Conectar
by Isabel Baltzan, Lisa Merry, William Fraser, Sonia Semenic, Sandra Pelaez, Alexis Edington, Ayesha Baig, Anita Gagnon
ObjectiveWe assessed the extent to which recommended migrant-friendly maternity care (MFMC) components were provided to recently-arrived international migrants giving birth in Montreal, Canada, and the extent to which the provision of MFMC components was related to socioeconomic and migratory characteristics.
MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of migrant women giving birth in four hospitals in 2014–2015. Data were collected using the Migrant-Friendly Maternity Care Questionnaire (MFMCQ), focusing on access to prenatal care, communication facilitation, healthcare provider (HCP) support, and responsiveness to preferences for care. Data were analyzed descriptively and through logistic regression.
ResultsOf 2636 participants, most reported always being kept informed (86.1%) and finding HCPs helpful (90.3%), although 22.9% reported barriers to accessing services during pregnancy, and only 11% or less were asked about care preferences. Of 847 needing interpreters, 84.7% reported not being offered any. Worse access to prenatal care was reported among women who had arrived more recently [OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36, 0.85], had lower income [0.69 (0.52, 0.90)], or had less education [0.66 (0.47, 0.94)]. Low language ability was most often associated with inadequate MFMC [e.g., worse HCP support during pregnancy [0.56 (0.36, 0.87)] and worse responsiveness to preferences for care during labour [0.55 (0.31, 0.98)]]. Maternal region of birth was associated both positively and negatively with all MFMC components.
ConclusionAlthough some MFMC has been implemented, gaps remain. Addressing language barriers remains a top priority. To deliver optimal MFMC, HCPs and policymakers should provide care that is responsive to women’s socioeconomic and migratory backgrounds.
To develop and validate educational clinical vignettes (CVs) based on real-life patients with serious pathology from the disciplines of oncology, internal medicine and orthopaedics that are relevant for physiotherapists (PTs) working in a non-direct access system.
A mixed-methods study using an iterative design was employed to develop and validate CVs that focused on serious pathology.
Academic and clinical settings within health faculties at three universities in Austria and the UK.
Medical doctors (MD) (n=3) and PTs (n=4) developed CVs in the disciplines of internal medicine, oncology and orthopaedics. Validation of the CVs was undertaken in three stages: internal validation by the research team (n=7), external validation by MDs (n=3) and external validation by PTs (n=18).
25 CVs focusing on internal medicine (9), oncology (8) and orthopaedics (8) were developed. Results of the consensus method of Haute Autorité de Santé ranged between 7 and 9 in the internal validation stage. In the external validation stage with MDs, one orthopaedic CV was excluded, resulting in a final total of 24 validated CVs.
This is the first time educational CVs have been developed and validated across such a broad range of pathologies for countries without direct access to physiotherapy, for use in the education of PTs. Furthermore, the approach described in the Methods section of this paper may serve as a template in similar future projects.
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are at high risk of harmful sexual and reproductive health (SRH) practices due to limited knowledge, low availability or acceptability of modern contraceptives, gender inequality and cultural practices like child marriage. Preventive and educational interventions by lay health workers or through technological means are a cost-effective and scalable solution. Unfortunately, too little is currently known about the scope, content and conditions of the effectiveness and sustainability of these approaches and synthetic evidence on this topic is scarce. To help fill this knowledge gap and to identify where further research is needed, we will conduct a scoping review of technology-based or lay health-worker delivered preventive and educational SRH interventions targeting AYAs in LMICs. This information is valuable to both policymakers and researchers as it provides a synthesis of existing interventions, highlights best practices for their implementation and identifies potential avenues for future research.
This review will include studies on SRH preventive and educational interventions targeting AYAs aged 10–24 years in LMICs. It encompasses interventions delivered by lay health workers or via technological means, assessing various outcomes including but not limited to SRH literacy, sexual risk behaviours, pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and gender-based violence. Key databases, including PubMed via MEDLINE and Embase, will be searched from 1 January 2000 up to 23 January 2024, using a comprehensive search strategy. Screening will be conducted using Covidence software. Data extraction will cover study details, methods, intervention strategies, outcomes and findings. A narrative synthesis will be conducted following synthesis without meta-analysis guidelines.
