Entrance qualifications and student performance in a hybrid problem bases and traditional medical programme

A hybrid problem based learning (PBL) and traditional programme was started at the Trinidad campus of the University of the West Indies in 1989. Analyses were carried out to determine the extent to which the entrance qualifications of the students were related to their performances at the examinations in the Phase I (preclinical and paraclinical) and Phase II (clinical) programmes. Students who were admitted on the basis of their results in the secondary school General Certificate of Examination (GCE), "A" level scored higher at the Phase I, but not at the Phase II, level than those who already had university education. Among the "A" level students, there was positive correlation between the total "A" level scores and the examination marks in the medical programme, particularly at the Phase I level. Futhermore, multiple regression analyses indicated that the grades in "A" level chemistry and, to a lesser extent in biology, had the most influence on performance at the Phase I examinations, with much less influence on performances at the Phase II examinations. These results suggest that good grades at "A" level examination are significant factors, but not the only important ones, that favour high achievement in the initial stages of this type of PBL/traditional medical programme.(AU)

Study of efficacy of lamstreptocide a & b on cases of dermatophilosis within the Caribbean

The efficacy of Lamstreptocide A & B was studied on 9 natural cases of bovine and caprine dermatophilosis in 8 different farms in St. Kitts, employing standard histopathologic and bacteriological methods. The lesions of 5 of the treated cases were dried-up and there was marked peeling-off of scabs of a severely affected case exposing erythematous underlying tissue, at 3 weeks post-application of the product. Apart from 3 mild cases which were not available for follow-up studies and which were reported to have recovered, there was no outright recovery of the 5 animals after treatment at 3 weeks, and even after a second application of the product. An in vitro sensitivity test of the product revealed a slowing down of growth of Dermatophilus congolensis at concentrations in excess of 1 percent by agarstreak method. However, there was no inhibition of growth of the bacterium by an agar-impregnated sensitivity method (AU)