Portfolio writing is a method of encouraging reflective learning among professionals. Although portfolio-based learning is popular among educators, not many studies have been done to determine students' perceptions of portfolio as a learning tool. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 143 medical students to find out their perceptions of the portfolio as a learning tool. A majority of the students felt that the portfolio is a good learning tool. However, they also perceived that it is stressful and time-consuming to develop a proper portfolio. The study indicates that students need appropriate guidance from the academic staff for the system to succeed.
The educational environment is widely considered to be a major factor affecting students' motivation and learning outcomes. Although students' perceptions of their educational environment are often reported, we are unaware of any published reports that relate this information to students' clinical competence, either self-perceived or objectively measured.
A 2-month-old male infant with a prenatally diagnosed obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction underwent a dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty. A transanastomotic double J ureteral stent was placed between the renal pelvis and the urinary bladder. This report describes the subsequent removal of the double J ureteral stent from the patient's urinary bladder without the aid of a cystoscope: a rigid biopsy forceps was introduced trans-urethrally into the urinary bladder, and the stent was removed with sonographic guidance. Removal of a ureteral stent with sonographic guidance has not been previously reported in infants. This technique may be particularly useful in developing countries, where appropriate-sized cystoscopes and accessories may not be available.