ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study aims to understand the characteristics of smart device-based testing (SBT) by comparing the typical characteristics of students’ satisfaction with SBT, its usefulness, advantages, and disadvantages when compared with existing testing methods. @*Methods@#A total of 250 students from the first to third year were selected as the final targets of the study and the questionnaire was developed by faculty members who participated in the survey from the start of the SBT. The total number of questions is 12, and the questionnaire used a 4-point scale. The data obtained were analyzed using the IBM SPSS ver. 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA). @*Results@#Answers to the “satisfaction with SBT” were generally negative, while answers to the “usefulness of SBT” were generally positive. There was no difference in satisfaction across gender and smart device ownership, whereas there were significant differences across years. With reference to the usefulness of SBT, students responded positively, while about the overall configuration and completeness of SBT, students responded negatively. Students also seemed to show a greater preference toward the pencil-paper test. @*Conclusion@#On the other hand, students generally thought that SBT helped to assess medical knowledge better and was a more objective method of knowledge assessment than a pencil-paper test. We believe that students preferred the traditional paper-pencil test due to their unfamiliarity with SBT. We believe that an appropriate and careful remedy for drawbacks of the SBT will have a significant impact in the accumulation of actual clinical knowledge and in the improvement of practical skills for medical students.
ABSTRACT
Paraspinal abscess and spondylodiscitis due to Citrobacter koseri is a very rare condition. We report a remarkable case of Citrobacter koseri bacteraemia complicated by paraspinal abscess and spondylodiscitis in a patient who has successfully been treated in our hospital. Our patient demonstrates one of the common challenges in the practice of infectious disease medicine, wherein an innocuous presentation may and often underlie a serious infection. This case report elucidates to us that the diagnosis of a paraspinal abscess and spondylodiscitis requires a high index of suspicion in at risk patient presenting with compatible signs and symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Introducción. El manejo de la hidrocefalia habitualmente comprende la derivación del líquido cefalorraquídeo hacia alguna cavidad corporal. En circunstancias especiales, los pacientes requieren de abordajes alternos y el cirujano se enfrenta al empleo de opciones extremas. Caso clínico. En este estudio se presentan dos pacientes que se sometieron quirúrgicamente a una derivación ventrículo-cava a través de un acceso vascular periférico. Conclusiones. La técnica representó un abordaje de fácil aplicación y con mínimas complicaciones que nos brinda una opción de rescate en aquellos pacientes complicados. En los casos presentados, el empleo de esta técnica fue exitoso.
Background. Hydrocephalus management usually involves cerebrospinal fluid shunting into some corporal cavity. Under special circumstances, patients require alternate approaches, and the surgeon faces the use of extreme options. Case report. In this study we present two patients who were surgically approached with ventriculocaval shunt through peripheral vascular access. Conclusions. The technique represented an easy application with minimal complications, an approach that provides a rescue option in cases of complicated hydrocephalus. In our case, this technique was successful.
ABSTRACT
Opportunistic pneumonias are major causes of morbidity and mortality in HIV infected individuals. The majority of new HIV infections in Malaysia are adults aged 20 to 39 years old and many are unaware of their HIV status until they present with an opportunistic infection. HIV associated opportunistic pneumonias can progress rapidly without appropriate therapy. Therefore a proper diagnostic evaluation is vital and prompt empiric treatment of the suspected diagnosis should be commenced while waiting for the results of the diagnostic studies. Tuberculosis, Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and recurrent bacterial pneumonias are common causes of AIDS-defining diseases and are discussed in this article.