María Inés Romero

Consumo de tabaco y alcohol entre los estudiantes de medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

BACKGROUND Tobacco and alcohol consumption are public health problems, generally starting in adolescence. Medical students are not an exception. AIM To determine the characteristics of tobacco and alcohol use among medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and their association with gender, career level and mental health. MATERIAL AND METHODS A questionnaire to evaluate substance use was applied along with Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), as a mental health risk predictor, to all medical students in November 2005. RESULTS The survey was completed by 569 of 775 students (74%). Current smokers were 23- 7%, with the lowest figure, 13-5% in sixth year, and the highest, 40.5% in seventh year (p <0.01). Thirty one percent of students with an score of five and over in the GHQ-12 were smokers, compared to 19% among those with a lower score. Daily smokers were 40%o of the current smokers. Seventy four percent of students consumed alcohol during the last month. No association with sex or GHQ-12 was observed. The lowest alcohol consumption rate was observed in second year, and the highest in sixth year (66%o and 89-2%o, respectively, p <0.01). Fifty three percent of men and 26%o of women drank three or more drinks in any given day (p <0.01). Sixty three percent of men and 81% of women never drank more than five drinks in one day, during the last month (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our medical students smoke less than Chilean youth but more than medical students of countries such as the USA. They drink less than Anglo-Saxon medical students but more than Chilean youth. Male consumption is greater than that of women. Smoking and alcohol drinking are mutually associated.

Mortalidad nacional en otorrinolaringología

Introduccion: La mortalidad nacional en otorrinolaringologia no ha sido analizada en nuestro medio desde 1985, en esa fecha Kirschbaum y Aracena demostraron que el cuerpo extrano en la via aerea era la causa de muerte mas frecuente. Objetivos: Describir la tendencia de las tasas de mortalidad por causa otorrinolaringologicas y compararlas con los resultados de estudios anteriores. Material y metodo: Estudio descriptivo de mortalidad en el que se realizo una revision retrospectiva de los anuarios de demografia del INE entre 1991-2003 en base a la clasificacion internacional de enfermedades CIE IXy CIE X. Resultados: Se observo una media aritmetica de mortalidad por causas otorrinolaringologicas de 7,34 por 100.000 habitantes, con una tendencia a la disminucion en los anos estudiados que va desde 10,12 a 4,81 por 100.000 habitantes entre los anos 1991 y 1999 respectivamente, lo que equivale a una disminucion de 53%. Esto se explica principalmente por una baja significativa de la tasa de mortalidad por cuerpo extrano en la via aerea, siendo esta tambien la principal causa de muerte en otorrinolaringologia, ya que las otras patologias, en su mayoria tumores malignos de distinta localizacion, presentan una estabilidad en su tasa de mortalidad. Discusion: Al igual que en estudios anteriores, el cuerpo extrano en la via aerea, sigue siendo la principal causa de mortalidad en otorrinolaringologia, seguido por el cancer de laringe, que continua siendo de predominio masculino. No se observo una variacion significativa de la mortalidad por patologia maligna en los anos estudiados, como tampoco en comparacion con el estudio realizado por Kirschbaum y Aracena en 1985; pero destaca la importante disminucion de la tasa de mortalidad por otitis media supurativa en relacion a ese estudio, lo que se explicaria por una mayor accesibilidad de la poblacion a tratamiento medico

Perfiles de egreso de las carreras de Medicina en Chile

BACKGROUND The professional profile of health care professionals should incorporate recommendations of international agencies and adapt to the local conditions of each country. AIM To conduct a qualitative analysis of Medical Graduate Profiles of universities grouped in the Chilean Association of Medicine Faculties (ASOFAMECH), characterizing its Social Focus, Humanist Approach, Social and Communication Skills. MATERIAL AND METHODS Documentary analysis of profiles published on the respective web pages, using Atlas Ti software, establishing emerging categories and subcategories. These profiles were compared with the recommendations of the Pan-American Health Organization. RESULTS Data in Social Focus suggests that although community issues are a common element, the work in primary health and health promotion are rarely included. The Humanist Approach is addressed more commonly than the Social Focus, emphasizing humanization of care, ethical and religious values. Although, social and communication skills are scarcely acknowledged, those mentioned are teamwork and leadership role. CONCLUSIONS There is a marked heterogeneity in the information declared and universities have not fully incorporated the recommendations of international organizations.Background: The professional profile of health care professionals should incorporate recommendations of international agencies and adapt to the local conditions of each country. Aim: To conduct a qualitative analysis of Medical Graduate Profiles of universities grouped in the Chilean Association of Medicine Faculties (ASOFAMECH), characterizing its Social Focus, Humanist Approach, Social and Communication Skills. Material and methods: Documentary analysis of profiles published on the respective web pages, using Atlas Ti software, establishing emerging categories and subcategories. These profiles were compared with the recommendations of the Pan-American Health Organization. Results: Data in Social Focus suggests that although community issues are a common element, the work in primary health and health promotion are rarely included. The Humanist Approach is addressed more commonly than the Social Focus, emphasizing humanization of care, ethical and religious values. Although, social and communication skills are scarcely acknowledged, those mentioned are teamwork and leadership role. Conclusions: There is a marked heterogeneity in the information declared and universities have not fully incorporated the recommendations of international organizations.