A study to determine patient safety awareness and attitudes among medical students in a Malaysian University

OBJECTIVE:Over the last decade, various methods to improve patient safety and to reduce medical errors are being implemented. Medical students should look into and participate in patient safety during their education. The objective of the study was to study the personal awareness, attitudes, and knowledge of patient safety measures in use in a Malaysian Medical College after implementation of the patient safety study module in the curriculum.MATERIAL AND METHODS:This was a cross-sectional analysis using a validated World Health Organization questionnaire (“Patient Safety – Curriculum Guide, Topic 1 questionnaire on patient safety”) on 4th-year medical students. The students’ awareness, attitudes, and knowledge of patient safety measures were assessed.RESULTS:One hundred and thirty-four years four undergraduate students of the Faculty of Medicine were recruited for the study using a convenience sampling method. The majority of study participants were females (65.4%). The median age of study participants was 24 years of the interquartile range = 1. On analysis, a majority of study participants had a medium level of knowledge about errors and patient safety. There was a significant positive correlation between the safety of the health-care system and personal influence over safety and attitudes toward patient safety (P < 0.05). There was also a positive correlation between personal influence over safety and safety at the workplace (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Our study indicates that student attitudes toward patient safety measures are positive, and knowledge and awareness are fair.

Unusual presentation of dedifferentiated liposarcoma as paratesticular mass.

A 75-year-old male presented with complaint of painless left inguinoscrotal mass slowly increasing in size since 9 years. Clinical impression was malignancy arising in left testis or cord. Initial incisional biopsy was reported as fibromatosis. Later on wide excision of tumor was done and histopathology showed dedifferentiated liposarcoma with areas of fibromatosis.

Environmentally safe design of tailing dams for the management of iron ore tailings in Indian context.

The need for the disposal of iron ore tailings in an enviornmentally firiendly manner is of great concern. This paper investigates the soil engineering properties for the construction of iron ore tailing dam, its foundation, construction materials and design data used for the construction analysis of the tailing dam. Geophysical investigations were carried out to establish the bedrock below the spillway. A computer programme taking into account the Swedish Slip Circle Method of analysis was used in the stability analysis of dam. It also focuses on the charactierstics of the tailings reponsible for the determination of optimum size of tailing pond for the containment of the tailings. The studies on the settling characteristics of tailings indicate much less area in comparison to the area provided in the existing tailing ponds in India. In the proposed scheme, it is suggested to provide an additional unit of sedimentation tank before the disposal of tailings to the tailing pond.

Resurgence of malaria in eastern and north-eastern region of India: a critical appraisal.

The implication of recent resurgence of malaria in eastern (E) and northeastern(NE) states of India critically urges an in-depth viewpoint into the rationale of implementation of National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP). The article highlights the regional scenario, considering the programme performance in this context.

Nutritional status of under five children in an urban slum community of Calcutta.

Nutritional status particularly in relation to the possible risk of morbidity and mortality in children has long been recognised as a field of major concern. A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 1280 under five children in the urban slum community of Chetla, the field practice area of All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Calcutta, during 1991 to identify their nutritional status. Wt/age being the most sensitive indicator was considered; and the children were graded using the Indian Academy of Pediatrics classification. It is evident from table 1, that more than half of the under five children were undernourished in the series, 27.7%, 16.8%, 5.3% and 1.8% being suffering from grade I, II, III and IV undernutrition respectively.

Acute respiratory infections in children admitted in a hospital of Calcutta.

Analysis of records of admitted children (0-12 years) in Chittaranjan Sishusadan Hospital, Calcutta during 1987 revealed that acute respiratory infections contributed 20.1% of all admissions. Lower respiratory infections were common. 93.7% of children were below 5 years of age. Case fatality rate due to ARI was the highest (17.6%) during infancy. Higher number of admissions were observed during the monsoon months.