Multiple-choice Questionnaire Research Articles

Practical training using BEWE aimed at improving the diagnosis ability of erosive tooth wear for dental students-A randomized trial.

Erosive tooth wear (ETW) has been gaining attention due to its high prevalence. However, ETW clinical diagnosis is difficult and may go unnoticed by many professionals. The present study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate a theoretical-practical training using active methodologies in the development of undergraduate students' skills for the diagnosis of ETW compared to the traditional teaching method. This randomized controlled study involved two parallel groups: control group (n = 22), with learning based only on theoretical content and test group (n = 24), learning by theoretical-practical activity mediated by monitors/tutors. The theoretical class covered the current concepts of ETW, aetiology, diagnosis, use of the BEWE index, prevention and treatment. The practical training included exercises and discussions based on the diagnosis using BEWE scores of a collection of images and extracted teeth. To evaluate the efficacy of the teaching-learning methods, a theoretical multiple-choice questionnaire and a practical test using images and extracted teeth were applied. The outcome was the number of correct answers. Groups were compared by Mann-Whitney (theoretical knowledge) and T tests (practical ability in diagnosis) (p < .05). There was no significant difference between groups in the theoretical evaluation (p = .866). The test group showed higher ability to diagnose ETW lesions compared to the control group in the practical tests (p = .001). The performance of ETW diagnosis was similar when images were used in comparison to extracted teeth (p = .570). The practical activity associated with theoretical classes can be a promising strategy to improve the development of undergraduate students' skills in the diagnosis of ETW.

A junior doctor led near-peer acute ENT/head and neck surgery workshop for medical students

BackgroundNear-peer teaching (NPT) involves teaching by peers who are at a close, but not the same, level of training. This study investigated whether a novel surgical NPT workshop, designed and delivered by junior doctors using simulation models for acute otolaryngology conditions, improved the knowledge and confidence level of senior medical students. MethodsA one-day NPT workshop was held for medical students in their third year of a four-year postgraduate medical degree at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia. Four acute otolaryngology/head and neck surgery problems that might be encountered by junior doctors and require prompt management were chosen. These were post-operative neck swelling, epistaxis, and tracheostomy management (obstruction and bleeding). Six junior doctors facilitated didactic tutorials and practical skills training using models. Multiple choice question mini-tests and questionnaires were administered before and after the workshop to assess changes in students' knowledge and confidence in assessment, management, and practical skills. ResultsThe most common reason for participation was to acquire knowledge and practical skills (93.2 %). Mean correct MCQ mini-test knowledge scores increased significantly from 60 % pre-workshop to 83.9 % post-workshop (p < 0.05). Students reported significantly increased confidence in recognition and management of all four conditions. All students favoured including the course in their curriculum and would recommend the course to others. The tutors subjectively reported valuable teaching experience. ConclusionNPT is an effective method for teaching medical students how to assess and manage acute otolaryngology/ENT surgery conditions that may present as emergencies for junior medical officers on the ward.

Validation of a questionnaire to evaluate mathematics teachers’ beliefs about mathematics, teaching, and learning

The study of mathematics teachers’ beliefs has become a significant research area in recent decades; however, more robust and reliable instruments are needed to assess these beliefs. This paper reports the design and validation of a multiple-choice questionnaire to assess mathematics teachers’ beliefs about mathematics, teaching, and learning. It began with a systematic review of existing questionnaires, followed by an evaluation of the instrument’s content validity using Aiken’s V by seven expert judges. Finally, a total of 199 in-service mathematics teachers completed the instrument, demonstrating construct validity through confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency. These results indicate that the instrument is reliable and valid for assessing mathematics teachers’ beliefs and identifying three teaching profiles: instrumentalists, platonists, and problem-solving.

