Compulsory medical rural placements: senior student opinions of early-year experiential learning.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine senior medical student (year 3-5) opinions of their early-year (year 1-2) rural placement. DESIGN: We assessed the impact of MBBS early-year rural placements through a follow up of this cohort in their later years using a cross-sectional questionnaire. SETTING: The questionnaire was administered to year 3-5 medical students at their clinical school. PARTICIPANTS: There were 97 participants (49% response rate) in the study. Twenty-nine per cent were male and 71% were female; 44% were from a rural background and 56% were from a metropolitan background; 48% were year 3 students, 32% were year 4 students and 20% were year 5 students; and 59% of the students were, at the time, situated at a rural clinical school and 41% were at a metropolitan clinical school. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Closed-ended questions were quantified and statistically analysed. Open-ended responses were thematically analysed to determine what their experience of early-year rural placements were like. RESULTS: Seventy-nine per cent of students considered the year 1 placement length as 'about right'. Overall, most students found year 1 rural placements positive and grasped the placement aims and objectives. Most students were also pleased with year 2 rural placements, mainly due to the clinical aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students appear to prefer shorter early-year rural placements and understand the benefits and importance of such placements. They also have a desire for greater clinical exposure during these early-year placements.

Urinary iodine deficiency in Gippsland pregnant women: the failure of bread fortification?

OBJECTIVE: To assess iodine status and the factors that influence iodine status among a cohort of pregnant women living in Gippsland. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study of 86 pregnant women (at ≥ 28 weeks' gestation) conducted in hospital antenatal care services and private obstetrician clinics across the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, from 13 January 2009 to 17 February 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall proportion of pregnant women with a urinary iodine concentration (UIC) > 150 µg/L; proportion of pregnant women with a UIC >150 µg/L after the mandatory iodine fortification of bread; use of supplements containing iodine; intake of foods known to be good sources of iodine; intake of bread. RESULTS: The percentage of pregnant women with UIC >150 µg/L (indicative of iodine sufficiency) was 28%. There was no statistically significant difference in UICs before and since iodine fortification of bread. The median UIC before fortification was 96 µg/L (interquartile range [IQR], 45-153 µg/L) and since fortification was 95.5 µg/L (IQR, 60-156 µg/L). The dietary intake of iodine-rich food (including bread) and the use of appropriate supplements was insufficient to meet the increased iodine requirements during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The UICs in this cohort of pregnant women are of concern, and seem unlikely to be improved by the national iodine fortification program. Pregnant women in Gippsland urgently need effective iodine education programs and encouragement to either consume iodine-rich foods or take appropriate supplements.

Increased iodine deficiency in Victoria, Australia: analysis of neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone data, 2001 to 2006.

OBJECTIVE: To use neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration data to measure the iodine status of the population of the Australian state of Victoria. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis of the results of 368,552 neonatal heel-prick blood tests for TSH concentration in Victoria in the years 2001-2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Iodine deficiency as indicated by a mean percentage of neonatal TSH concentrations > 5 mIU/L of over 3% in accordance with World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund and International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorder criteria; comparison of findings for the nine Department of Human Services health regions in Victoria. RESULTS: The mean percentage of neonatal TSH concentrations > 5 mIU/L ranged from 4.07% in 2001 to 9.65% in 2006, and this increase was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The populations of all nine Victorian health regions showed increasing iodine deficiency over the study period. Metropolitan populations had higher iodine deficiency than non-metropolitan populations, and this difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). These results are consistent with urinary iodine excretion research in Victoria. CONCLUSIONS: The high percentage of elevated TSH concentrations among newborns is of concern and requires ongoing monitoring. Neonatal TSH assay is part of routine screening in Australia, and thus offers an effective and economical method of monitoring population iodine status.