Determining the psychometric properties of a written test to assess safe dental practice.

INTRODUCTION: Safe practice in medicine and dentistry has been a global priority area in which large knowledge gaps are present.Patient safety strategies aim at preventing unintended damage to patients that can be caused by healthcare practitioners. One of the components of patient safety is safe clinical practice. Patient safety efforts will help in ensuring safe dental practice for early detection and limiting non-preventable errors.A valid and reliable instrument is required to assess the knowledge of dental students regarding patient safety. OBJECTIVE: To determine the psychometric properties of a written test to assess safe dental practice in undergraduate dental students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A test comprising 42 multiple-choice questions of one-best type was administered to final year students (52) of a private dental college. Items were developed according to National Board of Medical Examiners item writing guidelines. The content of the test was determined in consultation with dental experts (either professor or associate professor). These experts had to assess each item on the test for language clarity as A: clear, B: ambiguous and relevance as 1: essential, 2: useful, not necessary, 3: not essential. Ethical approval was taken from the concerned dental college. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS V.25 in which descriptive analysis, item analysis and Cronbach's alpha were measured. RESULT: The test scores had a reliability (calculated by Cronbach's alpha) of 0.722 before and 0.855 after removing 15 items. CONCLUSION: A reliable and valid test was developed which will help to assess the knowledge of dental students regarding safe dental practice. This can guide medical educationist to develop or improve patient safety curriculum to ensure safe dental practice.

Factors associated with infectious diseases fellowship academic success.

BACKGROUND: A multitude of factors are considered in an infectious disease (ID) training program's meticulous selection process of ID fellows but their correlation to pre and in-fellowship academic success as well as post-fellowship academic success and short-term outcomes is poorly understood. Our goal was to investigate factors associated with subsequent academic success in fellowship as well as post-fellowship short-term outcomes. METHODS: In 2022, we retrospectively analyzed deidentified academic records from 39 graduates of the Mayo Clinic Rochester ID Fellowship Program (1 July 2013- 30 June 2022). Data abstracted included demographics, degrees, honor society membership, visa/citizenship status, medical school, residency training program, United States Medical Licensure Exam (USMLE) scores, letters of recommendation, in-training examination (ITE) scores, fellowship track, academic rank, career choice, number of honors, awards, and abstracts/publications prior to fellowship, during training, and within 2 years of graduation. RESULTS: Younger fellows had higher USMLE step 1 scores, pre and in-fellowship scholarly productivity, and higher ITE performance. Female fellows had significantly higher USMLE step 3 scores. Prior research experience translated to greater in-fellowship scholarly productivity. Higher USMLE scores were associated with higher ID ITE performance during multiple years of fellowship, but USMLE step 2 clinical knowledge and 3 scores were associated with higher pre and in-fellowship scholarly productivity and receiving an award during fellowship. The USMLE step 1 score did not correlate with fellowship performance beyond year 1 and 2 ITE scores. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple aspects of a prospective fellow's application must be considered as part of a holistic review process for fellowship selection. USMLE step 2 CK and 3 scores may predict fellowship performance across multiple domains.

Variation in Oral Board Examination Accommodations Among Specialties.

