Teaching is a complex activity which consists not only of giving instructions but also promotion of learning. Different students have different preference for learning styles. Dental educators must therefore attempt to mix and match their methods of teaching to accommodate students with differing learning styles to provide an opportunity to maximize their learning. This paper aims to share the writer's experience and students' perceptions towards a different mode of teaching/learning method. The Jigsaw Classroom method was employed on University of Malaya's third-year dental students during their Water Fluoridation lecture. At the end of the session, students were asked to reflect upon the learning experience and to inscribe their feelings. Initially, students showed their resentment towards the new learning style but their resistance changed once they got into a group and started to learn from each other. In the reflective essay, most students expressed that learning through teaching and discussing as required in the Jigsaw method enhanced their understanding of the topic and they claimed that they were able to retain the information better. In this study, the Jigsaw method proved that learning in the lecture hall can be fun, educational and enriching.
The discipline of psychiatry requires the use of thinking skills to perform a number of tasks. The assessment of a patient’s history, his mental state especially the evaluation of thought disorders, the formulation of a diagnosis and differential diagnosis, the formulation of a management plan for what are often complex human problems and the wise application of therapeutic techniques, all require complex thinking skills. The process of communication with patients and their relatives is often fraught with pitfalls that requires a thoughtful approach that makes use of consciously shared information as well as non-verbal information. Evaluating scientific papers is another area that requires critical thinking. At times the lack of critical thinking is painfully apparent. It appears that schools, and sadly universities too, are merely training people and not educating them. Occasionally, of course, one is pleasantly surprised to come across a student with a very sharp and critical mind.
Background : Safety and health is one of major concerns in public health issues. There are lots of injuries or accidents reported in the news which include school accidents and injuries.
Methodology : This survey was conducted among head of primary schools in Kota Bharu from May to June 2004. The objective of this study was to investigate the awareness about safety and health status among school’s head using a questionnaire.
Result : The study showed that knowledge on safety and health among the school’s heads were relatively low (7.7%). Forty-two percent of the schools did not implement any safety and health programme while more than 50 % did not have safety policies in their school.
Conclusions : It is necessary to have specific safety programmes in school in order to improve the safety and health awareness among teachers, staff, students and community.
Consumers are reported to be increasingly concerned about their health. Nonetheless, consumers show different attitudes toward food at home and away from home. In particular, consumers tend to shy away from healthy food items when dining on special occasions. This study is the first to look into the number of healthy menu items provided to consumers during dining occasions. The impacts of two independent variables (dining occasion: normal vs. special; number of healthy items: limited vs. extended) on consumers’ dining menu selection was examined among female university students. The results of this study indicate that both dining occasion and the number of healthy items offered could influence consumers’ food selection independently. Although consumers are more likely to choose unhealthy items while dining’on special occasions, offering more healthy items would increase the probability of healthy eating. This study also offers some insights into the food categories and cooking methods favored by consumers. Further studies should explore other potential foods that would enhance the selection of healthy options by consumers.
Due to cost containment considerations, it is common to have medical schools being
located in buildings or campuses built for some other purposes. These buildings are converted into
medical schools which often compromising the functional architectural aspects. Objectives: The
paper examines, explores and proposes an architectural concept of a purpose-built medical school. The
architectural design proposed is sensitive to the values and norms of many schools around the globe.
Methods: An Internet search and personal communication were conducted, focusing on the concepts
of the functionality of medical school. It emphasises on general design of the main building, keeping
in mind the various kinds of teaching, learning and assessment activities. We examined lecture hall,
pre-clinical laboratory, skill laboratory, general facilities of Objective Structured Practical Examination
(OSPE) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Results: We present hypothetical
structural designs based on built-functions concepts. For example, for the better vision of students
around a demonstration table, an inclined floor surface is proposed. The concept is as illustrated by
anatomy dissection area built inclined upward from the cadaver table. It inevitably provides a better
visual access to the students around the table. Other teaching and learning areas are also illustrated
wherever appropriate in the text. Conclusion: The paper is hypothetical and explores innovative
structural designs of modern medical schools. While most are built to meet the demands of current
technology, it cannot however completely replace face-to-face teaching and learning processes.
Research in architectural designs of education buildings and facilities may be further developed into a
new research niche of medical education.
