Descriptive Questionnaire-based Study Research Articles

Influence of Social Media in Multidisciplinary Cleft Care in Indonesia.

Social media has played a pivotal role in relaying healthcare-related information, especially in efforts to improve cleft management. Cleft management involves a multidisciplinary team throughout the years of comprehensive intervention, from birth to adulthood. To investigate the behaviors of parents and patients with clefts regarding social media use in improving cleft-related outcomes, knowledge, and awareness. This questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted online and involved both closed- and short-ended questions. Parents and patients with cleft lip and palate provided consent to participate in the study. Patient demographics, history, and timing of cleft treatment, barriers to care, and social media use were explored. Fifty-six participants were enrolled in this study. The mean ages of the mothers and fathers of children with cleft were 34 (range, 24-57) and 36 (range, 26-59) years, respectively, and more than one-half were university graduates. WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube were used by 100%, 89%, and 89% of parents, respectively, 82% of whom were part of a cleft community group. Seventy-two percent underwent labioplasty, and 75% underwent palatoplasty at the ideal time. Parents exhibited low perceived barriers to care, with 33% and 37% reporting limitations on knowledge and accommodation, respectively. Social media is the key to bridging the gap between the large number of cases and facility limitations and specialized human resources. Cleft centers should integrate combined platforms ( WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram) for marketing and education purposes. Social media and community groups facilitate sharing, engagement, and empowerment of patients and caregivers to improve cleft-related outcomes.

Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Cough Severity Index.

This study aimed to translate and validate the Cough Severity Index (CSI) into Arabic (A-CSI) and to evaluate its validity and reliability among patients with chronic cough. This cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire-based validation study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between December 2023 and August 2024. The CSI was translated from English into Arabic using the forward-backward method. Its reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability. Its construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and its internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Its discriminant validity was determined using the Mann-Whitney U test, and its reproducibility was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data were collected from 100 participants, 50 with chronic cough and 50 healthy controls. The mean age was 41.56 ± 14.28 years in the chronic cough group and 35.48 ± 10.02 years in the healthy control group. The A-CSI exhibited high reproducibility (ICC = 0.896) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.966). EFA identified three factors explaining 66.41% of the variance, with all items having communalities > 0.3. The A-CSI exhibited significant discriminant validity between the chronic cough and healthy control groups (p < 0.001). The A-CSI is a reliable and valid tool for assessing chronic cough in Arabic-speaking patients, making it suitable for both clinical practice and research. Level 3.

YouTube Videos: A Learning Tool for Periodontology Education.

Introduction Video-based learning has proved to be an effective tool for education and knowledge gain in all fields. YouTubeis a free video-sharing website consisting of numerous educational and skill development videos; you can even create and upload your videos to share knowledge and experience with others. YouTube contains videos about simple button sewing to space rocket preparation. YouTube also contains dental education videos, particularly in the field of periodontology. Aim This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of YouTube videos as an educational tool in periodontology and evaluate the knowledge gained from these videos through a structured questionnaire. This investigation aimed to provide YouTube's potential as a supplementary resource for enhancing periodontology education. Material and methods This experimental, descriptive questionnaire-based study was conducted among 100 final-year dental undergraduate students. Student feedback and responses were gathered through a closed-ended structured questionnaire. A pre-test consisting of 30 questions was administered to assess students' knowledge before watching the videos. YouTube videos on periodontology topics, such as bone grafts, dental implants, and periodontal flaps, were circulated among selected students. The students were instructed to watch the selected videos, followed by a post-test with the same questions to evaluate their knowledge gain. The pre- and post-test responses were analyzed using a paired t-test in Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 24; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) software. Results The mean score of the students in the pre-test was6.74 ± 11.53, and that in the post-test was25.64 ± 8.68, so the difference in the mean score of the pre-and post-tests was 18.90 ± 14.45 after watching YouTube videos on periodontology topicswith a P-value (<0.0001), which shows significant knowledge gain. The majority of students (N = 80-90, 80-90%) showed interest in using YouTube videos for periodontology education. Conclusion This study demonstrates that YouTube videos are highly effective and well-received adjunctive educational tools for dental students, particularly in the field of periodontology. The high levels of satisfaction, knowledge gain, and engagement observed in this study suggest that integrating YouTube videos into the curriculum can significantly enhance the learning experience.