Importance: Board certification can have broad implications for candidates' career trajectories, and prior research has found sociodemographic disparities in pass rates. Barriers in the format and administration of the oral board examinations may disproportionately affect certain candidates. Objective: To characterize oral certifying examination policies and practices of the 16 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited specialties that require oral examinations. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to April 15, 2023, using data on oral examination practices and policies (examination format, dates, and setting; lactation accommodations; and accommodations for military deployment, family emergency, or medical leave) as well as the gender composition of the specialties' boards of directors obtained from websites, telephone calls and email correspondence with certifying specialists. The percentages of female residents and residents of racial and ethnic backgrounds who are historically underrepresented in medicine (URM) in each specialty as of December 31, 2021, were obtained from the Graduate Medical Education 2021 to 2022 report. Main Outcome and Measures: For each specialty, accommodation scores were measured by a modified objective scoring system (score range: 1-13, with higher scores indicating more accommodations). Poisson regression was used to assess the association between accommodation score and the diversity of residents in that specialty, as measured by the percentages of female and URM residents. Linear regression was used to assess whether gender diversity of a specialty's board of directors was associated with accommodation scores. Results: Included in the analysis were 16 specialties with a total of 46 027 residents (26 533 males [57.6%]) and 233 members of boards of directors (152 males [65.2%]). The mean (SD) total accommodation score was 8.28 (3.79), and the median (IQR) score was 9.25 (5.00-12.00). No association was found between test accommodation score and the percentage of female or URM residents. However, for each 1-point increase in the test accommodation score, the relative risk that a resident was female was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.96-1.16), and the relative risk that an individual was a URM resident was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.00-1.07). An association was found between the percentage of female board members and the accommodation score: for each 10% increase in the percentage of board members who were female, the accommodation score increased by 1.20 points (95% CI, 0.23-2.16 points; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: This cross-sectional study found considerable variability in oral board examination accommodations among ACGME-accredited specialties, highlighting opportunities for improvement and standardization. Promoting diversity in leadership bodies may lead to greater accommodations for examinees in extenuating circumstances.

Machine Learning to Identify Clusters in Family Medicine Diplomate Motivations and Their Relationship to Continuing Certification Exam Outcomes: Findings and Potential Future Implications.

BACKGROUND: The potential for machine learning (ML) to enhance the efficiency of medical specialty boards has not been explored. We applied unsupervised ML to identify archetypes among American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Diplomates regarding their practice characteristics and motivations for participating in continuing certification, then examined associations between motivation patterns and key recertification outcomes. METHODS: Diplomates responding to the 2017 to 2021 ABFM Family Medicine continuing certification examination surveys selected motivations for choosing to continue certification. We used Chi-squared tests to examine difference proportions of Diplomates failing their first recertification examination attempt who endorsed different motivations for maintaining certification. Unsupervised ML techniques were applied to generate clusters of physicians with similar practice characteristics and motivations for recertifying. Controlling for physician demographic variables, we used logistic regression to examine the effect of motivation clusters on recertification examination success and validated the ML clusters by comparison with a previously created classification schema developed by experts. RESULTS: ML clusters largely recapitulated the intrinsic/extrinsic framework devised by experts previously. However, the identified clusters achieved a more equal partitioning of Diplomates into homogenous groups. In both ML and human clusters, physicians with mainly extrinsic or mixed motivations had lower rates of examination failure than those who were intrinsically motivated. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using ML to supplement and enhance human interpretation of board certification data. We discuss implications of this demonstration study for the interaction between specialty boards and physician Diplomates.

Implementation of standard setting for high-stakes objective structured clinical examinations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To describe one institution's approach to transformation of high-stakes objective structure clinical examinations (OSCEs) from norm-referenced to criterion-referenced standards setting and to evaluate the impact of these changes on OSCE performance and pass rates. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: The OSCE writing team at the college selected a modified Angoff method appropriate for high-stakes assessments to replace the two standard deviation method previously used. Each member of the OSCE writing team independently reviewed the analytical checklist and calculated a passing score for active stations on OSCEs. Then the group met to determine a final pass score for each station. The team also determined critical cut points for each station, when indicated. After administration of the OSCEs, scores, pass rates, and need for remediation were compared to the previous norm-referenced method. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. FINDINGS: OSCE scores remained relatively unchanged when switched to a criterion-referenced method, but the number of remediators increased up to 2.6 fold. In the first year, the average score increased from 86.8% to 91.7% while the remediation rate increased from 2.8% to 7.4%. In the third year, the average increased from 90.9% to 92% while the remediation rate increased from 6% to 15.6%. Likewise, the fourth-year average increased from 84.9% to 87.5% while the remediation rate increased from 4.4% to 9%. SUMMARY: Transition to a modified Angoff method did not impact average OSCE score but did increase the number of remediations.

The impact of critical thinking skills on student pharmacist GPA at a historically Black university.

