Traditional Doctors Research Articles

Disclosing Personal Health Information to Emotional Human Doctors or Unemotional AI Doctors? Experimental Evidence Based on Privacy Calculus Theory

The commercialization of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is accelerating, yet academic research on its users remains scarce. To what extent are they willing to disclose personal health privacy to AI doctors compared to traditional human doctors? What factors are shaping these decisions? The lack of user research has left these questions unanswered. This article, based on privacy calculus theory, conducted a multi-factorial between-subjects online experiment (N = 582) with a 2 (medical provider: AI vs. human) × 2 (emotional support: low vs. high) × 2 (information sensitivity: low vs. high) design. The results indicated that AI doctors lead participants to perceive both lower health benefits and privacy risks. Emotional support is not always beneficial. On one hand, high emotional support can provide patients with more health benefits, but on the other hand, it also poses higher levels of privacy risks. Additionally, high emotional support responses from AI doctors could enhance patients’ health benefits, trust, and willingness to disclose health privacy, while the opposite was observed for human doctors.

Beyond Boundaries: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Shaping the Future Careers of Medical Students in Saudi Arabia.

Artificial intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of revolutionizing healthcare, wielding its computational prowess to navigate the labyrinth of medical data with unprecedented precision. In this study, we delved into the perspectives of medical students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) regarding AI's seismic impact on their careers and the medical landscape. A cross-sectional study conducted from February to December 2023 examined the impact of AI on the future of medical students' careers in KSA, surveying approximately 400 participants, including Saudi medical students and interns, and uncovering a fascinating tapestry of perceptions. Astonishingly, 75.4% of respondents boasted familiarity with AI, heralding its transformative potential. A resounding 88.9% lauded its capacity to enrich medical education, marking a paradigm shift in learning approaches. However, amidst this wave of optimism, shadows of apprehension loomed. A staggering 42.5% harbored concerns of AI precipitating job displacement, while 34.4% envisioned a future where AI usurps traditional doctor roles. Despite this dichotomy, there existed a unanimous recognition of the symbiotic relationship between AI and human healthcare professionals, heralding an era of collaborative synergy. Our findings underscored a critical need for educational initiatives to assuage fears and facilitate the seamless integration of AI into clinical practice. Moreover, AI's burgeoning influence in diagnostic radiology and personalized healthcare plans emerged as catalysts propelling the domain of precision medicine into uncharted realms of innovation. As AI reshapes the contours of healthcare delivery, it not only promises unparalleled efficiency but also holds the key to unlocking new frontiers in treatment outcomes and accessibility, heralding a transformative epoch in the annals of medicine.

Breaking barriers: How transwomen meet their healthcare needs.

Transgender women - individuals assigned male at birth but who identify as female - are disproportionately affected by, among others, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and mental health issues. Studies show that transgender women often encounter discrimination and stigma when seeking healthcare from health facilities. This study assessed the healthcare needs of transgender women, their experiences of the mainstream healthcare system and alternative strategies for navigating the healthcare system. The study was carried out in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council in South Africa's Gauteng province. A case study design was followed. Participants were purposively selected and included 10 transgender women aged 26-50. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted over 2 months. Participants expressed a need for hormone replacement therapy, HIV treatment and prevention and treatment for STIs. Experiences of participants within the healthcare system were predominantly negative, with instances of discrimination, stigma and privacy violations being commonplace. Alternative strategies to meet their healthcare needs included the use of self-medication, consulting traditional healers and utilising non-governmental organisations. There is an urgent need for equitable and inclusive health management of transgender women in South Africa.Contribution:This study provided a first look in a South African context into how and to what extent transwomen employ alternative healthcare strategies such as self-medication and utilising non-governmental organisations when faced with mainstream healthcare access barriers. The use of traditional doctors was identified as a novel, alternative strategy used by transwomen to access healthcare and treatment.

