Brazilian Public University Research Articles

A percepção do bibliotecário universitário sobre a ética no tratamento temático da informação

This study is focused on the subject representation based on a reflective perspective in terms of ethics in the field. It aims to analyze the professional perception of Brazilian university librarians about ethics in subject representation. It is a descriptive study of a quantitative nature that usesthe application of online survey, which was applied to professionals in charge of managing the technical processing section of university libraries located in federal public universities in Brazil. The results demonstrate that ethics is well assimilated by technical processingmanagers, even though they face interpretive dilemmas as well as a major concern about indexing process and its embodiment via term. Despite every care in the equal treatment of the different issues, reported by the respondents, inconsistent substitutes are still echoing in the information retrieval system, making it necessary to seek training and unrestricted use of documentary instruments in order to avoid biased interpretations and representations. Simultaneously, qualification, collaboration and participation of the user are understood as a way of supporting the ethical instance of the subject representation, as well as the need for further evolution of the library literature within thisperspective. It is concluded that the ethical dimension in the subject representation is understood by Brazilian university librarians who can identify impasses, difficulties, problems, solutions and needs for greater assertiveness in this context.

Produtividade no ciclo de vida e diferenças de gênero na pesquisa acadêmica: evidências de uma universidade pública brasileira

Abstract Personal attributes and behavioral factors are key factors in determining researchers’ scientific productivity. Investigating what determines the academic productivity among university researchers is the purpose of this study, which uses a sample of microdata from professors at a public university in Brazil (Federal University of Juiz de Fora) for the period 1999-2013. The main results show that age and academic productivity have an inverted-U-shaped relationship, revealing that experience enhances academic production. Regarding gender differences, we found that women generally have lower average productivity than men. However, at the end of their careers, women are subject to greater leverage effects in productivity and therefore achieve productive parity with men, especially during their production peaks.

Teaching in the Light of Activity Theory Applied to Preschool: Reflections on Brazilian Practice.

Activity Theory applied by the teacher to preschool education favors the development of new psychological formations, such as perception, attention, memory, thought, language, and voluntary self-regulation, which prepare the child for school. To highlight the contributions of N.F. Talyzina based on Activity Theory applied to preschool education and to reflect on the theory's use in the Brazilian education system. This article is theoretically built from research in a sandwich doctorate program in Puebla, Mexico and internship supervision practices for psychologist training at a public university in Brazil's central-west region. Activity Theory is seldom applied to teaching, including in Brazil, and there is little knowledge about the scientific contributions of one of its practitioners, the late N.F. Talyzina. We chose the preschool stage as the focus of our reflections, and we maintain that the introduction of role-playing as the main activity in early childhood education promotes the development of psychological neoformations and prepares the child for the next stage of school. Finally, we present the internship practices in applied psychology in a Brazilian children's group, with evidence of advances. There is a need for expansion of the formative experiments reported here to the Brazilian population, for scientific dissemination of the results, and promotion of teacher training and qualification in Activity Theory.

COMPETIR PARA QUÊ? PERCEPÇÕES DOCENTES SOBRE AS REFORMAS DO ENSINO SUPERIOR PÚBLICO NO BRASIL

ABSTRACT The marketization and financialization of higher education in Brazil can bring severe social and economic consequences. This research aimed to understand how the faculty body of a public university in Brazil perceives the reforms of the public higher education system, which are currently undergoing political approval. The results of the analysis of variance test suggest that there is a significant difference between professors aligned with neoliberal values and those who are not, in the direction that the alignment to neoliberal values undervalue the importance of the public higher education system to society. Also, professors aligned with neoliberal values are more likely to give away administrative autonomy to external stakeholders, focusing more on meeting students’ expectations, and seeking private sponsorship to raise funds.

Causes of disability in one of the largest public universities in Brazil: is there a relationship with employment position?

