AMJ

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Medical students found this e-learning package to be enjoyable, useful and effective in increasing knowledge in, and preparation for, consulting skills. Authors conclude that E-learning should be further utilised in a blended learning environment to support face-to-face teaching in consulting skills and allow for flexibility in delivery of medical education.

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Through a case study and retrospective analysis of a real Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) data set for fourth year undergraduate medical students, this paper provides an illustrative example on the use of Rasch modelling as a quality assurance tool for OSCE data. Potential insights from Rasch analysis for clinical teachers and implications for future development of assessment in medical education are highlighted, exemplified and discussed.

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The study explored small group teaching for pharmacology at a Nepalese medical school. Group effectiveness improved after an educational intervention analysing problems observed, the theoretical aspects of small group dynamics and how they can be applied in practice. Problem Based Learning is becoming an important method of learning in medical schools in Nepal.

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This study suggests that the most common way for general practitioners in training (registrars) needing assistance to be identified is via feedback from the supervisor and teaching practice. The most useful and timely feedback occurred in an informal manner, mostly by telephone or direct contact. Similar findings have been suggested in other training programmes.

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This study indicates some nursing students lack knowledge surrounding correct placement of intramuscular injections. It also indicates some students have a lack of theoretical knowledge about safe injection practice with gluteal injections and highlights the importance of checking student technique prior to clinical placement.

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In this report a 10-hour introductory co-curricular workshop made no significant change in the knowledge on geriatric health or attitude of fourth year medical students though they reported it as a very enriching experience. The authors suggest that a reflective report may have been a better assessment tool. The impact on clinical practice of the current course cannot be predicted.

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These researchers report a high prevalence of undetected cases of hypertension among the elderly Malays living in rural communities. There also appears to be a high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure among those with known hypertension. The team suggest that employment is an important factor associated with hypertension in this population.

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As part of medical training in India, students are exposed to the hospital environment only after they start their clinical training. During the preclinical phase most students may be unaware of the relevance of basic sciences to clinical practice. The authors contend that the preclinical student needs to be made aware of the relevance of basic sciences in clinical practice as early as possible during their training. As induction first year medical students at a private medical school in India were exposed to a ‘clinical observership’ programme. The course is described in this brief report.

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Chicken pox is an infectious disease of childhood. It is rare in infants and newborns due to passive immunity received from the mother. The characteristic skin eruptions are vesicular with erythematous base and accompanied by pruritus. Skin of palms and soles is typically spared. This team reports a case of neonatal varicella where the mother had skin eruptions at the time of delivery. The neonate contracted it during the perinatal period, developing clinical disease on the day five of life. Specific anti viral therapy was given to mother and baby. Recovery was uneventful

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