Knowledge and Attitude of Homeopathy Doctors Attending the Modern Pharmacology Bridge Course toward Psychiatry – A Cross-sectional Study

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge and attitude of homeopathy doctors attending modern pharmacology course toward psychiatry. This is the first ever course approved by the state government of Maharashtra in India for registered homeopathy practitioners. We have considered them as our study group because they work at a grassroots level and are the first level of contact between the individual and the health system. Methodology: One hundred subjects were included in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge and attitude toward psychiatry. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Results: Of the 48 participants included in the study, most belonged to ages 44–53 years, with 83.4% of males. All had completed a degree before 2000 AD with about 50% of the sample having completed a bachelor’s degree. Of these, 74.5% had more than 20 years of homeopathic practice. Based on the Attitudes Toward Psychiatry-30 questionnaire, majority of the sample had a negative attitude toward psychiatry. Conclusion: Most of the traditional homeopathy doctors carry a negative or neutral attitude toward the field of psychiatry and its therapeutic interventions.

Healthcare Providers՚ Experience of Non-Linguistic Barriers to Healthcare Provision for Official Language Illiterate Patients in Far-North Cameroon Healthcare Centers: A Contribution to Intercultural Communication

Non-linguistic barriers have significant impacts on healthcare provisions. Drawing data from questionnaires administered through simple random sampling to 487 healthcare providers in 45 healthcare centers of the Far-North region of Cameroon, this paper sets out to study healthcare providers՚ experience of non-linguistic barriers to healthcare provision for official language illiterate patients (i.e. patients who lack complete communicative skills in official languages of Cameroon (English and French)). More precisely, the work investigates non-linguistic barriers to healthcare provision in Far-North Cameroon healthcare centers and discusses some remedial strategies. Campinha-Bacote՚s (2002) Cultural Competence of Healthcare Delivery has served as the theoretical framework for the study and the approach of analysis is both quantitative and qualitative. Findings reveal that religious barriers; cultural beliefs, practices, taboos and witchcraft; overdependence on traditional medicine, traditional doctors and soothsayers and exacerbated patriarchy constitute serious hindrance to healthcare provision in the healthcare centers in this region of Cameroon. Current trends and suggestions to limit these barriers include the following: informing, educating, communicating and counselling; familiarization of healthcare providers to the cultural practices of the community; gender-sensitiveness with regard to the caring of patients; referring some patients to colleagues of other healthcare centers; priority to female healthcare providers in women health services; recruiting healthcare providers who are of the locality in which healthcare centers are found and getting substitute product for blood during blood transfusion. It is argued that in addition to these current strategies, a more efficient approach to limit these barriers should incorporate intercultural competence. The paper intents to contribute to the domain of intercultural communication in the context of healthcare provision for official language illiterate patients in multicultural contexts.

Ethnobotany and Phytochemical Composition of Alchornea Cordifolia in Abia State Nigeria

Alchornea cordifolia is one of the medicinal plants used in treatment of several medical challenges in Nigeria. The study was carried out to document the medicinal values of different parts of A. cordifolia in Ekebedi Oboro ancient Kingdom, and profile its bioactive constituents. The ethno-botanical survey involved oral interview of 81 randomly selected traditional medicine doctors and natives on medicinal values of A. cordifolia. The survey showed that A cordifolia is a major herb used in the treatment of various diseases in the ancient Kingdom and it is prescribed in different treatment regimens; coughs, bronchitis, post-partum bleeding, lacerations, wounds, vaginitis, diarrhea, sickle cell anaemia, venereal diseases including gonorhhea, and syphilis, and prostatitis. GC-MS fingerprinting was adopted to determine the bioactive constituents of methanol leaf extract of the plant. Phytochemical fingerprinting revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds as the major active ingredients of the plant. A total of 27 fatty acids and volatile hydrocarbons were detected in the leaf extract of the plant with 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- methyl ester (18.42%), 9-Octadecanoic acid methyl ester (19.93%), Dodecanoic acid 1,2,3-propanetrieyl (15.87%) as most abundant ingredients. These phytochemical compounds of A. cordifolia possibly underscored its antimicrobial and therapeutic action and explains why natives use them in traditional medicine.

