The Maltese nobility during the Hospitaller period : towards a reappraisal

Over the last thirty years the nobilities of early modern Europe have become a subject of major interest for historians working on the social history of the period. This increase in attention has resulted in the development of new approaches to what is a very productive topic of research, in the course of which some established conceptions on the European nobilities have been revised. This paper draws on a number of these new approaches and revisions to suggest ways in which they might illuminate similar research on the Maltese nobility during the Hospitaller period. Through a discussion of the existing research on early modern Maltese society, this paper highlights two broad sets of questions that arise from the study of the Maltese nobility. These questions concern the disintegration of Maltese elites following the arrival of the Order of St John in 1530, and the formation of a new titled elite in the eighteenth century. In the course of addressing the second set of questions, this paper puts forward the hypothesis that the increase in the number of titleholders in the eighteenth century was connected to the contest over jurisdictions and privileges between the magistracy and the inquisition. This paper offers a tour d'horizon of the existing historiography on these topics and draws on some examples from the copious source material that is available for further research.peer-reviewe

The final examination in medicine : time for change?

Most medical programmes culminate in a final assessment, in order that participants may be tested and graded. In June 1995, at the University of Malta, a group of 53 medical students sat for their final examination; medicine was one of the three co-equal component subjects of this statutory qualifying examination. The scope of this paper is to analyze the results obtained in the final examination in medicine and to use this data to address such issues as aims of this examination, method and quality assurance of assessment. The result obtained by candidates in the final examination in medicine was correlated with their university entry qualifications. The composite mark for each candidate was split into its components and analysis took the form of description, correlation and clustering. Computation of Cronbach’s alpha facilitated anlaysis of reliability of each of the three parts of the examination. The findings of this paper suggest that there is room for improving the quality of assessment methods. A review of methods and procedures, with the dual purpose of decreasing bias and increasing specificity and sensitivity of this statutory examination will not only benefit candidates, but ultimately also the University of Malta. The final qualifying examination in medicine should have clearly defined objectives and methods of assessment should be aimed specifically at reaching them. It needs to be able to assess the ability to think critically about diagnosis and management and to ensure that the candidate has a satisfactory base of factual knowledge. It also needs to assess objectively the adequacy of basic clinical skills and candidates’ facility of communication.peer-reviewe

Clinicians’ adherence to local antibiotic guidelines for upper respiratory tract infections in the ear, nose & throat casualty department of a public general hospital

Background: In Malta, resistance to antibiotics constitutes a major threat to public health. This study aims to assess clinicians’ adherence to local antibiotic guidelines when treating cases of acute otitis media, acute tonsillitis and rhinosinusitis, that present to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) casualty department in Malta’s public general hospital, as well as to recommend methods for improving adherence and minimising overprescribing. Methodology: Data on first line antibiotic prescribing regimens was retrieved from ENT casualty sheets between February and March 2015 for adult patients (>12years) diagnosed with acute otitis media, acute tonsillitis and persistent rhinosinusitis. On an audit form, aspects of the prescribed antibiotic were benchmarked to local infection control antibiotic guidelines of 2011 to evaluate adherence. Results: From 1010 casualty records, 188 were antibiotic prescriptions, of which 93 (49.4%) were correctly indicated as per guidelines. From the indicated prescriptions 81 (87%) were assessable, out of which full adherence was only observed in 6 (7%) of prescriptions. All of these were for rhinosinusitis. Full adherence in rhinosinusitis was found to be 43%, whilst no adherence was found in the other infections. The most prescribed antibacterial for all three infections was co-amoxiclav. Conclusion: The current antibiotic guidelines have not been adequately implemented as adherence to antibiotic choice alone was low in all infections. This may have an impact on antibiotic-resistant rates and infection incident rates. Hence to improve adherence to local antibiotic guidelines, it is recommended that these should be clear, regularly updated, well disseminated and reinforced. The addition of a care pathway may further improve appropriate antibiotic use.peer-reviewe

Book review: analysing corruption: an introduction by Dan Hough

In Analysing Corruption: An Introduction, Dan Hough offers a new textbook that particularly underscores the difficulties of defining, measuring and and analysing corruption. While arguing that some of the challenges facing corruption research and policy may be overstated in the book, this is a good wide-ranging introduction to some of the main ideas and evidence driving the study of corruption today, finds Paul Caruana-Galizia

Book review: places in need: the changing geography of poverty by Scott W. Allard

In Places in Need: The Changing Geography of Poverty, Scott W. Allard challenges the impression that the American suburbs offer a hub of prosperity and a safe haven from issues such as unemployment and crime. Demonstrating the alarming growth in suburban poverty across the USA and proposing some policy changes to try and fix the decline, this is a deeply ..

Book review: trading barriers: immigration and the remaking of globalization by Margaret E. Peters

In Trading Barriers: Immigration and the Remaking of Globalization, Margaret E. Peters explores how freer international trade has led to more restrictive immigration policies around the world. While questioning some elements of its structure and style, Paul Caruana-Galizia nonetheless welcomes this as a timely and well-researched study that offers valuable insight into the trade-offs between free trade and immigration. Trading Barriers: Immigration ..

Book review: Orbán: Europe's new strongman by Paul Lendvai

In Orbán: Europe's New Strongman, Paul Lendvai examines how, via a 'lightning-speed assault' on its democratic features, Hungary can now be better characterised as an authoritarian system under the rule of Viktor Orbán. Exploring such topics as the deterioration of the country’s rule of law, the end of the separation of powers and mass clientelism, Lendvai succeeds in tracing Hungary’s rapid slide towards authoritarianism in this excellent book, writes Paul Caruana-Galizia

Book review: the violence of austerity edited by Vickie Cooper and David Whyte

In The Violence of Austerity, editors Vickie Cooper and David Whyte bring together contributors to explore the negative impact of austerity upon citizens in the UK, covering such topics as health, education, homelessness, disability and the environment. This is a powerful description of the consequences of austerity policies for the UK’s most vulnerable people, writes Paul Caruana-Galizia, and should be read widely. The Violence of Austerity. Vickie Cooper and David Whyte (eds). Pluto Press. 201

Book review: Orbán: Europe’s new strongman by Paul Lendvai

In Orbán: Europe’s New Strongman, Paul Lendvai examines how, via a ‘lightning-speed assault’ on its democratic features, Hungary can now be better characterised as an authoritarian system under the rule of Viktor Orbán. Exploring such topics as the deterioration of the country’s rule of law, the end of the separation of powers and mass clientelism, Lendvai succeeds in tracing Hungary’s rapid slide towards authoritarianism in this excellent book, writes Paul Caruana-Galizia

Corruption, Reform and the Euro

This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Most policymakers and academics predicted that the European monetary union would lead to economic and institutional modernizaon in its least productive members – Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. In fact, apart from Ireland, these countries became even more corrupt and their governments even less effective. This paper suggests an explanation that links the reluctance of peripheral countries to reform with the increase in their corruption levels. It also argues that their societies were stuck in a collective action problem: individuals have understood that corruption is antithetical to institutional quality and reform, but, as they cannot trust each other to refrain from corrupt practices, they stand to lose individually from not being corrupt themselves. Monetary union was seen as an external authority that would resolve this problem. Yet weak EU and eurozone monitoring and sanctioning discouraged the formation of social norms while making it attractive for formerly non-corrupt actors to engage in corruption, given the low risk of being caught. Survey evidence supports growth in perceptions of corruption and bribery, along with the weakening of social trust, trust in the police and in politicians across the periphery after the euro’s introduction.Peer Reviewe