Use of social networking in the Middle East: student perspectives in higher education

This study aims to determine the benefits, risks, awareness, cultural factors, and sustainability, allied to social networking (SN) use in the higher education (HE) sector in Middle Eastern countries, namely Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Using an online survey, 1180 complete responses were collected and analyzed using the statistical confirmatory factor analysis method. The use of SN in the Middle Eastern HE sector has the capacity to promote and motivate students to acquire professional and personal skills for their studies and future workplace; however, the use of SN by tertiary students is also associated with several risks: isolation, depression, privacy, and security. Furthermore, culture is influenced by using SN use, since some countries shifted from one dimension to another based on Hofstede's cultural framework. The study new findings are based on a sample at a specific point in time within a culture. The study findings encourage academics to include SN in unit activities and assessments to reap the benefits of SN, while taking steps to mitigate any risks that SN poses to students. Although other studies in the Middle East examined the use of Learning Management System and Facebook in, HE as a means of engaging students in discussions and communications, however, this study contributes a better understanding of the benefits and risks, awareness, culture, and sustainability, associated with the use of SN in the HE sector in the Middle East. Finally, the paper concludes with an acknowledgment of the study limitations and suggestions for future research

Outcome measures used in pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review

Conflicting results about the effects of community-based pulmonary rehabilitation in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) exist, possibly because the variety of outcome measures used and the lack of appropriate measurement properties hinder the development of pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify and review the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinical outcome measures of AECOPD that are used in pulmonary rehabilitation and that can be easily applied in a community setting. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched up to July 1, 2016. STUDY SELECTION: Phase 1 identified outcome measures used in pulmonary rehabilitation for AECOPD. Phase 2 reviewed the measurement properties of the identified outcome measures. DATA EXTRACTION: One reviewer extracted the data and 2 reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the studies and the measurement properties of the outcome measures by using the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) recommendations. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty-three PROMs and 18 clinical outcome measures were found. The outcome measures most used were the St George Respiratory Questionnaire (n = 15/37 studies) and the 6-minute walk test (n = 21/37 studies). Thirty-two studies described the measurement properties of 22 PROMs and 7 clinical outcome measures. The methodological quality of the studies was mostly poor, and the measurement properties were mostly indeterminate. The outcome measure exhibiting more robust properties was the COPD Assessment Test. LIMITATIONS: A number of studies were published without the validated search strategy used and were included a posteriori ; the fact that 3 studies presented combined results for patients who were stable and patients with exacerbation, affected the conclusions that can be drawn. CONCLUSIONS: A large variety of outcome measures have been used; however, studies on their measurement properties are needed to enhance the understanding of community pulmonary rehabilitation for AECOPD

TURKISH THORACIC JOURNAL

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the additional diagnostic value of endobronchial biopsy (EBB) in the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 59 patients with a preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis who were admitted to the Pulmonary Diseases Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary healthcare center between January 2005 and October 2012. The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients as well as clinical and radiological findings were recorded. All patients, irrespective of the presence of an endobronchial lesion (EBL), underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB); two to four specimens were taken using EBB from the carina of the right middle lobe in the patients with EBL. RESULTS: Of the patients, 39 (66.1%) had normal bronchoscopic findings, while 5 had EBL. Diagnosis was based on EBB in 11 patients (18.6%). Six patients (15.3%) with normal bronchial mucosae were pathologically diagnosed by EBB. There was no statistically significant relationship between the diagnostic ratio of EBB and disease stage, extrapulmonary involvement, FOB findings, elevated lymphocyte rate in bronchoalveolar lavage (>= 13%), a CD4/CD8 ratio of >= 3.5, and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) level (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EBB not only offers the advantage of a high diagnostic ratio in patients with mucosal abnormalities but also contributes to pathological diagnosis in patients with normal mucosa. We recommend using EBB to support diagnosis with a low complication rate for patients undergoing FOB with a preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis in healthcare centers, where endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is unavailable

