University Of Witwatersrand Research Articles

Medical students’ perceptions of live versus recorded pathology lectures at a South African medical school during the Covid-19 pandemic: unique lessons for undergraduate pathology education in a diverse student population

Abstract Introduction/Objective The morphological depiction and interactive learning vital to the core discipline of anatomical pathology posed specific challenges during emergency remote teaching (ERT) in the COVID 19 pandemic. Using voice-over PowerPoint presentations (VoPPPs) in anatomical pathology at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa during this time provided a unique opportunity to determine students’ perceptions of this teaching and learning modality. Objective To determine a South African medical students’ perceptions of live lectures vs online learning with VoPPPs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods/Case Report A descriptive, cross-sectional, online survey was sent to 326 4th year medical students in 2020. The questionnaire consisted of closed- and open-ended questions. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were conducted on the quantitative data. Content analysis was performed on the open-ended responses. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) The survey response rate was 56.75%. Respondents preferred the traditional lecture format to the exclusive use of VoPPPs (48.6% to 34.6%) for pathology learning. Respondents appreciated the flexibility of learning from VoPPPs, resulting in blended learning being the preferred approach (45.9% vs 44.3 for live lectures only and 9.7% for VoPPPs only, respectively). Respondents indicated a need for more effective use of VoPPPs regarding the depiction of pathology images, more opportunities for feedback, and more online learning modalities in addition to VoPPPs. Some respondents from rural areas stated that their home study environments were not conducive to online learning modalities. Conclusion Blended learning combines the interactivity possible in contact sessions with the time benefits of online learning for undergraduate pathology education. However, educators should use various online methods rather than relying solely on VoPPPs. This is especially important when considering the visual nature of pathology lectures. Where VoPPPs are used, they should be used effectively, mainly using good quality, labelled images to depict morphology. The preference for blended learning offers exciting possibilities for developing integrated learning platforms in the future, however, these must be tailored to suit the needs of students from economically and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The implementation and outcome of a breast cancer genetic counselling service at Potchefstroom Hospital: a model for outreach

Aim Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in South African females, making up 27.1% of all histologically diagnosed cancers in 2020. Although genetic technology and awareness of genetic counselling have improved, genetic counselling services in South Africa remain largely inaccessible. Clinical genetic services are only formally available in four South African provinces and few outreach programmes exist for small towns and cities. Until 2019, genetic counselling services were unavailable in the North West province; however, since then, genetic counsellors from the National Health Laboratory Service and the University of the Witwatersrand have provided genetic counselling services to patients at the Breast Clinic at Potchefstroom Hospital regularly each year. Method The aim of this pilot study was to perform a retrospective file review and report on the implementation and outcomes of the genetic counselling service at the Breast Clinic at Potchefstroom Hospital, from its inception in 2019, until November 2022. Fifty-two patients attended a genetic counselling consultation during that period. Results The majority of patients (83.7%) were diagnosed with an invasive ductal carcinoma, and 57.7% of the patients had a family history of cancer. A total of 62.8% of patients had a histologic grade 3 tumour. A total of 25.5% (12/47) of patients tested positive for a pathogenic variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2. A total of 45 at-risk first-degree relatives were identified who could benefit from predictive testing. Conclusions This study highlights the benefit of offering clinical genetics services through outreach clinics. Being able to offer this service is not only beneficial for the management of the affected individuals, but also for their at-risk relatives. The initiative serves as a positive example of how limited resources can be extended to benefit patients.

Outcomes of burn patients presenting with hypotension within 48 hrs of admission to a level 1 Burn Centre

