A Study of the Effects of Student Self-assessment on the EFL Writing of Chinese College Students

To get more insight into using self-assessment in writing instruction, the present study intends to explore the effects of student self-assessment on students＇ EFL writing by adopting writing assignments, analytic scoring rubric, questionnaires and interviews. It is found that students are able to make judgments about the overall quality of their writing in a manner consistent with those made by the teacher and students made significant improvements in content, organization, and mechanics of their writing after the practice of self-assessment while qualities concerning vocabulary and language use have been improved but not to a significant level. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the practice of self-assessment has exerted positive influence on students＇ perceptions of their writing skills in terms of organization, language use and mechanics while it does not result in any change of students＇ perceptions of their writing skills in content and vocabulary. These implications are conductive to working out a set of new models of the teaching of writing and helping further intensify the innovations of Chinese foreign language teaching.

Student Self-assessment for Undergraduate, Graduate and Imernational Finance Courses

Assessing student learning can be exceedingly challenging considering that as faculty we never really know what a student knows prior to entering our classroom and what value-added material has been assimilated during the academic quarter. This research paper introduces a self-assessment instrument that focuses on ten major finance topics and reports the results of the administration of the self-assessment tool for finance education at the undergraduate and graduate level in courses taught in the United States and abroad. Ten topics of importance to most finance curriculum design were selected as the focus topics. The research methodology employed uses a pre-/post- test comparison with ＂understanding＂ being measured on a five-point Lichert scale as implemented in five different fmanee courses. Significant measurable differences occurred in each of the courses using this finance assessment instrument with overall average improvement of understanding by the students as much as one entire point. For exarnple, 1.5 mean score for the pre-test and 2.4 mean score for the post -test for an introductory finance class at the undergraduate level in a college of business. Additional improvements were assessed in each of the courses surveyed.

Assessing the Levels of Clinical Reasoning Skills Using Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Descriptive Comparative Study

Background: Clinical reasoning is a critical cognitive skill that enables undergraduate nursing students to make clinically sound decisions. A lapse in clinical reasoning can result in unintended harm to patients. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the levels of clinical reasoning skills between third year and fourth year undergraduate nursing students. Methods: The study utilized a descriptive comparative research design, based on the positivism paradigm. 410 undergraduate nursing students were systematically sampled and recruited into the study. The researchers used the Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning questionnaire to collect data on clinical reasoning skills from third- and fourth-year nursing students while adhering to ethical principles of human dignity. Descriptive statistics were done to analyse the level of clinical reasoning and an independent sample t-test was performed to compare the clinical reasoning skills of the student. A p value of 0.05 was accepted. Results: The results of the study revealed that the mean clinical reasoning scores of the undergraduate nursing students were knowledge/theory application (M = 3.84;SD = 1.04);decision-making based on experience and evidence (M = 4.09;SD = 1.01);dealing with uncertainty (M = 3.93;SD = 0.87);reflection and reasoning (M = 3.77;SD = 3.88). The mean difference in clinical reasoning skills between third- and fourth-year undergraduate nursing students was not significantly different from an independent sample t-test scores (t = −1.08;p = 0.28);(t = −0.29;p = 0.73);(t = 1.19;p = 0.24);(t = −0.57;p = 0.57). Since the p-value is >0.05, the null hypothesis (H0) “there is no significantno significant difference in clinical reasoning between third year and fourth year undergraduate nursing students”, was accepted. Conclusion: This study has shown that the level of clinical reasoning skills of the undergraduate nursing students was moderate to low. This meant that the teaching methods have not been effective to improve the students clinical reasoning skills. Therefore, the training institutions should revise their curriculum by incorporating new teaching methods like simulation to enhance students’ clinical reasoning skills. In conclusion, evaluating clinical reasoning skills is crucial for addressing healthcare issues, validating teaching methods, and fostering continuous improvement in nursing education.

