Peer teaching experience of the first year medical students from turkey

To document peer teaching activity performed by first-year medical students and their views on the teaching activity. Survey. Medical Education Department, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey, in the 2012 - 2013 academic year. Volunteer students were selected for peer teaching model by an academician from the Medical Education Department. Students were taught subjects selected from classes such as biochemistry and microbiology in the same way as the academicians do. Following each class activity, the teaching student was assessed by the other students on a 5-point rating scale. Written and verbal feedback was also obtained from both teaching students and participated students. Verbal feedbacks were noted by a faculty member and similar opinions were categorized. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 statistical program. Eleven students took part in the program. Feedback was received from students 171 times. The mean number of students participated was 24.4 +/- 14.3 in each program. Statistical analysis revealed that mean value for teaching materials, peer instructors and teaching environment were 4.62 +/- 0.49, 4.63 +/- 0.47 and 3.88 +/- 1. 27 respectively. Peer teaching method is a pretty good way of teaching for medical students. It is a practicable technique that can be used in medical training. Taking part in this program as a lecturer, student increased students' self-confidence in the learning and teaching activities. Quite positive feedbacks were received

Self-assessment through videotaping compared with peer and trainer feedback

To assess and compare three different types of feedback for presentation skills, self, peer and trainer feedback. Cross-sectional study. Faculty of Medicine at Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey, from March 2012 to December 2012. Participants were faculty members and instructor nurses. Each participant gave a 10-minute presentation, which was rated by peers, course trainers and the presenter himself/herself using a thirteen-item questionnaire [designed as a 5-point Likert scale]. Peers and trainers conducted the assessment during the presentation while the self-assessment was done later by watching a video recording of the presentation. Comparison of the points between the groups was made using the two-way ANOVA. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the mean scores of self-assessment, peer and trainer assessment. Ten faculty members, 27 instructor nurses and 4 trainers participated in the study. A total of 775 feedback reports were collected for 37 participants. There was no significant difference between the feedback scores of the evaluators as well as the occupation groups [p > 0.05]. There was a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between trainer and peer [r = 0.73, p < 0.001]. Consequently, there were no differences in the evaluations of presentation skills between different stakeholders. Trainers should use the video recording method to self-evaluate their presentation skills, and they should invite their peers from time to time to improve their own personal development by using peer review methods

Perceived self-efficacy and academic performance of medical students at Ataturk university, Turkey

To determine the association of perceived self-efficacy with academic performance of pre-clinical medical students. A cross-sectional analytical study. Medical Education Department, Ataturk University, Turkey, from March to May 2012. Participating students were members of the first to third year medical students class considered to be preclinical years at Ataturk University. A validated and reliable questionnaire consisted of 10 questions applied to assess the general self-efficacy of the medical students in pre-clinical years and evaluate whether their self-efficacy has relation to their academic performance. Responses and studied variables were compared using ANOVA and Pearson correlation test as applicable. The mean scores of three consecutive examinations were compared with self-efficacy mean scores of three classes. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used for assessment of self-efficacy. There was no correlation found in between mean examination scores and self-efficacy mean scores in first year [r = -0.11, p = 0.276], second year [r = 0.20, p = 0.180], and third year [r = -0.040, p = 0.749]. However, comparison of mean scores between male and female demonstrated significant difference [p = 0.001] and males dominant in self-efficacy scores. The results illustrate in pre-clinical years at medical schools the general self-efficacy does not play any role in their performance

effects of serum cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels on gallstone cholesterol concentration

Gallbladder stones are common in the Western world, and 70% to 80% of gallstones are cholesterol stones. This study investigates the effects of serum cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels on gallstone cholesterol concentration. The gallstones of 75 patients with cholelithiasis were examined using spectrophotometry. High serum cholesterol and LDL levels were associated with high cholesterol stone rates [86.7% vs. 40.0%, P < 0.001; 75.0% vs. 48.9%, P < 0.05, respectively]. Similarly, high serum cholesterol and LDL levels were correlated with high gallbladder stone cholesterol concentrations [63.6% vs. 44.4%, P < 0.001; 62.3% vs. 46.0%, P < 0.001, respectively]. In contrast, low serum HDL levels do not seem to affect the occurrence of gallbladder cholesterol stones [60.0% vs. 58.3%, respectively, P > 0.05] or gallbladder stone cholesterol concentrations [50.8% vs. 52.4%, respectively, P > 0.05]. The relationship between cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels and cholesterol gallstone formation is multifactorial and complex and is also dependent on other individual properties