RESPIRATORY CARE

Persistent hydropneumothorax was diagnosed in a 62-year-old female with a history of blunt trauma, although she was treated with chest tube and closed underwater seal drainage. Computed tomography and fiberoptic bronchoscopy findings were consistent with fallen lung syndrome. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy also found a cavitary lesion at the right tracheobronchial angle. Forceps biopsy of the cavitary lesion indicated bronchogenic carcinoma. Our final diagnosis was tracheobronchial complete rupture and fallen lung syndrome secondary to malignancy

CLINICAL REHABILITATION

Objective: To investigate the impact of high-frequency chest wall oscillation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with infective exacerbation. Design: Clinical randomized controlled trial. Setting: Patients received high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy at the Department of Pulmonology. Subjects: Stage III-IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients hospitalized with acute infective exacerbation who had received high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy were studied. Interventions: Patients were randomized into two groups, which were classified as I and II. All patients have been treated with bronchodilators, antibiotics, if necessary oxygen and patient education, as part of acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation protocol. Group II patients received additional high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy. Main measures: Body mass index (B), forced expiratory volume in the first second (O), modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (D) and 6-minute walking test (E) (BODE) index, forced expiratory volume in the first second, dyspnea, exercise capacity, oxygenation parameters and hospitalization of duration were recorded at baseline and at three-days and five-days follow-up. Results: From April 2009 to July 2011, a total of 99 patients were assessed for eligibility, 50 patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups. A total of 50 (100%) patients (25 in Group I and 25 in Group II) were followed up for five days. Application of high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy resulted in no significant advantage in all outcomes (p > 0.05). Mean (SD) baseline BODE index value in Group I was 7.72 (1.76), in Group II was 7.72(1.89) (p = 0.55). On the fifth-day assessment, mean (SD) BODE index value in Group I was 7.24 (1.83), in group II was 6.44 (2.46) (p = 0.18). Conclusions: The application of high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy offers no additional advantages on infective exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

PULMONARY MEDICINE

Introduction. Awareness of the healthcare providers on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in our country and all over the world, and on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) which plays an important role in its nonpharmacological treatment will provide effectiveness in diagnosis and treatment of COPD. The present study aimed at determining knowledge level of the healthcare providers about COPD and PR. Materials and Methods. In this cross-sectional study, family practitioners and staff of home-care in central county of Manisa City were applied a questionnaire in order to determine their knowledge level on COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation during the in-service training on pulmonary rehabilitation, homecare services for the pulmonary diseases, and respiratory exercises. Results. 65.5% of the healthcare providers responded to the survey. Rate of those correctly knowing at least one of four items was 97.2%. No responder knew all items correctly. Average value for correct answers was 5.30 +/- 2.1 (range: 1-10). The physicians, men, and those working in family health centers had higher level of knowledge on COPD compared to nonphysician healthcare providers (p = 0.006), women (p = 0.002), and those working in other practices (p = 0.019), respectively. Conclusion. Knowledge level of the primary healthcare providers on COPD and PR remains inadequate. Dynamic postgraduate training on this topic will be useful in referring the patients to centers giving service for this condition

HOW PERSONAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS PROMOTE ACTIVE LEARNING IN SCIENCE EDUCATION?

This study examines the effect of using personal response system (PRS) on students’ academic performance and their attitude towards science. Three research questions were addressed in the study: (1) Is there any difference in academic achievement of 5th grade students when it is used PRS in science and technology courses? (2) Does PRS effect 5th graders’ attitudes towards science? (3) What are the 5th graders’ attitudes towards PRS use in the classroom? The results show that there is no difference in terms of achievement between pre-test and post-test scores in both groups. On the other hand, there is a positive difference on attitudes towards science on behalf of the experimental groups. In addition, boys were found to be more positive to PRS than girls based on the PRS attitude scale. The qualitative component involved focus group discussion with six students and an interview with the class teacher. Students are also observed while they were using the PRS in the classroom. Participants provided positive feedback regarding the use of PRS and requested the increase in use because they felt the use of PRS supported and improved their classroom learning, made the course more fun, and increased the course participation. They also enjoyed the peer discussions that instructors facilitated with regard to the use of PRS. The teacher was also positive about using PRS in his classroom