Prevalence and Severity of Temporomandibular Disorders in A Group of Iranian Musicians

ObjectiveAllegedly playing a musical instrument is a contributing factor to developing TMD signs and symptoms, but the literature is incoherent. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of TMD among amateur musicians for the first time in the Iranian population. MethodsThis is a descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional study that includes 140 amateur musicians (35 international wind instrumentalists, 35 traditional wind instrumentalists, 35 international string instrumentalists, and 35 traditional string instrumentalists). Forty-eight violinists were studied separately from other study groups. The Fonseca questionnaire was used to evaluate TMD in this sample. A P-value of 0.05 was considered significant. ResultsThe Prevalence of the study sample was 72.8%. The prevalence of TMD and the mean severity score among musicians of international wind instruments, traditional wind instruments, international string instruments, and traditional string instruments were 77.1%, 67.6%, 82.8%, and 62.8%, and 30.00 ± 15.52, 32.42 ± 14.92, 30.71 ± 18.75, and 28.57 ± 19.87, respectively. The study groups did not show any significant differences regarding the TMD severity score. The prevalence of TMD was higher among women (P = 0.000017) and wind instrumentalists (P = 0.009). The prevalence of TMD and the mean severity score among violinists were 62.85% and 26.85 ± 20.68, respectively. ConclusionsRegardless of class or category, the prevalence of TMD is high among musicians compared to the available statistics reported previously on the Iranian population in the literature. Moreover, TMD prevalence is higher among wind instrumentalists than string instrumentalists.

Prevalence and characteristics of headache among medical students in Egypt: a multicentric cross-sectional study

BackgroundHeadaches are one of the most common neurological disorders, ranging in severity from mild discomfort to a severe, debilitating condition. Headaches are particularly prevalent among medical students, which can be...

Pharmaceutical Activities, Services, Medicines, and Products at Community Pharmacies in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia: Findings and Implications for the Future.

Introduction Community pharmacies are highly accessible and provide access to several services to patients and community members. Recently, several developments have been made in Saudi Arabia to enhance the roles and contributions of community pharmacists to the healthcare system, including expanding their scope of practice. This study aims to evaluate the current pharmaceutical activities, medicines, products, and services offered by community pharmacies. Methods This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based descriptive study. The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section comprised the demographic characteristics of the participants. The second section explored the types of pharmaceuticals and products sold by community pharmacies, while the third section explored the current professional services and activities offered bypharmacies. This study was conducted among community pharmacists in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Results Overall, 109/115 community pharmacies participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 94.78%. Most participants (97.25%) were men, and 42.20% were 31-40 years old. All pharmacies (100%) dispensed prescriptions and provided over-the-counter medicines, self-care therapeutics, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements. However, only a few pharmacies had controlled and narcotic medicine services (5.50%) and supplied vaccines (3.67%). Almost all pharmacies provided access to herbal products (97.25%), self-diagnostic test/home-test kits (97.25%), first-aid kits (95.41%), and medical equipment and devices and their accessories (89.91%). All pharmacies (100%) sold health-related products, including oral, skin, and hair care products. All pharmacists (100%) provided medication counseling. However, e-prescription services (Wasfaty) were provided in only 55.96% of the pharmacies. Most pharmacists provided health education and promotion (95.41%), management of minor ailments (88.99%), and patient training on the use of medical devices (92.66%). Other pharmaceutical activities included travel health advice (52.29%) and smoking cessation (31.19%). However, patient care services, including vaccination services (0.92%), patient assessment and monitoring services (0.92%), and point-of-care (POC) testing (0.92%), were limited. Additional services included online shopping (66.97%), home delivery of medicines (54.13%), and instant/live chat communication with pharmacies (70.64%). Conclusion Community pharmacies play a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's healthcare system. These include providing access to medicines, medical equipment, and various products related to health and wellness. Community pharmacies provide public health services. However, their clinical services are limited. Consequently, a holistic strategy involving all stakeholders is required to further enhance the role of community pharmacists and better utilize their skills and training to provide preventive healthcare services and optimize medication therapy in primary care settings.