Healers that hurt: a scoping review of media reports of cases of rape in healthcare settings

BackgroundSexual assault occurring within healthcare settings represents a significant breach of public trust. This scoping review aimed to highlight the profile of people raped, those who committed the rape within the health facilities, and the legal actions taken to resolved cases.MethodsMedia-reported data on incidents of rape in healthcare settings were collected. The search was conducted in May and June 2023, focusing on English-language publications with accessible full texts. Reports that lacked information on the survivors or incidents that occurred outside of healthcare settings were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the categories of the collected publications, and graphical representations were employed for visualization purposes.ResultsA total of 62 cases were retrieved, originating from Africa (n = 17; 27.4%), Europe (n = 14; 22.6%), Southeast Asia (n = 14; 22.6%), the Americas (n = 11; 17.7%), the Western Pacific Region (n = 5; 8.1%) and Eastern Mediterranean region (n = 1; 1.6%). In addition, 69 individuals were implicated in 59 cases. They were 31 doctors (44.9%), 17 (24.6%) nurses, four (5.8%) nurse/healthcare assistants, three (4.3%) cleaners/ward boy, two (2.9%) traditional medical doctors, and two (2.9%) security guards. Others included six (8.7%) staff members without designations and one (1.4%) ambulance driver. All perpetrators were male, ranging in age from 22 to 67 years. There were 66 victims identified in the 62 cases with age ranging from 2 to 92 years. Except for one case, all victims were female, and all but one case were patients. Most assaults occurred in consulting rooms/clinics (n = 21; 31.8%), 16 (24.2%) happened under sedation, and six (9.1%) were repeatedly raped, Survivors typically reported the cases the police (n = 12; 19.4%), family/friends (n = 11; 17.7%) or to hospital authorities (n = 10; 16.1%). Out of the 69 perpetrators, 19 (30.6%) were imprisoned with sentences ranging from 12 months to an indefinite period and one (1.6%) received a death sentence.ConclusionThe raping of patients by healthcare providers within healthcare settings calls for urgent and extensive measures. Stakeholders in healthcare management need to prioritize raising awareness about the problem, implement robust prevention and reporting strategies, and create healthcare environments that are safe, respectful, and supportive for all individuals seeking care.

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.

Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia

BackgroundThis study explores the impacts of attacks perpetrated in the context of armed conflict, to female health workers in three Colombian territories.MethodsWe conducted a document review of the reports and databases of the Colombian Truth Commission, 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts on the national and regional armed conflict and the medical mission, and 26 female health workers who were victims of attacks.ResultsExperts and female health workers reported attacks to health activities, facilities, equipment, and personnel, including attacks to traditional doctors belonging to indigenous communities. The most frequent attacks were threats and retention of health personnel; theft of supplies and medicines; damage and use of infrastructure and means of transport for purposes other than health care; and hinderance of health service provision. The attacks occurred in a framework of structural violence that intersects with poverty, racism, and gender bias. The impacts of these attacks include gender-based violence, significant disruption of the lives of health workers, and physical, emotional, psychological, social, and economic effects on the victims and their families. The government response to protect victims and populations has been absent or insufficient.ConclusionsAttacks to health care were reported in all the studied territories obstructing adequate health care. Impacts of these attacks affect negatively the professional and personal life of the workers and are aggravated by structural violence and absent or little institutional response.

