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Literature on grief in the workplace is mainly represented in the last three decades and is predominantly western focused. An interpretative phenomenological research study was conducted using criterion sampling to recruit nine participants working full time in Mexican organizations who had a death loss of a close family member in 2018, 2019, 2020, or the first six months of 2021. Participants were interviewed to explore the types of practices offered from their workplace and the implications of those practices, and the felt experience as they made meaning through narrative and visual representation. Results revealed inconsistencies in organizations related to bereavement practices, such as organizations inconsistent communication of bereavement, providing time off, providing flexible bereavement support, and providing financial support for employees exists in the Mexican workplace. The implications of such practices were those of lack of organizational compassion, and insufficient flexibility around work expectations, financial support, and psychological support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional credentialing schemes based on experience and examination are used to clarify the scope and required competencies associated with the practice of a profession. National occupational hygiene (OH) credentials developed in 17 nations have been recognized by the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) to meet or exceed the requirements of a model certification program. To date, there is no credentialing or certification scheme for occupational hygienists in Spanish-speaking regions. To fill this void, a new credentialing body has been created named the Iberoamerican Board of Occupational Hygiene (JIHO). As a first step to the development of a certification exam for a profession, it is necessary to determine the interest in an occupational hygiene certification exam in Spanish and to clarify the most common work practices for those practicing the profession. To determine the proper exam weightings for occupational hygiene competencies needed to practice in Spanish-speaking regions JIHO conducted a comprehensive survey of professional practice of occupational hygiene in nations where Spanish is spoken as the primary language. Surveys were sent to 456 practicing occupational hygienists in nine different countries on a variety of topics. Results indicated that 79% of respondents felt the need for an OH certification exam in Spanish was very or extremely important. The most frequent and important technical competencies utilized in practice were (1) awareness about the health effects of hazardous agents to make decisions about workplace activities and exposures, (2) application of the hierarchy of controls, control banding, hazard communication, training of employees and other methods to reduce worker exposure and workplace risks, and (3) application of principles to recognize and control biohazards in the workplace. The study results have been used to guide the weighting and importance of various technical topics and rubrics on the JIHO exam. Data from this study can be used in the development of certification examinations, to improve international coherence in the profession, and the development of educational programs in OH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article demonstrates how digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) (Zoom/WhatsApp) unexpectedly and counterintuitively proved to be valuable tools for community-engaged health research when, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were integrated into a research study testing a peer support group intervention with female immigrants from Mexico. Because of pandemic restrictions, we changed the study protocol to hold meetings remotely via Zoom rather than in person as originally planned. Because we recognized that this would lack some opportunities for participants to interact and develop relationships, we created a WhatsApp chat for each group. Despite challenges for participants to use ICTs and participant-stated preference for in-person meetings, the results demonstrated that participants overwhelmingly endorsed these technologies as promoting access, participation, engagement, and satisfaction. Zoom/WhatsApp created a valuable environment both as a method for conducting research with this population, but also as part of the intervention for immigrant women to support and learn from each other. ICT adaptations have now permanently changed the way we conduct community-engaged health research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central theme of this article is the way in which psychiatry physicians-in-training deal with uncertainty in the discussion of clinical cases in Mexico. Methodologically, it is approached from the field of clinical ethnography and the narrative interpretation of plots in performative actions where there are sequences of communicative exchanges. In this way, it focuses on a detailed description of situations where clinical cases are reviewed to decipher, explain, and understand intersubjective meanings in the face of the emergence of uncertainty, its management, and the implications on decisions and actions. The study finds that limitations within the field of psychiatry lie in the nosographic construction of disease and its translation into the diagnostic hypotheses made by clinicians, where there are wide margins of ambiguity. The strategies implemented in the face of uncertainty are use of drugs, the collegiate review of the case, and utilization of intuition as a spontaneous, preconscious daily practice. The specific case described here provides a microscopic observation of the complex scenarios in which uncertainty occurs in educational and teaching processes, clearly revealing how patient care is articulated. The narratives and their interpretation are materials for training/curriculum and psychiatric clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Uncertainty and Ambiguity in Amerindian Relationships" by Johannes Neurath analyzes Amerindian ritual art and its relationship with the production of ritual objects and images in Mesoamerica, Northern Mexico, and the United States. The author argues that indigenous art is a technology that allows for relating and transforming, aspects that classical anthropological theories have not satisfactorily addressed. Additionally, the complexity of rituals and myths in the Amerindian world is explored, focusing on ritual condensation and internal social contradictions. The comparative method between different regions is also highlighted in order to understand the symbolism and rituals related to the feathered serpent. The text describes Preuss and Warburg's studies on Indian gods as vegetation demons and discusses the common origin of their religion and art. The iconography of the Southeast Ceremonial Complex is analyzed, questioning the explanation within the framework of cosmological dualism. The power of ritual objects in the Central Mexican Highlands is explored, emphasizing the complexity of identities and relationships. The author invites questioning established ideas and offers a new perspective on indigenous art and knowledge. [Extracted from the article]

Background: This manuscript describes an in-state nursing student global health-care experience. The 2021 Rio Grande Valley service learning team at Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University traveled from Dallas to McAllen, Texas to volunteer in a COVID vaccination clinic and refugee respite center on the U.S.