Acceptability and feasibility of a virtual community of practice to primary care professionals regarding patient empowerment : A qualitative pilot study

Background: Virtual communities of practice (vCoPs) facilitate online learning via the exchange of experiences and knowledge between interested participants. Compared to other communities, vCoPs need to overcome technological structures and specific barriers. Our objective was to pilot the acceptability and feasibility of a vCoP aimed at improving the attitudes of primary care professionals to the empowerment of patients with chronic conditions. Methods: We used a qualitative approach based on 2 focus groups: one composed of 6 general practitioners and the other of 6 practice nurses. Discussion guidelines on the topics to be investigated were provided to the moderator. Sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed using the ATLAS-ti software. Results: The available operating systems and browsers and the lack of suitable spaces and time were reported as the main difficulties with the vCoP. The vCoP was perceived to be a flexible learning mode that provided up-to-date resources applicable to routine practice and offered a space for the exchange of experiences and approaches. Conclusions: The results from this pilot study show that the vCoP was considered useful for learning how to empower patients. However, while vCoPs have the potential to facilitate learning and as shown create professional awareness regarding patient empowerment, attention needs to be paid to technological and access issues and the time demands on professionals. We collected relevant inputs to improve the features, content and educational methods to be included in further vCoP implementation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02757781. Registered on 25 April 2016

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Strategies for the development of research in teaching

El presente capítulo recopila los aspectos relevantes que se toman de las propuestas de los miembros del grupo del área de Ciencias Económico Administrativa del Proyecto Innova Cesal, enfatizando la forma como las mismas abordan la investigación en la docencia. Se inicia con la presentación de referentes teóricos que se tomaron como base para el diseño de las estrategias, y a continuación se les describe de manera breve. En la mayoría de los casos la descripción se tomó de los documentos originales y sólo en algunos de ellos se hicieron ajustes para disminuir su extensión. Al final de cada estrategia se presenta una síntesis de la intervención educativa y la referencia del reporte de la experiencia completa

Strategies for the development of competences and complex thinking in the classroom in the Administrative Economic area

En este capítulo se recopilan los aspectos relevantes que se toman de las propuestas de los miembros del grupo del área Económico-Administrativa. Específicamente, se enfatizó la forma en que las propuestas abordan las dimensiones de las competencias y el pensamiento complejo. En este sentido, es importante aclarar que algunas de las propuestas abordan los otros dos focos temáticos del Proyecto pero en este momento no se retoman en detalle. Se hace una presentación breve de la estrategia, normalmente tomada de los documentos originales y, en algunos casos, con ajustes para disminuir su extensión. Al final de cada estrategia se consigna un cuadro síntesis donde se señala el documento fuente para ampliar la información de cada caso

Strategies for the incorporation of research in learning processes in the economic-administrative area

En este capítulo se recopilan los aspectos relevantes que se toman de las propuestas de los miembros del grupo del área Económico-Administrativa. Específicamente, se enfatizó la forma en que las propuestas abordan las dimensiones de las competencias y el pensamiento complejo. En este sentido, es importante aclarar que algunas de las propuestas abordan los otros dos focos temáticos del Proyecto pero en este momento no se retoman en detalle. Se hace una presentación breve de la estrategia, normalmente tomada de los documentos originales y, en algunos casos, con ajustes para disminuir su extensión. Al final de cada estrategia se consigna un cuadro síntesis donde se señala el documento fuente para ampliar la información de cada cas

Crecimiento inicial de Palo de Rosa (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) en distintos ambientes de fertilidad Growth of initial Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) in different environnement of fertility

Los estudios de requerimientos nutricionales son de gran importancia para identificar aquellos más importantes en el desarrollo fisiológico y crecimiento de plántulas. Con el objetivo de evaluar las exigencias nutricionales y los efectos de la omisión de macronutrientes en el crecimiento de plántulas de Aniba rosaeodora; se realizó un experimento en el vivero del INPA-Amazonas-Brasil teniendo como substrato un suelo Podozolico Rojo de baja disponibilidad de nutrientes. Se utilizaron 8 tratamientos bajo la técnica del nutriente faltante: Control (Suelo con macronutrientes), Suelo natural, y la omisión de un macronutriente por vez (-N, -P, -K, -Ca, -Mg, -S). Se evaluaron las siguientes características: tasa de crecimiento relativo (TCR), Tasa de asimilación neta (TAN), peso de la materia seca de la parte aérea (MSPA) y de las raíces (MSR), contenido de nutrientes en las hojas, concluyendo que el N, Mg y Ca, demostraron ser limitantes al crecimiento en suelo con pequeña disponibilidad; Las plántulas de A. rosaeodora presentaron un bajo requerimiento nutricional para el P, K y S. La omisión de Ca y N perjudica TCR de la especie. Los elementos más importantes para la MSPA fueron el Ca y el Mg; actuando el Mg más en el área foliar; por otro lado la omisión de azufre favorece la absorción de macronutrientes (N, P, K, Ca, Mg).<br>Studies of nutritional requirements are of great importance for identifying the most important nutrients in physiologic development and seedling growth. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted at INPA to evaluate the mineral nutritional demands and the effects of macronutrient omission in the plant growth of Aniba rosaeodora Ducke. The following treatments were used: Complete (fertilization with N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B and Zn), Standard (nature soil), Complete without N, Complete without P, Complete without K, Complete without Ca, Complete without Mg, and Complete without S. An Ultisoil with low nutrient availability was used as a substratum. The following characteristics were evaluated, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), plant height, diameter, dry matter production of the aerial part (DMPAP) and amount of nutrient in the dry matter of leaves. We concluded from the results that: low availability of N, Ca and Mg constraints the growth of the Aniba rosaeodora plants. Seedlings of A. rosaeodora required little P, K and S. The omission of Ca and N harmed the RGR of the species. The most important elements for DMPAP were Ca and Mg; the Mg acting more in the leaf area; on the other hand, the omission of sulfur favored the macronutrient absorption (N, P, K, Ca, Mg)