Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: The increasing use of CAM is due to its reported effectiveness and low side effects. Nevertheless there is not enough research on possible complications and interaction with conventional medicine. Objective: Describe the experiences of women who have used complementary and alternative medicine. Methodology: Qualitative descriptive phenomenological research. Data collection derived from in-depth interviews with a semi structured guide related with the studied phenomenon, observation and field notes. The data was analyzed with Krueger ́s proposal: reading, transcription, codification, formation of topics and subtopics, criteria of scientific rigor and the informed consent was applied. Findings: From the analyzed interviews, the main reason which they opted for alternative medicine was by recommendation from relatives or friends and it ́s affordability. The interviewees admitted to have used 1 or more alternative methods, from which the herbalist stands out, to treat both specific pathologies and general symptoms. Regarding their emotions and feelings that caused them to use the CAM stand out the confidence and well-being that this makes them feel. A belief about the safety of herbal remedies was found due to their belief that they ́re harmless. Conclusions: The participants experience with CAM were mostly positive and none of them reported negative effects by its use. This perceived wellbeing sensation make people feel great confidence on its healing effects.

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is one of the most serious problems facing the world today, as those who suffer from it are affected physically, socially, economically, psychologically, and spiritually. Type 2 diabetes should be studied comprehensively, taking into account not only its physical aspects but also the perspective of the person living with the illness. Objective. To know what it is like to live with diabetes mellitus type 2 in an urban environment with access to public healthcare. Methodology. Qualitative study based on established theory. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the ethics committee of a first-level health institution in the State of Puebla (Mexico). Six in-depth interviews were conducted; the participants were three men and three women who had agreed to participate in the study. Streubert and Carpenter’s guidelines were followed. Findings. The results obtained related to the central category: "adapting to diabetes mellitus type 2" and four supporting categories: 1. family support; 2. economic situation of the patient and his or her family; 3. employment aspects; 4. spiritual support, as well as the researcher’s interpretation of the literature. Discussion. Family, economics, employment status, and spiritual support are key factors to consider when discussing people who suffer from diabetes mellitus type 2. These factors should be consideredwhen treating patients. Conclusions. The researcher succeeded in laying the groundwork for a descriptive grounded theory by linking patients’ ability to adapt to diabetes mellitus type 2 with their families’ support and their spirituality.

Introduction. Epilepsy is the second most common neurological illness in Mexico. According to the World Health Organization, it is a chronic recurrent condition characterized by synchronic and sporadic hyperactivity in the brain cells, which show electric discharges. Stigmatizing this illness can cause biological, psychological, or social repercussions on subjects and their families. Objective. To explain how epilepsy is experienced by patients enrolled in the “Accepting Epilepsy” group of the November 20 Hospital of the Mexican Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE). Methodology. Qualitative, phenomenological, and interpretive study. Data were obtained via a group interview of eight patients belonging to the “Accepting Epilepsy” group. Subjects were representative of the total population, had lived with epilepsy for at least three years, and were undergoing treatment for the illness. Findings. Subjects demonstrated both positive and negative feelings and emotions as well as difficulties in interpersonal relations, both within society and within the family. These difficulties hinder the subjects’ ability to live well. Conclusions. Epilepsy damages the self-esteem, independence, and interpersonal relations of those who suffer from it. This can lead to an over-protection of patients by their families, which prevents them from living their lives as they would like to.

Introduction. The purpose of this essay is to reflect on the importance of the researcher’s role in uncovering areas of opportunity for nursing students and professionals. When settling on a research topic, a researcher in the field of nursing must consider certain factors, such as the constant observation of phenomena, the feasibility of completing the study, and the study's usefulness for society at large. Development. While the literature reveals little interest in expanding the nursing discipline’s scientific knowledge base, nursing researchers can help develop their field in various ways. These opportunities include not just offering changes and alternatives targeted at medical intervention, but also applying theoretical and practical knowledge to the development of medical technology—thereby giving nurses active roles on multidisciplinary health teams 2 Conclusions. Nursing researchers have at their disposal a wide array of possible research topics involving not only healthcare but also other aspects of the nursing profession. Therefore, the generation of high-impact scientific knowledge represents an important opportunity for nursing professionals as they strive to improve their professional practice and, along with that, the quality of Mexico’s healthcare system.