The principle of innocence in the administration of indigenous justice in Ecuador

The administration of indigenous justice in Ecuador is characterized by having different schemes and ways of resolving a conflict; That is to say, each Aboriginal community and nationality applies indigenous justice according to its worldview, customs, and traditions; however, in general, the principle of innocence that emanates from positive law is also observed within ancestral jurisdiction. The objective of the manuscript is to critically analyze the procedure applied in the administration of indigenous justice to determine whether the principle of presumption of innocence is guaranteed. To carry out this activity, the inductive, analytical, customary, and descriptive method is used; Due to the vision, the objectives, and the complexity, a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach is assumed; It is pure, dogmatic, legal analytical, and descriptive legal; non-experimental design. The population involved is made up of Constitutional Guarantees Judges and indigenous authorities, to whom a six-question multiple choice questionnaire is applied. The results indicate that the investigations and tests determine the innocence or not of the accused, on the other hand, the main evidence that is analyzed within indigenous justice to determine the guilt of the offender is the testimony and background of the offender, this allows conclude by pointing out that if the principle of presumption of innocence is guaranteed in the administration of indigenous justice.

State of Knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Infections among Health Professionals and Health Sciences Students in France

The burden of morbidity and mortality caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has serious consequences on the quality of life of populations. Nowadays, despite numerous prevention campaigns, sexually transmitted infections have been on the rise in France for several years. It remains important to transmit the right information in order to better educate and support patients. Where then remains the problem, and how can we improve the involvement and awareness of the general population regarding the risks of these STIs? It is imperative to work upstream on the training of health professionals and students because they are the first interlocutors and the only ones to transmit the knowledge acquired during their initial training to the individuals concerned. The objective of this work is to identify the areas where health professionals and students do not yet have all the notions acquired via a multiple-choice questionnaire on the different STIs and their major characteristics. These results will contribute to the implementation of additional training at the Health Centers in France.

The Musculoskeletal 30-question multiple choice questionnaire (MSK-30): a new assessing tool of musculoskeletal competence in a sample of Italian physiotherapists

BackgroundThe prevalence and cost of musculoskeletal diseases increased dramatically over the past few decades. Therefore, several institutions have begun to re-evaluate the quality of their musculoskeletal educational paths. However, current standardized questionnaires inadequately assess musculoskeletal knowledge, and other musculoskeletal-specific exams have limitations in implementation. The musculoskeletal 30-question multiple choice questionnaire (MSK-30) was proposed as a new tool for assessing basic musculoskeletal knowledge.AimTo analyse basic musculoskeletal knowledge in a sample of Italian physiotherapists by administering the MSK-30 questionnaire.MethodsAfter a transcultural adaptation process, the MSK-30 was developed and administered to Italian physiotherapists to assess their musculoskeletal knowledge. Participants were invited to participate in the survey via the SurveyMonkey link. Mann-Whitney test and the Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni correction were used to observe the differences between groups in the MSK-30 scores.ResultsFour hundred-fourteen (n=414) physiotherapists participated in the survey. The median MSK-30 value was higher in physiotherapists who attended the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists postgraduate certification than in those who attended unstructured postgraduate training in musculoskeletal condition or in those who had not completed any postgraduate training in this field (p<0.001).ConclusionsThis work demonstrates significant differences in the management of musculoskeletal disorders between those with specific postgraduate university education and those without. The findings can contribute to the advancement of the physiotherapy profession in Italy. Authors recommend further research with more robust methodologies to deeper understand this topic. Musculoskeletal conditions will continue to represent a significant portion of primary care visits, and future generations of physiotherapists must be prepared to address this challenge.

IJCM_117A: A study to assess the effectiveness of a health educational program on knowledge regarding prevention of Cervical Cancer among young adult female students of Bhopal.

