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Connecting learners: The role of biotechnology programme in preparing students for the industry

Mohd Saruan N, Sagran A, Fadzil KS, Razali Z, Ow Phui San R, Somasundram C

Biochem Mol Biol Educ, 2015 Nov-Dec;43(6):460-7.
PMID: 26525315 DOI: 10.1002/bmb.20892

The recent growth of biotechnology requires a wide range of expertise within the industry. Education is the primary platform for students to gain information and knowledge on biotechnology. In Malaysia where biotechnology is relatively new, education programs and courses must be tailored to meet the demands of the industry. A combination of theoretical knowledge as well as practical and industrial training is essential to ensure graduates are prepared for their career in the fields of biotechnology. Results from this study show that university students lack literacy on biotechnology information and access to facilities provided by the universities. This may be a significant contributing factor to the lack of knowledge and information amongst graduates. Furthermore comparative analysis on the biotechnology program in Malaysian universities with that of other countries show the need to restructure the program by offering more specialized courses as well as soft skills and business subjects. This is to meet the demands of the related professionals as well as the various branches that exist in the biotechnology industry.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Using pictograms to assist caregivers in liquid medication administration: a systematic review

Chan HK, Hassali MA, Lim CJ, Saleem F, Tan WL

J Clin Pharm Ther, 2015 Jun;40(3):266-72.
PMID: 25865563 DOI: 10.1111/jcpt.12272

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that more than 80% of out-of-hospital medication errors among the young children involve liquid formulations. The usefulness of pictorial aids to improve communication of medication instructions has not been extensively investigated for child health. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pictorial aids used to assist caregivers in the administration of liquid medications.
METHODS: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Scopus and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles published up to February 2015. Studies that used pictorial aids with liquid medications and measured at least one of the following outcomes were included: dosing accuracy, comprehension of medication instructions, recall of information and adherence of caregivers. Two authors independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed methodological quality of studies using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Five experimental studies (four hospital based and one community based) with a total of 962 participants were included. A wide range of liquid formulations were studied, including both prescription and over-the-counter medications. The existing findings suggest that pictographic interventions reduced dosing errors, enhanced comprehension and recall of medication instructions and improved adherence of caregivers. Incorporating pictorial aids into verbal medication counselling or text-based instructions was more beneficial than using the single approach alone. Mixed results were identified for the relationship between health literacy of caregivers and effectiveness of pictorial aids.
WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The evidence remains limited due to the small number of studies found and variations in methodological quality. This review suggests that pictorial aids might be potential interventions, but more high-quality studies are needed to support the routine use of any pictogram-based materials with liquid medications in the clinical settings.
KEYWORDS: caregivers; graphics; health literacy; medication adherence; medication errors; paediatrics

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Knowledge assessment of snake antivenom among healthcare practitioners involving educational intervention in northern Nigeria: a study protocol

Bala AA, Jatau AI, Yunusa I, Mohammed M, Mohammed AH, Isa AM, et al.

Ther Adv Drug Saf, 2020;11:2042098620935721.
PMID: 32944213 DOI: 10.1177/2042098620935721

Introduction: Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is an important occupational and public health hazard especially in sub-Saharan Africa. For optimum management of SBE, adequate knowledge of Snake antivenom (SAV) is very critical among the healthcare practioners in this region. Information related to the knowledge of SAV use in the management of SBE, as well as SAV logistics is scarce among the Health Care Professionals (HCPs) in Nigeria, particularly in the northern region. We therefore aimed to develop, validate and utilize a tool to assess the SAV knowlegde among HCPs in northern Nigeria. We also sought to implement and evaluate an intervention that could improve the SAV knowledge among the HCPs.
Methods: The proposed study will be conducted in three phases: Phase I will involve the development of the item-pool to be included in the tool, followed by a face, content validity and construct validity. The tool reliability, readability and difficulty index will be determined. Phase II will involve the utilization of the tool to assess baseline SAV knowledge among the HCPs followed by an educational intervention. Multiple Linear Regression analysis will be used to determine the factors associated with SAV knowledge among the HCPs. Lastly, Phase III which will be a repeat of Phase II to assess and evaluate the knowledge after the intervention.
Discussion: The study design and findings may guide future implementation and streamline the intervention of improving SAV knowledge in HCPs training and practice.
Lay Summary: Knowledge assessment and educational intervention of snake antivenom among healthcare practitioners in northern Nigeria: a study protocol Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is an important occupational and public health hazard especially in sub-Saharan Africa. For optimum management of SBE, adequate knowledge of snake antivenom (SAV) is very critical among the healthcare practitioners. The baseline knowledge SAV dosage, mode of administration, availability, and logistics is very relevant among healthcare professionals, particularly those that are directly involved in its logistics. It is paramount that SAV is handled and used appropriately. The efforts and advocacy for the availability for more SAV will be in vain if not handled appropriately before they are used. This study protocol aims to develop a tool, to assess SAV knowledge and effects of educational interventions among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in northern Nigeria. This protocol suggests conducting studies in three phases: (a) Development and validation of SAV knowledge assessment tool, (b) Baseline assessment of SAV knowledge assessment tool among HCPs, and (c) Development, implementation and evaluation of an educational intervention to improve SAV knowledge among HCPs in northern Nigeria.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext An Evaluation of the Video Narrative Technique on the Self-Efficacy of Medication Understanding and Use Among Post-Stroke Patients: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Appalasamy JR, Quek KF, Md Zain AZ, Joseph JP, Seeta Ramaiah S, Tha KK

