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

Introduction: Health personnel are among the groups that, due to their work, have the greatest chances of being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a human resource that has had to face different kinds of effects on their health, well-being, and quality of life. Objective: To reflect on the repercussions of COVID-19 on health workers in Colombia. Methodology: Descriptive study in which journalistic notes were explored on the web pages of the most representative press media in Colombia: El Tiempo.com, El Espectador newspaper and Revista Semana. The 80 selected articles were analyzed using an a priori category system. Results: The consequences for personnel are not exclusively evident in the fact of being infected or not by the virus, but in multiple spheres: mental health, violence and discrimination, family and social relationships, personal care activities, etc. Conclusion: The panorama of health workers in Colombia was complex before the occurrence of this international crisis. The pandemic has revealed those problems that had been brewing for many years.

Introduction: The effects of COVID-19 outbreak have reached the mental health of society and its informative evaluation results convenient. Objective: To analyze the presence and quality of information on the impact of coronavirus outbreak in mental health of people on internet and on Twitter. Methods: Searching of key words in Google, evaluation of the contents in the first three pages of results and searching of key words in Twitter with an assessment of 90 tweets in the sections popular and recent. Based on the total number of results the appropriate percentages were calculated. Results: 263 million results were obtained. The origin of the information was diverse, corresponding to health corporations, non-governmental organizations, governments, and media. On Twitter, the majority of findings related to the chosen key words came from institutions and anonymous users, with a minimal participation of public figures. Conclusions: There is information available about the topic both in the web and in Twitter. There is access to recommendations and telephones of assistance. In Twitter, there is evidence of a generalized concern about the topic and the lack of contribution from public figures.

Introduction: There is a growing trend for brands to address social issues and, based on this, consumers generate different perceptions. Aim: To analyze how women who have overcome breast cancer perceive the advertising campaign “Help us make breast cancer disappear” by Oncosalud. Methodology: The approach was phenomenological. The semi-structured interview technique was used, in which the perceptions of fifteen women who overcame this disease were analyzed. Results: The results indicate that breast cancer survivors perceive advertising positively on this topic. They demand that, if the brand is to carry out a campaign on such a sensitive issue, the message should be developed as neatly as possible. Conclusions: Their difficult life experience as cancer patients gives them a very particular vision about what should be shown in the audiovisual messages as well as through social media.

As a result of the construction of a doctoral thesis with a purely theoretical corpus ongoing, this paper propose a journey from some models and theory of Communication and Health. The two central axes are Communication for Social Change and Communication in Health, in order to recognize how they present Participation in Health in the middle of their theoretical postulates. The methodology is based on a bibliographic review of the theoretical foundations of the both axes, from where it is intended to distinguish which positions the literature found shows on the importance of participation in order to favor health processes. The literature reveals that Communication has a great space and a great theoretical-practical review in the field of participation. Through it, communities are invited to propose, design, formulate, implement and evaluate communication processes. This is what the authors refers as ‘Participatory Communication’. It is concluded that communication for Social Change and Communication in Health are a key tool and that it allows us to dimension health as a process where participation is necessary in order to transform reality.

Introducción: La Enfermedad Renal Crónica (ERC) es una de las enfermedades más frecuentes en población mexicana. Debido a la complejidad del tratamiento, con frecuencia los pacientes presentan dificultades para manejar sus emociones y seguir las indicaciones médicas y nutricionales. Objetivo: Diseñar y validar un manual de intervención psicológica para niños, niñas y adolescentes con ERC, con la finalidad de mejorar la adherencia al tratamiento, los recursos psicológicos y la calidad de vida. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal de métodos mixtos. La validez de contenido se evalúo a través de jueces expertos utilizando una Rúbrica de evaluación de materiales psicoeducativos y la Escala de evaluación del impacto y características de mensajes audiovisuales. Resultados: Se obtuvieron altos niveles de concordancia (96% a 99%) entre jueces, así como una serie de recomendaciones para mejorar el contenido del manual. Conclusión: Es necesario difundir el manual y evaluar su eficacia en distintos escenarios hospitalarios.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare organizations to readjust their communication strategies to respond to the huge demand for information from professionals, citizens and media. Objectives: To analyze the use that Andalusian hospitals have made of social networks as the main communication channels, as well as the role of the communication units of these hospitals in the management of the pandemic. Methodology: The subject matter and interaction rate of more than 1,500 publications on Facebook and Twitter of five Andalusian hospitals were analyzed, and seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with communication unit referents. Results: All the hospitals analyzed had communication departments staffed by professionals specialized in health communication who have played an active role in the decision-making committees during the pandemic. Facebook and Twitter have been the main dissemination channels. The thematic lines that concentrated most of the publications were: «Acknowledgement and expressions of support», «Protocols and measures for adaptation to the pandemic» and «Prevention and promotion». Conclusion: The results show the usefulness of social networks as channels of direct communication between hospitals and society in healthcare crises, the importance of communication as a healthcare management tool, as well as lessons learned to be applied in future healthcare crises.

