Estrategia didáctica desarrolladora para la prevención de demencia en la atención primaria de salud como parte del perfeccionamiento curricular en la carrera de medicina con base en la caracterización neuro inmunológica de adultos mayores

Abstract

Introduction: Dementia constitutes a public health problem to be taken into account within the academic process of the medical career, since the role of the primary health care physician is fundamental in the screening of possible cognitive impairment in the elderly, which motivates the development of a didactic developmental strategy based on the neuro-immunological characterization of older adults. Goal: To develop a didactic strategy for the prevention of dementia in primary health care as part of the curricular improvement in the medical career based on the neuroimmunological characterization of older adults, identifying the competencies to be developed. Methodology: Descriptive qualitative, cross-sectional, qualitative study of period. It included students about to enter the rotating internship in the period September 2022 - August 2023 of the Medicine Career of the Technical University of Ambato, who according to their curriculum received Immunology, Neurology and Community Medicine IV, being a total of 52 students. Results: There is a greater lack of knowledge of general basic concepts about dementia, some students still confuse secondary dementias as primary, some students still need to develop skills for diagnosis, recognition of risk factors, knowledge of what should be identified for primary and secondary prevention, there is still confusion in the use of instruments for the evaluation of dementia in primary health care, they have little experience in the comprehensive management of dementia and do not feel prepared to implement their knowledge and skills of dementia in the community, which aims the strategy proposed in this development project. Conclusions: The strategy is developed based on the requirements of the students and the indicators correspond to the methodology of competency assessment