IntroductionBurns is one of the important presentations in trauma surgery in both first and third-world countries. Hypotension is often seen in the clinical presentation of a burn injury. Hypotension is the strongest independent predictor of an adverse outcome, according to a study done on emergency departments’ hospital outcomes; the lower the systolic, the worse the outcome. No direct study shows that presenting with or developing hypotension within 48hrs of admission and burn injury will have a worse outcome in our low-middle income setting. ObjectivesTo determine the outcomes of burn patients who developed hypotension within 48hrs of arrival at a Burn Centre in Johannesburg. In a singled time event. MethodsA retrospective descriptive study was conducted at a Level 1 Trauma Centre Burn unit in Johannesburg from 01 Jan 2019 – 31 Dec 2020. Patients who had a hypotensive episode at any point during the 48 h period were recruited. Hypotension was defined as a systolic blood pressure of less than 90mmhg. The patients were then divided into two groups: those who presented with or developed hypotension within 48hrs and those who did not. After that, the in-hospital mortality of both groups was to be determined. The study included all the patients who presented to the Burn Centre. Those younger than 18, or requiring readmission in the same study or delayed admissions of more than 24 h were excluded. Demographics, burn information, resuscitation data, outcomes and disposition status were evaluated. The STATA Statistics/Data Analysis version 16.0 was used to analyse the data. The level of significance was set at a p-value < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (medical) of the University of the Witwatersrand with the clearance number: M220132. ResultsOf the 132 patients seen, only 105 met the study inclusion criteria. Most patients were male: 91/105 (86.6 %). Flame burns accounted for the majority of the burns, 64/105 (60.95 %), followed by electrical burns, 26/105 (24.76 %). Hot water and chemical burns only accounted for 11/105 (10.48 %) and 4 (3.81 %) cases. Hypotension within 48hrs was noted in 37/105(35 %) of the cases. Hypotensive patients had an increased burn depth (p = 0.03), higher inhalation rate component (p = <0.001), greater lactate levels(p = 0.00001), higher baux score(p = 0.00001) and more likelihood of being placed on the ventilator (p = <0.00001) or dialysis (p = 0.008). Mortality was noted in 16 (43 %) of the patients who developed hypotension compared to 5 (7.4 %) patients of non-hypotensive patients (p < 0.001). The mortality of patients who presented with or developed hypotension was 9.59 times (95 % CI 3.1–29.4; p = 0.00001) higher than those who did not develop hypotension. Age and TBSA affected by burn, were found to have significant predictive value for mortality (p < 0.0001), respectively. Propensity matching was limited due to sample size. TBSA and the development of hypotension were matched, and the odds ratio of developing mortality was still increased. ConclusionHypotension was seen among burn injury patients admitted to a specialized intensive care unit. Hypotension was associated with higher TBSA % and increased age. In terms of characteristics, increased used of organ support was more likely with hypotensive patients with ventilation, inotropes, and dialysis. Length of stay was decreased in hypotensive patients. The odds of mortality were much higher in hypotensive patients, with age and TBSA being significant variables.

A blended teaching and learning model for family-medicine registrar training at a South African university.

Effective primary healthcare is essential in developing countries but faces several challenges, including the lack of standardised training across decentralised sites. In response to unsatisfactory registrar examination outcomes in 2013, the Department of Family Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa introduced a blended teaching and learning programme. The aim of the new programme was to level the playing field by providing uniform online resources on a course site on the university's learning management system. The uniform online resources would be integrated into the teaching programme. A team consisting of the registrar-training-programme coordinator, an educationalist and five family-medicine consultants from different districts began reviewing the curriculum, selecting appropriate resources and developing the course site. The blended programme was developed and implemented using a phased, participatory research action approach, including phases of evaluation and redesign. Since the implementation of the blended-learning programme in 2017, registrar outcomes have improved, but this has not been the only success attributed to the programme. The programme also resulted in an enhanced focus on teaching and learning, especially among those involved in its development. We share the lessons gleaned from our experiences, emphasising the need for adequate training and teamwork if we are to use technology appropriately and effectively to address the difficulties associated with decentralised training in developing countries.

Transgender-Specific Differentiated HIV Service Delivery Models in the South African Public Primary Health Care System (Jabula Uzibone): Protocol for an Implementation Study.