Patient Prefer Adherence, 2020;14:1979-1990.
PMID: 33116441 DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S253918

Introduction: Self-efficacy is positively associated with medication understanding and use self-efficacy (MUSE) among post-stroke patients. It is also closely related to knowledge, belief, and perception, which vary among people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures. As interventions using video and peer stories have emerged to be successful on behavior modification, this study aimed to explore the effectiveness of video narratives incorporated with Health Belief constructs on MUSE and its associated factors among patients with stroke at a local setting.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) for 12 months was carried out on patients diagnosed with stroke at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The RCT recruited up to 216 eligible patients who were requested to return for two more follow-ups within six months. Consented patients were randomized to either standard care or intervention with video narratives. The control of potential confounding factors was ensured, as well as unbiased treatment review with prescribed medications, only obtained onsite.
Results and Discussion: A repeated measure of MUSE mean score differences at T0 (baseline), T2 (6th month) and T4 (12th month) for antithrombotic, antihypertensive, and all medication categories indicated significant within and between groups differences in the intervention group (p<0.05). Moreover, this impact was reflected upon continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring compared to the control group (F (1214) =5.23, p=0.023, ƞ2=0.024). Though BP measure differences were non-significant between the groups (p=0.552), repeated measure analysis displayed significant mean differences between intervention and control group on BP control over time (F (1.344, 287.55) =8.54, P<0.001, ƞ2=0.038). Similarly, the intervention's positive impact was also present with similar trends for knowledge, illness perception, and the belief about medicine. Though significant differences (p<0.05) of all outcome measures gradually decreased between T2 and T4 in the intervention group; nevertheless, these positive findings confirmed that personalized video narratives were able to motivate and influence MUSE and its associated factors among post-stroke patients. The significant improvement in medication-taking self-efficacy and the sustenance of BP monitoring habits among patients in the intervention group strengthened our conceptual framework's practicality.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Development and validation of antisnake venom knowledge assessment tool (AKAT) for healthcare practitioners

Bala AA, Jatau AI, Yunusa I, Mohammed M, Mohammed AH, Isa AM, et al.

Toxicon X, 2020 Dec;8:100064.
PMID: 33319211 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2020.100064

Antisnake venom (ASV) is the only specific and standard treatment for snakebite envenoming worldwide. The knowledge of antivenom dosage, mode of administration, availability, and logistics is essential to the healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in the management of snakebites. It is vital for the HCPs involved in the handling of ASVs to have its basic knowledge. The ASV contains proteins and can, therefore, easily get denatured if not handled appropriately, leading to poor therapeutic outcome. It is also essential for clinicians to be aware of the tendency of ASV to cause a severe life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction. There is currently no validated tool for assessing the knowledge of ASV among HCPs. Therefore, we developed and validated a tool for evaluating the HCPs knowledge of ASV. The items included in the tool were first generated from a comprehensive literature review. Face validity were conducted by presenting the drafted tool to ten experts on the subject matter. A validation study was conducted among doctors, pharmacists, nurses, pharmacy technicians, and the general public. The objectives of the study were to test the tool for content validity using the content validity index (CVI), construct validity using contrast group approach, difficulty index, readability, and reliability test using the test-retest method. We developed and validated a final tool containing thirty-three items. The tool was valid for face validity and had a scale-level (average) content validity (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.91. The ASV knowledge of pharmacists was higher than that of doctors, pharmacy technicians, nurses, and the general public (p

