Influence of Faculty Organised Revision Sessions on Anatomy Assessment Results

Background: Introductory anatomy courses present challenges for educators at many institutions as they frequently comprise large numbers of students with dissimilar levels of preparedness, belonging to different academic programs. Setting: At Macquarie University, Introduction to Anatomy course enrolls students belonging to four different faculties and programs ranging from health professions to law and archaeology. The failure rate has traditionally been quite high, with two practical tests (mid and end of the semester) being particularly challenging. Several strategies have been employed to improve students’ performance. Intervention: In 2018, a week before each practical test, revision sessions were introduced, where attendance was optional. These four-hour sessions were amalgams of traditional teaching and peer-assisted learning. This study aimed to assess the value of revision sessions by comparing the test results of students who attended and those who did not. Outcome measure: Marks attained in the practical test. Results: A total of 598 students were enrolled in the course in 2018, of which 162 (27.1%) attended revision session 1 and 177 (29.6%) session 2. The average mark for practical test 1 for students who attended revision sessions was 78.8% and 74.6% in test 2, while those who did not attend achieved 61.8% and 54.5% respectively. Differences in marks for both tests were statistically significant (p <0.05). Conclusion: As there were no other changes in course delivery it can be hypothesized that revision sessions contributed to better practical test performance in 2018. These findings appear to corroborate previous research suggesting that systematic and focused revision sessions improve results in anatomy assessments.

Understanding the Negative Public Perception on Vaccination in West Coast and East Coast Peninsular Malaysia

@#Introduction: Vaccination is a biological process that improves immunity level of an individual towards certain diseases. Vaccination is generally given to all newborn and kids. Most countries oblige their citizens to be vaccinated as early as new-born age. The aim of this research is to study the perception on vaccination intake and the associated factors that lead to its refusal among parents in east coast and west coast peninsular Malaysia. Methods: Primary data were collected using self-administered questionnaire and were distributed to assess the study objectives. Total 240 questionnaires were distributed equally in west coast and east coast study area. Questionnaire consists of demographic data, perception aspects and factors that may lead to the negative perceptions. Results: There is significant association between perception and religion, education level and side effect factor in east coast with majority of the respondents are Muslims (40.83%) while there is no significant association between education level and side effect factor (p>0.1) in west coast with majority of respondents are Muslims (51.67%) too. This study found that perception regarding vaccination is influenced by the religion restrictions in east coast of peninsular Malaysia and not in west coast region. The other factors associated with vaccination refusal varies according to education level, and regional basis. Conclusion: Most of the respondents who have negative perception regarding vaccination are from East Coast region as they are more prone into Islamic teachings. All the possible factors of vaccination refusal are accepted by the respondents but varies in its prevalence as the leading factor determined that caused the vaccination refusal are religion restriction and the least percentage for the factor is time restriction.

Retention of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Knowledge among Undergraduate Teacher Student in Malaysian University

@#Introduction: There is global support for the teaching of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in schools, and teachers are expected to play a leading role in a medical emergency. For effective resuscitation, retention of CPR knowledge after training is paramount. This study aimed at assessing the retention of CPR knowledge among student teachers at pre-, post-immediate, 8th-, and 14th-week post-training. Method: A quasi-experimental study using non-probability convenience sampling was conducted to select 41 respondents from the Department of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Education (UiTM). A validated American Heart Association's 2015 Basic Life Support (BLS) multiple-choice questions (MCQ) were utilised to measure the retention of knowledge among the participants. Results: This study demonstrated a significant lack of CPR knowledge during pre-test with the mean scores of M=8.02 despite half of the participants had prior knowledge in CPR. Nevertheless, the paired t-test revealed a significant improvement in the post-scores following the intervention at M=16.20, t(40) = -18.56, p < 0.001, and d=3.91. The one-way RM-ANOVA results showed a decline in the retention rate at the 8th week (M=13.06; p < 0.001) and an improvement at the 14th weeks (M= 5.74; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge of CPR among the student teachers following the intervention program was appropriate, but the deterioration of retention suggested that all student teachers should undergo comprehensive routine CPR courses to avoid the immediate loss of CPR knowledge and skills. The governing bodies in Malaysia should implement CPR training as part of the curriculum for teachers.

Knowledge retention after focused cardiac ultrasound training: a prospective cohort pilot study / Retenção do conhecimento após treinamento de ultrassonografia cardíaca focada: estudo-piloto prospectivo de coorte

