La salud bucal en la percepción del adolescente

Objective An individual does not always experience the best health and vitality indexes during her/his adolescence. This study evaluated young people's awareness of their oral health and the factors involved in dental maintenance and promotion Material and Method Adolescents (n=493) from the Mirim Foundation in the town of Araçatuba in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were asked to fill in a semi-structured questionnaire. Results 68.4 % of the youngsters interviewed regarded oral health as referring to hygiene and 16.2 % to physical appearance; 53.6 % of the group perceived their oral health to be good and 24 % optimum. 90.1 % indicated oral hygiene when asked how oral health could be ensured; however, only 4.8 % mentioned brushing their tongues. Physical appearance (62.9 %) was one of the main reasons stated as being important for teeth. A statistically significant relationship was observed between perception of regular dental and mouth health and having visited the dentist at least six months beforehand (x2=30.75; p<0.05). Conclusion Even though the youngsters had a general idea regarding their oral health, its maintenance and promotion, better information should be made available regarding such topics and be approached through health education so that these adolescents can have good oral health for the rest of their lives, as well as becoming knowledge multiplying agents for those who do not have access to the same information.

Percepción del cirujano-dentista respecto del uso del consentimiento informado en el tratamiento odontológico

The objective of this study was to evaluate: the profile of the surgeon-dentist that undergoes a course in specialization at the Odontology Faculty of Aracatuba/UNESP, Brazil; if they requested informed consent from the patient and/or their legal representative before the realization of procedures, and if the treatment was decided upon with the patient. It was elaborated, validated and applied in questionnaire form, and the data obtained was analyzed by the program EPI-INFO 3.3 The conclusion was, given that surgeon-dentists still do not obtain any type of document before beginning treatment, a large percentage of them are totally vulnerable if submitted to ethical or legal prosecution and that it is necessary to be aware of this aspect.

Relaciones entre tendencias de juicio moral, estilos de resolución de conflictos y percepción de la manifestación de la agresividad en niños y adolescentes

The moral judgment was approached upon a constructivist perspective which focuses on its evolution according to the different types of social relations. The several forms of resolution of conflicts are also considered in this reference, since they are related to situations of interaction, as well as the aggressiveness. The research was carried out with sixty children and teenagers from a socio-educational institution. It aimed to identify the variations according to age, and relate the trends in moral judgment, the styles of resolution of conflicts, and the perception of the educators regarding to the manifestation of aggressive behaviors. The instruments for collecting data were the Scale of Perception from Teachers for children that manifested Aggressive Behaviors in School, a Clinical Interview about moral judgment and the adaptation of the Children\'s Action Tendency Scale - CATS. The results showed that variations in relation to age were significant regarding to moral judgment. The younger children showed more heteronomous judgments and the older children more autonomous. Furthermore, the data evidenced a positive relationship between semiautonomia and aggressiveness, which raises the possibility of this being regarded as one of the unique strategies to take a position within an authoritarian and coercive environment.

Los parlamentos regionales en la integración de América del Sur: análisis de la percepción popular

Este artículo tiene por objeto discutir la percepción popular sobre el déficit democrático y la eficiencia de los parlamentos regionales en la integración regional, principalmente en los procesos del Mercosur y la Comunidad Andina. Por tanto, el trabajo busca revelar el impacto de la institucionalización de un parlamento regional en la percepción que la sociedad presenta sobre el proceso de integración. Analizando tres casos distintos: Parlandino, Parlasur y Parlamento Europeo, el trabajo busca comprender en qué medida la existencia de una representación política regional contribuiría a aumentar el grado de conocimiento y de interés de la población sobre el tema de la integración. Partimos del supuesto de que los parlamentarios tendrían un papel positivo en la democratización, y buscamos demostrarlo por medio de dos variables principales: las elecciones directas y su influencia en el proceso de toma de decisiones.

