Metropolitan Region Of Chile Research Articles

Frequency of burnout syndrome among health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic increased the prevalence of burnout syndrome. To describe the prevalence of burnout syndrome in health care workers of a private clinic in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Cross-sectional study, the study population were health care workers of a private clinic. An online version of Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey was applied during June 2020. Variables such as age, sex, marital status, number of children, service, occupation, and night shift were studied. We collected 846 responses. A 36% (95% confidence intervals (CI) [32,8-39,2]) prevalence of high levels of burnout syndrome was found. Thirty one percent (95% CI [28,1-34,3]) of the respondents had high levels of emotional exhaustion (AE), 33% (95%CI [29,8-36,2]) had low personal fulfillment (RP) and 30% (95%CI [26,6-32,7]) had high levels of depersonalization (DP). Healthcare workers showed concerning levels of burnout syndrome. It is recommended to pay special attention to high levels of emotional exhaustion in nursing and night shift staff. Institutions should develop and apply prevention and emotional support strategies in health personnel.

Health-related quality of life in women aged 20-64 years with urinary incontinence.

Introduction and hypothesisUrinary incontinence (UI) in women is a frequent and invisible clinical situation that affects several aspects in the lives of patients. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of urinary incontinence on different dimensions of quality of life.MethodsCross-sectional observational study. The sample brings together 381 women living in the Metropolitan Region of Chile, who answered a survey between June 2020 and June 2021, with questions about the sociodemographic situation, obstetric history and the EQ5D-3L questionnaire Chilean version and urinary incontinence variables. For the analysis of association between variables were used a correlation coefficient and logistic regressions.ResultsThe mean age of the sample was 39.9 (SD: 12.6) years, with 68.5% of multiparous women and 42.5% had a history of vaginal delivery. Fifty percent of the respondents belong to a medium-high socioeconomic level according to the health insurance proxy. The analysis adjusted for age, health insurance and obstetrics variables showed that women with a frequency of moderate/severe urine loss had a 72% greater probability of suffering from moderate/severe pain/discomfort compared to women with nothing/little urine loss. In turn, the self-perception of affectation of urine loss was significantly associated with problems in the dimensions of mobility, anxiety/depression and health status.ConclusionsThis research contributes with evidence that makes visible the affectation on physical and psychological dimensions in women with urinary incontinence, allowing decision-makers to prioritize resources and design health programs that include clinical management.

Decision Support Model for Raw Water Availability for Purification in a Region in Chile

This article proposes a decision model to identify the most sustainable solution(s) to ensure the availability of raw water to be subsequently treated to be converted into drinking water as a consequence of the climate change scenario, particularly the drought currently experienced by the Metropolitan Region in Chile, derived from the technical and regulatory requirements associated with the availability of water resources from its capture to its drink ability to meet the future demand of the region. From the perspective of drought, the solution must provide security levels that guarantee the availability of raw water is one of the main concerns of the stakeholders. In turn, the need to adapt current regulations regarding raw water sources, as well as community acceptance of some proposals for converting raw water into potable water and climate dependency, involve qualitative as well as technical aspects that may affect the investment and operating costs of the different solutions required to ensure raw water availability. Therefore, through a multi-criteria approach, it is possible to incorporate quantifiable and intangible aspects and to address conflicting objectives. Through a case study, we present a decision model based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process to define and evaluate the most sustainable solution(s) to secure raw water for drinking. This study proposes to integrate technical and qualitative attributes to identify the challenging criteria and the associated linkage to the problem of selecting proposals for the most sustainable solution(s) to secure raw water, being a guide to decide the implementation of the most appropriate solution.

Factors associated with change in adherence to COVID-19 personal protection measures in the Metropolitan Region, Chile.

Personal protective measures such use of face masks, hand washing and physical distancing have proven to be effective in controlling the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, adherence to these measures may have been relaxed over time. The objective of this work is to assess the change in adherence to these measures and to find factors that explain the change For this purpose, we conducted a survey in the Metropolitan Region of Chile in which we asked the adherence to these measures in August-September 2021 and retrospectively for 2020. With the answers obtained we fit a logistic regression model in which the response variable is the relaxation of each of the self-care preventive actions. The explanatory variables used are socio-demographic characteristics such as the age, sex, income, and vaccination status of the respondents. The results obtained show that there has been a significant decrease in adherence to the three personal protection measures in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. In addition, it was observed that younger people are more likely to relax these measures. The results show the importance of generating new incentives for maintaining adherence to personal protection measures.

