Simulation model algorithm for pre-hospital emergency care (PHEC) volunteers in Indonesia

The first responders who are often exposed to emergency condition play important roles in providing PHEC to victims with road accident trauma. Hence, empowerment of first responders is highly required to achieve the target of response time of less than 10 minutes to provide PHEC in order to minimize the numbers of deaths and disabilities caused by trauma. This study applied quasi-experimental design with static group comparison pattern using cross-sectional approach. A number of 40 samples of common people consisting of 20 samples in treatment group and 20 samples in control group were taken. The statistic test used in this research is t-test. The results reveals that simulation model using algorithm influences the improvement of traffic volunteers’ emergency management capabilities with p-value of < 0.05 and mean score difference of 34.5%, and the model is highly effective to be implemented to improve the capability of traffic assistant volunteers to manage trauma emergency with the mean score difference of 11.5%. Algorithm models for PHEC simulation have some strengths in real setting and effective interactive learning to evaluate the capabilities of first responders in managing pre-hospital emergency, and improve problem-solving skills, as well as their performance in such aspects as skill, knowledge, and attitude

Effectiveness of debriefing towards healthcare professionals’ nontechnical skills: a critical review

The importance of nontechnical skills among healthcare professionals is gaining widespread recognition as critical elements complementing technical skills that are used to improve patients’ safety. These skills are typically acquired through simulation training which has emerged as an effective way to complement clinical training. Effective simulation requires structure and effective debriefing methods to enhance its learning outcome. In previous literature, evidence of the effectiveness of healthcare simulation was available but studies evaluating debriefing method(s) remain sparse. In this paper, the effectiveness of debriefing methods in eight studies on the acquisition of nontechnical skills among healthcare professionals is reviewed. Articles published from 1st January 2016 across three different databases were referred to. The results of the review show a statistically significant improvement in the performance of nontechnical and technical skills across different professionals through various methods of debriefing. Nontechnical skills such as teamwork, effective communication, decision-making, and situational awareness have improved significantly. In addition, integration of realism in simulation learning has begun to emerge as an effective technique of providing a real world experience. However, there was lack of detailed information on the length and type of debriefing conducted in the studies. These methods clearly require further research since the key to successful simulation learning is through debriefing which is the heart of simulation

Brain activation display functional asymmetry in response to action, background and tonal frequency during a pitch memory processing: an fMRI study

In this study, the asymmetry of the main effects of action, background and tonal frequency during a pitch memory processing were investigated by means of brain activation. Eighteen participants (mean age 27.6 years) were presented with low and high frequency tones in quiet and in noise. They listen, discriminate and recognize the target tone against the final tone in a series of four distracting tones. The main effects were studied using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) with action (to wring (rubber bulb) vs. not to wring), background (in quiet vs. in noise) and frequency (low vs. high) as the factors (and levels respectively). The main effect of action is in the right pre-central gyrus (PCG), in conformation with its contralateral behavior. The main effect of background indicated the bilateral primary auditory cortices (PAC) and is right lateralized, attributable to white noise. The main effect of frequency is also observed in PAC but bilaterally equal and attributable to low frequency tones. Despite the argument that the temporo-spectral lateralization dichotomy is not especially rigid as revealed by the main effect of frequency, right lateralization of PAC for the respective main effect of background clearly demonstrates its functional asymmetry suggesting different perceptual functionality of the right and left PAC

The effect of burned liver on the length, weight and development of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) – a preliminary assessment and implications in forensic entomology

