Hypertension in the National University of Distance Education’s personnel

The prevalence of Arterial Hypertension (AHT) has increased worldwide and preventive measures areinsufficient since only one third of the population is being treated. AHT is the primary cause of morbidity andmortality in the world. In this article is presented the first study on hypertension levels of personnel of aDistance Education university based on the analysis of all medical consultations in the Costa Rican StateUniversity for Distance Education (Universidad Estatal a Distancia-UNED) as of December 15, 2007 (1,526medical files). The population studied ranges from 20 to 70 years of age and is comprised of residents of theGreater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica) with varied socioeconomic and academic levels. The StatgraphicsCenturion XV software and the chi-square test were used to analyze variables such as treatment administered,sex, age, and type of work. Only 45 patients knew that they suffered from hypertension prior to theirconsultation with the university medical service and 136 were treated with Enalapril and Hydrochlorothiazide.The number of hypertensive patients is higher among those who have worked at the institution for more than 20years, especially in those holding higher positions. No marked differences were found between men andwomen. It is concluded that the existence of a university medical service has permitted faculty and staff tosatisfactorily control their blood pressure.

Manual de la comunicación inclusiva

El Manual de la Comunicación Inclusiva es una guía para generar mensajes éticos acerca de las personas que tradicionalmente son consideradas “minorías” en Costa Rica. Pretende dar recomendaciones al momento de escribir o difundir mensajes audiovisuales sobre la gente con discapacidad, la infancia, las personas afrodescendientes, los hombres homosexuales, las mujeres lesbianas, las personas indígenas o migrantes, entre otros. Es un trabajo colectivo del curso semestral “Comunicación inclusiva” que se impartió en la Escuela de Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva de la Universidad de Costa Rica durante los años 2007 y 2008. La población estudiantil colaboró en su redacción. Las diferentes organizaciones de la sociedad civil también aportaron ideas. Además, estas organizaciones capacitaron semanalmente al estudiantado en cada uno de sus temas de interés. El trabajo de compilación y edición estuvo a cargo del profesor del curso. El Manual de la comunicación inclusiva aspira a que toda persona emisora de un mensaje, reflexione sobre la forma y el contenido antes de emitirlo con el fin de lograr un producto comunicacional, que aliente el respeto y la inclusión de todas las personas dentro de una sociedad, que aún no logra superar todas las manifestaciones de discriminación. The Inclusive Communication Manual is a guide that allows us generate ethical messages about people or groups of people who are traditionally considered in Costa Rica as “minorities”. It Intends to provide recommendations for the autho messages that has to do with people who have certain disability or about childhood, African American people, homosexual men, lesbian women, group of natives and migrants among others.  It’s a collective work from the “Inclusive Communication” course that took place at the “Collective Communication School of Costa Rica’s University” during the year of 2007 and 2008. The students collaborated in its redaction as well as different other organizations of the civil society who provided ideas. Also, these organizations trained the students on a weekly basis on each and everyone of the subjects in study. The work of compiling information and its editing was done by the professor of the course.The Manual of Inclusive Communication intends to make the person who sends a message, think about the message, its content and form, before sending the message in order to accomplish a communicational product that will reinforce the respect and the inclusion of every single person within a society which even nowadays it can’t overcome the different manifestations of discrimination.