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Content validity and readability of patient-reported questionnaire instruments of hearing disability

Manchaiah V, Granberg S, Grover V, Saunders GH, Ann Hall D

Int J Audiol, 2019 09;58(9):565-575.
PMID: 31017493 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2019.1602738

Objective: This study evaluates the content validity (i.e. domains assessed) and readability levels of patient-reported questionnaire instruments using internationally recognised procedures and tools. Design: A review of the literature to identify candidate instruments and a synthesis of information including mapping extracted items onto the World Health Organisation's - International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (WHO-ICF) and estimating readability. Study sample: 14 patient-reported questionnaire instruments. Results: In general, item content focussed on body function and on activity limitations and participation restrictions, with less emphasis on environmental and personal factors and with different emphases across instruments. Many items did not clearly map onto any of the WHO-ICF categories (i.e. not coded items ranged from 3.7 to 39.1% across the 14 questionnaires). All 14 instruments exceeded the sixth-grade reading level when calculated according to the FORCAST formula which is appropriate for assessing a non-narrative text. Conclusions: Clinical assessment of hearing disability is only as comprehensive as the items covered by the chosen measurement instrument. Our findings confirmed the diversity of domains covered by hearing disability instruments and gaps in assessment. Some concern is raised about whether the item content is appropriate for those respondents with poor literacy.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
The effectiveness of handout assisted versus verbal consent on post-operative recall and understanding - A randomized control study

Koong JK, Rajandram R, Sidambram N, Narayanan V

Surgeon, 2021 May 08.
PMID: 33975807 DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2021.04.002

BACKGROUND: Consent is an important component of surgical care. Poorly attempted consent bears significant ethical and legal implications. We assessed the effectiveness of handouts in improving postoperative consent understanding and recall compared to standard verbal consent during laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a tool that may improve information retention and leads to better treatment satisfaction.
METHODS: This is a prospective block randomized, non-blinded study conducted at a single tertiary hospital. Patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between August 2017 and October 2018 were recruited and randomized into Handout Assisted Consent (HC) and Verbal Consent (VC) group. The HC group was given an adjunct handout on laparoscopic cholecystectomy during consent process in addition to the standard verbal consent. A validated open-ended verbal understanding and recall questionnaire was administered to all patients in both groups at Day 1, 30 and 90 after surgery. Patient satisfaction of the consent process was evaluated with Likert scale.
RESULTS: A total of 79 patients were enrolled, 41 patients and 38 patients in VC and HC groups respectively. Level of understanding among patients were equal and consistent across time in both groups (P > 0.05). There was significant decline (P 0.05).
CONCLUSION: There is good consistent understanding of the surgery in both groups. However, recall of specific surgical consent items decreased significantly over time in both groups. Handouts may have increased satisfaction among patients but did not improve recall in this preliminary study.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: MREC No.:201783-5468.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext An Early Reading Assessment Battery for Multilingual Learners in Malaysia

Lee JAC, Lee S, Yusoff NFM, Ong PH, Nordin ZS, Winskel H

Front Psychol, 2020;11:1700.
PMID: 32754104 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01700

The aim of the study was to develop a new comprehensive reading assessment battery for multi-ethnic and multilingual learners in Malaysia. Using this assessment battery, we examined the reliability, validity, and dimensionality of the factors associated with reading difficulties/disabilities in the Malay language, a highly transparent alphabetic orthography. In order to further evaluate the reading assessment battery, we compared results from the assessment battery with those obtained from the Malaysian national screening instrument. In the study, 866 Grade 1 children from multi-ethnic and multilingual backgrounds from 11 government primary schools participated. The reading assessment battery comprised 13 assessments, namely, reading comprehension, spelling, listening comprehension, letter name knowledge, letter name fluency, rapid automatized naming, word reading accuracy, word reading efficiency, oral reading fluency, expressive vocabulary, receptive vocabulary, elision, and phonological memory. High reliability and validity were found for the assessments. An exploratory factor analysis yielded three main constructs: phonological-decoding, sublexical-fluency, and vocabulary-memory. Phonological-decoding was found to be the most reliable construct that distinguished between at-risk and non-at-risk children. Identifying these underlying factors will be useful for detecting children at-risk for developing reading difficulties in the Malay language. In addition, these results highlight the importance of including a range of reading and reading-related measures for the early diagnosis of reading difficulties in this highly transparent orthography.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Perceptions of the appropriate response to norm violation in 57 societies

Eriksson K, Strimling P, Gelfand M, Wu J, Abernathy J, Akotia CS, et al.