扩展目标跟踪Student’s t逆Wishart平滑算法

脉冲干扰和离群量测信息等因素通常会导致异常的厚尾噪声,这使得以高斯假设为前提的扩展目标跟踪(ETT)估计器的性能急剧降低,针对该问题该文提出一种基于扩展目标随机矩阵模型(RMM)的Student’s t逆Wishart平滑(StIWS)算法。首先,将目标的运动状态以及过程噪声和量测噪声建模为Student’s t分布以表征异常噪声对扩展目标概率分布的影响,将目标扩展状态建模为服从逆Wishart分布的随机矩阵。然后,在Student’s t贝叶斯平滑框架下,详细推导了能在扩展目标的多重特征动态演变的过程中有效估计目标状态的StIWS算法。最后,通过扩展目标跟踪的仿真实验结果和真实场景实验结果验证了所提算法的有效性。

Student self-assessment versus preceptor assessment at the midpoint of a family medicine clerkship

Objective:To study how student self-assessment compared with the faculty’s assessment on our family medicine clerkship and to explore the effect of demographic factors on the rat-ings.Methods:Students and their faculty preceptors assessed the students’achievement of clerk-ship objectives at mid clerkship.We performed Mann-Whitney U tests to compare student ratings and faculty ratings for each clerkship objective.We performed linear regression analyses to in-vestigate the effect of medical school year and student sex on student ratings and the effect of sex concordance or sex difference of the faculty-student pair on faculty ratings.Results:Two hundred one students completed the family medicine clerkship between July 2015 and June 2016.Faculty ratings were higher than student ratings for all 12 clerkship objec-tives(P<0.05 for all comparisons).Third-year students rated themselves higher than second-year students for nine of the clerkship objectives.There was no difference in student ratings between female students and male students and no difference in faculty ratings whether there was a sex-concordant or a sex-different preceptor-student pair.Discussion:Our findings add to the knowledge of the mid-clerkship feedback process offered by different clerkships.Further study is needed to investigate how students use this feedback to improve for the remainder of the clerkship.

Student self-assessment of strengths and needed improvements during a family medicine clerkship

Objective:There are few reports on how students self-assess their performance on a family medicine clerkship.We studied what students perceived as their strengths and areas of needed improvement at the mid-point in our family medicine clerkship.Methods:We introduced a form for family medicine clerkship students to self-assess their strengths and areas of needed improvements using the clerkship objectives as a standard.We cal-culated the frequency in which each clerkship objective was reported as a strength or an area of needed improvement.For students’open-ended comments,two reviewers independently organ-ized students’comments into themes,then negotiated any initial differences into a set of themes that incorporated both the reviewers’findings.We performed c2 tests to determine any significant differences in the frequency of responses between male and female students.Results:During the study period(July 2012 to June 2014),372 students submitted com-pleted self-assessment forms.The most frequently reported strengths were professional objectives(48.9%)and interpersonal communication objectives(43.0%)The most frequently reported areas of needed improvement were the ability to explain key characteristics of commonly used medica-tions(29.3%)and the ability to develop a management plan(28.5%).There were no significant differences in the frequency of responses between male and female students.Conclusion:We now have a better understanding of students’perceived strengths and areas of needed improvement in our family medicine clerkship.We have shared this information with our community faculty preceptors so that they will be better prepared to work with our students.Family medicine clerkship preceptors at other institutions may also find these results useful.

Differences in Self-Assessment Regarding Eating Behaviors among Female University Students Living in Japan, Korea, and Austria

Objective: To investigate cross-cultural differences in self-assessments of eating behaviors of female university students who bear responsibility for their own eating behaviors and who will, in the future, likely determine a family’s eating style. Design: A cross-cultural comparison. Setting: Japan, South Korea, and Austria. Subjects: Female university students from Japan (n = 276), Korea (n = 103), and Austria (n = 127). The survey comprised a questionnaire containing ten sections about eating behaviors (eating habits, regular meal times, and frequency of food intake) and eating attitudes. Results: Eating behaviors and attitudes differed significantly among the three cultures. Japanese students practiced healthier eating behaviors than did Korean and Austrian students, on the basis of their variety of food intake and regular consumption of three meals, but rated themselves lower on healthy eating behaviors. Austrian students tended to have more independent attitudes toward eating and food preparation (e.g., “I want to eat only my favorite dishes”) than Japanese or Korean students. Conclusions: Effects of cultural differences in psychological processes, such as self-cognition, emotion, motivation, and values, on self-assessment of eating behaviors is suggested.

