Choice of Speciality among Medical Students at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, St. Augustine, UWI, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

The School of Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies (FMS, UWI) graduates over 200 physicians yearly. Shortage of specialists exists; attributed by some, to the lack of opportunities. Challenges faced regarding medical specialization in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) are difficulties meeting the requirements of the available specialty programmes, lack of residency post and training in certain fields (1). Medical school is an opportune time to select a field as experience as a student and progression through the various years of medical school can influence choice (2,3). METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted by convenience sampling on 1278 medical students at the FMS, UWI using an online questionnaire. The distribution of specialist practitioners was abstracted from the online register of The Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago.

Perception of a healthy diet: a survey among fourth form students in Trinidad [abstract]

The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of students with the correct perception of a healthy diet and whether perception varied with gender, type and geographic location of schools, religion, ethnicity, family history of chronic disease and exposure to nutritional information. A cross-sectional survey of 795 randomly chosen 4th form students, from randomly chosen secondary schools throughout Trinidad, was conducted over two weeks. Students who passed all six sections of a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire, with at least 50 percent correct responses in each section, were deemed to have the correct perception of a healthy diet. One hundred and sixty-five (21 percent) students had the correct perception of a healthy diet and 102 (23.9 percent) females vs 63 (17.7 percent males passed (p= 0.036). A significantly higher proportion (p= 0.008) of government-assissted school students (30.8 percent) passed, compared with students from Government schools (19.6 percent). Concerning "Healthy Choices", 87.3 percent of students passed whereas the "Dietary Beliefs" section had the lowest pass rate of 30.8 percent. Of the 676 students who reported being exposed to nutritional information, 153 (22.6 percent) had the correct perception. However, 11.3 percent of the students who reported no previous exposure to such information passed (p= 0.008). Religion, ethnicity and family history of chronic disease had no significant influence on students' perception. In conclusion, it was found that the majority of students sampled had an incorrect perception of a healthy diet. Perception varied with gender, exposure to nutritional information, type and geographic location of school attended. (AU)

Perception of a healthy diet (PHD): a survey among fourth form secondary school students in Trinidad

OBJECTIVES: To determine the percentage of students with the correct perception of a healthy diet and to ascertain determinants of students' perceptions. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 795 randomly chosen secondary schools throughout Trinidad was conducted over two weeks. Students who completed all six sections of a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire with at least 50 percent correct response in each section were deemed to have the correct perception of a healthy diet. RESULTS: 165 (21.1 percent) students had the correct perception of a healthy diet. More females (102,23.9 percent) than males (63, 17.79 percent; p=0.036) gave correct responses. A significantly higher proportion of students from Government schools (30.8 percent vs 19.6 percent, p=0.008). Concerning "Healthy Choices", 87.3 percent of students passed whereas the "Dietary Beliefs" section had the lowest pass rate of 30.8 percent. Of the 676 students who reported being exposed to nutritional information, 153 (22.64 percent) had the correct perception. However, 11.3 percent of the students who reported no previous exposure to such information passed (p=0.008). Religion, ethnicity and family history of chronic disease had no significant influence on students' perception. CONCLUSION: The majority of students sampled had an incorrect perception of a healthy diet. Perception varied with gender, exposure to nutritional information, type and geographic location of school attended.(Au)