Number Of Students Research Articles

Stress Levels and Coping Strategies in Medical Students and its Association with Salivary IL-6 Levels

Background: Medical students face ongoing stress during their training but have developed coping mechanisms. Stress alters various physiological processes, including pro-inflammatory markers like Interleukin-6(IL-6). The present study was conducted to assess stress levels and coping strategies in medical students and their association with salivary IL-6 levels. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted after obtaining institutional ethical clearance. A total of 76 consenting undergraduate medical students answered the Cohen’s perceived stress scale and BriefCOPE questionnaire. Unstimulated saliva was used to assess salivary IL-6 levels using a Diaclone human IL-6 ELISA kit and the data obtained was analyzed. Results: Out of the 76 participants, 59(77.6%) were female and 17(22.4%) were male. Mild stress was reported by 9 students, moderate by 53, and severe stress by 14 students. Based on Kruskal-Wallis p test, most students used approach coping for stress of all levels. This active strategy involves problem-solving and future planning. Approach coping has shown better responses to adversity, physical health, and emotional responsiveness. Mild and moderate stressed students used acceptance, positive-refrain, and planning, while severe stressed students used planning, self-distraction, and self-blame. Despite the perceived stress, there were no significant differences in the salivary IL-6 levels among the three categories. Conclusion: ‘Approach’ coping was commonly used and linked to positive outcomes. Despite this, a number of students have reported to experience stress. Therefore, more effective strategies are needed to handle stress and demands of the profession effectively. Further research with larger samples is recommended to explore salivary IL-6 levels’ relation to stress.

Развитие вечернего обучения в системе среднего специального образования на европейском севере России в 1950-1960-е годы

In the presented paper, based on the materials of regional statistical collections and annual reports of secondary specialized educational institutions, the process of development of the evening form of education in this system in the territory of the European North of Russia is traced. The chronological framework of the study is justified by the educational reform carried out in the USSR at that time, one of the significant aspects of which was the development of the form of education under consideration. It was revealed that by the end of the 1960s, in the system of secondary specialized education in the European North of the RSFSR, the list of technical shools and colleges in which evening departments functioned, noticeably expanded, and the number of students in these departments increased significantly. Thanks to the development of the evening form of education, technical schools and colleges managed to significantly increase the training of mid-level specialists.

Multiple Truths and Many Roads: Leading Graduate Study Abroad

This panel will feature presentations from faculty from three universities with programs that offer study abroad opportunities for master’s-level Library and Information Science (LIS) students. This panel is designed to open a larger discussion pertaining to study abroad and will focus on the following objectives: To provide examples of creative study abroad initiatives. To generate discussion on the value of international experiences. To discuss the importance of cultivating an experience that fosters understanding of the “other” culture(s) through engagement and learning. To provide examples of in-person extended experience for students who may be in online programs. Marie L. Radford and Lilia Pavolvsky will describe study abroad opportunities at Rutgers. Radford leads a Master of Information (MI) hybrid course “British Collections and Archives.” This is a three-credit summer session course with nine days at Wroxton College in England in addition to online modules. It includes visits to libraries and archives in London and surrounding areas, such as the British Library, The National Archives, the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, the Library and Archives of the Shakespeare Center at Stratford-upon-Avon, and Bletchley Park. The course involves lectures by noted British scholars and librarians on trends in academic and public libraries, digital preservation, and archival studies. Students learn about how libraries and archives function with different systems of government, different funding models, and different credentialing practices. Additionally, Rutgers offers study abroad for an International Children’s Literature course, that includes a visit to the annual Bologna Children’s Book Fair, in Italy. This event attracts global book publishers and member organizations of "ibby" the International Board on Books for Young People. Graduate students have the unique opportunity to explore ways of creating text, art, and design for children and teenagers while meeting experts on youth literacy from many nations. Also, we will share plans to offer international experiences to graduate students that include professional conferences and other opportunities for open discourse to discover many truths beyond the boundaries of their local professional and scholarly communities. These experiences will be designed to offer travel to environments in which students have the opportunity to engage in dialogue that is not only inclusive of perspectives of international LIS scholars, practitioners, and students, but which also enables an exchange of cross-cultural ideas to promote mutual understandings. Lisa O’Connor will discuss the origins of her study abroad course to Northern Ireland and Ireland, which she first developed at the University of Kentucky. Frustrated with her predominately white, middle-class students’ intractable view of their culture as innocuous, she hoped that a study abroad experience would help students gain the distance and objectivity they needed to see patterns of domination and repression in another culture and, as a result, better see these patterns in their own. Her course examines whose culture is preserved and whose is not, and who controls the dissemination of information (and thus the narrative) surrounding cultural conflict. Students examine the narrative on “The Troubles” as it was promulgated by mainstream, pro-British American media prior to their in-country experience. Students are able to contrast (1) the treatment of indigenous Irish culture with colonized British culture, and (2) messages disseminated about Irish resistance with those of the colonizer, in order to understand the roles information and information policy play in reproducing cultural hegemony, Data gathered from students indicate that the study abroad experience does in fact increase cultural humility and provide a transformative experience that helps them see “truth” as conditional rather than absolute and to ask, “who controls the narrative” in cultural conflict. Matthew Saxton will describe the International Exploration Seminar program and how MLIS graduate students have engaged in study abroad for over 10 years in multiple countries (Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand, Ghana, Denmark, United Kingdom, Austria, Ethiopia, and Portugal). Themes of seminars have included urban informatics, cross-cultural adoption of information technology, polarization and inclusion in different societies, information literacy, and children’s literature and “own voices” in publishing. The presentation will focus in depth on the South Korea seminar as a case study that has run for 12 years and engaged over 180 US students and an equal number of Korean students. Students examine the interaction of culture, adoption of information technology, and use of social media, and consider such questions as: Do US and Korean students use social media in similar or different ways? How do they communicate, share, and validate information? We examine the cultural, economic, social, and political factors that shape the online information environment of both societies. Presenters will engage the audience in lively discussion and exchange of ideas. Discussion topics will center on the purpose and value of international experiences in graduate study, planning and investment on part of the institution, incentives for student recruitment, preparation of faculty, and building effective international partnerships.

