Enfoque

Editorial

Magali M. Díaz Aguirre — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF WARNING SIGNS DURING PREGNANCY, MONTALVO, ECUADOR 2023

Ana María Pasos Baño, Genesis Natali Diaz Ruiz, Mercy Moran Guerrero — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study aims to assess the level of knowledge that women of childbearing age have about warning signs that could represent a risk during pregnancy. A descriptive, observational, quantitative, non-experimental, quantitative study was conducted. The sample consisted of 275 participants. The data collection instrument consisted of a structured questionnaire of 7 pre- and post-test questions. The technique was a face-to-face survey, and the responses were entered into an Excel database and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Each table used frequency and percentage of responses, and the Spearman correlation test was applied to explore the association between the study variables. The findings show that 56.7% of the participants were aware of the warning signs of pregnancy, which is a positive indicator of the target group´s prior knowledge. However, 37.5% were still unaware of these signs, underscoring the need to reinforce education on this topic. Upon the completion of educational workshops, there was a significant improvement in knowledge. When comparing the pretest with the post-test (56.7%), a considerable increase in the percentage of participants who knew the consequences of not having correct prenatal care was observed. This demonstrates the positive impact of educational intervention on the acquisition of knowledge about this crucial topic. The strongest correlations were observed in questions related to preventive measures for maternal death (0.49) and prevention for maternal death (0.42), and the relationship between healthy lifestyle and prevention of maternal deaths (0.40). The educational intervention was effective in strengthening the knowledge of pregnant women about warning signs during pregnancy, demonstrating the need to implement continuous and contextualized educational strategies that contribute to the prevention of complications and the improvement of maternal health.

OPEN-ACCESS REPOSITORY FOR THE NURSING SCHOOL

Dayra Sánchez, María Del Carmen Vergara Almanza — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: This article recognizes the strategic importance of open-access repositories for knowledge management in Health Sciences in Panama, particularly in the College of Nursing of Universidad de Panama. These repositories are essential for scientific research, digital culture, internationalization, and academic dissemination, demanding the incorporation of open science technologies that facilitate global access to locally produced literature. Objective: To systematize research papers, theses, articles, and academic materials from the Department of Adult Health into a single repository aligned with the open science principles to consolidate and disseminate the scientific production of the School of Nursing. Methodology: A structured survey of closed questions was used through Google Forms along with a systematic review of scientific literature in databases such as LitMaps, PubMed, Scispace, Consensus, Elicit, and ScienceDirect.

Results: Over 50% of the participants were unfamiliar with the concepts of metadata and research repositories. Despite this, there was considerable interest in their implementation. Participants critically appraised the importance of metadata and identified areas for improvement like training, technical standardization, and strengthening of technological infrastructure. Conclusions: The implementation of an open-access repository for the School of Nursing is crucial to centralizing and making scientific production visible. This process requires strategic planning, continuous training in metadata management, and the adoption of open science policies that guarantee its sustainability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE TERMINATION OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

Norma Díaz de Andrade — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal study examined the at the Universidad de Panamá from 2016 to 2019. It also classified the programs according to the university’s official list of academic majors.

The population consisted of all official thesis defense records of students who completed either academic or professional master's degrees from all campuses offering these programs. These records are in the official files of the Postgraduate Department of the Vice President's Office for Research and Postgraduate Studies.

Results and Discussion: From 2016 to 2019, 2,752 students completed the study plan and defended their degree work. Of these, 69.4% were female and 30.6% were male, representing colleges from the Main Campus, Regional University Branches, and Institutes. On average, there were 688 submissions per year. Among students in the professional modality, 76.1% completed intervention projects, 1% took general knowledge exams, and 0.7% completed professional practice. In the academic modality, 22.2% of students completed a thesis.

The students who defended their degree work came from different disciplines of the four areas of knowledge established at the Universidad de Panama: 54.5% from Social, Humanistic, and Cultural Sciences; 20% from Business and Administrative Sciences; 20.1% from Health Sciences; and 5.4% from Natural, Exact and Technological Sciences.

