Students' perspectives on the educational environment, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Trinidad.

The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was administered to 70 final-year medical students and 36 first-year medical interns (pre-registration house officers). The overall total mean DREEM scores for the five subscales-namely, students' perceptions of the atmosphere, students' perceptions of learning, students' social self-perceptions, students'perceptions of teachers and students' academic self-perceptions-was 109.9 and the total mean scores for the subgroups-male students, male interns, female students and female interns-were 103.39, 111.82, 111.33 and 113.15, respectively. The lowest scores were assigned to students' social self-perceptions and students' perceptions of the atmosphere. All of the participants except the male interns recorded the highest scores for the subscale academic self-perceptions.

An audit of perinatal mortality

Perinatal mortality rates are considered in the western world to be a quantitative barometer of maternity care. This 6-year prospective perinatal audit was conducted at a tertiary hospital in order to determine foetal out-come, and the common causes of foetal and early neonatal deaths. Of a total of 30,987 births, there were 469 stillbirths and 391 early neonatal deaths, giving a perinatal mortality rate of 27.7 per 1000 total births. The leading causes of stillbirths were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, abruptio placentae, diabetes mellitus, intrapartum foetal distress and lethal congenital anomalies. Neonatal deaths were mainly due to the respiratory distress syndrome (57.8 percent), birth asphyxia (22.2 percent) and sepsis (13.5 percent). A dedicated medical team, including a neonatologist, to manage pre-eclampsia, and more senior obstetric involvement in the labour ward are recommended. (AU)

Historical aspects of obstetrics and gynaecology

This book contains the historical background to some facets of obstetrics and gynaecology. It relates how the present state of the specialty emerged from the past. Among the subjects addressed are: the discovery of obstetric anaesthesia; ancient practice of contraception; the origin of Caesarean section; the pioneers of myomectomy and hysterectomy; the role of antisepsis in reducing maternal mortality (AU)

Historical aspects of obstetrics and gynaecology

This book contains the historical background to some facets of obstetrics and gynaecology. It relates how the present state of the specialty emerged from the past. Among the subjects addressed are: the discovery of obstetric anaesthesia; ancient practice of contraception; the origin of Caesarean section; the pioneers of myomectomy and hysterectomy; the role of antisepsis in reducing maternal mortality

Gynaecology made simple for medical students U.W.I

This book entitled "Gynaecology made simple" is a revised edition of "Short notes in Gynaecology". It was prepared with the fervent wish that you, our medical students, would find it useful as you prepare for your final examinations. We think that a revision on how to take a gynaecological history is vital, especially when one takes into consideration that the final examination in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is heavily weighted in favour of the clinical component. You would find in this booklet common cases in the Gynaecological Clinical Examination such as fibroids, utero-vaginal prolapse, postmenopausal bleeding and ovarian cyst. Topics such as ectopic pregnancy, dilatation and curettage, hysterectomy and sterilization are commonly asked in the Oral Examination. We feel certain that this booklet would also be valuable in your day to day care of patients after graduation. An addition in this edition involves some common cases in the Clinical Examination as well as tips for you in the Oral Examination. It must be emphasized that this booklet must be used in conjunction with the recommended textbook in Gynaecology. We the authors would welcome any constructive criticism (AU)

Gynaecology made simple for medical students U. W. I

This book entitled "Gynaecology made simple" is a revised edition of "Short notes in Gynaecology". It was prepared with the fervent wish that you, our medical students, would find it useful as you prepare for your final examinations. We think that a revision on how to take a gynaecological history is vital, especially when one takes into consideration that the final examination in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is heavily weighted in favour of the clinical component. You would find in this booklet common cases in the Gynaecological Clinical Examination such as fibroids, utero-vaginal prolapse, postmenopausal bleeding and ovarian cyst. Topics such as ectopic pregnancy, dilatation and curettage, hysterectomy and sterilization are commonly asked in the Oral Examination. We feel certain that this booklet would also be valuable in your day to day care of patients after graduation. An addition in this edition involves some common cases in the Clinical Examination as well as tips for you in the Oral Examination. It must be emphasized that this booklet must be used in conjunction with the recommended textbook in Gynaecology. We the authors would welcome any constructive criticism