INTRODUCTION: Limited information is available regarding whether malleable factors such as critical thinking skills are associated with academic performance among underrepresented minority pharmacy students. This study assessed the relationship between critical thinking skills and grade point average (GPA) among pharmacy students attending a Historically Black College. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was utilized to evaluate the association between student's GPA and critical thinking skills. Demographic data and GPA were abstracted from student records. The health sciences reasoning test with numeracy was administered to pharmacy students at Howard University during the 2017 to 2018 academic year. Critical thinking scores were classified as weak, moderate, or strong/superior. A one way analysis of variance was conducted to ascertain if the average GPA differed based on critical thinking skills category. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine whether student's critical thinking skill category was associated with the cumulative GPA after accounting for other factors. RESULTS: Among 217 students, the mean GPA among students with a weak critical thinking skills score (3.22 ± 0.40) was lower compared to students with a strong/superior score (3.39 ± 0.33) with a p-value of 0.029. After adjusting for other factors, a strong/superior critical thinking skills score was associated with a higher GPA (p-value = 0.024) in comparison to weak critical thinking skills. CONCLUSION: Stronger critical thinking skills scores are associated with better academic performance among underrepresented minority pharmacy students.

Student pharmacists' perceptions of a NAPLEX preparation module in the pharmacy curriculum at one United States college of pharmacy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate final-year student pharmacists' experiences of a new module for North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) preparation at one college of pharmacy in the United States. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: All student pharmacists enrolled in a new Spring 2023 module for NAPLEX preparation (n = 118) were invited to complete an electronic questionnaire and participate in a semi-structured interview. The questionnaire investigated the perceived helpfulness, grading, importance, prioritization, structure, and timing of the module in the curriculum, as well as assignment choices, confidence building, and time management using a six-point Likert scale. Semi-structured interviews investigated experiences with NAPLEX modules, time management, and course format. Questionnaire data were descriptively analyzed; interview data were thematically analyzed. FINDINGS: Forty-one completed questionnaires and seven interviews were analyzed. Median scores for questionnaire items were six (denoting strongly agree) for three items, five (denoting agree) for seven items, and four (denoting somewhat agree) for two items. Twenty-three (56%) students desired an online self-directed (asynchronous) course structure. Seventeen (42%) students desired a mixture of short and long course assignments with a greater proportion of short course assignments while another 17 (42%) desired only short course assignments. Two themes were constructed from interviews: timing (when to study for NAPLEX) and structure (how to study for NAPLEX). SUMMARY: Study findings indicated typically positive perceptions of a module for NAPLEX preparation among final-year student pharmacists at a college of pharmacy in the United States. Recommendations from students can be used to improve the module in future years.

ChatGPT vs pharmacy students in the pharmacotherapy time-limit test: A comparative study in Thailand.

OBJECTIVES: ChatGPT is an innovative artificial intelligence designed to enhance human activities and serve as a potent tool for information retrieval. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and limitation of ChatGPT on fourth-year pharmacy student examination. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on February 2023 at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. The exam contained 16 multiple-choice questions and 2 short-answer questions, focusing on classification and medical management of shock and electrolyte disorders. RESULTS: Out of the 18 questions, ChatGPT provided 44% (8 out of 18) correct responses. In contrast, the students provided a higher accuracy rate with 66% (12 out of 18) correctly answered questions. The findings of this study underscore that while AI exhibits proficiency, it encounters limitations when confronted with specific queries derived from practical scenarios, on the contrary with pharmacy students who possess the liberty to explore and collaborate, mirroring real-world scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Users must exercise caution regarding its reliability, and interpretations of AI-generated answers should be approached judiciously due to potential restrictions in multi-step analysis and reliance on outdated data. Future advancements in AI models, with refinements and tailored enhancements, offer the potential for improved performance.