Background: Cervical Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women &amp; causes significant morbidity and mortality. Every year in India, 122844 women are diagnosed with Cervical Cancer &amp; 67447 die from the disease. Vaccinations to prevent HPV infection have been developed. Awareness regarding Cervical Cancer being a Vaccine Preventable Disease among young adult females is low. Objectives: To determine the awareness of young adult female students regarding Cervical Cancer, its risk factors, screening method &amp; prevention. To assess the construct connection between old and new knowledge by pre &amp; post-test scores. To recommend a health awareness program regarding Cervical Cancer. Methodology: Cross-sectional study of young adult female college students from Commerce, Science and Medical discipline in the city of Bhopal, Sample Size - 387 using Cochran’s formula. A pre-validated, pre-tested, close-ended multiple-choice questionnaire on Socio-Demographic information, Domain I i.e. awareness regarding Cervical Cancer including risk factors and symptoms, Domain II i.e. screening &amp; diagnostic and Domain III i.e. vaccination for Cervical Cancer was filled in digital mode before and after the lecture demonstration. Results: The effectiveness of the educational program on most of the components of domain I was found positive but statistically non-significant. In domain II after demonstration, the chi-square test of knowledge on screening technique and diagnostic Pap smear method were found statistically significant and in domain III the chi-square test of knowledge on vaccine for Cervical Cancer was found statistically significant. Conclusion: Prevention and screening measures in young adult female college students were found low and nearly half of the study participants are willing to adopt vaccination and screening program. Teachers can be the best resource persons in dissemination of knowledge in schools and colleges.

Motivators for Yoga Therapy: A Convenience Sampling Survey from India

Motivators for Yoga Therapy: A Convenience Sampling Survey from India

Italian women who have sex with women: prevalence and co-occurrence of sexual practices.

Sexuality research on the sexual practices of women who have sex with women (WSW) has thus far mostly centered on risk factors and addressed a limited number of practices, with a focus on oral sex and insertive vaginal sex. This study arises from the need to fill such a significant gap, which prevents researchers, clinicians, and policy makers from being adequately up-to-date on the sexual habits and tendencies of this population. A multiple-choice questionnaire was completed by 723 WSW with a mean (SD) age of29.14 (6.94) years. The survey included closed questions on sexual practices, including genital and oral sex, but also nongenital sexual contact (petting and intercrural sex), anal sex, and kinky practices. The most common sexual practices were self-masturbation (99.03%), oral sex (performed or received, 98.20%), and insertive genital sex (performed or received, 89.07%). Half of our sample had tried kinky practices at least once in a lifetime (51.31%). Respondents tended to experiment sexually more with stable partners rather than with casual ones. Comparisons among practices in the lesbian and bisexual population are presented. Providers should be aware that sexual orientations have their own specificities, including sexuality and practices, which should increase their knowledge and comfort in working with sexual minorities. The novel topic of the study addresses the gap in sexuality research among WSW. Strengths include the sex-positive approach, the inclusion of an array of sexual practices, and the consideration of the specificities of the group. Limitations in the generalization of the results are the cross-sectional design and the explicit topic, which may have kept some persons from responding. We propose the framing of sex as going beyond genital contact, and we invite clinicians and researchers who come into contact with WSW to be aware that sexual orientation can be associated with specificities regarding sexuality and sexual practices.

Dairy intake in association with asthma symptoms among a large sample of children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Dairy products may be associated with an increased risk of asthma, although there is little scientific evidence to support this association. The goal of this study was to explore the association between dairy consumption and asthma symptoms. This cross-sectional study was conducted on children and adolescents aged 6-8 and 13-14 years living in central Iran. Dietary food consumption was assessed using a multiple-choice questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios for the association between milk, other dairy products, and total dairy consumption with the risk of asthma symptoms. In total, 7,667 participants (3,414 boys and 4,253 girls) were included in the current study. Milk intake and total dairy consumption were not associated with the likelihood of wheezing, asthma confirmed by a doctor, current asthma, and asthma medication use. In addition, there was no association between other dairy product intake and the odds of wheezing in the past 12 months in the crude model. However, after adjusting for several confounders, those in the top category had lower odds of wheezing in the past 12 months than those in the bottom category (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.40-0.85). The consumption of dairy products other than milk, including cheese and yogurt, might reduce the likelihood of wheezing in children and adolescents.

Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program on Knowledge Regarding Breast Self Examination among Adolescent Girls at Selected College, Chengal Pattu District

Background: Women and men share many similar health problems, but women also have their own health issues, which deserve special consideration in developed and developing countries, breast cancer is shown as a major health problem. Breast cancer is the leading malignant tumour and it consists 30% of cancers among women. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In India, the incidence of breast cancer is increasing, with an estimated 80,000 new cases were diagnosed annually it is reported that one in 22 women in India is likely to suffer from breast cancer during her lifetime. At present a simple, inexpensive and early implant for the detection of breast cancer is breast self- examination. It is one of the simplest and most important health programmes no promote early detection. Materials and Methodology: The researcher had used a quantitative research approach by employing quasi experimental pretest post test only group research design and Random sampling technique was adopted to selected 100 Adolescent girls with the age group of 17 to 23 years who met inclusion criteria at selected College, Chennai (2021).The investigator collected the demographic data such as age, marital status, type of family, residence, weight from the respondents by using the self-structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. Self structured multiple-choice questionnaire was used as a Research Tool to assess the Knowledge and practice on Self breast examination, knowledge on Breast cancer and use of Mammography. The conceptual framework used for the study was based on “Becker’s health belief model.” Result: The frequency and percentage of pre-test and post-test level knowledge regarding breast self- examination shows majority of female students in pre-test 65 of them(65%) had inadequate knowledge remaining 35 of them (35%) had moderate knowledge and none of them adequate knowledge regarding breast self-examination but in post-test majority 88 of them (88%) had adequate knowledge remaining 12 of them(12%) had moderately adequate knowledge and none of them inadequate knowledge regarding breast self-examination. Over all comparison of mean values between pre-test 11.32 and post-test 26.3 of knowledge regarding breast self-examination and ‘t’ value 17.57 obtained was found to be significant at 0.05 level. So that the structured teaching programme has a significant effect in increasing the knowledge regarding breast self examination among adolescent girls. It shows the effectiveness in improving awareness regarding breast self-examination. Conclusion: Regular breast self-examination can identify any abnormal changes in breast to establish good prognosis it the young groups of women are targeted with accurate information and encouragement they will learn accurate information and encouragement they will learn to examine themselves and detect every Minute changes early in their later life.

The virtual reality classroom: a randomized control trial of medical student knowledge of postpartum hemorrhage emergency management.

To investigate the use of a virtual reality learning environment (VRLE) to enhance medical student knowledge of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) emergency management and insertion of a postpartum balloon. A randomized control trial involving medical students from University College Dublin, Ireland. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (VRLE tutorial) or control group (PowerPoint tutorial on the same topic). All participants completed pre-learning experience and post-learning experience surveys. Both groups were timed and assessed on postpartum balloon insertion technique on a model pelvis. The primary outcome was assessment of student knowledge. Secondary outcomes included confidence levels, time taken to complete the task, technique assessment, satisfaction with the learning environment, and side effects of VR. Both learning experiences significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced student performance on the post-learning experience multiple choice questionnaire, with no difference between the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, time for task completion was significantly less compared to the control group (1-2 min vs. 2-3 min, p = 0.039). Both learning experiences significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced student confidence, with no significant difference between intervention and control groups. 100% of the students using the VRLE enjoyed the experience, and 82.4% were very likely to recommend use of VRLE in medical education. 94.1% of the students felt the VRLE was beneficial over didactic teaching. Receiving formal instruction, regardless of format, enhances students' knowledge and confidence of the topic covered. Students who received instruction via the VRLE assembled the postpartum balloon faster than students who received didactic teaching. VR may be beneficial in teaching hands-on procedural skills in obstetrics and gynecology education.

Discontinuation of long-term growth hormone treatment in adults with growth hormone deficiency: a survey of UK practice.

