Potential of Volunteering in Formal and Informal Medical Education-A Theory-Driven Cross-Sectional Study with Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Students' volunteering is an effective way to manage health crises, including pandemics. Due to the limited capacity of the healthcare system at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak, the engagement of students in volunteering services seemed invaluable. Based on different teaching-learning theories, in this survey study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of the volunteering service project launched by the Poznan University of Medical Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic as a learning opportunity for undergraduate healthcare students. The results indicate the potential of involving students in volunteering activities for educational purposes, as well as other values, including attitudes and professional identity development, which could be difficult to realize using traditional teaching methods. However, stimulating students' reflectiveness seems necessary to reach its full educational effectiveness. Medical teachers should provide students with more opportunities for volunteering and service learning and consider making these a constant element of the curriculum beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trichopsychodermatology: trichotillomania and trichophagia leading to Rapunzel syndrome.

Introduction: The Rapunzel syndrome occurs when the trichobezoar (hair ball) extends beyond the small intestine and sometimes even into the colon, producing long, tail-like hair extensions. Aim: To present cases of trichobezoars, an extremely rare human intestinal disease caused by the ingestion of hair (trichophagia). Material and methods: In this retrospective study, we assessed the medical records of 2 patients diagnosed with Rapunzel syndrome admitted to Academic Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow, Poland. Results: The first patient was a 15-year-old girl. The abdominal ultrasound examination revealed an abnormal, non-compressible structure with the approximate dimensions of 12 × 11 cm in the epigastrium, with a strong shadow obscuring the view. Gastroscopy was performed and a tumour sample was taken for histopathological examination, which confirmed the diagnosis of a trichobezoar. The patient's mother did not agree to her daughter's psychiatric treatment. The second patient was a 15-year-old girl who reported to the Emergency Room in critical condition due to dehydration and long-term emesis with symptoms of cachexia. Ileotomy with the removal of two trichobezoars with a diameter of about 5 cm and 7 cm was performed. The patient was discharged for treatment at the Mental Health Clinic for trichotillomania. Conclusions: Trichobezoars give non-specific symptoms that may imitate other diseases for example tumours. Psychotherapy is the recommended treatment and follow-up visits are important in preventing relapses.