Modelo de vigilancia tecnológica para la gestión de un grupo de investigación en salud

Introduction. The steady dynamics of science, technology and innovation plus the volume of information that these subjects have, represent a challenge to the research groups endeavor and to the commitment of the later ones to be knowledge developing units that give significant outputs to its social and academic settings. Therefore, there must be a planning alternative that supports the decisionmaking processes in order to give it a better knowledge founding, to reduce the possible risks and to think ahead the possible changes. This alternative must be supported by an organized, selective and systematic procedure, such as the technological surveillance. Objective. To create a descriptive literature review regarding technological surveillance and a proposal for the technological surveillance method applied to the management of scientific activity of the Estudio Genetico de Enfermedades Complejas (EGEC – Genetic Study for Complex Diseases) research group. Methodology. Descriptive literature review. The following academic databases were consulted: Medline, SciELO, Ebsco e IEEE and Google Scholar search engine. The combination of keywords used when consulting the academic databases, was “vigilancia tecnológica/technological surveillance”, “salud/health”, “enfermedad/disease”, “ejemplos en salud”, “universidad” and “investigación”. Articles of the last five years are included, while articles that only had to deal with the results dissemination of technological surveillance exercises, were excluded. Based on the literature review analysis of results, a technological surveillance model is proposed which its objective is to manage the EGEC research group’s scientific activities. In order to do so, a stages, inputs and funds diagrams that integrated the surveillance model, were created. Thus, the already mentioned diagrams included a cancer pilot test as a validation strategy, and with the test results, the model was subjected to additional adjustments. Results. The Spanish standard UNE 166006:2011 created by the Spanish Association for Standarization and Certification (AENOR), was taken as an international reference whilst the program España y sus Regiones Intercambian Conocimiento con Antioquia (ERICA) and the methodology for technological surveillance Innovaciones a partir de la Vigilancia Tecnológica (InnoViTech), were taken as national referents. Additionally, conceptual stages, good practices for processes execution and defined budget for the development of technological surveillance, are established. The main components for the proposed model include needs identification, plus the planning, collection, auditing, analysis, documentation, and information spreading processes. Conclusions. The proposed model works as a foundation for developing a knowledge management strategy of a research group. Also, the model highlights the importance of climbing towards the usage of competitive intelligence systems within itself. [CarrilloZambrano E, Páez-Leal MC, Suárez JM, Luna-González ML. Technological surveillance model applied to the management of a health-related research group. MedUNAB. 2018;21(1):84-99. doi: 10.29375/01237047.2746].Introducción. La dinámica constante de la ciencia, la tecnología y la innovación, con el volumen de información disponible, constituyen un reto para el quehacer de los grupos de investigación en su compromiso como unidades generadoras de resultados de conocimiento y de aportes relevantes a su entorno. Una alternativa a la planeación que dé soporte a la toma de decisiones con mayor conocimiento, menor riesgo y oportuna anticipación a los cambios debería estar soportada en un proceso organizado, selectivo y sistemático como lo es la vigilancia tecnológica. Objetivo. Revisión de literatura de tipo descriptivo sobre la vigilancia tecnológica y generación de una propuesta de un modelo de vigilancia tecnológica para la gestión de la actividad científica del grupo de investigación Estudio Genético de Enfermedades Complejas (EGEC). Metodología. Revisión de la literatura de tipo descriptivo. Se consultaron las bases de datos de Medline, SciELO, Ebsco e IEEE y el buscador Google Scholar, mediante la combinación de las palabras clave “vigilancia tecnológica/technological surveillance”, “salud/health”, “enfermedad/disease”, “ejemplos en salud”, “universidad” e “investigación”. Se incluyeron artículos científicos de los últimos cinco años y se excluyeron artículos que solo consideraran la difusión de resultados de ejercicios de vigilancia tecnológica. Con base en el análisis de los resultados, se propone un modelo de vigilancia tecnológica para la gestión de la actividad científica del grupo de investigación EGEC, para lo que se estructuró el diagrama de las etapas, insumos y recursos que integran el modelo propuesto, incluyendo como estrategia de validación el desarrollo de una prueba piloto sobre cáncer, a partir de la cual se hicieron ajustes adicionales al mismo. Resultados. Como referente internacional se encuentra la Norma UNE 166006:2011 de la Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación (AENOR) y, como referente nacional, España y sus Regiones Intercambian Conocimiento con Antioquia (ERICA) e Innovaciones a partir de la Vigilancia Tecnológica (InnoViTech). Se establecen las etapas conceptuales, buenas prácticas para el ejercicio y recursos para el desarrollo de la vigilancia tecnológica. Los principales componentes del modelo propuesto incluyen la identificación de necesidades, planeación, recolección, auditoría, análisis, documentación y comunicación de información. Conclusiones. El modelo planteado es una base para el desarrollo de una estrategia de gestión del conocimiento de un grupo de investigación y plantea la importancia de escalar hacia el uso de la inteligencia competitiva al interior del mismo. [CarrilloZambrano E, Páez-Leal MC, Suárez JM, Luna-González ML. Modelo de vigilancia tecnológica para la gestión de un grupo de investigación en salud. MedUNAB. 2018;21(1): 84-99. doi: 10.29375/01237047.2746]

