University In Southern Brazil Research Articles

Ageism in dental students - a multicentric study in southern Brazil.

Gerontological education and intergenerational contact are proven strategies for effectively combating ageism. In this context, this study investigates the association between gerontological education, intergenerational contact, and ageism among dental students. Gerontological education from students' perspective, intergenerational contact, and ageism were assessed using a questionnaire containing sociodemographical aspects and an ageism scale (ASDS-Braz). The sample included students enrolled in the final year of dental programs at three public universities in southern Brazil. A multilevel Poisson regression was conducted to assess factors associated with ASDS-Braz scores. A modest correlation was identified between dental schools in terms of reducing ageism, and a weak correlation was found between self-reported race and ageism. Notably, statistically significant findings were observed across family relationship with older individuals: students who reported having a poor relationship with older adults in their families presented 45% higher ageism scores than did those with an excellent relationship. The results suggested that while some gerontological education was reported by the participants, it may not be sufficient to prepare dental students to provide effective oral healthcare to older adults and to reduce ageism among them. Additionally, reinforcing positive aspects of intergenerational relationships may be an additional strategy in combating ageism within this population.

The portfolio as a teaching/learning strategy in a dentistry course: students' perceptions

The use of portfolios in academic activities is used to document and reflect on learning. They allow for the organization of work, the assessment of progress and the demonstration of skills. Thus, encouraging self-assessment becomes a valuable tool for both students and educators. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the perception of students of the dentistry course at a private university in southern Brazil regarding the use of the portfolio as a teaching/learning strategy. An exploratory, descriptive case study with a qualitative approach was conducted with a convenience sample of fourth semester dental students. A semi-structured interview was held with each participant individually. The answers were recorded and subsequently transcribed. The data were submitted to the content analysis method proposed by Bardin. The sample was composed of seven students (six women and one man). The mean age was 24 years old. The aspects perceived as the most influential in the construction of the portfolio were the importance of the professor guiding the work and motivating the students, the subjectivity of the process, which depends on the individual characteristics of each student, and the importance of sharing ideas with classmates. The method was considered challenging, as it demands self-expression and the capacity for critical, reflexive thought. All students discussed the potentialities of the method. Despite being considered a challenging method, the portfolio proved to be an effective teaching/learning strategy. The use of this method encouraged the search for knowledge in a continual, holistic process that better prepared the students for evaluations.

Research data in paleobotany: petrographic thin sections fossil wood dataset

Objective: This study was aimed at analyzing and disseminating the fossil wood collection data stored in the thin slide sections of the paleobotany collection of the Department of Paleontology and Stratigraphy of the Institute of Geosciences of a university in Southern Brazil. Thin sheets of petrified wood are described. Research data used in geosciences specifically seek to develop a model for the use of this type of sheet in paleobotany, enabling visualization of its representativeness in studies published over 40 years to obtain the anatomical characteristics of fossil woods and define their systematic affinities as a specific typology of research data in geosciences. Methods: The methodology involved interviewing a paleobotanical specialist and using different techniques applied in metric studies to map scientific production. Thus, a dataset of (20) thin slide sections of petrified fossil wood used in “Stressing environmental conditions in the “petrified forest” from the Mata Sequence in the Triassic context of the Paraná Basin,” a paper published by the Journal of South American Earth Sciences (DOI:10.1016/j.jsames.2023.104415), was used. Depending on the methodology, these thin petrified wood sheets can reveal paleoclimatic signatures based on the anatomical characteristics of the fossil wood. In addition to this case study, which represents a collection of more than (2.000) thousand blades of fossil wood and approximately 40 years of research, the paleobotanical collection of the department is reused in methodology classes. The collection comprises a database created by research physicists that provides information on anatomical features, systematic affinities, paleoclimatic conditions, and paleoenvironmental insights. Potential for reuse: The reuse, registration, storage, identification, and preservation of thin slide sections as a type of research data used in paleobotany aims to improve the methodology associated with the organization of the physical database of the institution. The research data and blades of fossil wood are being digitized, and soon will be available under the CC BY 4.0 license in the ZENODO repository, according to the sample described here in this data paper (DOI Mendeley:10.17632/b8phfcsync.1). Furthermore, the data can be reused in optical and electronic scanning microscopy software.