We conducted a survey of UK endocrine clinicians between June 2022 and August 2022 to understand current practices regarding GH treatment discontinuation in adults with growth hormone deficiency. Using Survey Monkey®, a web-based multiple-choice questionnaire was disseminated to the UK Society for Endocrinology membership. It consisted of 15 questions on demographics, number of patients receiving GH and current practice on GH treatment discontinuation. In total, 102 endocrine clinicians completed the survey. Of these, 65 respondents (33 endocrinologists and 32 specialist nurses) indicated active involvement in managing patients with growth hormone deficiency. In total, 27.7% of clinicians were routinely offering a trial of GH discontinuation to adults receiving long-term GH therapy. Only 6% had a clinical guideline to direct such practice. In total, 29.2% stated that GH discontinuation should be routinely offered as an option to patients on long-term treatment, whilst 60% were not clearly in favour or against this approach but stated that it should probably be considered, and 9.2% were against. During the GH withdrawal period, most clinicians monitor signs and symptoms (75.4%), measure IGF-1 (84.6%), and complete a quality-of-life assessment (89.2%). The practice of offering a trial of GH discontinuation in growth hormone deficiency adults on long-term GH therapy is highly variable, reflecting the lack of high-quality evidence. Around a quarter of clinicians offer GH withdrawal for a number of reasons, but only a few have a local clinical guidance. A further 60% of clinicians stated they would probably consider such an approach. Methodologically sound studies underpinning the development of safe and cost-effective guidance are needed. In this UK survey of endocrine clinicians managing adults with growth hormone deficiency on long-term GH therapy, we explored for the first-time current practice and views on offering GH treatment discontinuation. In total, 27.7% of clinicians were routinely offering this option for a variety of reasons. Only 6% have local clinical guideline available to direct their practice on this. The majority of clinicians (60%), were not clearly in favour or against this approach but indicated it should probably be considered. In the absence of robust evidence on consequences of GH withdrawal, clinicians proposed monitoring of various clinical, biochemical and quality-of-life parameters during the period of discontinuation. Methodologically sound studies that will underpin the development of a safe, cost-effective guidance are needed.

Optimizing the consent process for emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using an interactive digital education platform: a randomized control trial.

Informed consent is essential for any surgery. The use of digital education platforms (DEPs) can enhance patient understanding of the consent discussion and is a method to standardize the consent process in elective, ambulatory settings. The use of DEP as an adjunct to standard verbal consent (SVC) has not been studied in an acute care setting. We conducted a prospective randomized control trial with patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital with acute biliary pathology requiring a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) between August 2021 and April 2023. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either a DEP module with SVC or SVC alone. Baseline procedure-specific knowledge and self-reported understanding of risks and benefits of LC were collected using a questionnaire. Primary outcome was immediate post-intervention knowledge assessed using a 21-question multiple choice questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were delayed procedure-specific knowledge and participants' satisfaction with the consent discussion. We recruited 79 participants and randomized them 1:1 into the intervention group (DEP + SVC, n = 40) and the control group (SVC, n = 39). Baseline demographics and baseline procedure-specific knowledge were similar between groups. The immediate post-intervention knowledge was significantly higher for participants in the intervention versus the control group with a Cohen's d effect size of 0.68 (85.2(10.6)% vs. 78.2(9.9)%; p = 0.004). Similarly, self-reported understanding of risks and benefits of LC was significantly greater for participants in the intervention versus the control group with a Cohen's effect size of 0.76 (68.5(16.4)% vs. 55.1(18.8)%; p = 0.001). For participants who completed the delayed post-intervention assessment (n = 29), there continued to be significantly higher retention of acquired knowledge in the intervention group with a Cohen's effect size of 0.61 (86.5(8.5)% vs. 79.8 (13.1)%; p = 0.024). There was no difference in participants' self-reported satisfaction with the consent discussion between groups (69.5(6.7)% vs. 67.2(7.7)%; p = 0.149). The addition of digital education platform to standard verbal consent significantly improves patient's early and delayed understanding of risks and benefits of LC in an acute care setting.

The Risks of Phosphate Enemas in Toddlers: A Life-Threatening Unawareness.

