Contribution of cluster strategies and inter-cluster cooperation for the competitive progress of the EU and LAC

The evolution of exchange and collaboration between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) economies during the last 20 years is marked by significant growth in trade and investment, and by the increasing number of links between private companies and the public sector. In this context, the trend in recent years to strengthen cluster and RIS3 strategies in Europe and LAC poses the challenge of the possibilities of collaboration and convergence between both experiences in a common dynamic, that enhances learning, innovation and competition, while contributing to improved integration of value chains between both regions. This report addresses the real possibilities of transatlantic collaboration, based on the specific experience of the Competitiveness Clusters (Polos) Project, of the EU-LAC Foundation, by analysing the results of the completed first phase, while proposing a new framework for the second phase focusing on two areas of common interest for both blocks: the integration of clusters and smart specialisation strategies, as well as the formation of global EU-LAC value chains, within said integration

INTERVENCIONES BASADAS EN INTERNET PARA LA ATENCIÓN DE TRASTORNOS MENTALES EN PANDEMIA: UNA REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA

Objective: : To describe Internet-based interventions for the care of mental disorders during the pandemic. Material and method: This was a systematic review. The databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Virtual Health Library were used. The search strategy used MeSH descriptors, CINAHL Subjects, DeCS: "Adults", "Internet-Based Intervention", and "Mental Disorders" in combination with keywords and Boolean operators. Primary studies were included, in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, between 2019 to 2021, in the context of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and/ or the pandemic. References were imported into EndNote. Methodological quality was assessed according to the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data were analyzed based on thematic analysis. Results: From a total of 303 articles, six duplicates were eliminated, 295 were eligible and five were included. Two studies showed a positive attitude and disposition towards mobile app interventions, two showed significant decreases in anxiety scores, depression, and increased use of text messaging (mHealth) versus this type of intervention and one showed a greater number of telemedicine visits than conventional visits in patients with severe mental illness. Conclusion: he study found that the predominant internet-based interventions were by text messaging and mobile apps.Objetivo: Describir las intervenciones basadas en internet para la atención de trastornos mentales en pandemia. Material y método: Se trató de una revisión sistemática. Fueron utilizadas las bases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus y Biblioteca Virtual en Salud. La estrategia de búsqueda utilizó descriptores MeSH, Subjects CINAHL, DeCS: “Adults”, “Internet-Based Intervention”, “Mental Disorders” en combinación a palabras claves y operadores booleanos. Fueron incluidos estudios primarios, en español, inglés y portugués, entre 2019 a 2021, en contexto de COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 y/o pandemia. Las referencias fueron importadas a EndNote. Se evaluó la calidad metodológica según Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Los datos fueron analizados basado en el análisis temático. Resultados: De un total de 303 artículos, seis duplicados fueron eliminados, 295 elegibles y cinco fueron incluidos. Dos estudios mostraron una actitud positiva y disposición frente a intervenciones por aplicativo móvil, dos evidenciaron disminución significativa en las puntuaciones de ansiedad, depresión y mayor utilización de la mensajería de texto (mHealth) frente a este tipo de intervención y uno mostró mayor número de visitas por telemedicina que visitas convencionales en pacientes con enfermedad mental grave. Conclusiones: El estudio encontró que las intervenciones basadas en internet predominantes fueron por mensajería de texto y aplicativos móviles