An active-learning laboratory focused on critical care topics.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To describe an active-learning laboratory on critical care topics including advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), rapid sequence intubation (RSI), and toxicology and its effect on students' knowledge, skills, and confidence. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Third year pharmacy students (n = 88) participated in a critical care focused laboratory with four stations focused on ACLS review, ABBOJECTⓇ syringe assembly, ACLS simulations, RSI cases, and toxicology. Prior to the critical care focused skills laboratory, students completed an optional assessment composed of six confidence and eight knowledge questions. After the laboratory, students completed the same confidence and knowledge assessment. Descriptive statistics assessed pre/post-assessment responses. Paired pre/post-assessment Likert data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired pre/post-test multiple choice responses were analyzed using the McNemar test. FINDINGS: Of the 88 students in the cohort, 76 students completed both the pre/post-assessments (response rate: 86.4%). Students demonstrated a significant increase in their overall knowledge and confidence scores on the post-assessment. All students successfully assembled an ABBOJECTⓇ syringe. The majority of respondents rated the critical care laboratory as excellent or good with regards to how enjoyable and effective the activity was to help understand critical care topics. SUMMARY: A hands-on, active-learning laboratory devoted to teaching and reinforcing common critical care concepts allowed students to gain knowledge and confidence regarding ACLS, RSI, and toxicology.

Ultrasound Incorporation in Gross Anatomy Labs in a Master of Medical Sciences Program: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Student Performance and Perception.

OBJECTIVES: Teaching ultrasound imaging is on the rise in undergraduate medical anatomy education. However, there is little research exploring the use of ultrasound in preparatory graduate programs. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of ultrasound imaging inclusion in a graduate gross anatomy course. METHODS: Master of Medical Sciences students were enrolled in a prosection-based anatomy course that included pinned cadaver stations and an ultrasound station. Using ultrasound, teaching assistants imaged volunteers demonstrating anatomical structures students previously learned at cadaver stations. Students answered one ultrasound image question on each practical exam and were asked to participate in a pre- and post-course survey. Student practical and lecture exam scores and final course grades from the 2022 cohort were compared to a historical control cohort from 2021 via statistical analysis, including a survey administered to the 2022 cohort. RESULTS: Two hundred students from the 2021 cohort and 164 students from the 2022 cohort participated in this study. Students in the 2022 cohort had significantly higher scores in 1 of the 5 practical exams (P < .05, d = .289), and 2 of the 5 written exams (P < .05, d = .207), (P < .05, d = .311). Survey data revealed increased (P < .05, d = 1.203) learning outcome achievement from pre-survey to post-survey in the intervention cohort. Students who correctly answered the ultrasound question performed significantly better on practical's 3 (P < .05) and 4 (P < .05) than those who missed the ultrasound question. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ultrasound imaging in a cadaver lab is beneficial to graduate students' learning and understanding of gross anatomy.

Effects of a Discourse Intervention on End-of-Life Knowledge and Attitudes of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Students.

Several challenges exist to providing effective, formalized end-of-life education for undergraduate nursing students. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of a discourse intervention to the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Undergraduate Nursing Modules effectively improved junior-level prelicensure bachelor of science in nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward end-of-life care. This quasi-experimental 2-group comparison, pretest/posttest design consisted of a sample of 135 enrolled in a medical-surgical nursing class. Applying Mezirow's transformational learning theory, a 2-hour discourse intervention that included a self-reflective journal, an unfolding case study focused on loss, and a discussion with question-and-answer session was implemented at the completion of the Undergraduate Nursing Modules for the intervention group. Knowledge and attitude toward end-of-life care were measured before and after the intervention with the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses and the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying. The findings indicated increased knowledge and positive attitude changes. This study supports the value of theory-based educational interventions, like a discourse intervention, to enhance effective pedagogy when addressing emotionally laden content such as end-of-life care. This study may have also given a glimpse of how a global pandemic may affect end-of-life knowledge and attitudes.

Temporal Trends in Childhood Household Income Among Applicants and Matriculants to Medical School and the Likelihood of Acceptance by Income, 2014-2019.

This study examines trends in childhood household income among applicants and matriculants to medical school and the likelihood of acceptance by income.