The scope of this scoping review is limited to publicly accessible databases that do not require prior ethical approval for access. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, as well as presentations at national and international conferences and stakeholder meetings in LMICs.
The final protocol is prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework on 7 May 2024 (osf.io/vna2z).
To analyse the incidence of physical restraint use during painful and stressful procedures in hospitalised children, as well as the factors associated with its use.
Observational, longitudinal and prospective study.
Children aged between 28 days and 10 years in a public hospital in Brazil were each observed undergoing clinical procedures over a 6-h period. Data were collected on demographics, observed pain using validated measures, stress behaviours, and the use of physical restraint. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. National ethical guidelines were strictly followed.
1210 procedures were observed on 75 children, including 351 painful and 859 stressful procedures. Physical restraint was used in 270 (22.3%) procedures; of these, 131 (48.5%) were painful procedures and 139 (51.5%) were stressful procedures. In stressful procedures, at least one stress-related behaviour was observed before the initiation of physical restraint. Factors associated with increased use of physical restraint during painful procedures were younger children, with higher levels of care dependency, higher pain scores during procedures, and those who underwent intravenous medication administration, airway suctioning, tube insertion, and fixation changes. In stressful procedures, the factors associated with higher use of physical restraint were younger children, hospitalisation due to respiratory conditions, those who underwent physical examinations, inhaled medication, and nasal lavage; and the child's expression of stress behaviour before the procedure starts. Predictors of physical restraint included morning period, younger age group, male or female sex, and transfer from the Intensive Care Unit.
A high incidence of physical restraints was observed across multiple painful and stressful procedures performed within a 6-h period, associated with variables related to both the child's characteristics and the procedures.
This study aims to encourage reconsideration of the frequent use of physical restraint in paediatric procedures, calling for a reframing of its application as an unquestioned practice toward an approach that prioritises protecting and respecting a child as a subject with needs, rights, and desires.
Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE).
There are currently no validated screeners that evaluate diet and lifestyle of people living with and beyond cancer (PLWBC). The purpose of this study was to reach a consensus among an international expert panel on the essential items to include in this type of instrument.
A scientific committee developed the initial list of items, which were presented to an expert panel in a two-round-modified electronic Delphi. Panellists were asked to rate the adequacy, relevance and feasibility of self-reporting each item. Qualitative assessments were encouraged.
Four countries (Spain, UK, USA and Portugal).
Experts working in a cancer-related health profession or cancer-related research were recruited.
Items were initially categorised into seven domains (body composition, physical activity, diet, alcohol, smoking, sleep and psychosocial distress). A content validity index per item (CVI-i) and a scale-level CVI (S-CVI) were calculated (acceptable≥0.78). All items with a CVI-i≥0.78 were submitted to a final consensus meeting.
A total of 108 items were proposed to the panel. In Round 1, 77 items were accepted, 10 items were excluded and 6 new items were proposed. During Round 2, 4 items were accepted and 19 were excluded. Diet and alcohol were merged into one domain. The final consensus meeting decided on 61 items categorised into six domains (S-CVI:0.94): body composition, physical activity, diet and alcohol, smoking, sleep and psychosocial distress.
We identified the main items to be considered when developing a screener to evaluate diet and lifestyle in PLWBC in a clinical setting, and the results obtained will guide the content of the screener in the following validation study.
To determine the prevalence of MARSI associated with peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) in oncology and haematology patients, analyse the type of injury and identify risk factors.
A prospective descriptive study was conducted from 9 June 2021 to 8 February 2022. The study population was oncology and haematology patients with a PICC. The variables to be studied included the presence of MARSI in relation to PICC maintenance, injury type, time to onset, mean healing time, and type of treatment received. A descriptive analysis of the entire sample was performed. Chi-square and Student's t-test or Mann–Whitney U-tests were used to identify risk factors, depending on the nature of the variables.
The sample studied was 342 PICCs inserted in 309 patients, 49% (n = 169) women, and the mean overall age was 62.12 years (SD: 12.33). Seventy-six per cent were oncology and 24% haematology patients. The prevalence of MARSI was 32% (n = 111). The most common type of injury was erythema in 39% (n = 42). The mean duration of the lesion was 20.90 days (SD: 31.44). Alkylating agents, among others, were identified as a risk factor.