Edukasi Peningkatan Motivasi Kunjungan Kesehatan Gigi Dan Mulut di Puskesmas Muara Siberut, Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai, Provinsi Sumatera Barat

Mentawai ethnic group has unique traditions like anterior teeth mutilation and the use of herbal medicines by sikerei or siaggai laggek (traditional doctor) that cause low visitation to community health centers. The low level of puskesmas utilization rate impacts the failure to achieve the work program of the puskesmas in improving public health status, especially oral health, then influences the quality of health center services (puskesmas). This activity aims to increase community visits and the utilization of health services in Puskesmas Muara Siberut. This activity lasted on July 21, 2023, and was carried out in Muntei Village (work area of the Puskesmas Muara Siberut), South Siberut District, Mentawai Islands Regency, West Sumatra Province. This service uses four methods: observation, planning, action, and evaluation. The results obtained from this activity were an increase in public knowledge regarding ideal behavior in increasing motivation to utilize dental and oral health services at the Muara Siberut Community Health Center through post-test scores at the end of the counseling session. With this service activity, it is hoped that the attitudes and actions of the oral health utilization will increase significantly, along with the high level of public knowledge after being given counseling, so that it will also have an impact in improving the degree of oral health communities

Dos doutorados acadêmicos aos doutorados profissionais: análise comparativa de experiências na Ibero-América

Abstract Professional Doctorates (PD) as a model of doctoral training, parallel to and independent from the traditional Academic Doctorates, began to expand throughout the 1990s in countries of the Anglo-Saxon world, echoing timidly in Ibero-American countries. This article carried out a comparative study between the PDs of Brazil and Mexico, the only countries in the Ibero-American region that have created PDs in their educational systems, aiming to analyze their convergences, divergences, and specificities. This is an exploratory, analytic-descriptive, bibliographic, and documental study. Among other important findings, it is noteworthy that unlike the Mexican norms that relate PD specifically to the professional development of doctoral students, in Brazil there is a broader, prevailing conception aimed at increasing the productivity of companies and public and private organizations, technology transfer and the production of innovative knowledge.

Images of Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctors in Chinese Literature

Since ancient times, doctors have usually played the image of rescuers who save lives. As a symbol-rich image, "doctor" often enters the scope of writers' creativity and becomes a typical creative theme. This paper explores the image of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors in literature. The purpose of the study is to understand how TCM practitioners are portrayed and represented in literature, to analyze their social and cultural influence and their impact on people's perceptions and attitudes towards TCM. The relevance of this article is that it can help people to better understand the position and image of TCM in different historical periods and cultural environments, as well as its relationship with society, culture and people's lives. The subject of this paper is the image of TCM doctors in literary works of a certain period, region or cultural context such as ancient works, modern literary works and works of specific writers. By analyzing the images in different works, the diversity of such images of TCM physicians such as wise doctors and mysterious healers can be demonstrated. This paper uses methods of literary analysis, including close reading of the text, character analysis, plot and theme study. The text is also studied in the context of historical and cultural context to understand the views and attitudes of the society of the time towards TCM and doctors. The scientific novelty of studying the image of traditional Chinese medicine in Chinese literature gives us an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates literature with medicine and cultural studies and offers new ways to deeply understand TCM culture and human perception of health. The results of the study indicate the diversity of TCM physicians' images in the literature. In addition, the findings may reflect different understandings and evaluations of TCM in different periods and cultural contexts.

Objects as Expression of Power, Religion and Therapy: The “Country” Pots in the Bamenda Grassfields Fondoms of Cameroon

In most parts of the world especially in Africa, people can be identified and distinguished through objects. These objects which some are worn on the body or carried along are decorated with symbols which could be decoded by those who comprehend their cultural connotations. The object this article focuses on is the indigenous or ‘country’ pots of the Bamenda Grassfields, pots which were used in the past by women in the kitchen, by traditional medical doctors and by traditional leaders; notables and heads of secret societies. Today, these country pots are not very visible in the kitchen as it was the case before because of the introduction of other containers. The questions raised by this paper are: What is the place of the country pot in the lives of the Bamenda Grassfields people? What is the symbolism of the motifs represented on the Bamenda Grassfields country pots? What are the change currently taking place in the production and use of these pots? The objectives of the article are to examine the roles and find out the meanings of the motifs represented on pots. It also explores the changes which are taking place in the production, commercialisation and use of the country pots. Data for this article was collected using the qualitative method and this data was analysed using content analysis and interpreted soon after collection was over. The interpretation was done with the theories of cultural ecology of Steward, functionalism of Radcliff-Brown and Malinowski, symbolic anthropology of Geertz and cultural evolution of Tylor and Morgan. Findings reveal that the country pots are an aspect of material culture of the Bamenda Grassfields. They are of very great cultural value and play a fundamental role in these cultures; they are an expression of power, religion, healing as well as communion. The country pots like any other cultural element, if they are valorised, they will continue to identify the people from generation to generation.

