IntroductionSci-Hub is a useful web portal for people working in science as it provides access to millions of free scientific articles. Satisfaction and usage should be explored in the Latino student population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use, knowledge, and perception of the scientific contribution of Sci-Hub in medical students from Latin America.MethodologyA multicenter, observational, analytical study was conducted in 6632 medical students from 6 countries in Latin America. We surveyed from a previously validated instrument, delving into knowledge, monthly average usage, satisfaction level, and perception of the scientific contributions provided by Sci-Hub. Frequencies and percentages are described, and generalized linear models were used to establish statistical associations.ResultsOnly 19.2% of study participants knew of Sci-Hub and its function, while the median use was twice a month. 29.9% of Sci-Hub-aware participants claimed they always find the desired scientific information in their Sci-Hub search; 62.5% of participants affirmed that Sci-Hub contributes to scientific investigation; only 2.2% reported that Sci-Hub does not contribute to science.ConclusionThe majority of Latino students are not aware of Sci-Hub.

Introduction: Some years ago, the Pokémon GO game became incredibly popular. However, no studies on the subject have been conducted in Peru involving vulnerable populations, such as adolescents. Objective: To determine if the number of hours playing the Pokémon GO game is associated with Internet and/or video game addiction, as well as to other factors in secondary school students from five Peruvian cities. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, analytical, and multi-centric study, with a sample of 944 school students. General characteristics, including socio-educational aspects, and Internet and/or video game addiction were analyzed, as well as variables related to the use of the game, such as problems at home, with teachers, accidents, and theft. Results: We found statistical associations between the assessed variables and increased playing time. 409 (44%) students had an Internet addiction, 215 (23%) were addicted to video games, and 336 (49%) spent a significant number of hours per day playing Pokémon GO. A greater number of hours playing Pokémon GO was associated with having a video game addiction (prevalence ratio (PR): 1,33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-1.65), greater use of cell phone applications

Introduction The heart rate (HR) is useful for the monitoring of patients, but almost no studies have been found which describe their variations according to different geographic locales and altitudes using centiles in children and adults. Methodology Descriptive, cross-sectional study of secondary data. Measurements were taken with a calibrated pulse oximeter; our participants resided in host cities for more than 2 months and underwent clinical evaluations by physicians. The results were categorized according to their age group and the altitude of residence using centile charts. Results Our sample size consisted of 6,289 subjects across different villages in Peru. Using Pearson correlation between HR and altitude, it was found in the group of patients aged 1–5 years, a coefficient of -0.118 (p value = 0.012), in the group of patients aged 6–17, 0.047 (p value = 0.025), in the group of patients aged 18–50, -0.044 (p value = 0.041) and for the group of patients aged 51–80, 0.042 (p value = 0.256). In the groups of 1–5, 6–17 and 18–50 years of age, the variations were negligible but statistically significant due to our large sample size. When all of the data was evaluated, HR values were also found to have negligible variations according to the residence altitude, with a Pearson coefficient of -0.033 (p value = 0.009). Centiles charts were used to describe the distribution of HR for different age groups by altitude of residence. Conclusion There are minimal variations of the HR according to the altitude of residence in all age groups.

Introducción. La homeopatía es una terapia ampliamente utilizada en diversas partes del mundo; sin embargo, su eficacia no se ha comprobado científicamente.Objetivo. Evaluar los factores asociados a la percepción de la validez científica de la homeopatía en médicos generales de Perú.Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal analítico. Se realizaron encuestas autoaplicadas a médicos generales que asistieron a los cursos de capacitación y orientación vocacional en especialidad y residentado en salud del Colegio Médico del Perú en 2017. La variable principal del estudio se evaluó por medio de la siguiente pregunta: ¿considera que la eficacia de la homeopatía está científicamente probada? Para evaluar los factores asociados se calcularon razones de prevalencia crudas (RP) y ajustadas (RPa), así como sus intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC95%).Resultados. Se incluyeron 285 médicos generales (55.1% mujeres) con una edad mediana de 28 años. Del 67.4% que reportó haber escuchado sobre la homeopatía, 22.5% consideró que su eficacia estaba científicamente comprobada. Lo anterior fue más frecuente en mujeres (RPa: 1.80; IC95%: 1.03-3.16) y menos frecuente en quienes habían publicado algún artículo científico (RPa: 0.23; IC95%:0.06-0.88).Conclusiones. Una parte de los médicos encuestados considera que la eficacia de la homeopatía está científicamente comprobada. Lo anterior puede deberse a vacíos en la educación médica con respecto a las terapias médicas alternativas y complementarias, así como a la influencia de la educación no formal en la toma de decisiones del médico joven.

