Chronic pain affects the quality of life of those affected. The need to investigate alternative and complementary methods to the pharmacological one to alleviate chronic pain is evident, so virtual reality and binaural tones have become a topic of interest in this field in recent years. This study aims to analyze the contributions of the combination of these two techniques in pediatric patients with chronic pain. For this, data on psychophysiological responses (heart rate and galvanic skin response) and pain perception are collected during and after interaction with this technology using a mixed pre- and posttest experimental methodology. The physiological data and answers in the Pediatric Pain Questionnaire (PPQ) have been collected in a sample of n = 13 healthy participants and n = 9 pediatric patients with chronic pain. The results show a significant difference between baseline and after applying virtual reality and binaural beats, md = 1.205 (t = 3.32; p < 0.05 ). There are great effects on the perception of chronic pain if virtual reality and binaural beats are combined, even greater than with virtual reality alone, making this combination of technologies a very useful tool to be exploited for the management of chronic pain in pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases.

Social robotics and the use of information and communication technologies have a significant impact on education. This approach combines robotics and artificial intelligence with a social and emotional perspective to improve the quality of education while providing psychoeducational and emotional support to students. This critical analysis aims to discern whether these technologies, together with inclusive and quality teaching strategies and organisational strategies adapted to each centre and classroom, can enable the presence in class during periods of hospitalisation and/or convalescence of seriously ill students, and facilitate their participation and progress, as well as allow for better accompaniment during the bereavement of the class if this colleague dies. The advantages of these technologies are highlighted as tools of great value in the inclusion and integration of these students during higher education, although it is true that it is essential to carefully assess the advantages and disadvantages before implementing them.

El principal objetivo de este estudio es analizar la implementación del Prácticum en los planes de estudio de los grados de Educación Infantil y Educación Primaria en las universidades españolas, tanto públicas como privadas. Para llevar a cabo este estudio se ha dividido el trabajo de campo en dos partes claramente diferenciadas. Una primera parte, de carácter cuantitativo, en la que se ha abordado el análisis de contenido de un total de 123 guías docentes de los grados mencionadas, correspondientes a 63 universidades que ofrecen estos estudios sobre un total de 82 universidades que componen el panorama universitario español. Una segunda parte, de carácter cualitativo, en la que, a través de la técnica del grupo de discusión, se han analizado y contrastado los datos extraídos del primer análisis, relacionando la primera parte de la investigación con la segunda. El estudio identifica una serie de características del Prácticum que son comunes a totas las universidades españolas: gran similitud en las guías docentes, su ubicación a partir de tercer curso, la escasa participación del estudiante en su evaluación y su desvinculación con el TFG. Tales características dibujan una radiografía que denota una clara separación entre el mundo académico y los centros escolares.

No abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions in schooling and the closure of schools worldwide, how this has affected children’s and youth’s health and wellbeing is a current area of research. However, those who suffer a chronic or temporary disease may be attending hospital classrooms, and this scenario has received little attention in comparison to regular schools. The objective of this exploratory quantitative study focuses on exploring the quality of life and emotional well-being of students attending hospital classrooms. For this purpose, four Chilean hospital classrooms from different regions of the country were randomly selected. A total number of 248 students participated in the survey, each of whom filled out two online questionnaires. The findings show similar scores in children with mental illness and those with other health conditions. In comparison with one year before, students rate their general health as the same or somewhat better now, as well as manifesting an optimistic view of the future regarding the pandemic.