Nat Commun, 2021 03 05;12(1):1481.
PMID: 33674587 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21602-9

Norm enforcement may be important for resolving conflicts and promoting cooperation. However, little is known about how preferred responses to norm violations vary across cultures and across domains. In a preregistered study of 57 countries (using convenience samples of 22,863 students and non-students), we measured perceptions of the appropriateness of various responses to a violation of a cooperative norm and to atypical social behaviors. Our findings highlight both cultural universals and cultural variation. We find a universal negative relation between appropriateness ratings of norm violations and appropriateness ratings of responses in the form of confrontation, social ostracism and gossip. Moreover, we find the country variation in the appropriateness of sanctions to be consistent across different norm violations but not across different sanctions. Specifically, in those countries where use of physical confrontation and social ostracism is rated as less appropriate, gossip is rated as more appropriate.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Investigating the relationship between post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and emotional intelligence among adolescent refugees from the Middle East

Siti Raudzah Ghazali

ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2014;15(2):220-224.
MyJurnal

Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between symptoms of PTSD and various scores of emotional intelligence scales. This study employed a cross-sectional research design. Participants were recruited from the local community health centre in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. The Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI) measured the presence of PTSD symptoms and the Adolescents Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale (AMEIS) measured emotional intelligence. Results: The findings suggest an inverse relationship between PTSD severity and emotional intelligence. The PTSD score was negatively correlated with all AMEIS subscales. Two significant negative correlations were found in the tasks of using emotion and understanding emotion. Conclusion: Findings suggest that individuals with severe PTSD symptoms appear to lack the abilities to understand and use emotions. These findings might be useful in identifying factors that may contribute to decreasing the severity of PTSD symptoms of these children. Implications of the findings were discussed, and recommendations for future research are presented. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 15 (2), July - December 2014: 220-224.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Approaches of learning among medical undergraduates of faculty of medicine and health sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2016

Nurul Mursyidah Zakaria, Nur Asyiqin Jasman Farok, Siti Khadijah Adam, Syafinaz Amin Nordin

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(1):1-6.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Challenge arises for medical undergraduates as the subject of medicine is intricate and extensive. Although students come from the same pool of excellent academic background, the medical undergraduates are still prone to failure in exams, resulting in them repeating the year of study or even having the thought of changing to other courses. In order to cope with the programme, students may adopt learning approaches that would help them to go through the programme. Therefore, it would be interesting to explore the learning approaches of medical students in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Methods: The purposes of this study were to determine the learning approach of medical undergraduates of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (FMHS, UPM) together with its associated factors, which were socio-demographic characteristics and learning environment. This research was a cross-sectional study where the sample size calculated was 554. Self-administered questionnaires were given to the respondents chosen by simple random sampling. The socio-demographic characteristics were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage. Chi-square test was used to analyse the association between the variables. Results: The response rate was 83% (460 respondents agreed to participate). The majority of the respondents were females (73.7%), Malay (67%), and in their clinical years of study (58.7%). Overall, most students preferred deep approach (DA) of learning (49.6%), followed by strategic approach (29.1%) and surface apathetic approach (21.3%) of learning. There were statistically significant associations between learning approach and gender (p=0.005), as well as between learning approach and year of study (p=0.037). Conclusion: Our study showed an association between learning approaches and year of study and gender. DA of learning was the preferred learning approach in medical students at FMHS, UPM. This approach of learning, where students learn to understand the subject matter, may result in students become effective learners. Their understanding about the subject matter will be applicable to their clinical practice in the future.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Faktor perbezaan tahap pengetahuan HIV/AIDS dan stigma pelajar GMI dan UKM mengikut tahap pendidikan

Muhammad Ajib bin Abd R, Nasrudin S

Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2016;30:61-68.

