ABSTRACT
The quality of the tests and the relationship between clinical achievement and comprehensive exam scores were studied in the sixth year medical students of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital during the academic years B.E. 2527-2534. The results were as follows: The content validity of the test used in each academic year was justified, which implied that such test was in accordance with the domain specifications defined in the Medical License Standard set by Thai Medical Council in the year B.E. 2527. However, the representativeness of the test was lacking because only 1-2 test items could not adequately sample such an extensive content area as listed in the table of specification. The tests showed a high degree of concurrent validity, implying that they could be used interchangeably with the 6-years cumulative grade point average to describe the student’s achievement. The reliability coefficients of the tests for eight academic years ranged from .77 to .90. The results of item analysis of the tests revealed the average difficulty with values from .54 to .59 and average index of discrimination with values from .10 to .13. The 4th and 5th year grade point averages were significantly correlated with the exam scores in each year (p < .01) and were able to predict the exam scores ranging from 50 to 66%.
ABSTRACT
Thirty-nine female patients with chronic (1-24 months) painful and limited neck movements were divided into two groups: a controlled group (n = 17) and a manipulated group (n = 22). In the controlled group, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) named Voltaren® was prescribed for the patients to take three times a day for three weeks. In the manipulated group, patients were treated with Voltaren® plus ratatory manipulation during cervical traction. All patients were screened to exclude pathologic neurological signs by physical examination and cervical roentgenograms. Patients in the manipulated group were put on an intermittent traction machine with 20 degrees flexion of the neck and ratatory manipulation of the cervical spine was carried out while a pull of 25 kilograms (kg) was exerted. Patients were manipulated twice weekly for six sessions (3 weeks). In the manipulated group, results showed a marked reduction of pain (5levels on a visual analygue scale). Degrees of active range of motion (ROM) of neck in all directions improved significantly (p < 0.001) before and/after the first treatment and/after the last treatment (mean + SD): flexion and extension = 108.13+14.48/114.81+12.62/125.40+10.04; lateral flexion to the left and right = 67.86+13.72/73.77+10.18/80.50+10.37; rotation to the left lateral flexors of the cervical spine were also significantly increased from the beginning (P<0.01): 3.92+1.79/4.74+1.80 kg in flexors, 6.97+2.67/8.28+2.05 kg in extensors, 4.28+1.52/5.38+1.35 kg in the left lateral flexors and 4.31+1.51/5.27+1.25 kg in the right lateral flexors. About five sessions (twice a week) should improve the condition. No significant change occurred in the controlled group.