Learning anatomy is the basic and essential component of medical study when students start to learn in medical career. Since five hundred years ago, the human cadaver has been used as the silent mentor for students in learning anatomy. Later, pre-dissected specimens were used in addition to hands-on dissection of human cadaver. Current advances promote the use of anatomical models as well as plastinated specimens. This study focused on analyzing the preference of students towards different learning modalities available for anatomy teaching. It was conducted on first year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah (FPSK, UMS). A total of 76 students (27 males and 49 females) participated in this study. Out of 76 students, 57 (75%) students preferred using human cadaver for anatomy learning. Four students (5.3%) opted for plastinated
specimen while 15 students (19.7%) chose the plastic model. Knowledge gained in learning Anatomy was said to be easier from cadaver (67.1%), followed by plastinated specimen (35.5%) and plastic models (52.6%). In the present study, 97.4% responded that plastic model was easier to apply their knowledge in objective structured practical examinations. The present study found that using cadaver was still favoured by medical students. Further studies are required to determine the preference between hands-on cadaveric dissections versus pre-dissected specimens.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Water and sanitation are major public health issues exacerbated by rapid population growth, limited resources, disasters and environmental depletion. This study was undertaken to study the influencing factors for household water quality improvement for reducing diarrhoea in resource-limited areas.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from articles and reviews from relevant randomized controlled trials, new articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and WELL Resource Centre For Water, Sanitation And Environmental Health.
DISCUSSION: Water quality on diarrhoea prevention could be affected by contamination during storage, collection and even at point-of-use. Point-of-use water treatment (household-based) is the most cost-effective method for prevention of diarrhoea. Chemical disinfection, filtration, thermal disinfection, solar disinfection and flocculation and disinfection are five most promising household water treatment methodologies for resource-limited areas.
CONCLUSION: Promoting household water treatment is most essential for preventing diarrhoeal disease. In addition, the water should be of acceptable taste, appropriate for emergency and non-emergency use.
Empowering marginalised urban islanders with limited health accessibility through knowledge transfer program for controlling pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) requires a specific training module. The study was aimed to develop this training module by adapting and modifying the IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) framework. Structuring the content for the knowledge and skills for PTB control in the module was based on the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Control 2016-2020. A total of five knowledge and skills were structured: i) PTB disease and diagnosis, ii) PTB treatment, iii) preventive PTB measures, iv) prevention of malnutrition, and v) psychosocial discrimination. The IMCI framework was modified through 3 ways: i) identifying signs and symptoms of PTB, ii) emphasising the IMCI's 5 steps of integrated management: assess, diagnose, treat, counsel and detect, and iii) counseling on BCG immunisation, malnutrition, environmental modifications and stigma on PTB.