The results indicate a high prevalence of MARSI. In agreement with the literature, mechanical injuries are the most frequent, and some antineoplastic treatments are a risk factor. This study may help to identify areas for improvement and design strategies for the prevention and treatment of MARSI.
This study has implications for clinical practice, as it helps to identify areas for improvement and the most relevant clinical practice guideline recommendations to avoid this adverse event.
No patient or public contribution.
Advanced simulation is a methodology that allows the development of technical skills and transversal skills such as teamwork and leadership. There are tools to measure the development of technical competencies and student satisfaction with the methodology, but not to measure the development and use of transversal competencies in the clinical practice setting.
To develop and validate a scale to measure the impact of clinical simulation on the development and application of teamwork and leadership competencies.
A multicentre study was carried out in two Spanish universities in which the Clinical Simulation Learning Teamwork and Leadership Scale was developed and validated.
The study was carried out in several phases: development of the questionnaire using a Delphi method, pilot test and validation of the construct with a sample of 207 nursing students. Reporting of this research adheres to STROBE guidelines.
Content validity was checked according to Aiken's V for the three attributes of the questionnaire. Reliability or internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's α and the sensitivity analysis showed no significant variation when any item was eliminated. On the other hand, McDonald's Omega statistic was used. Intraobserver reliability was taken from a sample of 47 students, in which it was observed that the intraclass correlation was positive.
The Clinical Simulation Learning teamwork and leadership scale is a valid instrument for measuring the development of transversal competencies.
This scale will provide information to evaluate the weight of the clinical simulation in the students' knowledge.
It is a tool for evaluating transversal skills that is proven valid and will improve the training of students.
The instructions of the STROBE checklist have been followed.
The students have participated in the knowledge transfer self-assessment.
Nursing care plans within electronic medical record systems have the potential to support nurses in planning and prioritizing patient care; however, there is a gap in the literature related to nurses' experiences of how this may occur. The aims of this mixed-methods study included exploring nurses' documentation adherence, identifying barriers and enablers to care plans documentation, and making recommendations to enhance nurses' use of care plans within electronic medical records. An audit of 142 patients revealed the majority had at least one care plan initiated in the electronic medical record (n = 120, 84.5%), 63 patients had a care plan initiated within 24 hours of admission (n = 63, 44.4%), and only three had care plans documented against in the previous 48 hours (2.11%). Data from six focus groups were developed into two themes (each with two subthemes): “Mind the Gap” and “Making It Work for Us.” Barriers and enablers were identified and mapped to 10 of the 14 domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. There was large variability in nurses' knowledge and understanding related to the need for care plans documentation. Assessment of usability and/or redesign of care plans within electronic medical records must align to nursing workflows to support clinical care delivery. This study aimed to investigate the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare by exploring the perspectives of various stakeholders. The objective was to provide a nuanced understanding of stakeholder views to address concerns and promote the acceptance and successful integration of AI technologies in medical practice.
This exploratory qualitative study used semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using a combination of deductive and inductive coding, followed by content analysis to identify and develop categories.
This study was conducted in Tübingen, Germany, within the framework of the TüKITZMed project (Tübingen AI Training Center for Medicine), between August 2022 and March 2023.
A total of 38 stakeholders participated, including 6 lecturers, 9 clinicians, 10 healthcare students, 6 AI experts and 7 institutional stakeholders. Inclusion criteria included professionals involved in or affected by AI in healthcare, while exclusion criteria comprised individuals without relevant experience.
Not applicable.
The main outcome was the identification of thematic categories capturing stakeholders’ perceptions, expectations and concerns regarding the integration of AI in healthcare.
The analysis identified two main thematic categories: two main categories encompassing a total of 14 subcategories: (1) perceived opportunities of AI in medicine, including aspects of increased efficiency, reduced workload and improved patient safety and (2) perceived challenges of AI in medicine, such as its impact on medical decision-making and concerns about dependence on technology. These themes reflect diverse perspectives and insights across stakeholder groups.