Percepción de diversos sectores sociales de Colombia sobre los biobancos con fines de investigación

Introduction: Biobanks for research purposes are public assets that require active participation from all interested parties; therefore, it is important to discern and investigate the perception that the general public in Colombia has with regards to their participation in a biobank.Objective: To question different healthy Colombian social agents about the perception they have on donating human biological material to be stored in a biobank for future research purposes.Materials and methods: We conducted an exploratory quantitative and qualitative research by means of an anonymous survey on healthy members of the Colombian community in order to evaluate their knowledge and stances related to biobanks.Results: Three hundred sixty-eight (368) individuals completed the survey, including health-care researchers, lawyers and members of research ethics committees. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the subjects stated their willingness to donate biological material to biobanks, although 60% expressed distress about their samples being used for certain research activities, mainly human cloning. Even though about half of the participants reported knowing what a biobank is, less than 3% of the individuals had a clear concept of them.Conclusion: Participants showed their willingness to donate and store their biological material for research purposes. Similarly, they expressed their opinion about issues related to the management of biobanks. It is necessary to take into account the opinions of the general public in the development of policies that regulate biobanks for research purposes in Colombia.Introducción. Los biobancos con fines de investigación son un bien público que necesita de la participación activa de todas las partes interesadas, por lo cual es importante conocer la percepción que tiene el público general en Colombia sobre su intervención en un biobanco.Objetivo. Indagar en diferentes sectores sociales colombianos sobre su percepción en torno a la donación de material biológico humano para ser almacenado en biobancos con fines de investigación.Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio exploratorio tanto cuantitativo como cualitativo, entre personas sanas de diferentes sectores del país mediante una encuesta anónima sobre su conocimiento y actitudes con respecto a los biobancos.Resultado. La encuesta fue respondida por 368 personas, que incluían investigadores en salud, abogados y miembros de comités de ética de la investigación. El 96 % de los sujetos expresó su voluntad de donar material biológico, aunque el 60 % manifestó tener desconfianza en que sus muestras fueran usadas en algunos tipos de investigación, especialmente en clonación humana. Cerca de la mitad de los participantes refirieron saber qué era un biobanco, sin embargo, menos del 3 % tenía claridad suficiente sobre el concepto.Conclusión. Los participantes expresaron su disposición a donar y almacenar material biológico con fines de investigación, así como su opinión sobre algunos aspectos de la gestión de los biobancos. Las opiniones del público general se deben tener en cuenta en el desarrollo de políticas que regulen la actividad de los biobancos con fines de investigación en Colombia