An Evaluation of Factors Impeding Adherence to Established Hand Hygiene Protocols Among Medical Students at Three University Teaching Hospitals in Zambia

Objective: To assess the obstacles affecting compliance with established hand hygiene protocols among medical students at university teaching hospitals Design and Methods: The study was conducted at Ndola Teaching Hospital, Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Copperbelt University Dental Clinic, and Arthur Davidson Children’s Hospital, serving as training sites for medical students at Copperbelt University School of Medicine in Zambia. The target population were Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students in their clinical years. The research employed a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire-based study to evaluate the factors hindering compliance to hand hygiene protocols. A non-probability quota sampling technique was applied, stratifying participants by clinical year for a comprehensive representation. Results: The sample was derived from a population of 497 students, using EpiInfo Build Number 1.4.3 at a confidence level of 95%, an expected value of 50% and a confidence limit of 5%. A required sample of 217 was needed and factoring in an assumed response rate of 70%, at least 300 questionnaires were distributed in which there was a response rate of 81% resulting in a sample size of 244. Lack of facilities was the major self-reported factor limiting compliance at 50.4%, lack of knowledge and facilities at 17.2%, lack of knowledge at 10.2% and a personal failure to adherence at 9.8% while 12.3% reported no factors. Conclusion: A multi-faceted approach that combines improvements in facilities, educational initiatives, and addressing individual attitudes is essential for enhancing hand hygiene practices. By addressing the identified barriers comprehensively, healthcare settings and individuals can collectively contribute to effective infection prevention.

Attitude, Practice, and Awareness of Oral Hygiene Care among Nursing Professionals of a Tertiary Care Center of Malda in West Bengal: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral hygiene care among nursing professionals of a tertiary care center of Malda in West Bengal. Background: Oral cavity is the reflector of our general health. The relationship between oral health and systemic health is well established, but a lack of awareness and knowledge regarding dental hygiene restrains people from proper oral care. Most of the people including health workers do only brushing as their daily oral care process, ignoring the other important aspects of oral hygiene including regular tongue cleaning, use of interdental cleaning aids, change of toothbrush in a periodic manner, and regular dental checkups. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. After evaluating for the content validity and reliability, a self-structured questionnaire comprising ten questions about their oral hygiene was distributed among nursing professionals of Malda Medical College in a printed format after obtaining informed consent. Total 261 responses were gathered. Informed consent was obtained from each participant, and data were collected anonymously to maintain participants’ confidentiality. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical software IBM SPSS for Windows, version 27.0. Results: Most of the participants use two times brushing as their regular dental care (77.4%) and use toothbrush and paste for the same (99.2%). Soft toothbrush is the most preferable choice (70.9%). Apart from brushing, other oral care methods are neglected, only 23.8% of participants use interdental cleaning aids, 79.3% use tongue cleaning, and only 8.8% have done regular dental checkups. Conclusion: The result of the present study depicts the limitation of knowledge and practice of oral hygiene care among nursing professionals of Malda Medical College. In spite of their health-care background, they have limited knowledge regarding regular oral hygiene care. Though most of them use two times brushing, but unaware about the importance of interdental cleaning and tongue cleaning habits.

Assessment of Awareness and Knowledge of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cancer among Accredited Social Health Activist Workers from Randomly Selected Blocks of Thrissur District, Kerala, India: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are prevalent in the head-and-neck region, with global rates decreasing. However, in India, they are rising due to a lack of knowledge about risk factors and symptoms. The Indian government launched the National Health Mission to provide accessible, affordable, and reliable primary health care. Accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers can link health services to rural people. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness level among these workers about potentially malignant oral disorders and oral cancer (OC). Materials and Methods: A predesigned semi-structured questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 voluntary ASHA workers from randomly selected blocks of Thrissur district, Kerala, to collect the data. Results: Our study showed that the majority of ASHA workers (82.3%) were aware of the role of tobacco in OC. A substantial portion of workers (88.4%) expressed that early detection of OC is possible at its initial stage. Less than 10% (7.5%) of all the ASHA workers were educated by dentists, whereas almost three-quarters (75.5%) of ASHAs preferred primary health center health practitioners as primary representatives for early OC detection, despite their being poorly trained in the early diagnosis and detection of OC. Conclusion: India has made progress in controlling malignancies but still lags in reducing OC mortality rates. Spreading knowledge of contributory agents and early detection methods through ASHA workers could reduce the incidence and mortality of OC. Including more dentists in the public health system and training ASHA workers on early OC detection can play a major role in reducing its incidence.