Investigation of the Acceptability of Cultured Meat in University Students

Background: Over the past 20 years, cultured meat has drawn a lot of public attention as a potential solution to issues with animal husbandry, including inadequate use of natural sources, improper animal welfare practices, and possible risks to public health and safety. The novel method of producing meat through culture reduces the need for animals to produce muscle fiber, thereby obviating the necessity for animal slaughter. Apart from its ethical advantages, cultured meat presents a possible way to fulfill the expanding need for food among growing populations. The purpose of this research was to find out whether Turkish students would be willing to pay for and accept cultured meat. Technique: Method: 371 university students who willingly consented to fill out a questionnaire and provide demographic data make up the research sample. Questions from previous studies on the acceptability of cultured meat were compiled to create the survey. The research’s data collection took place in March and April of 2022. The research was completed in June 2022 after the data had been processed and analyzed. Results: The results showed that the majority of participants were female and had omnivorous eating habits. Based on the results of the Bonferroni correction test, students with a higher intention to purchase and consume cultured meat were those who received economics and business education. Students with two years of university education had a higher overall survey score than those with four years of education (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it is discovered that there is a negative correlation between the participants’ ages and their Factor 2 (using cultured meat as an alternative to industrial meat) and Factor 3 (consuming and purchasing it) section points (r = -109, p = 0.036) (r = -0.121, p = 0.019). In conclusion, university students generally have a negative outlook on health-related issues, such as eating cultured meat as an alternative.

Evaluating the feasibility and preliminary effects of an online compassion training program for nursing students:A pilot randomized controlled trial

Objectives:This study aimed to assess the feasibility of an online compassion training program for nursing students and preliminarily investigate its effects on mindfulness,self-compassion,and stress reduction.Methods:This study employed a randomized controlled trial design.Second-year students from a nursing college in Guangzhou,China,were recruited as research participants in August 2023.The intervention group participated in an 8-week online compassion training program via the WeChat platform,comprising three stages:mindfulness(weeks 1e2),self-compassion(weeks 3e5),and compassion for others(weeks 6 e8).Each stage included four activities:psychoeducation,mindfulness practice,weekly diary,and emotional support.Program feasibility was assessed through recruitment and retention rates,program engagement,and participant acceptability.Program effectiveness was measured with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale,Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form,and Perceived Stress Scale.Results:A total of 28 students completed the study(13 in the intervention group,15 in the control group).The recruitment rate was 36.46%,with a high retention rate of 93.3%.Participants demonstrated high engagement:69.2%accessed learning materials every 1e2 days,93.3%practiced mindfulness at least weekly,with an average of 4.69 diary entries submitted per person and 23.30 WeChat interactions with instructors.Regarding acceptability,all participants expressed satisfaction with the program,with 92.4%finding it“very helpful”or“extremely helpful.”In terms of intervention effects,the intervention group showed a significant increase in mindfulness levels from pre-intervention(51.54±10.93)to postintervention(62.46±13.58)(P<0.05),while no significant change was observed in the control group.Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in post-intervention self-compassion and perceived stress levels,the intervention group showed positive trends:selfcompassion levels increased(35.85±8.60 vs.40.85±5.54),and perceived stress levels slightly decreased(44.77±8.65 vs.42.00±5.77).Conclusions:This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of an online compassion training program for nursing students and suggested its potential effectiveness in enhancing mindfulness,self-compassion,and stress reduction.Despite limitations such as small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up,preliminary evidence indicates promising prospects for integrating such training into nursing education.Further research is warranted to confirm thesefindings and assess the sustained impact of this approach on nursing education and practice.

Socio-Economic and Health Indicators’ Relation to Self-Assessed Health: A Case Study of Phai Tha Pho, Phichit Province, Thailand

Background: Self-assessed health (SAH) is used as a common method of sociology research to understand the implications of self-reported health and the link to social factors like education, income, and occupation. The paper explores the impact of socio-economic and health indicators on self-assessed health in the middle-aged to the senior population in a rural community in Thailand. Methods: Primary data were collected after conducting a randomized sampling for 100 people using direct interviews in two locations within the sub-district of Phai Tha Pho, Thailand. The target demographic was the middle-age to elderly population. A logit model was applied to the collected samples. Results: The study highlights that higher education, income, and sleep are high predictors for positive SAH while high blood sugar level has significant adverse effects on SAH. Detection of metabolic syndrome further indicates degraded overall health perception over time. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the relationship between socio-economic indicators and illnesses alongside individual SAH in rural Thailand. Accordingly, policies have been proposed that include targeted subsidies for healthy food alternatives, promoting work-rest balance at all levels, and an expansion of sub-district education up to secondary school. SAH can be performed regularly and expanded across communities including areas of low-income living due to its low implementation costs. It could also be used as a tool to support the government’s public health initiatives complementing the existing five-year direct health check-up programme. A comparative study of SAH across regions is recommended for future research.

