[Self medication among patients with musculoskeletal symptoms in Araucanía region]

BACKGROUND

Self-medication is a common behavior in the general population, specially among those suffering from chronic pain.

AIM

To study the prevalence and characteristics of self medication.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Aiming to know the prevalence and features of self medication, a structured interview was applied to 272 out of 419 individuals from the general population, that reported musculoskeletal symptoms.

RESULTS

Sixty five percent of those interviewed recognised self medication. No gender differences were observed and there was a trend towards a higher frequency of self medication among older individuals. The frequency of self-medication was higher in low socioeconomic groups, subjects with long lasting pain, those with more severe pain and among subjects with a previous prescription. The drugs more frequently used were dipyrone, piroxicam and aspirin. The average daily piroxicam dose reported was 27 mg. Self medication was not associated with the labor condition of the subjects or the time of occurrence of symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Self medication is a frequent behavior, particularly among low socio-economic groups and those with long lasting and more severe pain.

Student and faculty learning styles in a Canadian and a Chilean self-directed, problem-based nursing program

A descriptive comparative study was conducted to identify and compare/contrast the learning styles of nursing faculty and entry-level students in 2 self-directed (SDL), problem-based (PBL) nursing programs. The Kolb LSI-1985 was administered to 94 first-year generic students, 63 post-R.N. students, and 22 faculty members in a Canadian university nursing program. A Spanish translation was completed by 37 incoming nursing students and 13 faculty members in a Chilean university. One-way ANOVA analysis of group mean scores showed significant differences among the 4 student groups in the active experimentation learning mode. Post hoc tests confirmed that Chilean students are less likely to be active learners than their teachers or Canadian students, a finding of significance in preparing students to assume self-direction of their learning. Canadian faculty had higher abstract conceptualization scores than Chilean faculty, which has implications for faculty development of educator roles for SDL/PBL.

[Serum lipids and blood pressure levels in the +Mapuche population living in the Chilean region of Araucanía]

BACKGROUND

Chilean aboriginal populations (Mapuche) predominantly live in the region of Araucanía, in the southern part of the country. Their cardiovascular risk factors have not been systematically assessed.

AIM

To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Mapuche population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Blood pressure, weight, height, dietary habits, fasting serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in 1.948 adults living in 28 Mapuche communities.

RESULTS

Thirteen percent of males and 16% of females had high blood pressure. Body mass index was 25.5 kg/m2 in males and 28.1 kg/m2 in females. Forty five percent of women and 24% of men were classified as obese. Mean serum total cholesterol was 186.7 +/- 9.6 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol was 58.7 +/- 30.7 mg/dl, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol was 3.4 +/- 2 and triglycerides were 155.2 +/- 91.2 mg/dl. Twenty eight percent of males and 9.6% of females smoked.

CONCLUSIONS

Mapuche individuals have higher levels of HDL cholesterol a better total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and lower frequency of smoking than non aboriginal Chileans subjects.

[Cardiovascular risk factors in 15 patients in chronic hemodialysis in Temuco city. Descriptive comparison with the general Chilean population]

BACKGROUND

Patients in chronic hemodialysis have a high mortality due to cardiovascular diseases.

AIM

To study cardiovascular risk factors and nutritional status in a group of patients in maintenance hemodialysis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Body mass index, blood pressure, serum levels of totals cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and albumin were measured in 15 patients (8 male) in maintenance hemodialysis. Data were compared with available figures for the normal Chilean population.

RESULTS

Age ranged from 33 to 60 years old in female patients and from 22 to 63 years old in males. Thirteen subjects (87%) had high blood pressure, all had HDL cholesterol levels below 35 mg/dl, four (27%) had a total cholesterol over 200 mg/dl, three had triglyceride levels over 200 m/dl, two (13%) smoked and none were diabetic. Mean body mass index was normal, albumin levels were 4.16 and 4.02 g/dl and serum creatinine was 11.64 and 9.68 mg/dl in males and females respectively. The estimated prevalence of high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia and smoking in the general Chilean population range from 9 to 22%, from 50 to 52% and from 45 to 51% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This group of patients has a high frequency of high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol levels.

[Learning preferences in students of a Children medical school. Longitudinal study]

In a longitudinal study, a sample of 16 first year medical students of Universidad de La Frontera medical school was selected initially. The sample was stratified in two groups according to the academic results obtained at the end of the first semester. The aim of the study was to determine if the exposure to a traditional teaching methodology during 5 years causes changes in learning preferences that were detected at the beginning of the career. The Rezler self report inventory for learning preferences was applied to all the students in two opportunities: at the end of the first academic semester and after finishing the first five years of undergraduate training. The obtained results show a dynamic behavior or students preferences in both groups. At the beginning and end of the study a predominance of subcategory "concrete" is seen in both groups. The students belonging to the category "interpersonal" at the beginning of the study, changed posteriorly to the subcategory "individual", which also finally predominated in both groups.

[Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Temuco City]

A random sample of 200 males from 25 to 64 years of age was surveyed for cardiovascular risk factors in Temuco, a city in Southern Chile. Blood pressure was 130 +/- 18/85 +/- 10 mmHg and total cholesterol was 193 +/- 50 mg/dl. 33% were smokers (mean of 8.2 cigarettes per day) and 34% were ex smokers. Prevalence of hypertension was 6.5% from 35 to 44 years of age, 15% from 45 to 54 and 31.9% from 55 to 64 (mean 15%). Cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl were found in 11.8, 18.3 and 19.1%, respectively (mean 15.5%). Half of the hypertensive subjects were not aware of their high blood pressure and only 16.6% received therapy.