Effect of continuous professional development course of family medicine essentials on physician's knowledge, skills, and attitude among primary healthcare physicians in Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study was designed to measure the outcome of the continuous professional development [CPD] course [Family Medicine Essentials] conducted and organised by the Ministry of Health [MOH] on the knowledge, skills, and attitude of primary healthcare [PHC] physicians in patient care

Materials and Methods: This study was based on pre- and post-implementation of training evaluation, which included the seven CPD modules in family medicine customised for non-certified family physicians working at MOH and PHCs in Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted from March 2009 to 2010 and it included 259 family physicians working in PHCs and MOH. The pre- and post-test scores for mean knowledge, skills and attitude were compared using paired t-test. P < 0.05 was considered significant

Results: The results showed that the percentage of male participants [80.3%] was higher than females [19.7%]. The mean age of the participants was 39.6 +/- 8.0 years. A significant difference was found in pre- and post-test scores of PHC physicians' attitude, knowledge and skills. Attitude increased from 77.5 +/- 6.1 to 83.0 +/- 7.8 [P < 0.0001], knowledge increased from 51.3 +/- 14.8 to 66.7 +/- 14.3 [P < 0.0001] while skills increased from 41.2 +/- 20.1 to 66.9 +/- 19.1 [P < 0.0001]

Conclusion: Participants in the CPD course showed significant improvement in their level of knowledge, clinical skills and attitude in patient care. However, further case-control studies and practice evaluations are required to obtain more in-depth information on the impact of this course on PHC physicians

Self-assessment through videotaping compared with peer and trainer feedback

To assess and compare three different types of feedback for presentation skills, self, peer and trainer feedback. Cross-sectional study. Faculty of Medicine at Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey, from March 2012 to December 2012. Participants were faculty members and instructor nurses. Each participant gave a 10-minute presentation, which was rated by peers, course trainers and the presenter himself/herself using a thirteen-item questionnaire [designed as a 5-point Likert scale]. Peers and trainers conducted the assessment during the presentation while the self-assessment was done later by watching a video recording of the presentation. Comparison of the points between the groups was made using the two-way ANOVA. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the mean scores of self-assessment, peer and trainer assessment. Ten faculty members, 27 instructor nurses and 4 trainers participated in the study. A total of 775 feedback reports were collected for 37 participants. There was no significant difference between the feedback scores of the evaluators as well as the occupation groups [p > 0.05]. There was a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between trainer and peer [r = 0.73, p < 0.001]. Consequently, there were no differences in the evaluations of presentation skills between different stakeholders. Trainers should use the video recording method to self-evaluate their presentation skills, and they should invite their peers from time to time to improve their own personal development by using peer review methods

Evaluation of hospital-learning environment for pediatric residency in eastern region of Saudi Arabia / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE: No study had been conducted to assess the hospitals' environment for learning purposes in multicenter sites in Saudi Arabia. It aims to evaluate the environment of hospitals for learning purposes of pediatric residents. METHODS: We applied Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) to measure the learning environment at six teaching hospitals in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia from September to December 2013. RESULTS: The number of respondents was 104 (86.7%) out of 120 residents and 37 females and 67 male residents have responded. The residents' response scored 100 out of 160 maximum score in rating of PHEEM that showed overall learning environment is favorable for training. There were some items in the social support domain suggesting improvements. There was no significant difference between male and female residents. There was a difference among the participant teaching hospitals (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The result pointed an overall positive rating. Individual item scores suggested that their social life during residency could be uninspiring. They have the low satisfactory level and they feel racism, and sexual discrimination. Therefore, there is still a room for improvement.

5-year trend of myocardial infarction, hypertension, stroke and diabetes mellitus in gender and different age groups in Erzurum, Turkey

To investigate the trend and risk of coronary artery diseases [CAD], myocardial Infarction [MI], hypertension [HT], stroke, cerebrovascular disease [CVD], and diabetes mellitus type 2 [DMT2] as regard to different age groups and gender. We retrieved retrospectively almost 5-year data [January 1st 2007 through December 31st 2011] from the Ataturk university hospital that has database registry system based on International Classification of Diseases [ICD-10]. We included 88,293 patients in this analysis. A logistic-regression model was used to assess the effect of groups of variables on the associations of interest [sex and its interaction with age] with calculation of odds ratios with their 95 percent confidence intervals. Out of 88,293 patients, 45% [39,514] were females and mean age was 56.86 +/- 16.23. The females were dominant [P = 0.001] in all age groups in diabetes type 2. Whereas in case of hypertension, CAD and strokes except in young age groups males were more prominent. We found that females had high risk 1.54 [95% CI, 1.50-1.59] for diabetes mellitus while for other cardiovascular disease females had lower risk except a slightly high risk for overall CVD [1.01; 95% CI, 0.93-1.09]. The results demonstrated that for diabetes type 2 and young age group for other cardiovascular diseases females are dominant and have higher risk

