This course has allowed me to learn more about Open Access, and to think about the current challenges faced by scientific production in open access. I have also learned about the types of licenses that can be used in Open Access. Additionally, having to participate in forums encouraged me to express my opinions and to understand the viewpoints of my classmates.

This seminar provided guidance for good practices throughout the research process and, in the same way, allow me to think about many aspects of my research project and research in general. Additionally, this session helped me understand the procedures and key aspects to consider when requesting approval from the UOC’s Ethics Committee, which is necessary to begin the research.

I find it necessary to   have tools to apply a gender perspective in research. Beyond focusing on women’s health, I have learned the importance of considering intersectionality in my work. Additionally, I have discovered new resources and UOC staff members I can reach out to when I have gender-related questions.

I attended this congress, where I could participate in diverse and interesting sessions on various aspects of public health, with a particular focus on digital health. Additionally, I took part in a workshop on qualitative methodology. Attending the conference allowed me to discover relevant studies on digital health, which I found highly valuable and have consulted for the development of my research plan.

I attended the presentation of the results from the study “Menopausa, i ara què?”, organized by the Institut de Recerca Glòria Compte – Fundació Salut Empordà. This event provided valuable insights into the perceptions of the Catalan population regarding menopause and reinforced the importance of viewing it as a natural life stage rather than a disease. Additionally, I reflected on the need to raise awareness—not only among those experiencing menopause but also across the broader population—about its manifestations and its potential impact on daily life.

I actively participated in a systematic review with meta-analysis on digital interventions for managing depression in primary care. This experience deepened my understanding of the methodology and challenges involved. I gained insight into the importance of a rigorous approach to ensure reliable, objective results, as well as skills in critically evaluating sources and managing large volumes of information systematically. The resulting article has been accepted and is now in the publication process.

This seminar allowed me to explore the functionality of Atlas.ti, a software I had not used or known about before. I found it intuitive and interesting and believe it is important to promote its use since it is available at UOC. Additionally, the training provided deeper insights into qualitative methodology, highlighting that this approach does not aim for data representativeness but rather a deep understanding of a phenomenon.

As part of a joint project with Hospital de Bellvitge to evaluate the usability of the El Meu Quiròfan application, we conducted semi-structured interviews to understand users’ perceptions and experiences. Before this, we assessed the comprehensibility of the thematic script with hospital volunteers. This experience highlighted the importance of adapting health content to users and ensuring that information is clear, accessible, and centered on their real needs.

• • Date: January 2024
  • Place: Sant Fruitós del Bages

Reflection on the learning and competences: I assisted a doctoral student from UOC (Aïna Fuster Casanovas) with her doctoral thesis in preparing the thematic script and conducting focus groups in the field of depression and digital health. Through this process, I learned about the importance of preparing, reviewing, and sharing thematic scripts with team members to make them as understandable as possible.

The EvalDepApps project aims to develop a digital tool and methodology to help both patients and professionals identify the best apps for managing depression. From January to March 2024, I participated in empathization and co-creation workshops for people with depression and mental health professionals in Girona, Barcelona, Málaga, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

My participation in the organization of the workshops, as well as my role as an observer, allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the design thinking process and its dynamics. Moreover, this experience has made me realize the importance of detecting the real needs of end users and involving them, along with all stakeholders, in the development and implementation of health and digital health interventions to improve usability, health outcomes, and user experiences. Participatory processes can help prevent people from having to adapt to technology while fostering tools that are adapted to them.