Almost 60% of transgender people in South Africa are living with HIV. Ending the HIV epidemic will require that transgender people successfully access HIV prevention and treatment. However, transgender people often avoid health services due to facility-based stigma and lack of availability of gender-affirming care. Transgender-specific differentiated service delivery (TG-DSD) may improve engagement and facilitate progress toward HIV elimination. Wits RHI, a renowned South African research institute, established 4 TG-DSD demonstration sites in 2019, with funding from the US Agency for International Development. These sites offer unique opportunities to evaluate the implementation of TG-DSD and test their effectiveness. The Jabula Uzibone study seeks to assess the implementation, effectiveness, and cost of TG-DSD for viral suppression and prevention-effective adherence. The Jabula Uzibone study collects baseline and 12-month observation checklists at 8 sites and 6 (12.5%) key informant interviews per site at 4 TG-DSD and 4 standard sites (n=48). We seek to enroll ≥600 transgender clients, 50% at TG-DSD and 50% at standard sites: 67% clients with HIV and 33% clients without HIV per site type. Participants complete interviewer-administered surveys quarterly, and blood is drawn at baseline and 12 months for HIV RNA levels among participants with HIV and tenofovir levels among participants on pre-exposure prophylaxis. A subset of 30 participants per site type will complete in-depth interviews at baseline and 12 months: 15 participants will be living with HIV and 15 participants will be HIV negative. Qualitative analyses will explore aspects of implementation; regression models will compare viral suppression and prevention-effective adherence by site type. Structural equation modeling will test for mediation by stigma and gender affirmation. Microcosting approaches will estimate the cost per service user served and per service user successfully treated at TG-DSD sites relative to standard sites, as well as the budget needed for a broader implementation of TG-DSD. Funded by the US National Institutes of Mental Health in April 2022, the study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at University of Witwatersrand in June 2022 and the Duke University Health System Institutional Review Board in June 2023. Enrollment began in January 2024. As of July 31, 2024, a total of 593 transgender participants have been enrolled: 348 are living with HIV and 245 are HIV negative. We anticipate baseline enrollment will be complete by August 31, 2024, and the final study visit will take place no later than August 2025. Jabula Uzibone will provide data to inform HIV policies and practices in South Africa and generate the first evidence for implementation of TG-DSD in sub-Saharan Africa. Study findings may inform the use of TG-DSD strategies to increase care engagement and advance global progress toward HIV elimination goals. DERR1-10.2196/64373.

The End(s) of The Tempest in Post-apartheid South Africa

ABSTRACT Following the sea change that led South Africa into the democratic era in 1994, theatre-makers have explored the resonances and limitations of The Tempest as an expression of local realities. In this article, I provide a partial performance history of the play in this period, tracing the ends (and endings) towards which it has been staged in five productions: two in 1994 at Maynardville Open Air Theatre and Rhodes University respectively, and three more at Durban University of Technology (2003), the University of the Witwatersrand (2004), and the Baxter Theatre (2009). These showed varying creative responses to the text, suggesting a double bind in performance: the network of associations attached to the play are both inescapable and frequently inadequate for articulating complex and variable post-apartheid experiences. Theatre-makers have thus, at times, moved beyond usual boundaries of the text, suggesting a need for something other than The Tempest to give voice to contemporary concerns. This was most fully evidenced by two further productions from the 2010s: Miranda’s Tale (2016), and Kunene and the King (2019). In relation to the preceding productions of The Tempest, these two plays demonstrate significant departures from the text and the politics it has come to represent.

Household decisions on the consumption of edible termites in the Vhembe District of South Africa

This paper aims to identify factors influencing household decisions on whether to consume edible termites and the level of termite consumption in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province in South Africa. The study used secondary data sourced from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the University of Witwatersrand that was collected from 104 households in the Vhembe District in 2016. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to profile consumers' socio-economic characteristics. In addition, a logistic model and Ordinary Least Squares were used to determine the factors influencing a household's decision to consume edible termites and the level of consumption respectively. The results revealed that demographic factors (the age and gender of the household head) and religious beliefs influenced both consumption and the level of consumption. In addition, the type of termite preferred positively influenced the level of consumption, while knowledge influenced the decision to consume termites. The recommendations based on these results are that efforts should be made to promote the consumption of edible termites among the younger population, particularly males. Education programs could be designed to increase knowledge about termites and their nutritional benefits, which may increase consumption. Additionally, efforts should be made to understand and address the negative influence of religion on the consumption of edible termites.

Bone mineral density and geometric morphometrics: Indicators of growth in the immature pars basilaris

The pars basilaris forms a central component of the immature basicranium and owing to its resilience to post-mortem and taphonomic changes, holds significance across evolutionary, clinical, and forensic contexts. While size and shape parameters of the pars basilaris have been investigated, little is known about the influence of the underlying bone mineral density on the morphometry of this bone during growth. This study aimed to investigate the development and growth of the pars basilaris with specific reference to changes in bone density patterning and development of osteological features, during the prenatal and early postnatal periods of life. A total of 109 pars basilari were sourced from the Johannesburg Forensic Paediatric Collection, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. The study sample was subdivided into early prenatal (<30 gestational weeks), prenatal (30–40 gestational weeks) and postnatal (birth to 7.5 months) groups and micro-CT scanned to assess bone mineral density patterns across seven regions of interest. Size and shape changes were analysed using 11 digitized landmarks and geometric morphometrics. When comparing across age groups, the assessed dimensions increased with growth manifesting as a deepening at the anterior border of the foramen magnum, development of the lateral angles and widening of the bone at the lateral projections and spheno-occipital synchondrosis. However, no significant changes in the distribution of bone mineral density were observed. An appreciation of morphological changes and bone quality at specific growth sites in the pars basilaris is essential when analyzing remains of unknown provenance for the purposes of identification in disaster victim settings.