While oral laxatives represent the first-line treatment of fecal impaction, enemas are frequently used in clinical practice in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) and by family pediatricians (FPs). Phosphate-containing enemas (PcEs) are commonly employed, even causing the risk of rare but lethal toxicity. We investigated pediatricians' awareness of PcE risks. We conducted an online survey by sending a multiple-choice questionnaire to the referents of 51 PEDs and 101 FPs. We collected and compared the answers with recommendations reported by the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) and the available literature about PcE administration. Of the institutions and pediatricians receiving the questionnaire, 23 PEDs (45%) and 63 FP (62.3%) participated in the survey. Of PEDs, 95% and 33.0% of FPs treated fecal impaction with PcE. Moreover, 54% of PEDs and 86.0% of FPs did not provide treatment according to the AIFA recommendations for the daily dose. This study shows limited pediatricians' awareness of the potential risks related to PcE.

Nursing management of patients dealing with spina bifida: from the prenatal diagnosis to adulthood / nursing intervention for the improvement of the impact of urinary and fecal incontinence on the quality of life of people dealing with spina bifida.

Urinary and fecal incontinence in people dealing with spina bifida, has inevitably an influence on the quality of life. In this analysis, the degree of education on how to manage incontinence and retention is studied, as well as the problems those might create and the consequential degree of autonomy and independence reached into the management of those. The main goal is to increase both nursing assistance and the education of the people dealing with spina bifida. A multiple-choice questionnaire with open questions, concerning the bowel and bladder management was structured by all the authors and shared by the Google Docs platform among the members of the ASBI (Associazione Spina Bifida Italia) by the secretariat of the association itself. 125 patients affected by Spina Bifida voluntarily decided to participate and complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire didn't set any limits as regards the age. For minors, its completion was made under the observation of the caregivers who gave their consent. All the authors participated to administration of the questionnaire to minors. out of 125 participants, 80 were females and 25 males. The questions concerned the level of deambulation (the 35,2% was autonomous, the 30,4% were people who use wheelchairs while the 34,4% is aid-supported), urinary incontinence, with great concern to the self-catheterization technique (the 80,8% claimed to be autonomous in performing self-catheterization, unlike the remaining 19,2%) and the impact of the said incontinence on social life (the 59,2% claimed they do not feel restrained because of their bladder incontinence or retention, unlike the remaining 40,8%). Lastly, we focused on fecal constipation and incontinence (the 57,6% claimed to struggle with incontinence, the 12% claimed they don't and the 30,4% struggles with both conditions), on the ability of the people dealing with this to intervene to prevent unpleasant situations, in particular by using trans-anal irrigation (the 57,6% doesn't feel autonomous in performing it). urinary and fecal incontinence have, of course, an impact on the quality of life of people dealing with spina bifida. Nevertheless, we can observe that it is possible to improve the quality of life of these people, letting them feel confident enough to take part in social activities, through education from an incredibly young age, from 0 up to 25 years old and over, supplied by the medical staff and mostly by the parents (previously educated by the medical staff as well).

The SBAR tool for communication and patient safety in gynaecology and obstetrics: a Tunisian pilot study

BackgroundIn healthcare, inadequate communication among providers and insufficient information transmission represent primary contributors to adverse events, particularly in medical specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology. The implementation of SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) has been proposed as a standardized communication tool to enhance patient safety. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to SBAR communication through a pilot study conducted in a middle-income country.MethodsThis prospective longitudinal study took place in the gynecology-obstetrics department of a Tunisian university hospital from May to June 2019. All medical and paramedical staff underwent comprehensive theoretical and practical training through a 4-hour SBAR simulation. To gauge participants’ knowledge, anonymous multiple-choice questionnaires were administered before the training initiation, with a second assessment conducted at the end of the training to measure satisfaction levels. Two months later, the evaluation utilized questionnaires validated by the French National Authority for Health (HAS).ResultsAmong the 62 care staff participants in this study, a majority (89%) demonstrated a low level of knowledge regarding the SBAR tool. The majority (75.8%) expressed enjoyment with the training and indicated their intention to implement changes in their practice by incorporating the SBAR tool in the future (80.7%). Notably, over half of the participants (79%) expressed satisfaction with the training objectives, and 74% reported acquiring new information. Evaluation of the practice revealed positive feedback, particularly in terms of clarity, the relevance of communication, and the time spent on the call.ConclusionOur pilot study showed that the majority of professionals on the ward had little knowledge of the SBAR tool, a good attitude and a willingness to put it into practice. It is essential that healthcare managers and professionals from all disciplines work together to ensure that good communication practice is developed and maintained. Organisations, including universities and hospitals, need to invest in the education and training of students and health professionals to ensure good quality standardised communication.

