como predictor de funcionalidad familiar del adulto mayor en tres ciudades de Colombia.

Nursing research has allowed for the evolution of the discipline in areas such as the study of the ontology of care, the organization of health services, the organization of schools and faculties, nursing education, and nursing interventions and practices. Although nursing research has been growing in Latin America, it does not compare with the research being conducted in other health disciplines, and the need for nursing research in the region is still great. This article is the result of a reflection on nursing research in Latin America and aims to identify some of the research priorities in this region and possible solutions. The main priorities for nursing research are related to nursing interventions and innovations. There is also a need for more research in partnership with vulnerable groups and further research on public policy needs, interprofessional collaboration and practice, and nursing human resource planning. To address these priorities, it will be necessary to facilitate the involvement of community stakeholders and clinical practice nurses as well as the development of collaborations between researchers from different Latin American countries. Considering the complexity and diversity of the contexts in which nurses in Latin America work, it will also be necessary to develop nursing theories specific to regional contexts. By implementing some of the solutions proposed in this article, it may be possible for nursing research to further develop its potential to address many health challenges in Latin America.

Background: Traffic accidents are an important issue for public health and a threat for sustainable development, with pedestrians and cyclists having been recognized as the most vulnerable actors on the streets. The objective of this study was to analyze the profiles of pedestrians and cyclists who died as a result of traffic accidents in Colombia during the 1998-2019 period. Methods: An observational and descriptive study, with the deaths due to traffic accidents in Colombia between 1998 and 2019 as data source. Secondary data were taken from the Vital statistics of Colombia (EEVV), published by Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE). A trend analysis of the number of deaths during the period under study was performed, and such number was examined against sex to identify potential differences. Multiple correspondence analysis was employed to elaborate the profile of pedestrians and cyclists who die due to traffic accidents. Three profiles were prepared for each road actor: a global profile, one for 1998, and another for 2019. Results: The mortality profiles are different for pedestrians and cyclists, and, in turn, there are also demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic conditions in each type of road actor, which determine higher mortality risks. High population density, younger age group in the cyclists and adults among the pedestrians, low schooling levels and absence of health insurance are suggested as key factors in these profiles. Related to sex, for men is not possible to establish a profile. Women's cases are commonly related to health insurance, age, and population density. Conclusions: Several contextual and demographic characteristics in pedestrians and cyclists allow delimiting mortality profiles. The profiles that were identified suggest the need to articulate road safety policies with other social and development policies in order to coordinate and integrate intersectoral actions that reduce mortality in these road actors.

Objective: To prepare and validate a scale for assessing care needs in dependent people, based on all fourteen needs included in Virginia Henderson’s theory and Maslow’s Theory of Human Needs. Materials and methods: An observational study was conducted to validate a scale with a sample of 776 care-dependent individuals. Nursing professionals were in charge of writing the items. Correlations between items and factor structure were evaluated using a structural equation model. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Results: The correlations between all fourteen needs were satisfactory. The structure with three dimensions (physiological needs, need for safety and belonging, and need for independence) was satisfactory: CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, SRMR = 0.04, and RMSEA = 0.06 (95 % CI: 0.05-0.07). The scale’s reliability was satisfactory, with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.870 and McDonald’s omega = 0.871. Conclusions: This scale allows obtaining a classification score to determine the nursing assistance needs of dependent people. It contributes to the standardization and use of the theories about care and human needs.

Objetivo: identificar los factores asociados a las dimensiones del apoyo social del adulto mayor en tres ciudades de Colombia: Medellín, Barranquilla y Pasto. Método: estudio cuantitativo, transversal analítico, de fuente de información primaria, obtenida a partir de encuestas realizadas a adultos mayores sobre aspectos demográficos, familiares y sociales, y escalas de medición validadas que permitieron evaluar aspectos como funcionamiento familiar, felicidad, maltrato, depresión, riesgo nutricional y discriminación. El apoyo social percibido se evaluó mediante el Cuestionario de Estudio de Desenlaces Médicos de Apoyo Social (Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (MOS)). La muestra fue de 1452 personas seleccionadas por muestreo probabilístico por conglomerado, bietápico, en las ciudades de Medellín, Barranquilla y Pasto (Colombia). Se realizó análisis univariado, bivariado y multivariado, se calcularon medidas estadísticas y epidemiológicas. Se consideraron asociaciones estadísticas aquellas con un valor p inferior a 5%. Resultados: los adultos mayores participantes percibieron un apoyo social adecuado en sus diferentes dimensiones: 92% emocional, 93,5% instrumental, 92% interacción social positiva y 93% apoyo afectivo, y 91,9% en el índice global de apoyo. Percibir buen apoyo social fue una condición predominante en los adultos mayores: con pareja, sin riesgo de depresión, afiliados al Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud, que se sienten felices, que conviven con al menos dos familiares, que perciben un adecuado funcionamiento familiar, no reciben malos tratos al interior de su familia, tienen al menos cuatro amigos cercanos, no se sienten discriminados, que están acompañados y tienen alguien que los cuidan permanentemente.