Compassion fatigue among social workers in juvenile offender systems in Chile

In the past few decades, both the local and international press have addressed flaws within the juvenile justice systems in Chile. However, very few studies have examined the support provided to social workers working in this field. This article, using exploratory survey research methods, explores the perspective of social workers about how these systems support their well-being and overall work functioning. The survey uses a snowball sampling technique to reach social workers who work in nonprofit organizations serving juvenile offenders in the metropolitan region in Chile. The results show that social workers are experiencing moderate levels of compassion fatigue. Different issues emerged centered on a lack of organizational support related to teamwork, training, and pay.

“I don't want to be a burden” A qualitative study of the beliefs of women with chronic low back pain in relation to their painful experience

BackgroundWomen's pain is still poorly understood. Moreover, maladaptive pain beliefs contribute to the disability associated with low back pain and play a key role in the transition from acute to chronic symptoms. ObjectivesTo explore the beliefs of women with non-specific chronic low back pain in terms of nature of symptoms, fears associated with pain, expectations for recovery, family, social and work-related limitations, and perceived self-efficacy. Design and methodsA qualitative study with an interpretative approach was undertaken. Face-to-face, semi-structured individual interviews were performed. Study participants were 10 women with non-specific chronic low back pain living in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. A deductive process was used to code the text and categorize the data. ResultsParticipants described maladaptive beliefs about pain, leading to fearful attitudes and low expectations for recovery. These beliefs seemed to perpetuate pain and limit engagement in daily tasks and meaningful activities. Some of these beliefs were associated with information provided by healthcare professions. Despite having maladaptive beliefs, women perceived themselves as self-effective. ConclusionWomen with chronic low back pain described a range of different pain beliefs across a complex categorial structure. The contents of such structure may interfere with their decisions about therapeutic options. Their beliefs were often ungrounded in scientific principles, even if the information may have been provided by healthcare providers. Physical therapists would benefit from these findings to improve communication with their patients and assess the role of beliefs in decision-making.

The likely Quaternary active El Arrayán fault, Santiago, Chile

Understanding the location and nature of Quaternary active crustal faults is critical to the reduction of both fault rupture and strong ground motions hazards in built environments. Recent work along the San Ramón Fault (SRF) demonstrates that crustal seismic sources are important hazards within the Santiago Metropolitan region of Chile. In this paper, we present the evidence of a second likely Quaternary active fault (the El Arrayán Fault, EAF) that runs through the northeastern part of Santiago, in the Lo Barnechea area. The EAF is a strike-slip fault zone at least 13 km-long, has a steep dip (mean dip 77º NNE), and a WNW-ESE general trend (~110º) that cuts across folded rocks of the Abanico Formation and Quaternary deposits. Sequences of meter-wide fault rocks in El Arrayán area are coincident with the tectonic geomorphology of the EAF, with fault scarps, deflected streams, saddles, “island hills”, sag ponds and linear valleys in the La Dehesa area and coincident with fault strike from the bedrock exposures. Although direct dating is not yet available, fault exposures tied to fault-related tectonic and geomorphic features that crosscut Late-Quaternary morphologies and deposits (including hillslopes, ridges, landslides and alluvial fans), provides strong evidence that the EAF is a Quaternary active and seismogenic crustal fault. Sinistral slickensides and left-lateral deflected streams indicates a left-lateral kinematics (with slight up to the north reverse motion) for the EAF. Due to the location, geometry, kinematics and likely Quaternary activity of the EAF, this structure is interpreted as an arc-oblique transfer zone of the West Andean Thrust (WATS). If the EAF has stick-slip behaviour, it is potentially an important source of fault rupture and strong ground motions and could be responsible for earthquakes up to Mw 6.4 based on earthquake scaling laws and microseismicity observations in and around Santiago. The lack of fault zone avoidance criteria (i.e., do not build in and around active faults) in Chilean law, requires immediate enhanced fault mapping, legislation and the implementation of active fault rupture avoidance areas to reduce the risk associated with active crustal structures in the built environment.

Percepción docente sobre el rol de los factores intrapersonales en el mejoramiento de sus prácticas pedagógicas

This article presents the results of a study aimed at describing the relationships between intrapersonal factors and the improvement of pedagogical practices in teachers in the Metropolitan Region of Chile, mainly due to the scarce information about this relationship in the academic literature. It corresponds to a study with a qualitative approach, based on the theoretical-methodological guidelines of Grounded Theory, which was carried out by conducting six interviews with teachers with outstanding performance in the classroom. The results derived from the open and axial coding are presented, which give a preliminary account of the teachers’ perception of how modifications are produced in their pedagogical practices and how this change is related to the intrapersonal factors of the teachers. The results highlight the role of personal traits and the belief system as central categories that intervene in the change of pedagogical practices, discussing the importance of advancing in models that contribute from a systemic and complex approach in the understanding of the person and the pedagogical practices.

