Impact on the quality of learning as a result of the use of computers in schools

The educational software and computer assisted learning has been used in schools to promote the interest of students in new ways of thinking and learning so it can be useful in the reading learning process. Experimental studies performed in preschool and school age population have shown a better yield and a positive effect in reading, mathematics and cognitive skills in children who use educative software for fi fteen to twenty minutes a day periods. The goal of this study was to evaluate the progression in verbal, visual-motor integration and reading skills in children who were using educational software to compare them with a group in traditional pedagogic methodology. Results: All children were evaluated before using any kind of pedagogic approach. Initial evaluation revealed a lower–age score in all applied test. 11% of them were at high risk for learning disorders. There was a second evaluation that showed a significant positive change compared with the fi rst one. Nevertheless, despite some items, there were no general differences comparing the groups according if they were using or not a computer. In conclusion, policies on using educational software and computers must be revaluated due to the fact that children in our public schools come from a deprived environment with a lack of opportunities to use technologies.

Objective quality of life, optimism, and social-juridical variables, as predictive ones of the subjective quality of life in disarmed Colombian persons

The goal of this research was to identify predic- tive psychosocial factors of the subjective quality of life in a group of 60 people, with ages between 19 and 57, from both sexes, included in the program of demobilization and social inclusion of the Pro- grama de la Alta Consejería para la Reintegración Social y Económica de Personas y Grupos Alzados en Armas en Colombia. this research was a predic- tive correlational descriptive study. the Question- naire of optimism/Pessimism was used to assess the optimist or pessimist trend, and, for assess the quality of life, these strategies were combined: a home visit to value the objective quality of life, the Analogous scale of subjective Quality of Life to value satisfaction and well-being, and a general format to collect socio-demographic and juridical information. Results show that some variables as perceived health, optimism, educational level, re- ligious believes, objective quality of life, type of demobilization and years spent in the armed group operating outside the law, are associated to better levels of perceived quality of life. The findings and limitations of the study are discussed.  

I Don`t Want to Present the ECAES! Quality of Education in Health Careers

This paper makes a reflection about a panorama of higher education quality, and referring to that it reviews and discusses what should be ongoing, what was made in history and what is today in curse, that is the basic strategies used by the government to improve higher education. An emphasis is made on higher education quality tests (ECAES, in Spanish) for health careers, in order to solve some doubts in students and teachers about those tests. My excuses to the reader for often using first person and some references of personal interviews or unprinted conferences.

Relationship between physical capacity and quality of life in workers university

Aim: Examine the relationship between the functional capacity and the quality of life related to health in university workers. Methodology: Cross-sectional study in 146 subjects, divided in two groups: Low functional Capacity (< 9 METs) and High functional Capacity (> 9.1 METs). We evaluated quality of life related to health (HRQOL-Health Questionnaire SF-12) and functional capacity (Questionnaire PAR/PAF) as indicators of health status. Results: 47.3% (69 men) and 52.7% (78 women). The average age of the groups was 35.0 ± 9.7 years (range 19,0-60,0 years). For HRQOL, the average found in the population assessed was 45.2 ± 4.42 (range 33,0-58,1) and 43.8 ± 6.87 (range 19,8-43,8) in components Physical Component Summary (PCS-12) and Mental Component Summary (MCS-12), respectively p = NS. Significant differences were found when comparing functional ability and sex, p<0,001 in both groups. Similarly, sex and mental component MCS-12 (group of Lower Functional) p = 0,049 as well as women and the physical component PCS-12, p = 0,05 between groups. Finally, a better score in HRQL observed in the group of High Capacity and functional components in both sex OR 0.59 (0.25-1.38). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate the relationship between High functional Capacity and a better HRQOL in this population.

Quality of life and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has a progressive and irreversible character and it’s associated to the triad of dyspnea, exercise limitation and the evident deterioration of quality of life. In the United States the prevalence of COPD in adult population is approximately of 6% in men, and 1 to 3% in women and it’s the fourth cause of mortality by no transmissible chronic diseases. In 1993, the National Health Interview Surgery considered that 12 millions of Americans suffer from chronic bronchitis and 2 million had emphysema. These two affections are responsible for more than 13% of the hospitalizations. As this affection progresses, patients experience a diminution in quality of life related to health (CVRS), their capacity to work get worse and their participation in physical and social activities reduces. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that the isolated evaluation of COPD seriousness, defined by the reduction of the Forced Expiratory Volume in the First Second (FEV1), does not provide enough information to know the health state perceived by the patients. The fact that the CVRS is the result of the interaction of multiple physical, psychological and social factors, unique for each individual, can explain this finding. This paper is a general and updated approach to the integral handling of patients with COPD, and it discusses the concept of quality of life, related to health improvement.