The Role of the Education Office in Increasing Public Interest in Public Schools

The focus of this research is to analyze using literature studies on the strategies and policies of the Education Office in increasing public interest in entering public schools so that it is expected to have a positive impact so that the Education Office in the regions, especially areas that experience a decrease in the number of students and are constrained to increase students in the process of accepting new students. The method used in this study is the literature study method. The literature study method, also known as literature study, is a technique for collecting data and information by examining written sources such as scientific journals, reference books, encyclopedias, and other reliable sources either in written form or in digital formats that are relevant and related to the object being researched. Increasing public interest in attending public schools is a challenge that the Education Office must face as a government agency responsible for the implementation of education in the regions. Through a comprehensive strategy, including improving the quality of education, increasing access and equity in education, as well as improving the image and reputation of public schools, the Education Office can play a strategic role in encouraging community participation to take advantage of public education services. This effort will impact the quality of education and the development of superior and competitive human resources in the future. The Education Office's policy of increasing public interest in attending public schools is an important and strategic effort. Through various comprehensive policies, such as improving the quality of public schools, expanding access and capacity, as well as socialization and providing incentives, the Education Office can realize the goal of equitable distribution and improvement of the quality of education at all levels of society.

국어교사의 음성에 대한 고등학생들의 선호도 및 감정 반응 조사 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the voice of Korean language teachers preferred by students by examining the preferences and emotional responses of high school students to the voice of Korean teachers. Methods To this end, after producing a test tool consisting of a questionnaire and 12 audio data of Korean teachers, 514 high school students were selected as subjects for the study to investigate the preference and emotional response. Results First, high school students tended to prefer voices that make them focus on classes, accurately convey the contents of the class, and prevent them from getting sleepy. Second, It was found that high school students' preference for the voice of Korean teachers was moderate. Third, there was no significant difference in students' preferences according to the presence or absence of voice problem of Korean teachers, but there was a significant difference in preference according to gender and career. Fourth, it was found that abnormal voices evoke more negative emotions in students than normal. Fifth, it was found that there was a positive correlation between the positive emotions and preferences of Korean teachers, and a negative correlation between negative emotions and preferences. Conclusions Korean teachers need to check and manage their voice usage patterns in order to enhance students' task performance and concentration, and in particular, they need to adjust their voice so that they can elicit a positive response from students so that they do not get bored. In addition, when a Korean teacher controls the voice in class, the situation of the class, such as the number of students and the structure of the classroom, should be considered. Finally, in order to create voice education materials for Korean teachers, it is necessary to analyze the voice usage patterns of highly experienced teachers.

