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by Dima Alhomsi, Mhd Khaled Tello, Dania Abdalsalam, Majd Barmo, Hamzeh Al Asadi, Hasan Najjar, Bayan Alsaid
IntroductionBasic medical sciences form the cornerstone of any medical knowledge and are essential for understanding various diseases. This study aims to shed light on students’ viewpoints toward those sciences while delving into their motivations and hindrances and investigating individual subjects.
MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out at Damascus University in Syria, targeting final-year medical students. Data collection occurred on a designated clerkship day, during which students were invited to complete an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluated students’ overall perception and academic interest in studying basic medical sciences in pre-clinical years and their willingness to pursue these sciences as a prospective career.
ResultsThe study surveyed 350 medical students, with 40% rating their interest as good/very good. The extensive content was perceived as a major hindrance by 76.9%. Anatomy was perceived as the easiest subject while pharmacology and biochemistry were considered the hardest. The majority acknowledged the value of basic sciences for further medical education (75.1%) and good physician (77.4%), but only 20.9% indicated their relevance for practical training. Furthermore, 68.6% of students were not interested in pursuing these sciences as a career, primarily due to their preference for clinical fields (55.8%) and concerns about low-income potential (41.3%).
ConclusionThis study highlighted students’ positive views on Basic Medical Sciences, emphasizing their essential role in understanding disease pathophysiology for medical education and practice. Nonetheless, it pointed out a lack of practical training. The findings underscore the importance of decreasing content intensity and enhancing retention through practical approaches aligned with clinical practice.
by Eugénie M. Kamabu, Justin L. Paluku, William P. Howlett, Abid M. Sadiq, Eliada B. Nziku, Doreen T. Eliah, Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim Muhina, Fuad H. Said, Tumaini E. Mirai, Elifuraha W. Mkwizu, Furaha S. Lyamuya, Elichilia R. Shao, Kajiru G. Kilonzo, Venance P. Maro, Sarah J. Urasa, Nyasatu G. Chamba
BackgroundAmong acute stroke patients (ASPs), diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a higher risk of death, functional dependency, and recurrence. This study aimed to determine the impact of DM on the 30-day mortality among admitted ASPs in northern Tanzania.
Materials and methodsThis was a hospital-based prospective cohort study performed among ASPs with and without DM who were admitted to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre from November 2022 to May2023. ASPs were followed for 30 days after the onset of an acute stroke to identify the primary outcome, which was all-cause mortality. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and survival analysis were conducted,
ResultsOut of 213 ASP, 82 (38.5%) had DM. The overall crude mortality rate was 46.9%. ASPs with DM had a higher mortality rate of 53.7% compared with those without DM (42.7%). A higher proportion of acute stroke patients with DM (84.1%) had a poor outcome (mRS 3-6) (p = 0.038). DM was statistically non-significant for 30-day mortality (aHR 1.56; 95% CI: 0.73–3.32; p = 0.252). However, fever (p = 0.005), severe admission Glasgow coma scale (p = 0.005), severe stroke (p = 0.008), elevated serum creatinine (p = 0.008), and an abnormal respiratory pattern (p = 0.042), were predictors of 30-day mortality,
ConclusionThis study demonstrated a high mortality in ASPs. Although DM did not have a significant impact on 30-day mortality, other factors, such as altered mental state, stroke severity, fever, elevated creatinine, and abnormal respiration, need to be accounted for that may have a significant impact on the mortality in ASPs. These findings highlight the significant burden of DM in stroke patients and underscore the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of ASPs, in the hopes of improving clinical practice and guidelines and reducing morbidity and mortality in Tanzania.
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