-Mexican border. Method: A competency-based evaluation utilized the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education Featured Concepts , with a focus on social determinants of health, as a framework. Results: The evaluation of the service learning trip through the lens of social determinants of health and the Core Competencies can serve as a guideline for the design of future trips. Conclusion: The Rio Grande Valley service learning trip contributed to nursing students' self-reports of competency in global health education, in identifying the social determinants of health that characterized the immigrants and refugees, and in service and advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Alzheimer's disease, as well as other dementias, cause a progressive deterioration of cognitive functions, preventing patients from making decisions and having control over themselves in an advanced stage of the disease. Objective. To explore some expectations, wishes and preferences in a sample of mature adults should they develop Alzheimer or other dementia. Method. We surveyed 368 mature Mexican adults without dementia using a large survey created by the authors and used in a previous study; data were collected in some public places where mature people were invited to participate. The survey was completed from July 2019 to August 2020. Results. Although most participants had considered they might suffer from dementia in the future, less than half had communicated their wishes to their relatives about future medical treatments in case they could no longer decide for themselves; very few had prepared a written advance directive. Most participants agreed that patients should know their initial diagnosis, mainly to be able to prepare themselves. The main reason given by those who would prefer to hide the diagnosis was to avoid suffering. Discussion and conclusion. Our results highlight the need for health professionals to promote discussion with people about the possibility of suffering from dementia, as well as the importance of making decisions in advance, and letting their relatives know about them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do criminal actors publicly display threatening messages? Studies of organized crime emphasize that criminal actors rely on clandestine networks of influence. Subtle or coded threats are an effective means of extending that influence, but publicizing these threats appears to undermine their chief advantage. We argue that publicized threats broadcast an imagined order, delineating who has a place in society under criminal control, and who does not. To demonstrate this argument, we construct a "grammar of threat" and use this to analyze public threats broadcast by four criminal actors: two groups in Colombia and two in Mexico. The analysis demonstrates that every group projects an order through their threats, but that the order imagined varies by group. Some orders are more clearly ideological; some are more localized or more expansive. These findings highlight the important role of communication—distinct from but often combined with violence—in criminal governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brief alcohol advice offered to patients was shown to be a clinically- and cost-effective intervention to prevent and manage alcohol-related health harm. However, this intervention is not yet optimally implemented in practice. A suggested strategy to improve the implementation of brief alcohol advice is through community actions which would enhance the environment in which primary healthcare providers must deliver the intervention. However, there has been scarce research conducted to date regarding which community actions have most influence on the adoption and implementation of brief alcohol advice. The current protocol presents the development of a package of community actions to be implemented in three Latin American municipalities, in Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The community actions were based on the Institute for Health Care Improvement's framework for going to full scale, and include: (i) involvement of a Community Advisory Board, (ii) involvement of a project champion, (iii) adoption mechanisms, (iv) support systems and (v) a communication campaign. By presenting a protocol for developing community actions with input from local stakeholders, this article contributes to advancing the public health field of alcohol prevention by potentially stimulating the sustainable adoption and implementation of brief alcohol advice in routine practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Little information from developing countries during the first lockdown for COVID-19 is available. We hypothesized that the use of communication tools, and not living alone would provide a protective effect against DS. Objective. To determine the association between social connections and depressive symptoms (DS) during the first lockdown period among Mexican community-dwelling older adults. Method. Cross-sectional phone survey including 269 participants aged 65 years or older. Participants were asked about their social connections and the presence of DS during the first lockdown for COVID-19. Results. Mean age was 83.2 (SD = 6.7). Compared with those without DS, those with DS reported a greater number of phone calls or videocalls although this was not statistically significant. However, when stratifying by housing situation, only the participants who lived alone and that received less calls from friends had more DS (p = .04). Discussion and conclusion. Living alone allowed the participants not to have much contact with family and this caused friends to represent the most important social relationship outside the home. We hypothesize that the means to stay socially active for older adults in Latin America are different and have a different impact. Because, DS only were present among the participants who reported living alone and having fewer calls from friends during the confinement period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the transformative and assurance processes in the educational quality of the Universities, it is important to consider aspects that allow the development and increase of the indicators in the educational programs of the Universities. This document describes in particular a case study of a Public University in Mexico, in terms of the insertion and development of actions and strategies of audio visual reality applied to undergraduate and postgraduate educational programs, in dialogue with the academic, research and administrative processes, resulting in a progressive advance that is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: clinical simulation is a learning tool that integrates knowledge, skills, participation and commitment of the student, allows reproduction, feedback, assessment and reflection. It is an opportunity to generate competencies that favor the formation of critical thinking, clinical reasoning and judgment, communication skills, teamwork, problem solving and decision making. Objective: to identify the perception of undergraduate nursing students on clinical simulation as a learning experience in a public university institution in northeastern Mexico. Methodology: a quantitative approach, descriptive and cross-sectional design was used in 477 nursing students. The questionnaire "Nursing students' perception of clinical simulation as a learning experience" was used. Ethical normative aspects established in Mexico were considered. Results: students' perception of clinical simulation as a learning tool was very good in 49.5% and good in 44.9%, indicating that it was a positive experience. Conclusions: the perception of clinical simulation as a learning experience shown by students was positive. It favored the attitude to work in a team, strengthened leadership, communication, integration of theory and generation of critical thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familias Unidas del Chamizal is a community organization in El Paso, TX that works to increase awareness around the issues of education, environmental racism, development, and public health. In 2019, the El Paso Independent School District launched an initiative to close several schools due to low enrollment, forcing students in Barrio Chamizal to relocate to Frederick Douglass Elementary, which borders a designated industrial zone and is surrounded by two major recycling plants. In response, Familias Unidas has organized to reverse the decision and call attention to the discriminatory practices of the school district. We take the public advocacy efforts of Familias Unidas as an instrumental case study to trace the intersections of health communication, Latinx communication, and environmental racism along the U.S.