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Background: The implementation of new technologies in medical research, such as novel big storage systems, has recently gained importance. Electronic data capture is a perfect example as it powerfully facilitates medical research. However, its implementation in resource-limited settings, where basic clinical resources, internet access, and human resources may be reduced might be a problem., Methods: In this paper we described our approach for building a network architecture for data collection to achieve our objectives using a REDCap® tool in Colombia and provide guidance for data collection in similar settings., Conclusions: REDCap is a feasible and efficient electronic data capture software to use in similar contexts to Colombia. The software facilitated the whole data management process and is a way to build research capacities in resourced-limited settings., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Introduction: People with mental health conditions frequently attend primary care centers, but these conditions are underdiagnosed and undertreated. The objective of this paper is to describe the model and the findings of the implementation of a technology-based model of care for depression and unhealthy alcohol use in primary care centers in Colombia., Methods: Between February 2018 and March 2020, we implemented a technology-based model of care for depression and unhealthy alcohol use, following a modified stepped wedge methodology, in six urban and rural primary care centers in Colombia. The model included a series of steps aimed at screening patients attending medical appointments with general practitioners and supporting the diagnosis and treatment given by the general practitioner. We describe the model, its implementation and the characteristics of the screened and assessed patients., Results: During the implementation period, we conducted 22,354 screenings among 16,188 patients. The observed rate of general practitioner (GP)-confirmed depression diagnosis was 10.1% and of GP-confirmed diagnosis of unhealthy alcohol use was 1.3%. Patients with a depression diagnosis were primarily middle-aged women, while patients with unhealthy alcohol use were mainly young adult men., Discussion: The provision of training and technology-based strategies to screen patients and support the decision-making of GPs during the medical appointment enhanced the diagnosis and care provision of patients with depression and unhealthy alcohol use. However, time constraints, as well as structural and cultural barriers, were challenges for the implementation of the model, and the model should take into account local values, policies and resources to guarantee its long-term sustainability. As such, the long-term sustainability of the model will depend on the alignment of different stakeholders, including decision-makers, institutions, insurers, GPs, patients and communities, to reduce the amount of patients seeking medical care whose mental health conditions remain undetected, and therefore untreated, and to ensure an appropriate response to the demand for mental healthcare that was revealed by the implementation of our model., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

This paper aims to understand the meanings of food and nutrition policies for beneficiary mothers and for technicians designing and implementing said policies. The Grounded Theory method was employed. The data collection techniques adopted were the semi-structured interview and the focus group. The participants were beneficiaries of food and nutrition programs, with a minimum two-year experience, and technicians with five-year experience in designing or implementing these policies and programs. Food and nutrition policies are conceived and managed under a market logic, which has required an institutional framework that adopted this commercial model to provide public services, which is implemented in the scheme of outsourcing third parties, especially private companies, who implement these policies to achieve financial profitability. The market is imposed as the benchmark for the State's actions, and, therefore, the State's action is limited the oversight of outsourced actions, and food policies become devices for the diversion of public resources to the private sector.

The pandemic caused by COVID19 is associated with an increase in the number of cases of cardiorespiratory arrest, which has resulted in ethical concerns regarding the enforceability of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as well as the conditions to carry it out. The risk of aerosol transmission and the clinical uncertainties about the efficacy, the potential sequelae, and the circumstances that could justify limiting this procedure during the pandemic have multiplied the ethical doubts on how to proceed in these cases. Based on ethical and legal grounds, this paper offers a practical guide on how to proceed in the clinical setting in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest during the pandemic. The criteria of justice, benefit, no harm, respect for autonomy, precaution, integrity, and transparency are asserted in an organized and practical framework for decision-making regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

