Continuous Education of Basic Life Support (BLS) through Social Media; a Quasi-Experimental Study.

INTRODUCTION: It is imperative, if not fundamental, for medical students to receive continuing education in Basic life support (BLS). This present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of continuing education using social media in this regard. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, a questionnaire containing 20 items about BLS awareness was completed by the interns who were trained monthly in the emergency medicine training course. Then half of the interns received distant education through Telegram software up to three months, and the other did not receive any further education. Again, both groups completed the questionnaire at the end of the third month. RESULTS: 100 medical interns with the mean age of 25.05 ± 1.26 years were allocated to two groups of 50 subjects (65.0% female). Two groups were similar regarding the mean age (p = 0.304), gender (p = 0.529), mean awareness score at the beginning of the study (p = 0.916), and average pre-internship exam score (p = 0.080). The mean awareness score of medical interns increased significantly in intervention (11.44 ± 2.37 to 14.88 ± 1.97, p < 0.0001) and control (11.38 ± 3.22 to 12.54 ± 3.04, p < 0.0001) groups at second examination. But mean difference of awareness score, before and after the education, was significantly higher in intervention group (3.44 ± 1.48 versus 1.16 ± 1.51; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The increase in the BLS awareness score was significantly higher in medical interns who were continuously educated using Telegram social media software.

Correlation of the Ratio of Upper Third to Lower Third Circumferences of the Chest with Obstructive Pattern in Spirometry.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive Lung Diseases (OLDs), could lead to progressive hyperinflation of the lungs that cause increased work of breathing, impaired gas exchanges and functional limitations in patients. In this study, thoracic circumference of patients in upper and lower third were measured directly and the association of the upper to lower third width of chest with spirometric parameters was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, five hundred twenty nine consecutive patients, with obstructive pattern in spirometry (FEV1/FEVC<70% and FEV1<80%), and 143 controls with normal spirometry were entered. Demographic and clinical data including age, sex, smoking, type, duration and severity of disease and spirometric characteristics were recorded. Upper Third circumference of Chest (UTCC) at axillary level, and Lower Third circumference of Chest (LTCC) at lower rib edge, were measured with an ordinary tape meter. Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire for asthmatic and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire in COPD patients were completed. RESULTS: We found that in patients with UTCC/LTCC ratio > 0.8, UTCC had significant correlation with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC (R: 0.069, 0.055); Moreover significant correlation was found in UTCC, LTCC and UTCC/LTCC ratio with ACT score in this subgroup (R: -0.123, -0.092, -0.124)On the other hand in patients with UTCC/LTCC ratio > 0.9, UTCC and LTCC had significant correlation with FEV1 (R: 0.07, 0.051). CONCLUSION: UTCC/LTCC ratio > 0.8, may be a predictor of obstructive pattern in patients. This is more important in some occations, for example during preoprative evaluation of a patient in an emergency conditions which there is no enough time for performing appropriate diagnostic tests such as spirometry to reveal the type and severity of obstructive pulmonary diseases.