Vehicle routing problem with steep roads

Most routing decisions assume that routing costs are modelled as a weighted sum of total distance and time traveled by delivery vehicles. However, this assumption does not apply for logistics operations in cities with significant road grades. We study an extension to the VRP model that plans vehicle routes considering the combined impact of detailed road grade information and vehicle load-weight in fuel consumption cost. We refer to this model as the VRP with Steep Roads (VRP-SR), which is formulated as an integer linear program and solved heuristically. In simulated experiments performed for a mountainous metropolitan region in Chile, we estimate operating cost reductions up to 12.4% when compared to the real cost of a plan disregarding road grade information. In addition, we obtain valuable managerial insights from our routing plans; our planned routes tend to initially use roads with relatively small grades to avoid abrupt altitude changes with a loaded vehicle. Higher altitude changes are planned after the vehicle unloads a significant fraction of its cargo. Also, we identify instances in which it is cheaper to insert an intermediate depot visit to drop off weight and split a feasible route in two subroutes to travel over mountainous areas with a lighter vehicle.

Women Who Choose Science: How Self-efficacy, Outcome Expectations, Barriers and Support Perceived Influence the Career Choice

The aim of this research   from an exploratory-descriptive approach, is to reveal the characteristics of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, barriers and support perceived by women who are studying their first year of Science and Technology (STEM) careers at universities in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Through semi-structured interviews and qualitative content analysis based on the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), it was possible to identify three factors related  to their career choice: personal, agency and contextual elements, which act by fostering or blocking the process. Despite choosing STEM careers, female students have doubts related to gender stereotypes and socio-emotional aspects such as anxiety and low tolerance to frustration. However, a positive self-efficacy and outcome expectations, family support and women´s student networks act as important drivers.

Serological prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in Zoo Mammals in Chile

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic cosmopolitan protozoan that causes a high mortality rate among zoo mammals such as New World primates, meerkats, marsupials and Pallas’ cat. It has been recently reported in Chile, mainly among wild populations, but also as the cause of death of a kangaroo and a mara. However, there has not been a T. gondii report at a Zoo population level in Chile in the last 35 years. The aim of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in mammals housed in a zoo located in the Metropolitan Region of Chile between 2011 and 2018. In this study, we analyzed 350 samples, from 324 animals, belonging to 57 species of carnivores, non-human primates, macropodids, ungulates and rodents to detect the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. Additionally, 20 animals were longitudinally sampled to evaluate intra-zoo infection. Using a commercial indirect Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) test, we detected T. gondii antibodies in 72 (22.2 %) samples. The overall seroprevalence estimates were 48.4 % in felines, 22.9 % in non-feline carnivores, 21.1 % in ungulates and 15.0 % in non-human primates. There were no positive samples from rodents or marsupials. Of animals sampled longitudinally, only a culpeo fox (Lycalopex cualpaeus) became seropositive along the study indicating exposition inside the facility. T. gondii seroprevalence differed significantly in taxonomic groups (p = 0.003), felines are statistically different from non-feline carnivores (NFC) (p = 0.040), ungulate (p = 0.027) and non-human primates (NHP) (p = 0.009). Annual prevalence comparison was performed showing no statistical difference (p = 0.941). A multivariable logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effect of taxonomic groups, proximity to water sources, diet, sex and type of housing on seropositivity. Only taxonomic group was statistically significant, indicating that NFC (OR = 0.35; 95 % CI = 0.15 – 0.83; p = 0.017), ungulates (OR = 0.30; 95 % CI = 0.13 – 0.69; p = 0.005), and NHP (OR = 0.25; 95 % CI = 0.09 – 0.72; p = 0.010) have lower risk of positivity to T. gondii compared to felines. Additionally, a black-faced spider monkey (Ateles chamek) and a siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) were seropositive, being the first description of T. gondii infection in these species worldwide. As seen in previous studies, the widespread presence and exposure of T. gondii in zoo mammals was confirmed, and there may be contact with the agent and transmission within the zoo, which was confirmed by one animal became seropositive over the time. This fact could be a health problem for animals susceptible to fatal toxoplasmosis.

