Community Health Managers: A Pilot Pedagogic Experience in the University of Rosario

The “Grupo de Estudios en Sistemas Tradicionales de Salud” from the School of Medicine of Universidad del Rosario, in agreement with the “Instituto de Etnobiología”, has designed a training course for a new health agent (the community health manager) meant to consider in its curriculum the difficulties, deficiencies and successes of the Primary Health Care Program. In particular, we have attended OMS suggestions in terms of adequate training of local leaders who should look for self-responsibility and selfdetermination in health care coverage. This training proposal is meant to take into account diverse cultures and traditions in order to offer health care models able to consider cultural particularities, epidemiological profiles, and contextual possibilities, with an intercultural point of view. Hence, the training course’s objective is to offer working tools so that community leaders be able to value and promote traditional health knowledge and practices; seek for food security by means of recovery of traditional productive systems or adaptation of appropriate technologies; environment conservation; use of medicinal plants especially in self-care, and stimulation of community and institutional health promotion activities. Preliminary evaluation suggests that this new health agent will be able to set bridges between communities and health care offers available, always looking for healthy ways of life, culturally and environmentally friendly.

Physical Exercise Program for Elderly Subjects in the “Club Nueva Vida”, in Tunja City

A descriptive, case series intervention study was performed to identify changes in physical qualities, aerobic power, flexibility, strength and body composition amongst 20 elderly subjects belonging to the “Club Nueva Vida” in Tunja City, during the second period of 2005. A PRE and POST assessment of their physical qualities was applied after a 16 week physical exercise program.Results showed an increase in the average of the static muscle streneth from 0.27 to 0.30 Newtons. Standard deviation diminished in 0.1. The dynamic strength measure by the push up test improved in 10% a 35% improved in 10% a 35% improved their. Cardiovascular capability until to high levels of 80% there were not significant changes in the body weight between measures taken before and after the program application. The results obtained with the sit and reach test did not show statistically significant differences. Hower in other flexibility tests the results changed from bad ranges to middle and good ones. The enrolled population was stable during the development of the exercise program. This study concludes that elderly adults acquire changes in their physical quality features after exercise intervention. Physical exercise programs in elderly adults must involve strength activities for upper limbs, trunk and aerobic power activities. The “Beliefs Health Model” is a adherence to reach compliance and maintenance in physical exercise.

Central Institute for the Deaf vision screening program

This paper examines the importance of vision screening for hearing-impaired children and proposes and evaluates a vision screening program for the Central Institute for the Deaf.

A longitudinal study of one cochlear implant recipient from baseline to twelve months, following a group-based rehabilitation program

This paper provides an in-depth examination of the experiences of one cochlear implant recipient who participated in a psychosocial group rehabilitation program that was aimed at overcoming the communication and psychosocial handicaps that may accompany hearing loss.

Facilitating educational integration of the hearing-impaired child: a proposed integration program for Central Institute for the Deaf

This paper discusses mainstreaming for the hearing impaired.

Development of a student workbook in conjunction with the Communication Skills Training for Professionals and Paraprofessionals Program

This paper discusses Communication Skills Training for Professionals and Paraprofessionals (ComPro), a program that trains professionals and paraprofessionals to communicate more effectively with their hearing-impaired clientele. This study assesses the usefulness of the ComPro in-service program and student workbook.

A blended classroom program

This paper presents a model project on reverse mainstreaming, incorporating children with typical hearing into a classroom with hearing-impaired children at the preschool level.

Recommendations for a mathematical curriculum to be used in conjunction with an oral deaf education program

Students who are deaf or hard of hearing have typically had difficulty in mathematics; however, this problem often is overlooked because of difficulties in language and reading abilities. This study aims to identify the most appropriate mathematics curriculum for deaf or hard of hearing students in an oral deaf education program.

The effects of the SKILL Program on the language and socialization of hearing impaired children

This study will examine the effects of the SKILL Program on the social and pragmatic skills of the hearing-impaired children in the Pre-K department of the Central Institute for the Deaf. It will assess language and social skills necessary for the children to be successful in the mainstream and how having hearing peers may have contributed to their gaining of those skills.

The effects of a phonological awareness training program for hearing-impaired children

This paper examines the effectiveness of a phonological awareness program for hearing impaired children.

More appropriate: additional stories for students who are hearing impaired using the "Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence" (S.P.I.R.E.) curriculum

S.P.I.R.E., at use at Central Institute for the Deaf, is a comprehensive, multi-sensory systematic reading and language program that targets at risk and struggling students. The purpose of this project was to write additional stories and sentences for students who are hearing impaired through reader 2 that may be used in conjunction with the exiting stories and supplements.

The social difficulties children encounter transitioning from a self-contained deaf education program into a general education program

This study examines the difficulties, particularly social, a child who is deaf/hard of hearing encounters transitioning from a self-contained program into the general education setting. The information gathered was used to create a children's story as a helpful tool.

Noise exposure impact in a manufacturing environment: A hearing conservation program needs assessment

This paper examines a study conducted to evaluate the impact of occupational noise exposure and the role of a hearing conservation program in the occupational setting.