Developing creative accountants

By addressing innovation, creativity, and problem-solving in corporate contexts, Design Thinking has attracted the interest of both scholars and professionals. Despite this, this methodology has still been little disseminated among accounting professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to identify how the Design Thinking methodology can be used to promote the appreciation of the accounting professional. The study involved 521 students who attended the Accounting Planning discipline, offered in the seventh stage of the Accounting Sciences course at a federal university in southern Brazil. Using the survey as a technical procedure, the content analysis of the records of perceptions and ideas generated in Design Thinking workshops was conducted using Nvivo and Microsoft Excel. The students' perceptions regarding the application of the methodology showed that its use is conducive to creating innovative ideas and making them leave their comfort zone. Students reported being aware that they use creativity very little. Still, they are concerned about their development, as they understand that it adds professional and personal value and benefits the profession as a whole. The practical implication is the illustration of how this methodology can contribute to establishing a new professional image, and federal and state accounting councils can use it.

The use of theater to teach the biological cycle of life

The Physical Education courses are mainly composed of disciplines related to biological, human, and social sciences. In general, students have difficulties in understanding specific knowledge of biological sciences such as physiology. The purpose of this work is to describe and analyze a pedagogical experience in which the language of theater was used in the classroom to enable students to access bioenergetic content, a component of physiology. The pedagogical experience was carried out in a planned situation of classes at a public university in southern Brazil in the year 2023 and had the participation of about 40 students. The results indicate that the theater enabled the subjects to produce multiple meanings to the treated content, indicating that the students understood the concepts worked on the theme. The fundamental elements in the process were the increase in interaction between students and the sharing of meanings between teacher and students.

Analysis of the dimensional structure of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in undergraduate students at a public university in Brazil

BackgroundThe prevalence of mental health-related problems has increased in recent years, especially among young adults, such as university students. Several measurement instruments have been developed to identify individuals at risk for depression, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). However, different dimensional structures of the PHQ-9 can make it difficult to interpret and compare research results. To analyze the dimensional structure and convergent validity of the PHQ-9 in university students. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study developed with 3163 students enrolled in different courses at a university in southern Brazil. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to identify the most parsimonious and best-fitting model. Convergent validity was verified through the significant relationship (p < 0.05) between theoretically related constructs (sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and physical activity practice). ResultsThe EFA resulted in two models (unidimensional and two-dimensional), with better indices for the two-dimensional model. In the CFA, both the unidimensional and the two-dimensional models presented satisfactory fit indices that were higher for the unidimensional model. LimitationsThe analysis of convergent validity is limited by the absence of a gold standard for comparison. ConclusionsThis study provided support for the unidimensional structure of the PHQ-9, with adequate convergent validity, among university students.

PERCEPÇÃO DE PESSOAS COM DEFICIÊNCIA FÍSICA ACERCA DO EXERCÍCIO DA AUTONOMIA EM UMA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL

ABSTRACT Introduction: preconceptions towards people with disabilities are still present in our society; they arise from ancient behaviors and from the biomedical model, both rooted in human attitudes. Objective: to describe the potentialities/strengths and inabilities/weaknesses faced by people with disabilities to exercise their autonomy and to show the ways in which people with disabilities exercise their autonomy. Method: this is a single-case study with a qualitative approach. Twenty-two individuals with physical disabilities were interviewed, with students and employees from a university in southern Brazil among them. Data analysis was performed by means of the Collective Subject Discourse The comprehensive and interpretive analysis of the meanings that emerged from the participants' statements were associated with the theoretical framework of autonomy by Adela Cortina, Diego Gracia and Lawrence Kohlberg. Results: potentialities/weaknesses can be observed in the exchange spaces and in the information provided by the university. At the same time, inability/weakness is perceived in preconception, welfarism and all the ableism faced by people with disabilities. Conclusions: lack of information is one of the main elements that foster preconception and it is essential to fight against it for the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Weight bias and identity characteristics among students at a public university in Southern Brazil

Weight bias and identity characteristics among students at a public university in Southern Brazil

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on College Students in Brazil.

