Soft Skill Components in Structured Nursing Clinical Skill Assessment on Assisted Procedures: A Clinical Audit

Background: Assisted procedures in nursing involve scenarios where nurses are tasked with supporting physicians in the execution of medical procedures.  Nursing academics play a crucial role in cultivating appropriate attitudes towards nursing students. This study aimed to examine the soft skill elements in objectively structured clinical skill assessment on assisted procedures in the undergraduate nursing programme. Methods: A clinical audit was carried out on the retrospective structured clinical skill assessment exam questions by using the clinical skill assessment index V (CSAI-V) instrument. A total of 3 assisted procedures set of exam questions were collected from 7 higher learning institutions in Malaysia where they offered the undergraduate nursing programme. The data were analysed descriptively. Results: There were 3 assisted procedures out of 237 collected exam documents found and analysed in this study. The assisted procedures were grouped into 7 types to make them more specific. Although there are nine soft skill elements were identified in relation to assisted procedures, including communication, social and responsibility, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, professional and ethical decision-making, numeracy, and interpersonal skills. However, none of the identified nine soft skill elements were found in the assessment rubrics. Conclusion: Thus, the current assisted procedure checklist needs improvement, especially the soft skills components. Besides, higher-learning nursing institutions should visit and revise the content of their checklist and the related materials if they are concerned about quality graduates

Public Awareness of Triage System in Emergency and Trauma Department: A Literature Review

A triage system is being implemented in the Emergency Department (ED) to help categorise the patients according to their acuity. However, there are limited studies discussing patients’ knowledge and understanding of the triage system. This review aimed to identify prior studies that discussed the patients’ knowledge and understanding of the triage system and to discover patients’ expectations of priority when they came to the ED and the reasons for attending the department. The articles were searched through several databases (IIUM Discovery Service, Science Direct, and PubMed) to obtain sources using the Boolean phrase 'AND', filtered down to English full-text articles with open access, and published between 2010 and 2020. A total of 16 studies were included in this review. Among all the studies, only one was conducted in the Southeast Asia region, Singapore. Most of the studies reported findings on reasons for visiting the ED for non-urgent attendance, and four of the studies discussed the patients’ awareness of the triage system. The patients need more information to improve their understanding of the triage system. The literature highlighted that most of the patients expected higher priority when they came to the ED. The main reason for their visit to the ED was because of the convenience offered by the ED in terms of operating hours and the availability of all facilities in one place. More studies about patient’s awareness and knowledge of the triage system need to be conducted to provide a clear insight into what they know about the triage system

When Student Midwives Make Clinical Mistakes: A Qualitative Study in Brunei Darussalam

Background: This study aimed to understand how student midwives perceive clinical mistakes and describe how they are supported by healthcare professionals when mistakes are made. Methods: The study adopted an exploratory qualitative research design with a sample of 9 undergraduate midwifery students from a higher institution in Brunei Darussalam. Data was collected through semi-structured online interviews with five open-ended questions. Results: Three broad themes were identified, namely: (1) Clinical mistakes as lessons, (2) Toxic work environment, and (3) Value of appropriate guidance. Conclusion: The findings indicate the student midwives’ perceptions regarding mistakes encountered in the clinical setting. The student's capacity and motivation to learn were impeded by the unsupportive environment and unwelcoming attitudes demonstrated by certain midwives, including the mentors. However, they viewed clinical mistakes as opportunities to grow and learn. Furthermore, the students emphasised the significance of guidance and mentorship from clinical educators in developing proficient midwives. Thus, by recognising mistakes as learning opportunities and receiving the appropriate support from mentors, students may be better prepared to provide high-quality care for mothers and infants.

Prevalence and Perspectives of Cyberbullying Victimisation and Its Effect on Mental Health Among Students in Public Higher Education Institutions in the East Coast Region

