The validity of the self-directed learning readiness instrument with the academic achievement among the Saudi medical students

Background: Self-directed learning (SDL) is very crucial for continuous professional development for all health-care professionals. Objectives: This study aims to measure the SDL readiness of the first clinical year medical students and its relation with their academic achievement. In addition, to examine the reliability and validity of SDL rating scales. Materials and Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study involving the 3rd year medical students at a Saudi medical school. The level of SDL readiness was measured by a validated Fisher’s scale which includes three subscales: Self-control (SC), self-management (SM), and desire for learning (DL), and student’s academic achievement by their grade point average (GPA). The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: High SDL scores were found to have a positive relationship with students’ academic achievement. The overall mean score of Fisher’s scale was 156.73 ± 15.85. The mean score of SC was 61.2 ± 6.4 followed by the DL 48.4 ± 5.6 and SM skills 47.1 ± 6.6. Factor analysis revealed that all three-factor models and individual subscales have an average to poor fit. Conclusion: The study results showed that the high SDL readiness score is directly proportional to students’ academic achievement. The students were highly self-directed learners, but the study could not confirm that the current SDL model had a strong level of reliability and validity when tested with undergraduate level medical student’s achievement by the GPA. Although the study confirmed that our students are self-directed learners, their time management skills need to be improved.

The Effect Of Grasping The Steering Wheel While Positioning The Shoulder Closer To The Body

@#Discomfort and pain issue at the body part are common complaints reported by car drivers. It is due to driving task require physical demands and need to maintain and adapt several postures in a constrained space while controlling the car. Hence, this study aims to determine the pattern of shoulder activation muscle consisting of the Trapezius muscle in two different driving posture. Respondents were required to grasp the steering wheel at 8 and 4 hand position. The Surface Electromyography was used to get the reading for left muscle’s Trapezius Descendent (TD) at two different positions; i) closest distant from steering wheel and ii) far distant from the steering wheel. Then, Temporal Analysis was used to evaluate the pattern of the driving action. From the experiment, it shows the different value of muscle activation occurred while driving according to turning action. The far seated position depicted greater activation on driving action compared to the closer seated to the steering wheel. In conclusion, the driving posture effects the activation of shoulder and arm’s muscles as early as after 20 seconds of driving activity. Hence, choosing the correct driving posture allowed a comfortable driving environment for the driver.

Measuring Pressure Interface Of Local Car Seats Under Static And Dynamic Circumstances: A Comparative Study

@# Measuring discomfort towardthe car seat is important as the act of driving requires a driver to remain at the car seat while controlling the car. The seat condition, including sitting position as well as the driver’s posture can lead to discomfort and fatigue. The objective of this study is to investigate a driver’s pressure distribution in static and dynamic circumstances for two types of cars; the sedan and compact car. This study involved both subjective and objective evaluations of 12 respondents. For the subjective evaluation, the Visual Analog Scales (VAS) were used to obtain respondents' perception of discomfort. For the objective evaluation, pressure distribution readings of the seat interface were obtained using piezo capacitive sensors. The findings showed that the highest pressure was recorded for the compact car. Furthermore, the static circumstance showed greater pressure compared to the dynamic state. Subjective evaluation indicated that the right buttocks and the lower back (lumbar)experience the highest discomfort for both types of seats.The type of seat found to contribute to the value of different pressure. Thus, it can be concluded that appropriate seat selection can reduce pressure as well as discomfort.

Deltoid Anterior Contraction In Maneuvering The Steering Wheel

@#While driving, a driver is required to control the steering wheel to change direction. The driver’s muscles of the upper limbs and shoulders are involved in such a task. Therefore, an assessment of the driver’s physiology according to certain condition is necessary to improve driving comfort and safety. This study aims to investigate the driver’s Deltoid Anterior (DA) muscle activity while operating the steering wheel. Eleven test subjects were recruited for an experiment using a car simulator. They were required to remain in the car seat and perform the task of steering the wheel. Surface electromyography (SEMG) was used to record each subject’s muscle contraction while turning the steering wheel to the right and left by several degrees. According to the findings, 45 degrees turning recorded the highest Root mean Square (RMS) value for DA. In addition, DA muscle activation increased with more degrees turning.

Motorcycle Deliveryman’s Perceptions On Riding Conditions

Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable when compared to large vehicles on the road. This study was conducted to gather feedbacks from motorcycle deliveryman regarding their riding conditions. A self-rated questionnaire was used to determine prevalence of riding symptom and its association with Whole Body Vibration and other associated factors among motorcycle deliveryman in Malaysia. A set of questionnaire was developed, pilot tested for its reliability and validity and distributed to 100 respondents. An interview was conducted after gathering the data from the respondents through the questionnaire. Survey findings show majority of the respondents preferred to ride according to the standard riding posture. Large majority of them agreed handlebar and foot peg/rest exposed them directly to the vibration. In addition, majority of them felt discomfort at the lower back and felt fatigue after long hours of riding. These findings are in-line with past studies regarding the road users.