Comparison of vergence mechanisms between university students with good and poor sleep quality

AIM:To compare the vergence mechanisms between good and poor sleepers in university students.METHODS:A total of 64 university students were recruited in this study.The validated Malay version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire(PSQI-M)was used to measure the participants’sleep quality over the past month.Participants were categorized as good sleepers(n=32)and poor sleepers(n=32)based on the PSQI-M scores.Heterophoria and fusional vergences were measured at distance and near.Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare heterophoria,negative fusional vergence(NFV),and positive fusional vergence(PFV)at distance and near between good and poor sleepers.Spearman correlation analysis was used to study the relationship between PSQI-M score and PFV at distance.RESULTS:Both distance and near heterophorias were not significantly different between good and poor sleepers(P>0.05).There was a difference in distance PFV(P<0.05)between good and poor sleepers,but not in distance NFV,near NFV,and near PFV(P>0.05).Distance PFV was negatively correlated with PSQI-M score(rs=-0.33,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:University students with poor sleep quality demonstrates a reduced ability to maintain fusion with increasing convergence demand at distance.Sleep quality assessment during binocular vision examination in university students is recommended.

The Impact of Social Media on Dietary Behaviors and Body Image of College Students: A Qualitative Approach

Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.

How University Athletics Can Impact Mental Health among Student Athletes at the University of Evansville

In recent years, the NCAA student athlete population in the United States has surpassed 500,000, and is continuing to rise each year [1]. These student athletes work their entire lives academically and athletically to reach the ultimate goal: competing in university athletics. However, when these athletes reach university, they are met with non-stop training, homework, exams, and evolving social lives. We have conducted a study at the University of Evansville evaluating how participation in university athletics may impact mental health status among these student athletes, as well as measuring players’ awareness of accessible mental health resources. Over fifty percent of participants reported experiencing at least one mental health condition while competing in their sport;eighty percent reported having knowledge of the mental health resources available to them on campus, however, nearly thirty percent of those knowledgeable reported not knowing how to access these resources. This has indicated a gap in awareness and utilization of mental health resources among student athletes at the University of Evansville.

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.

Knowledge of Risk Factors for Hypertension among University Students in Northwestern Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Obesity, excessive alcohol use, cigarette smoking, a lack of physical activity, stress, and an unhealthy diet are modifiable risk factors linked to hypertension. Non-modifiable risk factors for hypertension include older age and a family history of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to assess university students’ knowledge of hypertension risk factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at St. Augustine University of Tanzania. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Out of a total score of eight, a score of four or more was considered good knowledge, and a score of less than four was considered poor. All sociodemographic characteristics were included in logistic regression to calculate the adjusted odds ratio. Results: A total of 390 undergraduate students participated in this study. Most of the participants 266 (68.2%) identified stress as a risk factor for hypertension. The median (IQR) knowledge score was 2 (2 - 3). Overall, only 43 (11.0%) of the participants had good knowledge of risk factors for hypertension. However, none of the sociodemographic factors were associated with a good level of knowledge of risk factors for hypertension. Conclusion: Our findings highlight poor knowledge of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for hypertension among university students in northwestern Tanzania. Only stress and older age were known by more than half of the students as risk factors for hypertension. To reduce the burden of hypertension, it is crucial for prevention and control programs to target improving university students’ knowledge of risk factors for hypertension.

The Emotional Intelligence and the Associated Factors among Nursing Students

Introduction: Emotional intelligence, or the capacity to cope one’s emotions, makes it simpler to form good connections with others and do caring duties. Nursing students can enroll a health team in a helpful and beneficial way with the use of emotional intelligence. Nurses who can identify, control, and interpret both their own emotions and those of their patients provide better patient care. The purpose of this study was to assess the emotional intelligence and to investigate the relationship and differences between emotional intelligence and demographic characteristics of nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 381 nursing students. Data collection was completed by “Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test”. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Science. An independent t test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression were used. Results: The results revealed that the emotional intelligence mean was 143.1 ± 21.6 (ranging from 33 to 165), which is high. Also, the analysis revealed that most of the participants 348 (91.3%) had higher emotional intelligence level. This finding suggests that nursing students are emotionally intelligent and may be able to notice, analyze, control, manage, and harness emotion in an adaptive manner. Also, academic year of nursing students was a predictor of emotional intelligence. Furthermore, there was positive relationship between the age and emotional intelligence (p < 0.05). The students’ ability to use their EI increased as they rose through the nursing grades. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the emotional intelligence score of the nursing students was high. Also, academic year of nursing students was a predictor of emotional intelligence. In addition, a positive relationship was confirmed between the emotional intelligence and age of nursing students. .