Examination performance of medical students: a view from Trinidad

We analysed the outcome of the final MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) examination oat the St. Augustine Campus, University of the West Indies, for 686 students attempting them for the first time between 1975 and 1986. The mean failure rate was lowest in medicine between 1975 and 1981, in obstetrics and gynaecology between 1982 and 1989 and in surgery during the last 7 years. The students' poor performance in some areas indicates the need for recognizing the importance of creating and establishing an educational climate in which the quality of teaching comes under scrutiny. The marking system in medicine should be reviewed.(AU)

Examination performance of medical students: a view from Trinidad

We analysed the outcome of the final MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) examination oat the St. Augustine Campus, University of the West Indies, for 686 students attempting them for the first time between 1975 and 1986. The mean failure rate was lowest in medicine between 1975 and 1981, in obstetrics and gynaecology between 1982 and 1989 and in surgery during the last 7 years. The students' poor performance in some areas indicates the need for recognizing the importance of creating and establishing an educational climate in which the quality of teaching comes under scrutiny. The marking system in medicine should be reviewed.

The evolution of obstetrics and gynaecology in Trinidad

Obstetrics and gynecology is a discipline proud of its history and the influence it has exerted on the well-being of women. Obstetrics is as old as the human race. The birth of gynaecology coincided with the advent of modern surgery. This book reviews the history of midwifery and describes the development of the specialty in Trinidad. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the influence of four pioneers whose achievements I have recorded. I have mentioned other specialists in the field who have made significant contributions and would like to apologise for the omission of many collegues who have played a part in elevating the standards of O&G in this country: "Were I to await perfection, my book will never be finished". Medical education has assumed great importance in the West Indies over the past decade. I have taken up the story with the founding of a Faculty of Medicine in Jamaica in 1948 and traced our progress towards the establishment of our school at Mt. Hope. It is hoped that the information provided about the performance of undergraduates will enhance the educational strategies employed to achieve our goals and encourage a strengthening of clinical teaching in future by focussing the attention of teachers on a key area of their educational role. I also hope that this book will be a stimulus for students to enquire further into the history of O&G as a pathfinder in the search for better patient-care in the new millennium (AU)

The evolution of obstetrics and gynaecology in Trinidad

Obstetrics and gynecology is a discipline proud of its history and the influence it has exerted on the well-being of women. Obstetrics is as old as the human race. The birth of gynaecology coincided with the advent of modern surgery. This book reviews the history of midwifery and describes the development of the specialty in Trinidad. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the influence of four pioneers whose achievements I have recorded. I have mentioned other specialists in the field who have made significant contributions and would like to apologise for the omission of many collegues who have played a part in elevating the standards of O&G in this country: "Were I to await perfection, my book will never be finished". Medical education has assumed great importance in the West Indies over the past decade. I have taken up the story with the founding of a Faculty of Medicine in Jamaica in 1948 and traced our progress towards the establishment of our school at Mt. Hope. It is hoped that the information provided about the performance of undergraduates will enhance the educational strategies employed to achieve our goals and encourage a strengthening of clinical teaching in future by focussing the attention of teachers on a key area of their educational role. I also hope that this book will be a stimulus for students to enquire further into the history of O&G as a pathfinder in the search for better patient-care in the new millennium

Maternal deaths associated with caesarean section

Twelve Caesarean section-associated maternal deaths were encountered over a 15-year period. The major operative risk factors were pregnancy-induced hypertension, obesity and general anaesthesia. Severe pre-eclampsia was the forerunner to postoperative cardiac failure, consumptive coagulopathy and difficult airway manipulation. We conclude that pregnancy-induced hypertension and its ramifications pose the greatest threat to maternal survival from Caesarean section. (AU)