Issue: IeJSME 2017 11(3)

Authors: Siew Kim Kwa, Zainab Majeed, Shane Varman.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Assessment is an integral aspect of teaching. One-best-answer (OBA) items, if properly constructed are able to drive learning. In-house OBA items are notoriously poorly-constructed. The role of a central vetting committee is to review test items and ensure that they adhere to expected standards. Hence, the objective of this audit is to determine whether central vetting has improved the construct quality of OBA items.

Methods: We audited the psychiatry end-of posting OBA items from before and after central vetting to compare the quality of the items before and after central vetting was instituted. Quality was evaluated on appropriateness of test content, items with higher cognition and items without flaws. A standard was not set for this first audit.

Results: Seventy six of 181 psychiatry OBAs items retrieved from 2011 to August 2012 had undergone first level (department) vetting only and the remainder 105 (58.0%) had two levels of vetting; department and central vetting committee (CVC). Appropriateness of content increased from 92.1% to 98.1%. Items with higher order thinking doubled from 21.1% to 42.9%. Items with clinical scenario increased by 8.4% to 78.1%. Logical ordering of options however, remained around 50%. Two-level vetting markedly reduced problematic lead-in questions (67.1 to 13.3%), non-homogenous options (42.1 to 9.5%), vague and implausible options (39.5 to 6.7%), and spelling and grammar mistakes (19.7 to 5.7%).

Conclusion: Two-level vetting had improved the quality of OBAs and should be continued. This could be enhanced by training all Faculty on writing quality OBA items and careful selection and empowerment of CVC members. A re-audit is to be conducted after Faculty training.

Keywords: Assessment, Vetting, One-best-answer items, MCQ, Quality assurance.

Citation: IeJSME 2017 11(3): 3-9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.11.3.3

Authors: Kwee Choy Koh, Shanmugan Goonasakaren, Lam Kean Ng, Yi Lin Chua, Jia Ying Lee, Alaric Ding Tian Ang.

ABSTRACT

Background: Medical schools are escalating changes to meet the need for doctors competent to work in the era of precision medicine. Information on the current level of awareness of precision medicine among medical students can help effect the necessary changes in the medical curriculum. A cross-sectional comparative study was done to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception toward the practice of precision medicine among junior and senior medical students in a medical school in Malaysia.

Materials and Method: A survey instrument measuring attitude toward precision medicine, perceived knowledge of genomic testing concepts, and perception toward ethical consideration related to precision medicine, was distributed to junior and senior medical students. Comparisons were made between senior and junior medical students.

Results: Only about one-third of the 356 respondents had heard of precision medicine although 92.7% expressed interest to learn more about precision medicine. Overall, junior and senior medical students had positive attitude toward the adoption of genome-guided prescribing and precision medicine but were uncomfortable with their knowledge of genomic testing concepts. Both junior and senior students were largely well grounded in their understanding of ethical issues related to precision medicine.

Conclusions: Knowledge of precision medicine was low among junior and senior medical students. Although the students supported the use of precision medicine, they did not feel adequately prepared to apply genomics to clinical practice. Their perceptions on ethical issues related to precision medicine were sound. Seniority did not appear to influence the perceptions of the students.

Keywords: precision medicine, personalised medicine, medical students, medical practice, medical education.

Citation: IeJSME 2017 11(3): 10-19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.11.3.10

Authors: Wei Fern Siew, Kazuya Jian Yong Choo, Zi Xuan Lim, Azlan Kok Vui Tsia.

ABSTRACT

Background: It is an undeniable fact that exposure to tobacco smoke from the ambiance poses harmful effects to human health. Although many countries including Malaysia have imposed smoking bans and restrictions in indoor and outdoor public places, yet, to achieve a zero exposure to tobacco smoke from one’s surroundings remains a challenge.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the second-hand smoke (SHS) knowledge and percentage of exposure among adults of rural Pedas, Negeri Sembilan and assess the association between socio-demographics and knowledge of SHS among these adults.

Methods: A cross sectional study with convenient sampling was carried out on 485 adults in Pedas, Negeri Sembilan. The instrument used was a validated questionnaire which was adapted with permission to suit the sample under study. The data collected were analysed with SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0.

Results: The percentage of SHS exposure among the non-smoking adults in rural Pedas, Negeri Sembilan was high (95.5%). More than 30% of the non-smoking respondents reported a daily exposure to SHS. The adults from this study however have good knowledge of SHS effects on health. A Mann-Whitney U test result revealed that knowledge on SHS scores was significantly higher for the non-smokers than that of smokers (U=17645, p < .001, r=.18). The top three locations identified as the most common places for SHS exposure were restaurants (38.9%), followed by workplace (26.2%) and home (19.4%).

Conclusions: The percentage of SHS exposure among the non-smoking adults of rural Pedas, Negeri Sembilan is high. Although the adults in this study have good knowledge of SHS health consequences, yet they are unavoidably exposed to SHS because smoking still occurs within their home, workplaces and public places. Our findings suggest the need for more comprehensive, assertive and strongly enforced policies to ban smoking in public areas, not only in this community but all across Malaysia.

Keywords: passive smoking; smoke exposure; awareness; adults; rural area.

Citation: IeJSME 2017 11(3): 20-29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.11.3.20