This study examines the relationship between religiosity and level of happiness in an Islamic context among Muslim students studying at Malaysian universities. The determinants of happiness included in this research are positive attitudes, self-esteem, and other-esteem. Religiosity has long been considered as the main determinant in increasing happiness, and educational level strengthens its relationship. For this purpose, the researchers sampled 230 Muslim students aged 17-40 years studying at Malaysian universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study found a positive and significant correlation between religious commitment and level of happiness. Religious commitment also shows positive and significant correlations with positive attitudes, self-esteem, and other-esteem. The study also concludes that educational attainment moderates the relationship between religious commitment and happiness. Thus, religious commitment plays a very important role in increasing levels of happiness.
Mastering the art of conducting a research along with the competitive era of publishing papers showed the importance of undergraduate research. The purpose of this research was to study the impact of undergraduate research “Special Study Module (SSM)” on Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) medical students and alumni.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study whereby 64 fifth year UKM medical students of academic-session 2014/2015 and 49 alumni of year 2010 were participated on their SSM research activities. The questionnaire administered online which enquired on participants’ level of interest, confidence and SSM research experiences. Frequency and percentage distribution were used for descriptive analysis.
Result: Out of 119 participants,113 responded giving a response rate of 95%. More than 90% respondents in both group felt that SSM experience was enriching and 80%–90% felt SSM experience was pleasant. In both groups 47%–50% respondents believed, SSM experience contributed their high level of interest on research. The most influencing factors on their level of interest were supervisor guidance as reported by73%–80% respondents. It was said that SSM supervisor was academically stimulating, impressive as role model and supportive. The most confidence skill was the ability to function within a group and least confidence skill was manuscript writing.
Conclusion: Undergraduate SSM research showed positive impact on participants’ research activities. More in-depth analysis should be considered especially on manuscript writing as the students were least confident in this skill.
The One Health (OH) approach, which seeks to bring together human and animal health, is particularly suited to the effective management of zoonotic diseases across both sectors. To overcome professional silos, OH needs to be taught at the undergraduate level. Here, we describe a problem-based learning activity using the OH approach that was conducted outdoors for 3(rd)-year veterinary students in Malaysia.
BACKGROUND: In order to provide a better healthcare education to the society, health care students should have an acceptable electronic health (E-Health) literacy.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the level of E-Health literacy of Medicine and Health Sciences university students in Mashhad, Iran.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 192 students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences using a validated Persian translate of the E-Health literacy scale (P-EHEALS) questionnaire in 2016. Demographic data including age, monthly income, level of education, preference of website for obtaining health related information and minutes of Internet use per day were obtained from the subjects. Independent-samples t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for comparison between groups, and Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to assess the correlation between study parameters and EHEALS score using SPSS version 21.
RESULTS: A total of 192 (67.2% female and 32.8% male) subjects with mean age of 24.71±5.30 years participated in the study. Mean P-EHEALS score of the subjects was 28.21±6.95. There was a significant difference in P-EHEALS score between genders (p<0.001), department (p=0.001), education level (p<0.001) and health status (p=0.003) as well as monthly income (p=0.03), website preference categories (p=0.02). Male students were significantly more likely to gain higher P-EHEALS scores.
CONCLUSION: The level of E-Health literacy was low in Medical and Health Sciences university students in Mashhad. More studies are needed to assess the contributors to E-Health literacy.
The purpose of this study is to determine the standard value of corneal thickness (CCT) and its relationship with the degree of myopia amongst one sample of myopic students in Malaysia. Eighty-four myopic subjects (168 eyes) were examined in this study. Ocular examination included subjective refraction, keratometry (Shin-Nippon, Japan) and optical pachometry (Sonogage INC). Corneal thickness was measured at five different locations i.e. central, superior, inferior, nasal and temporal of the cornea. However, only association of CCT with myopia is reported in this article. Mean age of subjects was 21.42 ± 1.47 years old (20.34 ± 1.15; 22.46 ± 0.88). Mean refractive error in spherical equivalent for the whole sample was –3.50 ± 2.10 DS. Mean corneal curvature for the all subjects was 7.74 ± 0.52 mm and mean value of CCT was 594.62 ± 66.51 mm. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between mean CCT of low myopes (-4.00DS and below) and higher ones (-4.25DS and above), but not with mean of keratometer readings. Poor correlations were obtained between refractive error and CCT (r = 0.125, p > 0.05) and between refractive error and corneal curvature (r = 0.24, p > 0.05). It was concluded from this study that high myopic subjects has significantly thinner CCT than lower ones. Measurement of CCT should be considered when undertaking procedures such as LASIK and orthokeratology.