Development of insects in laboratory for minimum post mortem interval estimation (mPMI) or time of colonisation (TOC) in forensic entomology can be affected by the type and quality of food consumed during larval period. Since mPMI estimation also involves analysis of larval specimens collected from burned human remains, it is important to study if burned tissues could affect growth of sarcosaprophagous larvae. This study investigated the effect of burned tissues on the size and developmental period of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae), a species of forensic importance. Development of M. scalaris on 75 g burned cow’s liver was compared with control liver in three study replicates. Mean larval length (2.87 ± 0.11 mm) and weight (0.81 ± 0.08 mg) of M. scalaris larvae in burned liver diets were significantly lower than larval length (5.03 ± 0.15 mm) and weight (2.85 ± 0.21 mg) of control liver diets (p < 0.001) whilst mean pupal length (2.53 ± 0.06 mm) and weight (0.92 ± 0.06 mg) in burned liver diets were significantly lower than pupal length (3.52 ± 0.06 mm) and weight (2.84 ± 0.16 mg) in control liver diets (p < 0.001). Development of larvae in burned liver was 5-9 hours slower than those feeding on control liver based on single observation. Although the assessment is preliminary, the findings indicate physical growth of larvae feeding on burned animal tissues was affected and entomological specimens recovered from burned remains should be evaluated carefully to avoid errors in mPMI/TOC estimation. Limitations and suggestions for further research are also presented herei

Assessing neuroplasticity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in patient with left-temporo-parietal pilocytic astrocytomas treated with endoscopic surgery

Neuroplasticity has been subjected to a great deal of research in the last century. Recently, significant emphasis has been placed on the global effect of localized plastic changes throughout the central nervous system, and on how these changes integrate in a pathological context. The present study aimed to demonstrate the functional cortical reorganization before and after surgery using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in a participant with brain tumor. Results of Visual Evoked Magnetic Field (VEF) based on functional MEG study revealed significantly different of MEG N100 waveforms before and after surgery. Larger and additional new locations for visual activation areas after the surgery were found suggesting neuroplasticity. The present study highlight a physiological plasticity in a teenage brain and the alterations regarding neural plasticity and network remodeling described in pathological contexts in higher-order visual association areas

Sintesis, penilaian biologi dan kajian dok sebatian auron ke atas enzim xantin oksidase

Perencatan aktiviti xantin oksidase (XO) merupakan satu pendekatan terapeutik yang berkesan dalam rawatan penyakit seperti gout dan hiperurikemia. Selain itu, penggunaan perencat XO juga dapat diluaskan kepada rawatan kecederaan contohnya reperfusi iskemia di pelbagai organ seperti jantung, hati dan buah pinggang. Dalam kajian ini, sebanyak 7 sebatian auron telah disintesis dan diuji ke atas XO dan dibandingkan dengan kawalan positif allopurinol. Sebatian 5e dikenalpasti sebagai sebatian yang paling berpotensi dan mampu merencatkan separuh daripada aktiviti XO pada 33.23 μM diikuti oleh sebatian 5f pada 210.22 μM dan sebatian 5d pada 302.0 μM. Kajian dok molekul telah dijalankan untuk memahami interaksi penting antara auron yang terpilih dengan tapak aktif XO

Medical officers’ awareness, involvement and training in dysphagia management

Awareness, involvement and training in dysphagia management are essential to ensure that patients are appropriately assessed for dysphagia and provided with intervention. The study aimed to identify levels of awareness, involvement and training of medical officers in dysphagia management. A total of 51 medical officers from the family medicine, medical, otorhinolaryngology, surgery, and neurosurgery departments in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in the study. Levels of awareness, involvement and training of medical officers in dysphagia management were reported using descriptive analysis. Results indicate that medical officers lacked awareness and training in dysphagia management. Referral rates to speech-language pathologists for dysphagia management were low with 58.4% of medical officers having had seldom or never referred patients. The results provide valuable information for addressing dysphagia management in the hospital

Validation of the Malay version of the snyder hope scale among Malaysian cancer patients

