Endodontic treatment of the pregnant patient: Knowledge,attitude and practices of dental residents

Introduction:

In order to control serious pulpal pain following odontogenic infections in pregnant women, endodontic treatment may become necessary. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of dentists about rendering endodontic treatment to pregnant women.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study of resident doctors in the different dental specialties in Nigeria preparing for the various levels of the fellowship examinations of the West Africa College of Surgeons and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Data were collected by the means of a 17-itemed questionnaire which sought information on respondents'' demography, their considerations while rendering endodontic treatment to the pregnant patients and their perceptions of the safety of endodontic treatment in pregnancy. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 21.0.

Results:

With regards to the safety of endodontic treatment during pregnancy, 91.8% considered it safe, and this was not statistically significant in relation to the specialty or status of the respondent. Majority (77.0%) agreed they would undertake a root canal treatment on a pregnant patient with all respondents in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, periodontics, and pedodontics in the affirmative while all in oral pathology would refuse to do such (P = 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Dental residents are aware of the safety of endodontic treatment in pregnant women. However, gaps exist in their knowledge, bringing to the fore, the need for inclusion of pregnancy-specific training in the dental postgraduate curriculum.     

A review of journal clubs in postgraduate medical education

OBJECTIVE: To review the goals, organization, and teaching methods of journal clubs, summarize elements of successful clubs, and evaluate their effect on reading habits, and effectiveness in meeting teaching goals. Examples of clubs that utilize principles of adult learning are reviewed. DATA SOURCES: English language articles identified through a MEDLINE search (1966–1997) using the MeSH terms “internship” and “residency,” and text words “journal club” and “critical appraisal.” STUDY SELECTION: Articles on learning goals and organization were included if they represented national or regional surveys with a response rate of 65% or greater. Articles that evaluated teaching effectiveness were included if they used a controlled, educational design, or if they exemplified important adult learning principles. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were manually extracted from selected studies and reviews. DATA SYNTHESIS: A major goal for most clubs is to teach critical appraisal skills. Clubs with high attendance and longevity are characterized by mandatory attendance, availability of food, and perceived importance by the program director. Residents who are taught critical appraisal report paying more attention to the methods and are more skeptical of the conclusions, and have increased knowledge of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, but studies have failed to demonstrate that these residents read more, or read more critically. Reading guidelines may be useful for teaching critical appraisal skills, and may be associated with increased resident satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Journal club formats are educationally diverse, can incorporate adult learning principles, and are an adaptable format for teaching the “new basic sciences.” Received from the Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville.     

某巿农村中老年居民高血压与膳食习惯的调查与分析

目的:了解南充市农村中老年居民膳食习惯和高血压患病的现状,探索膳食因素对高血压的影响,为倡导科学合理的膳食习惯,预防高血压,控制心血管疾病的发生发展提供科学依据。方法:对南充市蓬安县两个乡镇439名40岁以上居民进行高血压的检测和膳食行为进行问卷调查。结果:该地农村中老年居民高血压的患病率为23.9%。多因素Logistic回归分析发现,喝牛奶、吃蔬菜水果、豆制品和动物内脏是高血压发生的保护因素;饮酒、吃咸的、腌制的食物是高血压发生的主要危险因素。结论:农村中老年居民高血压的患病率较高,且存在一些不合理的膳食习惯,应开展有效的营养知识的普及及正确饮食习惯的宣传教育,倡导科学合理的膳食习惯,预防高血压等慢性疾病。     

我国居民中医药科普知识认知情况调查研究?

目的：了解我国居民对中医药科普知识的认知情况,为中医药科普工作提供合理化建议。方法在参考政府指南和有关研究的基础上,自行设计调查问卷并在全国随机发放1800份,回收1486份,共得有效问卷1050份。调查内容涉及性别、年龄等7项基本信息和中医学科属性、中医学科优势、人体生命规律等17项中医药科普知识。建立数据库,采用SPSS 20.0统计软件进行数据分析,分别统计各项中医药科普知识认知情况的均值和标准差值,进行正态分布和方差齐性检验,采用单因素方差分析(One-way ANOVA),组间两两比较,若方差齐者使用LSD检验,方差不齐则使用Tamhane’ T2法。结果我国居民对中医药科普知识总体认知水平比较有限,17项中医药科普知识的总认知程度均值为2.07,标准差值为0.53;认知程度均值最高的是服药注意事项2.47;认知程度均值最低的是五行学说为1.78。年龄组间分析显示,40~49岁组人群最低(33.04);教育程度对我国居民的中医药科普知识认知程度有显著影响,“未上过学”和“高中学历”2组,分别与相邻组间的认知水平差异最为显著;职业组间分析显示,学生组认知程度最高,与农民组的差异最为显著( P<0.001,均值差=6.125);家庭月均收入组间分析显示,5000~9999元/月组与1000~4999元/月组间差异最为显著( P<0.001,均值差=2.870);健康状况变化程度(1年内)组间分析显示,自述“好一些”组与“差多了”组间差异最为显著( P<0.001,均值差=7．058)。结论我国居民中医药科普知识认知水平较低,亟需改善中医药科普认知现状。中医药科普内容应当系统化,加强中医思想和基本理论的普及是重点。中医药科普工作需更加深入基层,充分发挥其改善公众健康总体水平的社会公益作用。中医药科普知识认知水平量化评价方法有待完善。     

Effectiveness of near-peer simulation for managing the acutely deteriorating patient among residents of an internal medicine junior residency programme