Knowledge, attitude and perception on organ donation amongst undergraduate students, post-graduate students and senior residents at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North-eastern India: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Organ transplantation is one of the most important modalities of treatment for patients with end-stage renal diseases. The involvement of healthcare professionals is one of the key factors in increasing awareness about organ donation and transplantation. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire-based study was conducted amongst undergraduate, post-graduate junior residents and senior resident doctors (n = 113) in a tertiary care teaching hospital using convenient sampling. We studied the knowledge, attitude and perception on organ donation Results: We observed that 94.6% of the participants had a positive attitude towards organ donation and around 83% were willing to donate their organs. However, the participants lacked adequate knowledge about the process of organ donation and the various aspects related to it. Conclusions: The medical students and young doctors had a positive attitude towards organ donation, and most of the study participants are willing to donate. However, knowledge regarding it lacked in majority of the students.

Hand hygiene among oral health care providers in public institutions in Edo state even in the wake of Lassa fever.

Hand hygiene is recognized as the leading measure to prevent the cross-transmission of microorganisms and to reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections. To assess the knowledge and practice of hygiene among dental health workers even in the wake of Lassa fever. This questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in four public hospitals in Edo state. All data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire after obtaining ethical clearance. 108 of the 120 questionnaires distributed were filled and returned giving a response rate of 90.0%. Overall assessment of respondents' knowledge of hand hygiene revealed that 41.7% of the respondents possessed a good knowledge of hand hygiene, 37.0% had excellent knowledge, 17.6% had moderate and 3.7% had a weak knowledge of hand hygiene. Overall assessment of the practice of hand hygiene showed that the hand hygiene practice of 58.3% of respondents was fair while 37.0% practiced hand hygiene poorly. Only a few (5.6%) respondents had good hand hygiene practices. The outbreak of Lassa fever does not seem to positively influence the practice of hand hygiene among the respondents. While knowledge of hand hygiene is satisfactory in this study, the practice still leaves much to be desired.

Parental Awareness Regarding Shaken Baby Syndrome and Associated Factors in Jordan

Background: Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a serious public health issue believed to result from non-accidental trauma by violently shaking the baby. Purpose: To evaluate the awareness about SBS among parents in Jordan. Risk factors associated with SBS including psychological distress and age were investigated. Methods: A descriptive questionnairebased study consisting of demographic characteristics, SBS knowledge, and parental selfreported psychological distress was conducted. The questionnaire was conducted online between September and October 2022. Descriptive analysis of frequency and percent distribution was used for demographic analysis. Contingency table (Cross Tabulation and Chi-square) along with frequency analysis was used to describe the associations among the frequency distributions of the categorical variables. Results: Over two-thirds (67.65%) of parents (a total of 306 participants) were unaware of SBS and 68.30% of them reported shaking their children. Aging was significantly associated with less SBS knowledge and more self-reported psychological distress. Self-reported psychological distress was significantly associated with increased shaking incidents (p&lt;0.05). Most parents who had shaken their children and were unaware of the syndrome reported psychological distress at an ages of 30 and above. Conclusion: A serious lack of SBS awareness exists among parents in Jordan. Parents’ characteristics including age and self-reported psychological distress are important factors to formulate a logical understanding of the SBS phenomenon. The triad of SBS knowledge, age and psychological distress should be essential components of successful educational programs. Implications for Nursing: The study supports the need for SBS interdisciplinary education and training programs for parents and professionals caring for babies in pediatrics units. Keywords: Shaken baby syndrome, Knowledge, Psychological distress, Abusive head trauma.

