Environmental health: an educational need for Peruvian physicians

Authors

  • Fabricio Ccami-Bernal Unidad Generadora de Evidencias y Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Scientia Clinical and Epidemiological Research Institute, Trujillo, Peru. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3172-2113
  • Fernanda Barriga-Chambi Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6824-0092
  • Daniel Fernandez-Guzman Unidad Generadora de Evidencias y Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Scientia Clinical and Epidemiological Research Institute, Trujillo, Peru. 3. Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9441-1067
  • Esteban Vergara-de la Rosa Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Nacional de Trujillo. Trujillo. Perú. Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7461-5775
  • Jose Galvez-Olortegui Unidad de Oftalmología Basada en evidencias (Oftalmoevidencia), Scientia Clinical and Epidemiological Research Institute, Trujillo, Perú. Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1818-9801

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31053/1853.0605.v79.n4.35406

Keywords:

environmental health, medical education, curriculum, climate change

Abstract

Introduction: The implementation of courses related to environmental health in undergraduate curricula favors the formation of physicians more committed to the impact of climate change on health. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of environmental health courses in Peruvian medical schools, as well as their comparison with air quality levels for each region of the country.

Methods: A descriptive study was carried out. We searched the web page of the National Superintendence of University Higher Education (SUNEDU) of Peru and selected those universities with registered human medicine faculties. We analyzed whether they included in their curriculum a course related to environmental medicine and compared it with the levels of air quality (particulate matter) for each region.

Results: Of 41 medical schools included, 26 (63.4%) of them included a course related to environmental health in their curriculum, and 2 (7.7%) of them included it as an optional course. Of the regions with a moderate/bad air quality index, 63% have medical schools with lecture courses on environmental medicine.

Conclusions: It is necessary to standardize its methodology, contents and teaching resources, as well as the study of relevant topics such as climate change, in addition to its integration with the other courses of the medical career given the importance of environmental health in the different regions of Peru.

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Author Biographies

Fabricio Ccami-Bernal, Unidad Generadora de Evidencias y Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Scientia Clinical and Epidemiological Research Institute, Trujillo, Peru. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa, Perú.

5th year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Peru. She has scientific publications and is interested in research lines such as medical education and climate change and health.

Fernanda Barriga-Chambi, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa, Perú

5th year undergraduate student of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Peru. Member of the Technical Team of the International Medical Education Resource Center-APOLO. Member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal Acta Médica Agustina, Member of the Internal Committee for Quality Assessment of the Faculty of Medicine of the UNSA (2019-2020).

Daniel Fernandez-Guzman, Unidad Generadora de Evidencias y Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Scientia Clinical and Epidemiological Research Institute, Trujillo, Peru. 3. Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Perú

Physician graduated from the Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Peru. He is currently working as a doctor in the Rural and Urban Marginal Health Service (SERUMS) of the Chillca Health Post, Red de Salud Cusco Norte, Peru. He has scientific publications and is interested in research lines such as medical education and climate change and health.

Esteban Vergara-de la Rosa, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Nacional de Trujillo. Trujillo. Perú. Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, Perú.

Otorhinolaryngologist, member of the Peruvian Society of Otorhinolaryngology, with 11 years of practice of the specialty, graduated from the National University of Trujillo with permanent training. Academic experience as head of hospital training unit in a referral hospital for 5 consecutive years. With master's and doctorate studies in clinical and translational research. Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Trujillo. Currently reviewer of 4 indexed journals. With lines of research directed to medical education and upper airway by COVID-19.

Jose Galvez-Olortegui, Unidad de Oftalmología Basada en evidencias (Oftalmoevidencia), Scientia Clinical and Epidemiological Research Institute, Trujillo, Perú. Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.

Surgeon, master in clinical research, editorial experience in ophthalmology journals, a peer reviewer of international journals (Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of Medical Case Reports, and others), with 31 publications. Researcher with experience in training and competency training in evidence-based medicine, medical informatics, medical education, research, and publication in healthcare personnel and undergraduate and graduate students. I have performed healthcare and research activities in public and private companies and received training in clinical and methodological areas in Peru and Spain. Creator and editor of the evidence-based ophthalmology platform (www.oftalmoevidencia.com).

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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Published

2022-12-21

How to Cite

1.
Ccami-Bernal F, Barriga-Chambi F, Fernandez-Guzman D, Vergara-de la Rosa E, Galvez-Olortegui J. Environmental health: an educational need for Peruvian physicians. Rev Fac Cien Med Univ Nac Cordoba [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 21 [cited 2024 Jun. 30];79(4):400-4. Available from: https://revistas.unc.edu.ar/index.php/med/article/view/35406

Issue

Vol. 79 No. 4 (2022)

Section

Educación Medica

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