Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance of Students

Medical profession deals with human interactions and ability to empathize improves clinical interactions as well as brings out good clinical outcomes. This has led to increasing interest in the importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI) for effective clinical practice. EI integrates the important aspects of interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships to promote self-management skills like adaptability, control of temperaments and tension free states, which have a profound effect on the academic performance of students. There has been substantial evidence proving that being emotionally intelligent can help individuals excel through life transitions starting from school to college, and later into to the working world. There are many studies in the literature that examine the correlation between EI and academic achievement in different education levels which signify importance of EI levels to predict “students who are in need of guided intervention”.

Identify and Assess Drug Interactions with Atorvastatin in Inpatient Care

Background: Atorvastatin is a recent HMG-COA reductase inhibitor used to treat primary hypercholesterolemia, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and mixed dyslipidemias. It is also taken to prevent heart disease, including strokes and heart attacks. In addition, Atorvastatin is used to lower bad cholesterol low-density lipoproteins (LDL) levels, increase good cholesterol high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, and lower triglycerides. It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol produced in the body, hence reducing the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of arteries. Atorvastatin is long-acting, has few adverse effects, and is low in price. Nevertheless, it interacts with a wide variety of medications. These interactions may be lead to adverse drug reactions. Objective: The study aims to identify and asset atorvastatin interactions with other medicines at King Abdulaziz Hospital. Also, to prevent atorvastatin interactions in the future. Methods: The retrospective study investigated 280 electronic prescriptions inside the inpatient clinic at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Saudi Arabia between January and April 2021 to identify and asset interactions among atorvastatin and different medications. Results: Most atorvastatin interactions are category C (44.64%) and category B (41.43%). Atorvastatin had the most common interactions with esomeprazole (16.07%), clopidogrel (14.64%), and sitagliptin (12.14%). Atorvastatin had clinical interactions with medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A4 )CYP3A4(. Use of atorvastatin with cyclosporine or clarithromycin increased the risk for atorvastatin toxicities such as myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. In addition, Atorvastatin decreases clopidogrel's antiplatelet effect and increases the risk of skeletal muscle toxicity of daptomycin. Conclusion: The majority of atorvastatin interactions may be avoided by adhering to best practices in clinical care and clinical pharmacology, such as avoiding complicated treatment regimens, utilizing a single pharmacy for all prescriptions, and recognizing patient risk factors. Health care professionals should use drug-drug interaction checkers such as Medscape and Micromedex, as well as a book such as the Handbook of Drug Interactions.

Dressings and dignity in community nursing

Although dignity has been widely explored in the context of healthcare, it has rarely been the subject of empirical exploration when care is delivered by community district nursing teams. This paper demonstrates how a commonplace community nursing task (changing dressings) can constitute a clinical lens through which to explore the ways in which community nurses can influence patients' dignity. This ethnographic study involved two research methods: interviews with patients and nurses (n=22) and observations of clinical interactions (n=62). Dignity can manifest during routine interactions between community nurses and patients. Patient-participants identified malodour from their ill-bodies as a particular threat to dignity. Nurses can reinforce the dignity of their patients through relational aspects of care and the successful concealment of ‘leaky’ bodies.

Empathic communication in dignity therapy: Feasibility of measurement and descriptive findings

Objective Dignity therapy (DT) is a guided process conducted by a health professional for reviewing one's life to promote dignity through the illness process. Empathic communication has been shown to be important in clinical interactions but has yet to be examined in the DT interview session. The Empathic Communication Coding System (ECCS) is a validated, reliable coding system used in clinical interactions. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the feasibility of the ECCS in DT sessions and (2) to describe the process of empathic communication during DT sessions. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of 25 transcripts of DT sessions with older cancer patients. These DT sessions were collected as part of larger randomized controlled trial. We revised the ECCS and then coded the transcripts using the new ECCS-DT. Two coders achieved inter-rater reliability (κ = 0.84) on 20% of the transcripts and then independently coded the remaining transcripts. Results Participants were individuals with cancer between the ages of 55 and 75. We developed the ECCS-DT with four empathic response categories: acknowledgment, reflection, validation, and shared experience. We found that of the 235 idea units, 198 had at least one of the four empathic responses present. Of the total 25 DT sessions, 17 had at least one empathic response present in all idea units. Significance of results This feasibility study is an essential first step in our larger program of research to understand how empathic communication may play a role in DT outcomes. We aim to replicate findings in a larger sample and also investigate the linkage empathic communication may have in the DT session to positive patient outcomes. These findings, in turn, may lead to further refinement of training for dignity therapists, development of research into empathy as a mediator of outcomes, and generation of new interventions.

