Evaluation of medical students' knowledge of psychoactive substances in the context of their future role in addiction prevention and therapy

This study assesses the knowledge of medical students on the health effects of the use of psychoactive substances, in the context of their future role in prevention and treatment of addictions. The study was conducted using a questionnaire containing questions about classification, symptoms and effects of psychoactive substances, and the existing prevention programs. The study involved 430 students of medicine and allied faculties. Only 20.8% of medicine students and 12.5% of students of other faculties could correctly classify different psychoactive substances. Correct symptoms of drug misuse were mentioned by 20.4% of medicine students and 19.2% of students of other faculties. The overall knowledge of medical students was no greater than the knowledge of students of other allied faculties. Medical students showed insufficient knowledge about psychoactive substances and their effects on the human body, thus indicating the need to introduce into their study programme a more teaching in this area.

Effectiveness of Utilizing an Evidence Based Safety Curriculum to Increase Student Knowledge

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of utilizing an evidence based, "Train the Trainer" approach to increase the safety knowledge and awareness of secondary students. Participating teachers attended a 10-hour, inquiry-based summer training workshop utilizing National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operations Program (NSTMOP) materials focusing on roll-over protection structures, mini-tilt table construction, and on-farm tractor risk assessments. Teachers incorporated workshop lessons into existing curricula. Students completed pretests prior to instruction and posttests after instructional units were delivered. A total of 118 students provided completed pre- and posttests, with most students identifying as male and more than half enrolled in ninth grade. Wilcoxon Sign-Rank test showed students' posttests were statistically significantly (Z =-5.22, p < .001) higher than pre-tests. Student performance in this study suggests the Fair Labor Standards Act exemption provided for youth between the ages of 14 and 15 years old who have completed specific safety training needs to be revisited. Additionally, increasing the age restriction for hazardous occupations in agriculture would be consistent with other industries. In order for students to learn agricultural safety in the classroom setting, teachers participating in this study may consider preparation and continuing education programs that incorporate more production-based experiences focused on safety.

Improving student knowledge and perceptions of primary care providers at campus health centers

OBJECTIVE

To examine current knowledge and perceptions toward primary care providers commonly staffed at student health centers (PAs and NPs), and also assess the effectiveness of information-rich provider biographies to improve knowledge and perceptions.

PARTICIPANTS

One thousand six hundred forty six students from 2 universities in 2 states participated in this study from February to November, 2016.

METHODS

An online survey. Students were exposed to an improved biography of an NP discussing how she can perform many of the same duties as primary care physicians. Changes in knowledge and perceptions were assessed pre- and post-biography exposure.

RESULTS

More than half of students are unaware NPs and PAs can prescribe medications and diagnose illnesses. Students exposed to the biography increased their knowledge of NPs, and perceptions of their expertise.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest improved provider biographies on student health centers' websites can help reduce the knowledge deficit that exists among students regarding common primary care providers.

Students' knowledge of, and attitudes toward, mentoring: a case study at the Master's Program in Health and Hospital Administration

INTRODUCTION

Mentoring has been defined as a process whereby the mentor guides the mentee in personal or professional development. Few mentoring programs are available to prepare the qualified and scientifically trained administrators required to manage the rapidly expanding national health services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We wanted to measure the attitude and knowledge of the students of the Master's Program in Health and Hospital Administration toward mentoring.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional survey, design study, conducted at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants were students enrolled in the master's program. The dimensions of the questionnaire were demographics, knowledge about mentoring, understanding of mentoring, perception toward mentoring, attitude toward mentoring, experience with mentoring, and the need of mentoring. A Likert scale was used to measure responses.

RESULTS

Among 120 students, the response rate was 85%. In the domain of attitude toward mentoring, 92% of the respondents stated that mentoring is an effective method of developing their potential. The mean age was 30±4 years, 75.5% were female, 36% had finished at least two semesters, and 92% expressed a strong need for mentoring in the master program.

CONCLUSION

Mentorship is considered an important underutilized educational tool, which has great potential if implemented properly. Our university masters' students demonstrated a need for mentoring that we believe is a good platform to plan future development of mentorship programs.

Effect of a breast cancer health education program on the awareness and practice of jeddah female secondary school students

OBJECTIVE

To identify the effect of a school health education program on the knowledge of secondary school girls in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, of breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE) and their practice of BSE.

METHODOLOGY

A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was administered to secondary students before the commencement of the health education to assess their knowledge on breast cancer and their practice of BSE. The same questionnaire was handed 6 months later to a smaller group of these students as a post-test. As the post-test group was smaller than the pre-test group, an equal sample size from the pre-test group was drawn for comparison. Random sampling and further analysis was done using the SPSS program, and for the comparison of the two groups, the student t-test and chi square were used.

RESULTS

The post-test was answered by 1372 students. The sampled re-test group comprised 1400 students (N= 7663) forming a sample of 18.3%. The ages for both groups ranged between 16-25 years (mean = 18.4; SD=1.9). Saudi nationals formed 73.4% of both groups and the proportion of married students was 8.4%. Those who reported that they had relatives with breast mass were 11.2%. The mean knowledge indexes on breast cancer reached 19.7 for the pre-test group and 43.0 for the post-group (t=31.2; p<0.0001). Correct answers for BSE rose significantly among the post-test group. A proportion of 27.2% students from the post-group reported that they had been motivated to practice BSE at least 3 times during the last 6 month.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The outcome of the school health education program on breast cancer had been successful in raising the awareness of secondary school girls and in helping them to practice BSE more. Hence, it is recommended that the programme be implemented in all female secondary schools and colleges.