Impact of the Use of Simulated Patients in Basic First Aid Training on Laypeople Knowledge, Skills, and Self-efficacy: A Controlled Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: First aid training is a cost-effective way to improve public health, but the most effective methods to teach first aid are currently unclear. The aim of this research was to investigate the added value of simulated patients during first aid certification trainings. METHODS: Occupational first aid trainings organized by the Belgian Red Cross between September 2018 and August 2019 were allocated to either training with a simulated patient or regular training, for the topics "stroke" and "burns." Participants' knowledge and self-efficacy related to these topics were assessed at baseline, directly after training and after 1 year. First aid skills for "stroke" and "burns" and participant satisfaction were assessed after training. Knowledge and self-efficacy were measured via a questionnaire, and skills were assessed during a practical skills test. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed model analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1113 participants were enrolled, 403 in the simulated patient group and 710 in the control group. First aid knowledge and self-efficacy increased strongly immediately after training. These increases did not differ between groups, nor did the level of practical skills. The simulated patient group had a significantly increased retention in first aid knowledge after 1 year, compared with control, while retention in self-efficacy did not differ. Participant satisfaction with training was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Using simulated patients during occupational first aid trainings for laypeople did not improve outcomes immediately after training but did improve retention of first aid knowledge after 1 year. These results support the use of simulated patients during first aid training.

A novel algorithm-driven hybrid simulation learning method to improve acquisition of endotracheal intubation skills: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training is a clinical skill learning method that can replicate real-life situations in an interactive manner. In our study, we compared a novel hybrid learning method with conventional simulation learning in the teaching of endotracheal intubation. METHODS: One hundred medical students and residents were randomly divided into two groups and were taught endotracheal intubation. The first group of subjects (control group) studied in the conventional way via lectures and classic simulation-based training sessions. The second group (experimental group) used the hybrid learning method where the teaching process consisted of distance learning and small group peer-to-peer simulation training sessions with remote supervision by the instructors. After the teaching process, endotracheal intubation (ETI) procedures were performed on real patients under the supervision of an anesthesiologist in an operating theater. Each step of the procedure was evaluated by a standardized assessment form (checklist) for both groups. RESULTS: Thirty-four subjects constituted the control group and 43 were in the experimental group. The hybrid group (88%) showed significantly better ETI performance in the operating theater compared with the control group (52%). Further, all hybrid group subjects (100%) followed the correct sequence of actions, while in the control group only 32% followed proper sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that our novel algorithm-driven hybrid simulation learning method improves acquisition of endotracheal intubation with a high degree of acceptability and satisfaction by the learners' as compared with classic simulation-based training.

Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes e a qualidade do ensino superior em saúde brasileiro / The National Student Performance Examination and the quality of Brazilian higher education in health / Examen Nacional de Rendimiento Estudiantil y calidad de la educación superior brasileña en salud

Resumo Objetivo: analisar o ensino superior da área da saúde no Brasil segundo os resultados do desempenho dos estudantes no Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes de 2019. Método: estudo transversal, retrospectivo, de abordagem quantitativa com dados on-line referentes a 192.715 estudantes de 3.712 cursos da saúde, coletados em 2020. O desempenho dos estudantes foi expresso em conceitos, ordenados em escala de um a cinco. Foram elaborados box-plot e estimadas prevalências dos conceitos e avaliadas diferenças segundo as características administrativas, de gestão e das cidades sede dos cursos por meio de teste estatísticos (α=5%). Resultados: observou-se nível satisfatório do ensino superior de saúde (70,0% com conceito ≥3). Cursos de medicina foram os mais satisfatoriamente avaliados, fonoaudiologia e enfermagem os piores. O ensino público, presencial e em universidades estiveram associados à maior qualidade do ensino. Níveis mais baixos foram verificados nos estados da região Norte, nas cidades pequenas e fora de áreas metropolitanas e naqueles sob gestão privada. Conclusão: verificou-se heterogeneidade na qualidade do ensino superior entre os cursos de saúde, indicando sua associação com características das instituições de ensino e à infraestrutura das cidades sedes dos cursos, apontando desafios para a qualidade da formação em saúde no Brasil.

