Professor Of Medicine Research Articles

Non-communicable diseases, digital education and considerations for the Indian context – a scoping review

IntroductionThe increasing ageing of the population with growth in NCD burden in India has put unprecedented pressure on India’s health care systems. Shortage of skilled human resources in health, particularly of specialists equipped to treat NCDs, is one of the major challenges faced in India. Keeping in view the shortage of healthcare professionals and the guidelines in NEP 2020, there is an urgent need for more health professionals who have received training in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of NCDs. This paper conducts a scoping review and aims to collate the existing evidence on the use of digital education of health professionals within NCD topics.MethodsWe searched four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO Education Research Complete, and PsycINFO) using a three-element search string with terms related to digital education, health professions, and terms related to NCD. The inclusion criteria covered the studies to be empirical and NCD-related with the target population as health professionals rather than patients. Data was extracted from 28 included studies that reported on empirical research into digital education related to non-communicable diseases in health professionals in India. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsThe target groups were mostly in-service health professionals, but a considerable number of studies also included pre-service students of medicine (n = 6) and nursing (n = 6). The majority of the studies included imparted online learning as self-study, while some imparted blended learning and online learning with the instructor. While a majority of the studies included were experimental or observational, randomized control trials and evaluations were also part of our study.DiscussionDigital HPE related to NCDs has proven to be beneficial for learners, and simultaneously, offers an effective way to bypass geographical barriers. Despite these positive attributes, digital HPE faces many challenges for its successful implementation in the Indian context. Owing to the multi-lingual and diverse health professional ecosystem in India, there is a need for strong evidence and guidelines based on prior research in the Indian context.

Merging the Worlds of Pets and Pills: Development and Evaluation of an Interprofessional Activity Linking Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine

AbstractInterprofessional education (IPE) is noticeably lacking between pharmacy and veterinary medicine students despite the two health professions overlapping in practice. To address this, an asynchronous IPE activity was developed together with practicing pharmacists and veterinarians. Students worked in groups across two campuses to discuss clinical cases, specifically requiring input from both professions. Students reported they learned more about the two professions’ interconnection, felt prepared to interact with the other professionals in the future, and found value in learning from each other. Overall, the results of this study outline a successful pilot IPE activity between veterinary medicine and pharmacy students.

100 Years since Robert Barany's visit to the Zaragoza medical faculty.

In December 1923, a twelve-day course took place at the University of Zaragoza, specifically at the Faculty of Medicine, given by Professor Róbert Bárány, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1914 for his discoveries on the vestibular apparatus. Professor Robert Bárány came to the faculty at the invitation of Professor Victor Fairén through the University Exchange programme. This course consisted of four lectures and twelve lessons a day in which he presented his knowledge of the physiopathology of the vestibule and cerebellum, as well as practical demonstrations of the physical examination of nystagmus and cerebellar pathology. Lorente de Nó, a doctorate student of medicine, was one of the most outstanding students on the course. His intellect was already outstanding in those years, which helped him to discuss the physiopathology of nystagmus with Professor Bárány. The relationship he forged with the Nobel laureate in Zaragoza would be decisive for his future as a researcher. The aim of this work is to compile and integrate the available information on the course that Professor Bárány took in the city of Zaragoza, consulting official documents from the university and the city, articles, books and the press of the time.

Electronic distance based clinical skills training development in family medicine in Namibia

Workplace-based evaluation is one of the most important, but challenging aspects of medical education. The aim was to improve the assessment of the rural community-based clinical training for undergraduate 3rd and 4th year family medicine students at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and implement a paperless process. An online module was developed on the Moodle platform to include a study guide, an electronic portfolio, and electronic resources (e-books and apps) to replace the current paper version of the logbook. We explored local resources by engaging with students and clinical trainers on how to best conduct the initial implementation. Engagement also entailed motivating students to actively participate in the implementation process. All 3rd and 4th year community-based education end service (COBES) students are now submitting proof of clinical learning electronically with the use of their phones in their online portfolio and using online resources. In addition, students in the practical family medicine module that has been introduced in the 6th year since 2023 are now also using an electronic portfolio and these assessment tools.Contribution: Overall feedback from students and supervisors indicates a positive atmosphere of learning and constructive feedback on performance from all team members, hopefully improving work-based assessments and ultimately patient care. More members of the primary health care team were involved and the carbon footprint has also been decreased.

