Abstract Introduction: Sex education is one of the basic pillars of human development because it enhances people’s autonomy and the development of full sexuality. Objective: This study sought to describe the perception regarding sex education of adolescents from two educational establishments in Talcahuano, Chile. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 309 students from two schools located in the Talcahuano Commune, Bío-Bío region, Chile. A self-report questionnaire was applied in person. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistics SPSS v.22 software. Results: 61.8% reported receiving sex education in their establishment and almost all considered it necessary to learn about it. 52.7% reported that their establishments generated instances to talk about sexuality. In relation to the topics that should be included in sex education, “Values, respect, ethics”, “Contraceptives and prevention of sexually transmitted infections” and “Love and affectivity” were the most preferred. Conclusion: Despite the existence of instances of sex education in educational establishments, and the transversal opinion that it is necessary to learn about this subject, there is a low perception regarding its adequacy.

Resumen Introducción: La educación sexual es uno de los pilares básicos del desarrollo humano por cuanto potencia la autonomía de las personas y el desarrollo de una sexualidad plena. Objetivo: Este estudio buscó describir la percepción respecto a la educación sexual de adolescentes de dos establecimientos educacionales de Talcahuano, Chile. Método: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal de carácter descriptivo con 309 estudiantes de dos colegios ubicados en la Comuna de Talcahuano, región del Bío-Bío, Chile. Se aplicó de forma presencial un cuestionario de autorreporte. Los datos fueron analizados mediante el software IBM Statistics SPSS v.22. Resultados: El 61,8% reportó recibir educación sexual en su establecimiento y casi la totalidad consideró necesario aprender sobre ello. Un 52,7% refirió que sus establecimientos generaban instancias para hablar de sexualidad. En relación con las temáticas que deberían ser incluidas en la educación sexual, «Valores, respeto, ética», «Anticonceptivos y prevención de infecciones de transmisión sexual» y «Amor y afectividad» fueron las más preferidas. Conclusión: Pese a la existencia de instancias de educación sexual en los establecimientos educacionales y a la transversal opinión de que es necesario aprender sobre este tema, existe una baja percepción respecto a su suficiencia.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the most widespread chronic human infection worldwide and the most important pathogenic factor of gastric cancer. The calculated prevalence at the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile from 2002 to 2005 was 44.9%. Aim: To determine the current prevalence of HP in patients undergoing an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGI) and analyze its distribution according to age and endoscopic findings. Material and Methods: We reviewed 3.433 UGI performed during the year 2015, selecting those in which rapid urease test (RUT) was done. A positive RUT or a positive gastric biopsy (GB) were considered as HP infection. Results: RUT was done in 1862 UGI (55%) performed in patients aged 51 ± 17 years, (66% women). In 23% of these endoscopies, the RUT was positive. A GB was obtained 43% of endoscopies and 30% were positive for HP. In 105 patients the RUT was negative and the GB positive (rendering a 19.5% false negative rate). HP was detected by RUT and GB in 29% of endoscopies. The highest prevalence of infection (38.1%) was found between 40 and 49 years. HP infection had odds ratio of 4.24 for nodular gastropathy, 2.63 for gastric ulcer and 2.14 for duodenal ulcer (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HP prevalence in our center decreased significantly from 44.9% to 28.9% in 11 years. False negative RUT results may bias this finding. The use of proton pump inhibitors and antimicrobials that can interfere with the detection of HP should be registered to properly analyze the results of the RUT.

Objective: To analyse the trend in ambulatory surgery procedures in Catalonia (Spain) hospitals with regard to the activity in inpatient care units and structural resources in surgery. Methods: A descriptive study was performed using data from the Statistics of Health Facilities with Inpatient Care of the Health Department of the Catalan Government from 2001 to 2011. Data from acute care hospitals were analysed and were classified in public and private hospitals. Discussion: The percentage of ambulatory surgical procedures increased by 63.2% and the percentage of inpatient surgery decreased by 23.5% (this trend was more pronounced in public hospitals). This result coincided with a decrease of structural resources in surgery (beds and operating rooms) and with an improvement in inpatient surgical activity (a decrease in the mean length of stay and bed occupancy rate in all hospitals). Structural surgery resources were optimized and efficiency was improved in surgery inpatient care units.

Objetivo: Analizar la evolución de la cirugía mayor ambulatoria en los hospitales de Cataluña, en relación con la actividad del servicio de cirugía con hospitalización y la dotación estructural quirúrgica. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo con datos de la Estadística de Establecimientos Sanitarios con Régimen de Internamiento del Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Cataluña, durante el periodo 2001-2011. Se realizó para hospitales de agudos, agrupados en hospitales públicos y privados. Discusión: El porcentaje de cirugía ambulatoria aumentó un 63,2% y la actividad de cirugía con hospitalización disminuyó un 23,5% (de forma más marcada en los hospitales públicos). Esto coincide con una disminución de los recursos estructurales (camas y quirófanos) y con una mejora de los índices de actividad de cirugía con hospitalización (disminución de la estancia media y del índice de ocupación en todos los hospitales). Así mismo, se optimizaron los recursos estructurales y se mejoró la eficiencia en los servicios de cirugía hospitalaria.

Objective: To analyse the trend in ambulatory surgery procedures in Catalonia (Spain) hospitals with regard to the activity in inpatient care units and structural resources in surgery. Methods: A descriptive study was performed using data from the Statistics of Health Facilities with Inpatient Care of the Health Department of the Catalan Government from 2001 to 2011. Data from acute care hospitals were analysed and were classified in public and private hospitals. Discussion: The percentage of ambulatory surgical procedures increased by 63.2% and the percentage of inpatient surgery decreased by 23.5% (this trend was more pronounced in public hospitals). This result coincided with a decrease of structural resources in surgery (beds and operating rooms) and with an improvement in inpatient surgical activity (a decrease in the mean length of stay and bed occupancy rate in all hospitals). Structural surgery resources were optimized and efficiency was improved in surgery inpatient care units.

Objetivo: Analizar la evolución de la cirugía mayor ambulatoria en los hospitales de Cataluña, en relación con la actividad del servicio de cirugía con hospitalización y la dotación estructural quirúrgica. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo con datos de la Estadística de Establecimientos Sanitarios con Régimen de Internamiento del Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Cataluña, durante el periodo 2001-2011. Se realizó para hospitales de agudos, agrupados en hospitales públicos y privados. Discusión: El porcentaje de cirugía ambulatoria aumentó un 63,2% y la actividad de cirugía con hospitalización disminuyó un 23,5% (de forma más marcada en los hospitales públicos). Esto coincide con una disminución de los recursos estructurales (camas y quirófanos) y con una mejora de los índices de actividad de cirugía con hospitalización (disminución de la estancia media y del índice de ocupación en todos los hospitales). Así mismo, se optimizaron los recursos estructurales y se mejoró la eficiencia en los servicios de cirugía hospitalaria.