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Coping with uncertainties for medical students

Shamsher S, Sethuraman KR

Med J Malaysia, 2021 Nov;76(6):909.
PMID: 34806682

No abstract provided.
Fulltext Student perceptions regarding the usefulness of explicit discussion of "Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome" taxonomy

Prakash ES, Narayan KA, Sethuraman KR

Adv Physiol Educ, 2010 Sep;34(3):145-9.
PMID: 20826769 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00026.2010

One method of grading responses of the descriptive type is by using Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy. The basis of this study was the expectation that if students were oriented to SOLO taxonomy, it would provide them an opportunity to understand some of the factors that teachers consider while grading descriptive responses and possibly develop strategies to improve scores. We first sampled the perceptions of 68 second-year undergraduate medical students doing the Respiratory System course regarding the usefulness of explicit discussion of SOLO taxonomy. Subsequently, in a distinct cohort of 20 second-year medical students doing the Central Nervous System course, we sought to determine whether explicit illustration of SOLO taxonomy combined with some advice on better answering descriptive test questions (to an experimental group) resulted in better student scores in a continuous assessment test compared with providing advice for better answering test questions but without any reference to SOLO taxonomy (the control group). Student ratings of the clarity of the presentation on SOLO taxonomy appeared satisfactory to the authors, as was student understanding of our presentation. The majority of participants indicated that knowledge of SOLO taxonomy would help them study and prepare better answers for questions of the descriptive type. Although scores in the experimental and control group were comparable, this experience nonetheless provided us with the motivation to orient students to SOLO taxonomy early on in the medical program and further research factors that affect students' development of strategies based on knowledge of SOLO taxonomy.
Application of Practice Oriented-Peer Review for Prosthodontics (PRO-PReP)-A Qualitative Study

Murthy V, Sethuraman KR, Choudhury S, Shakila R

Int J Psychiatry Med, 2022 Mar;57(2):117-133.
PMID: 33472469 DOI: 10.1177/0091217421990142

OBJECTIVE: Communication skills diminish with time and must be applied and updated frequently. Due to various professional constraints, the dentists may not be able to attend training programs to sharpen their skills. During patient interactions, dentists may face difficult situations which they may be unable to handle and, consequently, make them overreact. Therefore, there is a need to provide a platform to freely discuss their feelings, ideas, and take opinion from peers.
METHODS: Training in communication skills customized for dealing with complete denture patients was conducted for the prosthodontic postgraduates. Based on feedback obtained, it was decided to have periodic meetings and the concept of Practice-Oriented-Peer Review for Prosthodontics (PrO-PReP) was introduced. This novel concept is a combination of the Relationship building, exploring Reactions, exploring Content, and Coaching (R2C2) model of residency education and the Balint method. The meetings were scheduled every one or two months based on the available caseload of the patients treated by the postgraduates.
RESULTS: The thematic analysis of the postgraduates' self-reflection during the sessions and the video recorded observations (assessed using the Kalamazoo scale) revealed that these sessions were effective in positively engaging the postgraduates to discuss their experiences, reflect on their performances, practice their newly gained skills, and learn from peer sharing.
CONCLUSION: The postgraduates felt that they have changed in their working style and were more confident to manage patients. They found such sessions very useful for being updated with the already-learned skills.
Fulltext Predicting denture satisfaction and quality of life in completely edentulous: A mixed-mode study

Murthy V, Sethuraman KR, Rajaram S, Choudhury S

J Indian Prosthodont Soc, 2021 4 10;21(1):88-98.
PMID: 33835073 DOI: 10.4103/jips.jips_373_20

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of dentist's communication skills and patient's psychological factors in predicting denture satisfaction and quality of life.
Settings and Design: Cohort study.
Materials and Methods: Patient-related variables were obtained using questionnaires in both pre- and post-intervention phases. In addition to this, in preintervention phase, lacunae in doctor-patient communication were obtained. Based on this, the postgraduates were trained in relevant communication skills required during complete denture treatment. In postintervention phase, the postgraduates were again followed up for continuation or decay of skills.
Statistical Analysis: Mixed-mode approach - quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Results: Both groups were similar in psychological parameters, personality domains, denture quality and quality of life at baseline. However, there was significant difference in denture satisfaction (P < 0.001) in both the groups. In the experimental group, denture satisfaction was more (80.4%) and quality of life had improved from baseline to 3 months (P = 0.000). Denture satisfaction was associated with self-efficacy (P = 0.002) and the communication skills of the dentist (P = 0.000). Quality of life was associated with the conscientiousness domain of personality (P = 0.049) and the communication skills of the dentist (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Satisfaction and quality of life with dentures were associated with self-efficacy, conscientiousness domain and the communication skills of the dentist. Denture satisfaction can be predicted by dentist communication skills. Therefore, training in communication skills for complete denture patient management and assessment of the psychological profile of the patient could contribute to the effective patient-centered practice to avoid patient dissatisfaction.
Fulltext Audit of diabetes mellitus in general practice

Lee TW, Chan SC, Chua WT, Harbinder K, Khoo YL, Ow Yeang YL, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2004 Aug;59(3):317-22.
PMID: 15727376 MyJurnal

An audit on diabetic management was done in seven Perak general practice (GP) clinics in December 2001. The results showed inadequacies in nine out of eleven criteria assessed. Remedial measures were implemented. A second audit in March 2003, at the completion of the audit cycle, showed improvements in all the criteria used. All clinics established a diabetic register compared to 28.6% in the first audit and 57.1% of the clinics set up a reminder mechanism compared to 0% in the first audit. In the process of care, recording of weight, height, blood pressure; feet examination, fundoscopy, blood sugar monitoring and urine for albumin improved at the end of the audit cycle. In the only outcome criteria, the blood sugar control improved from 21.8% to 31.3%.
Fulltext Assessment of Self Perception of Competencies among a Group of Dental interns in Pondicherry, India

Muthu J, Muthanandam S, Sethuraman KR, Narayan KA, Ananthakrishnan N, Adkoli BV

J Educ Health Promot, 2019;8:255.
PMID: 32002427 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_53_19

CONTEXT: The general dentist must not only have a broad biomedical and clinical education but also be able to demonstrate professional and ethical behavior as well as effective communication and interpersonal skills. In addition he or she must have the ability to evaluate and utilize emerging technologies, continuing professional development opportunities, and problem-solving and critical thinking skills to effectively address current and future issues in health care. But the extent to which the core competencies are taught and the students' level of proficiency in these competencies in Indian scenario is to be explored at large.
AIMS: The present study aims at assessing the self-perceived level of competencies and their importance for future practice and the extent to which the competencies are taught in the curriculum among interns of dental college in Pondicherry, India.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The cross-sectional observational study was conducted among dental interns of Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Pondicherry.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 72 interns participated in the study. A short version of the Freiburg Questionnaire to Assess Competencies in Medicine" was used in this study. Questionnaire has three sections with same set of questions, which the student had to rate: (i) To what extent do you have the following competencies at your disposal? (ii) To what extent will your future job require the following competencies? and (iii) To what extent is competencies taught to you? After the results were obtained a focused group discussion with the responders was done. Focused group discussion consisted of open questions to the groups in all the four domains and the responses of the students were scribed.
RESULTS: In all four domains, self-perceived level of competency was not satisfactory. However, all students stated that the competencies were highly relevant for their future practice. Despite this, most of the competencies are not taught to necessary extent in the curriculum. The results of the present survey revealed that the participating students perceived deficiencies in all domains of competencies.
CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the core competencies are still barely integrated into dental curricula and that further research in this field is needed.