Disability retirement is granted to civil servants considered permanently incapable of working. Noncommunicable diseases are the main cause of permanent disability and retirement in Brazil. The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is one of the largest universities in Brazil, and determining the profile of employees who receive disability pensions at this institution is of great relevance. To describe the profile of university employees who retired due to a disability between 2003 and 2017. This cross-sectional study was based on disability retirement records for civil servants. Demographic variables such as sex, age at retirement, and employment position were evaluated. A total of 630 cases were analyzed, including 334 (53%) full and 296 (47%) proportional retirements; 499 (79.2%) were aged 30 to 59 years at retirement, and 368 (51.4%) were women. The full retirement rate was higher among those with senior level positions (p < 0.001), in older age groups (p < 0.001), and in men (p = 0.012). Noncommunicable disease was the main cause of retirement. The mean age at permanent disability was early, regardless of sex or retirement type. Permanent disability was more common among employees in positions requiring less education. The disability rate was highest among women.

Expectativas Acadêmicas, Gênero e Situação Profissional: Comparando Duas Coortes de Estudantes Universitários

ABSTRACT The expansion of higher education is associated with the progressive diversification of student’s profiles, such as the increasing number of older, working and female students. The transition to higher education poses challenges for students entering it, generating expectations that can impact academic adaptation. This study compared academic expectations by gender and work situation in two cohorts of first-year students from a Brazilian public university, involving 13,336 participants. The Brazilian Scale of Academic Expectations for First-Year University Students was administered. Non-working and female students had higher academic expectations in both cohorts. The findings provide subsidies to higher education institutions to develop support programs and policies targeting first-year students.

DISCURSOS DE GÊNERO NOS LIVROS INTRODUTÓRIOS À PSICOLOGIA DO DESENVOLVIMENTO

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to identify and analyze the discourses about gender present in introductory books of the Developmental Psychology disciplines of undergraduate courses in Psychology, in Brazilian public universities. We identified, based on a consultation of the teaching plans of these courses, the two most cited books. We organize, examine and present the material, taking into account the procedures of documentary research: the context of production of the works, their authorship and the discourses about gender in the descriptions of age markers (childhood and adolescence). Based on the contributions of feminist and queer studies about gender and on the contributions of Michel Foucault on biopower, we identified possible effects of discourse about the control function and limitation of the ways of managing gender experiences in childhood and adolescence. We formulate considerations about these effects and the circumstance that training in the area approaches criticism of scientific discourse, from feminist and queer studies.

Assessment of the quality of life and mental health of healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and the presence of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress among students in the healthcare field, in comparison to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparative cross-sectional research was conducted at a Brazilian public university. QOL was assessed using the WHOQOL-bref scale, while symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated using the DASS-21 scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses were employed to compare the two time periods. A total of 355 students participated in this study. During the pandemic, there were significant increases in severe depression symptoms (15.1% versus 24.8%), moderate anxiety (18.3% versus 29.4%), and moderate stress (40.9% versus 53.8%) observed among the participants. Additionally, a significant reduction in QOL was noted, particularly in the domain of social relationships (65.2 versus 59.6, p-value 0.029). The study highlights a deterioration in both the quality of life and the mental health of healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comportamentos relacionados à saúde e fatores associados de pessoas idosas em atividade laboral no contexto de uma universidade pública brasileira

Abstract Objective To analyze health-related behaviors and associated factors in older people working at a Brazilian public university. Method A cross-sectional, descriptive, inferential study adopting a quantitative approach was conducted. The sample comprised 113 individuals and data were collected between May/2021 and September/2022 either remotely by telephone and/or video calls, and/or in person. Descriptive and cluster analysis were performed and the Chi-square or Fisher's Exact Tests were applied for a significance level of 95%. Results Respondents were predominantly male (n=70, 61.9%), had a mean age of 65 (±3.20) years, and were of white (n=39, 34.5%) or brown (n=38, 33.6%) ethnicity. Two clusters were identified: Cluster01-fair, comprising 31 (27.4%) individuals; and Cluster02-excellent, comprising 82 (72.6%) participants, based on health-related behavior variables. A significant association was found between gender and clusters (p&lt;0.04). Cluster02 contained more males and individuals with better health-related behaviors. Conclusion Although the results revealed that, overall, study participants had good/excellent behaviors, there was a contingent that reported health risk behaviors, highlighting the challenges surrounding self-care in the working older population. It is important to raise awareness of older individuals about health risk behaviors and their impact on health and quality of life, especially given that many older people are providers for the family and that working influences the health of older individuals.