This paper describes the results of the implementation, consolidation and future projection of the Best practice guidelines of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) in clinical and academic scenarios in Santander, Colombia. The tool proposed by the RNAO was used for the implementation of the guidelines in both clinical and academic settings. Preliminary results on the implementation of the guidelines are presented in this paper. In the clinical setting, the implementation of the guidelines has made it possible to start the process of standardizing care across the institution, with systematic follow-up based on indicators. This has allowed decision-making and visualization of the quality of nursing care provided by nurses in their different roles. In the academic scenario, implementing the guidelines has strengthened teaching and research functions, and, to a lesser extent, continuing education and social projection processes. In the consolidation phase, advances were achieved in 10 components, relevant to teachers, students, and practice scenarios of public / private health institutions, users (patients/caregivers), health personnel and other nursing programmes at a national and international level. Implementing the clinical practice guidelines has reduced the gap between the clinical and the academic scenarios, where collaborative and inter-institutional work is enhanced to obtain better patient outcomes, based on the available evidence., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Taking into account the difficulty of performing malaria microscopic diagnosis in rural areas, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) are a good alternative, but it is important to verify their diagnostic performance. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the RDTs used in five Colombian departments by comparing them with the microscopic diagnosis and using PCR as the reference standard. Materials and methods: Thick blood film and RDTs were used to diagnose symptomatic individuals; additionally, the filter paper was impregnated with blood for the molecular test. Results: We included 314 samples whose percentage of positivity for malaria was 49% by PCR, 48% by microscopy and 46% by RDT; parasitemia ranged between 180 and 23,800 p/μL of blood. The concordance of the results from the microscopy units and those of the PCR (National Laboratory of Reference) was as follows: Cohen’s kappa coefficient, 0.975 (95% CI: 0.950-0.999); sensitivity, 97% (95% CI 95-100); specificity 100% (95% CI: 100-100), and kappa index of species, 0.958 (IC95%: 0.912-1.00). The concordance between the Pf/Pv RDT (at the microscopy units) and the PCR (National Laboratory of Reference) was as follows: kappa coefficient, 0.878 (95% CI: 0.784-0.973); sensitivity, 94% (95% CI: 87-100); specificity, 95% (95% CI: 90-100), and kappa index of species, 1.0 (95% CI: 1.00-1.00). The concordance between the Pf/Pan RDT versus PCR was: Cohen’s kappa coefficient, 0.920 (95 % CI: 0.865- 0.974); sensitivity, 94% (95% CI: 90-98); specificity, 99% (95% CI 95-100), and kappa index of species, 0.750 (IC95% 0,637-0,863). Conclusion: The results of this study support the use of RDTs in Colombia; however, more training of the personnel is required to accurately differentiate Plasmodium species.

Verifying the compliance with the ethical principles of health research legitimizes its exercise in the eyes of the society and allows for the resolution of ethical dilemmas that emerge from new research interests and methods. Resolution 8430 of 1993 is one of the main ethical guidelines governing health research on human beings in Colombia. Considering that the resolution has not been revised or updated since its promulgation it becomes necessary to evaluate its current validity and adequacy to address the potential ethical dilemmas in the existing country’s health research. Some gaps, contradictions, and aspects that require a deep review are detailed in this paper from a wide conception of health research areas and methods. After discussing the main weaknesses and inaccuracies, some alternatives are proposed to adjust the resolution to the present needs in health research with human beings.

Introduction: Knowledge of the geographical distribution of Leishmania species allows guiding the sampling to little-studied areas and implementing strategies to define risk zones and priority areas for control., Objective: Given that there is no publication that collects this information, the search, review, and compilation of the available scientific literature that has identified species in Colombia is presented in this paper., Materials and Methods: A bibliographic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, SciELO and LILACS with the terms "(Leishmania OR Leishmaniasis) AND species AND Colombia", without restrictions on publication year, language or infected organism; records of national scientific events and repositories of theses from Colombian universities were also included., Results: Eighty-six scientific documents published between 1985 and 2017 were found in which the species of Leishmania and their geographical origin were indicated. The species reported, in descending order of frequency, were: Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis, L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) guyanensis, L. (Leishmania) infantum, L. (L.) amazonensis, L. (L.) mexicana, L. (V.) colombiensis, L. (V.) lainsoni and L. (V.) equatorensis; the last three were found with the same frequency. Leishmania species were reported from 29 departments., Conclusion: Information on the distribution of Leishmania species in Colombia is limited; therefore, it is necessary to gather existing data and propose studies that consolidate the distribution maps of Leishmania species in Colombia. This would allow the detection of areas where species have not been identified as well as the comparison of existing parasite and vector distributions.

Introduction: In Colombia, there are no specific studies on the prevalence of heroin use. This paper reviews the patterns of substance use in a consumer group in the city of Medellín and its metropolitan area, showing that consumption is becoming a threat to public health due to the particular forms of consumption, among which risk practices are included., Objective: To evaluate the use of heroin in the city of Medellín and its metropolitan area., Methods: The study took a mixed approach using multiple-case study to cover each of the variables and categories proposed; 42 heroin users of treatment centers in the city of Medellín and its metropolitan area were accessed between July and September 2008, using the "snowball", technique. Information was collected by a structured, face to face interview, asking about the type of heroin consumed, routes of administration, frequency of consumption, equipment used, consumption practices and rituals that accompany these practices. Quantitative data were analyzed using the EPI-Info statistical package 2,000 and Atlas ti qualitative, version 5.5, for Windows., Results: Consumers were predominantly male, single, aged between 18 and 23 years, childless and many had not completed college. Most respondents were in the middle socioeconomic stratum, had a family history of psychoactive substance use and had started heroin use between 15 and 17 years. There are special forms to name heroine, consumers, and rituals to consume the substance. The article gives details of the heroin consumed, the paraphernalia and associated practices., Conclusions: The use of heroin is an emerging reality in Colombia. Qualitative-quantitative studies are necessary to allow us to acknowledge and understand more about this phenomenon in order to decrease the impact on public health.