Twelve tips to organise a mock OSCE.

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is central to assessing clinical competence in undergraduate and postgraduate exams for medical and allied healthcare professions. A mock OSCE on the other hand is a simulation of the OSCE and a unique learning experience for the examinee. They benefit in a variety of ways; from enhancing their time management skills to receiving feedback that can improve their clinical skills. Unfortunately, opportunities to participate in simulated OSCEs remain limited. Reasons include difficulty in fulfilling organisational requirements and equipment-related costs. Mock OSCEs can be set up by undergraduate students or junior trainees for peers, without senior supervision or direct guidance. This article will discuss 12 tips regarding the arrangement of mock OSCEs to guide organisers, including accessing resources and establishing the content of the exam.

The SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy Among the General Population: A Large Cross-Sectional Study From Kuwait.

Although the approved COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective, multiple beliefs and misconceptions still exist influencing the vaccine uptake rates around the world. The multifaceted complex phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy could jeopardize the efforts to overcome this pandemic. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence and examine the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in Kuwait. This is a web-based cross-sectional study conducted in Kuwait from March 2021 until April 2021, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our questionnaire examined basic demographic information, attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccines as well as reasons for and against accepting the vaccine. Out of the 2345 responders, the majority are fully convinced to take the vaccine (83%) and the rate of vaccine hesitancy is 17%. Vaccine hesitancy is higher among non-healthcare workers, those previously positive for the COVID-19 virus, and those against vaccines in general. Vaccine hesitancy could jeopardize the efforts to overcome this pandemic; therefore, intensifying nationwide education and dismissal of falsified information is an essential step towards addressing vaccine hesitancy.

The predictors of depression and burnout among surgical residents: A cross-sectional study from Kuwait.

BACKGROUND: Surgical residency often poses a challenge to residents, with long working hours and a stressful work environment. Surgical residents are at an increased risk of burnout and depression. Such mental health burdens could go so far as to affect treatment outcomes. AIM: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for depression and burnout among residents across surgical specialties in Kuwait. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was sent to the residents enrolled to the surgical residency programs in Kuwait, from the period of January 2020-February 2020. Variables collected included; age, gender, marital status, smoking history, exercise, specialty, year of training, on-call frequency, assessment of burnout (using the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI)) and assessment of depressive symptoms (using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score). RESULTS: A total of 85 surgical residents between the age of 20 and 40 years responded. Most (64.7%) were male and 35.3% female. More than half were married (51.8%) and 41.2% were single. The majority of the residents were in general surgery (43.5%), with the least being in otolaryngology (7.1%) and neurosurgery (5.9%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 55.3%, and 51.8% had a high overall burnout score. CONCLUSION: Addressing burnout at all stages during residency training is paramount in improving standard of care as well as increasing the wellness of residents.

The psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures: Experience from 4000 participants.

BACKGROUND: In February 2020 the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in Kuwait. Inevitably as many countries worldwide, the general public were negatively affected by the pandemic. Unemployment, uncertainty, distress, increasing deaths, lockdown measures all of which are potential burdens on mental health. AIM: To assess the impact of COVID19 outbreak on mental health in Kuwait, and to explore the potential influencing risk factors. METHODS: We conducted an online questionnaire-based study in Kuwait between 25th May 2020 to 30th May 2020. Questions were based on demographics, lifestyle during outbreak, depression and anxiety assessment. Total PHQ9 and GAD7 scores were calculated for each responder. RESULTS: We had 4132 responders. Most were females (69.31%), married (59.37%), between the age of 21-30 (23.84%) and non-smokers (81.46%). Only (7.96%) had a positive past psychiatric history, (32.04%) had a past history of a chronic medical disease. During the outbreak most of the responders lost their jobs (39.21%) and only (12.83%) were attending work regularly, only (6.82%) worked in the healthcare sector. 59.27% report increased social media use compared to before the lockdown. When asked about their daily time spent following COVID19-related news, most (37.8%) spend more than 2 hours and (7.74%) spend more than 4 hours. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was (30.13%) and the prevalence of anxiety symptoms was (25.28%). LIMITATIONS: In the cross-sectional nature of the study. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a burden on mental health. Psychological support and mental health awareness should be implemented and made accessible to all individuals during pandemics.

Defining COVID-19 as a Disaster Helps Guide Public Mental Health Policy.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a devastating chapter in history. The consequences of the pandemic unfold daily and they extend beyond physical health. Current research suggests that it is a public mental health crisis. With regard to the physical effects of COVID-19, policy-makers have drawn from past experiences, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, to craft unique responses. A similar approach must be taken to address the mental health effects of the pandemic. Because COVID-19 can fit the definitions of a mental health disaster, it can be addressed using the principles of disaster mental health management. This letter to the editor presents arguments for defining COVID-19 as a mental health disaster, the challenges facing policy-makers in addressing it as such, and calls upon researchers to fill this gap in the literature.

Benefits of Neurohormonal Therapy in Patients With Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have dramatically improved short-term outcomes among patients with advanced heart failure. While neurohormonal blockade (NHB) is the cornerstone of treatment for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, its effect after LVAD placement has not been established. We reviewed medical records of 307 patients who underwent primary LVAD implantation from January 2006 to September 2015 at two institutions in the United States. Patients were followed for at least 2 years post-LVAD implantation or until explantation, heart transplantation, or death. Cox regression analysis stratifying on center was used to assess associations with mortality. Neurohormonal blockade use was treated as a time-dependent predictor. Stepwise selection indicated treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEIs/ARBs) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.53 [0.30-0.95], p = 0.03), age at the time of implantation (HR = 1.28 [1.05-1.56] per decade, p = 0.02), length of stay postimplantation (HR = 1.16 [1.11-1.21] per week, p < 0.01) and INTERMACS profile of 1 or 2 (HR = 1.86 [1.17-2.97], p < 0.01) were independent predictors of mortality. In this large, retrospective study, treatment with ACEIs or ARBs was an independent factor associated with decreased mortality post-LVAD placement.