ANÁLISE DA FADIGA EM ENFERMEIROS DOCENTES DE UNIVERSIDADES PÚBLICAS BRASILEIRAS DURANTE A PANDEMIA DA COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze fatigue among nurse educators affiliated with Brazilian public universities while teaching online and hybrid courses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: qualitative, cross-sectional study addressing 318 nurse educators teaching in federal and state public universities between July and November 2021. The adapted and validated version of the Three-Dimensional Work Fatigue Inventory (3D-WFI) was used to assess fatigue. The means were compared, and variance analysis (ANOVA) was performed with the Bonferroni test and t-test. The statistically significant variables (p&lt;0.05) remained in the model. Results: the participants were 42 (± 9.4) on average; most were women, 279 (87.7%); 225 (70.8%) had children; and 313 (98.4%) reported performing house chores along with online teaching. In addition to the activities concerning undergraduate programs, 88 (27.7%) participants also performed activities in graduate programs. An association was found between course modality (entirely online or face-to-face, or hybrid) and the dimensions: physical fatigue (p=0.041), mental fatigue (p=0.001), and emotional fatigue (p=0.019), and between taking care of children and help them with school tasks while also teaching classes online and physical fatigue (p=0.012), mental fatigue (p=0.001), and emotional fatigue (p=0.000). Conclusion: the significant differences between course modality and the three dimensions of fatigue (physical, mental, and emotional) showed that the participants experienced physical and mental fatigue during and after work.

Age, skin color, self-rated health, and depression associated with co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors in university students: a cross-sectional study.

The university context plays an important role in the health-disease process since students are potentially vulnerable to obesogenic behaviors that can influence long-term health. To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with the co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors among university students. This was a cross-sectional study at a Brazilian public university. This study was conducted with all university students in the first and second semesters of 2019 at Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected between April and September 2019, using a self-administered questionnaire. The outcome was the co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors, measured as the sum of three risk behaviors: inadequate eating practices, leisure-time physical inactivity, and sedentary behavior. A Venn diagram was used to evaluate the simultaneous occurrence of risk behaviors. Pearson's chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. A total of 351 students participated in the study. Inadequate eating practices constituted the most prevalent isolated risk behavior (80.6%), which was also the most prevalent when combined with sedentary behavior (23.6%). University students aged 20 years or younger, with non-white skin color, poor self-rated health, and symptoms of depression had increased chances of simultaneous occurrence of obesogenic behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of developing and implementing actions to reduce combined obesogenic behaviors in the university environment. Institutions should focus on creating an environment that promotes health-protective behaviors such as physical activity and healthy eating.

Popularização da ciência no Facebook: análises estatísticas de publicações de uma universidade brasileira

Abstract This study performed a statistical analysis of the repercussions of a project concerning science popularization (SP) during the first 14 months of execution in a Brazilian public university. The metrics used were the results achieved from posts of 95 videos disseminating scientific research on the institution’s Facebook page. The objective was to verify the dialogical potential of the project while considering that social media increase the possibilities for public participation. Analyses included general descriptive data (means, minima, maxima, and standard deviations), Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and clusters’ formation. Among the main results, we verified that the published videos can be divided into five clusters, which differ by the level of interaction/reach. The research themes, text, and video strategies used in the posts modulate the potential for interaction with the public. The results are helpful for the future planning of SP actions.