Provision of screening services for cervical and breast cancer – A scientific study commissioned by the European Board & College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG)

ObjectiveCancer screening can play an important role in early detection, improving treatment outcomes and reducing morbidity and mortality. Breast and cervical cancers belong to the most common gynaecological cancers group. Countries provide different screening programmes on its eligible population basis centred on different health care policies. This scientific study aims to assess and understand the health inequalities in the member countries of the European Board & College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) as regards screening programmes of gynaecological cancer, with a special focus on breast and cervical cancers’ screening strategies. Study designA descriptive questionnaire-based study was conducted, addressed to EBCOG member countries. ResultsNinety-one percent of the countries have an organized national or regional screening programme for cervical cancer. Of these, 45% of countries use both cytology and testing for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) as screening test, 31% use cytology exclusively and 17% only perform HPV testing. Considerable differences were found regarding the interval of screening test: there are countries performing HPV detection triennially, while others perform only conventional cytology every 5 years. Sixty-nine percent of countries included in this study begin screening for cervical cancer in women aged 25 to 29 years, four of them using HPV detection as the screening test. Six countries begin cervical cancer screening before the age of 25. As regards vaccination against HPV, almost all countries have implemented national HPV vaccination programme, except in Poland and Turkey. The 9-valent HPV vaccine is the most frequently offered (77% of countries) and the majority vaccination programmes include both girls and boys. As regards breast cancer screening, all thirty-two countries have an implemented screening programme. All countries perform mammography as the screening test, 62.5% of them begin in women aged 50 to 54, with a 2-yearly interval in the majority. In five countries, screening programmes are performed biennially, starting between 45 and 49 years old. Seven countries start in women aged 41 to 44. ConclusionsThere are discrepancies around gynaecological cancer screenings provision among EBCOG member countries. It is important to establish European recommendations about screening for gynaecological cancers, in order to standardize the access to equitable better health care in gynaecological cancers within Europe.

Assessment of Mothers' Knowledge about Premature infants with cerebral palsy in the Maternity and Children Hospital in Diwaniyah City

Background: Cerebral palsy is one of the most common health problems for premature babies. About 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 babies born at full term will develop cerebral palsy. For babies born at less than 37 weeks of gestation, the risk is twice as high, nearly 100 out of 1,000 live births. Objectives: Assessing mothers' knowledge Premature infants with cerebral palsy. Finding a relationship between demographic information and Premature infants with cerebral palsy. Methodology: A descriptive questionnaire-based study conducted at mothers from (20 October 2021 to the 17 May 2022). Non probability (purposive) sample of 50 of women's selected from maternity and Child Hospital in Diwaniyah City. The demographic characteristics were obtained through interview with the mothers. The statistical analysis program SPSS was used to analyze the data entered in the form of an excel table and by using the Chi-square for statistical analysis. Results and Discussion: The results of show that there is association between mother' knowledge with their demographic data at p value of less than (0.05). Except item (Occupational) there is no association between mother' knowledge with demographic data at p value of more than (0.05). Conclusion: The study showed that mothers have insufficient knowledge about Premature infants with cerebral palsy. And the factors that effects such as, mother's education, mother's age, and economic level are relation with the mother's knowledge. Recommendations: Organizing educational courses for mothers. Increasing the cultural awareness of mothers and families. Establishing educational programs for pregnant women that play a key role in avoiding complications and reducing the risk of Premature infants with cerebral palsy. Creating recommendations on radio and television that contribute to raising the awareness of mothers. There is a need for more large sample studies to generalize these results, as well as efforts must be adopted by the Iraqi Ministry of Health to establish educational programs.

Impact of Active Learning Approach on Students Evaluation of Teaching

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the extent to which students were benefited from active learning approach of teaching. It was intended to check the usefulness of whiteboard as a teaching medium instead of more commonly used audio-visual aids like PowerPoint. Method: It is a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire-based study. Interactive teaching strategy was used instead of diagnostic lecture. Instructor used only whiteboard as a teaching medium encouraging interactivity. At the end of the session, 150 students filled the form which comprised of 12 statements regarding evaluation of the instructor. Students were supposed to respond to them according to 5-point Likertscale. Only students≥18 Years and those willing to fill the form were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included students not willing to fill the form and those returning incompletely filled forms. The reliability of form was checked using Cronbach's Alpha which came out to be 0.8 proving it to be reliable. Results: The average overall score for the proforma was 54.5±3.901 out of 60. This showed that there was more positive perception about the instructor than negative after employing active learning approach. Conclusion: From the results of thisstudy, it can be concluded that active learning approach using whiteboard along with enhanced student interactivity is an effective way of teaching

