ABSTRACT: Parents of children under 3 years old frequently take their children to medical check-ups. However, dental check-ups are infrequent at this age. The reasons behind this behavior are not well known. The present qualitative study aimed to identify social imaginary, attitudes and beliefs that may influence the decision to consult a pediatric dentist in parents of children under 3 years old. Semi-structured interviews were applied to 10 working mothers that had children between 8 and 36 months. These interviews allowed the identification of the most significant issues to be explored in this study. Afterwards, a total of 13 mothers who did not participate in the initial interviews were divided in 4 groups and in-depth group interviews were performed. Mothers involved in this study had a high educational level. However, their knowledge concerning oral health issues was very poor. Moreover, a frequent finding in this study was the notion that a dental consultation at this stage is considered to be overwhelming by these women because of their very demanding duties . It is important to increase the knowledge regarding oral health topics in this group and to modify policies about oral health at this stage of a child’s life.

RESUMEN: Los niños menores de 3 años son llevados a la consulta médica de forma rutinaria. Sin embargo, la consulta odontológica es muy infrecuente a esta edad. Por otro lado, los elementos que median en la decisión de consultar o no al dentista en esta etapa son hasta el momento poco conocidos. El objetivo de este estudio cualitativo fue identificar imaginarios, creencias y actitudes que podrían intervenir en la decisión de realizar una consulta odontopediátrica en pacientes menores de 3 años. Se aplicaron 10 entrevistas semi-estructuradas a mujeres profesionales, madres de niños entre 8 y 36 meses. Luego, se realizaron 4 entrevistas grupales en profundidad a 13 mujeres que no habían participado en la entrevista inicial. A pesar del alto nivel educativo de las madres se detectó un importante desconocimiento en temas de salud oral. Las madres sub-dimensionan el potencial de la consulta odontopediátrica en esta etapa. En segundo lugar, las madres consideran que una consulta odontopediátrica en este período es abrumadora considerando las altas demandas de esta etapa de la maternidad. Es importante mejorar los conocimientos de salud oral en este grupo de la población y modificar estrategias de prevención y promoción de la salud en preescolares.

Abstract: Introduction: Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F) increases early detection, allowing early interventions and improving prognosis. This tool is part of the management in case of suspected ASD in several clinical guidelines. The objective of this article was to conduct the concurrent and discrimi nant validation and the reliability analysis of M-CHAT-R/F in the Chilean population. Patients and Method: This is the second stage of the cross-cultural adaptation of cross-sectional design. M-CHAT- R/F was applied to a sample of 20 children with suspected ASD and 100 randomly selected healthy control children, aged between 16-30 months. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), considered as reference, was applied to the 20 patients of the clinical sample, to 20 children of the healthy control sample and to those cases of the healthy control sample with M-CHAT-R/F positive. Cronbach alpha was calculated, as well as M-CHAT-R/F and ADOS-2 correlation, sensitivity, and specificity analyses. Results: In the healthy sample, M-CHAT-R/F was positive in two patients, with one of them positive and the other one negative for ASD with ADOS-2 test. In the clinical sample, M- CHAT-R/F was positive in all cases, three of them were negative in the ADOS-2 test. The Alfa relia bility of M-CHART-R/T was 0,889, the discriminant sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 98%, and the concurrent ones were 100% and 87.5% respectively. Conclusions: The Chilean M-CHAT- R/F version was reliable, sensitive and specific, similar to the original test, which opens the possibility for its use in clinical samples and for research. Validating M-CHAT-R/F is an ongoing process which must be further developed.

Resumen: Introducción: El tamizaje de los Trastornos del Espectro Autista (TEA) mediante el Modified Chec klist for Autism in Toddlers - Revised with Follow Up (M-CHAT-R/F) aumenta la detección precoz, posibilitando intervenciones tempranas y mejorando el pronóstico. Este instrumento es parte del algoritmo de manejo ante la sospecha de TEA en diversas guías clínicas. El objetivo fue realizar la validación concurrente, discriminante y el análisis de confiabilidad del M-CHAT-R/F en una pobla ción chilena. Pacientes y Método: Esta es la segunda etapa de la adaptación transcultural, de diseño transversal. Se aplicó M-CHAT-R/F a una muestra de 20 niños con sospecha de TEA y 100 niños de control sano seleccionados al azar, de 16-30 meses de edad. Se aplicó Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), considerado como referencia, a los 20 pacientes de la muestra clínica, a 20 niños de la muestra de control sano y a aquellos casos de la muestra de control sano con M-CHAT-R/F po sitivo. Se calculó alfa de Cronbach, análisis de correlación de M-CHAT-R/F y ADOS-2 y sensibilidad y especificidad. Resultados: En el grupo de control sano, M-CHAT-R/F resultó alterado en 2 pacien tes, siendo uno positivo y otro negativo para TEA con ADOS-2. En muestra clínica el M-CHAT-R/F fue positivo en todos, con test de ADOS-2 negativo en 3 casos. La confiabilidad Alfa del M-CHAT- R/F fue =0,889, la sensibilidad y especificidad discriminante de 100 y 98% y la concurrente 100% y 87,5% respectivamente. Conclusión: M-CHAT-R/F en su versión chilena resultó fiable, sensible y específico de manera similar al original, lo cual abre la posibilidad de su utilización en población clínica y para investigación. La validación es un proceso continuo que se debe profundizar.