Learning challenges in Physical Therapy, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy undergraduate programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 posed numerous challenges to educational programs that had to quickly adapt to remote online learning (ROL) to ensure the continuity of health professional training over the pandemic. We aimed to assess the students' and professors' perceptions of the teaching-learning process in the Physical Therapy, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy undergraduate programs at a Brazilian public university. We used an electronic self-reported questionnaire with multiple-choice questions on a Likert scale ranged 1-5; higher the score, higher the level of agreement/importance/satisfaction. Most of undergraduate students and teachers had previous experience using information and communication technologies, and 85% stated their preference for in-person learning. Students expressed their appreciation for more active learning methodologies with clear objectives, accessible content, and visualization of abstract concepts. Regarding benefits and barriers, some similar perceptions were observed between students and teachers with ROL favoring time management, benefits in the teaching-learning process, satisfaction and motivation with the course content, and low attendance rates to general academic activities due to absent or poor access to technological resources. ROL is an alternative learning mode when the in-person classes cannot be carried out, as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. ROL is believed to be unfit to replace in-person learning, although it can complement the traditional classroom-based education in a hybrid model, respecting the nature of each program in the field of health that requires in-person practical training.

Ethics review of research on humans in the biomedical and non-biomedical sciences: bridging "two cultures" in Brazil?

The ethics regulation of human-subject research in Brazil is by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP)/National Commission of Research Ethics (CONEP) System. While primarily focusing on biomedical research, this System also oversees the ethics of non-biomedical research. However, a distinct clash between these two research cultures is evident in Brazil. Despite existing guidelines, the cultural clash between biomedical and the humanities and social sciences (HSS) research has fueled discussions that include separating HSS research from the oversight of the CEP/CONEP System. We investigated perceptions of this ethics regulatory framework, focusing on HSS. A survey was conducted among coordinators of HSS graduate programs in six Brazilian public universities. We found growing awareness of and willingness to address the ethical aspects of human-subject research. Paradoxically, the ongoing conflictual debate seems to be gradually bridging the gap between these two cultures and feeding transformative changes to ethics regulation in HSS human-subject research in Brazil.

Health-related behaviors and associated factors among working older people within a Brazilian public university

Resumo Objetivo Analisar comportamentos relacionados à saúde e fatores associados em pessoas idosas em atividade laboral de uma Universidade pública brasileira. Método Estudo seccional, descritivo e inferencial, com abordagem quantitativa. Amostra composta por 113 indivíduos e, dados coletados entre os meses de maio/2021 a setembro/2022, em ambiente virtual, por chamadas telefônicas e/ou vídeo, e/ou de forma presencial. Foram realizadas análises descritiva e de cluster, além do teste qui-quadrado ou teste Exato de Fisher para o nível de significância de 95%. Resultados A maioria dos entrevistados foi do gênero masculino (n=70, 61,9%), a idade média foi 65 anos (±3,20), a cor/raça predominante foi branca (n=39, 34,5%) e parda (n=38, 33,6%). Foram identificados dois clusters, o cluster01-regular composto por 31 (27,4%) indivíduos e o cluster02-ótimo por 82 (72,6%), a partir das variáveis de comportamentos relacionados à saúde. Encontrou-se associação significativa entre gênero e os clusters (p&lt;0,04). O gênero masculino compôs mais o cluster02-ótimo, cluster esse que apresentou indivíduos com melhores comportamentos relacionados à saúde. Conclusão Apesar do estudo mostrar que, em geral, os indivíduos que participaram da pesquisa apresentaram bons/ótimos comportamentos, ainda se observou uma parcela que relatou comportamentos de risco à saúde, o que evidencia os desafios sobre o autocuidado na população idosa em atividade laboral. É importante a sensibilização dos idosos sobre os comportamentos de risco à saúde, seus impactos na saúde e qualidade de vida, porquanto muitos idosos serem os provedores das suas famílias e a atividade laboral ser um ponto que influencia na saúde da pessoa idosa.

