Synopsis of discussion session on defining a new quality protocol for medical apps

[EN]The objective of this paper is to discuss about the factors and drivers needed to define a new quality protocol applied for apps. In fact, it is mainly focused on medical apps that are used for learning. This paper also explains the process and the methodology adopted in order to come out with those factors. The methodology used to reach these factors is a practical session with participants of different profiles (students and medical professionals) that should use one specific app and answer a questionnaire of 45 items evaluating different dimensions of the app. Besides, this investigation discusses about the main factors and drivers that could influence on evaluating those dimensions. According to the data, the profile of the participants could influence on the score, but the mobile devices that they owned, does not affect the final evaluation. Finally and according to the different points given by the participants, it is necessary to calculate the average score of the app and its percentage. In our process, if the app does not reach at least 70% of points, then, the app is rejected and the certificate is not awarded. The criterion selected for this protocol is completely strict in order to pass only the most excellent apps. As a result, the draft of the protocol is designed and could be used for any app. It is important to notice that the protocol is created taking into account the users’ point of view. For future researches is needed to obtain more samples and to minimize the limitations found during the research

Analysis of mobile devices as a support tool for professional medical education in the university school

[EN] According to the report of International Telecommunications Union (ITU), there are approximately 6.800 millions of users in the world with a mobile device. The fast evolution of these mobile devices for the last two decades has made the mobile phone become a minicomputer with a data connection. Because of the use of these mobile phones, the mobile applications appeared just one year later that the launching of the first iPhone and now the number of these applications reach more than 1 million in play store or app store (two application market for two different operation systems). All these data illustrates the considerable importance of the mobile devices in our society and the tremendous opportunity for the medical education. The physicians and the medical students are using more and more these mobile devices daily in their work or even in their self-learning. Currently, some university schools of medicine in EEUU have already introduced the tablets as a new tool for education. The aim of this study is to make an analysis of the current usage of mobile devices and mobile applications in the University medical school and the main advantages and disadvantages of introducing this tool as part of the education curriculum

Description of a session to assess the efectiveness of apps in medical education

[EN]Nowadays, there are few researches about the effectiveness of apps in education. With this paper, we want to describe the methodology and the initial results obtained with the first session performed with undergraduate students of Medical Schools in University of Salamanca. The session lasted roughly two hours and was formed by ten students. We used a descriptive correlational method and the instruments utilized to obtain the qualitative data were a questionnaire and the images recorded and observed during the session. Besides it was necessary to divide the participants in two groups in order to contrast the results between them: control group and experimental group. One of them had to attend a normal class and the other one was going to use an app, which describes the anatomical parts of a brain. The results were measured with a knowledge test performed before and after the session. Both groups obtained better results after the experiment, however with the participants of the experimental group, the results were higher than the students of the control group. It is very complex to measure the effectiveness of mobile apps in education, and although the study suggests that the mobile apps could be a tool to use in higher education, it is necessary to repeat the sessions with different students in order to have more samples, which allow showing and verifying the effectiveness of apps in education

Review of the cutting-edge technology employed in medical education

[EN]The new technologies have advanced astonishingly in the last few decades. There are more and more Medical Schools adopting new tools to teach Medicine to undergraduate students or even to teach the continuous training for professionals. Not all the Universities adopt these technologies at same level or same grade of the speed but as a result it seems that they will adopt more and more often the new technologies as part of the curriculum. This paper wants to be a review of the state of the art technologies that have stepped in the Medical Schools in the last decade. Overall, we want to describe the function of these new tools, how all of them have been adopting to teach Medicine answering most part of the demands of physicians and how they could be evolved in the future to continue making the medical education a new revolutionary industry in continual progress. Not only that, it makes the engineering biomedical a field very interesting to explore and to be invested on, as they could enhance the skills of new professionals of Medicine to be prepared for the digital environment where they will work on. It is important to notice that the advanced technologies are enhanced at more speed than the education is able to adopt in. Sometimes, the reason could be the unawareness of these technologies. Occasionally, it could be the money needed to invest and from time to time it could be that the leaderships of Medical Schools are not convinced enough that the new technologies will work

