La orientación empática en los estudiantes de medicina humana de la Universidad de San Martin de Porres / Empathetic orientation of the medical students from San Martin de Porres University

OBJETIVO: Conocer el nivel de orientación empática en los estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad San Martín de Porres. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Es una investigación observacional, transversal descriptivo, realizada entre los meses de marzo y junio del año 2010. Participaron 193 alumnos de un universo de 1920, correspondientes a los años I, II, III, IV, V y VI de la carrera de Medicina Humana de la Universidad de San Martín de Porres. Se aplicó la Escala de Empatía Médica de Jefferson (EEMJ). Para el análisis de datos se emplearon medios descriptivos de frecuencia, porcentajes y desviaciones estándares. RESULTADOS: Los estudiantes de IV año obtuvieron el mayor puntaje (6,1) de orientación empática, sin embargo el I año obtuvo el menor puntaje (5,5). Las mujeres tuvieron un mayor puntaje de orientación empática que los hombres, 5,9 y 5,8 respectivamente. El grupo etario con mayor puntaje (5,9) de orientación empática fue el grupo de 25-28 años. CONCLUSIONES:Los alumnos que están en los niveles intermedios de la carrera de medicina humana (III y IV año de medicina), las mujeres y el grupo etario de 25 û 28 años obtuvieron mayores puntuaciones en la Escala de Empatía Médica de Jefferson...

OBJECTIVE: To know the empathetic orientation of the medical students from San Martin de Porres University. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out between the months on March and June, 2010. 193 out of 1920 students participated, who belonged to the levels I, II, II, IV, V and VI. The Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) was applied. For the data analysis used descriptive means of frequency, percentages and standard deviations. RESULTS: The Fourth yearÆs students obtained the highest score (6,1) in the empathic guidance, however the first yearÆs students had the lowest score (5,5). Women had a higher score than men empathetic orientation, 5,9 and 5,8 respectively. The age group with the highest score (5,9) empathic orientation was the group of 25-28 years. CONCLUSIONS: The students who are level intermediate of human medicine carrier (III and IV levels of medicine), the female and the group of 25 to 28 years had the highest score in The Jefferson Scale Physician Empathy.

Newborn screening in Singapore.

Neonatal screening in Singapore for G6PD deficiency started in 1965. Screening for congenital hypothyroidism started in 1981 as a pilot research program and by 1990, it became nationwide. Screening for congenital hypothyroidism is by the measurement of TSH in the cord serum with recall of those exceeding the 99th percentile, by about 3-4 days of life. Treatment is usually started within a week of life. Over 400,000 newborns have been screened and the screening rate has been about 99.95%. The incidence rate is about 1 in 3,000. G6PD activity in the cord blood is measured using semi-quantitative rapid screening tests. Those identified are physically protected from environmental triggers by keeping them in hospital for a variable period of time. Parents are counseled. Data obtained from 22,830 newborns from the National University Hospital revealed incidence rates of 1.62% in all newborns, 3.15% in males and 0.11% in females. The Chinese and Malay males had a higher (3.94% and 2.95%) incidence respectively when compared to the Indian males with (0.66% incidence). The application of the preventive measures has resulted in no report of kernicterus in the last 20 years. Our efforts are now focused on minimizing the recall rate in the case of hypothyroidism screening, reducing the period of stay in hospital in those with G6PD deficiency and considering the introduction of a PKU screening program in Singapore.

Mass newborn screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Singapore.

Recognition of kernicterus as a significant contributor to newborn mortality and morbidity in G6PD deficient babies and the ease with which G6PD deficiency could be detected and kernicterus prevented by avoidance of triggers, led to the establishment of mass newborn screening for G6PD deficiency in 1965. G6PD deficient newborns are identified within a day of birth by measuring the enzyme activity in cord blood. They are then physically protected from triggers by keeping them in the hospital for the first 2 weeks of life after their parents are counseled. Enzyme activity is measured using Wong's in-house modification of the Bernstein's technique or the BM G6PD Deficiency Screening test based on the Beutler assay. Close to 1.6 million newborns, representing practically 100% of all births have been screened. Analysis of data from 22,830 newborns at the National University Hospital reveals an incidence of 1.62% in all newborns. 3.15% in males and and 0.11% in females. A distinct racial variation in the incidence of deficiency was observed in males: Chinese 3.94%, Malays 2.95% and Indians 0.66%. Intermediate deficiency was most frequently identified (1.83%) in Chinese females. With the preventive measures. the incidence of kernicterus has dropped dramatically and there has been, over the last 20 years, no reported cases of kernicterus in newborns with G6PD deficiency. We are now looking at issues like comparing different assay techniques and determining a shorter period of stay in hospital. We believe that all Asians, especially Chinese babies, should be screened for G6PD deficiency, irrespective of which country the child is born.