Ejes estratégicos de la seguridad hemisférica en los gobiernos de George W. Bush y Barack Obama

The paper approaches the U.S. perceptions about the sources of insecurity from Latin America, considered a low risk area and priority of its foreign policy. El análisis se concentra en la evaluación de las amenazas y desafíos a sus intereses estratégicos y las modalidades de actuación privilegiadas en la esfera regional, en que se verifican coincidencias entre las administraciones Demócratas y Republicanas en la adopción de un liderazgo con prerrogativas clasificatorias sobre los tipos de régimen político, con una agenda concebida como promoción de la convergencia hemisférica de democracias y economías liberales. The analysis focuses on assessing the threats and challenges to its strategic interests and privileged modes of action at the regional level, which verifies similarities between Republican and Democratic administrations in taking a leadership prerogatives qualifiers on the types political regime, with an agenda designed as promoting hemispheric convergence of liberal democracies and economies. En ese contexto, cabe destacar la prioridad atribuida a los países de la Alternativa Bolivariana para las Américas (ALBA) como eje opositor de sus políticas. In this context, include the priority given to the countries of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) as the linchpin of his political opponent.

Percepción de un grupo de mujeres acerca del hecho de ser portadoras del VPH

Background: The possibility to acquire sexually transmitted diseases generates bio-psycho-social conflicts affecting daily life of women. Objective: To investigate the knowledge of women on the concept of being infected by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and to understand the significance they attributed to their condition as HPV carriers. Material and method: It is a qualitative study in which ten women were interviewed, after the result of a cytopathological exam suggesting HPV. Data were collected at the Center of Health School of the Universidade Estadual Paulista -UNESP-Brazil. Results: The significant items were: deception and preoccupation about the cure, since they indicate that it is very deceptive to be infected with an incurable disease by a person whom they trust; the method of having sexual relations and being infected again; the necessity of care and of being optimistic to face the disease and the threat of cervix cancer originating anxiety. Discussion: Orientations made by health professionals were efficacious to clarify the relationship with cancer development. It is possible to understand the necessity of assistance orientations and the opportunity to hear them, offering individualized quality care. This study also offers important elements to reinforce the educational role of health professionals, principally those referring to sexually transmitted infection and cancer, seeking prevention and early treatment with the offered information. However, there is no desire of finishing the subject regarding perception, thus there is much to discover about diseases related to human papilloma virus. Key words: women carriers of HPV, feelings attributed by women.

Percepción de estudiantes de odontología sobre educación a distancia

Introduction: distance education is defined as a learning mode in which pedagogical and didactic mediation in teaching and learning processes is characterized by the use of information and communication means and technology by both teachers and students, and the development of educational activities at different settings and technologyand. Objective: evaluate the knowledge obtained by students from the last year of Odontology about distance education and their opinions about the subject. Methods: across-sectional descriptive exploratory study was conducted. Of the total 140 university students, 120 participated in the study. A self-applied questionnaire was developed with questions related to the student, the use of the Internet and distance education. The professional updating alternatives included were graduate courses and subscription to newspapers. Results: 29.2 % of the students use the Internet on a daily basis; only one student stated that he did not use the Internet. Of the students interviewed, 63.34 % did not know any form of distance education. As a consequence, 97.5 % had never taken part in a distance education course and 62.5 % stated that they did not know whether they would. Conclusions: results show that odontology students are prejudiced against nontraditional learning modes, though they use the Internet on a regular basis. Despite the existence of legislation regulating distance education, students are still concerned about its quality and legality.

O enfermeiro e a estratégia saúde da família: desafios em coordenar a equipe multiprofissional

This study aimed at understanding the role played by nurses in managing a team in the Family Health Strategy (ESF) in relation to competences and skills practiced and developed in their everyday work and the difficulties found to perform their duties based on these professionals’ perceptions. Data were collected by means of focus groups with seven nurses in 2006 and then submitted to content analysis, which disclosed five themes: The context of the coordination of multidisciplinary teams in the Family Health Strategy, factors involved in the daily work in the ESF, conflicts experienced in the interface between teamwork and central coordination in the ESF, difficulties of the population towards the new model of care coordinated by the nurse, the perceived competence to exercise leadership in coordinating multidisciplinary teams. Results showed work overload, overlapping of tasks and lack of training. These professionals have been evaluated according to the logic of their work organization by productivity and not by the quality of their actions. Hence, they feel devalued professionally. They pointed out technical and scientific knowledge as an important competence attached to relational practices. There is a need to create formal opportunities to discuss the major difficulties found by the nurses managing multiprofessional teams when experiencing such management.