Los servicios a la investigación en la Biblioteca del Campus de la UPC en Terrassa (Barcelona)

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Using computer-supported collaborative work in fundamental programming subjects

Fundamental Programming subjects are compulsory for several technical engineering degrees. Typical face-to-face teaching may cause a lack of continuous learning and support for students, as teachers are only available at tutoring hours. Our long experience in face-to-face teaching of Fundamental Programming subjects in technical engineering studies has yielded the need for introducing ComputerSupported Collaborative Learning aspects in the teaching and learning process, on the one hand, as a necessary means for continuous learning and support and, on the other, as an effective way of increasing the motivation of students. In this paper we show how to use the Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning paradigm in semi-open teaching of Fundamental Programming subjects. We achieve this through the paradigm of Project-Based Learning that is very suited for the Fundamental Programming subjects’ domain. The key point in our approach is the design of a proper methodology that is later implemented using the Basic Support for Collaborative Work (BSCW) software. This software has several properties that make it appropriate for our methodology, though our methodology can be implemented as well using other similar software. Thus, BSCW facilitates the design of different workspaces such as repositories to provide continuously updated materials and discussion forums to generate knowledge and to provide support to students. Moreover, its tracking and awareness facilities make it very useful for the tutors and the students. All in all, we believe that the proposed methodology helps increasing the learning outcome as well as academic results of the students. We have carried out an experience for one semester and the results are promising.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Towards the integral management of library collections at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)

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The multidimensional comprehension of chagas disease. Contributions, approaches, challenges and opportunities from and beyond the information, education and communication field

Chagas is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon in which political, economic, environmental, biomedical, epidemiological, psychological, and sociocultural factors intersect. Nonetheless, the hegemonic conceptualisation has long envisioned Chagas as primarily a biomedical question, while ignoring or downplaying the other dimensions, and this limited view has reinforced the disease’s long neglect. Integrating the multiple dimensions of the problem into a coherent approach adapted to field realities and needs represents an immense challenge, but the payoff is more effective and sustainable experiences, with higher social awareness, increased case detection and follow-up, improved adherence to care, and integrated participation of various actors from multiple action levels. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiatives have great potential for impact in the implementation of multidimensional programs of prevention and control successfully customised to the diverse and complex contexts where Chagas disease persists.Fil: Sanmartino, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física de Líquidos y Sistemas Biológicos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física de Líquidos y Sistemas Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Forsyth, Colin J.. No especifíca;Fil: Avaria, Andrea. Universidad Autónoma de Chile; ChileFil: Velarde Rodriguez, Mar. Universidad de Basilea; SuizaFil: Gómez I Prat, Jordi. 6hospital Universitari Vall Dhebron; EspañaFil: Albajar Viñas, Pedro. Organización Mundial de la Salud; Suiz

Congenital and blood transfusion transmission of chagas disease: A framework using mathematical modeling

Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis is an important health problem in Latin America. Due to the mobility of Latin American population around the world, countries without vector presence started to report disease cases. We developed a deterministic compartmental model in order to gain insights into the disease dynamics in a scenario without vector presence, considering congenital transmission and transmission by blood transfusion. The model was used to evaluate the epidemiological effect of control measures. It was applied to demographic data from Spain and sensitivity analysis was performed on model parameters associated with control strategies.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The use and adherence of oral anticoagulants in Primary Healthcare in Catalunya: a real-world data cohort study

Background The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) has not been previously assessed in our setting. We aimed to describe sociodemographic, comorbidities, co-medication and risk of thromboembolic events and bleeding in patients with NVAF initiating oral anticoagulants (OAC) for stroke prevention, and to estimate adherence and persistence to OAC. Methods Population-based cohort study including all NVAF adult patients initiating OAC for stroke prevention in August 2013-December 2015. Persistence was measured in patients initiating OAC in August 2013-December 2014. Data source is SIDIAP, which captures electronic health records from Primary Health Care in the Catalan Health Institute, covering approximately 5.8 million people. Results 51,690 NVAF patients initiated OAC; 47,197 (91.3%) were naive to OAC and 32,404 initiated acenocoumarol (62.7%). Mean age was 72.8 years (SD 12.3) and 49.4% were women. Platelet-aggregation inhibitors were taken by 9,105 (17.6%) of the patients. For 22,075 patients, persistence was higher among the non-naive patients [n=258 (61.7%)] than among the naive [n=11,502 (53.1%)]. Adherence was estimated for patients initiating DOAC and was similar in naive and non-naive patients. Among the naive to DOAC treatment, those starting rivaroxaban showed a highest proportion [(n=360 (80.1%)] of good adherence at implementation (MPR>80%) while patients starting dabigatran were less adherent [n= 203 47.8%)]. Conclusions Acenocoumarol was the most frequently prescribed OAC as first therapy in NVAF patients. Non-naive to DOAC showed better persistence than naive. Rivaroxaban showed higher proportion of adherent patients during the implementation phase than apixaban and dabigatran the lowest.Preprin

