Attitude and willingness on gamete donation among medical students:An experience from a state university in Sri Lanka

Objective:To assess the attitude and willingness of medical students of the Faculty of Medicine,University of Jaffna,regarding gamete donation.Methods:An institutional-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine,University of Jaffna,from September 2022 to May 2023 among undergraduate medical students who gave their voluntary participation.A self-administered questionnaire was used as a study instrument to collect data regarding their attitude and willingness toward gamete donation.Results:A total of 345 participants were recruited and their sociodemographic data revealed that 56.8%of the participants were female,62.3%aged between 26 and 30 years,and 92.2%were unmarried.Many of them received information regarding gamete donations during their clinical appointments.Over half(67.8%)of them showed a negative attitude towards gamete donation.Regarding willingness,only 39.7%of participants had a positive approach for being a gamete donor;among them,84.7%preferred anonymous donations.Religion and ethnicity had a significant influence on their attitudes and willingness.In addition,male was also found to be more willing to donate gametes.Conclusions:Most medical students have negative views about gamete donation.Imparting awareness and knowledge of assisted reproductive technology and gamete donation within medical students'sociocultural and ethical backgrounds might facilitate a change in attitude towards gamete donation amongst future medical practitioners.

Knowledge of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) among Medical Students in a Tertiary Hospital in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) remain a common cause of death, functional disability, emotional suffering and economic burden among hospitalized patients. Knowledge of HAIs is important in its prevention and control. This study seeks to assess the knowledge of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) among medical students in a Tertiary Hospital in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in October 2019 among clinical medical students using a Multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using the IBM SPSS 20 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Ethical approval was granted by Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Ethics Committee, Jos, Plateau State. Results: A total of 219 students in the clinical arm of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences were selected. A higher proportion (97.7%) of respondents knew about Hospital Acquired Infections and 85.4% knew that Hospital Acquired infections occur in the hospital, and (86.3%) considered patients contagious with half (58.9%) considered patients as the most important source of HAIs, followed by care givers (13.2%), then doctors including medical students and interns (10.0%) and lastly nurses (8.7%). The majority of respondents (70.8%) considered Surgical Wound Infections to be the most commonly occurring HAI, followed by UTIs (69.9%), RTIs (61.2%), BSIs (37.0%) and others (0.9%). The clinical thermometer was the instrument that most commonly transmits HAIs (82.6%), then followed by stethoscope (62.1%), white coats (53.9%), and blood pressure cuff (51.1%). Most respondents knew the infectious substances, like blood (96.3%), nasal discharge (82.6%), saliva (85.3%), and faeces (79.4%) transmitted HAIs, 72.6% of the respondents said that they were aware of the recommended hand washing techniques by WHO. Conclusion: The majority of students 91.3% had good knowledge while 8.7% had poor knowledge of HAIs. Lower classes had more respondents with poor knowledge. This finding was statistically significant (p = 0.002, Chi-square 12.819). Students are encouraged to keep up the level of knowledge they have about HAIs. These students can help improve the knowledge of those whose knowledge level is low. Government and NGOs should support sponsorship for capacity-building events targeted at HAIs for healthcare workers and medical students.

Perception of Medical Students towards Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Hepatitis B Vaccination in a Private Tertiary Hospital in Jos North Local Government, Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: Prevention is one of the safe schemes against the high prevalence of viral Hepatitis. Negative perceptions or perceptions about the risks of hepatitis B among medical students and health care workers may influence the behavioral pattern and adoption of preventive measures against the virus and can affect the uptake of the Hepatitis B vaccine. This study assesses the perception of medical students towards Hepatitis B virus infection and Hepatitis B Vaccination in a Private Tertiary Hospital in Jos North Local Government, Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in August 2021 among 236 clinical medical students using a multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analysed using the IBM SPSS 28 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Ethical approval was granted by Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Ethics Committee, Jos, Plateau State. Results: Two-thirds of respondents were of the opinion that they are at risk of contracting HBV. Half were of the opinion that the risk is very much while a third believed the risk is moderate. Among those who think they are not at risk of contracting HBV, the majority felt so because they are vaccinated while 10.3% believe that they are safe. 43.2% of respondents think that HBV Vaccine is very effective in preventing HBV infection while 39.8% think it is slightly effective, and 7.6% think it is not effective. Almost all respondents, 99.2% are of the opinion that HBV Vaccination is important for students while 0.8% think it is not important. The majority of the respondents at 95.8% were willing to be screened for HBV. The majority (85.6%) of respondents are willing to pay for HBV Vaccine as against 14.4% of respondents who are not willing to pay. Conclusion: Summarily, 21 (8.9%) of the students had a negative perception of Hepatitis B Vaccination, and 215 (91.1%) had a positive perception of Hepatitis B Vaccination. Perception-sustaining events like seminars, workshops, road shows, and campaigns should be organized among students and health workers.