Diverse stakeholder perspectives offer valuable insights into the anticipated effects of AI in healthcare. Understanding these perspectives can support decision-makers in designing context-sensitive AI strategies and identifying areas for further professional and institutional development. Future research should monitor how these attitudes evolve in response to technological progress and real-world implementation.
by Fiona Newlands, Tanvi Markan, Isabelle Pomfret, Emily Davey, Tom King, Anna Roach, Millie Wagstaff, Tom G. Osborn, Roz Shafran, Polly Livermore, Michelle de Haan, Jeanne Wolstencroft, Sophie Bennett
Doctoral (PhD) students experience high rates of mental health challenges, including high rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and isolation. While universities offer mental health services, these may not fully address the specific needs of doctoral students. Peer support has emerged as a promising adjunct to existing service provision, drawing on shared experiences to provide emotional and practical guidance. This study aimed to explore doctoral students’ perceptions of peer support, identifying their needs and preferences for a peer support programme tailored to the doctoral experience. Nineteen doctoral students were recruited from a university in the south of England and participated in focus groups or semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis yielded four overarching themes: (1) Barriers to seeking support; (2) Value of peer support for doctoral students; (3) Tailored peer support needs; and (4) Diversity and accessibility. Findings indicate that doctoral students value peer support as a flexible, informal space to share experiences and gain advice from those with similar backgrounds. However, they also emphasised the need for diverse representation among peer supporters, adaptable training to meet neurodiverse needs, and formal recognition of peer supporters’ contributions. Study findings suggest that universities should consider implementing tailored peer support programmes to address the specific challenges faced by doctoral students, incorporating flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and accessibility to create a supportive academic environment. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of such programs in improving doctoral students’ mental health and well-being.Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research involves an active collaboration between patients/members of the public and researchers in equal partnership. PPI in health research ensures the research benefits those most impacted by the research and is a well-established necessity of high-quality research. PPI for large programmes of work involving multiple studies frequently relies on a single PPI group that oversees the entire programme. We believe that this ‘traditional’ approach can negatively contribute to the power imbalance between researchers and PPI members, since PPI members have a very wide remit and are unable to embed themselves fully in all aspects of the research.
The study aimed to evaluate a novel PPI approach, the ‘Patient Bridge Role’, designed to promote a more equal distribution of power between public collaborators and researchers in a large research programme. The Patient Bridge Role involves assigning specific public collaborators to each work package, facilitating deeper engagement and communication.
The Patient Bridge Role addresses the limitations of traditional PPI. This approach requires clear role definitions and collaborative development of guidelines to ensure effective communication and shared decision-making. Despite initial challenges related to role clarity and boundaries, the Patient Bridge Roles successfully promoted a more balanced partnership between researchers and public collaborators.
Active partnerships between public collaborators and researchers are critical to creating more relevant and higher quality research. Yet, there are many practical and conceptual barriers to this. The Patient Bridge Role offers a promising strategy for enhancing PPI in large research programmes.
Patient blood management (PBM), an evidence-based, patient-centred approach for optimising blood health, faces significant implementation challenges despite regulatory support, and this study explores its adoption within a Portuguese hospital to enhance education, develop tailored protocols and address healthcare system complexities, thereby contributing a unique perspective to the global discourse on PBM in Portuguese-speaking countries. This study will evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of implementing a PBM programme in elective surgical patients at a tertiary Portuguese hospital, with secondary objectives focusing on preoperative anaemia prevalence and aetiology, PBM protocol adherence, transfusion practices guided by viscoelastic tests and the impact of cell salvage techniques.
A baseline evaluation will be conducted in 2018, and postintervention assessments will follow from 2019 to 2024. The control group comprised patients who underwent selected elective surgeries—including cardiac, general, orthopaedic, urological and gynaecological procedures—during 2018 without exposure to targeted PBM interventions. The intervention group consisted of patients scheduled for the same elective surgeries, who were referred for preanaesthesia evaluation to identify the need for PBM interventions. These interventions, where indicated, were implemented during the preoperative phase and extended to the intraoperative and postoperative periods to ensure a comprehensive and standardised approach to PBM application. Data will be extracted from pseudoanonymised medical records, ensuring full compliance with ethical standards and data protection regulations. Statistical analyses will be performed using robust methods suitable for categorical and continuous variables, enabling the evaluation of temporal trends and the overall effectiveness of PBM interventions in improving clinical outcomes.