Objetivos: Determinar los factores asociados a la automedicación con fármacos relacionados con COVID-19 en estudiantes de ciencias de la salud. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, analítico transversal, en estudiantes de ciencias de la salud de Tacna-Perú. Mediante un cuestionario virtual se recolectaron variables socioeducativas, prácticas, características de automedicación y exposición a COVID-19. El resultado fue automático en los últimos 3 meses con al menos 1 de 14 fármacos. Se calcularon las razones de prevalencia mediante los modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados:De los 718 estudiantes, el 51,3% se había automedicado. 62,2% se automedicó por presentar dos o más síntomas respiratorios siendo los fármacos más utilizados los antipiréticos, analgésicos y corticoides. Tuvieron mayor frecuencia de automedicación los estudiantes con pareja sentimental (RP: 1,33; IC95%: 1,16-1,53), de una universidad particular (RP: 1,36; IC95%: 1,10-1,69 ), que sus padres o familiares se automediquen algunas veces o siempre (RP: 2,34; IC95%: 1,58–3,47) y en los que se realizaron una prueba de tamizaje para COVID-19 (RP: 1, 47; IC95%: 1,14-1,89). Conclusiones:Encontramos una alta prevalencia de automedicación. Tuvieron mayor frecuencia de automedicación quienes tenían una pareja sentimental, proceden de una universidad particular, que sus padres o familiares se automediquen y en quienes se realizaron una prueba de tamizaje para COVID-19, lo cual podría ser utilizado para promover el uso racional de medicamentos .

Introduction There are individuals who still refuse to wear seat belts, despite its effectiveness in reducing morbidity and mortality in road traffic accidents. We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors according to the use of seat belts among public transport drivers in Tacna, Peru. Methodology This analytical transversal study was carried out among public transport drivers (buses and taxis) in a Peruvian city. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the general and occupational characteristics and the use of seat belts (observed). Descriptive statistics and risk factors were obtained, these latter through generalized linear models. Results Of the 460 drivers, 77% used their seat belts, with a difference in use depending on the type of public transport (p<0.001). In the multivariate model, the risk of not using the belt was associated with the following: older age (p<0.001), having complete studies (p<0.001), a higher level/category of driving license (3 categories had p<0.001), having a higher number of previous road traffic accidents (p = 0.011), and received medical attention in that accident (p<0.001), those who reported using a cell phone while driving (p = 0.005), if the co-driver’s belt had 3 anchorage points (p<0.001), and working for > 5 hours that day (p = 0.002). However, male drivers and those who had their belt with 3 anchorage points had greater use (both p<0.001). Conclusions One in five drivers did not use a seat belt, and important characteristics of those who did not comply with this traffic law were evaluated to generate control and intervention measures.

Sr Editor, en Perú la Ley de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo vigente establece que el empleador es responsable de proteger la salud de sus trabajadores mediante actividades como los exámenes médico ocupacionales (EMO), que según la Resolución Ministerial (RM) 312-2011 del Ministerio de Salud (MINSA) son obligatorios para cada actividad económica (1). Si bien esta RM ha implicado un avance en la salud ocupacional peruana, presenta ciertas falencias con respecto al tamizaje de tuberculosis, que podrían estar impidiendo un diagnóstico certero en la población vulnerable.

Objective: To identify the association between the reference time and the maternal mortality cause in the Regional Hospital Materno Infantil 'El Carmen'. Methods: Analytical, retrospective, cross-sectional study, based on data from all cases of maternal death at the Hospital Regional Materno Infantil 'El Carmen'. Census study that covered all the deceased mothers attended at that hospital during the period 2009-2015 and that their data were found on the basis of the establishment; Clinical Histories were excluded with incomplete information, or from previous periods. Results: Of the 29 patients who died since 2009, the median age was 28.5 years (interquartile range: 27-35 years of age); There were statistically significant differences in the time of transfer (p <0.001), the type of complication (p = 0.019) and in the final cause of death (p <0.001). It was found that the indirect causes of death had a longer reference time (67.5 minutes of the indirect cause versus 15 minutes of the direct cause), being this statistically significant (p = 0.0387). Conclusion: There is an increasing tendency to