Confinia Cephalalgica: a new start

In the early 1950s, Federigo Sicuteri, professor of clinical pharmacology, following the indication of his mentor, Enrico Greppi, professor of internal medicine, started a modern Italian investigation and clinical unit exclusively dedicated to headache medicine at the Careggi Hospital of the University of Florence. Soon, other colleagues – mostly but not exclusively neurologists – joined these pioneers and founded in 1976 the Italian Society for the Study of Headaches [...].

Future Professionals: Student Satisfaction with the General Medicine Degree Curriculum at University of Prishtina

Our objective is to assess the level of satisfaction of the students of the Faculty of Medicine majoring in General Medicine, in relation to the curriculum. For this study, a questionnaire with 25 questions with 5-point Likert scale answers was conducted. The face validity of the instrument was established through a focus group and expert review. No identifying information was included in the study, using implied consent. A total of 150 General Medicine students were involved in the research. Students are generally satisfied with the General Medicine program, the presentation, and implementation of the syllabus, criteria, and methods for assessment, engaging students actively, group work, developing theoretical competencies, and assistants supervising clinical practice. Students were less satisfied with the levels of training for workplaces, the inclusion of modern teaching methods, the empowerment of creativity in students, the inclusion of scientific research, and the provision of contemporary and adequate literature. There were no significant differences in responses based on grade point average, but there were some differences based on gender. The study findings provide student input into important decisions at multiple levels of governance, starting within the faculty but with implications for broader national policy. As a critical indicator of quality, these student satisfaction measures provide administrators with a basis of evidence to conduct quality improvement, including implications for academic staff development, curricular reform, and future educational research studies. Received: 7 December 2023 / Accepted: 28 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024

Status and perception of point-of-care ultrasound education in Korean medical schools: A national cross-sectional study.

As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly being used in clinical settings, ultrasound education is expanding into student curricula. We aimed to determine the status and awareness of POCUS education in Korean medical schools using a nationwide cross-sectional survey. In October 2021, a survey questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was distributed via e-mail to professors in the emergency medicine (EM) departments of Korean medical schools. The questionnaire encompassed 19 multiple-choice questions covering demographics, current education, perceptions, and barriers, and the final question was an open-ended inquiry seeking suggestions for POCUS education. All EM departments of the 40 medical schools responded, of which only 13 (33%) reported providing POCUS education. The implementation of POCUS education primarily occurred in the third and fourth years, with less than 4 hours of dedicated training time. Five schools offered a hands-on education. Among schools offering ultrasound education, POCUS training for trauma cases is the most common. Eight schools had designated professors responsible for POCUS education and only 2 possessed educational ultrasound devices. Of the respondents, 64% expressed the belief that POCUS education for medical students is necessary, whereas 36%, including those with neutral opinions, did not anticipate its importance. The identified barriers to POCUS education included faculty shortages (83%), infrastructure limitations (76%), training time constraints (74%), and a limited awareness of POCUS (29%). POCUS education in Korean medical schools was limited to a minority of EM departments (33%). To successfully implement POCUS education in medical curricula, it is crucial to clarify learning objectives, enhance faculty recognition, and improve the infrastructure. These findings provide valuable insights for advancing ultrasound training in medical schools to ensure the provision of high-quality POCUS education for future healthcare professionals.

