ABSTRACT
Introduction: Awareness of psychological disorders such as smartphone addiction, anxiety, and depression is a trending research area in the scientific community that has further escalated with the impact of COVID-19. In this regard, young adults and medical students are already considered to be under a high level of stress academically and culturally. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between depression, anxiety, and smartphone addiction among medical students in Jordan. Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online structured questionnaire. The survey was completed by 164 male and female medical students stratified by years one to three in the basic medical sciences. The survey consisted of items from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), in addition to two questions concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smartphone addiction. Result(s): Among the students who participated, the mean age was 18.9, with almost half (47.2%) being first-year students. The results showed no significant difference in stress, anxiety or cell phone addiction based on gender or academic year. The logistic regression model was not statistically significant regarding the covariates, except for GAD, which had an OR=1.15 (CI: 1.06 -1.25). Furthermore, SAS-SV was positively correlated with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores (r=0.42, r=0.2, p< 0.000, p=0.029, respectively). Conclusion(s): The results of the study showed a statistically significant positive correlation between smartphone addiction, depression, and anxiety. These variables were not statistically different among medical students in terms of gender and academic year.Copyright © 2023 DSR Publishers / The University of Jordan. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the major challenges faced and lessons learned during the unplanned transition to online examinations (OE) at a traditional university following the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This exploratory study involved two distinct samples (110 students and 30 instructors) drawn from a large public university and triangulated the qualitative and quantitative data to analyze how the university navigated the unplanned transition to OE. Findings: The university faced several challenges related to a lack of proper institutional infrastructure, non-familiarity of the stakeholders with OE, lack of effective communication, limited student access to technology resources because of socio-economic impediments and academic integrity issues. Practical implications: Short- and medium-term recommendations are proposed to enable continuity of teaching and learning in future emergency situations, including the establishment of technology-enabled exam centers, as well as strategies to assure instructor readiness for OE, academic integrity among students and the validity of the evaluation procedure for future OE. Originality/value: This study shows how the unplanned transition to OE in a public university exposed new challenges for conducting OE, particularly in resource challenged emerging countries, where full integration of OE was a new experience and prior knowledge of potential issues was lacking. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: With the COVID19 pandemic there has been a rise of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) cases that have similar symptoms to Kawasaki Disease Shock Syndrome (KDSS), Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) and Septic Shock (SS). To differentiate between presenting clinical symptoms, laboratory values and vasoactive requirements would aide in the proper early diagnosis of these diseases. METHOD(S): This was a single center retrospective review of MIS-C, KDSS, TS, and SS patients admitted to the PICU. Mann-Whitney U testing compared each patient population to each other using admission laboratory values, VIS, fluid resuscitation, day of illness admitted, and physical exam findings. RESULT(S): SS and TS patients presented earlier to the ICU compared to MIS-C and KDSS (2 and 2 vs 4.5 and 5, p< 0.001). TS had the highest VIS compared to MIS-C (p=0.005), KDSS (p=0.009), and SS (p=0.008). MIS-C was found to utilize the least fluid resuscitation but only found to be different between MIS-C and TS (p< 0.001). MIS-C had the lowest ejection fraction compared to KDSS (p=0.02), TS (p< 0.001), and SS (p< 0.001). MIS-C patients presented with a highest CRP (24.8 mg/dL) but only found to be different from SS (p=0.01). MIS-C appeared to have a lower WBC (11.4 TH/ uL) compared to KDSS (13.3 TH/uL, p=0.004) and TSS (14.4 TH/uL, p=0.04). KDSS was found to have a greater platelet count (249 TH/uL) compared to MIS-C (128 TH/uL, p< 0.001), TSS (169 TH/uL, p=0.003), and SS (186 TH/uL, p=0.03). TSS had the largest presenting INR (1.50) compared to KDSS (1.25, p=0.009), SS (1.25 TH/uL, p =0.04) and MIS-C (1.13 TH/uL, p< 0.001). MIS-C had a lower sodium (132mmmol/L) compared to TSS (135mmol/L, p< 0.0001) and SS (138mmol/L, p< 0.0001). Patients with KDSS were found to have oral and extremity changes compared to MIS-C (p=0.02, p=0.002). KDSS likely had a cervical lymph node on presentation compared to TSS and SS (p=0.03, p=0.02). MIS-C and KDSS were more likely to have conjunctivitis compared to TSS and SS. CONCLUSION(S): MIS-C was found to have a lower WBC, lower sodium, lower ejection fraction, and required less fluid resuscitation. TSS had the highest VIS and had the highest INR. KDSS and MIS-C had more conjunctivitis and presentation than SS and TSS. KDSS had more oral and extremity changes compared to MIS-C.
ABSTRACT
Purpose This paper aims to investigate the major challenges faced and lessons learned during the unplanned transition to online examinations (OE) at a traditional university following the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study involved two distinct samples (110 students and 30 instructors) drawn from a large public university and triangulated the qualitative and quantitative data to analyze how the university navigated the unplanned transition to OE. Findings The university faced several challenges related to a lack of proper institutional infrastructure, non-familiarity of the stakeholders with OE, lack of effective communication, limited student access to technology resources because of socio-economic impediments and academic integrity issues. Practical implications Short- and medium-term recommendations are proposed to enable continuity of teaching and learning in future emergency situations, including the establishment of technology-enabled exam centers, as well as strategies to assure instructor readiness for OE, academic integrity among students and the validity of the evaluation procedure for future OE. Originality/value This study shows how the unplanned transition to OE in a public university exposed new challenges for conducting OE, particularly in resource challenged emerging countries, where full integration of OE was a new experience and prior knowledge of potential issues was lacking.