–Mexico border. Utilizing an intersectional borderlands health communication approach, we draw on publicly available texts to trace the argumentative strategies employed by Familias Unidas to mobilize community members. Familias Unidas rhetorically constructs a public health crisis in the borderlands by connecting the school closures to larger coalitional struggles concerning the environment, citizenship, race/ethnicity, language, and class. We identify three rhetorical strategies – familia, comunidad, and (in)justicia – employed by Familias Unidas to shape their public argument(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current U.S. immigration policies disproportionately impact Mexican‐origin mixed‐status families, yet few studies examine the consequences of immigration enforcement (e.g., immigration‐related arrest and detention) and deportation on sibling dynamics. Given this gap, this study focuses on the experiences and changes within sibling relationships in the aftermath of parental detention and deportation. We analyzed a subsample of 20 citizen children interviews (7 sibling dyads; 2 sibling triads) from a multi‐site binational study that examined the psychosocial functioning of U.S. citizen children with undocumented Mexican parents. Using inductive thematic analysis, we explored the roles and functional importance of sibling relationships before and after experiences of parents' detention and deportation. Our findings suggest that prior to detention or deportation experiences, sibling relationships were described as "normal." After these experiences, however, sibling relationships changed and developed protective adaptations, including more open communication about their experiences and the assumption of caregiving roles. In cases where deportation did not occur, there still existed the threat of future immigration‐related action, which contributed to fear and an inability to share feelings and experiences among siblings. Our findings suggest that sibling relationships might serve as an important locus of stability and protection. Yet, adaptive communication may not emerge as long as the threat of apprehension, detention, and deportation exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-cultural identity depends largely on the forms of communication within communities. This article presents an analysis of alternative communication tools that promote citizen participation and are committed to social justice and the empowerment of communities. With a case study and a content analysis developed in the Mennonite community of Chihuahua, Mexico, the role that alternative communication has played in recent decades is exemplified and the importance of its study is highlighted to recognize the lines of action that allow the preservation of cultural identities in minority groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family reunification following migration-related separations is often challenging for immigrant youth as they adjust to their new environment and reacquaint with their caregiver. Scant research has explored the experiences of family reunification specifically for unaccompanied immigrant youth. This study was a secondary analysis to explore the complexities of family reunification through the lens of attachment theory and family systems. Data were collected from 30 youth, six parents, and four school administrators via focus groups and semistructured interviews. Unaccompanied immigrant youth had arrived to the United States in the previous three years from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, or Mexico. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results showed that the youth struggled to reconnect with their parents due to prolonged separations, which contributed to loneliness and feelings of loss. Parent–child attachment disruptions contributed to problems related to relationships among family members, traditional family roles and hierarchies, and new family constellations (e.g. blended families). Results point to the importance of developing interventions to increase trust, empathy, and communication between unaccompanied immigrant youth and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia diagnosis is associated with special communication difficulties between clinicians, service users and caregivers, which may hinder the therapeutic alliance, treatment compliance, and rehabilitation. A clinically useful psychiatric nosology should improve communication between all final users. To evaluate the accessibility (vs. difficulty), acceptability (vs. related negative feelings) and adequacy (i.e. correspondence with the patient's experience) of the terms proposed for ICD-11 schizophrenia diagnostic guidelines, interviews were conducted with 15 persons with a schizophrenia diagnosis and 15 caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. The ICD-11 terms that were most accessible for service users and caregivers were those most commonly experienced by patients (such as delusions and hallucinations). However, many less frequent features were not understood by a high percentage of participants, and most terms had negative connotations for both service users and caregivers, including the label for the "schizophrenia" disorder. Specific suggestions of more neutral, colloquial terms were proposed by participants. The jargon in the current psychiatric classifications for schizophrenia has little heuristic value for service users and their caregivers in terms of accessibility or acceptability, highlighting the need for nosological systems' co-development with experts by experience to change language that is confusing or unacceptable to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that access to mobile telecommunications, and through them to the Internet, can provide greater social well-being. Likewise, within the telecommunications sector there was a growing demand in the use and access to services. This generates the need for mobile operators to expand and increase the capacity of their telecommunications networks. In order to achieve this, it is important to analyze the strategies for increasing the capacity and coverage of the mobile infrastructure of the main mobile operators. A longitudinal analysis of the node density by geographic area was carried out at the municipal level. Likewise, the four main mobile operators with a network in Mexico were analyzed using crowdsourced data. Also, the data was filtered by LTE technology and a correspondence was made between the nodes and the frequency bands used by each operator. The operators' network capacity increase strategies and the percentage of use of the frequency bands assigned to each operator were analyzed. As a result, the main mobile network operators in Mexico have followed a similar coverage strategy. Likewise, in the analyzed data, a positive correlation was not found between node densification and the technological characteristics of the frequency bands. It is suggested to invest in new infrastructure for the deployment of new technologies, and to promote mobile coverage in rural areas. Finally, it is suggested to facilitate the leasing of bands on various frequencies that allow operators to take advantage of their technological characteristics; through costs that are aligned with the international market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the result of an investigation developed in the restaurant industry in Mexico, its objective is to know the impact of incentives as a motivational factor in organizational behavior in employees of a seafood company, it should be noted that this analysis was carried out in two moments, in the years 2009 and 2020. The descriptive method was achieved to publicize the findings and a comparison of the results was made, classified according to the three dimensions, incentives as an independent variable and its relationship with motivation and organizational behavior, as dependent variables. From this research it is concluded that the granting of incentives is essential in the motivation of personnel and positively impacts organizational behavior. The differences observed in the two studies carried out show that, at present, recognition incentives have been taking on greater importance than economic incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to describe the use of Spanish grammatical loans with discursive function in the Otomi language using an onomasiological approach. Using data from traditional and life narratives, I formed a corpus composed of 13,617 words obtained from sixteen Otomi-Spanish bilingual collaborators that belong to the central Mexico Otomi variant (locality of San Andres Cuexcontitlan, State of Mexico). Here I show that some Spanish grammatical loans (conjugations and adverbs) can have a discursive function, especially metadiscursive (structural), and cognitive (logical connection). However, I found that loans with epistemic and evidential function have a low incidence in the corpus. This finding suggests that Otomi speakers may prefer using the native linguistic resources from Otomi to express evidential values since this language has grammatical elements that encode this type of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this essay is to reflexively recover the processes of elaboration and conceptual as well as methodological development of a heuristic model of an “academic field”, in search of interpreting the conditions and intentions of the institutionalization of communication studies in Mexico. These have been assumed for more than three decades in terms of a meta-research proposal, which in turn serves to recognize and articulate the research practices in their diverse contextual scales. The contribution of the journal Comunicación y Sociedad is located in this trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between parental involvement (communication, motivation and reading promotion) and educational achievement in baccalaureate students. A quantitative, cross-sectional, nonexperimental and correlational