Abstract Background and objectives: Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS) has proven instrumental in guiding anesthesiologists' clinical decision-making process. Training residents to perform and interpret FoCUS is both feasible and effective. However, the degree of knowledge retention after FoCUS training remains a subject of debate. We sought to provide a description of our 4-week FoCUS curriculum, and to assess the knowledge retention among anesthesia residents at 6 months after FoCUS rotation. Methods: A prospective analysis involving eleven senior anesthesia residents was carried out. At end of FoCUS Rotation (EOR) participants completed a questionnaire (evaluating the number of scans completed and residents' self-rated knowledge and comfort level with FoCUS), and a multiple-choice FoCUS exam comprised of written- and video-based questions. Six months later, participants completed a follow-up questionnaire and a similar exam. Self-rated knowledge and exam scores were compared at EOR and after 6 months. Spearman correlations were conducted to test the relationship between number of scans completed and exam scores, perceived knowledge and exam scores, and number of scans and perceived knowledge. Results: Mean exam scores (out of 50) were 44.1 at EOR and 43 at the 6-month follow-up. Residents had significantly higher perceived knowledge (out of 10) at EOR (8.0) than at the 6-month follow-up (5.5), p = 0.003. At the EOR, all trainees felt comfortable using FoCUS, and at 6 months 10/11 still felt comfortable. All the trainees had used FoCUS in their clinical practice after EOR, and the most cited reason for not using FoCUS more frequently was the lack of perceived clinical need. A strong and statistically significant (rho = 0.804, p = 0.005) correlation between number of scans completed during the FoCUS rotation and 6-month follow-up perceived knowledge was observed. Conclusion: Four weeks of intensive FoCUS training results in adequate knowledge acquisition and 6-month knowledge retention.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: A ultrassonografia cardíaca no local de atendimento (USCLA) provou ser importante para orientar o processo de tomada de decisão clínica dos anestesiologistas. Treinar os residentes para fazer e interpretar uma USCLA é viável e eficaz. No entanto, o grau de retenção do conhecimento após o treinamento permanece um assunto de debate. Procuramos fornecer uma descrição do currículo de quatro semanas do treinamento de USCLA e avaliar a retenção do conhecimento entre os residentes de anestesia seis meses após a rotação em USCLA. Métodos: Uma análise prospectiva foi realizada com 11 residentes seniores de anestesia. Ao final da rotação em USCLA, os participantes preencheram um questionário (avaliando o número de exames ultrassonográficos concluídos, o conhecimento adquirido e o nível de conforto dos residentes com a USCLA) e fizeram um exame de múltipla escolha para USCLA, composto por perguntas escritas e baseadas em vídeo. Seis meses depois, os participantes preencheram um questionário de acompanhamento e um exame similar. A autoavaliação do conhecimento e os escores do exame foram comparados no final da rotação e após seis meses. Correlações de Spearman foram usadas para testar a relação entre o número de exames concluídos e os escores dos exames, o conhecimento percebido, os escores dos exames, o número de exames e o conhecimento percebido. Resultados: Os escores médios dos exames (50) foram: 44,1 no final da rotação e 43 após seis meses. Os residentes tiveram conhecimento percebido significativamente maior (10) no final da rotação (8,0) que após seis meses (5,5), p = 0,003. No final da rotação, todos os residentes se sentiram confortáveis usando o aparelho de USCLA e, aos seis meses, 10/11 ainda se sentiam confortáveis. Todos os residentes haviam usado o USCLA em sua prática clínica após o final da rotação e a razão mais citada para não usar o USCLA com mais frequência foi a falta de necessidade clínica percebida. Uma correlação forte e estatisticamente significativa (rho = 0,804, p = 0,005) foi observada entre o número de exames realizados durante a rotação em USCLA e o conhecimento percebido em seis meses de seguimento. Conclusão: Quatro semanas de treinamento intensivo de USCLA resultaram em aquisição e retenção adequadas do conhecimento por seis meses.

Age, Gender and School Class and Retention of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Knowledge among Secondary School Students in Nigeria.

Background/Aim of Study: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important element in the “chain of survival” for the treatment of victims of cardiac arrest. Bystander CPR is a strong predictor of long term survival and bystanders with previous CPR training are more likely to perform CPR. This study aimed at assessing the CPR knowledge retention six weeks after the initial training, as well as the influence of age, gender and school class on CPR knowledge. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study design was used. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt between October and December, 2012. Methodology: A group of students selected from different schools had pre-training, training programme, post-training and retest assessments of their CPR knowledge. Modified AHA form was used in data collation. Video-tapes, songs, power points lectures and hands-on using manikin were employed during the teaching. Results: The students significantly retained CPR knowledge six weeks after training (P < 0.05), while age, gender and school class did not have any significant influence on CPR knowledge (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The Nigerian students can serve as a reliable target in increasing the number of bystanders for positive public health impact, and their age, gender and school class might not matter in their CPR knowledge acquisition and retention.

Which Model is the Best Predictor of Learning Achievement: Raw Score, Relative Growth or Knowledge Retention Score.

Objective: To verify the student learning performance using the raw score, relative growth score and knowledge retention score. Methods: Thirty-two nurse anesthetist students in academic years 2011-12, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, volunteered to participate. After pretest, they studied the designated subject via a website. After 3 weeks, the system was locked and students underwent the post-test. The final1 and final2 test were held in a classroom without prior notice. The post and final1 test as well as the final1 and final2 test took place exactly 4 weeks apart. The difference scores between pre and post-test, pre and final1 test, as well as pre and final2 test were calculated for relative growth score G1, G2 and G3 respectively. Thus the differences between G1 and G2 as well as G1 and G3 were determined as knowledge retention score R1 and R2 respectively. Results: The post, final1 and final2 test scores were significantly higher than the pretest one significantly. However, the post, final1 and final2 test scores showed no statistical difference. Though G2 and G3 appeared to decrease as compared to G1, they were not significant. The R2 showed higher than R1 without significant difference; however, they showed a strong correlation to each other (r = .69) Conclusion: The knowledge retention score was the best prediction on academic gains.