Introduction: The COVID-19 crisis has positioned podcasting as a resourceful tool to combat misinformation. Objective: To describe the production and dissemination of podcast related to COVID-19 in Spain by analyzing their relationship with the phases of the pandemic –from January 2020 to March 2021.Methodology: An analytical study of time trend was conducted. The COVID-related podcasts hosted on Ivoox platform were analyzed contrasting the virus mortality data in Spain. Results: Firstly, from the 65,825 podcasts analyzed in the study, 67% were classified as instances of podcasting genre and 31% as radio sound episodes. Secondly, it was found that the existence of positive correlation and linearity between deaths from COVID-19 and podcast production was significant during pre-confinement (R2 = 0.7745, p = 0.0002) and in confinement (podcast: R2 = 0.643, p = 0.0003), as well as during the first months of 2021 (R2 = 0.5098, p = 0.003). Conclusion: Within the logic of the peripheral digital public sphere, podcasting not only did truthfully reflect the reality of the health crisis, but also anticipated the devastating situation derived from the pandemic in Spain.

Introduction: When it comes to innovative treatments, there is an imperative need to clarify misconceptions and strengthen basic notions in order to enhance patient participation in research. Objectives: To analyse the level of knowledge of the general population regarding genetic and cell therapies. Methodology: The study was performed through an online survey. Results: The survey was completed by 518 people and several gaps were detected, such as target diseases for these treatments, side effects or concepts like ‘vectors’ or ‘mutations’. The respondents highlighted as most appropriate formats conferences given by a professional in the field, videos or infographics. The Internet was the preferred source of information, particularly specialized science media and websites of official institutions. Conclusion: We propose an educational campaign comprising of a series of talks in a blended format, led by experts with both a science and communication background. We also recommend the co-design of a collection of materials disseminated through institutional websites, social networks or science specialized media.

Introduction: The crisis generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has had a great impact in health, economic and social sectors. In the health field, the exceptional circumstances in which many deaths have occurred have forced professionals to communicate bad news remotely by telephone. Objective: This article aims to synthesize in an organized way the main guidelines that contribute to effective communication, allowing professionals to reduce their stress levels and achieve greater efficiency when communicating a death by telephone in an emergency situation such as the current pandemic. Methodology: A review was carried out based on the scientific evidence collected in the existing bibliography on the subject. The databases consulted were PubMed, Scopus and the search engine Google Scholar. Results: To communicate bad news, the professional must have both good communication skills and adequate management of basic technical guidelines for action. Conclusion: The use of a series of guidelines with a certain degree of structure can increase the effectiveness of bad news communications through the telephone in emergency situations, maximizing the benefits for both the receiver and the sender.

Introducción: La propagación de la pandemia por COVID-19 en México hizo necesaria una comunicación cercana con la población por parte de la autoridad en salud a través de conferencias de prensa a nivel federal y local. Objetivos: Analizar las conferencias de prensa emitidas por la autoridad en salud en una ciudad del norte de México de manera diaria y transmitidas por la televisión local, a fin de determinar si en ellas se educaba para la salud a la población y en su caso, sobre qué temas. Metodología: Investigación cualitativa mediante análisis de contenido de las conferencias de prensa emitidas durante el periodo comprendido entre el 26 de enero de 2021 y el 12 de marzo de 2021. Resultados: Se identificaron 5 ejes temáticos que dan cuenta de la educación para la salud a través de estas conferencias de prensa en dicha ciudad. Conclusión: Las conferencias de prensa durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 fueron utilizadas con el propósito no solo de informar sino también educar, a fin de brindar a la población información médica relevante que coadyuve a cuidar su salud durante y después de la pandemia. La participación de los medios de comunicación fue clave para ello.