Physical Activity of Undergraduate Students in Medicine and Physiotherapy Programmes in a Nigerian Medical University

Background: There appears to be dearth of empirical data to ascertain the physical activity level of Nigerian undergraduate students, especially among medical students. Hence, there would be need to investigate the physical activity level of students in a Nigeria university community. Aim: The aims of the study were to assess and compare the physical activity of undergraduate students studying Medicine and Physiotherapy. Methods: Two hundred and sixteen undergraduate students studying Medicine and Physiotherapy were recruited using Stratified sampling technique. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered to each student and the data generated was used to compute the Physical activity scores of each participant. Descriptive statistics and Inferential statistics of ANOVA and Independent t-test (student) were used to compare physical activity of the students. Results: The results obtained from this study showed skewness in the mean Physical Activity of students at different studying levels due to some that are physically hyperactive.  There was no significant difference in the overall Physical Activity of students studying medicine and physiotherapy.  However, there were significant differences in the vigorous physical activity of the students (F= 2.54, p = 0.04).  The mean vigorous physical activity of 500 level students studying physiotherapy was significantly higher than that of the 400 level students studying in both programmes (p=0.003 and p = 0.032 respectively). There were no significant differences between in the vigorous activity of the final year students in physiotherapy and medicines; and between male and female, although, the sitting PA of female undergraduate students was significantly higher that of male. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the total physical activity of students studying medicine and physiotherapy. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the physical activity of male and female students, excluding that of sitting component of physical activity score which was higher for the later.

Assessment of the risk of eating disorders among medical students in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Introduction: Eating Disorder (ED) is a serious pathology that frequently affects young adolescents, young adults and medical students. Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, single-center study which was carried out over 6 months among students and interns in human medicine using an anonymous self-questionnaire Eating Attitude Test (EAT) in March 2021. Results: During the study period, 31 cases were identified among the 225 students who were selected. The average age of the participants was 22.14 years and the sex ratio was 0.77. The risk of ED was around 13.78%. These EDs are significantly more common among female students, who live alone, and those who do not have children in their care. Conclusion: The risk of ED is high among human medicine students at the Faculty of Medicine of Antananarivo.

Changes in Mental Health among Japanese University Students during the COVID-19 Era: Differences by College Department, Graduate Level, Sex, and Academic Year.

This study compared the effects of academic year, college department, and undergraduate or graduate status on Japanese students' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2021-2023, an online survey was conducted using the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Systems-Japanese (CCAPS-Japanese) to evaluate students' mental health; 9395 undergraduate students (4623 female, 4772 male) and 1169 graduate students (380 female, 789 male) responded. Undergraduate students in medicine had lower levels of depression, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety than those in other departments. Engineering students exhibited the highest level of academic distress. First-year students had the highest levels of generalized and social anxiety but the lowest level of academic distress. Second-year students had the lowest level of depression, and third-year students had the highest level of academic distress. Among graduate students, first-year students had higher levels of depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, academic distress, and hostility than second-year students. Undergraduates had poorer mental health than graduate students. Females had higher levels of eating concerns than males among undergraduate students. This study revealed that the mental health of university students was affected by various factors. These findings demonstrate the characteristics of university students requiring early support.

Use of wearable technologies in health promotion in Human Medicine students

INTRODUCTION: In the current era marked by rapid technological advances, the integration of wearable devices into everyday life has been a remarkable phenomenon. These devices, ranging from smart watches to physical activity monitors, have gained popularity and have become ubiquitous tools that track various aspects of health and wellness.OBJECTIVE: To characterize the use of wearable technologies in health promotion in Human Medicine students.METHODS: The research is characterized by its cross-sectional and quantitative nature, with a basic and descriptive non-experimental design. The study population consisted of 128 students of Human Medicine at a private university located in Arequipa, Peru. Data collection was carried out through the use of surveys and questionnaires.RESULTS: Regarding the adoption and use of wearable technologies, 35.94% (46) reported a moderate level, 32.81% (42) indicated a high level, while 31.25% (40) indicated a low level. This finding suggests a balanced and non-extreme adoption of wearable technologies among the students examined in the context of health promotion.CONCLUSIONS: We were able to determine a moderate level of adoption and use of wearable technologies among Human Medicine students to promote health and wellness. This result points to the relevance of these technologies in health-related activities, highlighting a particular emphasis on a moderate level of use.