Caffeine – An Invisible Addiction

Caffeine, an alkaloid, is a stimulant of the central nervous system and is the most popularly consumed psychoactive drug worldwide. This stimulant can have both positive and negative effects on health. The objective of this study was hence to determine the common side effects associated with consumption of caffeinated drinks along with any symptoms stated by the participants that indicate withdrawal. A questionnaire-based descriptive epidemiological study was conducted at three major universities of Lahore, Pakistan. Among the target population that fell in the age ranging from 18-28 years, 35% started consuming caffeinated drinks between the ages 10-15, while tea was consumed by 60% of the sample population. 50% consume caffeinated drinks once or twice a day whereas 60% could refrain from consuming a single drink per day. 38.5% stated to suffer from increased urination while 22% suffered from increased blood pressure upon consumption. Caffeine addiction is one of the most prevalent and ever-expanding addictions in the world which must be either eliminated from diet or replaced by a healthier alternative.

Clinical Clerkships in General Medicine Enable Students to Acquire Basic Medical Competencies and Experience in Community-Based Integrated Care: A Descriptive Questionnaire-Based Study.

Background No previous research has targeted educators regarding educational practice and the achievements of students in terms of the learning objectives of clinical clerkships in university general medicine departments of Japan. We aimed to clarify the characteristics of clinical clerkships in Japanese general medicine departments using a questionnaire administered to chairpersons of university general medicine departments. Methods This was a descriptive questionnaire-based study using Google Forms (Google, Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA). We asked the chairpersons of general medicine departments in Japanese universities the following questions, with responses given on a 5-point Likert scale: Question 1: How well are primary symptoms in the national model core curriculum for undergraduate medical education taught in clinical clerkships in university general medicine departments? Question 2: How successfully can students achieve the learning objectives of the national model core curriculum for undergraduate medical education through clinical clerkships in general medicine departments of university hospitals? Question 3: How successfully can students achieve the learning objectives of the national model core curriculum for undergraduate medical education through clinical clerkships in other community clinics or hospitals?The results of the questionnaire responses are described as mean±standard deviation. Results Of the 71 Japanese universities with general medicine departments, 43 were included in the analysis. For Question 1, the symptoms and pathophysiologies with a mean score of 4 points or higher were fever, general malaise, anorexia, weight loss or gain, edema, abdominal pain, lymphadenopathy, and headache. All those symptoms require basic medical competencies. For Questions 2 and 3, the intramural clinical clerkship of general medicine departments had a higher mean score than the extramural clinical clerkship for diagnostic reasoning that emphasizes medical history and physical examination and a comprehensive approach to patients with multiple health problems.In contrast, the extramural clinical clerkship, in which medical students can build experience with community-integrated care, had a mean score of 3 points or higher for all items. Conclusions The clinical clerkship in general medicine departments of Japanese universities provides students with chances to acquire clinical competencies regarding primary symptoms and pathophysiologies. Additionally, the extramural clinical clerkship provides experience in community-based integrated care, including home medical care, collaboration, health and welfare, and long-term care.

Declaration of emergency state due to COVID-19 spread in Japan reduced maternal transports without reduction in preterm delivery.

To clarify whether the declaration of an emergency state due to the spread of COVID-19 in Japan affected the number of maternal transports and premature births. A questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted in perinatal centers throughout Japan in 2020. The incidence of maternal transport and preterm delivery rates every month after the COVID-19 spread in 2020 were compared with those in 2019. Participants were recruited from 52 perinatal centres. The maternal transport rate (maternal transports per number of deliveries) was 10.6% in April and 11.0% in June 2020, compared with 12.5% in 2019 (P < 0.05). The maternal transport rate due to preterm labor was 4.8% in April 2020 and 5.8% in 2019 (P < 0.05). The maternal transport rate during the declaration of emergency state decreased by 21% in April 2020 in non-emergency-declared prefectures, and decreased by 17% in May 2020 in emergency-declared prefectures. However, there was no significant difference in the preterm delivery rate between 2020 and 2019, regardless of the prefecture and gestational period. Declaration of the emergency status due to COVID-19 spread in Japan reduced maternal transport due to preterm labor, but did not reduce preterm delivery itself.