The implementation of restrictive measures during the pandemic drastically changed the routine and habits of the population. In the academic sphere, the sudden closure of universities difficulted any advance planning. The objective of this study was to verify the effects of the pandemic on the routine, physical and mental health of students at a public university in southern Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study that applied a questionnaire from May to August 2020. The target population comprised 528 undergraduates. The questionnaire addressed questions about sociodemographic characteristics, physical and mental health. A response was obtained from 406 participants. During the quarantine period evaluated, the main results were: 66.2% reported worsening of anxiety symptoms; 57.6% declared that their physical health was "reasonable" to "bad". As for the quality of sleep there was an increase in 98.8% in the responses "bad sleep quality" and "very bad sleep quality"; increase in 26.6% for presence bruxism; 12.5% for orofacial pain, 3.8% for headache. It is concluded that there were several negative effects, among these effects, it was observed higher levels of anxiety, worsening physical health and quality of sleep, increase in the prevalence of bruxism, as well as the presence of orofacial pain and headache.

Mental health among undergraduate psychology students from a private university in Southern Brazil

The literature indicates that there are stressful events that accompany the initial and final courses of undergraduate studies, which can result in symptoms of stress, mental exhaustion, anxiety, depression, and the prevalence of common mental disorders. In view of this, the present study is a qualitative and descriptive research aimed at assessing the mental health of students in the initial course and the final course of the Psychology undergraduate program at a private university in the southern region of the country. A total of 68 students were interviewed, with 50 in the first semester and 18 in the final semester of the program. Data collection involved a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Subjective Well-being Scale, and the Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure. The results indicate high levels of anxiety and insecurity among psychology students, as well as low levels of interest, joy, attention, engagemen, enthusiasm, disposition, productivity, and well-being.

Productivity and impact of the Unisinos’ Postgraduate Program in Biology and the consequences of its interruption for Brazilian science

On 22 July 2022, the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos), a private institution and community university in southern Brazil, announced the interruption of 12 of its postgraduate programmes, including the Postgraduate Program of Biology (PPG Biologia), whose professors founded the journal, Neotropical Biology and Conservation. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of papers published by PPG Biologia in the past 20 years to assess its impact on biological research at a national level. The number of publications and citations increased constantly over the years, with publications growing exponentially. Although most collaborations with other research programmes occurred inside Brazil, a significant number of studies were co-authored by researchers from other countries from at least four continents. The main research lines focused on biological sciences, ecology, sociology, education, environmental sciences and genetics. Despite being affected by the decrease in research funding and the reduction of personnel, PPG Biologia kept its high impact score according to the national evaluation, above that of most programmes in private universities and similar to public ones. With a team of renowned researchers working on different and sometimes unique research lines, the interruption of PPG Biologia will harm the progress of biological research and conservation across the Neotropical realm.

How a Private Educational Institution in South Brazil Managed to Create a University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

This article aims to describe the dynamic of a university innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as the actions developed by a private university in southern Brazil to create it. Through a descriptive qualitative approach, the research strategy consisted of a case study in which data were obtained through six interviews, non-participant observation, and documentary analysis. The results demonstrated that the university managed to reach an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem once they reinforced favorable institutional conditions for entrepreneurship and developed a structured department of entrepreneurship education that gives support to future entrepreneurs. Once the theme has not yet been widely explored in the literature, this article aims to contribute both to broaden the debate and to present a case of a South American private university that may serve as a model for other educational institutions that wish to create or reinforce their university innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Relationship between free-time physical activity and sleep quality in Brazilian university students