Assessment of knowledge integration in student learning of galvanic cell: An interdisciplinary approach connecting physics and chemistry

The galvanic cell is a typical interdisciplinary topic, which is primarily taught in chemistry but its underpinning is closely related to physics. Student learning in galvanic cell has been extensively studied in chemistry education, which has revealed a large number of misconceptions that are difficult to change through traditional instruction. A source of the learning difficulties is that most students lack an explanatory framework to integrate the many complex phenomena and processes into a coherent knowledge system. As a result, students often rely on memorization of terms, laws, and equations in solving problems but without a meaningful understanding of their reasoning. To address the deficit in learning, this study aims to help students develop an explanatory framework for supporting an integrated knowledge structure. Specifically, a conceptual framework model for galvanic cell is developed based on the central idea from physics, which is used as the core concept for mechanistic explanations of the related chemistry concepts. Guided by the conceptual framework, an instrument is developed to assess the knowledge integration in student learning of galvanic cell. A combination of qualitative and quantitative measures was used to assess the levels of knowledge integration in learning galvanic cell with a large number of Chinese high school and college students. The assessment results show that the conceptual framework model can effectively represent the knowledge structures of students at different levels of knowledge integration. The galvanic cell conceptual framework and assessment results can provide useful resources for teachers to develop instruction for promoting knowledge integration. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A Brief Analysis of the Application of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Reducing the Sense of Loneliness Among International Students

With the deepening of globalization, the number of international students has grown significantly. In unfamiliar environments, these students face challenges such as academic pressure and cross-cultural adaptation, which often lead to feelings of loneliness. In severe cases, loneliness can negatively impact their mental health and daily lives. As a psychological intervention, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) integrates mindfulness training with cognitive exercises, making its application in mental health highly significant. This paper first explains the definition and origin of MBCT and discusses its value in regulating emotions, changing thought patterns, and maintaining mental health. Based on the current causes of loneliness among international students, this paper explores targeted applications of MBCT to offer practical intervention methods that promote the holistic and healthy growth of international students.

Analisis Penerapan Manajemen Keuangan Syariah pada Pengelolaan Dana Bantuan Operasional Sekolah (BOS) di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri 2 Tanjung Jabung Barat

Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri 2 Tanjung Jabung Barat is one of the school located in the village with quite a large number of students. As a school that focuses on Islamic religious subjects, school need to understand the principles of sharia financial management in managing School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds in order to avoid problems that can hinder the educational process. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate and analyze the application of sharia financial management in managing BOS funds in school. This research uses qualitative methods with descriptive research type. The data sources used are primary and secondary data. Data collection methods include observation, interviews, documentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the research show that the implementation of sharia financial management in managing BOS funds at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri 2 Tanjung Jabung Barat, especially the implementation of planning, organizing, implementing and controlling functions, has been carried out well; However, transparency of information to the committee still needs to be improved. The use of funds needs to be aligned with priority needs for better efficiency, and detailed reporting is not yet fully optimal. Increasing transparency and committee involvement is very important to increase public trust in Madrasah financial governance.

Exploring global perspectives on the use of computer-based simulation in pharmacy education: a survey of students and educators.

: Increasing student numbers and logistical challenges in pharmacy education limit patient counselling and clinical placement opportunities. Computer-based simulation (CBS) offers scalable, interactive learning but faces integration barriers. : To explore global perceptions of CBS implementation in pharmacy education among educators and students. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was developed based on literature review and expert feedback. The survey was distributed globally through academic pharmacy organisations, social media, and the authors' networks. It included 20 questions targeting pharmacy educators and students. : Responses from 152 educators across 38 countries and 392 students from 46 countries, spanning six WHO regions (AFRO, AMRO, EMRO, EURO, SEARO, and WPRO) were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The majority of educators (90.1%, n = 137) and students (84.2%, n = 330) expressed comfort with using CBS and implementing it in their curriculum. Despite this, CBS was perceived as underutilised by 53.5% (n = 81) of educators and 63.7% (n = 250) of students. Students valued CBS for enhancing communication and problem-solving skills, while educators highlighted its relevance to community pharmacy practice. Both groups supported CBS use in assessments. All educators (100%) identified workload reduction as a key priority, hoped CBS could assist in this area. Educators also reported barriers such as financial constraints (56.6%, n = 86) and insufficient technical support (53.3%, n = 81). On the other hand, students were less optimistic about institutional support, with only a few (7.4%, n = 29) believed institutional leaders would actively support CBS adoption. Regional differences emerged, with SEARO (Southeast Asia) and AFRO (Africa) showing the lowest CBS usage rates. Educators in SEARO, AFRO, and EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean) raised concerns about technical support, while those in SEARO, AFRO, and WPRO (Western Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore) expressed financial concerns. Educators in AFRO and WPRO, however, reported being 100% comfortable with using CBS. : Both students and educators recognised the potential of CBS in pharmacy education, with strong support for its integration. Addressing barriers such as educator workload, financial constraints, and technical support is crucial for broader adoption. Improved resource allocation and targeted training for educators are essential to effectively incorporate CBS into the pharmacy curriculum.