HIV /AIDS is a global epidemic problem that is faced by many countries. There is a drastic increase of infection cases in children, youths, adults and elderly. Among students, there is a low level of knowledge that affects the comprehension elasticity based on the educational level which contributes to the increasing stigma among students. The focus of this study is to examine the differences of HIV/AIDS knowledge levels and students' stigma according to their levels of education. This study used HIV Knowledge Questionnaires (HIV-K-Q) version of 45 items and The Berger HIV Stigma Scale version of 40 items. 130 students from UKM and GMI participated in the study. Results showed that there were significant differences in the knowledge levels and stigma of HIV/AIDS between students' educational levels (Diploma level, Bachelor and Masters). The findings can assist educational institutions to develop the awareness of HIV/AIDS knowledge by targeting all levels of students' education. The implementation of various campaigns, talks, and interventions of reducing the stigma should be refined and planned as an annual program.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Proline Homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: How Does the Stress-Responsive Transcription Factor Msn2 Play a Role?

Mat Nanyan NSB, Takagi H

Front Genet, 2020;11:438.
PMID: 32411186 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00438

Overexpression of MSN2, which is the transcription factor gene in response to stress, is well-known to increase the tolerance of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to a wide variety of environmental stresses. Recent studies have found that the Msn2 is a feasible potential mediator of proline homeostasis in yeast. This result is based on the finding that overexpression of the MSN2 gene exacerbates the cytotoxicity of yeast to various amino acid analogs whose uptake is increased by the active amino acid permeases localized on the plasma membrane as a result of a dysfunctional deubiquitination process. Increased understanding of the cellular responses induced by the Msn2-mediated proline incorporation will provide better comprehension of how cells respond to and counteract to different kinds of stimuli and will also contribute to the breeding of industrial yeast strains with increased productivity.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Neurological Examination Techniques of Speech in Bahasa Malaysia for Adults: Simple Approach Practiced in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Noorsham AH, Abdullah MM, Abdul Halim S, Ghani ARI, Idris Z, Abdullah JM

Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Dec;27(6):148-182.
PMID: 33447142 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.6.14

There are four classification levels for speech disorders namely dysphonia, dysarthria, dysprosody and dysphasia. In general, speech examination mainly focuses on three main components that are spontaneous speech, auditory comprehension, and oral motor examination. Quick bedside assessment on speech in Bahasa Malaysia is essential to assist the speech language therapist (SLT) and other physicians to determine the disorders. Speech therapy is also essential in monitoring and continuous assessment for patients with speech and language disorders such as dysphasia and dysarthria. Speech clinicians in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) have been adapting two most widely used batteries of speech assessment tools namely Western aphasia battery-revised (WAB-R) by Andrew Kertesz and Boston diagnostic aphasia examination (BDAE). These tools have been modified into simple and validated speech assessments in Bahasa Malaysia. This video manuscript will demonstrate the use of both tools in performing bedside speech assessment for patients with speech disorders. The Bahasa Malaysia speech examination should not be difficult when WAB-R and BDAE speech assessment tools are applied. The aim of this simple approach using the adapted version of BDAE and WAB-R is to assist the clinician to achieve quick and accurate diagnosis with a validated scoring system.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
The effects of linguistic modification on ESL students' comprehension of nursing course test items

Bosher S, Bowles M

Nurs Educ Perspect, 2008 May-Jun;29(3):165-72.
PMID: 18575241

Recent research has indicated that language may be a source of construct-irrelevant variance for non-native speakers of English, or English as a second language (ESL) students, when they take exams. As a result, exams may not accurately measure knowledge of nursing content. One accommodation often used to level the playing field for ESL students is linguistic modification, a process by which the reading load of test items is reduced while the content and integrity of the item are maintained. Research on the effects of linguistic modification has been conducted on examinees in the K-12 population, but is just beginning in other areas. This study describes the collaborative process by which items from a pathophysiology exam were linguistically modified and subsequently evaluated for comprehensibility by ESL students. Findings indicate that in a majority of cases, modification improved examinees' comprehension of test items. Implications for test item writing and future research are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension*
Fulltext Medication adherence in schizophrenia: a comparison between outpatients and relapse cases