study was conducted with 13,478 parents or legal guardians and students undertaking the educational stage under study in Mexico in 2018. A questionnaire was administered to parents or legal guardians, in which they provided information about their children. The questionnaire included items to measure factors pertaining to communication, motivation and reading promotion. The validity and internal consistency of each factor was established using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, according to the resulting Cronbach's alpha () and McDonald's omega () coefficients, respectively. Educational achievement was determined according to student reading, mathematics and science outcomes in PISA 2018. In order to empirically verify the proposed theoretical model, a structural equation modelling approach was taken and, from this, the empirical model was obtained. Based on the above, educational achievement was found to be directly related with communication and reading promotion. Likewise, an indirect relationship was obtained between motivation and educational achievement. The relationship between the factors examined in the present study and educational achievement is not sufficiently considered in in baccalaureate students. It is, therefore, important to recognise family as a valuable entity with a meaningful impact in the school environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that claims for the return of cultural property have been present for decades, in recent years they have become a central issue with extensive global coverage, both in countries of origin and in those where the pieces are Located, which has generated greater awareness in these regards. In this article, I recount the Latest advances in matters of cultural restitution and the fight against illicit trafficking and commercialization of archaeological antiquities in the case of Mexico, and I reflect on the role that archaeologists, academics, and specialists can play to communicate and enrich the discussions about them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Public instances use indigenous languages in communications about COVID-19; but the availability of such materials is still very limited and sometimes are not accessible enough. Objective: To generate health communications according to the reality of the most numerous indigenous group in Mexico, the maya. Methodology: We conformed a multidisciplinary working team, and to identify the necessities of information, we performed a search for official materials and a survey in Mayan communities. We generated and adjusted the communications considering linguistic and sociocultural conditions. Results: All products were spoken in maya because the majority of maya speakers do not read in their language. We generated three videos and a podcast series of six episodes, in digital format and for traditional radio. They include general health information and topics with limited coverage in maya language. Conclusion: With our communication materials, we expect to contribute to equity in information about COVID-19 and to make more visible the importance of maya language in health messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because breastfeeding offers short- and long- term health benefits to mothers and children, breastfeeding promotion and support is a public health priority. Evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 is not likely to be transmitted via breastmilk. Moreover, antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are thought to be contained in breastmilk of mothers with history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination. WHO recommends direct breastfeeding as the preferred infant feeding option during the COVID-19 pandemic, even among women with COVID-19; but conflicting practices have been adopted, which could widen existing inequities in breastfeeding. This study aims to describe how information about breastfeeding was communicated in Mexican media during the pandemic and assess Mexican adults' beliefs regarding breastfeeding among mothers infected with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective content analysis of media coverage on breastfeeding in Mexico between March 1 and September 24, 2020, excluding advertisements. For the content analysis, we performed both a sentiment analysis and an analysis based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) for breastfeeding promotion. Additionally, we conducted a descriptive analysis of nationally representative data on adults' beliefs about breastfeeding from the July 2020 round of the ENCOVID-19 survey in Mexico and stratified the results by gender, age, and socioeconomic status. Results: A total of 1014 publications on breastfeeding were identified on the internet and television and in newspapers and magazines. Most information was published during World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated in August. The sentiment analysis showed that 57.2% of all information was classified as positive. The SWOT analysis indicated that most information focused on current actions, messages, policies, or programs that enable breastfeeding (i.e., strengths) or those not currently in place but that may enable breastfeeding (i.e., opportunities) for breastfeeding promotion. However, ENCOVID-19 survey results showed that 67.3% of adults living in households with children under 3 years of age believe that mothers with COVID-19 should not breastfeed, and 19.8% do not know whether these mothers should breastfeed. These beliefs showed differences both by gender and by socioeconomic status. Conclusions: While the Mexican government endorsed the recommendation on breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, communication was sporadic, inconstant and unequal across types of media. There was a widespread notion that mothers with COVID-19 should not breastfeed and due to differences on beliefs by socioeconomic status, health inequities could be exacerbated by increasing the risk of poorer breastfeeding practices and preventing vulnerable groups from reaping the short and long-term benefits of breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of algorithmic political communication has arisen through the joint development of propaganda and communication theories, as well as the findings of computer science. This is a field that generates results that amplify and extend to political communication, such as microsegmentation or automated diffusion of content; likewise, it produces some adverse effects that hinder citizen participation in the cybersphere. This paper presents a review of works published in three Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico) with artificial intelligence, communication, and democracy as their constituent elements. The data come from a total of 206 documents, including reports from supranational organisms and associations, and publications in scientific journals indexed in databases such as Google Scholar and Scopus between 2011 and 2021. The selection criterion is based on the total or partial appearance of certain keywords, plus filters by relevance and impact factors. This systematic review is structured based along four axes that explain democracy according to Landman et al. (2009): electoral participation, participation of civil society, media integrity, and impartial administration. The main conclusions indicate that many of the practices in the studied countries are still at an incipient or experimental stage, with algorithmic political communication being used especially during electoral campaigns. Similarly, an increasing resistance from civil society to the influence of social networks is starting to be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to understand genetics within the context of health. This paper assesses (a) genetic knowledge among Mexican-born farmworker and non-farmworker adults; (b) their interpersonal and device sources of genetic knowledge; and (c) the association between their genetic knowledge and the sources of this genetic knowledge. Interviews were conducted with Mexican-born farmworkers (100) and non-farmworkers (100) in North Carolina. Participants answered 15 questions to assess genetic knowledge, and sources from which they had seen or heard about genes and genetics. Results show limited knowledge of genetics, with farmworkers and non-farmworkers providing a similar level of correct responses (6.6 versus 7.3), but with farmworkers providing more incorrect responses (4.0 versus 2.7). Important sources of genetic information for farmworkers were promotoras (47%), compared to teachers (49%) for non-farmworkers. This study demonstrates a need for increased dissemination of genetic information to Mexican-origin farmworkers and non-farmworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is