En la investigación en ciencias sociales, la utilización del relato de vida ha mostrado importantes desarrollos, permitiendo articular signifi cados subjetivos de experiencias y prácticas sociales. Son variados los trabajos que muestran resultados de investigaciones, así como variados aquéllos que discuten esta particular forma de concebir y articular conceptualmente las dimensiones subjetiva y social. La literatura sin embargo, ha soslayado aspectos del proceso de diseño e implementación de una investigación con relatos de vida. Este artículo intenta visibilizar estos aspectos, a la luz de las premisas que sustentan la investigación desde un enfoque biográfi co. Se presenta un dispositivo de trabajo implementado en investigaciones realizadas, discutiendo a partir de él las opciones metodológicas tomadas, sugiriendo modos de abordar investigaciones con relatos de vida. Palabras clave: relatos de vida; enfoque biográfi co; investigación cualitativa; opciones metodológicas. In social sciences research, the use of life stories has developed greatly allowing for the articulation of subjective meanings of social practices and experiences. There are several studies that show their fi ndings as there is a variety of such pieces of research that discuss this particular way of conceptually conceiving and articulating subjective and social dimensions. The literature has, however, avoided analyzing aspects of the process of design and implementation of research based on life stories. In this paper there is an attempt to bring these aspects to the forefront, in light of the premises that underlie research from a biographical approach. A working device applied in previous research is presented, with discussion on methodological decisions and suggestions on how to approach research on life stories.

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Background:Chronic pain is a prevalent and distressing condition caused by an unceasing pain lasting more than 3 months or a pain that persists beyond the normal healing time. There is evidence of inadequate management partly explained by the unawareness regarding the magnitude of the problem.Objectives:To estimate the annual expected costs and consequences of chronic pain caused by musculoskeletal diseases from the health system perspective in Chile.Methods:A Markov cohort model was built to represent chronic pain and estimate expected costs and consequences over 1-year time horizon. Transition probabilities were obtained through expert elicitation. Consequences examined were: years lost to disability (YLD), depression, anxiety, and productivity losses. Direct health care costs were estimated using local sources. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to characterize second-order uncertainty.Results:The annual expected cost due to musculoskeletal chronic pain was estimated in USD $1387.2 million, equivalent to 0.417% of the national GDP. Lower back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee explained the larger proportion of the total cost, 31.8% and 27.1%, respectively. Depression attributed to chronic pain is another important consequence accounting for USD $94 million (Bayesian credibility interval 95% $49.1–$156.26). Productivity losses were also important cost, although early retirement and presenteeism were not measured. Chronic pain causes 137,037 YLDs.Conclusion:Chronic pain is not only an important cause of disability but also responsible for high social and financial burden in Chile. Public health programs focused on managing chronic pain may decrease burden of disease and possibly reduce costs.

BackgroundEvidence of the cost-effectiveness of school-based first permanent molar sealants programs is not yet fully conclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of school-based prevention programs for the application of sealants in molars of schoolchildren compared with non-intervention.MethodsA cost-utility analysis based on a Markov model was carried out using probability distribution. The utility was measured in quality-adjusted tooth years (QATY). The assessment was carried out from the public payer’s perspective with a six-year time horizon. Costs and benefits were discounted at 3% per year. Only direct costs were evaluated, expressed in Chilean pesos (CLP) at 7th May at 2019 values (exchange rate USD = CLP 681.09). Univariate deterministic sensitivity analysis and probabilistic analysis were carried out.ResultsAfter a six-year follow up, the cost of sealing all first permanent molars was found to be higher than non-intervention, with a mean cost difference of USD 1.28 (CLP 875) per molar treated. The “seal all” strategy was more effective than non-intervention, generating 0.2 quality-adjusted tooth years more than non-intervention. The ICUR of the “seal all” strategy compared to non-intervention was USD 6.48 (CLP 4,412) per quality-adjusted tooth years. The sensitivity analysis showed that the increase in caries was the variable which most influenced the ICUR.ConclusionsA school-based sealant program is a cost-effective measure in populations with a high prevalence of caries.

RESUMENEste trabajo expone las necesidades en comunicación en salud de 181 chilenos autónomos, mayores de 60 años, para diseñar el prototipo de un sistema de comunicación en salud preventiva para estas audiencias y sus redes de apoyo. Se aplicó un cuestionario sobre variables personales, de sociabilidad, uso de medios y tecnologías, bienestar subjetivo y autopercepción de salud. Esto para definir los objetivos de comunicación, el medio (un sitio web multiplataforma), la línea editorial y los contenidos en diferentes formatos, desde la perspectiva del envejecimiento activo. El equipo de investigación es de carácter interdisciplinario: comunicación, salud pública y sociología del envejecimiento. RESUMOEste trabalho apresenta as necessidades de comunicação de saúde de 181 chilenos autónomas com mais de 60 anos para projetar o protótipo de um sistema de comunicação em saúde preventiva para esses públicos e respectivas redes de apoio. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre variáveis pessoais, de sociabilidade, hábitos de uso de mídia e tecnologia, bem-estar subjetivo e autopercepção de saúde. O propósito foi definir os objetivos de comunicação, a mídia (um site multiplataforma), a linha editorial e a produção do conteúdo em diferentes formatos, sob a perspectiva do envelhecimento activo. A equipa de investigação é interdisciplinar: comunicações, saúde pública e sociologia. Elderly in