Genetic counseling in South Africa: A growing profession

The Genetic Counseling profession in South Africa (SA) was established 35 years ago when the first degree program was initiated at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1989. A second program was developed at the University of Cape Town in 2004. This article aims to describe the development of the profession in SA, with a focus on the last decade. The profession has been growing against the backdrop of a diverse population of 62 million with high rates of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and a poorly functioning health care system. SA was one of the first countries to regulate the profession when the Health Professions Council recognized genetic counselors (GCs) as health care professionals in 1992. Since 2017, the student body (now including some internationals) is becoming more representative of the local population and SA graduates are assisting in establishing counseling and training programs in Ghana and Oman. The professional group (GC-SA), formed in 2008, now represents the profession locally and internationally. Challenges remain, although training programs are established, and registration and billing in place. State employment opportunities are few and graduates have to become entrepreneurs, setting up private practice and seeking work in laboratories and research projects. With about a third (16) of qualified GCs (47) leaving the country and only 31 presently working locally, only about 10% of the genetic needs of the population can be met. Addressing these issues, as well as the lack of funding and political will, is a priority for the future.

Surgical Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis: our experience with 36 cases.

To evaluate and compare outcomes of patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) treated by gap arthroplasty, costochondral graft, and total alloplastic joint reconstruction. A retrospective cohort study reviewed and analyzed data from patients with TMJA from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2019, at the Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Department, University of the Witwatersrand. Patients with TMJA were treated either with gap arthroplasty, costochondral graft, or total alloplastic joint reconstruction. Data collected included age, sex, etiology of ankylosis, sides involved, preoperation and postoperation mouth opening (MO), treatment type, complications, and revision surgery. Patients were followed up for at least 18 months after the surgical procedure. Comparison of means across the treatment groups was analyzed using paired t tests or analysis of variance test. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study sample comprised of 36 patients [bilateral, n=22; unilateral, n=14 (21 male, 15 female)]. Trauma was the most common etiology (n=27, 75%), followed by chronic infections (n=4, 11.11%) and juvenile arthritis (n=3, 8.3%). A paired t test revealed no statistical significance between treatment modality and postoperative MO and complications over 18 months (P=0.5316 and P=0.426, respectively). The mean MO increased from 4 to 28mm. Reankylosis was the most common complication (n=5). All 3 treatment options yield acceptable outcomes in patients with TMJA. Irrespective of surgical technique, early postoperative exercises, active physiotherapy, and follow-up are imperative for successful rehabilitation and prevention of reankylosis.

Cost-effectiveness of a complex continuum of care intervention targeting women and children: protocol for an economic evaluation of the Bukhali trial in South Africa

IntroductionAs nearly two-thirds of women presenting at their first antenatal visit are either overweight or obese in urban South Africa, the preconception period is an opportunity to optimise health and...

The impact of biophilic design in university study areas on students' productivity

PurposeThe objective of this study is to determine how biophilic designs in study areas affect the productivity of students at the University of the Witwatersrand. The study also seeks to evaluate study areas at Wits in terms of biophilic design, determine whether biophilic design contributes to the preference of students and their study productivity.Design/methodology/approachThis is a cross sectional study that used a mixed methodology. Five study areas were identified and evaluated in terms of biophilic design. At each study area, nine students participated in an open- and close-ended questionnaire regarding their perceptions on study areas and productivity.FindingsThe five study areas scored the following results according to the biophilic test: 29.09%, 34.55%, 36.36%, 80.00% and 85.45%, respectively. The students prefer to study in biophilic study areas as it prompts positive emotions and make them feel rejuvenated and energized. However, there are still students studying in the non-biophilic areas due to convenience or due to the biophilic areas that are noisy and lacks monitoring.Research limitations/implicationsWith the small sample size, the generalizability of the findings are limited, but does create a foundation for further research.Practical implicationsUniversities can learn from the findings and benefit greatly from many biophilic study areas. This could also encourage architects and interior designers to include biophilic design more so in general buildings/rooms.Originality/valueStudy areas at the University of the Witwatersrand was evaluated in terms of biophilic design, while determining whether biophilic design contributes to the preference of students and study productivity.