Abstract Objective: to analyze higher education in the health area in Brazil according to the results of the students' performance in the 2019 National Student Performance Examination. Method: a cross-sectional and retrospective study with a quantitative approach and online data referring to 192,715 students from 3,712 health courses, collected in 2020. The students' performance was expressed in concepts, ordered on a scale of one to five. Box-plots were prepared, prevalence values of the concepts were estimated, and the differences were evaluated through statistical tests (α=5%) according to the administrative and management characteristics, as well as those of the cities where the courses were offered. Results: there was a satisfactory level of higher education in health (70.0% with a score ≥3). The Medicine courses were the most satisfactorily evaluated while Speech Therapy and Nursing obtained the worst scores. Public, face-to-face and university education were associated with better teaching quality. Lower levels were found in the North region states, in small towns, outside metropolitan areas and in those under private management. Conclusion: heterogeneity in the quality of higher education across the health courses was verified, indicating its association with the characteristics of the teaching institutions and with the infrastructure of the cities where the courses are offered, pointing out challenges to the quality of health education in Brazil.

Resumen Objetivo: analizar la educación superior en el área de la salud en Brasil en función de los resultados del desempeño de los estudiantes en el Examen Nacional de Rendimiento de los Estudiantes de 2019. Método: estudio transversal, retrospectivo con enfoque cuantitativo con datos online referentes a 192.715 estudiantes de 3.712 carreras de salud, recolectados en 2020. El desempeño de los estudiantes se expresó en conceptos, ordenados en una escala de uno a cinco. Se elaboraron box-plots y se estimaron y las prevalencias de los conceptos y se evaluaron las diferencias según las características administrativas, de gestión y de las ciudades sede de las carreras a través de pruebas estadísticas (α=5%). Resultados: se observó un nivel satisfactorio de educación superior en salud (70,0% con concepto ≥3). Las carreas de Medicina obtuvieron las mejores calificaciones, las de Fonoaudiología y Enfermería las peores. Se asoció la educación pública, presencial y universitaria con una educación de mayor calidad. Los niveles más bajos se encontraron en los estados de la región Norte, en los pueblos pequeños y fuera de las áreas metropolitanas, y en las carreras de gestión privada. Conclusión: se verificó que había heterogeneidad en la calidad de la educación superior en las carreras de salud, lo que indica que hay una asociación entre las características de las instituciones educativas y la infraestructura de las ciudades donde se dictan las carreras, y señala que la calidad de la educación en salud en Brasil enfrenta desafíos.

Análisis comparativo de evaluaciones de parasitología / Comparative analysis of parasitology evaluations

El cambio curricular es un proceso de transformaciones que expresa las modificaciones operadas en la sociedad en términos epidemiológicos, frente a la emergencia y reemergencia de parasitosis, en estrecha relación con la geografía médica y los condicionamientos sociales, económicos y políticos bajo los que se desarrolla la sociedad; por tanto, reconocer y tratar los principales parásitos que afectan al hombre y las enfermedades parasitarias asociadas a ellos resulta esencial para la formación médica de estos tiempos. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo comparar los resultados en las calificaciones en el examen de parasitología del 9no semestre de dos de las universidades públicas de la provincia del Guayas, Ecuador, en el periodo de noviembre de 2020. Se realizó un estudio exploratorio/descriptivo de la variable "Evaluación", que contuvo medidas de posición, dispersión y contraste de la normalidad, y el desempeño fue determinado mediante las listas de apreciación de competencias, establecido como instrumento de evaluación. De igual forma, se utilizó la técnica estadística de comparación de medias a través de la Prueba t para muestras independientes con un nivel de significancia del (5%). Los datos fueron procesados empleando el Programa Estadístico para Ciencias Sociales (SPSS v25). Concluyendo, que los estudiantes de la universidad de ESPOL tuvieron mejor puntuación en relación con la media, y menos dispersión en sus resultados con respecto a la UG. En líneas generales la mayoría de los estudiantes obtuvieron un alto desempeño de las competencias, siendo fundamental la constancia en la mejora del proceso de enseñanza de la parasitología(AU)