Our research has been ethically approved by the Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho Hospital Centre’s Ethical Health Committee (approval number 196/2023–1). We plan to disseminate our findings through posters, lectures at conferences and in scientific journals.
To evaluate the role of using outputs from patient-facing online triage tools in clinical decision-making in primary care.
Systematic review.
Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for literature published between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2022 and updated for literature published up to end of November 2024.
Studies of any design are included where the study investigates how primary care clinicians make clinical decisions in response to patient concerns reported using online triage tools.
Data were extracted, and quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the findings.
14 studies were included, which were conducted in the UK (n=9), Sweden (n=3) and Spain (n=2). There were no studies that examined clinical decision-making as an outcome. Outcomes relating to the impact on clinical decision-making were grouped into three categories: patient clinical outcomes (n=9), primary care practitioner experience (n=11) and healthcare system outcomes (n=14). Studies reported faster clinical decisions made in response to patient concerns. Other studies reported clinicians offering unnecessary urgent appointments as patients learnt to ‘game’ the system. Clinicians felt confident managing patient requests as they can access additional information (such as a photo attachment). Moreover, clinicians’ time was freed up from appointments with limited clinical value. Contrarily, online triage was perceived as an additional step in the workflow.
Clinicians should be aware that their decision-making processes are likely to differ when using online triage tools. Developers can use the findings to improve the usability of the tools to aid clinical decision-making. Future research should focus on patient-facing online triage tools in general practice and the process of clinical decision-making.
CRD42022373944.
In the first year after ostomy creation, affected persons require substantial support to manage potential complications and adjust to their new life situation. This study aimed to describe the number of visits to the stoma care nurse, the occurrence of leakage and peristomal skin complications, and the use of ostomy products to prevent these complications among persons consulting a stoma care nurse during the first year after surgery. A descriptive study was conducted using data from medical charts for 240 adults with ileostomy or colostomy. Persons with an ileostomy were more burdened by leakage and peristomal skin complications and visited the stoma care nurse more often than those with a colostomy. On average, across ostomy types, episodes of leakage and peristomal skin complications each elicited around one additional nurse visit and increased use of supporting ostomy products. Persons undergoing acute surgery, with a high ASA classification, and females experienced more episodes of leakage, peristomal skin complications and nurse visits. A patient-tailored approach based on risk factors, such as surgery type, ASA class and sex, could potentially reduce the occurrence of complications and the associated healthcare resource utilisation, including stoma care nurse visits. High variability in results further underscores the importance of personalised care.
The current diagnostic pathway for patients with a suspected inherited bleeding disorder is long, costly, resource intensive, emotionally draining for patients and often futile, as half of patients will remain without a diagnosis and be labelled ‘bleeding disorder of unknown cause’. Advances in understanding the genetic basis of the inherited bleeding disorders, coupled with both increasing infrastructure for genetic/genomic testing and decreasing costs, have increased the feasibility of introducing genomic testing into the clinical diagnostic pathway as a potential solution to improve the care of these patients. Yet, there remain evidence gaps on the optimal integration of genomic analysis into the diagnostic pathway.
Using a multicentre randomised-controlled trial design, we will evaluate an early genomic testing strategy for the diagnosis of newly referred patients with a suspected inherited bleeding disorder. Eligible participants will be randomised to early genomic testing diagnostic pathway (intervention) or standard diagnostic pathway (control) and will be followed for a 12-month period. Patients in the control group who remain undiagnosed at study end will be offered identical early genomic testing to ensure equitable access to the intervention. The study will follow a parallel fixed design with waitlist control group and a 1:1 allocation ratio. The study will be conducted at three tertiary care centres in Ontario, Canada, with a target sample size of 212 participants. Clinical utility will be evaluated via the primary outcome of diagnostic yield, as well as the secondary outcome of time to diagnosis. Additional secondary outcomes will allow for assessment of patient impact via health-related quality of life and patient burden measures, as well as evaluation of economic impact through a cost-effectiveness analysis and budget impact analysis.
This investigator-initiated study was approved by the Queen’s University Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board through Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO-4909). Participant informed consent/assent is required. Findings will be disseminated through academic publications.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06736158.
