Horacio Miranda

(analytical) Recent studies evidence that ethnic identity is a protective factor for interethnic and intercultural societies with unequal relations. The tools that measure ethnic identity have limited psychometric validations for indigenous Chilean and Latin American populations. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the ethnic identity scale with a sample of Mapuche indigenous adolescents consisting of 501 students with an average age of 15.63, through which exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses were performed. The factorial assessment results showed strong internal reliability. The suitability of the three factors included in the theoretical proposal (exploration, resolution and affirmation) explained 76% of the variance. The reliability measures indicated a .90 value for the ordinal alpha and the correlations demonstrated external validity. It is concluded that the EIS presents sufficient psychometric evidence for use in the Mapuche adolescent population.

The objectives of this study were to distinguish family profiles based on the level of satisfaction with food-related life (SWFoL) of mothers, fathers, and adolescents, and to characterize the profiles based on the three family members’ diet quality and nutritional status, family’s eating habits, parental feeding practices, parent’s nutritional knowledge, and sociodemographic characteristics. Questionnaires were applied to a sample of 300 two-parent families with adolescent children, aged between 10 and 17 years, in Temuco, Chile. The questionnaires used were: satisfaction with food-related life (SWFoL); adapted healthy eating index (AHEI); family eating habits questionnaire (FEHQ); and the nutritional knowledge subscale. They also answered questions about eating habits and provided data to determine BMI and sociodemographic characteristics. Four different profiles were identified with respect to SWFoL: “Families satisfied with their food” (50.6%); “Fathers and mothers moderately satisfied with their food, children satisfied” (23.2%); “Families extremely satisfied with their food” (16.6%); and “Fathers and mothers satisfied with their food, children extremely dissatisfied” (9.7%). The profiles demonstrated heterogeneity in SWFoL. Higher levels of SWFoL (mothers, fathers and adolescents) were associated with healthier eating habits. These results contribute to new studies that enable understanding of how families’ healthy eating habits are part of improving quality of life.

The objective of this diagnostic research was to identify the perceptions of indigenous communities regarding the digital divide and government proposals for their inclusion in formative processes. For this purpose, the Indigenous Leadership School was developed at the University of Atacama in 18 months. The hierarchical segmentation, classification and regression (CART) method was applied to identify and select the determining variables of ICT management, and once the variables were selected, the associations between them were determined with the multivariate method of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the probability of presenting poor ICT management according to the variable selected as the most determinant of this characteristic, which corresponded to age, dichotomized into those under 46 and those over 45 years of age. Finally, univariate analysis of descriptive statistics of quantitative and categorical variables, centralization, dispersion, histogram and bar graph statistics were estimated. One of the strong conclusions indicates that those older than 45 years of age are about three times more likely to show poor ICT skills than those younger than 46 years of age.

Third molar removal surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the oral and maxillofacial field with a wide range of items in the quantification of postoperative complications. For their measure, in 2014 a previous scale design was presented. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a scale designed to measure and quantify postoperative complications in third molar surgery (TMS). A cross-sectional study of a measurement model was designed. Sixty-two patients (mean age 20.5 ± 6.6 years; 36 women) underwent TMS in three Chilean hospitals. In the postoperative check-up on the 7th day, a maxillofacial surgeon and a surgical resident performed independent postoperative assessments, applying the scale. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to obtain validity, internal consistency, interobserver reliability and a score to categorize the severity of complications using structural equation model analysis. Nine patients (14.5%) had complications. The scale was defined by two components: “Secondary complication” and “Infection” (Cronbach’s alpha 0.71; Interobserver reliability 87.7%) and three categories of postoperative complication: “without or mild”, “moderate” and “severe”. This study presents a reliability and validity scale called “Surgical complication assessment scale in TMS”.

With the aim of identifying strategies to increase fruit consumption in Temuco, consumer segments were classified according to the importance and preference of theattributes type of fruit, package/ brand, benefit associated with fruit consumption and price. A survey was applied to 400 people in Temuco,Chile, distributed using a simple allocation: 200 working adults and 200university students. The questionnaire included the SWFL (Satisfaction with Food-related Life) scale, respondents’ fruit consumption habits and their characteristics. Using conjoint and cluster analyses, three segments were distinguished: Group 1 (22.0%) gave greatest importance to the package/brand and preferred themessage “prevents diseases” and “without information”; Group 2 (47.5%) gave greatest importance to the package/brand and preferred the message “prevents diseases”; Group 3 (30.5%) assigned greatest importance to the price and preferred the message “contains antioxidants”. The segments differed in their level of satisfaction with food-related life, self-declared lifestyle, age and presence of university students. The results provide input to promote fruit consumption in working adults and university students.

