Exploring the Attitudes and Perceptions of Master of Medical Education Graduates Towards Research Publication in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Evidence is lacking to identify what encourages students to conduct research and publish. This study aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators of research and publications from Master of Medical Education student research projects as 15-20% have published their research while 75-80% did not. Methods: This study used qualitative in-depth interviews with 17 graduates from the previous 13 batches of the Master of Medical Education program, Saudi Arabia. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants by face to face and Zoom, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were conducted in English, and the recordings were transcribed verbatim. Next, the interview text was read multiple times to familiarize with the data for thematic analysis, where the text was coded inductively. Themes were generated by identifying patterns in the data and merging similar codes. The data were interpreted within the themes and supported with the most relevant quotations. Results: We identified four distinct but interrelated themes and the first theme, the importance and advantages of conducting research and its publication, explains the participants need to conduct research and publish it to survive and progress in the academic environment. In the second theme, positive experiences of conducting research and its publication, we identify what participants' positive experiences of the research process entail. In the third theme, challenges to conducting research and its publication, we explore the participants' opinions on the barriers to their efforts to undertake and publish their research. In the last theme, facilitators for conducting research and its publication, we summarize various facilitating factors that participants described as necessary to complete the research process successfully to peer-reviewed publication. Conclusion: Masters' student researchers, especially those with demanding projects, need to be supported by providing them with critical supervision, an enabling environment, technical support, and guidance at each step of the research process.

Application of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A Follow-Up Study.

This is a follow-up study to our previous analysis of thyroid aspirates utilizing the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (BSRTC). The same study design was utilized for 2 years comparing 2 periods. A total of 251 thyroid aspirates from 218 patients were reviewed and deemed comparable to the previous cohort. The variance and consequently the number of interpretations dropped from 26 to 11 with a statistically significant 58% reduction and more consistency. Our unsatisfactory rate dropped from 22 to 10% (reduction of 55%). The risk of malignancy in this follow-up study showed a similar trend: an increase in risk with each step up in the BSRTC categories starting from the 'nondiagnostic' and up to 'malignant'. Few of our benign cases ended up with resection. We noticed sensitivity to the word 'follicular' in this benign category; therefore we propose a modification of the current BSRTC system by omitting the word 'follicular' from the benign category. We strongly believe that this modification harbors no serious damage to the intentions of BSRTC. This follow-up study has shown that the previous awareness campaign about the implementation has worked and can be considered a valid performance improvement program.

Epstein-Barr virus associated smooth muscle tumors. Synchronous liver and lung involvement.

Epstein-Barr virus associated smooth muscle tumors (EBV-SMT) are rare neoplasms that can occur in various anatomical locations. They mainly affect immunocompromised patients, and their clinical presentation is variable depending on size and organ involvement. They can pose diagnostic challenges, therefore if they are not considered in the differential diagnosis, they can be definitely misdiagnosed. Synchronous and multifocal involvement has been reported. Although malignant behavior maybe rarely seen; most behave in a benign fashion with favorable clinical outcome. We herein report an unusual case of synchronous EBV-SMT that occurred in the lung and liver in a 44-year-old female patient 7 years after renal transplantation. Both lesions were histologically examined revealing benign appearing spindle cell neoplasm that was positive on immunohistochemical staining for smooth muscle actin, desmin, and caldesmon with strong nuclear staining for EBV RNA by in situ hybridization. A brief pertinent literature review and discussion of EBV-SMT pathogenesis is offered.