Hope leads to lower depression and anxiety and is associated with improved quality of life of cancer patients. In this study, Hope Scale (HS) was translated into Malay, and the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Hope Scale were investigated among Malaysian cancer patients. Concurrent translation and back translation of the original English version of the Hope Scale were performed, and the Malay version was administered to 195 cancer patients with different cancer diagnoses at baseline assessment and 2 months later at follow-up. The Hope Scale (Malay) total score (Cronbach’s α = 0.72; intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.67) and its domains (Cronbach’s α [pathway] = 0.7; Cronbach’s α [agency] = 0.7; ICC[Pathway] = 0.64; ICC[Agency] = 0.70) demonstrated acceptable internal consistencies and test-retest reliability. Convergent and discriminant validities were also achieved by the Hope Scale (Malay). The Hope Scale (Malay) demonstrated construct validity, as confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the items in the Hope Scale (Malay) best fit into two domains, which was true for the original English version. The Hope Scale (Malay) had acceptable psychometric properties and thus is suitable for assessing hope in Malaysian cancer patients

Corak hilang upaya dalam kalangan pekerja di Malaysia: kajian kes bagi pencarum PERKESO

Kecederaan yang berkait dengan pekerjaan merupakan suatu isu yang perlu diambil berat untuk mengurangkan permasalahan hilang upaya dan kematian di tempat kerja. Pekerja sihat dan berproduktiviti tinggi merupakan salah satu faktor yang penting kepada peningkatan ekonomi sesebuah negara. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti corak hilang upaya bagi pekerja yang dilindungi Skim Bencana Pekerjaan di bawah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial Malaysia (PERKESO) untuk tahun 2009-2013. Berdasarkan perihalan diskriptif yang diperoleh, sebanyak 80% daripada jumlah keseluruhan pekerja yang mengalami masalah hilang upaya atau kematian di tempat kerja merupakan pekerja lelaki. Selain itu, pekerja yang berumur 25 tahun dan ke atas lebih terdedah kepada kecederaan dan kematian yang berkait dengan pekerjaan. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan faktor sosiodemografi seperti jantina dan umur, serta tahap hilang upaya merupakan beberapa faktor penting yang perlu dipertimbangkan dalam mengenal pasti corak hilang upaya dalam kalangan pekerja

Socio-demographic factors associated with knowledge and uptake of family planning among women of reproductive age in a Rural Community of Abuja, Nigeria

Nigeria has a population of about 180 million, estimated to double in 22 years due to low uptake of family planning services. Low utilization of family planning is the major factor associated with high fertility pattern in Nigeria. This trend is higher among rural women in Northern Nigeria. Without a thorough understanding of, and due attention to the local context, utilization of family planning may continue to be low. Identification of correlates of family planning would be invaluable in designing strategies for ultimately improving uptake of family planning services. This study became relevant as no previous study on family planning has been carried out in Ushafa Community. The study was conducted at Ushafa community, a rural community, located in Bwari Area Council on the northern axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were permanent resident of Ushafa Community. Using proportion of contraceptive usage of 16% from a previous study, 240 women were recruited into the study by systematic sampling technique. Data was collected by means of a structured interviewer administered questionnaire, data was entered and analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. All tests were conducted using 2 tails while level of significance was set at 0.05. About a quarter of respondents (26.3%) knew that amenorrhoea could be a side effect of oral contraceptive pills, 51.1% knew that oral contraceptive pills must be taken daily, 58% were not using any form of family planning. Age (χ2 = 8.382, p = 0.01) and marital status (χ2 = 8.915, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with family planning knowledge. Level of education was significantly associated with current use of family planning (χ2 = 10.78, p = 0.03). Educational status was significantly associated with likelihood of using family planning in the future (χ2 = 8.64, p = 0.04). Although the respondents had fairly good knowledge of family planning, the study observed some misconceptions especially with respect to side effects and methodology of use of the commodities. Low uptake of family planning was observed among the respondents. Age and marital status were significantly associated with family planning knowledge; level of education was significantly associated with current use of family planning. There is need for incorporation of facts on usage and side effects of family planning in message disseminated by health workers in health facilities in Ushafa Community so as to correct misconceptions