How people affected by Chagas disease have struggled with their negligence: history, associative movement and World Chagas Disease Day

Chagas disease; Negligence; Associative movementEnfermedad de Chagas; Negligencia; Movimiento asociativoMalaltia de Chagas; Negligència; Moviment associatiuIt is well documented that Chagas disease (CD) can pose a public health problem to countries. As one of the World Health Organization Neglected Tropical Diseases undoubtedly calls for comprehensive healthcare, transcending a restricted biomedical approach. After more than a century since their discovery, in 1909, people affected by CD are still frequently marginalised and/or neglected. The aim of this article is to tell the story of their activism, highlighting key historical experiences and successful initiatives, from 1909 to 2019. The first association was created in 1987, in the city of Recife, Brazil. So far, thirty associations have been reported on five continents. They were created as independent non-profit civil society organisations and run democratically by affected people. Among the common associations’ objectives, we notably find: increase the visibility of the affected; make their voice heard; build bridges between patients, health system professionals, public health officials, policy makers and the academic and scientific communities. The International Federation of Associations of People Affected by CD - FINDECHAGAS, created in 2010 with the input of the Americas, Europe and the Western Pacific, counts as one of the main responses to the globalisation of CD. Despite all the obstacles and difficulties encountered, the Federation has thrived, grown, and matured. As a result of this mobilisation along with the support of many national and international partners, in May 2019 the 72nd World Health Assembly decided to establish World Chagas Disease Day, on 14 April. The associative movement has increased the understanding of the challenges related to the disease and breaks the silence around Chagas disease, improving surveillance, and sustaining engagement towards the United Nations 2030 agenda

Implementation of the HepC link test-and-treat community strategy targeting Pakistani migrants with hepatitis C living in Catalonia (Spain) compared with the current practice of the Catalan health system: budget impact analysis

Epidemiology; Health policy; Public healthEpidemiología; Política de salud; Salud públicaEpidemiologia; Política de salut; Salut públicaObjectives To perform a budget impact analysis of the HepClink test-and-treat strategy in which community health agents offer hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing, diagnosis and treatment to the Pakistani population living in Catalonia compared with the current practice of the Catalan health system (without targeted screening programmes). Methods We estimated the population of adult Pakistani migrants registered at the primary care centres in Catalonia by means of the Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (n=37 972 in 2019, Barcelona health area). This cohort was followed for a time period of 10 years after HCV diagnosis (2019–2028). The statistical significance of the differences observed in the anti-HCV positivity rate between screened and non-screened was confirmed (α=0.05). The budget impact was calculated from the perspective of the Catalan Department of Health. Sensitivity analyses included different levels of participation in HepClink: pessimistic, optimistic and maximum. Results The HepClink scenario screened a higher percentage of individuals (69.8%) compared with the current scenario of HCV care (39.7%). Viraemia was lower in the HepClink scenario compared with the current scenario (1.7% vs 2.5%, respectively). The budget impact of the HepClink scenario was €884 244.42 in 10 years. Conclusions Scaling up the HepClink strategy to the whole Catalan territory infers a high budget impact for the Department of Health and allows increasing the detection of viraemia (+17.8%) among Pakistani migrants ≥18 years. To achieve a sustainable elimination of HCV by improving screening and treatment rates, there is room for improvement at two levels. First, taking advantage of the fact that 68.08% of the Pakistani population had visited their primary care physicians to reinforce targeted screening in primary care. Second, to use HepClink at the community level to reach individuals with reluctance to use healthcare services.This study was carried out with the support from Gilead Sciences (grant number GLD18-00062, EM)

Protocol d'actuació per al control i la prevenció de la tuberculosi en els immigrants i en els casos importats

Protocol d'actuació; Tuberculosi; ImmigrantsProtocolo de actuación; Tuberculosis; InmigrantesAction protocol; Tuberculosis; ImmigrantsAquest document és un protocol d'actuació per la tuberculosi i la seva prevenció

The multidimensional comprehension of Chagas disease. Contributions, approaches, challenges and opportunities from and beyond the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) field

Chagas is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon in which political, economic, environmental, biomedical, epidemiological, psychological, and sociocultural factors intersect. Nonetheless, the hegemonic conceptualisation has long envisioned Chagas as primarily a biomedical question, while ignoring or downplaying the other dimensions, and this limited view has reinforced the disease?s long neglect. Integrating the multiple dimensions of the problem into a coherent approach adapted to field realities and needs represents an immense challenge, but the payoff is more effective and sustainable experiences, with higher social awareness, increased case detection and follow-up, improved adherence to care, and integrated participation of various actors from multiple action levels. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiatives have great potential for impact in the implementation of multidimensional programs of prevention and control successfully customised to the diverse and complex contexts where Chagas disease persists.Instituto de Física de Líquidos y Sistemas Biológico