Visa policy and international student migration: evidence from Canada

Abstract This article examines how visa policy affects international student migration. Using administrative data on community colleges in Canada, we evaluate a reform that introduced a new visa stream—the Student Partners Program (SPP)—with shorter processing times and higher approval rates for student visa applicants able to demonstrate that they have the financial resources and language skills to succeed academically. Using a triple difference estimator, we find that SPP increased student migration from treated countries by 34% relative to what would have occurred without the reform, and that this effect materialized only among students from origin countries suffering from low approval rates. Moreover, we show that higher enrollment was driven in roughly equal proportions by an increase in visa approval rates and the volume of visa applications, suggesting that the policy helped reduce statistical discrimination and increased the attractiveness of treated institutions. We also leverage the SPP reform to investigate potential crowding-out effects. While inflows of international students did not reduce the number of domestic students enrolled at Canadian community colleges, the reform helped foreign enrollment outpace domestic enrollment by crowding-in international students from countries that were not eligible to SPP.

“I am not that teacher”: Latinx teachers’ linguacultural experiences and transformative practices as resources for hope

ABSTRACT Current educational trends show an increasing number of Latinx students in the U.S. school system and a shortage of Latinx teachers who mirror their experiences. To better understand how to attract more Latinx teachers to the profession, we must better understand Latinx educators’ language and cultural experiences and teaching practices. For this reason, this qualitative study explores Latinx teachers’ linguacultural experiences and teaching practices through two exploratory case studies on Latinx educators who serve Latinx students. Data was collected through interviews, digital stories, and the teachers’ lesson plans to explore the participants’ linguacultural experiences and teaching practices. Findings revealed that teacher participants positioned themselves as opposite to “that teacher”, a prototypical monoglossic teacher who hinders and belittles the multilingual experience. By adopting translanguaging practices, they leveraged their students’ linguacultural experiences, creating a pedagogy for hope and resistance. The study will discuss implications for transformative practices and the need for teachers’ who support Latinx students in the U.S.

Engineering modelling requirements for integration of assistive technology as a pathway for inclusive education in the disability unit

The phenomenon of 'massification in higher education ', which refers to the significant increase in the number of students enrolling in universities, has made it difficult for inclusive education to be attainable owing to unknown reasons that are encumbering the students living with disability from having a sense of belonging. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between students living with disability and social justice through inclusivity in higher education with the aid of Assistive Technology (AT) to conceptualise a framework. The researchers employed a mixed methods approach to collect and analyse data statistically and descriptively. The requirements for integrating the model to ease the lack of consideration of students living with disability in the digital age were evaluated and critically reviewed regarding its impact on students’ sense of belonging in the digital age. The major findings from this study elucidate the factors perceived as the central requirements for mitigating the lack of inclusivity and social justice in higher education. The procurement of ATs was topical as most respondents (83%) categorically opined the need to improve this process by making timely purchases of the proper ATs from reliable service providers. The successful implementation of this framework could significantly enhance the educational experience of students with disabilities at the University of Venda, making it a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. The findings on the appropriateness of ATs for students overwhelmingly indicated that many of the available devices and technologies meant to assist learners were not fit for the tasks they were intended for. The university should establish a procurement committee and a high-level action plan outlining the requirements for delivering assistive products & services.

Millions of Students are (Still) Above Grade Level: Achievement and Achievement Variability in Mathematics and Reading Before and During COVID-19 in the United States

According to a 2017 article by Peters and colleagues, millions of students have already demonstrated they know the material slated to be taught that year. Consequently, grade-level standards are unlikely to be appropriately challenging for these students. In this paper, we conceptually replicated and extended this prior study. Using data from schools that administered the Renaissance Star assessment in Fall 2018 and Fall 2021, we quantified pre-COVID and mid-COVID average achievement and variance in achievement in mathematics and reading in fifth grade and estimated the grade level of instruction needed for students. Our results indicate that (a) achievement dropped during COVID-19 relative to pre-COVID, but the drop in mathematics was larger, and (b) achievement variability increased during COVID-19, but the variability in reading was slightly more pronounced. Further, our results replicated Peters et al.’s (2017) results showing that large numbers of students still performed above grade level, and substantial variability in achievement was present within schools.

Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese conservatoire piano students: prevalence, risk factors and preventive interventions.

Both professional musicians and conservatoire students are at significant risk of developing playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) during their career life. With the growing number of students pursuing a conservatory degree and graduating from music conservatory in China, the aims of this study were: (1) to identify the nature of PRMD and explore the prevalence of PRMD in Chinese conservatoire students; (2) to determine the relevant risk factors with the presence of PRMD among Chinese conservatoire students; and (3) to suggest preventive interventions for young pianists at their early career stage. A self-reported online survey study was conducted among 363 Chinese conservatoire students who majored in piano performance. Of all respondents, 82.6% reported having had at least one PRMD. The wrist was proved to be the most affected body site, followed by the shoulder, finger and arm. Respondents who experienced PRMD reported "pain," "fatigue," and "stiffness" as the most frequent symptoms. The main risk factors associated with PRMD included gender, years of playing experiences, practice hours, warm-up habits before practice, and break-taking during practice. Female students, those with longer year of playing experience, those who practice longer hours, those who do not warm up before practice, and those who do not take breaks during practice were found to have more PRMD symptoms and higher level of severity. This study highlights the need to increase awareness of PRMD among conservatoire students and to understand the occurrence of PRMD; it is helpful for young pianists to prevent severe musculoskeletal disorders and implement preventive measures at early career stages. Further studies are suggested to follow up on music students who have had at least one PRMD at different stages of professional musical training.

Expansion of UK medical student numbers: what are the challenges and opportunities for undergraduate dermatology education?

This correspondence piece addresses the topical issue of the UK government's plan to expand medical school numbers and its implications for undergraduate medical education, affecting both learners and educators. The article summarises the results of a survey of undergraduate dermatology educators, highlighting their concerns about the challenges and impact of increasing student numbers. The article highlights the risk of a reduction in the volume and quality of clinical learning opportunities in undergraduate dermatology as a consequence of student numbers exceeding clinical departmental capacity and resources.

Kemampuan Literasi Matematis Ditinjau dari Motivasi Belajar pada Siswa Kelas XI SMA Negeri 2 Padang Panjang

This research is motivated by the fact that the number of students who have low mathematical literacy skills is caused by various factors. One of the factors that affects mathematical literacy ability is learning motivation. This study aims to determine the ability of mathematical literacy when viewed from the learning motivation of students. This type of research is quantitative descriptive. The sample in this study is grade XI students of SMA Negeri 2 Padang Panjang. The sample selection technique in this study uses the Stratified random sampling technique where the sample is selected based on strata. The instrument used in this study is test questions in the form of essays to see students' mathematical literacy skills. Data analysis was carried out descriptively on all research data. The results showed that the average mathematical literacy ability was 50 which was classified as low. If viewed from high learning motivation is classified as medium with an average score of 69, when viewed from medium learning motivation has low mathematical literacy skills with an average score of 56 and mathematical literacy ability reviewed from low learning motivation is classified as low in the low category with an average score of 25

Improving Student’s Reading Comprehension Through LRD (Listen–Read– Discussion) Strategy at the Eighth Grade of MTS At-Taqwa Jambi

This research was done to improve students’ reading comprehension through LRD (Listen-Read-Discussion) strategy. The background of this research was the eighth grade students of MTS At-Taqwa Jambi had the problem in reading comprehension including students reading comprehension was low, students were difficult to find the elements of reading and it was difficult for students to determine the main idea of the text. Furthermore, this research aimed to find out whether there was an improvement in students’ reading comprehension through LRD (Listen-Read-Discussion) strategy at among the eighth - grade students of MTS At-Taqwa Jambi. This research was a classroom action research (CAR). This classroom action research divided into two cycles that referred to the classroom action research procedures were planning, implementing of action, observing, and reflecting. The research data were collected through observation checklist and tests. The test was given to the students in form of a reading comprehension post-test at the end of learning at each cycle. The subject of this research was the eighth grade students of MTS At-Taqwa Jambi. The total number of students in the class was 22 students. The result of the analysis showed that the LRD (Listen-Read-Discussion) strategy could improve students reading comprehension. The result of students reading comprehension test was showed in two cycles. The result showed that there were improvements in students’ reading comprehension scores and reading activity through LRD (Listen-Read-Discussion) strategy. The result obtained by students in the cycle I the average score of the class was 58,52. In the cycle II results obtained by students the average score of the class was 75,57, also students were not difficult in finding the elements of reading in the text and more focused in reading the material in “Read” section. Based on the students’ results in cycle I and cycle II could be concluded that the minimum criteria for score was reached. The minimum criteria for the score (KKM) was 75. Furthermore, it could be conclude that the use of LRD (Listen-Read-Discussion) strategy could improve students’ reading comprehension.