Description of a session to assess the effectiveness of apps in medical education

[EN]Nowadays, there are few researches about the effectiveness of apps in education. With this paper, we want to describe the methodology and the initial results obtained with the first session performed with undergraduate students of Medical Schools in University of Salamanca. The session lasted roughly two hours and was formed by ten students. We used a descriptive correlational method and the instruments utilized to obtain the qualitative data were a questionnaire and the images recorded and observed during the session. Besides it was necessary to divide the participants in two groups in order to contrast the results between them: control group and experimental group. One of them had to attend a normal class and the other one was going to use an app, which describes the anatomical parts of a brain. The results were measured with a knowledge test performed before and after the session. Both groups obtained better results after the experiment, however with the participants of the experimental group, the results were higher than the students of the control group. It is very complex to measure the effectiveness of mobile apps in education, and although the study suggests that the mobile apps could be a tool to use in higher education, it is necessary to repeat the sessions with different students in order to have more samples, which allow showing and verifying the effectiveness of apps in education

A systematic review of using mobile devices in medical education

[EN] Abstract—There are many research studies carried out about the use of mobile devices in our society. Mobile devices offer great opportunities in different aspects of our daily routine as it enable people to be connected at any time. The increasing number of mobile devices and their use confirm that the new technologies are part of our lives. Not only that, medical professionals are starting to be involved actively in the use of mobile devices. This paper describes how students and medical professionals use mobile devices from an educational perspective and it investigates the roles of their involvement. To achieve this goal, we performed a crosssectional survey involving undergraduate medical students of University of Salamanca and medical professionals. The results confirm that the new technologies are becoming part of our lives and medical professionals are starting to be part of this upward trend

El cerebro y las TICS

[EN]In the philosophy of science the prevailing perspective is to consider instruments as mediators of action. This article completes this perspective indicating that the incorporation of technology transforms the instrument in mediator for the transformations of the mental operations performed by the mind, thus acting on the plastic structure of the brain. This occurs in the use of the instrument of language, in that of literacy and it takes place again with the incorporation of ICT, given that it is a technology of work in culture. ICT are, at the same time, model and instrument for observation and investigation of brain activity. [ES]En la filosofía de la ciencia predomina la perspectiva que considera los instrumentos como mediadores de la acción. El artículo completa esa perspectiva indicando que la incorporación de la tecnología transforma el instrumento en mediador para las transformaciones de las operaciones mentales que ejecuta la mente, actuando sobre la estructura plástica del cerebro. Esto acontece en el uso del instrumento del lenguaje, en el de la lecto-escritura y, ocurre de nuevo, con la incorporación de las TIC, en tanto que tecnología de trabajo en la cultura. Las TIC constituyen, al mismo tiempo, modelo e instrumento para la observación e investigación de la actividad del cerebro

Advanced neuroimage processing for the study of the neurovascular system

[EN]Background. Medical images have passed from static and printed images with no possibility of modifying many technical parameters to volumetric data that allow its manipulation and advanced processing for surgical or pedagogical purposes. Aim. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the major role and potential of OsiriXTM, a new open-source computerized tool for the advanced processing of medical images, in the study of neurovascular anatomy. Methodology. DICOM images were acquired with radio diagnostic equipment using 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance (MR) images from a 34-year-old and right handed female. Images were further processed using OsiriXTM version 4.0 32 bits for OS, one of the most versatile technologies within the field of medical imaging. Results. Key features required for processing neurovascular images such as segmentation and three-dimensional reconstruction of vascular elements (cerebral arteries and Willis polygon) are visually illustrated and described. Conclusion. The application of this technology in medical imaging has enhanced the accessibility and availability of neuroimaging, reducing the need for sophisticated and expensive workstations for image processing. Advanced image processing allows overcoming limitations inherent to classical techniques based on two-dimensional sections. Three-dimensional reconstructions of vascular elements are already used in daily clinical practice, including diagnostic protocols. Also, interactivity and virtual visualization makes it simple, cost-effective and easy to understand complex vascular elements. Discussion. Implications for teaching and learning neurovascular concepts and diagnostic value are discussed