Photovoice in Aggression Management Training for Medical and Nursing Students-A Pilot Study.

Aggression towards medical staff in the healthcare workplace is a common global concern. Measures to mitigate consequences of patient aggression include training through Aggression Management Programs (AMPs), which have been shown to increase students' self-efficacy and self-confidence. To encourage better engagement with a 30 h required AMP training, the study piloted an adapted photovoice activity with 58 students of medicine and nursing. Each student took one to three photos depicting their perceptions, feelings, and experiences of patient aggression in the workplace and discussed them in a course session. Their photos showed types of aggression in psychiatric settings, and their consequences for patients and students. Photo strategies included showing 'actors' or toy figures in aggressive encounters; tools to control aggression in psychiatric settings (e.g., mechanical restraints and syringes); and symbolic photos showing violence to the heart (emotional impact). Adding photovoice elements to the established AMP training appeared to contribute to student reflection on their individual perspectives on patient aggression in the workplace and help students to link their subjective experiences and theoretical learning. In future, incorporating pre-test and post-test questionnaires measuring empathy, attitudes, or critical thinking could help to decipher any changes in AMP effectiveness due to the use of a self-directed photovoice activity.

한의과대학 재학생의 한의사 역량에 대한 교육요구도 및 우선순위 분석

Objectives In 2015, the Institute of Korean Medicine Education & Evaluation undertook a study to develop a competency model for Doctors of Korean medicine, with the aim of transitioning the educational system of Korean medical colleges to a competency-based approach. Anticipating future societal changes, the research identifies educational needs for core competencies in Korean medicine, intending to enhance a competency-based curriculum for prospective doctors.
 Methods The study involved a survey of 44 students in Korean traditional medicine to investigate the importance and current implementation of core competencies. It utilized the Borich Needs Assessment and The Locus for Focus model to analyze the educational needs. Additionally, a survey was conducted to assess the competencies needed for traditional Korean medicine doctors in future.
 Results Results highlighted the highest educational needs in ‘Participating in Developing Policies for Public Health,’ ‘Finance & Human Resources Management,’ and ‘Manage Medications & Supplements.’ Conversely, lower needs were observed for ‘Participating in Public Health Events Locally & Nationally’ and ‘Learning & Research Activities.’ Essential competencies for future Korean medicine doctors included utilizing electronic medical records, understanding telemedicine technology, and proficiency in artificial intelligence and big data analysis.
 Conclusions The results showed a higher importance than implementation for all competencies, highlighting the need to review the current educational curriculum. Specifically, there is a need to cultivate competencies in traditional Korean medicine related to law, policy, and system involvement, and to enhance management skills as practitioners. The study also underscored the necessity of incorporating digital technology competencies for future Korean medicine doctors.The findings underscore the necessity for a curriculum redesign.

Knowledge Transfer and Networking Upon Implementation of a Transdisciplinary Digital Health Curriculum in a Unique Digital Health Training Culture: Prospective Analysis.

Digital health has been taught at medical faculties for a few years. However, in general, the teaching of digital competencies in medical education and training is still underrepresented. This study aims to analyze the objective acquisition of digital competencies through the implementation of a transdisciplinary digital health curriculum as a compulsory elective subject at a German university. The main subject areas of digital leadership and management, digital learning and didactics, digital communication, robotics, and generative artificial intelligence were developed and taught in a transdisciplinary manner over a period of 1 semester. The participants evaluated the relevant content of the curriculum regarding the competencies already taught in advance during the study, using a Likert scale. The participants' increase in digital competencies were examined with a pre-post test consisting of 12 questions. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired 2-tailed Student t test. A P value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Furthermore, an analysis of the acceptance of the transdisciplinary approach as well as the application of an alternative examination method (term paper instead of a test with closed and open questions) was carried out. In the first year after the introduction of the compulsory elective subject, students of human medicine (n=15), dentistry (n=3), and medical biotechnology (n=2) participated in the curriculum. In total, 13 participants were women (7 men), and 61.1% (n=11) of the participants in human medicine and dentistry were in the preclinical study stage (clinical: n=7, 38.9%). All the aforementioned learning objectives were largely absent in all study sections (preclinical: mean 4.2; clinical: mean 4.4; P=.02). The pre-post test comparison revealed a significant increase of 106% in knowledge (P<.001) among the participants. The transdisciplinary teaching of a digital health curriculum, including digital teaching methods, considers perspectives and skills from different disciplines. Our new curriculum facilitates an objective increase in knowledge regarding the complex challenges of the digital transformation of our health care system. Of the 16 student term papers arising from the course, robotics and artificial intelligence attracted the most interest, accounting for 9 of the submissions.