Razali SM, Yusoff MZ

East Asian Arch Psychiatry, 2014 Jun;24(2):68-74.
PMID: 24986201

Objective: Adherence to medication is essential for maximising the outcomes of patients with schizophrenia as the consequences of poor adherence are devastating. The study aimed to compare medication adherence between patients with relapse schizophrenia and those attending psychiatric follow-up clinics, and to determine the factors affecting adherence.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 70 patients with schizophrenia who were divided equally into 2 groups. Medication adherence was assessed with the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Appropriate instruments were used to measure insight, social support, and psychopathology. Various socio-demographic and clinical variables were explored to find associations with medication adherence.
Results: Medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia was poor; 51% of the patients did not adhere to a medication regimen. Adherence was better in outpatients with schizophrenia (61%) than in relapse cases (39%), although the difference was not statistically significant (t = 1.70; p = 0.09). Besides, relapse patients had significant higher number of admission (X2 = 22.95; p < 0.05) and severe psychopathology (t = –29.96; p < 0.05), while perceived social support was significantly better in outpatients with schizophrenia (t = 2.90; p < 0.05). Frequency of admission (adjusted b = –0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.99 to -0.10; p < 0.05) and psychopathology (adjusted b = –0.12; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.01; p < 0.05) were also significantly associated with medication adherence.
Conclusion: Medication adherence among both groups of patients with schizophrenia was poor. If adherence is addressed appropriately, the number of admissions and severity of psychopathology could be improved.
Key words: Patient compliance; Psychopathology; Schizophrenia; Social support
Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Information needs of family members of critically ill patients in intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital

Noor Siah AA, Ho SE, Jafaar MZ, Choy YC, Das S, Ismail SM, et al.

Clin Ter, 2012;163(1):63-7.
PMID: 22362236

BACKGROUND AND AIMS. The experience in intensive care unit (ICU) has created an intense emotional situation both to patients and their family members. The aim of this study was to determine the family members information needs of critically ill patients in ICU.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 family members of patients admitted in ICU. A face to face interview was conducted and a self-report questionnaire of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) was used.

RESULTS:
Findings reported CCFNI five sub-attributes that ranked from highest to lowest included: support (mean 39.13 ± 6.189); proximity (mean 27.17 ± 3.384); information (mean 24.25 ± 3.093); assurance (mean 22.67 ± 1.862) and comfort (mean 16.24 ± 2.776). There were no significant differences in needs between family members with different gender (p >0.05). However, there were significant differences in support needs between family members with admission to ICU with (t=-2.111; p <0.05). There were significant differences in assurance needs (F=3.542; p <0.05) and information needs (F=3.681; p <0.05) between family members with age. There were no significant differences in needs between family members with different education level (p >0.05) whereas assurance needs were significant differences with education level of (F=3.542; p <0.05).

CONCLUSION:
The results suggest that family members perceived support and proximity as the most crucial need. Comfort need was viewed as least important. Although this study was conducted in a tertiary hospital, the findings could still provide insight for nurses to improve the delivery of care to patients and family members.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Integrating an open-source course management system (Moodle) into the teaching of a first-year medical physiology course: a case study

Seluakumaran K, Jusof FF, Ismail R, Husain R

Adv Physiol Educ, 2011 Dec;35(4):369-77.
PMID: 22139773 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00008.2011

Educators in medical schools around the world are presently experimenting with innovative ways of using web-based learning to supplement the existing teaching and learning process. We have recently used a popular open-source course management system (CMS) called the modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment (Moodle) to construct an online site (DPhysiol) to facilitate our face-to-face teaching of physiology to a group of first-year students in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery program. The integration of the Moodle site into our teaching was assessed using online log activity, student examination marks, and feedback from students. The freely available Moodle platform was simple to use, helped to effectively deliver course materials, and has features that allowed cooperative learning. Students who used the CMS throughout their academic year and commented favorably regarding its use as a complement to the face-to-face classroom sessions. The group of students used the CMS obtained significantly higher scores in the final examination compared with the previous class that did not use the CMS. In addition, there was a significant correlation between student participation and performance in online quizzes and their final examination marks. However, students' overall online usage of the CMS did not correlate with their examination marks. We recommend Moodle as a useful tool for physiology educators who are interested in integrating web-based learning into their existing teaching curriculum.

Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
Fulltext Stimulating student interest in physiology: the intermedical school physiology quiz

Cheng HM

Adv Physiol Educ, 2010 Mar;34(1):20-1.
PMID: 20237230 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00096.2009
Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension
The ''perfect teacher'' and the story of his ''zero defects'' project

Prakash ES

Adv Physiol Educ, 2007 Dec;31(4):373.
PMID: 18057415
Matched MeSH terms: Comprehension

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