INTRODUCTIONNear-peer teaching is gaining popularity as a teaching modality, as it improves the learner’s understanding, is targeted at an appropriate level and promotes familiarisation. This study was initiated to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating near-peer instruction into simulation-based training within a junior residency programme.METHODS42 first-year residents from an internal medicine junior residency programme were recruited. Participants underwent a simulation-based training programme conducted over five weeks. Each week involved either an emergency or acute clinical scenario. A structured questionnaire was administered prior to and after the course to compare participants’ perceived knowledge, experience and confidence in managing the clinical scenarios.RESULTSIn our study, 83% of participants agreed/strongly agreed that the scenarios were realistic. There were improvements in perceived knowledge, experience and confidence after the course. The greatest improvement was seen for experience (post-simulation: median 7.00 [interquartile range (IQR) 6.00‒8.00] vs. pre-simulation: median 5.00 [IQR 3.00–6.25]). 65% of participants were keen to help with future training.CONCLUSIONNear-peer simulation training was found to be a viable and valuable method of instruction for first-year residents for increasing experience, instilling confidence and improving perceived knowledge. Integration of such programmes within medical education curricula shows good promise of continuity, with many first-year residents inspired to organise subsequent sessions.     

深圳市签约居民对家庭医生服务的评价及续签意愿研究

背景　近年来深圳市家庭医生签约服务开展已取得一定进展,但“签而不约”“服务不到位”等现象依然存在。居民作为服务的需求方,研究其对家庭医生服务的评价及续签意愿对促进签约服务的有效开展具有重要意义。目的　了解深圳市签约居民对家庭医生服务的评价及续签意愿,为推进家庭医生服务提供科学依据。方法　于2016年7月-2017年9月,采取多阶段分层随机抽样法,对深圳市宝安区3个社区健康服务中心的1 000例签约居民开展基本情况、家庭医生服务利用与评价、家庭医生续签意愿及原因等内容的问卷调查。共发放问卷1 000份,获得有效问卷900份,问卷有效回收率为90.0%。结果　900例调查对象中,807例（89.7%）签约居民满意家庭医生的服务,家庭医生服务态度平均得分为（92±8）分。820例（91.1%）签约居民表示愿意继续和家庭医生签约,其中729例（88.9%）签约居民愿意续签家庭医生的原因是认为签约家庭医生就诊更方便;80例（8.9%）不愿意续签的居民中,56例（70.0%）选择的原因是认为签约家庭医生没有用。χ2检验结果显示,是否熟悉家庭医生姓名及坐诊时间、家庭医生主动联系次数、家庭医生服务态度、是否认为家庭医生看病比非家庭医生更仔细、是否满意家庭医生工作及对家庭医生的信任度条目选项不同者的续签意愿不同,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论　深圳市签约居民对医疗卫生服务评价较好,家庭医生服务续签意愿较高,建议加大宣传推广力度,提升家庭医生服务质量,完善家庭医生服务体系,进而促进家庭医生服务的长远发展。     

基于CBL同伴互助教学方式在住院医师急诊医学规范化培训的应用

目的 探讨应用基于CBL 同伴互助教学方式提高住院医师急诊医学规范化培训效果。方法 随机选取在中国医科大学塔城地区医院急诊科进行住院医师规范化培训的学员共计96人,平均分成2组。观察组采用基于CBL 同伴互助教学方式进行急诊医学规范化培训;对照组采用传统临床教学方式进行培训。培训结束后,比较两组学员理论考试成绩和临床基本操作技能成绩,并采用问卷调查方式完成教学效果自我评价。结果 观察组规培学员理论考试成绩和技能考核成绩均显著高于对照组。观察组学员对自学能力、临床思维、临床技能、团队合作以及医患沟通等方面的自我评价均好于对照组。结论 采用基于CBL同伴互助教学方式能够提高住院医师临床规范化培训的教学效果,有望在未来的临床培训进行推广应用。     

2009 - 2013 年自流井区居民食用碘盐监测结果分析

目的及时掌握四川省自贡市自流井区居民户碘盐普及情况,评价碘盐措施落实情况,为适时采取针对性防治措施和科学调整干预策略提供依据。方法按照《四川省碘盐监测方案》的求,每年抽取9个乡镇（街道）的36个行政村（居委会）开展居民户碘盐常规监测工作。结果自贡市自流井区2009—2013年共监测1464份居民食用盐样,其中检测出非碘盐33份、不合格碘盐53份、合格碘盐1378份,碘盐覆盖率、碘盐合格率、合格碘盐食用率分别为97．8％、96．3％、94．1％。结论自贡市自流井区居民食用加碘盐总体情况良好,消除碘缺乏病的目标得到持续巩固。     

Prevalence and risk factors of depression in the elderly nursing home residents in Singapore

Objectives: Depression is a common health problem in elderly nursing home (NH) residents and is often under-recognized and under-treated. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rates of depression and identify the risk factors associated with depression in the elderly NH population in Singapore.

Methods: A sample of 375 residents in six NHs in Singapore, aged 55 years and above, was assessed with the Structural Clinical Interview (SCID), based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria. The association of demographic, functional and health-related characteristics with depression was examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results: Overall point prevalence for depression in the elderly NH residents was found to be 21.1% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 17.1%–25.6%). The prevalence rate for minor depression in the elderly NH residents was 14.4% (95% CI: 11.1%–18.5%) and 6.7% (95% CI: 4.5%–9.8%) for major depression. Significant risk factors that were found to be associated with depression were length of stay for more than 2 years, known history of depression, pain, and no or lack of social contact.

Conclusion: The prevalence rates for depression were high among NH residents in Singapore. More attention is needed to care for the psychosocial needs of elderly NH residents in Singapore.