Abstract: Background: Medical education has reached a high point, where theoretical and practical education is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of students and society, and it is essential that medical education centers adopt new teaching and learning strategies. Methods: A prospective, observational study of one year duration was conducted on two groups of students of the School of Medicine of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Group A consisted of 50 second-year students, and group B, of 50 fourth-year students. Ten variables were measured that corresponded to competencies held by students in the initial period and at the end of their surgery course. The statistical tests used were the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Among the competencies most improved in both groups, were the surgical scrubbing and the performing of a simple stitch. The initial and final evaluations of both group A and group B showed an important progress in each group, with a statistically significant improvement in the development of surgical competencies in group A (second-year students) compared to students in the fourth year (group B). Conclusion: This analysis shows that teaching and learning strategies in medical education need to adapt to a competency-based approach.

Resumen: Antecedentes: La docencia médica evoluciona a un momento cumbre donde la enseñanza teórica-práctica no resulta suficiente para satisfacer las exigencias de los estudiantes y la sociedad, por lo que es indispensable para cualquier centro de educación médica adaptarse a las nuevas estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Material y métodos: Se realiza un estudio prospectivo, observacional, de un año de duración, conformado por dos grupos de estudiantes de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Grupo A, 50 alumnos de segundo año y grupo B, 50 alumnos de cuarto año. Se midieron 10 competencias realizadas por ambos grupos en el periodo inicial y al final del curso correspondiente de cirugía. Las pruebas estadísticas utilizadas fueron la prueba de Wilcoxon y U de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: Entre las competencias con mayor progreso de ambos grupos fueron el lavado quirúrgico y la realización de punto simple. En las evaluaciones inicial y final, tanto los alumnos del grupo A como los del grupo B demostraron un progreso importante; se pone de manifiesto una mejoría estadísticamente significativa en el desarrollo de competencias quirúrgicas en el grupo A, de estudiantes de segundo año, con respecto a los alumnos de cuarto año, del grupo B. Conclusión: Con este universo estadístico en estudio observamos que en la docencia médica es necesario lograr adaptar toda estrategia de enseñanza-aprendizaje al método basado por competencias.

Os níveis de contaminação de ovos de Toxocara spp. em amostras de solo de um Campus Universitário na Cidade do México foi avaliado e analisado de acordo com o tamanho dos jardins, e relacionado com a porcentagem da presença de Toxocara spp. e sua viabilidade com as características do solo. Um total de 1458 amostras de solo coletadas em 15 jardins (seis grandes e nove pequenos) foram analisados pelo método de sedimentação-flutuação em sulfato de zinco 33%. A contaminação foi baixa (12.9%), e a viabilidade de ovos foi alta (65.5%). O tamanho do jardim não teve influência sobre a presença e a viabilidade de ovos de Toxocara spp. A contaminação foi negativamente correlacionada com o percentual de vegetação (r = -0.61 P < 0.01) e a viabilidade negativamente associado com a porcentagem de argila nas amostras de solo (r = -0.51 P < 0.04). O tamanho do jardim não influenciou a presença e viabilidade de ovos de Toxocara spp.

The contamination levels of Toxocara spp. eggs in soil samples from a university campus in Mexico City were evaluated and analysed according to garden size, and were related with the percentage of Toxocara spp. eggs and its viability according to the soil characteristics. A total of 1458 soil samples collected in 15 gardens (six large and nine small) were analysed by sedimentation-flotation with zinc sulphate solution on at 33%. Contamination was low (12.9%), and egg viability was high (65.5%). The size of the garden had no influence on the presence and viability of Toxocara spp. eggs. Contamination was negatively correlated with the percentage of vegetation (r = -0. 61, P < 0.01) and the viability was negatively associated with the percentage of clay in the soil samples (r = -0.51, P < 0.04). The size of the garden did not influence the presence and viability of Toxocara spp. eggs.