A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate 199 health sciences students in the city of Iquitos. Their socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, level of physical activity, type of food, substance abuse, and prevalence of overweight and obesity were ascertained using purpose-validated questionnaires, i.e., the Systematic Alcohol Consumption Interview (Interrogatorio Sistematizado de Consumos Alcohólicos/ISCA), a questionnaire on the frequency of dietary intake (CFCA), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and anthropometric measurements. The prevalence of overweight (body mass index (BMI) of 25.0–29.9 kg/m²) was 26.5% (95% CI = 19.9–33.0%) and that of obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m²) was 7.9% (95% CI = 3.8–12.1%). A total of 34.4% of students (95% CI = 27.4–41.4%) presented with a BMI > 25 kg/m². The frequency of overweight was significantly higher in persons aged over 20 years (OR = 2.5) and smokers (OR = 3.2), and the frequency of obesity was significantly higher in older students (OR = 4.1) and males (OR = 5.5). In conclusion, a considerable proportion of health sciences students in the Amazonia region presented with a high BMI. The proportion of students with overweight was higher among students aged over 20 years and smokers, while that of obesity was also higher among males. In the university setting, the development of more overweight- and obesity-preventive activities and educational interventions would therefore be desirable.

During the pandemic, the elderly population was the most exposed to disease and changes in their daily lives. The objective was to determine the association between demographic factors, access to health services, sources of information, and physical symptoms in the mental health of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic—a study with 3828 older adults residing in nine cities in Peru. The data was collected using a web-based survey, and the instruments of demographic data; exposure to information (radio, television, and internet); and presence of physical symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress were used. Descriptive and analytical analysis was performed. Female sex, those aged between 60 and 79 years old, those with secondary education, those in their own home, those residing in an urban area, and those using public services of health predominated in this study. Likewise, 62.9% presented depressive symptoms; on the stress scale, an average of 27.81 (SD = 8.71), and on the anxiety scale, an average of 27.24 (SD = 6.04). Moreover, 65.1% reported fatigue, 62.2% had a headache, and 61.2% lack of energy. There is an association between demographic variables and the physical and psychological symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in the elderly during the pandemic.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the suitability of the low-fidelity/low-cost simulator “Salvando a Rosita^®” in the acquisition of “hands-only CPR” skills by adult nursing degree students. Methods: A quasi-experimental quantitative study was carried out with a single experimental group that included 89 nursing degree students; it was conducted in November and December 2024 at the National University of Trujillo, Peru. Results: The STAI-TA score was 17.30, and the STAI-SA score was 37.00 points. Women showed a greater level of SA (p = 0.002). The required effort was described by women as being high and by men as light (p < 0.001). The compression rate was 125.7, and the percentage of compressions with an adequate depth was 89.6%. Overweight/obese individuals achieved more correct compressions (p < 0.01). The attitudes toward alerting emergency services, remaining calm while a person is in cardiac arrest, applying the CPR sequence automatically, and performing CCs were better after receiving training. The majority considered the “Salvando a Rosita^®” simulator to be useful for teaching “hands-only CPR” to students in the first cycles of a nursing degree. Conclusions: The “Salvando a Rosita^®” simulator was found to be an appropriate tool for teaching “hands-only CPR” to students in either the first cycles of health sciences or in other related professions.

Objetivo: Determinar si la satisfacción vital y la participación cívica son predictores de las actitudes de los estudiantes de enfermería hacia el adulto mayor. Material y Métodos: Estudio de enfoque cuantitativo, descriptivo correlacional en una muestra de 588 estudiantes de enfermería de seis universidades provenientes de la Costa, Sierra y Selva de Perú; se aplicó una encuesta con las escalas SWLS, CCPC y KOGAN, que presentaron una confiabilidad de 0,89, 0,70, 0,92 respectivamente. Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 23 (±5,9) años, 82,7% fueron mujeres, 41.7% residen en la sierra, 31.5% en selva y 26,9% en la costa; en el 40,5% de hogares hay por lo menos un familiar mayor de 60 años, el 72,6% de estudiantes presentaron alto grado de satisfacción por la vida, y 78,4% mostraron actitudes positivas hacia los adultos mayores. En las tres regiones la satisfacción vital y la participación cívica explican la actitud del estudiante de enfermería frente al adulto mayor. Los modelos de regresión muestran un efecto mediano para las regiones de costa y selva, y un efecto negativo grande para la sierra (ƒ2 > 0,35) al predecir las actitudes. Los estudiantes de la selva o los mayores de 26 años presentaron mayor actitud positiva frente al adulto mayor. Conclusiones: 1 de 4 estudiantes de enfermería incurren en edadismo, siendo su perfil tener baja satisfacción por la propia vida, residir en la Sierra y no participar en solucionar problemas que atañen a su comunidad.

BACKGROUND In Amazonian settings, geographic distance and connectivity limitations can restrict access to reliable health information, while primary health care professionals often serve as an immediate source of guidance for local communities. However, limited evidence is available on how these professionals verify online health information, select sources to address professional questions, and use social media in their daily practice. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe online information verification behaviors, the sources used to address professional questions, and social media use among health professionals working in primary health care facilities in Iquitos, Peru. METHODS We conducted an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study involving 204 physicians, nurses, midwives, and dentists working in primary health care facilities in Iquitos, Loreto, Peru. Participants completed a structured self-administered questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, sources used to address professional questions, social media use, and online information verification behaviors. The 23-item online information verification scale comprised 2 dimensions: indirect verification and direct verification. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation were used as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at P<.05. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach alpha. RESULTS Of the 204 participants, 149 (73.0%) were women, 126 (61.8%) were young adults, and 81 (39.7%) were nurses. Most participants worked in category I-4 (97/204, 47.5%) or I-3 (82/204, 40.2%) primary health care facilities. Internal consistency was excellent for the online information verification scale (Cronbach alpha=.95) and good for the social media use scale (Cronbach alpha=.82). The median scores were 15 (IQR 13.0-17.0) for social media use, 60 (IQR 52.8-65.0) for indirect verification, 28 (IQR 24.0-30.0) for direct verification, and 87 (IQR 77.0-94.2) for overall online information verification. The most frequently reported information sources were conversations with other health professionals (88/204, 43.1%), the health center team (87/204, 42.6%), materials from previous training activities (70/204, 34.3%), WhatsApp groups or channels (69/204, 33.8%), the Peruvian Ministry of Health (65/204, 31.9%), and Google (63/204, 30.9%). Scientific journals and medical databases were each reported by 31 participants (15.2%). Women reported greater social media use than men (median 15 vs 14; U=3115.0; P=.008), whereas overall online verification did not differ significantly by sex (P=.31). CONCLUSIONS Primary health care professionals in Iquitos reported frequent online information verification behaviors but relied substantially on interpersonal sources and openly accessible digital platforms. The use of scientific databases and specialized journals was limited. These findings support the development of context-sensitive infodemic management interventions in the Peruvian Amazon to strengthen evidence-seeking skills, critical appraisal of online information, and the safe professional use of social media. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable. This was an observational cross-sectional study and was not registered as a clinical trial.