Evaluation of Sleep Quality in Undergraduated Medical Students

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sleep quality of medical students to identify the main factors that affect sleep patterns. Methods: According to the methodology, 154 students participated in the research, attending from the first to the sixth year of the course. The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index questionnaire and the Epworth sleepiness scale were applied. Descriptive statistics techniques were applied and demonstrated in the form of tables and graphs. The comparison of variables was carried out using statistical tests. Results: The results showed that most students do not sleep very well. It was observed that 68.83% of a total of 106 students are bad sleepers. Conclusion: It is concluded that medical students sleep a low number of hours by period, which could interfere in impairment of attention, learning and memory formation, interfering in academic performance. On the other hand, they showed greater daytime sleepiness compared to the general population.

Knowledge towards Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation among Training Doctors and Medical Students at the Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech

The aim of our study is to evaluate the knowledge regarding physical medicine and rehabilitation among physicians in training and medical students at the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech, to approach the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of doctors regarding physical medicine and rehabilitation and evaluate the knowledge in theoretical training related to PRM among the students. We conducted a monocentric cross-sectional analytical study, using a web-based anonymous survey, carried out among 558 undergraduate student and training doctors, randomly selected in the form of a survey on the knowledge towards Physical Medicine and rehabilitation. We received 558 survey duly completed by students of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech (62.4%) and training doctors (37.6%). The mean age of the participants was 24.53 ± 3.9 years, with extremes ranging from 17 to 39 years. 52.7% of the participants were from the former educational reform, The predominance of participation was remarkable among pediatricians 23%, The population who knew PRM was the majority (79.3%), 40.7% of the participants were unaware of the availability of a PRM department at Mohamed VI University Hospital, 0.5% of all training doctors and medical students questioned strongly agreed with the sufficiency of their training in disability management were belonging to the new reform, 84.1% of participants had never attended or referred a patient to the PRM department. 23.2% of training doctors affirmed the referral of patients to PRM for further management. Despite the essential role of PRM in the management of diseases, it remains little known by training doctors and medical students. This lack of knowledge of PRM reflects the lack of the undergraduate and postgraduate of the medical education in the field of rehabilitation.

Analysis of the Necessity and Modalities of Imparting Death Education to Medical Students Undergoing Training in Oncology Departments

Patients with advanced-stage tumors may experience various psychological problems that can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of cancer treatment and the quality of their survival.Therefore,it is crucial for oncologists to prioritize addressing the psychological issues that patients encounter throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.As future frontline healthcare professionals,oncology medical students should receive education on end-of-life care early on in their training.This will enable them to develop a profound appreciation for the value of life,deliver improved medical services,and contribute to the humanization of medicine.Furthermore,they will be able to provide terminal patients and their families with effective professional guidance,assisting patients in finding peaceful endings with minimal pain and helping families come to terms with the inevitable realities they face.Moreover,this education can effectively enhance their sense of responsibility toward life and cultivate a positive and optimistic attitude toward their own lives.