Academic work, hyper-performativity and the professoriate: an agenda to re-conceptualise the higher doctorate as an integrated higher doctorate

ABSTRACT How can we better support the professional development of the professoriate? This paper reports on the proposal to introduce an integrated higher doctorate to develop and recognise expert leadership in universities. The contemporary professoriate in the United Kingdom is challenged by a multitude of pressures as a consequence of neo-liberalism and the ascendancy of performativity. Hitherto, much of the professional development for the professoriate has been ad hoc and unstructured. The proposal to introduce an integrated higher doctorate combines professional development with recognition of academic excellence and offers a distinct milestone for mid-career academics. This paper situates this discussion of a proposed integrated higher doctorate within the wider context of the traditional higher doctorate and the discourse relating to its future. In synthesising the issues of the higher doctorate and the professional development of the professoriate, this paper makes an original contribution to the literature on the future professoriate.

Opportunities and challenges of traditional Chinese medicine doctors in the era of artificial intelligence.

With the exponential advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the realm of medicine is experiencing a paradigm shift, engendering a multitude of prospects and trials for healthcare practitioners, encompassing those devoted to the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study explores the evolving landscape for TCM practitioners in the AI era, emphasizing that while AI can be helpful, it cannot replace the role of TCM practitioners. It is paramount to underscore the intrinsic worth of human expertise, accentuating that artificial intelligence (AI) is merely an instrument. On the one hand, AI-enabled tools like intelligent symptom checkers, diagnostic assistance systems, and personalized treatment plans can augment TCM practitioners' expertise and capacity, improving diagnosis accuracy and treatment efficacy. AI-empowered collaborations between Western medicine and TCM can strengthen holistic care. On the other hand, AI may disrupt conventional TCM workflow and doctor-patient relationships. Maintaining the humanistic spirit of TCM while embracing AI requires upholding professional ethics and establishing appropriate regulations. To leverage AI while retaining the essence of TCM, practitioners need to hone holistic analytical skills and see AI as complementary. By highlighting promising applications and potential risks of AI in TCM, this study provides strategic insights for stakeholders to promote the integrated development of AI and TCM for better patient outcomes. With proper implementation, AI can become a valuable assistant for TCM practitioners to elevate healthcare quality.

Phytochemical Screening and Anti – oxidant Activities of the Roots and Leaves of Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime orange) grown in Imane, Olamaboro, Kogi, Nigeria

Traditional doctors have been utilizing the advantages of the potency of natural plants in the treatment and prevention of several ailments for decades without them or their patience knowing the active ingredients responsible for the potency. Hence the need to evaluate and understand the medicinal bio – active substances present in plants. This work analyses the phytochemical substances and the anti – oxidant activities of the roots and leaves of citrus aurantifolia. The plant parts were collected, dried, pulverized and extracted in absolute ethanol. The extracts collected were analyzed for bio – active substances and antioxidant activities. The results show the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, protein and amino acid in both the roots and leaves of citrus aurantifolia. The KMnO4 scavenging effects of the plant parts show them to displayed effective potentials as anti – oxidants as the % KMnO4 radical scavenging competes favorably; (root – 85.60% and leaves – 89.88%) with the reference ascorbic acid (83.82%). This indicate that the plant parts can scavenge free radical from the body. These finding denotes that the root and leave of citrus aurantifolia can be a good source of therapeutic for health management.