OBJETIVO: Revisar os artigos mais relevantes sobre a pediatria ambiental, seus efeitos potenciais para a saúde e, especialmente, seus avanços na prevenção. FONTES DOS DADOS: Foi realizada uma pesquisa utilizando as bases de dados MEDLINE/PubMed e SciELO. Foram revisados artigos de 1990 a 2010, além de capítulos de livros relacionados à pediatria ambiental. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Há uma variedade significativa de fatores que tornam as crianças altamente vulneráveis à exposição a riscos ambientais, associados principalmente ao consumo comparativamente maior de água, comida e ar por parte da criança, em relação ao seu peso corporal. De acordo com a Organização Mundial de Saúde, mais de 3 milhões de crianças menores de 5 anos morrem devido a doenças relacionadas ao meio ambiente. Aproximadamente 30-40% das doenças pediátricas estão relacionadas a fatores ambientais. As crianças estão constantemente expostas a vários riscos ambientais para a saúde, dentre os quais se destacam: água contaminada, falta de condições adequadas de saneamento, poluição do ar, vetores de doenças, perigos químicos, injúrias e acidentes. CONCLUSÕES: Atualmente, os pediatras são desafiados a tratar das necessidades de saúde ligadas à pediatria ambiental. A história pediátrica deve ser mais abrangente, acrescentando-se questões pontuais que ajudem a identificar potenciais riscos ambientais. A conscientização e o entendimento sobre os efeitos nocivos das várias condições ambientais e o conhecimento sobre as medidas de prevenção relacionadas resultarão em intervenções oportunas e adequadas que melhorarão a saúde e o desenvolvimento das nossas crianças.

OBJECTIVE: To review the most relevant articles regarding environmental pediatrics, its potential effects on health, and especially its advances in prevention. SOURCES: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed and SciELO databases. Articles from 1990 to 2010 were reviewed, in addition to book chapters related to environmental pediatrics. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: There is a significant variety of factors that make children highly vulnerable to environmental hazard exposure, which are mainly associated with children’s comparatively greater consumption of water, food, and air in relation to body weight. According to the World Health Organization, every year more than 3 million children under the age of 5 die because of environment-related conditions. Approximately 30 to 40% of pediatric diseases are related to environmental factors. Children are constantly exposed to various environmental health hazards, among which the following stand out: contaminated water, lack of adequate sanitation facilities, air pollution, disease vectors, chemical hazards, injuries, and accidents. CONCLUSIONS: Nowadays, pediatricians are challenged to address environmental pediatrics health care needs. The pediatric health history needs to be more comprehensive by adding pointed questions to help identify potential environmental risks. Awareness and understanding of the noxious effects of various environmental conditions and knowledge of the related prevention measures will result in timely and adequate interventions that will improve our children’s health and development.

OBJETIVO: Descrever e analisar três ferramentas usadas no sistema de avaliação aplicado ao internato em pediatria por um período de 7 anos na Faculdade de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa observacional retrospectiva projetada para as modalidades de avaliação usadas de 2001 a 2007 que foram implementadas no internato em pediatria. As ferramentas foram as seguintes: exame clínico objetivo estruturado (objective structured clinical examination, OSCE), exame escrito e diretrizes de observação de prática clínica diária (DOPCD). Os métodos de avaliação foram aplicados ao internato em pediatria do sexto ano, com um total de 697 alunos. A análise estatística incluiu uma avaliação descritiva, com correlação e regressões linear simples e múltipla (ANOVA), teste de Bonferroni e coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. O nível de significância foi de 5%. RESULTADOS: Escores de sucesso com a OSCE foram atingidos em 75,7±8%, com melhor média entre o sexo feminino (p < 0,001). Os escores de OSCE melhoraram após o terceiro ano de implementação. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,11-0,78. O exame escrito teve escore médio de 79,8±10%, e não houve diferenças quanto a gênero. O escore médio de DOPCD 97,1±3%, com melhores resultados entre as mulheres (p < 0,005). A correlação entre os três métodos de avaliação mostrou uma relação positiva moderada, exceto no ano de 2007, quando a correlação foi maior (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Análise do sistema de avaliação da aprendizagem foi realizada usando OSCE, exame escrito e DOPCD, que são complementares entre si, gerando bons resultados.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze three tools used in the assessment system applied to the pediatric internship over a 7-year period at the School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. METHODS: Retrospective observational research design for the assessment modalities implemented in the pediatric internship from 2001 through 2007. The tools were as follows: objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), written examination and daily clinical practice observation guidelines (DCPOG). The assessment methods were applied to the sixth-year pediatric internship with a total of 697 students. Statistical analysis included a descriptive assessment, with correlation and simple linear and multiple regressions (ANOVA), Bonferroni test and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: OSCE success scores were reached in 75.7±8%, with a better mean among females (p < 0.001). OSCE scores improved after the third year of implementation. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.11-0.78. Written examination had a mean score of 79.8±10% and there were no sex differences. Mean DCPOG score was 97.1±3% and the results were better among females (p < 0.005). Correlation between the three assessment methods showed a moderate positive relationship except in the year of 2007, where the correlation was higher (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the learning assessment system was performed using OSCE, written examination and DCPOG, which are complementary to each other, and yielded good results.