Poor sleep quality and low or no free-time physical activity (FTPA) practice are highly prevalent among university students, but the association between these conditions is still unclear. This cross-sectional study analyzed the relationship between FTPA and sleep quality. An online questionnaire was conducted with university students from a public university in southern Brazil in 2019. The weekly frequency of FTPA was self-reported, and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Logistic regression and ANCOVA models were performed and adjusted for confounders. Among the 2,626 students analyzed, 52.2% did not practice the FTPA, and 75.6% had poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5). In the adjusted analysis, practicing FTPA 4–7 times/week was associated with poor sleep quality (odds ratio = 0.71; 95% confidence interval = 0.52, 0.97) compared with not practicing FTPA. In addition, those who practiced FTPA had significantly lower means of the global PSQI, subjective sleep quality and duration, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction scores than those who did not practice FTPA. In conclusion, the FTPA may contribute to better sleep quality among university students.

Association among oral health and academic performance: a longitudinal study in a university in Southern Brazil

This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the association between self-perceived oral health, oral-health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL), toothache, and university students' academic performance or dropout. A cohort of 2,089 students from 64 different courses at a public university in southern Brazil was interviewed in 2016 regarding their self-perceived oral health (Locker instrument; dichotomized into good/poor), OHRQoL (Oral Impacts on Daily Performances instrument, OIDP) and having had any toothache over the last 6 months (yes/no). After three years (2020), the academic records of 1,870 of these students were assessed, their average grade over all courses evaluated, and their dropout status was determined. Multivariable linear or logistic regression adjusting for gender, skin color, age, family income and maternal education was used to associate oral health variables (self-perceived oral health, OIDP, toothache) and academic performance or dropout. In 2016, 28.6% reported negative self-perceived oral health through the Locker instrument and 31.4% had toothache in the last 6 months. Over the next three years, 36.2% had dropped out. In multivariable regression, toothache in the last 6 months had a decrease of 0.32 (β -0.32, CI95% -0.59; -0.04) points in the final grade and were 35% (OR 1.35 CI95% 1.08; 1.69) more likely to dropout than students without toothache. In conclusion, this study showed that worse oral health conditions may be associated with worse academic performance or dropping out.

Autossabotagem e trajetória acadêmica de estudantes de graduação da área de Negócios

ABSTRACT This study examined the effect of using self-handicapping strategies on the academic path of undergraduate Business students. Previous studies have analyzed the effects of self-handicapping behavior on academic performance, thus not reflecting on a broader scope such as academic path. Therefore, analyzing the effect of self-handicapping on the academic path, based on a construct that represents academic life, makes it possible to highlight its impacts on major elements that, together, comprise the building of the students' path, such as: university setting, commitment to the course, student skills, involvement in course activities, study conditions, and academic achievement. Self-handicapping is associated with high levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and procrastination. So, assessing the effects of self-handicapping on the education of prospective organizational managers is especially important, as the consequences of continued use of self-handicapping strategies may go beyond the academic setting and affect social and affective issues of these people. Motivated by their views, beliefs, and stereotypes, which lead them to self-handicapping behavior, business leaders and managers can take actions that generate losses and frustrations in situations that require an assertive position in decisions taken in the organizational setting. This prevents the achievement of optimal solutions, which may result in economic bankruptcy and non-compliance with organizational goals and results. In this way, grasping the effect of self-handicapping on the academic path of students in the Business area creates conditions to mitigate it during their education, preventing the results of its continued use from going beyond the university setting and also causing losses in the corporate setting. A survey was carried out with students enrolled in six undergraduate courses in the Business area of a federal public university in southern Brazil. The sample had the participation of 212 undergraduate students and data analysis took place by using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results point out a moderate presence of self-handicapping behavior in research participants and confirm the hypothesis that self-handicapping negatively affects the academic path of undergraduate Business students. This effect tends to be greater among students over 25 years of age and among male students. Even with a moderate presence of self-handicapping behavior among the students under analysis, its effect on the academic path was negative and significant, which suggests that in samples with rather self-handicapping individuals, the academic path tends to be even more impacted.