Quality control of human biological material for use in research

El material biológico humano proporciona información valiosa sobre niveles de metabolitos asociados con el desarrollo de cierto tipo de enfermedades, por tanto es una herramienta importante para monitorear respuestas a tratamientos e incluso identiicar nuevos mecanismos de intervención. Los procedimientos a los que se expone el material biológico desde su obtención hasta su fase analítica, son denominados variables pre-analíticas, las cuales, pueden tener un efecto directo en la detección de metabolitos y por consiguiente sobre resultados de proyectos de investigación, en particular en ausencia de procesos estandarizados que garanticen el control de calidad del material biológico. La presente nota técnica tiene como inalidad resaltar algunos puntos críticos que deben ser parametrizados en las bio-colecciones con ines de investigación, para garantizar altos estándares de calidad y reproducibilidad en estudios observacionales, en donde se minimice cualquier tipo de sesgo ocasionado por las variables pre-analíticas. Así mismo, identiicar la importancia en el desarrollo de biobancos con ines de investigación en nuestro país para contar con material biológico humano de alta calidad.Human biological material provides valuable information about levels of metabolites associated with the development of certain diseases, becoming an important tool for monitoring responses to treatment or even identifying new intervention mechanisms. The procedures to what the biological material are exposed from their preparation to their analytical phase are called pre-analytical variables, which can have a direct effect on the detection of metabolites, and therefore, on the results of the research projects, particularly in the absence of standardized processes that confirm the quality control of the biological material. This technical note highlights some critical points that must be parameterized in the biocollections for research purposes to ensure high standards of quality and reproducibility in observational studies, where any kind of bias caused by the pre-analytical variables is minimized. In addition, it is intended to identify the importance of the development of biobanks for research purposes in our country in order to have human biological material of high qualit

Quality control of human biological material for use in research

El material biológico humano proporciona información valiosa sobre niveles de metabolitos asociados con el desarrollo de cierto tipo de enfermedades, por tanto es una herramienta importante para monitorear respuestas a tratamientos e incluso identiicar nuevos mecanismos de intervención. Los procedimientos a los que se expone el material biológico desde su obtención hasta su fase analítica, son denominados variables pre-analíticas, las cuales, pueden tener un efecto directo en la detección de metabolitos y por consiguiente sobre resultados de proyectos de investigación, en particular en ausencia de procesos estandarizados que garanticen el control de calidad del material biológico. La presente nota técnica tiene como inalidad resaltar algunos puntos críticos que deben ser parametrizados en las bio-colecciones con ines de investigación, para garantizar altos estándares de calidad y reproducibilidad en estudios observacionales, en donde se minimice cualquier tipo de sesgo ocasionado por las variables pre-analíticas. Así mismo, identiicar la importancia en el desarrollo de biobancos con ines de investigación en nuestro país para contar con material biológico humano de alta calidad.Human biological material provides valuable information about levels of metabolites associated with the development of certain diseases, becoming an important tool for monitoring responses to treatment or even identifying new intervention mechanisms. The procedures to what the biological material are exposed from their preparation to their analytical phase are called pre-analytical variables, which can have a direct effect on the detection of metabolites, and therefore, on the results of the research projects, particularly in the absence of standardized processes that confirm the quality control of the biological material. This technical note highlights some critical points that must be parameterized in the biocollections for research purposes to ensure high standards of quality and reproducibility in observational studies, where any kind of bias caused by the pre-analytical variables is minimized. In addition, it is intended to identify the importance of the development of biobanks for research purposes in our country in order to have human biological material of high qualit

A prospective cohort study to assess seroprevalence, incidence, knowledge, attitudes and practices, willingness to pay for vaccine and related risk factors in dengue in a high incidence setting

Abstract Background Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases in the world, causing significant morbidity and economic impact. In Colombia, dengue is a major public health problem. Departments of La Guajira, Cesar and Magdalena are dengue endemic areas. The objective of this research is to determine the seroprevalence and the incidence of dengue virus infection in the participating municipalities from these Departments, and also establish the association between individual and housing factors and vector indices with seroprevalence and incidence. We will also assess knowledge, attitudes and practices, and willingness-to-pay for dengue vaccine. Methods A cohort study will be assembled with a clustered multistage sampling in 11 endemic municipalities. Approximately 1000 homes will be visited to enroll people older than one year who living in these areas, who will be followed for 1 year. Dengue virus infections will be evaluated using IgG indirect ELISA and IgM and IgG capture ELISA. Additionally, vector indices will be measured, and adult mosquitoes will be captured with aspirators. Ovitraps will be used for continuous estimation of vector density. Discussion This research will generate necessary knowledge to design and implement strategies with a multidimensional approach that reduce dengue morbidity and mortality in La Guajira and other departments from Colombian Caribbean

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Association between the level of education and knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue in the Caribbean region of Colombia