Enseñar historia en tiempos de pandemia: un estudio de caso en una escuela chilena

The carried out research aims to identify and understand the main advantages and challenges for history and social sciences teaching in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this study recognizes the work spaces that allow teachers to develop historical empathy and the teaching of participatory citizenship through this new school context. This is done through a case study of a group of teachers who belong to an educational centre in the Metropolitan Region of Chile; we have been able to collect the perceptions, emotions, feelings and views of history and social sciences teachers on how they develop their educational practice in a setting of pandemic. The methodology followed is of qualitative nature under a case study design. The results stand out concerning the interrelation that is generated. On the one hand, it interrelates in the complexity that teaching during the pandemic implies with the context of inequalities that the school faces highlighting the efforts of educational innovation to generate significant learning for and the students. Amongst the main conclusions there are the efforts made by teachers to generate educational innovation in the complex context of the pandemic, where the school and all the social problems that arise are inserted. Teachers have found the spaces and raised new perspectives of teaching that promote historical empathy and education for citizenship in students.

Evaluation of fluopyram for management of Meloidogyne ethiopica and migratory nematodes in commercial tomato greenhouses in the Metropolitan Region of Chile.

The nematicidal effects of fluopyram were evaluated for the suppression of Meloidogyne ethiopica and migratory nematodes, Xiphinema americanum s. l., Hemicycliophora spp. and Pratylenchus spp., in two commercial tomato greenhouses in Chile. The effects of fluopyram on plant-parasitic nematodes, plant vigor and fruit yield were determined. Fluopyram demonstrated good potential for the management of M. ethiopica and migratory nematodes, especially during the early stages of evaluation (30-60 days after planting). There were also improvements in vigor of treated plants. A general trend in improved fruit quality was also observed, however, no significant differences in total yield were found between treatments. Our study is one of the first evaluations of fluopyram under field conditions against M. ethiopica. The findings suggest that this new nematicide has good potential for the management of M. ethiopica and some migratory nematodes in tomatoes cropped in greenhouses in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Teletrabajo como estrategia emergente en la educación universitaria en tiempos de pandemia

The 21st century pandemic has brought transformations at all levels, including the use of technology in organizations, generating beneficial changes; However, it can also have negative consequences in the deterioration of job satisfaction, productivity, as well as an increase in work overload and conflict between work and personal life. This research analyzes teleworking as an emerging strategy in university education organizations in the face of the pandemic situation at the beginning of 2020 in Santiago de Chile. The research is descriptive, a questionnaire with a dichotomous scale was applied, with 29 items addressed to 384 teachers from universities in the Metropolitan Region of Chile, it was subjected to content, construct and discriminant validation with a confidence level of 0.92 (Very high), descriptive statistics were used through the SPSS25. The results allow considering the need to seek the balance of maintaining professionalism, work mystique, commitment and personal and family life of employees, improving remote work, maintaining quality and productivity standards, accompanied by well-being and quality of life in university communities in times of pandemic.

Concepciones alternativas sobre astronomía en estudiantes de educación básica y media de la Región Metropolitana de Chile

The learning of Astronomy has presented various difficulties that, in part, have their origin in the alternative conceptions of the students. This study sought to identify recurring alternative conceptions of Astronomy in eighth grade and fourth year of high school students in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. For this, a multiple-choice test and focus groups has been implemented, with which quantitative and qualitative aspects of alternative conceptions were identified. The results show that students in eighth grade present alternative concepts with more frequently than those in the fourth year of secondary education, however, in the topic of “Seasons of the year”, both groups present a similar recurrence, while, when addressing the “Movements of the Sun in the sky”, it was observed that the group of fourth year of high school, it presents the alternative conceptions with more recurrence than the group of eighth grade.

Influencia del covid-19 en el rol docente: Experiencia de docentes y estudiantes de terapia ocupacional

Among the first measures to contain the advance of COVID-19 was the closure of schools at all levels of the educational system, with this there was an imminent need to generate mechanisms in which teachers could continue to carry out tasks at a distance, overcoming difficulties in the transition from face-to-face to virtual environment. Qualitative data are recovered from an open survey applied to 13 participants; fourth-year students and occupational therapist teachers who participated in the investigation “” Teaching role of the occupational therapist in higher education institutions in the metropolitan region of Chile. Four subcategories are obtained on the influence of the pandemic on the teaching role, adaptation behaviors, benefits of the pandemic on the teaching role and social dynamics in the university context during the pandemic. An over-demand of the teaching role is seen during the pandemic, making it difficult to fulfill academic objectives related to the development of basic skills for the profession. In addition, there are opportunities for the development of distance education by the occupational therapist, since he has knowledge of the environmental factors that would allow him to have an optimal performance in this modality and extrapolate it to telemedicine.