DESVELANDO O CONHECIMENTO DE ESTUDANTES DE GRADUAÇÃO EM ENFERMAGEM SOBRE AS PESSOAS TRANS

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand what undergraduate Nursing students from a university in southern Brazil know about trans people. Method: a descriptive study with a qualitative approach based on interviews conducted with 19 undergraduate Nursing students enrolled from the eighth to the tenth period of the course. Data collection took place in October and November 2021. Three thematic categories emerged from the thematic analysis, namely: the undergraduate course has to speak about this!; I don't know what it is about; and What is known and said about trans people. Results: the students showed insecurity in the care of trans people because this content is not regularly taught in the curriculum. They denote not knowing how to welcome, care for, respect specificities and treat them by their social name, as well as difficulties taking care of this population group, both in the present time and in the future. In addition to that, few of them had the opportunity of undergoing this experience in the academic practice fields. The content is taught in a single academic discipline that deals with sexuality in general. Conclusion: lack of knowledge about sexual diversity is a limiting factor in the health care provided to this population group. Certain weakness is identified in the teaching-learning process when not relating the reality of the trans population to their health demands.

Focus group in the development of concepts for a Nursing model: experience report.

To communicate the experience of developing concepts for the construction of a care model through focus groups. An experience report on the development of concepts through remote focus groups with members of a research group from a public university in southern Brazil. Focus groups were developed in which homogeneity and heterogeneity criteria were observed among participants. In addition to the concepts of the nursing metaparadigm, the concepts of care and family-centered care were developed, relevant to the nursing care model in question. Despite the challenges of conducting remote focus groups, they were suitable for the collective construction of concepts for a nursing care model, allowing the interaction of participants from different locations.

Testamento vital: conhecimento docente e acadêmico de uma escola médica

Abstract This qualitative study evaluates the level of academic and faculty knowledge in a medicine program regarding the living will and its applicability, end-of-life decision making, and the concept of dignified death. Semistructured interviews were conducted with ten scholars and five professors from a university in southern Brazil. Data were obtained by discourse analysis and classified in the following categories: knowledge and applicability of living wills; view of the end-of-life process and dignified death; and the limits between the physician’s duty and patient autonomy. In conclusion, this knowledge required greater dissemination to benefit patients and legally supported ethical attitudes.

PRÁTICAS INOVADORAS NO ENSINO DA PSICOLOGIA DO DESENVOLVIMENTO

ABSTRACT This article aims to describe innovative teaching and learning strategies used in the disciplines of Developmental Psychology I and II of the Psychology course at a federal university in southern Brazil, as part of a project linked to the Programa de Iniciação à Docência (PID)2 of that university. Diversified activities and techniques adapted to the different contents have been proposed to ensure the participation and engagement of students, such as observation, creation of educational games, development of conceptual maps, analysis of audiovisual and artistic materials, narrative creation and discussion of cases. Carrying out these activities and techniques has proven to be effective in promoting theoretical-practical integration, considering the students’ reality, and in building psychological reasoning for understanding the multiple phenomena associated with human development.

Workshop sobre atendimento de trauma pediátrico: simulação de baixo custo

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess nursing students’ and nurses’ knowledge, satisfaction and self-confidence after a theoretical workshop on emergency care for traumatized children and clinical simulation. Methods: a quasi-experimental study, carried out with nursing students and nurses residing at a public university in southern Brazil. A workshop on pediatric trauma care was created and a mannequin was created for simulations. A knowledge pre-test and post-test and the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning instrument were applied to measure satisfaction and self-confidence in learning. For analysis, descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon test were used to compare means before and after intervention. Results: the difference between misses and hits was statistically significant (p&lt;0.005), demonstrating an increase in participants’ knowledge after the workshop. Satisfaction and self-confidence were demonstrated in the instrument’s high scores. Conclusions: the effectiveness of the workshop in teaching-learning emergency care for pediatric trauma was demonstrated.