Psychological Factors Influencing Attitudes towards Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide and Palliative Care among Medical Students and Doctors in Training.

Background: This study aimed to analyse the attitudes of medical students, Polish and classical philology students and trainee doctors towards the legalisation and practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide, to explore their beliefs about palliative care and to identify the cognitive, behavioural and emotional factors influencing these attitudes. Methods: An anonymous 22-question survey was sent by email to 670 participants, who comprised students of medicine, students of Polish and classical philology and trainee physicians. Results: Out of the 670 people invited to the survey, 313 (46.72%) responded; 215 (68.69%) and 112 (35.80%) participants supported the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, respectively. No differences were found between the respondent groups studied. The respondents' attitudes were influenced by religion, place of residence and professed values in the doctor-patient relationship. Among the medical students and trainee doctors surveyed, the declared willingness to perform euthanasia was lower, with 90 (43.7%) people, than the support for its legalisation, with 135 (65.5%) people. Significantly higher support for palliative care was expressed by fifth- and sixth-year medical students and trainee doctors, with 88 respondents (89.89%), less support was expressed by first- and fourth-year medical students, with 74 respondents (68.5%), and the lowest support was observed among Polish and classical philology students, with 63 respondents (58.9%). Conclusions: The legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide was supported by more than two-thirds and one-third of all the respondents, respectively, with the majority of medical students and trainee doctors surveyed expressing uncertainty or lack of readiness towards their practice. More than 70% of all the respondents showed a positive opinion towards palliative care, with the lowest support being among Polish and classical philology students.

Perception of faculty in the community health sciences colleges towards simulation-based education in clinical nutrition undergraduate practical courses

BackgroundSimulation now is widely used for training and education in different fields including healthcare education. Medicine and healthcare students can be trained in a secure, efficient, and engaging setting by Simulation-based Education (SBE). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the perception of faculty members in the community health departments towards SBE to be used in practical subjects for clinical nutrition undergraduate courses.MethodThis cross-sectional survey was conducted among community health sciences faculty members. The perception was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire that included three sections.ResultsThis questionnaire was completed by 125 faculty members, of whom 36 (28.8%) were male and 89 (71.2%) were female. Overall, faculty members had positive perceptions, with a mean score of 3.86 ± 0.74, but a high level of anxiety toward SBE, with a mean score of 3.42 ± 0.75. There was a statistically significant difference between the responses of the faculty members based on the training they received in simulation (P = 0.001).ConclusionThe study results indicate that community health sciences faculty members’ perception of SBE in Saudi Arabia is generally positive. However, the results show high levels of anxiety among faculty members toward SBE.