Perceived self-efficacy and academic performance of medical students at Ataturk university, Turkey

To determine the association of perceived self-efficacy with academic performance of pre-clinical medical students. A cross-sectional analytical study. Medical Education Department, Ataturk University, Turkey, from March to May 2012. Participating students were members of the first to third year medical students class considered to be preclinical years at Ataturk University. A validated and reliable questionnaire consisted of 10 questions applied to assess the general self-efficacy of the medical students in pre-clinical years and evaluate whether their self-efficacy has relation to their academic performance. Responses and studied variables were compared using ANOVA and Pearson correlation test as applicable. The mean scores of three consecutive examinations were compared with self-efficacy mean scores of three classes. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used for assessment of self-efficacy. There was no correlation found in between mean examination scores and self-efficacy mean scores in first year [r = -0.11, p = 0.276], second year [r = 0.20, p = 0.180], and third year [r = -0.040, p = 0.749]. However, comparison of mean scores between male and female demonstrated significant difference [p = 0.001] and males dominant in self-efficacy scores. The results illustrate in pre-clinical years at medical schools the general self-efficacy does not play any role in their performance

Equity or equality in medical education / 보건의료교육평가

No abstract available.

An objective structured biostatistics examination: a pilot study based on computer-assisted evaluation for undergraduates / 보건의료교육평가

We designed and evaluated an objective structured biostatistics examination (OSBE) on a trial basis to determine whether it was feasible for formative or summative assessment. At Ataturk University, we have a seminar system for curriculum for every cohort of all five years undergraduate education. Each seminar consists of an integrated system for different subjects, every year three to six seminars that meet for six to eight weeks, and at the end of each seminar term we conduct an examination as a formative assessment. In 2010, 201 students took the OSBE, and in 2011, 211 students took the same examination at the end of a seminar that had biostatistics as one module. The examination was conducted in four groups and we examined two groups together. Each group had to complete 5 stations in each row therefore we had two parallel lines with different instructions to be followed, thus we simultaneously examined 10 students in these two parallel lines. The students were invited after the examination to receive feedback from the examiners and provide their reflections. There was a significant (P=0.004) difference between male and female scores in the 2010 students, but no gender difference was found in 2011. The comparison among the parallel lines and among the four groups showed that two groups, A and B, did not show a significant difference (P>0.05) in either class. Nonetheless, among the four groups, there was a significant difference in both 2010 (P=0.001) and 2011 (P=0.001). The inter-rater reliability coefficient was 0.60. Overall, the students were satisfied with the testing method; however, they felt some stress. The overall experience of the OSBE was useful in terms of learning, as well as for assessment.

Knowledge of hepatitis B and vaccination status of some expatriate ethnic groups of blue collar workers in northern Saudi Arabia

To find out the level of knowledge and vaccination status of some expatriate ethnic groups of blue color workers. Hepatitis B [HBV] infection is relatively common throughout the world, but more prevalent in low socioeconomic and underprivileged classes. The chronic infection may lead to severe consequences including Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. A cross-sectional, community-based survey of some ethnic expatriate groups of blue color workers [n=665] living in four main areas along the Northern Borders of Saudi Arabia was completed in 2005. We examined knowledge of HBV and vaccination status and compared them with some socio-demographic factors. The mean age of the participants was 45.61 years [ +/- 8.44], 53% of whom were Non-Arabs [Non Arabic speaking]. Of the total, 41.6% gave seven or more correct answers out of 12 questions addressing knowledge about the transmission and sequelae of HBV. Almost 40% of the respondents had not been vaccinated while the remaining respondents had had three full doses of vaccination. A high level of knowledge [>/= 7 correct answers] was significantly associated [p<0.05] with higher level of education, vaccination status, ethnic groups, occupation, age, marital status, and the time spent in Saudi Arabia. Income and type of accommodation were not associated [p>0.05] with level of knowledge. However vaccination status was associated [p<0.05] with almost all socio-demographic factors