Factores socioeducativos asociados a la percepción de la investigación entre estudiantes de estomatología en una universidad cubana.

Introduction: Conducting research at the undergraduate level is essential to prepare future professionals for the process of properly channeling their scientific interest and provision of care. However, the factors influencing the degree of participation of students in research are unknown. Aim: To determine the socio-educational factors associated with the perception of research among stomatology students in a Cuban university. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study conducted on 166 stomatology students. Participants received an anonymous, validated and self-administered questionnaire designed to collect information on the perception of scientific research within the educational spectrum, which included elements related to writing, participation, scientific publication and the interest of pursuing a career in research. Using associative statistics, those who had an overall positive perception of research were considered interested and were assessed according to socio-educational variables. Results: Students showed a positive perception of scientific research; however, when asked if they wanted to pursue a career in research, only 61.4% responded affirmatively. This positive perception increases with the progression of academic years (p<0.04), is higher in males (p=0.030) and in students who perform assistantships in core courses (p=0.001). Conclusions: There is a positive perception of scientific research, which tends to be intensified by academic progression and other factors. This must be considered by educational institutions in order to generate strategies as a response.Introducción: La investigación en el pregrado constituye una forma importante de preparar a los futuros profesionales para encauzar sus inquietudes científicas y la labor asistencial. Sin embargo, se desconocen los factores que influyen en la participación de los estudiantes en investigación. Objetivo: Determinar los factores socioeducativos asociados a la percepción de la investigación en estudiantes de estomatología de una universidad cubana. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio transversal-analítico, realizado en 166 estudiantes de estomatología. Los participantes recibieron un cuestionario anónimo, validado y autoadministrado para recoger información sobre la percepción de la investigación científica, que incluyó elementos relacionados con la redacción, la participación, la publicación científica y el interés de hacer una carrera de investigación en el futuro. A los que tuvieron una mejor percepción de la investigación se les consideró como interesados, y se les cruzó según sus variables socioeducativas, con estadísticos de asociación. Resultados: Los estudiantes mostraron una percepción positiva de la investigación científica; sin embargo, cuando se les preguntó si querían hacer una carrera de investigación en el futuro solo el 61,4% respondió afirmativamente. La percepción aumenta según progresan los años académicos (p<0,04), es mayor en los hombres (p=0,030) y en los estudiantes que realizan ayudantía en las cátedras de la carrera (p=0,001). Conclusiones: Existe una percepción positiva con respecto a la investigación científica, la cual aumentan conforme lo hacen los años académicos y otros factores; esto debe tomarse en cuenta para generar estrategias por parte de las instituciones educativas

Scientometric approach to scientific MediSur production

Foundation: scientometric analyzes applied to scientific journals are instruments that allow evaluating their performance and impact. Objective: to evaluate the MediSur scientific production in the period 2003-2016. Methods: a scienciometric study was carried out on Medisur scientific production. The following variables were studied: publication years, total articles, citations, average citations per year, average citations by articles, average citations by authors, average citations by authors per year, average articles by author, number of citations by author (Hc), h h index, hI index, hI normalized index, AWCR index, AW index, AWCRpA index, index E, index hm, annual hI index, amplitude h, amplitude and indexation. Scientometric indicators were calculated using Harzing's Publish or Perish version 5 software, based on Academic Google. Results: the journal received 2509 citations with an average of 179.21 citations per year and has a h of 19 and a g of 34. 1000 published articles were analyzed with an average of 447, 42 articles per author and 2, 80 authors by articles; the most cited article obtained 368 citations.Conclusions: MediSur has scientiometric indicators comparable to other journals of high scientific impact. The most cited article was related to the clinical method.</p

Factors associated with interest in scientific research in dental students of six Cuban universities

"Introduction: To determine the factors associated with interest in scientific research in dental students of six Cuban universities. Methods: This is a multicenter cross-sectional analytical study. Interest in scientific research was the dependent variable, and it was assessed through a questionnaire proved to be reliable (Cronbach’s α= 0.88). We obtained adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and p values through generalized linear models. Results: A total of 587 students were part of the research, and 57.9% manifested interest in scientific research. However, when they were asked if they wanted to pursue a research career in the future, only 45.1% responded affirmatively. We found, through multivariate analysis, that there was more interest in scientific research among those who were student assistants (aPR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.41–4.16; p = 0.001), those who had previous studies (aPR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.02–1.79; p = 0.034), and those who had received awards in scientific events (aPR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.26–2.41; p = 0.001). In contrast, there was less interest among those who were at the clinical stage of their career (aPR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49–0.89; p = 0.006), adjusted for seven variables. Conclusions: There exists interest in scientific research and we found some factors associated with this. This has to be taken into account in order for educational institutions to generate strategies.