Analysis of the Current Situation and Countermeasures for College Students Returning to Employment and Entrepreneurship under the Background of Rural Revitalization

With the in-depth implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, an increasing number of college students are choosing to return to their hometowns for employment and entrepreneurship, becoming an important force in promoting rural development. This paper aims to explore the current situation of college students returning to their hometowns for employment and entrepreneurship against the backdrop of rural revitalization, as well as the challenges they face. Through an analysis of relevant policies, data, and case studies, it was found that college students currently face issues such as insufficient funding, unstable market conditions, and a lack of skills and experience during their return. To address these challenges, this paper proposes corresponding countermeasures, including strengthening policy support, providing vocational training, utilizing social resources, and encouraging innovative cooperation. It is hoped that this research can provide references for policymakers and college students, promoting the sustainable development of the rural economy.

Enhancing Academic Success: A mixed Study on the Influencing Factors among Pharmacy Students in Syrian Universities.

Academic achievement is the result of both effort and perseverance exerted by the students. This mixed-methods study aims to investigate the factors affecting the academic achievement of pharmacy students in Syrian universities. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study was utilized. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1008 students (773 females and 235 males) from 23 Syrian universities. A questionnaire consisting of 48 items was designed to be completed by pharmacy students using a 5-point Likert scale.In the qualitative phase, twelve questions were developed to interview thirty pharmacy students from five Syrian universities to obtain in-depth insights into the factors influencing their academic achievement. A significant number of students lacked effective time management skills, identified as a weakness among students. The majority of students faced challenges in maintaining a consistent study routine, averaging a score of (2.0).Motivation towards learning emerged as a crucial factor in enhancing academic performance. Lecturers in the pharmacy faculty employed traditional teaching methods (2.01), and the pharmacy curriculum was perceived as lacking modernity (1.92).Quantitative findings demonstrated that pharmacy students experienced exam-related anxiety (2.05), identified as a weakness in the qualitative phase.Factors associated with the Syrian crisis, like unreliable electricity (1.87) and transportation issues (1.83), could have an impact on academic achievement. Economic conditions were identified as challenging to students' academic performance, negatively affecting the learning process (1.98). The results of the study demonstrate that personal factors, lecturers, educational environment, exams, and the Syrian crisis influence the academic achievement of pharmacy students in Syrian universities.

A prospective cohort study on the role of surgical mentorship on medical students’ surgical experience and attitudes towards surgery

BackgroundExposure to surgery during medical school is limited. We ran a mentorship scheme pairing students at a medical school with local surgeons to improve undergraduate insight. We evaluated the effectiveness of mentorship in increasing surgical exposure and drivers for students seeking surgical mentorship.Methods35 surgeons across 7 specialties were recruited and matched with 37 students in years 2–4 for 7 months. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation was done with pre-, mid- and post-scheme questionnaires. Students rated confidence across pursuing a career in surgery, surgical exposure, career insight, understanding the application process, contacts, portfolio development, research knowledge and pursuing extra-curricular activities related to surgery using a 5-point Likert scale. Paired t-tests were performed to measure students’ confidence before and after the scheme.ResultsOf students that completed all 3 questionnaires (n = 21), conducting research/audit was most frequently selected as a main goal (81.0%), followed by theatre experience (66.7%) and career progression support (28.6%). The number of students that had assisted in theatre increased by 50.0%. Confidence ratings across all domains increased with 7/8 (87.5%) exhibiting a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05). The greatest improvement was seen in having adequate contacts in surgery from 2.05 to 3.33 (p = 0.00). 95.2% would recommend the scheme.ConclusionsStudents gained significantly more surgical experience and were better equipped with the knowledge required to pursue a surgical career. Mentorship schemes are invaluable in supplementing the undergraduate curriculum and empowering students.Trial registrationEthical clearance granted by King’s College London Research Ethics Committee, Reference Number MRSU-22/23-34530. .