Teletrabajo en docentes universitarios del Ecuador, un estudio con referencia a la pandemia del 2020

La pandemia de Covid-19 ocurrida a inicios del 2020 en el Ecuador generó que las modalidades de trabajo cambien de una manera abrupta sobre todo en el área de la docencia universitaria pues se encontraban iniciando el periodo académico y las cátedras no podían detenerse, el objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las consecuencias del teletrabajo en la salud laboral de los docentes universitarios del Ecuador en el contexto de la pandemia del 2020; al mismo tiempo se veía reflejada la problemática con respecto a la falta de conocimiento de la modalidad sobre todo con relación al uso de tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TICs), la falta de instalaciones e implementación adecuadas para el desarrollo de la modalidad generando consecuencias físicas (problemas ergonómicos, visuales, trastornos musculoesqueléticos) y consecuencias psicosociales (problemas para dormir, estrés laboral y aislamiento social). Esta sistematización se emplea bajo un enfoque cualitativo- interpretativo con un diseño no experimental de carácter exploratorio, simultáneamente para la organización de la información se utilizó la metodología PRISMA, la cual nos dejó evidenciar la similitud de nuestro tema de investigación con las temáticas, problemáticas, metodologías y posibles soluciones que los artículos científicos, tesis y bibliografías planteaban; finalmente como producto de esta investigación de sistematización se pudo obtener pautas y recomendaciones para prevenir los riesgos laborales físicos, ergonómicos y psicosociales de teletrabajadores en contexto universitario.The pandemic of Covid-19 occurred at the beginning of 2020 in Ecuador generated that the modalities of work change in an abrupt way especially in the area of university teaching because they were starting the academic period and the chairs could not stop, the objective of this research was to identify the consequences of telework in the occupational health of university teachers in Ecuador in the context of the pandemic of 2020; at the same time was reflected the problem with respect to the lack of knowledge of the modality especially in relation to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the lack of facilities and adequate implementation for the development of the modality generating physical consequences (ergonomic problems, visual, musculoskeletal disorders) and psychosocial consequences (sleep problems, work stress and social isolation). This systematization is used under a qualitative-interpretative approach with a non-experimental design of exploratory character, simultaneously for the organization of the information was used the PRISMA methodology, which let us evidence the similarity of our research topic with the themes, problems, methodologies and possible solutions that scientific articles, theses and bibliographies raised; finally as a product of this systematization research could obtain guidelines and recommendations to prevent the physical, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational hazards of teleworkers in university context

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially