Educación médica virtual en Perú en tiempos de COVID-19: Virtual medical education in Peru during COVID-19

Medical education aims at excellence in the training of health professionals. Thus, virtual education arises from the difficulty of access of many students to educational centers. Medical education is no stranger to this transition, so it is important for both teachers and students to adopt these tools to achieve a quality teaching-learning process. There is evidence on the effectiveness and acceptance of virtual learning within the medical community, where students describe their satisfaction with this modality of education as a good option for better training. However, some educational institutions are not prepared for this change and many of them do not have virtual platforms or do not have the capacity to impart knowledge properly in a virtual way, which exposes a poor reality in this digital age. Virtual education has the challenge of training and adapting its teachers to these new teaching methods in front of its students who have already been born in a digital world. However, not all students have access at home to these technologies or connectivity necessary for virtual education, in many cases due to lack of resources for the purchase of computers or the internet, added to the limitations of those living in rural areas.La educación médica tiene como objetivo la excelencia en la formación de profesionales de la salud. Así,la educación virtual surge ante la dificultad de acceso de muchos estudiantes a los centros educativos. La educación médica no es ajena a esta transición, por lo que es importante que tanto docentes comoalumnos adopten estas herramientas para conseguir un proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje de calidad. Existe evidencia sobre la efectividad y aceptación del aprendizaje virtual dentro de la comunidad médica, donde los estudiantes describen su satisfacción a esta modalidad de educación, como una buena opciónpara una mejor formación. Sin embargo, algunas instituciones educativas no están preparadas paraeste cambio y muchas de ellas no cuentan con plataformas virtuales o no tienen la capacidad de impartirlos conocimientos adecuadamente de manera virtual; lo que expone una realidad deficiente en esta eradigital. La educación virtual tiene el reto de capacitar y adaptar a sus docentes a estos nuevos métodosde enseñanza frente a sus estudiantes que ya han nacido dentro de un mundo digital. No obstante, notodos los estudiantes tienen acceso en casa a estas tecnologías o conectividad necesarias para la educaciónvirtual, en muchos casos por falta de recursos para la adquisición de computadoras o internet, sumado a laslimitaciones propias de los que viven en zonas rurales

COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean: what is known about the status of school reopening?

Since December 2019, the world has been facing a rapid increase in cases and deaths from the new coronavirus (COVID-19), forcing a response from countries all over the world to stop its transmission. Thus, at the beginning of April, 172 nations closed their schools, affecting >84.8% (~1484 million) of students enrolled worldwide,1 aiming to reduce the exposure to the virus, a social measure previously used to control the H1N1 influenza pandemic.2Revisión por pare

Factors associated with the intention to participate in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials: A cross-sectional study in Peru

Objective: To evaluate the factors associated with the intention to participate in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in the Peruvian population. Methods: Cross-sectional study and secondary analysis of a database that involved Peruvian population during September 2020. The Poisson regression model was used to estimate the associated factors. Results: Data from 3231 individuals were analyzed, 44.1% of whom intended to participate in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. Factors associated with the outcome were being male (RPa: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.15–1.35), being from the highlands region (RPa: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.09–1.28) or jungle (RPa: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.15–1.47), having a relative that is a healthcare professional (PRa: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.06–1.28), using a medical source of information (PRa: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.17–1.41), and trusting in the possible effectiveness of vaccines (PRa: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.29–1.51). The main reason for not participating in the trial was the possibility of developing side effects (69.80%). Conclusion: There is an urgent need to generate a perception of safety in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, to increase the population's intention to participate in these studies, and to provide evidence-based information about the vaccine.Revisión por pare

Uso problemático de internet asociado a ojo seco sintomático en estudiantes de medicina de Perú

Purpose: Dry eye is a multifactorial ocular surface disease (DED) characterized by a loss of tear film homeostasis, which is widely associated with alterations in mental health. Problematic internet use (PIU) is defined as the feeling of concern about using this tool irresistibly, for longer periods than usual, accompanied by anguish that results from not doing so without reaching mania or hypomania behaviors. Both PIU and DED present a theoretical link; however, there are no published studies that report its relationship with problematic internet use. Therefore, this study aims to determine the association between PIU and symptomatic DED in Peruvian medical students. Patients and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study that included human medical students from Peru. For the measurement of main variables, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were used. To study their relationship, the Poisson regression analysis was used, we consider a p-value <0.05 as significant. Results: Data from 844 medical students were analyzed, 35.7% male and 64.3% female, with an average age of 21.8 ± 3.3 years. Likewise, the prevalence of symptomatic DED was 70.9%, and the internet’s controlled use was 85.3%. In the analysis adjusted for symptomatic DED, the men showed significant differences in the controlled use of the internet (p <0.003), of which those who had PIU, 50% had severe symptomatic DED, as well as 80% of those addicted to the internet. The adjusted model showed that the PIU increases the prevalence of symptomatic DED in men (PR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06–1.29); however, in women, no association was found between both variables. Conclusion: PIU and symptomatic DED showed a significant association in male medical students from Peru.Propósito: El ojo seco es una enfermedad multifactorial de la superficie ocular (EOS) caracterizada por una pérdida de la homeostasis de la película lagrimal, que está ampliamente asociada con alteraciones en la salud mental. El uso problemático de internet (UIP) se define como el sentimiento de preocupación por utilizar esta herramienta de manera irresistible, por períodos más prolongados de lo habitual, acompañado de la angustia que resulta de no hacerlo sin llegar a conductas de manía o hipomanía. Tanto PIU como DED presentan un vínculo teórico; sin embargo, no existen estudios publicados que reporten su relación con el uso problemático de internet. Por lo tanto, este estudio tiene como objetivo determinar la asociación entre la UIP y la EOS sintomática en estudiantes de medicina peruanos. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico que incluyó estudiantes de medicina humana del Perú. Para la medición de las principales variables, Se utilizaron el Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) y el Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Para estudiar su relación se utilizó el análisis de regresión de Poisson, consideramos significativo un valor de p < 0,05. Resultados: Se analizaron datos de 844 estudiantes de medicina, 35,7% hombres y 64,3% mujeres, con una edad promedio de 21,8 ± 3,3 años. Asimismo, la prevalencia de EOS sintomática fue del 70,9% y el uso controlado de internet fue del 85,3%. En el análisis ajustado por EOS sintomática, los hombres mostraron diferencias significativas en el uso controlado de internet (p<0,003), de los cuales los que tenían PIU, el 50% tenían EOS sintomática grave, así como el 80% de los adictos a la Internet. El modelo ajustado mostró que la PIU aumenta la prevalencia de EOS sintomática en hombres (RP = 1,17, IC 95 %: 1,06–1,29); Sin embargo, en las mujeres, no se encontró asociación entre ambas variables. Conclusión: PIU y EOS sintomática mostraron una asociación significativa en estudiantes de medicina de sexo masculino de Perú