Estratégias autoprejudiciais dos estudantes em um curso de Matemática

Abstract Self-handicapping strategies can be defined as individuals’ behaviors or statements, which happen before an important task is performed and work as an excuse to justify a likely poor performance. The use of these strategies can harm the academic performance of students at all levels. The current article presents a case study about the use of self-handicapping strategies carried out with twenty undergraduate Mathematics students from a Brazilian public university. Data collection was based on the application of a Likert-type scale and on a focus group conducted with students. Scale data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, whereas group discussions were subjected to qualitative analysis. Results have shown that most students do not significantly engage in self-handicapping behaviors. Difficulties to manage time and to prepare for academic activities, such as tests, were the reasons most often presented as justification for such an engagement. Data have also pointed out the need of rethinking the role played by teachers and by the atmosphere they promote in the classroom as factors that can contribute to the use, or not, of these strategies by students. Future research may help improving knowledge on these matters.

Environmental Disclosure in Brazilian Public Universities

Environmental Disclosure in Brazilian Public Universities

Validity study of the Three-Dimensional Work Fatigue Inventory among higher education nursing faculty.

to adapt and validate the Three-Dimensional Work Fatigue Inventory (3D-WFI) for Brazil's cultural reality and assess the psychometric properties. a methodological study developed in six stages: initial translation; synthesis of translations; back translation; review by expert committee; pretest; and review of the adaptation process by the researchers. For validity, the instrument was applied to a sample of 318 nursing professors from Brazilian federal and state public universities. Data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, composite reliability and instrument reliability (Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega). the 3D-WFI instrument showed excellent internal consistency (α=0.95 and ω=0.97), three dimensions and explained variance of 62.77%. the Brazilian version of the instrument showed excellent psychometric properties for assessing fatigue among Brazilian workers.

Psychosocial factors associated with sickness absence in employees at a federal public university.

There is a need to understand which factors are associated with sickness absence in the context of public service in order to guide efforts to prevent illness in workers. We investigated whether lifestyle, locus of health control, work-related stress, and self-perception of physical and mental health are associated with sickness absence from a biopsychosocial perspective. This is a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire and the participants comprised 898 employees at a federal university. The assessment included instruments on sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, sickness absence, lifestyle (FANTASTIC Lifestyle scale), locus of control (Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale), workrelated stress (Health Safety Executive), and physical and mental health (Short-Form Health Survey 12 - version 2). A Poisson regression model was constructed using Generalized Estimating Equations to identify the variables associated with sickness absence, with a p ≤ 0.05 significance level. We found that work-related stress, locus of control, physical and mental health, administrative or technical job role, female gender, and longer service time at the institution were associated with a higher number of days absent from work due to illness (for all associations, p < 0.001). The present study contributes to the literature by offering additional data on sickness absence in the context of Brazilian public university employees.

A quantitative study on the persistence intention of Physics undergraduate students from a Brazilian public university based on Vincent Tinto’s Persistence Motivation Model

Os cursos de graduação em Física estão entre os que apresentam maiores índices de evasão nas universidades brasileiras. Para combater esse problema, é necessário um entendimento profundo das causas que levam os estudantes a evadirem ou persistirem em seus cursos. Apesar de serem conduzidas pesquisas empíricas nesse sentido, a validação de um modelo teórico que explique a evasão e a persistência estudantil no contexto brasileiro é um desafio atual para pesquisadores da área. Neste artigo, avaliamos a adequação do Modelo da Motivação da Persistência, desenvolvido por Vincent Tinto, para representar o cenário de um curso de licenciatura em Física de uma universidade pública brasileira. Para isso, desenvolvemos um estudo quantitativo a partir de dados coletados com um questionário respondido por 168 estudantes do curso. O questionário conta com assertivas relacionadas aos construtos preditores da persistência estudantil segundo o modelo do Tinto (crenças de autoeficácia, senso de pertencimento e percepção de relevância curricular) e à intenção autodeclarada de persistência. Foram identificadas correlações estatisticamente significativas entre todos os construtos, corroborando a teorização proposta por Tinto. O modelo de regressão linear construído foi capaz de predizer 37% da variância da intenção de persistência. Isso indica que o modelo representa parcialmente o cenário investigado. Novas pesquisas para identificar outros fatores que influenciam na persistência estudantil no contexto investigado precisam ser conduzidas.