Current Status of Key Competencies among Medical Students: A Latent Profile Analysis

The purpose of this study was to understand the overall level of key competencies of medical students and explore the potential profile of key competencies, promoting quality education, and improving the quality talent cultivation in medical colleges. A stratified random sampling method selected 734 medical students from four medical colleges in Chongqing Province of China. A general information questionnaire and a key competencies survey questionnaire were used to conduct the survey. The overall score and scores of each dimension of key competencies were analyzed. Latent profile analysis was conducted to classify the key competencies of medical students and compare the distribution differences of demographic variables among different categories. The results showed that 26% of medical students have never heard of the concept of key competencies, and 59% of them are not familiar with the content related to key competencies. The score of key competencies is 3.66 ± 0.60, with the highest score in the dimension of responsibility and the lowest score in the dimension of humanistic accomplishment. The latent profile analysis classified them into three categories: “low key competencies group (14.71%)”, “medium key competencies group (36.79%)”, and “high key competencies group (48.50%)”. The R3STEP regression analysis results showed statistically significant differences in educational level and whether they served as student cadres among different key competencies categories of medical students. This paper discusses three different potential key competencies categories among medical students, and the overall level of key competencies is relatively good. However, medical students lack a comprehensive and systematic understanding of key competencies. Humanistic accomplishment, healthy living, and practical innovation are the three dimensions with lower scores and should be given more attention. Medical colleges should integrate the concept of key competencies into teaching and implement it in medical practice to cultivate more high-quality medical talents for society.

A Study on the Impact of Psychological Counseling for Minor Medical Students in Clinical Teaching and Learning

Objective:To explore the impact of psychological counseling for underage medical students in clinical teaching.Methods:24 of the 48 underage medical students who were interned in our hospital from March 2023 to February 2024 were randomly selected to adopt the teaching management method of one-on-one psychological guidance as the observation group;the remaining 24 adopted the traditional teaching management method as the control group.The observation of the effects of psychological detachment on various aspects of underage medical students allows the determination of whether psychological detachment impacts clinical teaching.Results:The observation group’s theoretical examination scores,skill assessment scores,and departmental performance evaluation scale score excellence rate were higher than the control group’s,with P<0.05 being statistically significant.At the same time,the clinical teaching and teaching management ability of the hospital was also improved.Conclusion:Psychological guidance for underage medical students can not only improve the comprehensive quality of medical students but also improve the teaching level,which is conducive to improving the teaching effect,and it is a clinical teaching mode worth promoting.

Incidence and Management of Occupational Blood Exposure (OBE) among Medical Students at the University of Bangui

Introduction: Like healthcare workers, medical students are also exposed to a risk of accidental contamination during their hospital internships. However, they do not benefit from prevention services in the same way as workers in this sector, although they actively participate in the routine care provided to patients in the various hospital departments. The objective of our study is to determine the incidence of these accidents and their medical and administrative management among these victims (medical students) not classified in the category of workers. Materials and Method: This was a cross-sectional study carried out over three months from January 15 to March 14, 2023. The study population consisted of all medical students at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Bangui. Regularly enrolled students from 2nd to 7th year, on placement in hospitals in the Central African Republic and who gave their informed consent were included. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students concerning the incidence and management of accidents involving exposure to blood in the Central African Republic. Of the 254 students included, three (9%) had already been correctly vaccinated against the viral hepatitis B virus, 198 (77.9%) reported still having access to personal protective equipment, 133 students (52.4%) reported being victims of OBE in the past 12 months. The main types of OBE were stings (62%), followed by liquid splashes (32%) and cuts (6%). Among the 133 victims, 92.9% carried out immediate hand disinfection or abundant eye washing, 41.9% obtained the serology of the source patient and 37% reported the accident to their supervisor. Conclusion: It is important that students benefit from better prevention and management of these accidents.

Comparison of posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress of nurses with physicians and medical students after caring of COVID‑19 patients

Objectives:The present study compared the prevalence and psychosocial factors affecting posttraumatic growth(PTG),posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD),and psychological distress in nurses,physicians,and medical students.Materials and Methods:In a cross‑sectional study,three groups of medical staff including nurses(n=57),physicians(n=40),and medical students(n=34)who were responsible for the care/treatment of COVID‑19 patients admitted to a general hospital for 4 months responded to Posttraumatic Growth Inventory,Brief Symptom Inventory‑18,Resilience Questionnaire,PTSD Screen,and Social Capital‑Integrated Questionnaire.Results:After the exposure of medical staff to at least 4 months of treatment/care of COVID‑19 patients,PTG prevalence was higher than PTSD(38.2%vs.14.6%),but they experienced some degrees of psychological distress(65.5%).The nurses had 8.33(confidence interval[CI]:2.5–26.7)times higher PTG rate than medical students(P<0.001).Physicists also experienced 5.00(CI:1.4–26.7)times higher PTG than medical students(P<0.001).PTG was aided by age,married status,strong resilience,and high social capital,but gender had no influence.Resilience played an important protective role to prevent the incidence of psychological distress in nurses,medical students,and physicians.Conclusion:Despite the fact that the PTSD and psychological distress were same in the three groups of medical staff,the nurses had a greater rate of PTG than physicians and medical students.