Evidence of learning in workplace-based assessments in a Family Medicine Training Programme.

Learning portfolios (LPs) provide evidence of workplace-based assessments (WPBAs) in clinical settings. The educational impact of LPs has been explored in high-income countries, but the use of portfolios and the types of assessments used for and of learning have not been adequately researched in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated the evidence of learning in registrars' LPs and the influence of the training district and year of training on assessments. A cross-sectional study evaluated 18 Family Medicine registrars' portfolios from study years 1-3 across five decentralised training sites affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the portfolio and quarterly assessment (QA) scores and self-reported clinical skills competence levels. The competence levels obtained from the portfolios and university records served as proxy measures for registrars' knowledge and skills. The total LP median scores ranged from 59.9 to 81.0, and QAs median scores from 61.4 to 67.3 across training years. The total LP median scores ranged from 62.1 to 83.5 and 62.0 to 67.5, respectively in QAs across training districts. Registrars' competence levels across skill sets did not meet the required standards. Higher skills competence levels were reported in the women's health, child health, emergency care, clinical administration and teaching and learning domains. The training district and training year influence workplace-based assessment (WPBA) effectiveness. Ongoing faculty development and registrar support are essential for WPBA.Contribution:This study contributes to the ongoing discussion of how to utilise WPBA in resource-constrained sub-Saharan settings.

Challenges of Teaching and Learning under Lockdown at Wits University: Implications for the Future of Blended Learning

In response to social distancing regulations of 2020 aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, universities had to rapidly transition from face-to-face learning to Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning (ERTL). University students and staff faced many barriers to reliably accessing online platforms, together with widespread psychosocial challenges associated with the pandemic. This article reports on these challenges, juxtaposing the experiences of university staff members and students at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits). This study used a mixed methods design and drew on two university-wide surveys for staff and one for students, followed by in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Of those invited, 9% of the student body and 7% of staff responded, with 43 students and 22 staff members participating in the interviews and discussions. Three overarching challenges emerged for both staff and students: 1) physical limitations, including poor access to reliable internet, compounded by persistent power outages; 2) pedagogicalchallenges as staff and students adjusted to a new learning modality; and 3) balancing aspects of personal life and wellbeing with work and studies, including remaining productive while contending with family responsibilities and emotional challenges brought about by the pandemic. The study highlights several issues, including structural considerations and the importance of promoting a sense of community and belonging, that should be considered as the University transitions to blended learning.

Community-oriented primary care footprinting: An undergraduate programme experience.

The Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro (NMFC) programme, a government initiative to address healthcare inequities in South Africa, focuses on the training of indigenous students to become competent healthcare practitioners. A collaboration combining training in a Cuban primary care, preventative system with integration in a South African institution within a quadruple disease burdened healthcare system. This article reflects on integration experience at the University of Witwatersrand, a programme pedagogically positioned within a workplace-based, situated learning framework. Since 2022, community-oriented primary care (COPC) projects became part of the integrated primary care and family medicine learning objectives. This article summarises the experience of the 2021-2022 cohort and calls for the strengthening of undergraduate medical education curricula with learning objectives reflective of social accountability.Contribution:This article spotlights work in the undergraduate space around teaching and experiential learning of community-oriented primary care in line with the journal's scope.

Enriching Professional Development in Disadvantaged Schools through the Targeting Talent Programme (TPP) Educators Enrichment Programme: Insights from Math and Science Educators

This study explores the lived experiences of educators from disadvantaged schools involved in professional development in the Targeting Talent Programme (TPP) at the University of the Witwatersrand. It elicits the perceptions of mathematics and science educators on professional development programmes. A qualitative research approach was employed, and data was collected through focus group discussions with 24 participants comprising Math and Science educators. The study’s findings indicated that acquiring the requisite knowledge and skills from participating in the programme improved the understanding of pedagogical content, skills and teaching methodologies. The major barrier besetting the realisation of educators’ professional development identified included the public-school system in South Africa characterised by resource constraints which limit educators’ innovative strategies in integrating technology into teaching and learning. The study revealed that reflection is required regarding the rules and policies regulating learners’ and educators’ use of technological gadgets. From the findings, it is recommended that designing and implementing educator professional development must be embodied within South African school policies.