Ruanjian Qingmai Granules for the Treatment of Early Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Protocol.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a chronic ischemic disease caused by atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, with early clinical symptoms manifesting mainly as intermittent claudication. Current treatment of PAD is based on the control of cardiovascular risk factors. However, even vasoactive drugs are not ideal for improving ischemic symptoms in the lower limbs of PAD patients. Ruanjian Qingmai granules, derived from the classic formula of the late Professor Jiuyi Xi, a famous traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Shanghai, have good clinical efficacy in the treatment of the pattern of blood vessel stasis and obstruction of PAD and have been used by more than 600,000 PAD patients over the past three decades. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ruanjian Qingmai granules in patients with symptomatic PAD. A prospective, center-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will be conducted at 9 grade A tertiary hospitals in Shanghai. It is anticipated that 250 patients with early symptomatic PAD will be recruited and randomized to the control and intervention groups (1:1 ratio of central randomization). Subjects will be treated with Ruanjian Qingmai granules or placebo at 6 g twice daily for 16weeks. The primary efficacy indicators are the pain-free walking distance and maximum walking distance. The secondary efficacy indicators are the ankle-brachial index, walking impairment questionnaire, quality of life score, and Chinese medicine syndrome score. Positive results from this study will demonstrate the efficacy and safety of Ruanjian Qingmai granules in improving ischemic symptoms in patients with symptomatic PAD. This study has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2200056109, Date: 02/01/2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=150982).

Abstract C138: The benefit of Ma recipe, A combination of Chinese herbal medicines for patients with advanced esophageal cancer: A retrospective case report series

Abstract Background- Ma recipe is an ancient Chinese medicine recipe used for venomous snake bites. Four Chinese herbal medicines, prunella, vitex seed, red grass and eucalyptus leaves, were deemed essential ingredients in the Ma recipe prescription. Since Ma recipe has a powerful analgesic effect, it has been used to treat serious cancer pain in our clinic for over decade. It has observed that patients with advanced lung cancer、advanced liver cancer and some of other solid tumor also survive significantly longer after the elimination of cancer pain. In this small number of retrospective case series, we report the efficacy of Ma recipe therapeutics and pathological changes of tumor lesion before and after treatment in patients with advanced esophageal cancer. Methods-Treatment was in the form of prescriptions written by traditional Chinese doctors. This behavior is consistent with the norms of traditional Chinese medicine, and does not deviate from the conventional clinical practice. Ma recipe should be taken orally every day at 10 grams. Benefits from Ma recipe therapeutics was assessed by comparing symptom improvement and pathological changes before and after treatment, as well as by survival analysis. Results- A total of 12 patients with advanced esophageal cancer were treated by Ma recipe therapeutics. Seven of 12 had severe obstructive symptoms of eating difficulty and weakness that it must be treated symptomatically. These symptoms were reduced or disappeared within 7 to 30 days of Ma recipe treatment and were sustained clinical recovery maintained thereafter. There were no events of death and disease progression occur in all the patients with Ma recipe intervention at the data cutoff point of the median duration of exposure to Ma recipe therapeutics was 48 months (range, 12-85 months). All the treated patients returned to normal life. Of the 12 cases, 9 had pathological examinations before and after administration of Ma recipe. Results all 9 patients were diagnosed esophageal cancer in the pathological biopsy tissue specimens obtained prior to administration of Ma recipe, but no cancer cells were found in all Pathological biopsy tissue specimens were obtained after Ma recipe treatment. Of the 9 cases undergoing pathological examination, 6 received radiotherapy after administration of Ma recipe. Ma recipetherapeutics has not been found to have serious side effects in years of clinical practice. Conclusions- The survival benefit of Ma recipe therapeutics for patients with advanced esophageal cancer is enormous. The ability of Ma recipe treatment to rapidly improve obstructive symptoms in advanced esophageal cancer is a highlight. The pathological changes before and after treatment support that Ma recipe therapeutics has a definite curative effect on esophageal cancer. However, this study is a post hoc secondary analysis and the limitation of the insufficient number must be treated with caution. This study can only give an indication that Ma recipe therapeutics has the potential to become an approach for patients with advanced esophageal cancer. Citation Format: Jiangnan Feng, Zhenghua Ma, Hua Wu, Meiying Gao, Chengsheng Yi, Xia LIU, Jiangnan Feng. The benefit of Ma recipe, A combination of Chinese herbal medicines for patients with advanced esophageal cancer: A retrospective case report series [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C138.