The Impact of Sleep Patterns on Academic Performance and Social Integration among Medical Students

Introduction: The impact of sleep on student life is crucial, particularly for those in demanding fields such as medicine. This study examines the relationships between sleep patterns, academic performance, and social integration among medical students, who often face irregular sleep cycles and sleep deprivation due to rigorous academic demands. Aim: This study aims to assess how sleep issues affect academic achievement and social relationships among medical students. Method: Data were collected from 215 medical students through surveys and academic records. Quantitative data provided insights into sleep quality and academic performance, while qualitative interviews explored the effects of sleep on social interactions. Results: The findings revealed a significant correlation between sleep quality and academic performance, with students reporting better sleep hygiene achieving higher grades. Qualitative data indicated that poor sleep negatively impacts social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and reduced social participation. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of promoting good sleep practices in medical schools to enhance academic success and social well-being. Interventions aimed at improving sleep quality may help reduce burnout and improve overall well-being among medical students. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term effects of sleep on academic and social outcomes in this population.

Study of Factors Associated with the Practice of Vaccination against COVID-19 among Medical Science Students in Dakar (Senegal)

Introduction: Almost a year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senegal embarked on a vaccination campaign to protect its population. The objective of this study was to identify the factors influencing the COVID-19 vaccination practices within a health training university in Dakar. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study carried out from October 21 2021 to February 21 2022 among students at the Elhadj Ibrahima Niass private University in Dakar, Senegal. A 28-question online questionnaire was sent to all students enrolled at the university during this period. Results: Of the 576 students who responded, the average age was 22.60 years, with females predominating (57.81%). Medical students accounted for 66.14% of participants, pharmacy 22.40% and dental surgery 11.46%. Of these, 42.01% were bachelor’s students, 29.51% master’s students and 28.47% doctoral students. Vaccination coverage was 50.35%. Students who considered COVID-19 to be very dangerous were more likely to be vaccinated (OR = 5.05 [2.24-11.9]). Those with poor knowledge of vaccines were less likely to be vaccinated (OR = 0.07 [0.03-0.18]), as were those with poor knowledge of contraindications to vaccination (OR = 0.49 [0.28-0.86]). No association was found between vaccination status and socio-demographic or educational characteristics. Conclusion: In view of the importance of knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination, our results suggest that it is important to involve health students in the Ministry of Health’s awareness-raising strategies, because their support is necessary for better public awareness.

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.

Implementation of an international medical student pen-pal club:survey outcomes of perceptions in cultural competency and global health

Background:Pen-pal clubs(PPC)are used worldwide for students to learn about different cultures and other skillsets without the need for travel.Many medical students are interested in global health opportunities abroad but costs,scheduling,and other barriers allow few to participate in such experiences.It is important that medical students have nuanced global medical perspectives and can contribute to the global medical community.Objective:The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that an international medical student PPC improves medical students'perspectives of cultural competency and global health engagement.Methods:In 2021,a novel medical student PPC was established that began between an American and Japanese medical school.Following a shareholders meeting,it was decided that the number of medical schools involved globally be expanded through previous institutional affiliations and online presences.In total,the club connected 50 American medical students and 52 medical students from 17 high-and middle-income countries.The primary form of communication was online;pen-pals were encouraged to communicate monthly using provided topics,although frequency and way of communication was their discretion.In February 2022,American PPC members were emailed a qualitative survey to assess the PPC's impact.Results:The survey was completed by 42%of American PPC members,95%of which were 22-26 years.Participants were preclinical medical students,60%whom were female and the majority either white(47%)or Asian(43%).Overall,the PPC positively influenced American medical students'perception of global medicine,medical education,and their cultural competency after joining the PPC compared to prior(P=0.004).Conclusion:PPCs encourage medical students to think from a global perspective and foster open-mindedness within varying social and cultural contexts.Having a global communication platform for students during medical school education may be an additional way to train aspiring global leaders.