Rural trauma team development training amongst medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in a low-income country: a protocol for a prospective multicenter interrupted time series.

Road traffic injuries and their resulting mortality disproportionately affect rural communities in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) due to limited human and infrastructural resources for postcrash care. Evidence from high-income countries show that trauma team development training could improve the efficiency, care, and outcome of injuries. A paucity of studies have evaluated the feasibility and applicability of this concept in resource constrained settings. The aim of this study protocol is to establish the feasibility of rural trauma team development and training in a cohort of medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in Uganda. Muticenter interrupted time series of prospective interventional trainings, using the rural trauma team development course (RTTDC) model of the American College of Surgeons. A team of surgeon consultants will execute the training. A prospective cohort of participants will complete a before and after training validated trauma related multiple choice questionnaire during September 2019-November 2023. The difference in mean prepost training percentage multiple choice questionnaire scores will be compared using ANOVA-test at 95% CI. Time series regression models will be used to test for autocorrelations in performance. Acceptability and relevance of the training will be assessed using 3 and 5-point-Likert scales. All analyses will be performed using Stata 15.0. Ethical approval was obtained from Research and Ethics Committee of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Ref: MUREC 1/7, 05/05-19) and Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (Ref: SS 5082). Retrospective registration was accomplished with Research Registry (UIN: researchregistry9490).

The Effectiveness of Hybrid Learning in English Pronunciation Pedagogy in the Nigerian ESL Context

This paper is a study on the effectiveness of hybrid learning; a blend of traditional and technology-based training, vis-à-vis the second language (L2) learner of English pronunciation. Specifically, our motivation is centred on the functionality of combining the habitual classroom teaching style with the Telegram app (a mobile-based technological tool) for studies relating to speech production and perception. The methodical procedure and design for this study is both quantitative and descriptive; employing the use of a multiple-choice questionnaire in data collection from 401 Nigerian undergraduate and postgraduate students in the University of Benin, Nigeria, to ascertain the effectiveness of digital designs and stratagems. Pie charts are employed to display multiple divisions of the study's data comparison. This study emphasizes the Online-Driver Blended Learning Model; such a pedagogical approach exposes the L2 learner to a more involved and effective way of understanding how to avoid imposing an unfamiliar accent upon the target language. Consequently, we see a merger of online practical exercises and exposure to uploaded multimodal texts and native speakers' spoken data (audio-visual recordings/voice notes) with scheduled direct classroom interludes. Findings confirm that exploiting such a hybrid model enhances students' cognitive abilities and retentive capacity regarding English pronunciation. Such digital audio-visual tools are paramount phonetic strategies for learning how to avoid unacceptable phonetic alterations. Thus, we see the effectiveness of integrating the Telegram app into the traditional brick-and-mortar educational method in handling problems associated with speech sound production and second-language phonological interference.

Academic writing in English: Lessons from an EMI-program in Japan

As international students and English-medium Instruction (EMI) programs increase, Japanese universities need to adapt their programs to fulfill the needs of these students. One often overlooked area is academic writing in English. This paper discusses an action research study examining the challenges of providing formal academic writing support for English-speaking students in an EMI-program at one large private university in Tokyo. The study utilizes a participatory action research approach (Burns, 2009). The study attempted to examine what aspects of academic writing are these students most confident and most insecure about, and what aspects of the writing course did the students feel are most useful for them in preparing them for further academic writing, and how this EMI program can help students overcome these challenges. The data comes from a multiple choice and open answer questionnaire as well as focus group interviews. Suggestions on how to create and implement successful academic writing courses in an EMI context, based on the lessons learned from this course from the administrative point-of-view as well as both from faculty and students’ perspectives will be provided to conclude.