Medical Students’Views on Psychiatry in Germany and Italy:Survey

Objectives:In 2019,the Insititue for Health Metrics and Evaluation reported that 16%of life lost were attributed to mental health.As a result,global shortage of psychiatrists is a pressing issue due to the increasing burden of mental illness.In 2016,a mere 5%of US medical students chose psychiatry as a career,a trend mirrored in Germany and Italy.As the medical students of 2016 have graduated or transitioned into residency in 2023,their attitudes towards psychiatry could have contributed to today’s shortage of psychiatrists.The global mental health burden has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.This study explores the attitudes of German and Italian medical students towards psychiatry,their career aspirations,and the influence of factors such as personal experience and education on their interest in the field.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 799 medical students in two European countries in 2016.Participants answered questions about their attitudes towards psychiatry,their psychiatric education,and personal experiences.Inferential analyses were performed using chi-square tests and a significance level of 0.05.Results:The number of years in medical school,personal experiences,and perceived quality of education significantly affected specialty choice and ranking of psychiatry compared to other specialties.Internships,psychiatric placements,and views on psychiatric instructors also played a significant role in choosing psychiatry as a career.Conclusions:Assessing medical students’attitudes towards psychiatry and the factors that influence their career choices,such as psychiatric education and personal experiences,can inform changes to attract students to the field.Addressing the worldwide shortage of psychiatrists is crucial to reduce the burden of mental health and substance use disorders.

Determinants of internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca: a cross-sectional study

Objective:This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and determinants of Internet addiction among medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca,Morocco.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted among students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Casablanca between October and March 2020.An online questionnaire was administered to students to collect data and internet addiction was assessed by the Young questionnaire.A score threshold≥50 was adopted to define addiction.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with internet addiction.Results:Out of a total of 4093 FMPC students enrolled in the 2020-2021 academic year,506 agreed to participate in this study,including 303 females and 203 males.The mean addiction score assessed on the Young scale was(49.08±16.11).The prevalence of Internet addiction was 44.5%(225/506,95% CI:40% to 49%).Multiple regression analysis showed that being older than 20 years(OR=0.17,95% CI:0.40 to 0.64),being female(OR=1.70,95% CI:1.04 to 2.78),being in the dissertation year(6th year)(OR=5.17,95% CI:2.23 to 11.44),having a history of psychiatric consultation(OR=2.64,95% CI:1.34 to 5.21),having divorced parents(OR=2.64,95% CI:1.05 to 5.87),use of sleeping medication(OR=2.9,95% CI:1.05 to 3.70),sleep disorders(OR=2.06,95% CI:1.25 to 3.79),sleep deprivation(OR=2.26,95% CI:1.39 to 3.65),excessive daytime sleepiness(OR=5.39,95% CI:2.19 to 13.24),anxiety disorders(OR=1.47,95% CI:1.18 to 2.30),duration of internet connection(>4 h)(OR=11.43,95% CI:4.85 to 27.66),and having frequent conflicts with parents(OR=2.37,95% CI:1.49 to 3.79)and friends(OR=0.26,95% CI:0.11 to 0.65)were independently associated with internet addiction.Conclusion:The prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca remains high.Targeted action on the determinants would be of great value in prevention.