Comparison of Chronotypes and their Relationship with Academic Performance and Quality of Life in University Students

Abstract Objective An individual's chronotype affects circadian characteristics associated with bedtime, waking, and other daily activities. It is known that academic achievement is strongly dependent on personality traits. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship regarding chronotype, quality of life, and academic performance of university students by comparing three educational fields: medicine, technology, and art. Materials and Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 medicine, technology, and art students enrolled at universities in Tehran between2018 and 2019, with convenience sampling from January 2020 to January 2021. The students filled out online questionnaires, including a demographics questionnaire, a quality of life assessment questionnaire (the World Health Organization Quality of Life: Brief Version, WHOQOL-BREF), the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). The statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows software, version 22.0 (p &lt; 0.05). Results A total of 400 students were enrolled in the present study, including 115 medicine, 153 technology, and 132 art students (67.3% of female and 33.7% of male subjects, with a mean age of 21.06 ± 2.063 years). In spite of the absence of significant differences among the chronotypes of the three groups, there was a significant correlation regarding the chronotypes in all groups and quality of life (p = 0.005). Morning-type individuals presented better quality of life and better quality of sleep (p &lt; 0.001; r = 0.175). No significant associations were found involving the students' academic performance and their chronotypes (p &gt; 0.05; r = 0.026). Conclusion Considering the chronotype's effect of improving the quality of life of students and, therefore, their academic performance, more studies are essential to effectively improve the academic performance of individuals with different chronotypes.

Patient-based interdisciplinary e-learning with reflection: An experience of biomedical science, allied health and complementary medicine students

E-learning modules were developed to enhance student engagement, reflection and interdisciplinary learning in Pathology courses undertaken by students from the Biomedical Science, Allied Health, and Complementary Medicine disciplines. The modules focused on generating multi-disciplinary and team-based solutions to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment/management of patients. At pre- and post-intervention, we analysed the students’ experience of three themes: E-learning, reflection, and interdisciplinary learning. Flexibility and ability to reinforce understanding of course content were identified as main advantages of e-learning but a lack of direct support was a common concern. Visual aids and interactive assessments were suggested to improve online experiences. While all students had a positive pre-conception of all themes prior to intervention, the delivery of the modules significantly improved students’ perception on how e-learning deepened their understanding of course materials via reflection and interdisciplinary learning, with both aspects serving to create a holistic learning experience.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome in medical students at a Peruvian university: a cross-sectional study.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome has emerged as a significant public health challenge, particularly relevant in medical students due to the high demands of their studies, academic stress, and susceptibility to eating disorders. Nevertheless, conclusive evidence regarding the factors associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the Latin American student population remains limited. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Human Medicine students at a university in northern Peru. A cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Lambayeque, northern Peru. With 403 Human Medicine students (66.5% female, 33.5% male). A simple random probabilistic sampling type was used, based on a list of students enrolled. A multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the factors associated using simple and multiple regression models. Generalized Linear Models were applied, using the Poisson distribution family, robust variance, and the academic year as a cluster. The prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome was 16.9% (95% CI: 13.37-20.86). The median age was 21 years, with 66.5% being female. In the multiple regression analysis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome was associated with a higher prevalence of depression (PR: 3.63; 95% CI: 1.26-10.49) and eating disorders (PR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.01-2.43). For each additional year of age, the prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome decreased by 9% (PR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83-0.99). This study reveals that approximately two out of every 10 students exhibit symptoms related to IBS, underscoring its significance in the Human Medicine student population. Furthermore, depression and eating disorders were identified as significant factors associated with IBS in students. Consequently, it is essential to focus efforts on early identification and the implementation of preventive measures to mitigate the development of this pathology, given its substantial prevalence in this context of Human Medicine students.

Knowledge and Perception of Artificial Intelligence among Faculty Members and Students at Batterjee Medical College

ABSTRACT Background: Mounting research suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the innovations that aid in the patient’s diagnosis and treatment, but unfortunately limited research has been conducted in this regard in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Hence, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of AI among faculty members and medicine students in one of the premier medical colleges in KSA. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Batterjee Medical College (BMC), Jeddah (KSA), from November 2022 to April 2023. Result: A total of 131 participants contributed to our study, of which three were excluded due to incomplete responses, thereby giving a response rate of 98%. Conclusion: 85.4% of the respondents believe that AI has a positive impact on the healthcare system and physicians in general. Hence, there should be a mandatory course in medical schools that can prepare future doctors to diagnose patients more accurately, make predictions about patients’ future health, and recommend better treatments.