Maira Cristina Cujilan Alvarado

Sensory processing is a fundamental aspect of the nervous system that plays a pivotal role in the cognitive decline observed in older individuals with dementia. The “sensory diet”, derived from sensory integration theory, may provide a tailored approach to modulating sensory experiences and triggering neuroplastic changes in the brain in individuals with dementia. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the current knowledge regarding the sensory diet and its potential application to dementia. This review encompassed an extensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, covering articles published from 2010 to 2023. Keywords such as “sensory integration”, “sensory modulation”, “healthy aging”, and “dementia” were utilized to identify relevant studies. The types of materials retrieved included peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape. This article offers a comprehensive exploration of the effectiveness of sensory diets such as tactile stimulation, auditory therapies, and visual interventions, which have demonstrated noteworthy efficacy in addressing challenges linked to aging and dementia. Research findings consistently report positive outcomes, such as improved cognitive function, elevated emotional well-being, and enhanced overall quality of life in older individuals. Furthermore, we found that the integration of sensory diets with the metaverse, augmented reality, and virtual reality opens up personalized experiences, fostering cognitive stimulation and emotional well-being for individuals during aging. Therefore, we conclude that customized sensory diets, based on interdisciplinary cooperation and leveraging technological advancements, are effective in optimizing sensory processing and improve the overall well-being of older individuals contending with sensory modulation challenges and dementia.

Sensory processing is a crucial function of the nervous system that significantly affects a large portion of the population, particularly older individuals who may be dealing with different forms of dementia. The global population of people aged 65 or older has reached a substantial count of around 703 million, representing approximately 9% of the total global population. Within this demographic, an estimated 5-8% of those aged 60, highlighting the growing need to address sensory modulation challenges for healthy aging. Sensory diet, derived from sensory integration theory, provide a tailored approach to modulating sensory experiences and triggering neuroplastic changes in the brain. Recent neuroimaging studies have revealed intricate structural and functional alterations in the brain associated with the implementation of sensory diets. Furthermore, the integration of the Metaverse, augmented reality, and virtual reality has opened up personalized experiences, fostering cognitive stimulation and emotional well-being for individuals during aging. This article offers a comprehensive exploration of the effectiveness of sensory diets in enhancing attentional control, self-regulation, and alleviating sensory-related distress among the healthy aging and dementia population. By employing precise quantitative evaluations such as sensory processing scales and advanced neuroimaging methodologies, it presents solid evidence of the tangible impact of these interventions. Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and leveraging technological advancements, the article underscores the crucial need for customized sensory diets to optimize sensory processing and improve the overall well-being of older individuals contending with sensory modulation challenges and dementia.

A lo largo de los últimos años, la pandemia de COVID-19 ha generado desafíos sin precedentes en la formación de profesionales de enfermería en todo el mundo, incluyendo la Universidad de Guayaquil en Ecuador. Este artículo presenta una revisión bibliográfica de las teorías de enfermería más relevantes para la formación de estos profesionales, así como los desafíos y estrategias para afrontar situaciones como la pandemia de COVID-19 en el contexto universitario. Se identificaron cinco teorías con aplicaciones en la formación de profesionales de enfermería: la perspectiva antropobiológica del cuidado en enfermería, la teoría de la satisfacción de las necesidades humanas básicas, la teoría de la atención transpersonal, la teoría de la ecología de la salud y la teoría del cuidado caritativo. La revisión bibliográfica también muestra la relación entre las teorías y la formación de profesionales de enfermería en la Universidad de Guayaquil en escenarios como la pandemia de COVID-19. Se discutieron varias estrategias para superar estos desafíos, incluyendo la utilización de tecnología para la enseñanza a distancia, el aumento de la capacitación en seguridad y manejo de equipos de protección personal, la adaptación de los programas académicos para incluir contenido relevante para la pandemia y el aumento de la colaboración interdisciplinaria.

Introduction: The abuse of drugs is an important public health problem not only in Ecuador, but also worldwide. Objective: To interpret the perceptions of the drugdependent person about the effects that the drug produces in their personal, family, social life, and their vision for the future. Methodology: Qualitative research with phenomenological interpretative analysis performed by semi-structured interviews in non-probabilistic sampling snowball type to 17 subjects with drug dependence in the period July-August 2018 in the city of Guayaquil. Results: The key informants were between 16 and 28 years of age, with low social stratum, from marginal urban ¡Quo Vadis Joven! Relatos del abuso de drogas en jóvenes de Guayaquil, Ecuador

Los diagnósticos de enfermería que son más frecuentes en un área específica, facilitan la realización de planes de cuidado de enfermería estandarizados. Identificar los diagnósticos de enfermería más frecuentes en un centro obstétrico de la ciudad de Guayaquil. Estudio cuantitativo de tipo transversal que involucró a 93 mujeres gestantes o en etapa de puerperio inmediato en una institución hospitalaria de tercer nivel de atención de la ciudad de Guayaquil durante el mes de enero a febrero del 2018. La recolección de datos se realizó mediante aplicación del proceso de atención de enfermería: análisis de historia clínica, entrevista y examen físico, y la utilización de la taxonomía NANDA. Riesgo de la alteración de la diada materno-fetal, Riesgo de sangrado y Dolor fueron las etiquetas diagnosticas de mayor frecuencia en el área obstétrica. Se esperan estudios adicionales sobre la exactitud diagnóstica en el área obstétrica y validación de tales diagnósticos.