Pengekalan dan kejayaan pelajar kejuruteraan di rangkaian Universiti Teknikal Malaysia : satu kajian kes

Pelajar kejuruteraan memasuki universiti dengan pengetahuan yang terhad tentang strategi yang diperlukan untuk mereka kekal bertahan dalam program pengajian kejuruteraan. Masalah ini mengakibatkan penyediaan graduan dalam bidang kejuruteraan tidak dapat dibekalkan selari dengan keperluan sektor perindustrian negara. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk meneroka motivasi yang mempengaruhi pelajar untuk kekal dan berjaya dalam program pengajian kejuruteraan. Aspek motivasi yang dikaji adalah konatif dan motivasi ekstrinsik. Kajian ini dilaksanakan dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif berbentuk kajian kes yang melibatkan temu bual semi berstruktur sebagai strategi mendapatkan data. Informan kajian melibatkan 24 orang pelajar tahun akhir dari tiga buah fakulti kejuruteraan iaitu Fakulti Kejuruteraan Elektrik dan Elektronik, Fakulti Kejuruteraan Awam dan Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal melibatkan empat buah rangkaian Universiti Teknikal Malaysia (MTUN) iaitu UTHM, UTeM, UMP dan UniMAP. Data dianalisis menggunakan pendekatan tematik bagi membangunkan tema utama untuk menjawab persoalan kajian. Dapatan kajian menemui empat tema bagi aspek konatif iaitu keinginan, daya usaha inventif, inisiatif dan kegigihan. Bagi aspek motivasi ekstrinsik pula hasil dapatan menemui tiga tema iaitu manusia, program pengajian dan insentif. Kajian ini menyumbang kepada penambahbaikan terhadap model kejayaan pelajar kejuruteraan serta memberikan maklumat kepada pelajar, pensyarah dan fakulti kejuruteraan tentang karakteristik yang diperlukan untuk pelajar berjaya dalam program pengajian kejuruteraan

Creative methods in qualitative interviews with higher education students: a graph sketching and photo-card activity

In education research, qualitative research methods have gained attention because they allow the investigation of several people-related issues that cannot be investigated using quantitative methods. Though qualitative and quantitative research methods lies on separate continuum, they all aimed at identifying problems using different approach. This study explains the usefulness of using creative method qualitative approaches in an effort to obtain quality data for the study. The purpose of this paper is to introduce readers with some of the creative methods that can be applied, which is not only can actively engage informants during the research process but also to more fully aware of their perceptions, experiences, feelings and life events. Data were collected among 24 final year engineering student using semi-structured interview, integrated with two creative activities namely the use of graph sketching activity and photo-card activity. The purpose of these activities are to deepening the exploration activities and understandings of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors that influence the retention and success of engineering students at higher education institutions. Data were analysed using a thematic coding process and ATLAS.ti software was used to assist the coding process. Using the creative methods in this study have been proved to be an effective strategy to extract quality data from the interview process where an intrinsic and extrinsic motivations of the students can be explained and expanded in more detailed

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030