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Introduction: Diabetes-related foot infections are a common cause of hospitalization and are associated with prolonged hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and poor outcomes. However, information on clinical risk factors for prolonged hospital stay in resource-limited settings is scarce. The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with prolonged hospital stay in patients hospitalized for diabetes-related foot infection.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted with diabetes-related foot infection at Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren part of the Peruvian Social Security system, between 2020 and 2021. Clinical characteristics, wound features, and treatment types were collected from electronic medical records. Prolonged hospital stay was defined as more than 10 days according to national guidelines. Associations with prolonged hospital stay were assessed using Poisson regression with robust variance.

Results: A total of 228 patients were included (76.3% male; median age: 66 years). The most frequent comorbidities were atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (56.6%), arterial hypertension (54.8%), and chronic kidney disease (42%). Overall, 50.5% of patients were treated with bedside wound debridement; 25.4% underwent minor amputation; and 24.1% received surgical management (major amputation or operating-room debridement). Prolonged hospital stay occurred in 49.6% of patients. Independent risk factors included wound length >5 cm (adjusted relative risk: 1.63; 95% confidence interval: 1.17 to 2.26), surgical management (1.63; 1.40 to 2.97), minor amputation (1.63; 1.22 to 2.63), and a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (1.63; 1.08 to 1.84).

Conclusions: Nearly half of patients with diabetes-related foot infection experienced prolonged hospital stay. Larger wound size, surgical treatment, minor amputation, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were associated with prolonged hospitalization. Identifying these factors may guide clinical decisions to reduce hospital stays in resource-limited health systems.

Introduction: Bariatric and metabolic surgery is a safe and effective method for treating clinically severe obesity. In Argentina, Law 26 396 and its amendments establish the regulatory framework for its coverage. However, administrative, regulatory, and financial barriers limit effective access to it, with gaps remaining in its scope and understanding. This study aimed to explore surgeons' and health insurance providers' perceptions of the implementation of bariatric and metabolic surgery in Argentina, within the framework of Law 26 396, and to identify the barriers that impede effective, timely access.

Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study comprising 16 in-depth virtual interviews with eight surgeons specializing in bariatric and metabolic surgery and eight health insurance officers of the Argentine healthcare system, conducted between November and December 2024. The sampling was intentional. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. A thematic and recursive analysis was conducted, enabling us to identify emerging categories.

Results: We identified multiple barriers and challenges to the effective implementation of bariatric and metabolic surgery in Argentina, including geographic inequalities, heterogeneity in surgical module agreements, administrative and bureaucratic restrictions related to variability in the interpretation of the law and its requirements, high costs, and the imposition of quotas that delay timely access, among others.

Conclusions: The implementation of bariatric and metabolic surgery presents structural and functional challenges that affect equitable and timely access. Although Law 26 396 and its subsequent regulations established a regulatory framework for its coverage, tensions among healthcare system actors and regional disparities have resulted in heterogeneous implementation. Administrative and financial barriers persist, affecting its effective and timely practice. We highlight the need to strengthen coordination between physicians and health insurance providers, promoting opportunities for dialogue that optimize authorization and funding processes.

This study aims to analyze Chile's policy governing access to the emergency contraceptive pill from the perspective of Walt and Gilson's policy triangle. Its purpose is to generate evidence on relevant actors, implementation, activities, and decisions taken. Through a retrospective case study with a qualitative-analytical approach, supported by a literature review, official reports available online, and analysis of relevant documents, an empirical analysis was conducted using a qualitative-descriptive synthesis matrix based on the Policy Triangle. The analysis followed a historical structure organized into four time periods that characterized the political process surrounding the emergency contraceptive pill in Chile. The main results highlight the participation of numerous sociopolitical actors in formulating the public policy to secure access to the emergency contraceptive pill, within a context of persistent ideological tensions. These dynamics were expressed in arguments that at different moments strengthened or weakened the policy process. Although issues were progressively resolved and the policy remains a work in progress, the process contributed to strengthening the reproductive rights of Chilean women. In conclusion, Walt and Gilson's policy triangle, as an interpretive tool, offers concrete opportunities to analyze public policy in health, confirming the importance of interaction among health authorities, politicians, academic groups, and civil society organizations in matters related to health in general and respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of women with the introduction of emergency contraception.

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly present in dermatology, demonstrating accuracy levels comparable to, or even superior to, those of dermatologists in diagnosing skin lesions from clinical and dermoscopic images. This review provides an overview of AI's role in the automated classification and monitoring of skin lesions.

Objective: To explore and map the existing literature on the use and benefits of AI in dermatology.

Methods: This narrative review focused on exploring the use and benefits of AI in dermatology, utilizing MeSH/DeCS terms such as "Dermatology," "Artificial Intelligence," "Diagnosis," and "Computer Aided Diagnosis." Three databases (PubMed, Lillacs, and Scopus) from 2008 to 2024. We excluded articles that did not focus on dermatology, lacked the topic of Artificial Intelligence, or presented theoretical designs without practical application or evidence, resulting in a final selection of forty-four articles.

Results: The results strongly support AI's effectiveness, displaying its precision in diagnosis, comparable to or exceeding that of human dermatologists across diverse tasks. The evolution of AI in dermatology implies a substantial transformation in care, extending its applications from skin cancer to various dermatological pathologies. While emphasizing the vital collaboration between AI and healthcare professionals, a critical gap remains in the real-world clinical validation of AI. Ethical considerations, especially in automated decision-making, need careful attention.

Conclusions: This narrative review highlights the crucial role of AI in dermatology, emphasizing its potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy for skin lesions.

Introduction: Perceived workplace discrimination is a relevant phenomenon in the field of occupational health, associated with multiple negative effects on work outcomes, mental and physical health. However, the literature reveals significant limitations in its measurement, such as the absence of validated instruments for this purpose. This study aimed to develop, validate the content, and evaluate the reliability of a questionnaire designed to measure perceived workplace discrimination.

Methods: We designed a questionnaire based on a scoping review of the literature. The instrument consists of two sections. The first section includes four items aimed at assessing the prevalence of perceived workplace discrimination and the associated reasons. The second section comprises ten items designed to characterize the phenomenon using a Likert-type scale. Content validity was assessed by five experts using Aiken's V coefficient with 95% confidence intervals. Internal consistency of the second section was evaluated through Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The sample included 86 workers from the mining sector in Chile.

Results: The 14 items in the questionnaire obtained Aiken's V values ranging from 0.8 to 1, indicating high clarity, relevance, and significance. The reliability analysis of the second section yielded a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.62, considered acceptable for exploratory stages. Opportunities for improvement were identified in some items to enhance internal cohesion in future applications.

Conclusions: The questionnaire demonstrates high content validity and moderate reliability, supporting its preliminary use in research on perceived workplace discrimination. Further studies are recommended to confirm its factor structure and strengthen its psychometric properties in larger and more diverse samples.