Risk communication: ethics, psychology, law

When communicating with a patient, a doctor is within a certain cultural practice (science-based medicine and state health care system), falling outside the limits of which is not legal. However, a broader understanding of medicine as a cultural phenomenon with a focus on health also requires a more varied perspective on patient care. The patient’s problem can be more complex than looking at it from science- and evidence-based point of view. Therefore, in risk communication as an element of work with adherence or as part of signing informed consent, different ways are needed to consider a patient’s situation. An ethical and psychological perspective on clinical interactions allows for a more holistic view of the disease.

Experienced hearing aid users’ perspectives of assessment and communication within audiology: A qualitative study using digital methods

ObjectiveTo explore experienced hearing aid users’ perspectives of audiological assessments and the patient-audiologist communication dynamic during clinical interactions.DesignA qualitative study was implemented incorporating both an online focus group and online semi-structured interviews. Sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Iterative-inductive thematic analysis was carried out to identify themes related to assessment and communication within audiology practice.Study samplesSeven experienced hearing aid users took part in an online focus group and 14 adults participated in semi-structured interviews (age range: 22 - 86 years; 9 males, 11 females).ResultsThemes related to assessment included the unaided and aided testing procedure and relating tests to real world hearing difficulties. Themes related to communication included the importance of communication strategies, explanation of test results and patient centred care in audiology.ConclusionTo ensure that hearing aid services meet the needs of the service users, we should explore user perspectives and proactively adapt service delivery. This approach should be ongoing, in response to advances in hearing aid technology. Within audiology, experienced hearing aid users’ value 1) comprehensive, relatable hearing assessment, 2) clear, concise, deaf aware patient-audiologist communication, 3) accessible services and 4) a personalised approach to recommend suitable technology and address patient specific aspects of hearing loss.

A qualitative analysis of third-year medical students’ reflection essays regarding the impact of COVID-19 on their education

Background The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed every aspect of healthcare delivery and training. Few studies have reported on the impact of these changes on the experiences, skill development, and career expectations of medical students. Method Using 59 responses to a short reflection essay prompt, 3rd year medical students in Philadelphia described how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their education in mid-2020. Using conventional content analysis, six main themes were identified across 14 codes. Results Students reported concerns regarding their decreased clinical skill training and specialty exposure on their career development due to the loss of in-person experience during their family medicine clerkship. A small number felt very let down and exploited by the continued high cost of tuition while missing clinical interactions. However, many students also expressed professional pride and derived meaning from limited patient and mentorship opportunities. Many students developed a new sense of purpose and a call to become stronger public health and patient advocates. Conclusions The medical field will need to adapt to support medical students adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, from an educational and mental health standpoint. However, there are encouraging signs that this may also galvanize many students to engage in leadership roles in their communities, to become more empathetic and thoughtful physicians, and to redesign healthcare in the future to better meet the needs of their most vulnerable patients.

A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions: barriers, facilitators, and the way forward

Providing healthcare services that respect and meet patients’ and caregivers’ needs are essential in promoting positive care outcomes and perceptions of quality of care, thereby fulfilling a significant aspect of patient-centered care requirement. Effective communication between patients and healthcare providers is crucial for the provision of patient care and recovery. Hence, patient-centered communication is fundamental to ensuring optimal health outcomes, reflecting long-held nursing values that care must be individualized and responsive to patient health concerns, beliefs, and contextual variables. Achieving patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient clinical interactions is complex as there are always institutional, communication, environmental, and personal/behavioural related barriers. To promote patient-centered care, healthcare professionals must identify these barriers and facitators of both patient-centered care and communication, given their interconnections in clinical interactions. A person-centered care and communication continuum (PC4 Model) is thus proposed to orient healthcare professionals to care practices, discourse contexts, and communication contents and forms that can enhance or impede the acheivement of patient-centered care in clinical practice.