This study aimed to determine the psychosocial factors associated with school truancy in secondary school students attending three high risk schools in Kuala Lumpur. It is a cross-sectional study involving 373 Form Four students. Socio demographic, family, living and school characteristics of the respondents were obtained through self-administered questionnaires. There were significantly greater percentage of divorced parents (p=0.025, OR=2.52, 1.01
The objective of this study was t0 determine the relationship between scores on McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA) and academic peU’ormance of school children. A total ofI12first and second graders aged 6 to 8 I/2 years old hom two primary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were selected as subjects for this study. This selection was based on a random sampling stratyied proportionalhr according to school and sex. The MSCA was administered to 59 male and 53 female students. The test battery was translated from English to Malay and adapted to suit the local situation. Academic performance was measured using the mean percent of the total score on all the subjects (English, Malay, Mathematics and Islamic Religion) in the jinal examinations at the end of the year. T—test results indicated no signdicant dfference between MSCA scores and academic scores of maleandkmale students. The results revealed that all the scores on the MSCA and the General Cognitive Index were signyicantbr correlated with academic pejormance, The General Cognitive Index accounted for [0.4% ofthe variation in academic performance. T he findings appear to support that intelligence scores may be used to predict children 's academic performance in the early years of primary education.
Objectives: To determine the association of students’ perception of schooling with externalizing/internalizing scores; and to examine the different perceptions related to truancy. Methods:A total of 373 predominantly 16 year-old students attending three high risk schools in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur completed the questionnaires on schooling variables (four items) and externalizing/internalizing syndromes (Youth Self-Report, 112 items). Results: Certain negative perceptions (uncertainty of the schooling purpose, thinking schooling as time wasting) were significantly associated with higher internalizing (p
Background: Tertiary education environment has always been regarded as highly stressful to students. Medical training further adds to the already stressful environment. The stress of medical training was associated with negative consequences to the mental and physical health of medical students. We describe in this article a stress-management program known as the 'Medical Student Well-Being Workshop' in our medical school.
Methodology: The workshop was run over two half-days over a weekend. Prior to the workshop the society announced the workshop to the students and participation was voluntary. It was open to students from all years of the medical course except for first year students. A separate stress management workshop is planned for them.
Results: A total of 55 students participated in the workshop, out of which 55 (82%) were female students. The years of study were almost equally represented; 14 students (26%) from years two and three, 20 (37%) from year four and 6 (11%) from year five. All sessions were rated as highly useful; the lowest rated, the introduction session, obtained an overall usefulness rating of 3.73 out of the possible 5 (74.6%).
Conclusion: Medical Students Well-being Workshop is a promising intervention program in improving medical students' ability in managing stress. Perhaps similar approach can be considered relevant to be incorporated in other medical schools.
This study aims to identify the perception of third year physiotherapy students on the teaching and learning during clinical placements. A sample of 154 third year undergraduate and diploma students from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the Universiti Teknologi Mara and the Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu completed the questionnaire. High internal reliability of teaching and learning activities scale in the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach alpha (α = 0.94). Findings showed significant differences (p < 0.05) of perception among students in the clinical block between different levels of education, the ideal number of students in a group during clinical teaching session, and in the activity of ‘patient-centered activities,’ as well as 'feedback to the student.’ These findings demonstrated that the level of education does influence the students’ perceptions on their teaching and learning during clinical placements. In conclusion, the level of education is a contributory factor that influences the students’ rate of learning in clinical education.
Keywords: Clinical education, physiotherapy students, perception, undergraduate, diploma
Summary of Paper: This study aimed to assess the knowledge on basic sciences and clinical psychiatry (psychopathology and clinical syndromes) of the part I candidates on the mock MCQ paper. Methodology and results: The study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study and was carried out in a group of postgraduate students in psychiatry from Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (UM) attending a series of revision course organized by the Department of Psychiatry, UKM. Revision course in psychiatry is an annual intensive course organized by the Department of Psychiatry, UKM to help young candidates preparing postgraduate psychiatry examination to refresh and consolidate their knowledge on basic sciences and clinical psychiatry. Candidates from various universities sitting for part 1 exam and completed their lectures and training in area of basic sciences are invited to attend this course which is held in The Department of Psychiatry, Hospital UKM.
