causes in adolescents and young people: a challenge for the Region of the Americas

Este trabajo describe la tendencia de la mortalidad por homicidios, suicidios, accidentes de tráfico y otras causas externas, en la población total, adolescente y joven, de 16 países de la Región de las Américas. Se utiliza información del período comprendido entre los años 1980 y para el ultimo año disponible de la decada de 1990, proveniente del Banco de Datos de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Se realiza una descripción diferencial de los subgrupos de adolescentes y jóvenes, por edad y sexo. Los resultados demuestran que en la mayor parte de los países (Canadá, EEUU, Ecuador, México, Chile, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago y El Salvador) hay una tendencia decreciente en la mortalidad por causas externas, tanto en la población total como en adolescentes y jóvenes. Colombia y Brasil son los únicos países analisados que presentam tasas de mortalidad por causas externas francamente ascendentes en los grupos estudiados. Los países con mayores tasas de mortalidad por causas externa en adolescentes y jóvenes, en orden decreciente, son: Colombia, El Salvador, Venezuela, Brasil y Puerto Rico. Los accidentes de tráfico son el determinante principal de la mortalidad por causas externas en la población total como en adolescentes y jóvenes, presentando tendencias decrecientes en casi todos los países estudiados. En 10 países se observa un ascenso progresivo de la mortalidad por homicidio en todos los grupos estudiados (Colombia, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Uruguay, Panamá, EEUU, Venezuela, Ecuador y Brasil). Los países con mayores tasa de mortalidad por homicidio entre los varones de 15 a 19 años son, en orden decreciente: Colombia, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Venezuela y Brasil. Los varones de 20 a 24 años presentan las tasas mas altas de homicidio dentro de los grupos estudiados. Hay un aumento alarmante de la tasa de homicidio en el grupo de varones de 15 a 19 años, especialmente en EEUU y Brasil. La mortalidad por suicidio es un problema creciente entre adolescentes y jóvenes de Cuba, Canadá, EEUU, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina y El Salvador. Las tasas crecientes de mortalidad por homicidio reflejan la necesidad inminente de programas de vigilancia dirigidos a adolescentes y jóvenes de la Región de las Américas.