about communication on social media about COVID-19 and its impact on users and aims to analyze the messages on Twitter of the presidents of three countries (Spain, Mexico and the United States) with categories of integrative leadership and pragmatic leadership present in its content and relate them to the positive or negative dialectic that they generate among users, in order to identify the impact of the presidential speech of COVID-19. The methodology is cuantitative and cualitative with content analysis of the messages and statistical tests on the interaction with users in the tweets issued by the presidents between March 15 and April 15, 2020 about COVID-19 and 1% of user comments. Among the main findings of the content analysis is that the three presidents show pragmatic leadership. In the analysis of the interaction, in Mexico there are more favorites, while in Spain and the United States more retweets. Finally, the negative comments in the three countries are related to politics, while the positive ones in Mexico and Spain are about politics, health and the economy; and in the United States on economics, politics and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: Self‐determination means that people decide for themselves about their future. Self‐determination is very important in people's transition to adulthood and independent living.Six young adults talked with peers and facilitators about their transition to living in an independent‐living flat in Mexico.We wanted to learn what it was like for these young adults to transition to independent living.The young adults shared that: (a) It is their decision whether to move to an independent‐living flat; (b) They feel that living independently is challenging; (c) Learning new things at independent‐living contexts makes them feel good about themselves as young adults.Talking with young people about their independent‐living experiences is important for planning transitions according to their own strengths and interests.Talking to others can help people decide where and with whom to live. Background: Young people with intellectual disability experience important transitions as they move towards independent adult living. Transition is supported by self‐determination, comprising volition (making conscious choices) and agency (acting with intention). Dialogic interactions that legitimise students' voices potentially promote self‐determination. Consequently, this project aimed to involve young people actively in talking together about their futures. Methods: The research project took place in a university‐based transition programme in Mexico: Building Bridges. Six Mexican young adults with intellectual disability participated. The research project focused on their experiences of self‐determination in personal, social, and educational contexts. Data collection incorporated discussion sessions and participant observations. In discussions, students shared their experiences of transition to Building Bridges, and an independent‐living flat. A thematic analysis was conducted. Findings: The students' transition to Building Bridges was difficult, but they believed that they were learning and growing with support. Regarding their transition to the independent‐living context, the students perceive that whether to move or not is their decision, that independent living is challenging, and that the things they are learning make them feel good about themselves. Conclusions: Listening to students' views prompts consideration of how transition programmes could enhance their self‐determination. For instance, by reflecting and negotiating rules with them; or giving them options, such as sleeping at the flat one day per week initially. Self‐determination is exercised within the context of relationships. Creating spaces for dialogues that allows educators and/or researchers to learn and reflect with students might be a way to know and legitimise students' experiences, and plan transitions based on their strengths and interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the US-Mexico border region has had increasing restrictions due to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), the economically and socially integrated region continues to facilitate necessary movement between the two countries. Binational partners representing universities, government, and health delivery worked together to develop a COVID-19 Virtual Seminar for the US-Mexico Border Region, which consisted of weekly sessions in Spanish designed to better facilitate communication and collaborative systems between border states. In total 835 participants registered for the virtual seminar with attendance ranging from 394 in Session 1 to 269 in Session 6. From evaluation surveys (n = 297), organizers observed a large plurality of healthcare professionals, followed by students, researchers, and government employees. The seminar's contribution to increasing collaborative and communication systems identified major needs in the region surrounding surveillance and monitoring; increased resources for migrant shelters to control outbreaks; an increase in personal protective equipment; tracking binational cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose an important public health problem worldwide, there is a limited and conflicting knowledge about such illnesses in rural or urban settings. The present study aimed to explore the social representations (SRs) held by people in the state of Puebla, Mexico on insects and the diseases they transmit. Understood as the group of ideas held and shared by a group of human beings which enable them to understand and interpret the world, SRs constitute what could be called a collective science or knowledge of everyday life. Methods: The present study was conducted in six municipalities in the state of Puebla, wherein an open-ended questionnaire was applied with three age ranges. A total of 360 questionnaires were applied with people dedicated to a variety of activities. The survey data was analyzed to identify the SR's structure (the central nucleus of the SR and its peripheral system) and the level of organization in order to explore the degree to which the ideas that constitute it are shared and based on consensus. To describe the structure of the SR, a network analysis was conducted and complemented by a correspondence analysis, which also enables the differences between social groups to be identified. Results: Popular knowledge on insects and VBDs is often limited, even in communities in which more than one-vector insect is found. The elements that were most frequently mentioned in the data, as pertaining to the insect–disease relationship, were mosquitoes and dengue fever, with scorpions (which are arachnids and not insects) receiving the second-highest number of mentions, while other insects such as kissing bugs, flies, and cockroaches were also mentioned as transmitting VBDs. While television was the main information source on VBDs for the residents of these communities, biology books were also mentioned. Chemical control measures (insect repellents) were the most used prevention method, and traditional medicine was the remedy most commonly used to treat insect bites and transmitted diseases. Entomophobia was the main cause for the respondents' fear and rejection of insects. Beyond the deleterious effects of many insects, those surveyed also recognized a positive relationship with insects due to economic and nutritional benefits they provide. Conclusions: The present study provides relevant information on how insects and the diseases they transmit are perceived by rural and urban communities. Although the population is aware of dengue fever and the role of mosquitoes in transmitting it, information campaigns are required for other historically neglected VBDs, such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and, even, rickettsiosis. As it is important to understand the impact that these illnesses have on communities further research is required to ensure that better information and guidance is provided on VBDs in order to develop a culture of illness prevention in not only the rural but also the metropolitan communities of the state of Puebla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a rationalized picture of the production of knowledge and reflection on communication phenomena, in their broadest sense, within the surrounding of Baja California. A corpus of documentary references of an academic and informative nature, corresponding to the period 2000 to 2019, is analyzed, which aims to account for the path paved in communication and society studies in this entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the intergenerational (IG) activity "Let's Make a Movie" in Aguascalientes, Mexico that aims to gather non-familiar older adults and adolescents to produce a short film and gain new experiences with people they are not familiar with. Topics include how adolescents view older adults as boring and conservative and older people's view of the young as impolite and insolent and the Fifth Dimension model to create new approaches to learning.