Abstract Background Community integration in dengue control requires assessments of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs), which can vary widely according to demographic and educational factors. We aimed to describe and compare the KAPs according to level of education in municipalities in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Methods A survey was administered from October to December 2015, including families selected through probabilistic sampling in eleven municipalities. The analysis focused on the comparative description of the responses according to level of education. The KAP prevalence ratios (PR) according to education were estimated using Poisson regression (robust), including age and sex as adjustment variables. Results Out of 1057 participants, 1054 (99.7%) surveys were available for analysis, including 614 (58.3%) who had a high school level of education or higher and 440 (41.7%) who had a lower level of education (not high school graduates). The high school graduates showed a higher frequency of correct answers in relation to knowledge about dengue symptoms and transmission. On the other hand, graduates showed a higher probability of practices and attitudes that favor dengue control, including not storing water in containers (PR: 2.2; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.42–3.43), attend community meetings (PR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07–1.65), educate family members and neighbors in prevention measures (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.15–1.59). Conclusions Level of education could be a key determinant of knowledge of the disease and its transmission, as well as attitudes and practices, especially those that involve the integration of community efforts for dengue control

A prospective cohort study to assess seroprevalence, incidence, knowledge, attitudes and practices, willingness to pay for vaccine and related risk factors in dengue in a high incidence setting

Abstract Background Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases in the world, causing significant morbidity and economic impact. In Colombia, dengue is a major public health problem. Departments of La Guajira, Cesar and Magdalena are dengue endemic areas. The objective of this research is to determine the seroprevalence and the incidence of dengue virus infection in the participating municipalities from these Departments, and also establish the association between individual and housing factors and vector indices with seroprevalence and incidence. We will also assess knowledge, attitudes and practices, and willingness-to-pay for dengue vaccine. Methods A cohort study will be assembled with a clustered multistage sampling in 11 endemic municipalities. Approximately 1000 homes will be visited to enroll people older than one year who living in these areas, who will be followed for 1 year. Dengue virus infections will be evaluated using IgG indirect ELISA and IgM and IgG capture ELISA. Additionally, vector indices will be measured, and adult mosquitoes will be captured with aspirators. Ovitraps will be used for continuous estimation of vector density. Discussion This research will generate necessary knowledge to design and implement strategies with a multidimensional approach that reduce dengue morbidity and mortality in La Guajira and other departments from Colombian Caribbean

Weight and height percentiles calculated by the LMS method in Argentinean schoolchildren. A comparative references study

Background: The Argentinean population is characterized by ethnic, cultural and socio-economic diversity. Aim: To calculate the percentiles of weight-for-age (W/A) and height-for-age (H/A) of schoolchildren from Argentina employing the LMS method; and to compare the obtained percentiles with those of the international and national references. Subjects and methods: Anthropometric data of 18 698 students (8672 girls and 10 026 boys) of 3-13 years old were collected (2003-2008) from Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chubut, Jujuy, La Pampa and Mendoza. Percentiles of W/A and H/A were obtained with the LMS method. Statistical and graphical comparisons were established with the WHO (international reference) and with that published by the Argentinean Paediatric Society (national reference). Results: Differences in W/A and H/A, regarding the references, were negative and greater at the highest percentiles and in most of the age groups. On average, the differences were greater for boys than girls and for national than international references. Conclusion: The distribution of weight and height of schoolchildren, coming from most regions of the country, differs from those of national and international references. It should be advisable to establish a new national reference based on internationally recognized methodological criteria that adequately reflect the biological and cultural diversity of the Argentinean populations.Fil: Oyhenart, Evelia Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria ; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Lomaglio, Delia Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Estudios de Antropología Biologica; ArgentinaFil: Dahinten, Silvia Lucrecia V.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Bejarano, Ignacio Felipe. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biología de la Altura; ArgentinaFil: Herráez, Ángel. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Cesani Rossi, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria ; ArgentinaFil: Torres, María Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria ; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; ArgentinaFil: Luis, María Antonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Quintero, Fabian Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria ; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Alfaro Gómez, Emma Laura. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biología de la Altura; ArgentinaFil: Orden, Alicia Bibiana. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños "Sor María Ludovica" de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bergel Sanchís, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria ; ArgentinaFil: González Montero de Espinosa, Marisa. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Garraza, Mariela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria ; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria ; ArgentinaFil: Forte, Luis María. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Mesa, María S.. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Moreno Romero, Susana. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: López Ejeda, Noemí. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Dipierri, Jose Edgardo. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biología de la Altura; ArgentinaFil: Marrodán, María Dolores. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Españ