Introduction: Cyberbullying has emerged as a prevalent issue, were perpetrators harm victims through technology, often anonymously. It is also has been linked with significant negative outcomes in psychological aspects such as social anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, affective disorders, sleeping and eating disorders. Thus, this study aims to examine the association between students' socio-demographics, their experience of cyberbullying and its psychological effects among Public Higher Education Institutions (IPTA) students in the East Coast region. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 IPTA students in East Coast region by using a convenient sampling. The online survey was distributed consist mainly of 3 parts, sociodemographic data, perspective and experiences of being cyberbullied and DASS-21 questionnaires. Results: 36.6% students have experienced of being cyberbullied, with 19.6% have been cyberbullied almost every day. However, 23.3% reported that the cyberbullying was not harsh at all, 11.4% harsh and 2.0% really harsh. About 24.1% respondents do not have an impact at all, 10.5% have small impact and 2.0% have huge impact on daily life. There was no significant difference between gender and year of study concerning the experience of being cyberbullied among undergraduate IPTA students in the East Coast region (p-value>0.05). However, age showed a significant association with the experience of being cyberbullied (p-value<0.05) with majority of students that had experienced of being cyberbullied was in the range 22-23 years old. There was no significant difference in perspectives on cyberbullying between males and females (p-value>0.05), but age significantly influenced perspectives on cyberbullying (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggest that the emotional impact of cyberbullying varies based on individual circumstances and personal perspectives on cyberbullying. Future research should explore the underlying factors contributing to the higher prevalence of cyberbullying among female students and those aged 22-23

Essential Life-Saving Skills for Schoolchildren: A Scoping Review

Background: Teaching lifesaving skills such as first aid and initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to schoolchildren can increase the lifelong ability and motivation of young people to take action in an emergency. Methods: This scoping review aimed to look for the literature related to the essential life-saving skills for schoolchildren, focusing on first aid and initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before the arrival of medical professionals. A scoping review was conducted by using the PRISMA guidelines to meet the objective of this study. Results: Fourteen articles published between 2017 and 2024 were analyzed, revealing three main themes: educational approaches for teaching first aid and CPR to schoolchildren, the effectiveness of first aid and CPR Training Programmes for schoolchildren, and barriers and facilitators of First Aid and CPR Training Programmes for schoolchildren. Conclusion: Findings suggest a crucial need to equip schoolchildren with the necessary skills to respond effectively to emergencies. Recommendations include implementing comprehensive first aid and CPR training programmes as life-saving skills for schoolchildren in schools

Comprehensive Analysis of School-Related Injuries: A Global Perspective

Background:  Injuries among school children globally pose significant concerns, attributed to a myriad of factors including gender differences, environmental risks, and behavioural patterns. This comparative analysis delves into the prevalence of school-related injuries across nations, highlighting disparities and underscoring the necessity for tailored safety measures. Notably, boys exhibit higher vulnerability due to their propensity for active behaviour and engagement in physical activities, with common injury sites identified as playgrounds and classrooms. Methods: The research methodology employed a meticulous approach, selecting pertinent articles from databases such as IIUM, Proquest, Pubmed, ResearchGate, and Science Direct. From an initial pool of 879 articles, 14 were identified through systematic screening, focusing on aspects related to the knowledge, attitude, and practice of first aid. This selection process ensured a targeted exploration of relevant literature, providing insights into injury management strategies within school settings. Results: Findings reveal the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols within schools, particularly in regions like Malaysia where injuries rank as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children. The comparative analysis across low- and middle-income countries further elucidates variations in hospital admission rates for addressing unintentional injuries in children, highlighting the importance of context-specific interventions. Conclusion: In conclusion, safeguarding the well-being of school children necessitates a holistic approach that addresses both individual behavior and environmental factors. Robust safety measures, informed by comprehensive research and tailored to specific contexts, are imperative for creating safer learning environments during the critical developmental years of children. Through proactive initiatives and collaboration between educators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, the goal of mitigating injury incidence and promoting overall child health and well-being can be achieved

Prevention of Dementia Through Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training: A Narrative Review

Background: Dementia reduces the ability to live independently, thus deteriorating the patient’s quality of life and caregivers' mental health. Consequently, dementia indirectly affects economic and social growth. Dementia is also a major contributor to death worldwide. There is no effective treatment for dementia, but preventing physical and cognitive inactivity among the elderly could help. Studies show that the risk of dementia increases in the elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This review set out to compare the effects of physical exercise (PE) and cognitive training (CT) on cognitive performance among the elderly with MCI, by examining the evidence from published literature between 2013-2023. Four major electronic databases were used to search the relevant studies, resulting in 2782 articles. A total of fourteen articles were included in the review. Results: The findings showed that interventions with naturally combined cognitive and physical training not only improved cognitive performance, but also prevented the elderly from stress and fatigue. Integrating physical exercise and cognitive training interventions with the best combination method is crucial to ensure participant adherence. Therefore, the intervention can be incorporated effectively into healthcare policies and programs to support cognitive health in aging populations. Conclusion: Future studies should also explore the optimal duration of training sessions to maximise cognitive benefits and ensure participant adherence and motivation