Factors associated with interest in scientific research in dental students of six Cuban universities

"Introduction: To determine the factors associated with interest in scientific research in dental students of six Cuban universities. Methods: This is a multicenter cross-sectional analytical study. Interest in scientific research was the dependent variable, and it was assessed through a questionnaire proved to be reliable (Cronbach’s α= 0.88). We obtained adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and p values through generalized linear models. Results: A total of 587 students were part of the research, and 57.9% manifested interest in scientific research. However, when they were asked if they wanted to pursue a research career in the future, only 45.1% responded affirmatively. We found, through multivariate analysis, that there was more interest in scientific research among those who were student assistants (aPR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.41–4.16; p = 0.001), those who had previous studies (aPR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.02–1.79; p = 0.034), and those who had received awards in scientific events (aPR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.26–2.41; p = 0.001). In contrast, there was less interest among those who were at the clinical stage of their career (aPR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49–0.89; p = 0.006), adjusted for seven variables. Conclusions: There exists interest in scientific research and we found some factors associated with this. This has to be taken into account in order for educational institutions to generate strategies.

Aproximación cienciométrica a la producción científica de MediSur

Fundamento: los análisis cienciométricos aplicados a las revistas científicas constituyen instrumentos que permiten evaluar el desempeño e impacto de las mismas.Objetivo: evaluar la producción científica de MediSur en el período 2003-2016.Métodos: se realizó un estudio cienciométrico sobre la producción científica de la publicación. Se estudiaron las siguientes variables: años de publicación, total de artículos, citas, promedio de citas por año, promedio de citas por artículos, promedio de citas por autores, promedio de citas por autores por año, promedio de artículos por autor, número de autores por artículo, promedio de autores por artículo, índice h, índice h5, mediana h5, índice g, índice h contemporáneo (hc), índice h individual (hI), índice hI normalizado, índice AWCR, índice AW, índice AWCRpA, índice e, índice hm, índice hI anual, amplitud h, amplitud g e indexación. Se calcularon los indicadores cienciométricos mediante el software Harzing’s Publish or Perish versión 5, tomando como base de datos el Google Académico. Resultados: la revista ha recibido 2509 citas con un promedio de 179,21 citas por año y posee un h de 19 y un índice g de 34. Se analizaron 1000 artículos publicados con un promedio de 447, 42 artículos por autor y de 2,80 autores por artículos; el artículo más citado obtuvo 368 citas. Conclusiones: MediSur posee indicadores cienciométricos comparables con otras revistas de alto impacto científico. El artículo más citado estuvo relacionado con el método clínico.</p

Use of scientific information resources and social networks by cuban dental students

Resultados: participaron 65 estudiantes, en los cuales predominó el sexo femenino. Google y SciELO fueron los recursos de información más conocidos. El 89,23 % de los estudiantes tiene perfil en la red social Facebook: el 62,07 % la utiliza para realizar algún tipo de actividad académica y solo el 12,07 % la percibe como fuente generadora de distracción. Diez estudiantes (15,38 %) declararon conocer el sitio web pirata Sci-Hub. El tener computadoras modernas, tecnología Wi-fi y biblioteca virtual en las universidades estuvo asociado significativamente al acceso a muchos de los recursos de información estudiados. Conclusiones: existe un elevado desconocimiento de la mayoría de los buscadores evaluados. Google y SciELO fueron los recursos de información consultados al menos una vez por semana. La presencia de determinadas condiciones logísticas en las universidades se asoció significativamente al acceso a muchas de las bases de datos evaluadas. Palabras clave: estomatología; competencias informacionales; bases de datos de citas; tecnología de la información y las comunicaciones; alfabetización informacional; Sci-Hub

Socio-educational factors associated to perception of research among stomatology students in a Cuban university.

