Three changes to reduce the loss of dual degree trainees from OMFS national specialty selection in the UK: evidence based proposals.

The training pathway for oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) has remained relatively stable for around 30 years. Circumstances surrounding the training pathway have changed including the priorities of individuals considering entering OMFS training. Run-through Specialty Training (ST1) OMFS posts (which include core surgical training) are oversubscribed while direct entry to Specialty Training (ST3) OMFS specialty recruitment rounds have unfilled posts, including places declined by appointable candidates. As part of a project to refine and improve OMFS recruitment and retention, data drawn from the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) and the OMFS National Selection administering Deanery, Health Education England South West were scrutinised. Numbers of students starting second undergraduate degrees (medicine or dentistry) to pursue an OMFS career are increasing. Of a total of 43 candidates deemed appointable at OMFS ST1 selection but not offered an available post, 16 did not subsequently apply for ST3 selection. In the period studied (2015-20), of a total of 116 unfilled ST3 posts, 39 remained vacant because appointable candidates declined the available posts (33%). Appropriate changes to the current national selection processes could help address the perceived OMFS ST recruitment problems. By increasing the number of available ST1 posts, widening the window during which appointable candidates can continue into training and increasing prior experience recognition (including creating benchmarking processes prior to ST). These three clear, fair and transparent changes could reduce the current levels of attrition.

A rare case of multiple right heart myxomas.

Primary tumours of the heart are rare. Myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumours with an estimated incidence of 0.5 per million population per year. Myxomas are most commonly found in left atrium and are solitary in more than 90% cases. Familial myxomas are rarer and tend to be multiple. We report a rare case of multiple myxomas in the right heart which occurred sporadically, presenting with an episode of pre-syncope.

Screening for asthma and associated risk factors among urban school boys in Abha city.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to measure the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms among male school children in Abha City and to determine some of the possible risk factors influencing its occurrence. METHODS: A randomly selected sample of 4300 male school children aged 7 to 15 years in Abha were subjected to a previously validated questionnaire for asthma to be completed by parents. Asthma was identified based on the Rush Medical College and International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children questionnaire. Information of asthma family history, asthma related symptoms, and other atopic conditions, smokers in the family, pets ownership and monthly family income were collected. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of asthma was 9% (95% Confidence Interval: 7.73%-9.67%). Doctor-diagnosed asthma was reported by 4%, exercise-induced asthma by 4% and wheeze in the past year by 8%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that positive family history of atopic condition (Odds Ratio=437.11, P<0.001), pets ownership (Odds Ratio=2.91, p<0.001), and lower monthly family income (Odds Ratio=2.00, P<0.02) were significant factors influencing the development of asthma. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the screening methodology adopted in this study could be applied for all children at the beginning of the school year, being simple and non-invasive measure. The prevalence of asthma in school children in Abha is greater than that reported from most developing countries and closer to the rates reported in developed countries. Avoidance of pets ownership at home, improving social class and premarital counselling for atopic persons are all recommended.