Depression among medical students in Tunisia:Prevalence and associated factors

BACKGROUND Medical school is known for its lengthy process,which is both physically and emotionally draining.Students’mental balance would shrink as they progress in their medical training.A systematic review and meta-analysis reported that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among medical students remained relatively constant at 27.2%.AIM To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among Tunisian medical students and evaluate its associated factors.METHODS This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was carried out in the second semester of the academic year 2017/2018,between April 2018 and July 2018 among 1138 medical students.Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory-II(BDI-II).RESULTS Sixty-four percent(n=728)of the participants had depressive symptoms,of which 266(23.4%)met the criteria for mild,271(23.8%)for moderate,and 191(16.8%)for severe depressive symptoms.Female gender,low socio-economic level,smoking habits and history of mental disorder,performing leisure and physical activities,satisfaction toward a career choice,and happiness perception were the main prognostic factors for depression among medical students.Although academic grades may not be considered a prognostic factor,final-year students appeared to be less depressive than their colleagues.CONCLUSION These findings give insight into mental health issues and comorbidities among Tunisian medical students.It is a hopeful request for decision-makers and academic authorities to set serious measures and draw effective interventions to minimize the currency of psychological distress among this subpopulation.

Contribution to the Study of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Medical Students at the University of Parakou in Republic of Benin

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. The objective of this work is to contribute to improving the medical follow-up of medical students at the University of Parakou through a study of irritable bowel syndrome. Study Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection. Data were collected from medical students from May 2018 to July 2018 using a pre-established questionnaire. Sampling was probabilistic using a two-stage survey. The diagnostic tools were: Rome IV criteria, Bristol scale and HAD (hospital anxiety and depression) scale. Data analysis was performed using Epi Info 7.1.3.14 software. CDC. Results: Thirty-two (7.55%) of the 424 students included had irritable bowel syndrome. Out of the 32 students with IBS, 24 (75%) were female. Their average age was 21.38 ± 2.39 years. For 24 students (75%), the symptoms occurred at the same time as exam preparation or the intense course period. Of the 32 students with IBS, 1 (3.12%) was regularly physically active. In this series, 8 students (28%) consulted a doctor for their symptoms. The factors associated with this syndrome were female sex (p = 0.022), sleep disorders (p = 0.008) and the presence of a doubtful depression (p = 0.021). Absenteeism due to irritable bowel syndrome was noted in 18 (56.25%) students. Conclusion: Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition among medical students in Parakou. Support for better management of psychological disorders could improve the quality of life of these students.

Cultivate Innovative and Entrepreneurial Qualities among Medical Students through Curriculum Ideology and Politics

As the main body of promoting the development of medical science and technology, medical students play an extremely important role in promoting the construction of new medical science. New medicine is a new concept based on the development of traditional medicine, breaking the discipline barrier, aiming to cultivate composite talents, taking reality as the orientation, and combining with the Internet, big data and artificial intelligence. Cultivating medical students’ innovation and entrepreneurship literacy is not only the internal need of the construction of innovative medical talents in new medical sciences, but also the development need of promoting the optimization of medical disciplines and effectively promoting the construction of an innovative country. As the main place for training medical talents, medical colleges and universities should integrate classroom ideology and politics with the new medical background to improve medical students’ professional knowledge, professional ethics, humanistic quality and scientific and technological quality, promote the cultivation of medical students’ innovative spirit, and further innovate medical theories, technologies and concepts. It lays a solid foundation for cultivating top medical talents with both innovative thinking and cultural self-confidence and building an innovative country.

Doctor-patient communication starts from medical students

Currently,with the increasing tensionin doctor-patient relationship and medical disputes,it is of great practical importance to train medical students’communication skills in order to establisha harmonious doctor-patient relationship to improve the quality of clinical teaching.This paper emphasizes the importance of cultivation of communication skills in medical education and suggests ways to improve communication skills among medical students.

Impacts and challenges of United States medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The delivery of medical student education has changed rapidly during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Students in their pre-clinical years have transitioned to online courses and examinations.Students in their clinical years are not permitted on clinical rotations,and face uncertainties in career exploration and the residency application process.Medical students in all stages of training are volunteering and helping their communities.The future presence of COVID-19 throughout the United States is unknown,and medical students are eager to return to their training.This paper outlines current challenges in medical student education and the various responses that have been adopted.We also discuss possible future directions for students through involvement in telemedicine,outpatient clinic visits,and non-respiratory inpatient care tasks as adequate personal protective equipment,COVID-19 testing,and resources become more widely available.