Introduction: Ratings are known to have a generosity error, provide limited discrimination and distorted interpretation, and often fail to document serious deficits. A potential source of these problems is rater judgement. These problems compromise the capability of raters to maintain the standards of rating. The authors propose a simple grading system to improve this situation including providing feedback to raters. Method: The authors developed a grading system named the Discrepancy-Agreement Grade (DAG) to provide feedback on rater judgments. Dependent-t and intraclass correlation tests were applied to determine discrepancy and agreement levels of raters. Rater judgments were then classified into grades A, B, C or D. This grading system was tested in an examination and a student selection interview to assess rating judgments of examiners and interviewers. The purpose was to evaluate the practicability of the grading system to provide feedback on examiners’ and interviewers’ rating judgements. Results: in the examination, five short essays were rated by five pairs of senior lecturers. Out of 5 pairs, 2 (40%) obtained grade A and 3 (60%) obtained grade B. In the student selection interview, a total of 48 pairs of interviewers interviewed ten applicants. Out of 48 pairs, 20 (41.7%) obtained grade A, 1 (2.1%) obtained grade B, 23 (47.9%) obtained grade C and 4 (8.3%) obtained grade D. Conclusion: The grading system showed variability of rater judgments on medical students’ and applicants’ performance in an examination and interview session respectively. It provided feedback on the examiners’ and interviewers’ judgments on candidate performances. This exercise demonstrated practicability of the grading system to provide feedback on rater judgements.
Introduction: The LA-i was found to be valid, reliable, simple and easy to be administered and consumed minimal time. However, to author knowledge, none of articles reported its stability across multiple observations. Realising its potential, continued research is required to optimize its role, usefulness and applicability as a tool to help educators to understand their students’ learning approaches. Objective: To determine stability of the LA-i to measure characteristics of students’ learning approaches at different time and occasions in a sample of medical students.Method: A prospective cohort study was done on 177 first year medical students. It was administered to a cohort of medical students at four different intervals. The Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation analysis were applied to measure internal consistency and agreement level across the
intervals. The analysis was done using SPSS 18. Result: A total of 157 (88.7%) first year medical students responded completely to the inventory. The overall Cronbach’s alpha value of the LA-i at different intervals ranged between 0.79 and 0.92, The Cronbach’s alpha values for surface learning
approach subscale ranged between 0.65 and 0.80. The Cronbach’s alpha value for strategic learning approach subscale ranged between 0.76 and 0.84. The Cronbach’s alpha value for deep learning approach subscale ranged between 0.83 and 0.95. ICC values for the three learning approach subscales ranged between 0.46 and 0.50. Conclusion: This study reflected that the LA-i had high level of internal stability to measure students’ learning approaches at different time and occasions. Continued research is required to optimize its role, usefulness and applicability at various educational settings.
The Community Health Posting teaching module is incorporated in the fourth year medical curriculum at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). The integration of Islamic principles and values in the medical curriculum is emphasized during the Community Health Posting. The Community Health curriculum allow students to appreciate and understand the medical and fiqh aspects of health and disease, the social issues in medical practice and research and to inculcate the practice of Islamic professional etiquettes. The teaching module illustrates the relevance of humanities in understanding illness and medical care within the community. Teaching and learning activities include components that enable the students to explore a wide range of influencing factors and how these affect the patients and their families. Issues pertaining to psychosocial and ecological perspectives of the community are also discussed. This posting utilizes various teaching and learning techniques such as lectures, tutorials, seminars, group discussions, educational visits, practical sessions and patient bedside teaching. In addition, the students are equipped with Islamic knowledge through the integration of Naqli and Aqli components in the Community Health Posting curriculum.
Introduction: Attitudes towards animal welfare are important in influencing how animals are treated. Studies of attitudes towards animal welfare in veterinary students are scarce. It is hope that the findings will enhace a diverse research in the future in order to explore variety of factors in relation to animal welfare since such study is currently limited.
Objective: The study is to determine the associations of gender,year of study and empathy level of undergraduate DVM students in UPM into their attitude towards animal welfare.
Method: Questionnaires were given to 440 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine undergraduate students in UPM to study the associations between gender,year of study and empathy level with attitudes towards animal welfare. Data were collected from respondents through two sets of self guided questionnaires. Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) which assessed empathy level where only two sub-scales from the IRI were used. Empathic Concern (EC) and Perspective Taking (PT). Animal Attitude Scales (AAS) were used to assess attitudes towards animal welfare. Data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.
Result: 367 (83.4%) out of 440 students participated in this study. Antu-animal welfare attitude (74.9%) was the highest compared to the pro-animal welfare attitude (25.1%). Analysis showed a significant difference (p0.005) between gender and attitudes towards animal welfare (p=0.057) as well as between empathy level and attitudes towards animal welfarefor empathic concern sub-scale (p=0.194) and perspective taking sub-scale (p=0.320).
Conclusion: Majority of sudents were categorized as anti-animal welfareand the attitudes were significantly different among years of study. Female and malestudents have nomsignificant differences in their attitudes towards animal welfare. Students with ggod and poor empathy level also have no significant difference in their attitudes towards animal welfare.