Integrating scholarly writing development into postgraduate research programmes: An exploration of enablers and constraints

In many South African universities, full research students receive little support during the research conceptualisation stage of the research journey, other than that provided by their supervisors, who tend to have limited time to engage with their students. Furthermore, during the proposal phase, scant attention is paid to the role of writing in research conceptualisation and scholarly development. In an attempt to address this neglect, the authors of this article worked collaboratively with academic staff from two schools within the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand to pilot academic literacies-informed projects aimed at integrating writing in the first year of existing postgraduate research programmes. This article provides insight into factors that constrain and enable such an integration endeavour. Data was collected through focus group discussions with the project teams from the participating schools. Drawing on Margaret Archer’s structure, culture, and agency as the analytical framework, five themes emerged from the data: leadership and oversight, supervision and postgraduate pedagogy, supervisor awareness and support, the postgraduate research education curriculum, and student engagement and commitment. The authors discuss these themes in terms of their enabling and constraining dimensions, and conclude with observations that could inform similar initiatives in other postgraduate research programmes.

Understanding of 'generalist medical practice' in South African medical schools.

In South Africa, medical students are expected to have acquired a generalist competence in medical practice on completion of their training. However, what the students and their preceptors understand by 'generalist medical practice' has not been established in South African medical schools. This study aimed to explore what the students and their preceptors understood by 'generalist medical practice'. Four South African medical schools: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Walter Sisulu University and the University of the Witwatersrand. The exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used. Sixteen focus group discussions (FGDs) and 27 one-on-one interviews were conducted among students and their preceptors, respectively. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. The inductive and deductive data analysis methods were used. The MAXQDA 2020 (Analytics Pro) software was used to arrange data, yielding 2179 data segments. Ten themes were identified: (1) basic knowledge of medicine, (2) first point of contact with all patients regardless of their presenting problems, (3) broad field of common conditions prevalent in the community, (4) dealing with the undifferentiated patient without a diagnosis, (5) stabilising emergencies before referral, (6) continuity, (7) coordinated and (8) holistic patient care, necessitating nurturance of doctor-patient relationship, (9) health promotion and disease prevention, and (10) operating mainly in primary health care settings. The understanding of 'generalist medical practice' in accordance with internationally accepted principles augurs well in training undergraduate medical students on the subject. However, interdepartmental collaboration on the subject needs further exploration.Contribution: The study's findings can be used as a guide upon which the students' preceptors and their students can reflect during the training in generalist medical practice.

Assessing the acceptability of, adherence to and preference for a dual prevention pill (DPP) for HIV and pregnancy prevention compared to oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and oral contraception taken separately: protocols for two randomised, controlled, cross-over studies in South Africa and Zimbabwe

IntroductionOral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective HIV prevention method; however, uptake and persistence have been low among southern African women. A dual prevention pill (DPP) that combines PrEP...

Cover, Content, and Editorial Note from Borneo J Pharm Vol. 7 No. 1 February 2024

Assalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb. Alhamdulillahirabbil ‘alamin. The next edition of the Borneo Journal of Pharmacy (Borneo J Pharm) was published in February 2024. This edition contains ten articles: Pharmacognosy-Phytochemistry, Analytical Pharmacy-Medicinal Chemistry, and Clinical-Community Pharmacy. This edition includes writings from four countries: India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Thailand. The authors come from several institutions, including Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Khon Kaen University, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, University of the Witwatersrand, Universitas Sanata Dharma, Universitas Halu Oleo, Universitas Bhakti Kencana, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Sekolah Tinggi Farmasi Mahaganesha, Universitas Tanjungpura, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, Universitas Surabaya, Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Indonesia, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, and Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. Editorial boards are fully aware that this edition has room for improvement. Hence, with all humility, we are willing to accept constructive suggestions and feedback for improvements to the publication for the next editions. The editorial board would like to thank all editors, reviewers, and contributors of the scientific articles who have provided the repertoire in this issue. We hope all parties, especially the contributors, can re-participate in the publication in the next edition in May 2024. Wassalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.