Given the debate generated by Genetically Modified (GM) foods in developed and developing countries, the aim was to evaluate the importance of determining factors in the preference of consumers in Temuco and Talca in central-southern Chile for GM foods using conjoint analysis and to determine the existence of different market segments using a survey of 800 people. Using conjoint analysis, it was established that, in general, genetic modification was a more important factor than either brand or price in the consumer's decision to purchase either food. Cluster analysis identified three segments: the largest (51.4%) assigned greatest importance to brand and preferred genetically modified milk and tomato sauce; the second group (41.0%) gave greatest importance to the existence of genetic manipulation and preferred non-genetically modified foods; the smallest segment (7.6%) mainly valued price and preferred milk and tomato sauce with no genetic manipulation. The three segments rejected the store brand and preferred to pay less for both foods. The results are discussed based on studies conducted in developed and developing countries.

Although the study and measurement of satisfaction with life has generated great interest in the last 15 years, there are few works which address satisfaction with food-related life. In order to identify variables which have an influence on satisfaction with food-related life among Mapuche persons, a survey was applied to 400 Mapuche subjects in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile. The scales evaluated in the questionnaire included: SWFL (Satisfaction with Food-related Life), lifestyles, food, and Mapuche acculturation. It was found that 41.0% were extremely satisfied, 40.5% satisfied, 17.2% somewhat satisfied and 1.2% dissatisfied with their food-related life. To identify variables which have an influence on satisfaction with food, an ordinal multinomial logit model was proposed, which was significant (p < 0.01) as a whole. The probability of high satisfaction with food-related life increases as there are fewer children in the household, the person's expenditure on food increases, the person consumes some Mapuche foods, is aged 55 or more, consumes red meat in moderation, consumes foods without additives, try to balance work and private life, does not read the labels of products, and if he/she had Mapuche friends at school. Thus satisfaction with food-related life in Mapuche persons in the Metropolitan Region is related to demographic variables, expenditure on food, consumption of Mapuche foods and life-style.

In view of the interest in the role of foodstuffs in improving wellbeing and health, the object of this study is to distinguish consumer typologies in Temuco, La Araucanía Region, Chile, according to their preferences for different functional ingredients, flavouring, colouring and price in yoghurt. A semi-structured survey was applied to 400 supermarket customers. The respondents ordered eight alternative yoghurts according to their preferences, with different functional ingredients (fibre, antioxidants), flavourings (sugar, sweetener), colouring (natural, artificial) and three price options, for a conjoint analysis with fractional factorial design. Variables affecting knowledge of "functional food" were evaluated using a binomial logit model. It was determined by conjoint analysis that in general a preference existed for yoghurt containing fibre, sweetener, natural colouring, and at the lowest price. Three typologies were distinguished by analysis of hierarchical conglomerates: the majority segment (48.8%) displayed a greater preference for fibre; the second (41.7%) also preferred fibre, but gave first priority to artificial colouring and preferred a higher price. The minority (9.5%) was the only segment to prefer antioxidants. The typologies differed significantly in satisfaction with their food-related life, knowledge of the function of fibre and presence of cancer and obesity in some member of the respondent's family. The binomial logit model was significant (P < 0.01), indicating that if the consumer has a job or has had access to information on functional foods, the probability increased of knowledge of what these mean. There was thus majority acceptance of yoghurt enriched with fibre and with added sweetener.

In order to identify differences in the food consumption and expenditure habits of Mapuches according to their ethnic group as consumers as well as their degree of acculturation, a personal survey was conducted on 400 people stratified by ethnic group in four districts of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile. The empirical results showed that habits regarding the consumption of food groups included in the Family Budget Survey did not present any significant differences depending on the consumer's ethnic group, although the monthly expenditure on food is lower in Mapuche households. The ethnic origin and degree of acculturation in Mapuches are only significantly associated with the consumption of mate (herbal infusion) and food in restaurants. Mapuches maintain both food practices belonging to their traditional culture as well as foods incorporated more recently, such as mate. The degree of acculturation is significantly associated with the consumption of these foods; bi-cultural Mapuches present a higher probability of consuming a greater range of traditional foods than accultured Mapuches.