Pharmacy students' perceptions of the formative objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) and their learning outcomes

@#<p><strong>BACKGROUND</strong>: Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are used frequently in course subjects owing to their utility in determining the students' clinical competencies under a variety of simulated conditions. In the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Pharmacy, the use of a summative OSCE has already been used as a form of assessment in some of its courses. However, previous batches of students felt unprepared for their summative OSCE at the end of the semester. In particular, students reported unfamiliarity with the content and format of the said examination. To address this concern, formative OSCEs were conducted in a Pharmacy laboratory course.</p><p><strong>OBJECTIVE</strong>: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the feedback component of formative OSCEs on the students' self-perceived learning and achievement of the course outcomes, facilitating knowledge, skills and attitudes development towards the course, and preparing them for the summative OSCE. It also sought to identify useful aspects of the formative OSCEs and how they can be improved further.</p><p><strong>METHODOLOGY</strong>: Four formative OSCEs were administered from January to May 2017 to all fourth-year pharmacy students taking Pharmacy 154 (Dispensing and Incompatibilities). The units covered were: (1) extemporaneous and sterile compounding; (2) over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and prescription drugs; (3) dangerous drugs and medical devices; and (4) therapeutic incompatibilities and medication safety. After each formative OSCE, feedbacks were provided to the students. Once all OSCEs were conducted, an online, self-administered questionnaire consisting of four parts was given to the students. Total population sampling was employed in the study. The responses (n = 44) were analyzed using frequency statistics. Thematic analysis was done for the aspects of the formative OSCEs that were most useful, and how they could be further improved.</p><p><strong>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</strong>: The frequency analysis of responses from the questionnaire generally showed that the students had positive perceptions to the feedback component of the formative OSCEs. Still, there was no significant association found between passing the summative OSCE and the formative OSCEs owing to the differences in the content of each examination. Overall, formative OSCEs may be a good assessment tool to track the students' progress and give them constructive feedback in terms of the competencies expected in the course and to better prepare them for the summative OSCE. Increasing the time allotted for each station and orienting them better prior to formative OSCEs were the commonly suggested points for improvement.</p>

Luteoma of pregnancy

Virilization in female newborns as a result of an ovarian mass known as luteoma of pregnancy is a rare condition. A case of a maternal pregnancy luteoma responsible for virilization of both newborn and mother is reported. Luteoma of pregnancy, first described by Sternberg in 1963, is usually asymptomatic and is discovered incidentally during a cesarean section or postpartum tubal ligation. To date, fewer than 200 cases have been reported in the literature. This report describes a case of a virilized pregnant woman first seen in active labor who eventually underwent cesarean section for arrest of descent. Intraoperative findings showed a well circumscribed, pedunculated mass attached to the left ovary. A healthy baby girl was born with masculinization of the external genitalia.

Prevalencia de seropositividad al VIH en pacientes tuberculosis activos de la Región Metropolitana / Prevalence of HIV seropositivity among patients with active tuberculosis in Santiago de Chile

La detección sistemática de casos de SIDA se ha dirigido hacia grupos de riesgo: homosexuales, drogadictos endovenosos y promiscuos sexuales. La alta frecuencia de morbilidad por tuberculosis que presentan los pacientes con SIDA hace elegibles a los enfermos de tuberculosis para buscar seropositividad al VIH. La prevalencia de tuberculosis activa en la Región Metropolitana es de más de 1000 casos los que fueron estudiados con estudio serológico para el VIH. Para ello se les tomó una muestra de sangre en las Centrales de Tratamiento de tuberculosis de los 6 Servicios de Salud de la Región Metropolitana entre los días 16 de agosto y 1 de septiembre de 1989. Se examinaron 1159 muestras de sangre provenientes de igual número de pacientes con tuberculosis activa en tratamiento. Se obtuvieron 4 muestras positivas y 1 indeterminada. Además, otras 5 muestras dieron el resultado del test de ELISA que estaba repetidamente en el límite de la negatividad. Estos pacientes fueron seguidos con nuevas muestras. Los casos detectados se incorporaron a los programas de enfermedades de transmisión sexual de los Servicios de Salud