scholarly journals Challenges of e-Mentoring Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 107-111
Author(s):  
Anna Alicia Simok ◽  
◽  
Mohamad Najib Mat Pa ◽  
Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahim ◽  
Jamilah Al-Muhammady Mohammad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Online Mentoring ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Interpersonal Dynamics ◽  
Slow Development ◽  
Mentoring System

In the current pandemic scenario, the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia had adopted an e-mentoring system to help undergraduate medical students acclimatise to new subjects, improve academic performance and decrease attrition. The authors highlight the challenges of e-mentoring, including aspects of interpersonal dynamics, slow development of relationships in e-mentoring and the requirement of specific skills in technology for useful online mentoring, are the few challenges discussed. Some possible solutions were also shared. This article is beneficial to institutions implementing or planning to implement an e-mentoring system.

scholarly journals Quality of sleep and burnout among undergraduate medical students at the university of Nairobi, Kenya

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S279-S279
Author(s):  
Linda Nyamute ◽  
Muthoni Mathai ◽  
Anne Mbwayo
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Quality Of Sleep ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
The University

AimsThe main objective was to determine whether quality of sleep is associated with burnout among undergraduate medical students at the University of Nairobi.The null hypothesis in our study population was; 'There is no significant association between poor sleep quality and burnout'.BackgroundIn a pressure prevailing environment, medical students find themselves in a vicious cycle of cutting down on sleep in attempts to cope and adjust to increasing workloads. Students with poor sleep quality have been found to perform worse in their board exam and have strained social engagements. Ultimately, this chronic sleep deprivation may lead to burnout which may cause diminished sense of accomplishment and impaired professional conduct, that may be carried on to the career as a physician. High levels of burnout have been associated with suicides.MethodThe sample size obtained was 384 and participants were selected by a mixed sampling method. Data collection was through self-administered questionnaires. Scales used for this study were the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory(OLBI).Ethical considerations were adhered to and approval obtained from the Kenyatta National Hospital-University of Nairobi(KNH-UON) Ethics Board. Data entry and analysis was by SPSS v23. Data from 336 questionnaires were deemed fit for analysis.ResultWith a response rate of 87.5%, the prevalence of poor sleep quality and burnout were 69.9% and 74.7% respectively. There was a significant positive association between poor sleep quality and female gender, clinical years of study, living with family, poorly perceived socio-economic state and poor subjective academic performance. In addition, being female, younger, pre-clinical years, living independently off-campus and poor subjective academic performance were significantly associated with higher levels of burnout.Burnout had a significant correlation with poor sleep quality. Daytime functioning, a component of sleep quality had the highest correlation with components of burnout, disengagement and exhaustion. Overall, 57% of the respondents had both poor sleep quality &burnout, while only 12% were good sleepers with no burnout. Furthermore, having poor sleep increased the risk of having burnout by 2.8times. It is crucial that students adopt better sleeping habits to reduce the risk of burnout.ConclusionWith the high prevalence of poor sleep quality and burnout, peer-support groups and peer-led mentorship programs are recommended within this population to help deal with expectations, challenges and difficulties encountered within the course of medical education, in addition to preparing for the early future careers.

scholarly journals Stress and Its Association with the Academic Performance of Undergraduate Fourth Year Medical Students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harlina H Siraj ◽  
Salam A ◽  
Roslan R ◽  
Hasan NA ◽  
Jin TH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Stress Level ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Close Family Member ◽  
Negative Effect

Introduction: Student can be stressed due to different stressors such as academic, financial, health related or loss of close family member or friend, etc. Stress is the bodies’ reaction both neurologically and physiologically to adapt to the new condition. Stress has a negative effect on the academic performance of the students. This study was aimed to explore the stress and stressors and also to determine the association between stress levels and the academic performances in terms of cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of undergraduate medical students. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among all 234 year-4 medical students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), session 2011-2012. Sample size comprised of 179 students after fulfilling all inclusion and exclusion criteria. A validated Medical Students’ Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) was used to collect the data. Stress level and its association with CGPA of semester-1 examination were analysed. Results: Response rate was 76.49%, where 72% were female and 69% resided in the hostel. Academic Related and Social-related Stressors caused for severe and high stress in 84% and 49% respondents respectively, with insignificant differences between gender and residency. Respondents with a high and severe stress level were observed to have higher CGPA. Conclusion: UKM medical students are highly resourceful to manage their stress well and thus denying the negative effect of stress towards their academic performance. Medical schools should train students exposing various personal and professional developmental activities that able to face the everyday challenges and manage stress well and thereby achieve better academic performance.

scholarly journals Perceptions and practices of self-medication among undergraduate medical students at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Harish G. Bagewadi ◽  
Priyadarshini M. Deodurg ◽  
B. V. Patil ◽  
Syed Hasan Zahid
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Special Significance ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Medication Practice ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Perception Of Self ◽  
Written Informed Consent

Background: Self-medication practice is widespread in many countries and the irrational use of drugs is a cause of concern. It assumes a special significance among medical students as they are exposed to knowledge about diseases and drugs. To assess practice and perception of self-medication among undergraduate medical students.Methods: It is a descriptive study in which study population was comprised of 2nd year undergraduate medical students of Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India. Total 134 students were included in the study. Written informed consent was obtained from each volunteer prior to the study. Students were given a questionnaire that included both open and close ended questions about self-medication practice. Data was analysed and presented as counts and percentages.Results: It was found that 72 (54%) students practiced self-medication. The principal morbidity for seeking self-medication was cold and cough as reported by 70 (53%) students. Antibiotics were most commonly self-medicated as reported by 55 (36%) students. Only 34 (25%) students opined that self-medication is part of self-care.Conclusions: Self-medication is widely practiced among under­ graduate medical students. In this situation, we should educate the students about advantages and disadvantages of self-medication.

scholarly journals Selected Skill Sets As Building Blocks for Secondary-To-Tertiary Education Bridge: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study Among Undergraduate Medical Students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Alsuwaidi ◽  
Farah Otaki ◽  
Amar Hassan Khamis ◽  
Reem AlGurg ◽  
Ritu Lakhtakia
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Proficiency Scores

Abstract Background: The secondary-to-tertiary education transition is a significant milestone in the students’ academic journeys. This is particularly relevant to entry into medical schools, which is characterized by multiple stressors. Although this crucial transition has been repetitively explored, the concept of proactively intervening to support this transition, by fostering Self- Regulated Learning, is still novel. Accordingly, through this study, the authors investigate the efficacy of an online Multi-dimensional Resilience Building Intervention and analyse the association between the students' proficiency of selected skill sets and their academic performance over time. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted on one cohort of undergraduate medical students. The students were offered an online learning and development intervention around four skill sets during the first curricular year of an undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery program. Deidentified data, related to the students' proficiency of the four selected skill sets and the students’ academic performance: Grade-Point-Average, were retrieved. The data was analysed using SPSS for Windows version 27.0. Results: Out of the 63 admitted students, 28 participated in the offered intervention. The correlational analysis showed how increase in the overall score of skill sets proficiency was significantly associated with Year 1 GPA and cGPA. The students’ proficiency in the respective skill sets, however, was independent from their Year 2 GPA. Additionally, the performance of the students seemed to be not associated with their proficiency scores in each of the selected skill sets, independently. Conclusions: The innovative intervention of developing selected skill sets constituted an efficacious bridge to facilitate the secondary-to-tertiary education transition. Adapting such a multi-dimensional, resilience building intervention holds the potential of facilitating the students’ entry into medical school and improving their performance. As the medical student progresses, the acquired skills need to be continuously reinforced and effectively built upon.

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