Chinese medical students’interest in COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)happened in early December and it has affected China in more ways than one.The societal response to the pandemic restricted medical students to their homes.Although students cannot learn about COVID-19 through clinical practice,they can still pay attention to news of COVID-19 through various channels.Although,as suggested by previous studies,some medical students have already volunteered to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic,the overall willingness of Chinese medical students to volunteer for such has not been systematically examined.AIM To study Chinese medical students’interest in the relevant knowledge on COVID-19 and what roles they want to play in the pandemic.METHODS Medical students at Peking Union Medical College were surveyed via a webbased questionnaire to obtain data on the extent of interest in the relevant knowledge on COVID-19,attitude towards volunteerism in the pandemic,and career preference.Logistic regression modeling was used to investigate possible factors that could encourage volunteerism among this group in a pandemic.RESULTS A total of 552 medical students responded.Most medical students showed a huge interest in COVID-19.The extent of students’interest in COVID-19 varied among different student-classes(P<0.05).Senior students had higher scores than the other two classes.The number of people who were‘glad to volunteer’in COVID-19 represented 85.6%of the respondents.What these students expressed willingness to undertake involved direct,indirect,and administrative job activities.Logistic regression analysis identified two factors that negatively influenced volunteering in the pandemic:Student-class and hazards of the voluntary job.Factors that positively influenced volunteering were time to watch COVID-19 news,predictable impact on China,and moral responsibility.CONCLUSION More innovative methods can be explored to increase Chinese medical students’interest in reading about the relevant knowledge on COVID-19 and doing voluntary jobs during the pandemic.

Vaccination Coverage and the Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Infection amongst Medical and Paramedical Students Practicing at the Bamenda Regional Hospital in Cameroon Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction: The endemic nature of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Sub-Saharan Africa is a significant public health problem that places health care providers (medical students inclusive) at increased risk of occupational exposure. However, vaccination against HBV is not systematic among medical students in Cameroon. Thus, we sought to evaluate awareness and HBV vaccine coverage amongst medical students in Cameroon. Aim: The present study was aimed at determining the proportion of Medical and Paramedical students on internship at the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH) who are vaccinated and immune to hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods: This was a hospital-based cross sectional study carried out at the BRH in Cameroon. Questionnaires were administered to 120 participants who signed an informed consent form and venous blood samples collected in dry tubes for the HBV-5 PANEL test. Data were collected within a period of two weeks. HBV vaccine status was defined as complete (3 doses), partial (1 or 2 doses), and unvaccinated. Results: Of 120 participants (87 females and 33 males), 56 (46.7%) were vaccinated at least once against HBV;15 (12.5%) were partially vaccinated and 41 (34.2%) completely vaccinated. Out of the 56 vaccinated individuals, only 13 (23.2%) were confirmed immunized against HBV by testing positive for hepatitis B surface antibodies. Only 3 (5.4%) students had done post-vaccination serologic test to confirm their immunized status. There was high exposure to potentially infected body fluids like blood (97.5%) and urine (87.5%). There was equally poor practice of adequate preventive measures like regular hand washing and the proper use of personal protective equipment. A prevalence of 3.1% of HBV amongst the unvaccinated group was recorded. Conclusion: Only 1 in 3 medical students had completed the HBV vaccination series and only 26.8% of this cohort was confirmed immunized against HBV. This highlights the need for improved health policies aimed at increasing access and coverage of HBV immunization in high risk groups such as health workers.

Medical students as disaster volunteers:A strategy for improving emergency department surge response in times of crisis

Disasters resulting in mass casualty incidents can rapidly overwhelm the Emergency Department(ED).To address critical manpower needs in the ED’s disaster response,medical student involvement has been advocated.Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School is in proximity to Singapore General Hospital and represents an untapped manpower resource.With appropriate training and integration into ED disaster workflows,medical students can be leveraged upon as qualified manpower.This review provides a snapshot of the conceptualization and setting up of the Disaster Volunteer Corps-a programme where medical students were recruited to receive regular training and assessment from emergency physicians on disaster response principles to fulfil specific roles during a crisis,while working as part of a team under supervision.We discuss overall strategy and benefits to stakeholders,emphasizing the close symbiotic relationship between academia and healthcare services.