The impact of Longitudinal Integrated Foundation Training: preliminary experiences in the United Kingdom

BackgroundThe United Kingdom health system is challenged with retaining doctors entering specialty training directly after their second foundation year. Improving doctors’ training experience during the foundation programme may aid such retention. The Longitudinal Integrated Foundation Training (LIFT) pilot scheme aimed to provide a programme that improves the quality of their foundation training experience, advance patient-centred care and provide doctors with more experience in the primary care settings.MethodsDuring this pilot study, three methods were employed to evaluate and compare doctors’ experiences across their 2-year foundation training programme: Horus ePortfolio assessment of six domains for good medical practice analysed using a T-test, online survey assessments analysed using a 2-tailed chi-square test, and focus group feedback sessions with thematic analysis.ResultsDoctors completing LIFT (n = 47) scored a higher but non-significant mean score on all six domains for good medical practice versus doctors completing traditional foundation training (n = 94). By the end of foundation training, 100% of LIFT doctors rated their understanding of how primary and secondary care work together as high versus 78.7% of traditional doctors (p < 0.05). Improvements in wellbeing were observed among LIFT doctors, along with a reduction in the proportion of doctors considering leaving medical training. A significantly greater number of LIFT doctors versus traditional doctors rated their compassion for patients as high (100% versus 86.8%; p < 0.05), intended to become general practitioners (23.1% versus 13.5%; p < 0.05) and rated the extent to which they felt well informed and able to consider a general practice career rather than a hospital career as high (91.7% versus 72.3%, respectively; p < 0.05). Some LIFT doctors felt they had reduced exposure to secondary care, received less on-call experience and considered working a half-day to be problematic; challenges ameliorated by the end of the 2-year foundation programme.ConclusionThe LIFT programme enhanced the quality of foundation training and improved doctors’ experiences and competencies, generating valuable insights for the future of education and healthcare delivery. Applying the principles of LIFT to foundation training helps doctors to be more compassionate and patient-centred, leading to enhanced individualised patient care.

History of traditional Mongolian medical education based on Manba Datsan: A literature review.

Traditional Mongolian Medical Education (TMME) was developed based on Manba Datsan (MD) in harmony with the Buddhist philosophy-medical system in Mongolia. It was developed intensively during the 17th-20th centuries and was interrupted for a while, but it is still a part of medical care in Mongolia, training traditional medicine doctors and nurses. Its historical roots are inextricably linked with medical and philosophical development not only among Mongolians, but also in some Oriental and Western countries. This review aims to raise awareness and promote TMM, following the WHO guidelines on traditional medicines. Relevant literatures from Google Scholar, PubMed, Mongolian national and university libraries in the past 30 years were collected in this article, and books, of which the history, philosophy, and culture of TMM were analyzed. We used inductive analysis within the constructivist paradigm and conducted the research as follows: (I) analyze relevant literature reviews; (II) formulate the historical periodization of Mongolian medical education (MME); (III) explore an overview of the philosophies that have been influenced by TMME; and (IV) study the contents and phases of MD training in Mongolia. An integrated version of the historical periodization of the MME was developed with fully compatible historical periodization based on important socio-political turning points in Mongolia. TMME has been clarified by the direct and mutual influence of Oriental, and Western medical concepts. Between the 17th and 20th centuries, TMME was developed based on MD. Since 1990, the training process has been conducted in accordance with the international standards of modern vocational and higher education. Traditional Mongolian Medical Education was formed by underpinnings of the achievements of Mongolian national practical and folk medicine. This process was greatly influenced by the traditions of the Mongolian education system and achievements of oriental medical education.