Evaluation and associated factors of public health emergency management among medical college students in a city in Southwest China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Colleges and universities face an increased risk of public health emergencies. Among them, medical colleges and universities deserve more attention as they serve as the play a fundamental role in providing public health emergency services and in cultivating medical professionals. Effectively managing infectious disease prevention and control, as well as responding to public health emergencies in medical colleges and universities, is of great importance for enhancing the capacity of social emergency governance and improving the completeness of the public health system. This study aims to understand the management of public health emergencies in medical colleges in a city in southwest China, explore the factors associated with medical college students' evaluations, and provide recommendations for emergency management mechanisms in colleges and universities.

METHODS

In total, 781 medical college students were selected through stratified random sampling and surveyed using a questionnaire. The main factors affecting students' evaluation of emergency management were analyzed using multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

The overall emergency management situation in medical colleges was relatively complete, with satisfactory results. Medical college students' satisfaction with the timeliness of prevention measures was the highest, while the publicity and education were the lowest. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that grades, emergency education, -simulation training, -information reporting, and dynamic adjustment measures were associated with the evaluation of emergency management by medical students.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the evaluation of emergency management in medical colleges was generally positive, certain limitations still existed. To improve the development of the public health system, colleges and universities should constantly reform and innovate emergency management mechanisms according to the important links in the prevention and control processes.

Study of the structure and functioning of referral mechanism of patients receiving treatment and records linkage under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) of Government of India

BACKGROUND

The reliable and successful performance of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) "referral mechanism" is profoundly important in the medical college scenario, and it is an important requirement of the programme to have feedback status report of the referred patients.

METHODS

An observational study on tuberculosis (TB) patients referred from Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) Centre, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) was conducted during the years 2010 to 2012 (n=622). Subjects referred to other TUs within the District but failed to report there within 45 days constituted "cases" and subjects, who obtained treatment from the TUs they were referred to "controls". The initial information or confirmation of registration for treatment status feedback were obtained from patient/Senior Treatment Supervisor (STS)/District Tuberculosis Centre (DTC) levels respectively both before using intervention (Phase I, year 2010) and after using intervention (Phase II, years 2011 and 2012) by sending day-to-day text messaging of referral details of patients to the STS and District Tuberculosis Officer (DTO).

RESULTS

During Phase I, the distribution of subjects (n=242) in the ages ≤25, 26-50, and ≥51 years was similar in both the cases and control subjects (p=0.054). Further, there was no statistically significant difference in the median age of the cases and controls [34.5 (interquartile range, IQR 31-51) vs 39 (30-54); p=0.319]. There was no statistically significant difference in other parameters, such as gender distribution (p=0.9748); availability of phone numbers (p=0.9614); type of disease (p=0.8395); and type of case (p=0.0793). In Phase II, the effect of intervention on feedback related parameters showed statistically significant improvement in all the parameters such as initial feedback levels obtained within 15 days (p=0.0077); within 45 days (p<0.0001); above 45 days (p<0.0001); registration status confirmation within 45 days (p=0.0343); mismatch of feedback received by observer (p<0.0001); and telephone number of patients recorded (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that text messaging reminders may be an important tool to achieve optimal feedback response in resource-limited settings.

Stress and Stressors among Medical Undergraduate Students: A Cross-sectional Study in a Private Medical College in Tamil Nadu

Background:

Medical education is perceived as being stressful, and a high level of stress may have a negative effect on cognitive functioning and learning of students in a medical school.

Objectives:

To (a) assess the perceived stress among medical undergraduate students, (b) identify the sources of stress, and (c) find an association of perceived stress with sociodemographic characteristics and various stressors.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical undergraduate students in a private medical college in Tamil Nadu. A total of 750 medical students from 1^st year to final year were invited to participate in the study. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding sociodemographic profile, perceived stress using perceived stress scale-14 and academic, psychosocial and environmental stressors. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the sociodemographic characteristics, sources of stress and perceived stress. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to assess determinants of stress.

Results:

The overall response rate was 93.33% (700 out of 750 students). The mean perceived stress score was 25.64 ± 5.44. Higher age-group, year of studying bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery, vastness of academic curriculum, fear of poor performance in examination, lack of recreation, loneliness, family problem, and accommodation away from home were important determinants of perceived stress.

Conclusions:

The perceived stress was higher among higher age group and final year medical students. Academic, psychosocial, and environmental stressors are associated with perceived stress. Reframing the academic curriculum and examination patterns, incorporating recreational and sports activities, and establishment of counseling cells in the institution is needed.

A study to assess the emotional disorders with special reference to stress of medical students of agartala government medical college and govinda ballabh pant hospital

Background:

Stress is very common psychological phenomena where medical students faced in day to day activities. Epidemiological studies have asserted that about 70-80% of the diseases may be related to stress. Research related to this stress especially among medical students is essential, considering their learning, role and responsibilities as a future physician and health intervention programs.

Objectives:

To estimate the prevalence of stress and identify stressors among medical students.

Materials and Methods:

A Cross-sectional study was carried out among undergraduate medical students and self administered GHQ-12 and stressor questionnaire were used to collect information regarding stress. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratio (OR).

Results:

Prevalence of stress was 94.52% and more common among females. 33.56% students felt constantly under strain and 25.34% had loss of sleep over worry. Majority of the students of all semesters had stress (P > 0.05) and stressors viz. ‘competition for marks’ (P = 0.005), ‘frequent examination’ (P = 0.001), ‘difficulty in finding time for recreation’ (P = 0.014) and ‘being away from home’ (P = 0.027) were predominantly experienced by the 1^st year medical students. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the causal effect of main parameter on the GHQ caseness and students who found difficulties in following teaching language among the caseness had 81.59% higher chance of developing stress (OR = 8.159, CI = 1.228-54.213).

Conclusion:

The stress experience was more common due to academics and seen among all year of medical students. Strategy development for eliminating stressors is necessary for promoting healthy life.

The Relationship between Empathy and Medical Education System, Grades, and Personality in Medical College Students and Medical School Students

PURPOSE

This study investigated the relationship between empathy and medical education system, grades, and personality in medical college (MC) students and medical school (MS) students.

METHODS

One hundred fifty-five MC students and 137 MS students participated in this study, completing questionnaires on sociodemographic data, Jefferson Scale of Empathy, S-version, Korean edition (JSE-S-K), and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).

RESULTS

Reward Dependence (RD), Cooperativeness (C), and Self-directedness+ Cooperativeness (SC), which are subscales of the TCI, correlated significantly with JSE-S-K score. Third-year students had significantly higher scores on the JSE-S-K than first-year students. MS students had significantly higher scores on the JSE-S-K and the SC subscale of the TCI than MC students. However, there were no significant differences in empathy with regard to age, sex, motivation toward medical science, club activity, and applied specialty.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that empathy is associated with personality traits, such as RD, C, and SC, and medical education curriculum contributes incrementally to empathy for students. The difference in test scores for empathy between MC students and MS students might be due to differences in personality traits, such as SC.