http://hdl.handle.net/10952/1 2026-06-21T22:38:20Z http://hdl.handle.net/10952/11043 The Ethos And Essence Of Palliative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review Garcia-Baquero Merino, Maria Teresa; Menárguez, Micaela; Segarra, Ignacio Palliative medicine(PM)is anapproach that merges professional knowledge with ethical and emotional sensibility to help patients dealing with a serious illness.This review highlights two related featuresessence and ethosthat influence palliative practice. The essence refers to the commitment to reducing suffering and the willingness to embrace life itself, while the ethos reflects the moral and humanistic idealscompassion, dignity, and respect for autonomythat shape how care is rendered. This paper does not suggest a dualistic framework;rather,it uses Cicely Sanders’s Heart and Mind idea to suggest that they are mutually reinforcing and correspond closely with each other. The analysis shows that ethos and essence are not opposing tensions, but rather complementary features of a unified philosophy of care. After reviewing historical developments, ethical principles, and clinical models, the review illustrates how values and practices reinforce each other, leading to palliative care that is more equitable, responsive, and person-centered. The integrated approach creates technically good care systems, while being deeply humane to ensure patients receive care in ways that honour their physical, emotional, and existential needs. Overall, the research suggests that the values of palliative care delivery are in congruence with clinical realisation of carein numerous settings. 2026-01-10T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10952/11042 Learner Engagement Patterns in an E-Learning Palliative Care Program: A Usage-Based Analysis of eELCA Course Participants Garcia-Baquero Merino, Maria Teresa; Menárguez, Micaela; Segarra, Ignacio E-learning has become widely accepted as an effective means of providing palliative care education to healthcare and social care professionals. However, we know very little about how learners use digital tools in this field. The study examines how learners utilise the end-of-life care (eELCA) program by analysing the most popular modules, the time spent on them, completion rates, and their learning behaviour. A descriptive analysis was done using information (2016-2017) from the Spanish eELCA Learning Management System cohort. We studied module login frequency, the duration of their sessions, whether students completed the course, and anonymised demographic details. Engagement behaviour was examined using descriptive statistics. Advance Care Planning and Assessment for end-of-life care were accessed most frequently, suggesting that learners believed them to be highly relevant. Users spend varying amounts of time interacting with the modules, likely due to differences in learning preferences and material difficulty. Learners with a strong interest in specific topics worked through these modules, although fewer learners accessed them. The study reveals that learners interact selectively, primarily based on how closely the content aligns with their knowledge needs. They demonstrate that flexible e-learning is the most effective approach for palliative care education. Future work should connect engagement with performance outcomes and utilise inferential techniques to gain a deeper understanding of learning habits. 2026-01-10T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10952/11041 AI as ethical and pedagogical mediator in initial teacher education: a case study Orti Martínez, José Antonio; González Ortiz, Juan José; Jorge, Burgueño López This study investigates the role of generative artificial intelligence AI as an ethical and pedagogical mediator in the initial training of primary education teachers, particularly in strengthening the family-school relationship. A quasi-experimental intervention was conducted with a single group of 103 students from two Spanish universities, structured into four phases: theoretical instruction, collaborative resolution of practical cases, analysis with AI, and critical reflection. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessed competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, personalized learning, and feedback. Findings indicate that AI was positively perceived for its ability to offer timely guidance, generate customized educational materials, and provide innovative solutions, with scores exceeding 3 out of 4 across all evaluated dimensions. Nonetheless, activities conducted without AI were also appreciated for promoting deeper reflection, empathy, and learner autonomy. The study concludes that AI, when critically and ethically integrated, can serve as a valuable complement in teacher education, bridging academic theory and classroom realities. 2026-06-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10952/11040 Change-of-direction and deceleration deficits in national-team female rugby sevens players: Interrelationships and associations with speed-related performance Freitas, Tomás T.; Pereira, Lucas A.; Zabaloy, Santiago; Alcaraz, Pedro E.; Arruda, Ademir F. S.; Mercer, Valter P.; Bishop, Chris; Loturco, Irineu To investigate the relationships between a series of direct and indirect measures of linear and multidirectional speed performance in elite female rugby sevens players. Methods: Nineteen players from the Brazilian national team performed 40-m linear sprint and 505 change-of-direction (COD) tests on the same day. Based on the linear sprint and COD test performances, the COD deficit (CODD) and deceleration deficit (DD) were also obtained. A Pearson product–moment correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between linear sprint and COD-derived variables. Results: Linear sprint and 505 COD velocities were not significantly associated (P > .05). Large to very large significant associations (r values ranging from .54 to .78; P < .05) were detected between linear sprint velocity for the different distances tested (10, 15, 30, and 40 m) and CODD. The COD velocity presented a very large inverse significant correlation with CODD and DD (r = −.77 and −.79 respectively; P < .05). A large and significant correlation was identified between CODD and DD (r = .79; P < .05). Conclusions: Significant associations were observed between linear sprint and CODD, suggesting that faster players are less efficient at changing direction. No relationship was found between sprint velocity and DD, highlighting the independent nature of linear sprints and deceleration capabilities. A comprehensive and detailed analysis of multidirectional speed performance should consider not only linear sprint and COD performances but also complementary COD-derived variables such as the CODD and DD. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z