Scientific production in Latin America and the Caribbean has experienced great growth in recent years (Álvarez-Muñoz y Pérez-Montoro, 2016; Santa y Herrero, 2010), due in part to the increase in public investment in science in these countries and the indexing of their journals in global (Scopus or Wos) and regional (Latindex or Redalyc) databases of bibliographic references. However, in communication, the publication of academic articles is still embryonic. There are several academic studies (Flores-García y Becerril-García, 2020; López-Ornelas et al., 2017; Rogel-Salazar et al., 2017) that highlight the scarce of disclosure of scientific knowledge in this region, remarking the limited presence of communication journals published in Latin America and indexed in databases. In the specific area of public relations, the conceptualization and recognition of this discipline in the academic and professional field has been increasing since the mid-twentieth century. However, despite the progress experienced, the small number of existing studies on the subject in these journals, justify this investigation line. In this sense, this research, within the framework of bibliometric studies, proposes to determine the position occupied by public relations in the academic production about communication of the main journals of the Latin American Caribbean in the last ten years (2010-2020); as well as analyzing the main characteristics of these publications by examining the areas of knowledge of the published texts, the institutions from which they come or its authorship, among other aspects such as the object of study and the methodological procedure used in the research. The scientific journals that make up the sample (Comunicación y Sociedad, from Mexico, Palabra Clave and Signo y Pensamiento, both from Colombia) have been selected based on representativeness criteria such as the impact index in the Scopus bibliographic database and the geographical scope of the Latin American Caribbean. The results indicate that the discipline of public relations is marginal in the overall scientific production in communication in the Latin American Caribbean. Most of the texts published by the journals with the highest impact index in the region focus on fields related to communication but are far removed from the specific area of public relations. However, it is noticeable that in recent years greater attention has been paid to this discipline, with an increase in scientific production in the period between 2016 and 2020. The findings obtained also allow us to establish a profile of the scientific production on public relations disseminated in the decade from 2010 to 2020 by the leading journals in the Latin American Caribbean. A collective authorship, balanced in terms of the sex of the signatories, mainly from universities in Latin America and Spain, and the use of empirical approaches from a qualitative perspective, define the type of academic production analysed. Despite the limitations that this research presents when it comes to extrapolating the results to the whole of the scientific production on public relations in territories other than the Latin American Caribbean, it is outlined as an exploratory study and a first approach to the still incipient research on the discipline of public relations in Caribbean academic journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although there is growing recognition of the importance of person-centered maternity care, the needs and perspectives of pregnant adolescents are rarely considered. The purpose of this study was to compare the maternity care experiences of Mexican-origin adolescents in Guanajuato, Mexico and Fresno, California from both youth and healthcare provider perspectives.Methods: Qualitative interviews and focus groups were conducted with a total of 89 respondents, including 74 pregnant and parenting adolescents as well as 15 providers between December 2016 and July 2017. Adolescents also completed a short demographic survey prior to participation. Transcripts in English and Spanish were coded and thematically analyzed using Dedoose software. Results were compared by location and between youth and providers.Results: Four themes emerged regarding patient-provider interactions: the need for communication and clear explanations, respectful versus judgmental providers, engaging youth in decision-making, and a focus on the age of the youth and their partners. While youth had similar perspectives and priorities in both locations, youth in Mexico reported more negative healthcare experiences than youth in California. Perspectives varied between the youth and providers, with providers in both California and Mexico identifying several structural challenges in providing quality care to adolescents. In California, challenges to supporting immigrant Latina adolescents and their families included language and translation issues as well as barriers to care due to immigration status and documentation. In both locations, providers also mentioned high patient caseloads and their own concerns about the youth's life choices.Conclusion: Youth-centered care requires more effective and respectful patient-provider communication, where adolescents are engaged in their healthcare decision-making and delivery options. Changes in patient-provider interactions can help improve the maternity care experiences and outcomes of Latina adolescents. Healthcare systems and providers need to reconfigure their approaches to focus on the needs and priorities of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Palliative care is insufficiently integrated in the continuum of care for older people. It is unclear to what extent healthcare policy for older people includes elements of palliative care and thus supports its integration. Aim: (1) To develop a reference framework for identifying palliative care contents in policy documents; (2) to determine inclusion of palliative care in public policy documents on healthcare for older people in 13 rapidly ageing countries. Design: Directed documentary analysis of public policy documents (legislation, policies/strategies, guidelines, white papers) on healthcare for older people. Using existing literature, we developed a reference framework and data extraction form assessing 10 criteria of palliative care inclusion. Country experts identified documents and extracted data. Setting: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain. Results: Of 139 identified documents, 50 met inclusion criteria. The most frequently addressed palliative care elements were coordination and continuity of care (12 countries), communication and care planning, care for family, and ethical and legal aspects (11 countries). Documents in 10 countries explicitly mentioned palliative care, nine addressed symptom management, eight mentioned end-of-life care, and five referred to existing palliative care strategies (out of nine that had them). Conclusions: Health care policies for older people need revising to include reference to end-of-life care and dying and ensure linkage to existing national or regional palliative care strategies. The strong policy focus on care coordination and continuity in policies for older people is an opportunity window for palliative care advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until a few years ago, the clinical record was exclusively integrated as a record that was in physical format. However, with the intervention of technological advances, it has evolved towards the integration of the electronic clinical record by various health institutions in Mexico, which have opted for the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate the organization of clinical information and health care of higher quality and more focused on the patient. In this regard, although the electronic clinical record is presented as an invaluable instrument for advances in the health sector, at the same time it raises new questions not only from the medical, but also legal point of view, related to its ownership and access to the personal information it contains, as well as the protection of sensitive data related to the patient, a situation that is sometimes complex due to the large amount of information that said sector generates and the different hypotheses regarding its access and protection. Introduction: In this article, once we referred to the impact that ICTs have had in the field of health, we analyze the minimum content that the legislation on the subject provides for the