Comparative results of the state exams of dentistry during three academic years

Background: the state exams constitute the certification of the graduate competence. Analyzing the results obtained in this form of assessment is useful to detect deficiencies in the teaching-learning process.Objective: to describe, in a comparative way, the results of the state exams of the specialty of dentistry at the University of Medical Sciences of Las Tunas, during the academic years 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.Methods: a descriptive, longitudinal, retrospective study was carried out in the specialty of dentistry of the "Dr. Zoilo Enrique Marinello Vidaurreta" Faculty of Medical Sciences of the aforementioned university and during the academic years defined in the objective. The study population consisted of 205 students who took the examination in the first call. The study included the analysis of the grades obtained at the practical and theoretical examinations, the quality of the results, the description of the subjects and the topics where the greatest difficulties in the theoretical examinations were detected. The data were processed according to descriptive statistics.Results: the best grades, prevailing over 90 points, were obtained in the practical exams. In the theoretical exams, grades from 80 to 89 prevailed. The quality of the results has been gradually increasing per academic year. The subjects Prosthetic Rehabilitation I and Orthodontics had the most difficult topics.Conclusions: the results of the state exams of dentistry were described at the University of Medical Sciences of Las Tunas, during three academic years.</p

Xerostomía causada por el consumo de diuréticos en pacientes hipertensos

Fundamento: la xerostomía, o síndrome de boca seca, afecta principalmente a pacientes ancianos. Por sí misma no parece estar relacionada directamente con la edad, sino con las enfermedades o fármacos que se suelen administrar en esa etapa de la vida.Objetivo: caracterizar pacientes hipertensos de 60 años y más que consumen diuréticos y presentan síntomas de xerostomía, pertenecientes al área de salud del Policlínico Universitario “Gustavo Aldereguía Lima”.Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo en el Consultorio Médico de Familia Nº 8, de la referida área de salud, municipio de Las Tunas, en el período de enero a junio de 2016. La muestra estuvo conformada por 48 pacientes hipertensos de 60 años y más, con indicación del consumo de diuréticos y que mostraron indicios de xerostomía.Resultados: en el estudio predominó el sexo femenino y el grupo de edad de 60-69 años, con el 56,2 % de pacientes en ambos casos. Los principales síntomas de xerostomía fueron la sequedad de la mucosa bucal en todos los casos; seguido de los labios con aspecto reseco en el 81,2 %; dificultad para la alimentación, masticación y deglución, en un 75 %; y ardor y dolor de la mucosa en el 70,8 % de los pacientes. En cuanto al consumo de diuréticos, hubo prevalencia de los pacientes entre 20 y 24 años consumiendo, con 31,2 %, y en el grupo de edad de 60-69 años con 55,5 %.Conclusiones: se caracterizó a los pacientes estudiados, predominando los del grupo de edad de 60-69 años. El principal síntoma de xerostomía fue la sequedad de la mucosa.</p

Scientific production of the teaching staff of Dentistry in Las Tunas, 2012-2017

Background: a university is internationally recognized in proportion as its teaching staff has a higher scientific production. Knowing and increasing the scientific production of the faculty must be vital to successfully fulfill the social goal of the universities.Objective: to characterize the scientific production of the teaching staff of Dentistry in the province of Las Tunas, from 2012 to 2017.Methods: a descriptive, longitudinal, retrospective study was carried out with the faculty and during the period declared in the objective. The universe was made up of 120 teachers. Variables measuring academic formation, postgraduate studies, index of publications, participation in conferences, awards and recognitions were analyzed. The data were processed according to the descriptive statistics.Results: the study showed the existence of only two doctors of science (1,66 %) within the staff. More than half of the faculty holds the academic degree of Master of Science and / or Specialists of First and Second Degrees. The teaching ranks represent 31,66 %. No doctorate or master’s degrees related to the specialty are developed. The publication index is 1,52, with only 0.01 in the Web of Science. The participation of teachers in national and international conferences is low.Conclusions: the scientific production of the teaching staff of Dentistry in the province of Las Tunas, in the period 2012-2017, was characterized.</p

Deficiencies in assessment tools prepared by teachers of the University of Medical Sciences of Las Tunas

Background: learning assessment is a process inherent to the development of the educational-teaching process. One of its purposes is to judge the degree of fulfillment of the aims formulated in the curricula, so it is necessary to prepare assessment tools with the required quality.Objective: to identify the main deficiencies in the assessment tools for the professional teaching, prepared by the teachers of the University of Medical Sciences of Las Tunas.Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at the aforementioned university, during the first semester of the academic year 2019-2020, on the deficiencies identified in the first control of the assessment tools. The universe was made up of 647 assessment tools for the midterm and final theoretical exams. The data were processed according to descriptive statistics.Results: out of the total controlled assessment tools, 41,4 % presented difficulties in their elaboration. The questions with the highest frequency of errors were those for the development of long answers with 61,7 % in the final exams and 67,4% in midterms, followed by test-type questions in 51,3 % of the final exams and 56,5 % of the midterms. Regarding the question component, the greatest difficulties were presented in the key and grading standards, 38,3 % and 58,7 % in final and midterm exams, respectively.Conclusions: there are still difficulties in the elaboration of the assessment tools in the final and midterm exams.</p