Foundation: Muscle electrical stimulation is a therapeutic and training tool used to induce muscle contractions through controlled electrical impulses, with potential benefits for muscle strength and function. Objective: To analyze the impact of a muscle electrical stimulation program on upper body strength development in adults.Methods: An experimental study with a quantitative approach was conducted with 12 adults from the Los Pinos neighborhood, Calpi parish (Chimborazo, Ecuador). Two groups were formed: an experimental group (n=6), which underwent a training program with electrical stimulation using a TENS-EMS HYS-666 device, and a control group (n=6), which performed conventional training without electrical stimulation. Strength was assessed using the Maximum Bicep Curl Test before and after a 12-week intervention. Results: The experimental group showed a significant increase in upper body strength compared to the control group (p < 0.05), with a 59% improvement versus 9% observed in the control group.Conclusions: Systematic application of electrical muscle stimulation significantly promotes the development of upper body strength, making it an effective and complementary alternative to conventional training in adults.
Simulation as a teaching method has undergone sustained development since the 20th century. This paper aims to chronologically analyze the various simulation approaches used for teaching and learning in the health sciences in Cuba. To this end, a historical investigation was conducted between February and July 2025, which included document analysis and interviews with key informants (15 consulting professors with more than 50 years of professional experience). A search for scientific articles and books was carried out through the Infomed virtual network in the SciELO, Redalyc, Latindex, Dialnet, and Scopus databases. From a total of 435 articles, 33 were selected (authored by Cuban authors, with content related to teaching within the health sciences and in Cuba). It was found that the first simulators used were animal and human models, later combined with plaster casts and plastic mannequins. The areas of knowledge that benefited most were surgery, ophthalmology, and medicine. Simulation as a method was introduced after the 1990s. Since then, resources for teaching skills, knowledge, and examinations have been developed, primarily through various types of mannequins and screen-based simulators. It is concluded that simulators for teaching and learning, in their various forms, were used in Cuba since the colonial period, but simulation as a method began in the last decade of the 20th century. Although with limited accuracy, Cuban researchers have developed resources, technologies, and laboratories for simulation-based teaching. The topic is poorly represented in health sciences publications.
Foundation: It is of great importance that healthcare providers possess sufficient knowledge of bioethics as a tool for resolving conflict situations and making more accurate and prudent decisions. This is particularly important in initial medical and postgraduate training in surgical and related specialties; however, its study has not been sufficiently in-depth in undergraduate and postgraduate training programs in Cuba. Objective: To determine the need for improvement in bioethical professional training for performance in the healthcare context of surgical and related specialties. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted from July 1 to August 16, 2023. Content analysis was applied to documents related to initial and continuing education in Cuba. A guide was developed for reviewing the D and E curricula of the medical degree program and the syllabi of surgical and related specialties in effect at the time of the study. Results: Insufficient presence and treatment of bioethics were found in medical and specialist training programs. Bioethics is presented in a fragmented way, without specific courses, with outdated bibliography, its teaching reduced to isolated mentions, and approaches limited to principlism. Conclusions: The documents analyzed do not guarantee the solid bioethical training currently required for physicians and specialists to address contemporary ethical dilemmas with comprehensiveness, depth, and rigor.
Foundation: Recycling management in university settings faces the challenge of closing the gap between the extensive environmental knowledge existing in the academic community and the limited implementation of effective waste separation and management practices. This mismatch between knowledge and practice compromises institutional sustainability. Objective: To determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and training needs regarding solid waste management among the different groups that make up the university community of the National University of Chimborazo. Methods: A descriptive study with a quantitative approach, based on surveys administered to four population groups. Levels of knowledge, attitudes, practices, perceived barriers, accessibility to infrastructure, and participation in recycling activities were evaluated. Results: Although more than 80% of participants recognize the importance of recycling and express a willingness to get involved, effective practice is limited. The most significant barriers include insufficient separate containers, poor accessibility, inadequate training (especially among administrative and security/cleaning staff), low visibility of institutional actions, and a lack of awareness of the monitoring system. The most frequently generated waste materials are plastics, paper, and cardboard. The community agrees that sorting, increasing the number of containers, and environmental education are priority needs. Conclusions: The gap between knowledge and practice persists due to structural and training deficiencies. It is essential to implement a Master Waste Management Plan that integrates ongoing education, adequate infrastructure, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure sustainable practices.
The multidimensional role of nursing in perinatal death in Cuba is not an isolated function, but rather the core of a care network that requires a strategic alliance with the Pathology Department. Despite the advances of the Cuban healthcare system, a critical disconnect exists between immediate, humanized care and the search for diagnostic answers. This gap hinders the family's grieving process and psychological closure, making an integrated intervention model necessary where nursing acts as the indispensable bridge between the family's pain and pathological knowledge, optimizing the value of the autopsy and genetic counseling for the couple's future reproductive health.