Nonlinear Time Series Forecasts for Decision Support: Short-Term Demand for ICU Beds in Santiago, Chile During the 2021 COVID-19 Pandemic

In Chile, due to the explosive increase of new COVID-19 cases during the first part of 2021, the ability of health services to accommodate new incoming cases was jeopardized. It has become necessary to be able to manage intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, and for this purpose, monitoring both the evolution of new cases and the demand of ICU beds, has become urgent. This paper presents short-term forecast models for the number of new cases and the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs in the Metropolitan Region in Chile.

Folate status in women of childbearing age in the Urban Metropolitan Region of Chile: results from the National Health Survey 2016-2017.

To analyse serum folate levels in women of childbearing age in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile. Cross-sectional design as part of the 2016-2017 National Health Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Salud, ENS 2016-2017), using a household-based multistage stratified random sample. Serum folate levels measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in fasting venous blood samples were classified as deficient (<4·4 ng/ml), normal (4·4-20 ng/ml) or supraphysiological (>20 ng/ml). The MR of Chile. Women of reproductive age (15-49 years, n 222) from the MR participated in the ENS 2016-2017. The mean, median and range of serum folate were 14·2 (se 0·4), 13·9 and 2·1-32·2 ng/ml, respectively. Folate deficiency was detected in 0·9 % of women, while 7·0 % had supraphysiological levels of the vitamin. No significant effects of age, educational level, marital status, parity, smoking status or nutritional status on serum folate levels were detected by univariate or multivariate analyses. Intake of folic acid supplements showed a significant association with serum folate levels, but only 1·2 % of women used supplements. Folate deficiency in women of reproductive age living in the MR of Chile is almost inexistent according to the ENS 2016-2017, suggesting that the current population-wide mandatory folic acid fortification of flour is an effective and equitable measure to prevent folate deficiency. These results support the option of maintaining current folic acid fortification in Chile, particularly based on the low adherence to supplementation regimes evidenced in other populations.

Trayectorias de desarrollo profesional docente para un uso pedagógico de la argumentación a partir del uso de soportes curriculares digitales

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo describir las transformaciones de prácticas pedagógicas y uso pedagógico de la argumentación en docentes, a partir del apoyo de materiales curriculares soportados tecnológicamente con un software piloto denominado argumentApp. Se utilizó una metodología cualitativa, mediante el estudio de cuatro casos de profesores y estudiantes de cuatro escuelas de la Región Metropolitana en Chile. Los datos, recogidos mediante observaciones de clases y entrevistas en profundidad, indican que los docentes incorporaron prácticas colaborativas en el aula y produjeron un mayor número de preguntas de argumentación. Se observan diferencias en el modo de apropiarse de la herramienta tecnológica y de su aporte a la dinámica de aprendizaje en el aula. Los resultados se discuten considerando el aporte de intervenciones de desarrollo profesional situadas en un contexto concreto de práctica y las dimensiones que permiten construir una intervención que favorezca una enseñanza dialógica.

Socio-epidemiological caracterization and evolution of tuberculosis in the Metropolitan Region of Chile, 2005 to 2018

The Chilean Program for the Control and Elimination of Tuberculosis (PROCET) has reduced mortality from this disease by 78% between 2004 and 2013. However, after decades of successful results, starting in 2000 there was a slowdown in the reduction of incidence and since 2014, an increase in it. To describe the socio-epidemiological evolution of tuberculosis (TB) cases treated at health clinics in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile from 2005 to 2018, stratifying by country of origin. Cross-sectional study with ecological components, including analyses of age, sex, TB localization, bacteriological confirmation of diagnosis, co-infection with HIV, incarceration, country of origin, and effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment. A total of 7,507 TB cases were recorded during the study period; 75.1% of cases were pulmonary tuberculosis, and 65.4% were bacteriologically confirmed. Overall, 19.0% of cases involved persons born outside of Chile, with the proportion of cases in foreign-born persons increasing over the past 6 years. Incidence decreased during the first half of the study period but then began to increase after 2012, moving the country away from the threshold of elimination. A total of 74.3% of cases were treated successfully, and 13.4% expired. In recent years, TB incidence has increased in the MR of Chile, possibly attributable to growing populations of vulnerable groups such as immigrants. This finding suggests an urgent need to implement and reinforce strategies such as education, an active screening model and more efficient contact tracing to prevent the spread of TB.