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Objective. To determine the level of stability or change in topic areas published by public health journals in Latin America and the Caribbean, using keywords and co-word analysis, in order to support evidence-based research planning. Methods. Keywords were extracted from papers indexed in Scopus® that were published by the Revista de Salud Pública (RSP; Colombia), the Salud Pública de México (SPM; Mexico), and the Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública (RPMESP; Peru) for three periods: 2005 - 2007, 2008 - 2010, and 2011 - 2013. Co-word analysis was used to examine keywords extracted. Textual information was analyzed using centrality measures (inbetweenness and closeness). The hypothesis of stability/change of thematic coverage was tested using the Spearman's rho correlation coefficient. VOSviewer was used to visualize the co-word maps. Results. A moderate level of change in thematic coverage was observed in 2005 -- 2010, as evidenced by the correlation coefficients for two of the 3-year periods, 2005 -- 2007 and 2008 -- 2010: 0.545 for RSP and 0.593 for SPM. However, in 2008 -- 2013, more keywords remained constant from one period to the next, given the size of the correlation coefficients for the last 3-year periods: 2008 -- 2010 and 2011 -- 2013: 0.727 for RSP and 0.605 for SPM. Conclusion. The research hypothesis was partially accepted given that just two consecutive 3-year periods showed a statistically-significant degree of stability in thematic coverage in public health studies. In that sense, this study provides compelling evidence of the effectiveness of using a combined approach for examining the dynamics of thematic coverage: centrality measures for identifying the main keywords and visual inspection for detecting the structure of textual information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: this paper presents a critical review of the role of health professionals in primary health care. Methodology: narrative review concepts of primary health care, their connections with different models of health, the role of the health team in both the Primary Health Care and its various approaches. The revision expands the functions of the healthcare professional in this field and the general practitioner, in particular, as well as their actions and training. Discussion: it is argued from some questions about what the role of health professionals in the system and the role it should play in primary care and the organization of health services. It is particularized in the Colombian health system and the emphasis is on the change that is required of the general practitioner, historically linked to the clinic and the hegemony of the biomedical model. Conclusion: a sketch is presented of the formation to the new realities and demands at the present time, three-dimensional macro, meso and micro levels of the socio healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Characterizing and evaluating information systems on the health sector in Colombia. Methodology: A conceptual frame that included the legal context of the country and organization of information systems in other countries was developed. Later on, Colombian health information system was characterized starting on interviews with important actors and papers. Finally, the organization of the system, information flows and its strengths and weaknesses were analyzed in order to propose some recommendations. Results and conclusions: information system of the Colombian health sector is divided and evidencing quality issues, as in other countries. The development of a production, diffusion and use of information culture is essential. We must take advantage of the change that is occurring in the health system for improving the information. Capture mechanisms for information require a simplification and standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]