This successful completion allowed us to observe the overall completion efficiency of master's degree programs; however, to determine the exact approximate completion efficiency of each program, it is necessary to establish a digital base that tracks each cohort, starting from enrollment to graduation.

This process requires the coordination of each program administrator and the academic administrative offices of the Vice President's Office for Research and Graduate Studies. Implementing this would involve applying objective and transparent self-evaluation processes to ensure the quality of graduate education at the Universidad de Panama.

QUALITY OF LIFE AND ADAPTATION OF HEALTHY HABITS IN OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF VILLA CARMEN CAPIRA, JANUARY-APRIL 2024.

Yahira Orán Asprilla, Nazareth del Carmen Escobar Sánchez, Abraham De Sedas — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Nowadays, older adults are active agents, capable of making decisions, managing their lives, and ensuring an optimal state of well-being. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between quality of life and the adaptation of healthy habits in older adults in the community of Villa Carmen, Capira.

A quantitative, descriptive correlational, and cross-sectional approach, based on a structured survey administered to 50 older adults selected through non-probabilistic sampling, was used. The instrument, validated by Cronbach's alpha (0.700) and Friedman's test, allowed the analysis of dimensions such as physical health, emotional well-being, healthy habits, and access to resources. The results showed a moderate correlation between emotional well-being and physical health (r = 0.57), as well as with the social-emotional component (r = 0.55). The regression model explained 26.3% of the variability in quality of life, confirming a significant relationship with healthy habits (p<0.001). It determined that older adults who maintained light physical activity and a balanced diet reported greater autonomy; meanwhile, those with sedentary lifestyles, chronic diseases, and social isolation were negatively affected. The conclusions highlight the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening support networks to improve the well-being of this population. The study provides valuable information for designing comprehensive community strategies to promote adapted physical activity, nutritional education, and emotional care. Likewise, the study recommends improving access to inclusive health services and establishing preventive programs aimed at active and healthy aging.

PERCEPTION OF PHYSICAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER ADULTS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY IN ECUADOR.

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study explored the perception of physical health and quality of life among older adults in the rural community of Zapotal Nuevo, Ventanas canton. Out of a census of 316 older adults, 297 participated in the study after excluding 19 for various reasons. A cross-sectional quantitative methodology was used, applying household surveys to collect sociodemographic data and assess the perception of physical health and quality of life. The findings revealed that most participants lived with family, did not work, and earned less than the minimum wage, reflecting a situation of economic vulnerability. In addition, 51.2% had received care from the Ministry of Public Health’s comprehensive care model for older adults.

Physical limitations were prevalent: 67.7% had difficulties lifting shopping bags, 66.0% climbing stairs, 69.7% bending or kneeling, and 59.9% walking half a kilometer.

Furthermore, 47.8% reported difficulty bathing or dressing. In terms of quality of life, 65.0% perceived it as fair, and 81.5% felt that it had worsened compared to the previous year. These conditions are aligned with previous research associating the perception of a fair or deteriorating quality of life with physical limitations and lack of social support. The high prevalence of physical difficulties and negative perception of quality of life underscores the need for more effective health interventions tailored to the socioeconomic particularities of this population. The study highlights the urgency of comprehensive public policies that promote healthy aging in vulnerable rural communities by addressing both physical needs and socioeconomic and social support factors.

THE VALUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE FOR NURSING THEORY, RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Itza Leiliana Camargo Bethancourt — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Proper selection of the scientific literature is an essential step in the nursing research process. It is not enough to find and cite an article; it is essential to assess, interpret, and synthesize the information to determine if it contributes to answering the questions posed in the research work. This article aims to reflect on the importance of scientific literature, theory, and research in the practice of the nursing professional. In addition, it analyzes how the application of quantitative and qualitative approaches promotes critical analysis and ensures the quality and relevance of scientific production in Nursing. The study concludes that, through scientific literature, nursing professionals can enrich their practice, research, and theoretical understanding, contributing to the continuous improvement of the quality of care provided. The critical review of the existing literature not only strengthens the development of Nursing Science but also drives new research and applications, considering each of the elements of the nursing metaparadigm.