An objective structured biostatistics examination: a pilot study based on computer-assisted evaluation for undergraduates / 보건의료교육평가

We designed and evaluated an objective structured biostatistics examination (OSBE) on a trial basis to determine whether it was feasible for formative or summative assessment. At Ataturk University, we have a seminar system for curriculum for every cohort of all five years undergraduate education. Each seminar consists of an integrated system for different subjects, every year three to six seminars that meet for six to eight weeks, and at the end of each seminar term we conduct an examination as a formative assessment. In 2010, 201 students took the OSBE, and in 2011, 211 students took the same examination at the end of a seminar that had biostatistics as one module. The examination was conducted in four groups and we examined two groups together. Each group had to complete 5 stations in each row therefore we had two parallel lines with different instructions to be followed, thus we simultaneously examined 10 students in these two parallel lines. The students were invited after the examination to receive feedback from the examiners and provide their reflections. There was a significant (P=0.004) difference between male and female scores in the 2010 students, but no gender difference was found in 2011. The comparison among the parallel lines and among the four groups showed that two groups, A and B, did not show a significant difference (P>0.05) in either class. Nonetheless, among the four groups, there was a significant difference in both 2010 (P=0.001) and 2011 (P=0.001). The inter-rater reliability coefficient was 0.60. Overall, the students were satisfied with the testing method; however, they felt some stress. The overall experience of the OSBE was useful in terms of learning, as well as for assessment.

Factors affecting the B-type natriuretic peptide levels in stroke patients

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aims to evaluate the relationship between increased B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in stroke patients and clinical parameters such as age, sex, medical history, blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This is a prospective study of 123 stroke patients at the Emergency Department. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the NIHSS scores. The analysis of the mean difference between continuous variables and plasma BNP levels was assessed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis. Spearman correlation analysis was performed for BNP and other clinical parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The BNP levels of patients who had a medical history of hyperlipidaemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were significantly higher than in patients without these diseases. Patients who had atrial fibrillation (AF) in their electrocardiography had significantly higher BNP levels than patients with sinus rhythm. A positive correlation was found between plasma BNP levels with age, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and NIHSS and a negative correlation was found between plasma BNP levels and GCS. There was a significant difference between the BNP levels of NIHSS groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We consider that plasma BNP levels could help us in interpreting the general clinical severity, functional capacity and clinical progress of stroke patients at the time of admission in the Emergency Department. In evaluating the high BNP levels in stroke patients, we must keep in mind that age, AF, BUN and medical history can affect the BNP levels.</p>

Preventive Effects of Intracisternal Alphatochopherol on Cerebral Vasospasm in Experimental Subarachnoid Hamorrhage

Vasospasm is an important cause of morbidity and/or mortality with a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The roles of lipid peroxidation in a vasospasm caused by a SAH remain to be investigated. The effect of an intracisternal administration of alphatochopherol on a cerebral vasospasm was investigated in an experimental model. The authors assessed whether the administration of alphatochopherol reduced the vasospasm. By means of an intracisternal blood injection model, a SAH was induced in 30 rats, which were randomly divided into three groups, as follows: group I (G1), without a SAH and drug, group II (G2), a SAH alone, group III (G3), a SAH and alphatochopherol. Following the withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a fresh unheparinized arterial blood was injected into the cisterna magna to induce a SAH. In G3, 20 U (0.4ml) alphatochopherol was intracisternally injected forty-five hours after induction of the SAH. All rats were sacrificed 72 hours after the induction. The basilar artery, with surrounding tissue, was removed from the cranium. The cross-sectional diameter of the lumen and vessel wall of the rat basilar artery was assessed from a planimetric analysis, and changes compared with G1 and G2. The reduction in the luminal cross-sectional diameter of the vessels exposed to subarachnoid blood was found to be 29.01 % (p=0.001). The group treated with alphatochopherol had a 9% reduction (p=0.004). The role of lipid peroxidation on a vasospasm caused by SAH is well known to be critical. Data from the present study indicated that antioxidant therapy, with topical alphatochopherol, may be promising on a vasospasm caused by a SAH.