Self-Perceived Competence of Primary Healthcare Physicians in Managing Medical Emergencies in Health Centers; Kingdom of Bahrain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Primary care physicians (PCPs) are the first point of contact for individuals when seeking healthcare and the cornerstone for providing a wide variety of preventive and curative services. Family physicians and general practitioners in primary care often encounter medical emergencies and their role in dealing with emergencies is essential to improve the patient’s outcome. Data about self-perceived competence of primary care physicians in dealing with emergencies in primary care in the Kingdom of Bahrain are lacking. This study aims at assessing the self-perceived competence of primary healthcare physicians in dealing with emergencies in primary care settings. Methods: A descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of primary healthcare family physicians and general practitioners in the Kingdom of Bahrain was conducted in January to February 2022. A total of 375 family physicians and general practitioners working in health centers were identified from Ministry of health database and 7 element anonymous self-administered electronic questionnaires were sent to their email to evaluate their level of competence in managing emergencies. Results: out of 375 PCPs; 184 (45.5%) participated and returned answered questionnaires. Most of the PCPs were females 117 (83.6%) with median age of 35 years. Regarding the level of competency in managing emergencies the majority either agreed feeling competent (37.5%) or were not sure if they feel competent in managing emergencies in primary care(37.5%).The study did not find any statistical significance or correlation between the reported competency among primary care physicians(PCPs) and age (P=0.486), years of practice(P=0.462), specialty(P=0.053), or the attended course; basic life support (BLS)(p=0.334),advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) (P=0.156), advanced trauma life support (ATLS)(P=0.691), pediatric advanced life support (PALS) (P=0.920).Study revealed that highest number of participants reported not feeling comfortable in dealing with major and multiple traumas in adults (n= 67, 47.86%) and pediatrics (n= 63, 45%) . The lowest level of competence in performing emergency skills was found in transcutaneous pacing, cardioversion, and nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion at which PCPs reported that they wouldn’t know how to start transcutaneous pacing (n= 67, 47.9%), while (n= 51, 36.4%) would perform cardioversion and nasogastric tube insertion (n= 43, 30.7%) only if no-one else was available. Most PCPs (n= 137, 97.9%) think that they need training in emergencies and the preferred method is practical training in health center by qualified staff (n= 122, 87.1%). Conclusion: Based on study findings, more efforts should be directed towards practical training of healthcare physicians in dealing with emergencies and the barriers should be explored. More practical training sessions should be devoted to pediatric emergencies, transcutaneous pacing, and cardioversion.

Knowledge and awareness of polycaprolactone and its applications as provisional material in prosthodontic practice: A questionnaire-based survey.

The present study was done to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of different provisional materials, especially polycaprolactone (PCL) and their application in prosthodontic practice. A questionnaire based survey was carried out to assess the knowledge and awareness of PCL and its applications as provisional material in prosthodontic practice. A questionnaire-based descriptive study consisting of 10 questions related to different provisional materials and their applications in prosthodontic practice was formulated on Google Forms. The link was created and circulated among the prosthodontist faculty members of various dental institutes and private practitioners of India with the use of digital platforms such as E-mail and social media. The data were collected and examined using Microsoft Excel software for statistical evaluation. For this descriptive type of study, knowledge and awareness among prosthodontists across India was evaluated using Microsoft Excel software. The use of PCL was known only to 20.75% of prosthodontists. Moreover, its application and indications are known to only <1% of the study participants. Autopolymerizing resin was most commonly used for the custom tray and temporary base fabrication as well as temporization in crown and bridge prosthesis, while muscle deprogrammer and surgical template were commonly fabricated in heat-cure and clear acrylic resin, respectively. Pattern resin was found to be commonly used in splinting implant impression copings. The use of PCL as a temporary denture base, custom tray, muscle deprogrammer, implant impression splinting, and provisional for crown and bridge and templates should be encouraged and incorporated to get benefits of its characteristic properties. Considering the overall performance of PCL, its use should be incorporated into prosthodontic research and practice.