Level of Knowledge Regarding Mpox among Peruvian Physicians during the 2022 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Due to the high incidence of mpox in Peru and the poor knowledge about this disease among healthcare workers in non-endemic countries, it is crucial to determine the knowledge status of Peruvian physicians. Methodology: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study based on an online survey from August to September 2022. Physicians who had a medical license and lived and practiced medicine in Peru were included. To evaluate the factors associated with a higher level of knowledge, we used crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Poisson regression. Results: We included 463 physicians. The mean age was 36.6 (SD: 10.3) years, and most were male (58.1%). Regarding knowledge, the median knowledge score was 14 [IQR: 13 to 15] out of 17 points. In terms of knowledge gaps, only 60.7% of the participants knew that there was an FDA-approved vaccine for mpox, 49.0% of participants knew about mpox proctitis and 33.3% acknowledged that it could be transmitted by the bite of an infected rodent. We found that taking care of patients with mpox (aPR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.72) was associated with higher knowledge (>p50), while living in the eastern macro-region (aPR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.93) was associated with lower knowledge (≤p50). Conclusions: Our study showed a high level of knowledge about mpox among Peruvian physicians. However, educational campaigns may be necessary, especially for physicians from the eastern region and those who do not have clinical experience with mpox

Nivel de conocimiento sobre Mpox entre médicos peruanos durante el brote de 2022: un estudio transversal

Introduction: Due to the high incidence of mpox in Peru and the poor knowledge about this disease among healthcare workers in non-endemic countries, it is crucial to determine the knowledge status of Peruvian physicians. Methodology: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study based on an online survey from August to September 2022. Physicians who had a medical license and lived and practiced medicine in Peru were included. To evaluate the factors associated with a higher level of knowledge, we used crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Poisson regression. Results: We included 463 physicians. The mean age was 36.6 (SD: 10.3) years, and most were male (58.1%). Regarding knowledge, the median knowledge score was 14 [IQR: 13 to 15] out of 17 points. In terms of knowledge gaps, only 60.7% of the participants knew that there was an FDA-approved vaccine for mpox, 49.0% of participants knew about mpox proctitis and 33.3% acknowledged that it could be transmitted by the bite of an infected rodent. We found that taking care of patients with mpox (aPR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.72) was associated with higher knowledge (>p50), while living in the eastern macro-region (aPR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.93) was associated with lower knowledge (≤p50). Conclusions: Our study showed a high level of knowledge about mpox among Peruvian physicians. However, educational campaigns may be necessary, especially for physicians from the eastern region and those who do not have clinical experience with mpox.Introducción: Debido a la alta incidencia de la mpox en Perú y al escaso conocimiento sobre esta enfermedad entre los trabajadores de la salud en países no endémicos, es crucial determinar el estado de conocimiento de los médicos peruanos. Metodología: Realizamos un estudio transversal analítico basado en una encuesta en línea de agosto a septiembre de 2022. Se incluyeron médicos que tenían licencia médica y residían y ejercían la medicina en Perú. Para evaluar los factores asociados a un mayor nivel de conocimiento se utilizaron razones de prevalencia crudas (cPR) y ajustadas (aPR) con intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC 95%) mediante regresión de Poisson. Resultados: Se incluyeron 463 médicos. La edad media fue de 36,6 (DE: 10,3) años y la mayoría eran hombres (58,1%). En cuanto a los conocimientos, la mediana de la puntuación de conocimientos fue de 14 [RIC: 13 a 15] sobre 17 puntos. En cuanto a las lagunas de conocimiento, solo el 60,7 % de los participantes sabía que existía una vacuna contra la mpox aprobada por la FDA, el 49,0 % de los participantes conocía la proctitis por mpox y el 33,3 % reconocía que podía transmitirse por la picadura de un roedor infectado. Encontramos que cuidar a pacientes con mpox (RPa: 1,39; IC 95%: 1,13 a 1,72) se asoció con un mayor conocimiento (>p50), mientras vivan en la macrorregión oriental (RPa: 0,62; IC 95%: 0,42 a 0,93) se asoció con un menor conocimiento (≤p50). Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio mostró un alto nivel de conocimiento sobre la mpox entre los médicos peruanos. Sin embargo, pueden ser necesarias campañas educativas, especialmente para los médicos de la región oriental y aquellos que no tienen experiencia clínica con la mpox