ABCs of accreditation in medical education

The main objective of this paper is to introduce the concept of accreditation to the academic staff of medical schools. We discussed the definition, purposes, standards and procedures of accreditation of medical institutions. Also we highlighted briefly some debatable issues regarding accreditation of medical institutions

Role of clinical skills centers in maintaining and promoting clinical teaching

Up to near time, clinical teaching was wholly performed at bedside in which patients were used as teaching aids. The profound changes in medical education [staff's heavy administrative or research duties, and reduced funding for establishing university hospitals] and health care systems [reduced hospital stay and admission on the day of procedures due to rapid advance in technologies of diagnosis and treatment] had made this teaching method less effective, resulting in a profound decline in standards of acquisition of clinical skills among medical students. A new teaching tool, clinical skill centre, was suggested to solve the problem of inadequacies in bedside teaching. The clinical skills centre is a multidisciplinary educational facility that provides clinical skills training to all health care professionals. The clinical skills centre provides students with the opportunity to initially practice clinical techniques on simulators, in a safe environment, without affecting the quality of patients' in anyway. Nevertheless, it should be regarded as an extra tool for bedside teaching, and not to replace it

Ninja turtles at Sudan hospitals and medical schools: more muslim women doctors practicing medicine wearing a veil covering them from toes to face

Ninja Turtles are American animated television cartoon series appeared in 1980s. The characters of these series [turtles] appear covered from heads to toes, thus been simulated by the public to the classical Islamic dress [veil or Niqab]. Islam is a religion of around two thirds of the Sudan population, and plays an important role in their lives. In this review we discuss the increasing trend among a sector of Sudanese women doctors to wear niqab which is an Islamic dress that covers a woman from toes to face, with only a small slit to allow her to see. For the benefit of non-Muslim readers, we forwarded our review with a detailed description of Islamic viewpoint of dress and its different version throughout the Islamic World. We also gave in detail the English meanings of the Islamic Arabic words [written in italic]. Wearing niqab might carry serious impacts on the medical profession and medical education. The wearers tend to be isolated and less reactive or cooperative with colleagues and seniors. The process of communication with patients is expected to be adversely affected. There are fears of a trend to gender segregation at both health settings and medical schools

Role of clinical skills centers in maintaining and promoting clinical teaching

Up to near time, clinical teaching was wholly performed at bedside in which patients were used as teaching aids. The profound changes in medical education [staff's heavy administrative or research duties, and reduced funding for establishing university hospitals] and health care systems [reduced hospital stay and admission on the day of procedures due to rapid advance in technologies of diagnosis and treatment] had made this teaching method less effective, resulting in a profound decline in standards of acquisition of clinical skills among medical students. A new teaching tool, clinical skill centre, was suggested to solve the problem of inadequacies in bedside teaching. The clinical skills centre is a multidisciplinary educational facility that provides clinical skills training to all health care professionals. The clinical skills centre provides students with the opportunity to initially practice clinical techniques on simulators, in a safe environment, without affecting the quality of patients' care in anyway. Nevertheless, it should be regarded as an extra tool for bedside teaching, and not to replace it

Prblems and factors that influence use of internet by the Sudanese doctors

The use of the Internet among the Sudanese doctors is a poorly studied research area. There is a feeling that the medical practice needs to undergo a major change due to the fast penetration of information technology in medicine and health care. This review discusses some problems facing our doctors such as lack of internet use skills, time and financial constrains, negative attitude and resistance to change working and information-seeking behavior, and difficulties facing rural doctors. Several actions are suggested to solve these problems and then to promote the use of Internet by the doctors

Effects of ramadan fasting on blood levels of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol among type II diabetic patients

Ramadan is the Holy month of the Muslims where they are required to fast from dawn to sunset, with liberal access to food and fluids in the evening. Our study was conducted in Ramadan [October-November 2004] to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on glucose and lipid profiles among type II diabetic patients. Our study population -was 55 adult diabetic patients [38 female, 17 male] of a mean age of 55.82 +/- 16 years. Three samples of blood were taken at three intervals [Before, during and after Ramadan]. The Glucose, Triglyceride, Total cholesterol and lipoproteins were determined and the results were compared using student t-test. There was an increase in the glucose level during Ramadan compared to pre Ramadan value [10.36 +/- 3.30 versus 9.25 +/- 2.91 mmol/L]. After Ramadan there was statistically significant decrease of glucose level [8.93 +/- 3.3; p<0.05]. The triglyceride levels showed a slight increase and decrease during and after Ramadan, respectively [L45 +/- 0.65 versus 1.41 +/- 0.58 mmol/L]. As well, the level of total cholesterol showed a slight increase and decrease during and after Ramadan respectively [5.73 +/- 0.67 versus 5.43 +/- 1.05 mmol/L]. The levels of LDL-C and HDL-C showed similar changes. Our study showed slight increase in the levels of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol during Ramadan fasting, but with a return to the pre-fasting levels after the end of Ramadan