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This article reports the results of a study about the views of quality managers, in Chilean universities, with regard to the meaning of quality in higher education. The article begins with a brief description of Chilean higher education system. It portrays the context of the last 30 years, with a growing number of universities and little state regulation. An increase in coverage, student population's heterogeneity and diversity of the educational offer and of the quality of the education provided are described. After the nineties, the Chilean state established control mechanisms and demands for accountability. Consequently, universities developed organisational changes within the non-academic staff, incorporating professionals to administer quality assurance. The study analyses the opinions of these professionals. Data were gathered in two stages; the evidence discussed in this article comes mainly from the second stage, in which 20 quality administrators were interviewed to explore their conceptions of quality in higher education. The most recurring distinctions identified are framed within a conceptual scope that varies between complying with the demands of the external environment and adjusting internally to institutional goals. There were no significant differences between the interviewees from different universities.

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To measure the impact of a 'Preventive Letter' designed to encourage the return of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mothers to follow up visit after delivery, in the context of a worldwide concern about low return rates after delivery of these patients. Mothers with GDM require medical evaluation and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 6 weeks after delivery, in order to: [a] confirm remission of GDM and [b] provide advice on the prevention of type 2 diabetes. In the year 2003 we developed a 'Preventive Letter', containing three aspects: [a] current treatment, [b] suggested management during labor, and [c] a stapled laboratory order for OGTT to be performed 6 weeks after delivery. The return rate after delivery was assessed in two groups of GDM mothers: [a] 'Without Preventive Letter' (n = 253), and 'With Preventive Letter' (n = 215). Both groups, similar with respect to age (33.0 ± 5.4 and 32.3 ± 4.9 years respectively, p = 0.166) and education time (14.9 ± 1.8 and 15.0 ± 1.8 years respectively, p = 0.494), showed a significant difference in the 1-year return rate after delivery, as assessed by the Kaplan-Meier test: 32.0 % for the group 'Without Preventive Letter', and 76.0 % for the group 'With Preventive Letter' ( p < 0.001). The 1-year return rate after delivery of GDM mothers was 2.4 times higher in the group 'With Preventive Letter' than in the group without it. We believe that this low-cost approach could be useful in other institutions caring for pregnant women with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chilena de Derecho is the property of Revista Chilena de Derecho and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)