Conducting research at the undergraduate level is essential to prepare future professionals for the process of properly channeling their scientific interest and provision of care. However, the factors influencing the degree of participation of students in research are unknown. Aim: To determine the socio-educational factors associated with the perception of research among stomatology students in a Cuban university. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study conducted on 166 stomatology students. Participants received an anonymous, validated and self-administered questionnaire designed to collect information on the perception of scientific research within the educational spectrum, which included elements related to writing, participation, scientific publication and the interest of pursuing a career in research. Using associative statistics, those who had an overall positive perception of research were considered interested and were assessed according to socio-educational variables. Results: Students showed a positive perception of scientific research; however, when asked if they wanted to pursue a career in research, only 61.4% responded affirmatively. This positive perception increases with the progression of academic years (p<0.04), is higher in males (p=0.030) and in students who perform assistantships in core courses (p=0.001). Conclusions: There is a positive perception of scientific research, which tends to be intensified by academic progression and other factors. This must be considered by educational institutions in order to generate strategies as a response.La investigación en el pregrado constituye una forma importante de preparar a los futuros profesionales para encauzar sus inquietudes científicas y la labor asistencial. Sin embargo, se desconocen los factores que influyen en la participación de los estudiantes en investigación. Objetivo: Determinar los factores socioeducativos asociados a la percepción de la investigación en estudiantes de estomatología de una universidad cubana. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio transversal-analítico, realizado en 166 estudiantes de estomatología. Los participantes recibieron un cuestionario anónimo, validado y autoadministrado para recoger información sobre la percepción de la investigación científica, que incluyó elementos relacionados con la redacción, la participación, la publicación científica y el interés de hacer una carrera de investigación en el futuro. A los que tuvieron una mejor percepción de la investigación se les consideró como interesados, y se les cruzó según sus variables socioeducativas, con estadísticos de asociación. Resultados: Los estudiantes mostraron una percepción positiva de la investigación científica; sin embargo, cuando se les preguntó si querían hacer una carrera de investigación en el futuro solo el 61,4% respondió afirmativamente. La percepción aumenta según progresan los años académicos (p<0,04), es mayor en los hombres (p=0,030) y en los estudiantes que realizan ayudantía en las cátedras de la carrera (p=0,001). Conclusiones: Existe una percepción positiva con respecto a la investigación científica, la cual aumentan conforme lo hacen los años académicos y otros factores; esto debe tomarse en cuenta para generar estrategias por parte de las instituciones educativas

Factors associated with interest in scientific research in dental students of six Cuban universities

"Introduction: To determine the factors associated with interest in scientific research in dental students of six Cuban universities. Methods: This is a multicenter cross-sectional analytical study. Interest in scientific research was the dependent variable, and it was assessed through a questionnaire proved to be reliable (Cronbach’s α= 0.88). We obtained adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and p values through generalized linear models. Results: A total of 587 students were part of the research, and 57.9% manifested interest in scientific research. However, when they were asked if they wanted to pursue a research career in the future, only 45.1% responded affirmatively. We found, through multivariate analysis, that there was more interest in scientific research among those who were student assistants (aPR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.41–4.16; p = 0.001), those who had previous studies (aPR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.02–1.79; p = 0.034), and those who had received awards in scientific events (aPR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.26–2.41; p = 0.001). In contrast, there was less interest among those who were at the clinical stage of their career (aPR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49–0.89; p = 0.006), adjusted for seven variables. Conclusions: There exists interest in scientific research and we found some factors associated with this. This has to be taken into account in order for educational institutions to generate strategies.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules (THYCOVID): a retrospective, international, multicentre, cross-sectional study

Background: Since its outbreak in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources from non-urgent and elective procedures, leading to diagnosis and treatment delays, with an increased number of neoplasms at advanced stages worldwide. The aims of this study were to quantify the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to evaluate whether delays in surgery led to an increased occurrence of aggressive tumours. Methods: In this retrospective, international, cross-sectional study, centres were invited to participate in June 22, 2022; each centre joining the study was asked to provide data from medical records on all surgical thyroidectomies consecutively performed from Jan 1, 2019, to Dec 31, 2021. Patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules were divided into three groups according to when they underwent surgery: from Jan 1, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020 (global prepandemic phase), from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021 (pandemic escalation phase), and from June 1 to Dec 31, 2021 (pandemic decrease phase). The main outcomes were, for each phase, the number of surgeries for indeterminate thyroid nodules, and in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancers, the occurrence of tumours larger than 10 mm, extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastases, vascular invasion, distant metastases, and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was used to compare the probability of aggressive thyroid features between the first and third study phases. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05178186. Findings: Data from 157 centres (n=49 countries) on 87 467 patients who underwent surgery for benign and malignant thyroid disease were collected, of whom 22 974 patients (18 052 [78·6%] female patients and 4922 [21·4%] male patients) received surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules. We observed a significant reduction in surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the pandemic escalation phase (median monthly surgeries per centre, 1·4 [IQR 0·6-3·4]) compared with the prepandemic phase (2·0 [0·9-3·7]; p&lt;0·0001) and pandemic decrease phase (2·3 [1·0-5·0]; p&lt;0·0001). Compared with the prepandemic phase, in the pandemic decrease phase we observed an increased occurrence of thyroid tumours larger than 10 mm (2554 [69·0%] of 3704 vs 1515 [71·5%] of 2119; OR 1·1 [95% CI 1·0-1·3]; p=0·042), lymph node metastases (343 [9·3%] vs 264 [12·5%]; OR 1·4 [1·2-1·7]; p=0·0001), and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence (203 [5·7%] of 3584 vs 155 [7·7%] of 2006; OR 1·4 [1·1-1·7]; p=0·0039). Interpretation: Our study suggests that the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic period could have led to an increased occurrence of aggressive thyroid tumours. However, other compelling hypotheses, including increased selection of patients with aggressive malignancies during this period, should be considered. We suggest that surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules should no longer be postponed even in future instances of pandemic escalation. Funding: None