En la actualidad las ciencias de la salud corren el riesgo de intervenir en lo social diseñando campañas de promoción y prevención sin el conocimiento científico de investigaciones rigurosas, estas son fundamentales para intervenir en lo social y poder criticar el pragmatismo exigido en la actualidad, donde lo importante es dar resultados ágiles dejando de lado en muchos casos el saber, la inteligencia y la experiencia.

Introduction: In Mexico, a degree in nursing opens the door to a wide array of jobs. However, graduates are more interested in jobs relating to assistance, leaving aside other roles (teaching, research, and administration). Goal: To identify the main factors that lead nursing students to choose one professional role over another. Methodology:Quantitative, non-experimental, correlational cross-study conducted at the Iztacala Faculty of Higher Studies, National Autonomous University ofMexico. The sample consisted of 100 undergraduate students selected randomly. Subjects completed a mixed self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS, version 24. Reliability was determined using Crombach's alpha (0.69). Results: 65% of the student body would like a job involving assistance for reasons relating to skills. Those prefering a research role gave as reasons for their decision accessibility to postgraduate studies (48%) and the possibilityof contributing scientifically and technologically to the profession (55%). Regarding the teaching role, the main factor for choosing this path wasinterest in training future professionals (45%, 0.125). 30% of students expressed disinterest in the administrative role. Discussion and conclusions: The assistance role clearly dominates the program of study, leading to students developing the skills necessary for its execution without learning about the teaching, administrative, and research roles.   

Introduction. Mexico is prone to a wide range of geological phenomena. It is considered one of the countries with the highest rates of seismic activity worldwide, as demonstrated by the over 90 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher on the Richter scale that strike Mexico each year according to the Natural Disasters Fund. The World Health Organization has formulated a Strategy for Disaster Reduction in which it used, in 2004, the term “secure hospitals” with the aim of allowing people access to properly- functioning healthcare facilities during and after a natural disaster. Development. These hospitals treat people whose health conditions limit their mobility and/or functioning and reduce their decision-making abilities. Among these patients, those who are treated in the most critical units (operating rooms, intensive care)—as well as pediatric patients—are the most vulnerable when facing a disaster. Therefore, it is essential that the hospital staff and safety officials cautiously follow civil protection guidelines when evacuating the patients. Conclusions. This essay lays out the ethical dilemmas that healthcare professionals face during a natural disaster. It also contextualizes, from both a normative and a moral standpoint, the responses that best allow timely action in such a situation in which the people involved are not held liable for their decisions at the time of the emergency. Indeed, it is important to define, based on law and ethics, the healthcare professionals’ responsibilities in the case of a catastrophe.

The present work is a nursing process applied to a male patient in the neurosurgery section of the high-specialty medical unit at the Dr. Victorio de la Fuenta Narváez Hospital for Traumatology, Orthopedics, and Rehabilitation. The patient was suffering from long-term damages due to cranio-encephalic trauma, valvular hyperfunction, and bleeding in the lower digestive tract. The following important were identified: external ventriculostomy, tracheotomy, bilateral pulmonary rales, hyperthermia, and melena. Heart rate was 68/min; breathing frequency, 23/min; blood pressure, 110/70 mmHg; temperature, 38.2ºC. The patient was cared for from May 2 to 5, 2017. During his stay, Marjory Gordon's eleven functional health patterns were applied in order to provide the patient with integral care. The patient's health state was assessed in order to identify and prioritize his real and potential needs (according to nursing diagnostics) and to intervene and prevent the processes relating to complication, treatment, central and peripheral access, and pharmacological therapy. Dependent, independent, and interdependent actions were effected in order to care for the patient's health.   

Mexico currently ranks at the top of the list of countries with the highest rates of overweight and obesity in adults, with 7 out of 10 adults. Strategic programs that seek to combat this serious public health problem have failed. Nurses have an important role in this effort; they are responsible for following overweight and obese patients and are capable of designing and implementing nutrition and physical activity programs that allow patients to improve their quality of life by reducing the risks caused by obesity. The objective was to apply a program of electrical stimulation for loss of body fat in women aged 30 to 40.This is a pure experimental, prospective, linear, and analytical study. Two groups were selected consisting of women aged 30 to 40 who perform physical activity: an experimental group of 9 women and a control group of 10 women. Measurements were conducted daily via assessment and comparison tools. The program was applied during 7 weeks, obtaining basal (2 weeks) and experimental (5 weeks) measurements; 3 sessions of 30 minutes each were applied each week. Results showed a significant decrease in 3 out of 12 variables evaluated—namely, the percentage of body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and skin turgor—thereby improving the biological and physical wellbeing of the participants.