Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2021
[Molecular diagnosis of human papillomavirus infection. The Chilean experience].
Cervical Cancer (CaCu) has a heterogeneous epidemiological behavior throughout the planet, depending on regional socioeconomic development level. Some developed countries predict a potential eradication of this cancer in the next 100 years, while in Chile it still constitutes a pending challenge. Incidence rates show a slow but sustained downward prob, however, mortality has continued to fluctuate between 500-600 cases per year. ⋯ In this report, we update our most recent data (2018) regarding CaCu mortality, then review global guidelines and experiences in HPV screening. Finally, we offer an account of the strategies that our health system is promoting to address the screening of the disease and whose molecular approach generates the widest worldwide scientific consensus. We also recognize the main barriers and future challenges, which, if overcome, would allow us to be in line with the mandate of WHO to control this women's health problema.
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Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2021
[Analysis of healthcare claims received at an audit unit of a clinical hospital].
The resolution of claims at healthcare institutions is an important issue for administrators. ⋯ The importance of cultivating an adequate physician-patient relationship for the prevention of complaints and eventual litigations associated with the provision of healthcare services, is emphasized. Quality control policies and processes within healthcare organizations should be strengthened.
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Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2021
[Timed up and go values in older people with and without a history of falls].
Timed Up and Go (TUG) is used to assess the risk of falling of older people. ⋯ There were differences in TUG values between participants with and without a history of falls. Determining TUG cut-off values by age groups improves the sensitivity and specificity of the test, especially in the 60-69 age range.
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The practice of euthanasia in the medical context has a plurality of actors and interests, has ethical issues and the definition of "good death" is complicated. Therefore, it is necessary to be clear about the key concepts in the debate about this practice. But, above all we must ask ourselves to what extent euthanasia or assisted suicide contradicts the medical ethos in contemporary culture, aiming to evaluate the most acceptable medical and ethical options in our pluralistic societies. Only after such reflection and clarification, we will be able to understand the ethical conflicts of this practice and propose the appropriate ethical guidelines.
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Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2021
[The deficient public health perspective in the Chilean health care system].
This reflection aims at strengthening public health teaching for undergraduate students of health care careers. Public health teaching is feeble and incomplete, especially in medical schools. ⋯ This shortcoming can be related to some problems observed in the Chilean health care system such as the public/ private dichotomy, the driving importance of the market on health care and the preponderant reliance on hospital rather than primary health care. All these deficiencies in health care contribute to ignore the bio-psychosocial health care model.