correct integration of the clinical record. The foregoing gives rise to posing the challenges that in the issue of access and protection of the patient's personal data generates the transit towards the integration of the electronic clinical record in the public health sector, taking into account that any treatment of personal data, must be subject to the regime of principles, duties and rights in the matter of personal data protection, except in the cases provided for in the laws of the matter. Method: The method used is of an analytical type, for the decomposition of the elements, observation of the causes, nature and effects of the implementation of the legal framework that regulates the electronic clinical record in Mexico. In particular, the analysis takes as a point of reference the General Law of Protection of Personal Data in Possession of Obligatory Subjects (LGPDPPSO), which establishes the bases, principles and procedures to guarantee the right of everyone to the protection of their personal data, in possession of obligated subjects; and the NOM- 004-SSA3-2012, of the clinical record, which establishes the mandatory scientific, ethical, technological, and administrative criteria in the preparation, integration, use, management, filing, conservation, ownership, and confidentiality of the clinical record. Results: The right of access to the clinical record is essential so that patients have tools to decide in the most appropriate way about their health, but also so that the institutions that are part of the National Health System, as responsible for the treatment and protection of the patient's personal information, provide more appropriate and quality medical care, preventing data from being dispersed. In this sense, the clinical record guarantees the exercise not only of the right to health of patients, but also that of the protection of their personal data that is processed by medical and administrative personnel who work in a health institution; so its proper integration, in accordance with the legislation that regulates it and, in particular, with NOM-004-SSA3-2012, of the clinical record, grants benefits to both the patient and the service provider in any medical institution. Discussion or Conclusion: The proactive action of the institutions that are part of the National Health System must contribute to providing certainty and security within a strict framework of data governance, in accordance with the following recommendations: a) Establish an adequate governance structure regarding the protection of personal data of patients. It is about assigning areas and personnel responsible for the protection of patient information, responsibilities and procedures in each one; b) Maintain an inventory in databases that allows classifying the personal data of patients by type, differentiating between personal data in general and those of a sensitive nature, generating, where appropriate, dissociation procedures through which personal data cannot be associated with the holder or allow, due to its structure, content or degree of disaggregation, its identification; c) Establish a personal data protection policy within health institutions, in accordance with the current and applicable legal framework for protection; d) Continuously train the staff of health institutions in data protection with specific content for the medical and administrative staff involved; e) Implement technical, physical and administrative security measures to guarantee the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the patient's personal data; and f) Make privacy notices available to patients that are consistent with the data protection policy and the current and applicable legal framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore whether maternal sensitivity is associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) severity in children with and without ASD. Design. The samples consisted of 25 Mexican dyads of children with ASD (aged 3.1-6.9 years) and their mothers (aged 20-47 years) and 24 Mexican dyads of children without ASD (aged 3.4-6.7 years) and their mothers (aged 24-45 years). Maternal sensitivity and ASD severity symptoms were scored from 2-h videos of mother-child daily interactions. Results. A between-group comparison showed a trend toward less severe ASD in children with highly sensitive mothers, specifically in the Nonverbal Communication subdomain. Conclusions. Greater maternal sensitivity is associated with improved social ability in children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text analyzes and examines theoretically and empirically what is now a matter of a serious discussion in the national academic environment around the production, diffusion and dissemination of scientific academic research: Do basic research activities contribute significantly to the progress in training of specialized personnel? If so, what role do academic diffusion products have as a teaching strategy in the area of communication studies in undergraduate and graduate programs? The objective was to evaluate the internal consistency and reliability of a theoretical scale that measures the production and scientific diffusion of communication in the higher education environment. A questionnaire with thirteen manifest variables was applied in a sample of 66 undergraduate and graduate professors in the area of Communication Sciences in a public university in of Mexico. The results confirm that a reliable instrument was available with data consistent with the validity of the scale. The evidence presented concludes that there are some causes to explain why undergraduate and graduate professional teaching and training are disconnected from research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to identify the variables associated with the perception that the members of the educational community (professors and students) from higher education institutions in Ibero-America during, the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study based on an Internet applied survey from April 6th to 20th of 2020, with 771 respondents (1-α = 95% and e = 3,5) from Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Spain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The main results reveal how the positive assessment of higher institutions depends on how professors and students perceived the risk of infection and other external variables (non-institutional) such as their previous experience in virtual environments. To a lesser degree, during the study period, professors and students with the most negative states of mind expressed more significant difficulties in managing academic activities. Therefore, it recommends that higher education institutions in Ibero-American work improve communication channels and implement programs of accompaniment that foster resiliency, starting from the construction of institutional bonds and strengthening the socioemotional skills of both professors and students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Family violence has been shown to have a dramatic impact on individual and family life in the United States and other countries. Numerous studies have assessed the influence that exposure to violence can have on family dynamics and parent–child relationships. However, less is known about the association between family violence and parent–child relationships with Mexican families. Objective: Guided by social interaction learning theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the link between family violence, PTSD, and mother–child interaction patterns. Methods: Eighty-seven mother–child dyads from Mexico completed assessments for exposure to family violence and PTSD symptoms. We coded and analyzed observational tasks to assess prosocial parent–child interactions, such as positive communication and problem solving. We conducted an actor-partner independence model (APIM) to examine the association between exposure to family violence, PTSD and mother–child relationship dynamics. Results: As expected, higher exposure to family violence was linked to higher PTSD symptoms for mothers. Unexpectedly, higher maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with better communication during dyadic interaction tasks with their children. Conclusions: The present study suggests that individuals from certain cultures (i.e., Mexico) may respond differently to experiencing family violence. The use of multiple measurement methods to assess the relational effects of trauma on family dynamics can advance the scientific understanding of trauma affected families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Caregiver-implemented naturalistic communication interventions (CI-NCIs) support the communication abilities of young children with language disorders and enhance the communication behaviors of