Patients with poor perioperative glycaemic control after total joint arthroplasty are at an increased risk of complications, mortality, delayed return to function and increased costs of care. Although correction of hyperglycaemia has been shown to improve patient outcomes, there is a lack of consensus regarding optimal perioperative glucose management after total joint replacement surgery. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of performing a multicentre randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of perioperative metformin use on glycaemic control in the setting of total joint arthroplasty.
This blinded, placebo-controlled, pilot randomised controlled trial will enrol 40 participants aged 18–99 years undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty at a single academic tertiary centre. Patients will be randomly allocated to two groups of 20 participants each and will receive metformin or a placebo, respectively, for 2 weeks preoperatively, continued on the day of surgery, and up to 2 days postoperatively. The primary outcome is a composite of four endpoints to assess study feasibility: timely recruitment, timely study drug administration, protocol adherence and retention. Secondary outcomes include perioperative glycaemic variability, sliding scale insulin utilisation, hospital length of stay and 90-day rates of infection, mortality and readmission. Analyses will be on an intention-to-treat basis.
The protocol was approved by Oregon Health & Science University Institutional Review Board, STUDY00025798. Written informed consent will be obtained for study participation. Findings will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
Objetivo. Analizar la prevalencia de la automedicación y su relación con la capacidad de autocuidado en estudiantes del Centro de Ciencias de la Salud de una universidad pública. Metodología. Se llevó a cabo un estudio cuantitativo, relacional y observacional con una muestra de 330 estudiantes seleccionados aleatoriamente. Se utilizaron dos instrumentos validados para medir la automedicación y la capacidad de autocuidado, además de un formulario para variables sociodemográficas. Los datos se analizaron con SPSS versión 25, utilizando pruebas de normalidad, independencia y Chi-cuadrado de Pearson. Resultados. El 81,5% de los estudiantes presentó una capacidad media de autocuidado, mientras que el 18,5% tuvo una capacidad alta. No se encontraron estudiantes con baja capacidad de autocuidado. La prevalencia de la automedicación fue del 73,9%, siendo los fármacos más comunes antidiarreicos (10,6%), anfetaminas (10%), anticonceptivos orales y acetaminofén (7,6% cada uno). Los síntomas principales para automedicarse fueron dolor estomacal (9,7%), desgano/agotamiento (9,4%) y dolor de cabeza (9,1%). La carrera de Enfermería mostró la mayor prevalencia de automedicación (80,6%), seguida de Terapia Física (78,6%) y Medicina (76,4%). Se identificó dependencia estadísticamente significativa entre automedicación y capacidad de autocuidado. Discusión. Existe alta prevalencia de automedicación entre los estudiantes del área de salud. Es crucial reevaluar la independencia de ambas variables y abordar los factores que llevan a los estudiantes a automedicarse, ya que este comportamiento podría afectar su capacidad para proporcionar cuidados seguros y adecuados a los pacientes. Aun cuando no hay independencia entre variables.
ABSTRACT
Objective. To analyze the prevalence of self-medication and its relationship with the capacity of self-care among students of the Health Sciences Center in a public university. Methodology. A quantitative, relational and observational study was performed to a sample group of 330 students randomly selected. Two validated instruments were used to measure self-medication and self-care capacity, as well as a form for sociodemographic variables. All data were analyzed utilizing SPSS version 25, and using tests of normality, independence, and Pearson's Chi-square. Results. 81.5% of the students showed having a medium capacity of self-care, while 18.5% showed having a high capacity. Students with low self-care capacity were not found. The prevalence of self-medication was 73.9%, with the most common drugs being antidiarrheals (10.6%), amphetamines (10%), oral contraceptives, and acetaminophen (7.6% each). The main symptoms for self-medication resulted being stomach pain (9.7%), apathy / exhaustion (9.4%), and headache (9.1%). The Nursing career resulted with the highest prevalence of self-medication (80.6%), followed by Physical Therapy (78.6%) and Medicine (76.4%). A statistically significant dependency was identified between self-medication and self-care capacity. Discussion. There is a high prevalence of self-medication among health students. It is crucial to reevaluate the independence of both variables and address the factors that lead students to self-medication, as this behavior could affect their ability to provide safe and appropriate care to patients. Even when there is no independence between variables.
FreshRSS 