Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception on Bequeathing of Bodies for Medical Education and Research among Health Science Students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences.

Abstract Background: Cadaveric dissection is an established effective teaching method in anatomical science education. Cadaver acquisition for dissection is however based on voluntary body bequeathment. As a result of the increasing numbers of medical schools and students intake, the challenges of inadequate bodies for education became visible in most parts of the world as the main cadaver source remains anonymous corpses in the custody of the state. Cultural and religious beliefs or commercial purposes are among several factors that influence the decision about body donations. This study investigates the knowledge, attitude and perception of body bequeathing among health science students who benefitted or are potential beneficiary of cadaveric studies and identified factors influencing the bequest of bodies in Ghana for educational purposes among students in University of Health and Allied Sciences. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study recruited 513 students in the bachelor programmes for medicine, physician assistantship, nursing, midwifery, pharmacy and allied sciences at various levels. Both closed-and open-ended questions contained in a designed Questionnaire were administered. Result: About Seventy-four percent (74.1%) of respondents had heard of body bequeathal. Majority (98.3%) agreed body bequeathal was important. However, only 39.6% knew the requirements and processes of body bequeathal. Most (>90%) had a negative attitude towards body bequeathal. Conclusion: The study concluded that there was a high awareness of the importance of body bequeathal for medical education and research but very low procedural knowledge on bequeathing a body among health science students. Also most were unwillingness to donate their body or even encouraging others to donate their body. It is therefore recommended that the medical schools should set up accessible body bequeathal programmes that provides opportunities for interested individuals to be readily assisted through the process of body bequeathal. Keywords: Body Bequeathal, Medical Science Education, Cadaveric Dissection, Anatomical education

Nasal Carriage and Associated Factors of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Among Medicine and Health Science Students of Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia

Individuals with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonized nasal cavities were at greater risk of developing the infection and can serve as potential reservoirs of transmission. Aim of this study is to determine the extent of nasal carriage and associated factors linked to MRSA in medical and health science students of Arba Minch University (AMU), Ethiopia. An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at AMU from 01st August through 30th November, 2020. A systematic sampling technique was used to recruit the participants. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Nasal swabs were collected and S. aureus were identified following standard microbiological methods. Methicillin resistance was tested using cefoxitin disk and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. Biofilm forming ability was phenotypically detected by micro-titer plate assay. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done by Statistical Package for Social Service (SPSS) version 25. Overall prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA were 27.1% (70/258) and 7.4% (19/258) respectively. Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus carriage was higher among medical interns, 16.9% (11/65); isolates were co-resistant to antibiotics, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (63.2%) and tetracycline (48.4%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was observed among 52.6% (10/19) of the isolates. Besides, 31.4% (6/19) of MRSA were biofilm producers and all of them were MDR. Multivariable analysis showed that students having >2 years of mean exposure to hospital [p= 0.048, AOR: 4.99, 95% CI: 1.01-24.66] and those who share clothing and sports equipment [p=0.017, AOR: 5.43, 95% CI: 1.35-21.83] were statistically significant. The overall prevalence of nasal MRSA among students were comparatively lower than that observed in other studies done in Ethiopia itself. An alarming factor is that, 60% of MDR-MRSA were biofilm producers.

Mental Health of Health Science Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Medical College of Nepal

INTRODUCTION: Mental health impact of COVID-19 is a well-known entity. Health science students are among the high risk groups for developing mental health issues due to lengthy and rigorous studies they undertake. This study aims to explore the mental health of health science undergraduate students of Maharajgunj Medical Campus, and Maharajgunj Nursing Campus during the COVID pandemic in Nepal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2021 to July 2021 using convenience sampling technique using Nepali version of DASS-21 to undergraduate health science students of Maharajgunj Medical Campus and Maharajgunj Nursing campus. RESULTS: Out of 164 participants, depression, anxiety and stress was seen in 43%, 33% and 29% respectively. Females showed more depression (47.6%) and anxiety (38.8%) and stress (32%) as compared to males CONCLUSION:Mental health of health science students is adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance among Health Science Students in Morocco: A Cross-Sectional Study

While students in the health sciences occupy pivotal roles in the Moroccan COVID-19 response and vaccination campaigns, factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among students have not been reported. This study aimed to determine the willingness and identify predictive attitudes and beliefs of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among health science students in Morocco. A cross-sectional, self-administered online questionnaire was conducted among students of the Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences in Casablanca, Morocco in January 2021. In total, 1272 students participated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Overall, 26.9% of participants reported being willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Between genders, male students were more likely to accept the vaccine. Regarding individual attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19 infection, students with greater confidence in COVID-19 information, and higher perceived likelihood and perceived severity of infection were more likely to be willing to get the vaccine. Concerning a COVID-19 vaccine, students who reported lower levels of perceived harm and higher levels of perceived vaccine effectiveness were more willing to get vaccinated. Our findings help guide future efforts to tailor communication and identify strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among students.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Psychosocial Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Health-Science Students of Lithuania–A National Cross-Sectional Online Survey

(1) Background: the relationship between the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is understudied. Moreover, health science students are the future leaders and advocates of vaccination efforts. Therefore, it is essential to understand the origins of vaccine hesitancy and evaluate if the adverse psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic influence it. (2) Methods: we shared an anonymous questionnaire among health-science students via institutional emails of two Lithuanian universities. Results were summarized with odds ratios and mean differences. (3) Results: a total of 1545 health sciences students answered the questionnaire. Almost a fifth of the respondents claimed that they were unsure about getting vaccinated, and nearly one out of ten claimed that they would not get vaccinated. Medicine students, non-infected students, and students who volunteered in a COVID-19 ward were significantly more willing to get vaccinated compared to other health science students. Vaccine hesitant respondents reported a more significant negative effect of COVID-19 on their income and belief in the future. (4) Conclusions: the results of this study showed that negative psychosocial impact on income and ‘belief in future’ were positively associated with vaccine hesitancy. Having been diagnosed with COVID-19 was significantly associated with being doubtful towards vaccination.

Changes in Physical Activity Among University Students in Indonesia from Before to During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Cohort Study

University life is an important phase for forming healthy physical activity habits among university students. However, little is known about the change in physical activity level during the COVID-19 pandemic among university students in Indonesia, which has a low stringency index. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (n=153) from October to November 2020, where there were asked to recall their physical activity level and type of physical activity engaged in at four points of time: before the pandemic, early pandemic, Ramadan period, and relaxation period. Then, we conducted three-way mixed analyses of variance followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc comparisons tests to compare the mean difference of total moderate-vigorous physical activity with a subject over time and between subgroups in a similar time. Containment measures during the pandemic resulted in a 69.4-minute drop (95% confidence interval: 40.1 to 98.7 minutes, p<.001) of total moderate-vigorous physical activity. While the relaxation of containment measures could restore non-health natural science students’ physical activity to the pre-pandemic amount, it did not influence health science students’ physical activity. Our findings provide evidence that pandemic situations in a low stringency index country also affected physical activity behavior among university students. More efforts are needed to increase university students’ physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among health science students.