their caregivers. Yet, few CI-NCIs have been adapted and tested for feasibility with families who speak Spanish at home. This study addresses this gap in the literature by examining the social validity and preliminary outcomes of an adapted CI-NCI program with families who identified as Mexican immigrants and spoke Spanish. Method: A multiphase cultural adaptation process enhanced the Language and Play Every Day program for Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrant families in the United States. Six families, including eight caregivers and eight toddlers, participated. Caregivers received coaching on the use of language-facilitating strategies within existing home routines. Multiple measures of the social validity of the intervention's goals, procedures, and outcomes were collected. Changes in caregivers' reported confidence, knowledge, and use of language-facilitating strategies and children's receptive and expressive communication were examined to determine preliminary outcomes. Results: Overall, caregivers perceived many of the intervention's goals, procedures, and outcomes as socially valid and specified aspects of the intervention needing improvement. Caregivers and children showed modest but potentially clinically meaningful gains in their communication skills following the intervention despite wide individual variability. Conclusions: Given some recommendations to further adapt the intervention, this CI-NCI appears to be feasible for supporting the communication development of children of Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrant descent. Thus, future research on the efficacy of the intervention is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender violence, despite the efforts of national and international organizations, continues to be a daily problem in Mexico; This is not only presented in visible ways, but there are also symbolic manifestations, interwoven in the discourse and in the ideas, which go unnoticed. The main objective is to identify the social representations of women in the commercials of Tecate beer in order to appreciate symbolic violence from an interdisciplinary approach and based on a qualitative methodology. In these materials, women are represented from two conceptions: from the dichotomous idea of gender or as a secondary object on which the discourse does not fall explicitly, but rather establishes an analogy that shows ideas, images and stereotypes around them. The classic representations of women prevail, where they are associated with traditionally assigned roles. Inadequate representations are manifested, such as the ones that reinforce epistemic domination, establishing as elements of feminine legitimation the values imposed by patriarchal structures. Equally, imaginary appear to reproduce the controlling images of gender as the mother-wife, always excluded from the public sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines some instances of interspecific dialogues between owls and human beings recorded in Nahuatl-language sources from the sixteenth century. Since ancient times, owls have been considered omens of death in Mexico. This article analyzes the cultural and linguistic context of this belief among the contact-period Nahuas: the import of tetzahuitl (omens) in the animistic worldview of the Aztecs, as well as the characteristic semantic pair in tecolotl, in chiquatli ('the owl, the barn owl') to signify the lethal activities of the most representative messengers of the Lords of Death and Destiny, Mictlantecuhtli and Tezcatlipoca. Moreover, the essay shows how the ancient Nahuas considered the intelligibility of animal languages and engaged in active dialogues with the animal representatives of the gods, a form of communication that encompassed both the private and public spheres, as in these dialogues matters of disease, pollution, and warfare came into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labeling is a cost-effective strategy to help consumers make informed and healthier food choices. We aimed to investigate the effect of the FOP labels used in the Latin American region on consumers' shopping intentions when prompted to make their choices with specific nutrients-to-limit in mind among low- and middle-income Mexican adults (> 18 y).Methods: In this experimental study of an online simulated shopping situation participants (n = 2194) were randomly assigned to one of three labeling conditions: Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA), Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL), or red Warning Labels (WL). Participants were required to view a video explaining how to correctly interpret the assigned label. Primary outcomes were the overall nutritional quality (estimated using the Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion [NPSC] and NPSC baseline score) and mean energy and nutrient content of purchases. Secondary outcomes included shopping time variables. We also evaluated the impact of the labels across food categories (ready-made foods, dairy beverages, non-dairy beverages, salty snacks, and breakfast cereals) and sociodemographic subgroups.Results: The MTL and the WL led to a better overall nutritional quality of the shopping cart compared to the GDA (p < 0.05). According to the NPSC score, the WL led to a better nutritional quality across breakfast cereals and salty snacks compared to the GDA (p < 0.05); a similar effect was observed for the MTL among non-dairy beverages (p < 0.05). The MTL and the WL required shorter shopping times compared to GDA (p < 0.05). Across all labeling conditions, the nutritional quality of the shopping cart tended to be lower among those with low income, education and nutrition knowledge levels.Conclusion: WL and MTL may foster healthier food choices in a faster way among low- and middle-income groups in Mexico. To produce an equitable impact among consumers of all socioeconomic strata, efforts beyond simply the inclusion of a communication campaign on how to use and interpret FOP labels will be required.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov. NCT04308408 Retrospectively registered March 16, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are practical and highly available tools. In medical education, ICTs allow physicians to update their knowledge and remember the necessary information within reach of current mobile devices. ICTs as preparation tools for medical education have not been reported for medical students in Mexico. To assess the use of mobile devices as ICTs with medical education purposes, we distributed a questionnaire through an online survey management system to all the medical students (n = 180) from a private university in Mexico City, 100% agreed to participate. We developed a questionnaire based on previous surveys and adapted it to our university. All participants reported possession of an electronic mobile device, and 95% used it regularly for learning purposes. Regardless of the school year, the most frequent usage given to these devices was the search and reading of medical articles, the use of medical calculators, and taking notes. As the levels in career advances, there was a reduction in the use of electronic devices. According to the students, the main barriers towards using mobile devices for learning purposes were both the lack of access to the Internet and permission from the professor to use them. Most medical students use mobile devices for learning purposes, but usage changes during their education. It is convenient to encourage the use of mobile devices and the development of ICT skills as tools for educational purposes rather than banning their use in schools and hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on Gerardo Ruiz's doctoral thesis on the information seeking patterns of psychiatrists in Mexico City, which he completed in January 2018 from the Autonomous National University of Mexico. The paper presents the key findings from a survey and interview involving 92 psychiatrists to identify the differing roles and information behaviours of three types of mental health practitioners. Similarities and divergences were found in their behavioural patterns in obtaining information to make clinical decisions, depending on purpose for the sought information which aligned to the role of the psychiatrist and on the information contexts of institutions in which they work. The implications for practice highlighted in this study focus on the influencing factors of time and availability of sources in enabling the mental health specialist to search, disseminate and evaluate information to be used in clinical practice, as well as to have in place broader communication with colleagues in order to enrich clinical care for better diagnosis and treatment.F.J. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]