Choice of general practice for postgraduate training among medical graduates and undergraduates in Nigeria

A questionnaire survey of career choices was carried out among 112 medical graduates, after one year's internship (group I), during their National Youth Corps programme in Kaduna, Lagos, Cross River and Oyo states of Nigeria, and 365 final-year medical undergraduates (group 2) in the colleges of medicine in the corresponding states. A total of 13% in group I and 40% in group 2 were undecided as regards their first choice. Obstetrics and gynaecology was the most popular first choice in both groups. General practice ranked fifth among group I, but displaced surgery to rank second among group 2. The differences were statistically significant. A total of 41% of group I and 46% of group 2 preferred to work in a teaching hospital, reflecting the high preference for surgical specialties. Twenty-six per cent and 33.7% of respondents in groups 1 and 2 respectively wished to own their own practice or work in the private sector. General practice is a new specialty and its growth is supported by a national postgraduate training programme. A shift towards general practice is seen compared with previous studies of career preference among Nigerian medical graduates and students. This may be due to a changing balance of supply and demand in the medical work-force, or a better assessment of the nation's health problems and manpower needs.     

测胎儿器官重量探讨其生长发育规律

根据1022例新鲜胎尸的不同受精龄与体重，十项重要器官（心、肝、脾、左右肺、左右肾、左右肾上腺、胸腺等）的重量进行测量，将所测得的原始数据输入到IBM-PC/XT微型计算机内进行数据处理。探讨胎儿生长发育的基本规律。结果：（1）建立了胎儿体重与胎龄之间的推算式；（2）建立了胎儿各重要器官重量与胎龄之间的推算式；（3）建立了胎儿体重每月平均增长量与胎龄之间的推算式；（4）按胎儿体重每月平均增长量，用有序聚类分析方法，将胎儿生长发育过程划分为三个阶段。     

Attitudes of the 1984 medical graduates of Sri Lanka to anaesthesia

A total of 196 intern medical officers who had graduated from the four medical schools in Sri Lanka in 1984 indicated their attitudes towards anaesthesia as a medical specialty in response to a postal questionnaire. Eighty per cent of the graduates considered anaesthesia to be an established specialty in Sri Lanka, while 17% felt that the specialty had limited clinical application. A total of 62% of the graduates were not aware, prior to their entry to medical school, that anaesthesia was related to medical practice. All the graduates indicated that the intra-operative role of the anaesthetist was on a par with that of the surgeon, but 40% felt that the pre- and post-operative roles were of a secondary nature. Overall, 42% considered that an anaesthetist acts as an assistant to the surgeon. The graduates were of the opinion that only 35% of the patients undergoing surgery were appreciative of the services rendered by an anaesthetist. Fifty per cent of the graduates considered exposure to the specialty in the undergraduate curriculum as inadequate. Anaesthesia was chosen as the first career preference by 1.5%. The dominant reasons for not selecting anaesthesia as a career specialty were: minimal patient contact and patient recognition (62%), and lack of recognition of the specialty by society (54%). Anaesthetists in Sri Lanka are challenged to alter the perceptions associated with the specialty, which are probably a result of chronic staff shortages restricting practice to the confines of operating theatres.     

Examining changes in students' perception of science relevancy and their career aspirations: Integrating sustainability-oriented socio-scientific issues into general chemistry curriculum

Making science relevant to students' lives, future careers, or societies by introducing controversial socio-scientific issues in classrooms motivates students to take more active roles in learning science. This study explored the influence of integrating two sustainability-oriented socio-scientific issues (SOS₂Is) - alternative energies and nanotechnology-into the General Chemistry curriculum on 743 students' career aspirations and perceptions of science relevancy. For the presentation of topics, two learning environments on Prezi were prepared. The participants were guided to explore these learning environments that focused on pros and cons of each topic, including environmental and health hazards of technological developments. In addition, students were encouraged to link these discussions to sustainability issues in the context of the UN SDGs. The analysis of Changes in Attitude Towards the Relevancy of Science and Career Aspirations surveys indicated that the interventions improved students' perception of science relevancy and altered their career aspirations in many areas, regardless of their socioeconomic status and ethnic background. This study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of discussions around socio-scientific issues in changing students’ perceptions of science and career aspirations and recommends practical methods to encourage students to become global and scientifically literate citizens.     

Advanced dental maturity of Finnish 6‐ to 12‐yr‐old children is associated with high energy intake

We studied the association of dental maturity with body mass index (BMI), energy intake, and macronutrient intake. A randomly selected subset (n = 148) of the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) was invited to an oral follow‐up study, and the 6‐ and 12‐yr‐examination data (n = 111, 60 boys) were used. Food records for four consecutive days and BMI values were extracted from the databank of the main STRIP project. The developmental stage of seven permanent mandibular teeth was assessed using panoramic radiographs. The resulting maturity scores were converted to dental age estimates. Three dental‐maturity groups (delayed, average, and advanced) and two BMI groups [normal BMI (≤mean+1SD) and high BMI (>mean+1SD)] were formed. The dental age was higher than the chronological age by 0.6–0.8 yr. Maturity scores for girls were statistically significantly higher than for boys. The distribution of girls into dental‐maturity groups at age 12 yr was different from that of the boys and there were more boys than girls among the high‐BMI group. Children of the advanced dental‐maturity group had a statistically significantly higher energy intake than children in the other groups. We conclude that advanced dental maturity is associated with higher energy intake.     

济南某医院护士职业生涯管理现状调查及相应措施

目的调查护士的职业生涯管理现状并探讨其相应对策。方法选取200名护士(20～40岁),使用情况问卷和自编职业生涯管理现状问卷进行调查并分析结论。结果 40岁以下者职业生涯管理水平处中度偏下;已婚者高于未婚者(P<0.05);高与中、中与初级职称者比较其水平有显著性差异(P<0.05);是否进修及编内护士与聘用护士之间有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论护士的职业生涯管理现状不容乐观,需要引起有关部门的重视,做好职业生涯的教育、管理和干预十分必要。     

互联互通标准化成熟度测评对医院信息平台建设的指导和规范作用

针对目前国内医院信息平台建设的难点,探讨如何应用国家卫生标准委员会颁布的《医院信息互联互通成熟度测评方案》,指导医院信息平台建设。按照医院信息互联互通成熟度测评方案中四级甲等的标准,从数据集标准化、共享文档规范化、技术架构、互联互通服务、运行性能、基础设施6个方面,指引和规范医院信息平台建设的规划、实施和验收。