Curriculum change is a transformation process that expresses the changes that have taken place in society in epidemiological terms, in the face of the emergence and re-emergence of parasites, in close relation to the medical geography and the social, economic and political conditions under which society develops; therefore, recognizing and treating the main parasites that affect man and the parasitic diseases associated with them is essential for medical training in these times. The objective of this research is to compare the results in the qualifications in the parasitology exam of the 9th semester of two of the public universities of the province of Guayas, Ecuador, in the period of November 2020. An exploratory/descriptive study of the variable "Evaluation", which contained measures of position, dispersion and contrast of normality, and performance, was determined through the competency assessment lists, established as an evaluation instrument. Similarly, the statistical technique of comparison of means was used through the t-test for independent samples with a significance level of (5%). The data was processed using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS v25). Concluding, that the students of the ESPOL University had a better score in relation to the average, and less dispersion in their results with respect to the UG. In general terms, most of the students obtained a high performance of the competences, being fundamental the constancy in the improvement of the parasitology teaching process(AU)

Formação em educação física no contexto de saúde pública nos melhores cursos do Brasil / The formation of physical education in public health in the best courses in Brazil

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi revisar projetos pedagógicos (PP) para identificar a formação do profissional de Educação Física (PEF) (Bacharelado) no contexto de Saúde Pública nos melhores cursos do Brasil. Foram selecionados os 10 melhores cursos de graduação em EF ranqueados em dois sistemas de avaliações nacionais (Exame Nacional de Desempenho na Educação e Ranking Universitário Folha) e as 10 melhores Universidades num ranking internacional (QS World University Rankings). Mediante revisão rápida foram extraídas informações dos PPs de 18 cursos que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Trinta e seis disciplinas no contexto de Saúde Pública foram localizadas nas grades curriculares. Em relação a carga horária média menos de 1% da grade eletiva dos cursos era dedicada a disciplinas sobre Saúde Pública. O estudo revelou um cenário de formação de Bacharéis em EF distante do crescimento que a área demonstrou no campo da Saúde Pública nos últimos anos. É importante que os cursos de graduação em EF considerem uma formação específica no contexto da Saúde Pública, de modo a favorecer a consolidação da atuação do PEF e a qualidade do seu serviço na Atenção Primária à Saúde.

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to review pedagogical projects (PP) to identify the formation of the Physical Education professionals (PEF) in the context of Public Health in the best courses in Brazil. Methods: The 10 best PE undergraduate courses ranked in two national assessment systems were selected (National Education Performance Examination and Folha University Ranking) and the 10 best Universities in an international ranking (QS World University Rankings). Through a quick review, information was extracted from the PPs of 18 courses that met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-six subjects in the context of public health were located in the curricula. Regarding the average workload, less than 1% of the elective course schedule was dedicated to subjects on Public Health. The study revealed a scenario for the formation of Bachelors in PE far from the growth that the area has shown in the field of Public Health in recent years. It is important that PE undergraduate courses consider specific training in the context of Public Health, in order to favor the consolidation of the PEF's performance and the quality of its service in Primary Health Care.

Factors Associated with Acceptance of Repeat MCAT Test Takers into a West Virginian Allopathic Medical School.

OBJECTIVES: A paucity of information exists to advise medical school applicants who have had to retake the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to achieve a competitive score. To better advise repeat test takers from West Virginia and other Appalachian and southern areas, MCAT data from West Virginia applicants were analyzed and compared with national data. METHODS: In the application cycles of 2017-2020, the following factors were analyzed in relation to medical school acceptance in West Virginia applicants: MCAT scores, the number of test-taking attempts, biology-chemistry-physics-math grade point average, time between test-taking attempts, and academic major. MCAT data from medical school applicants from West Virginia who took the test more than once also were compared with national data. RESULTS: Of the total repeat test takers from West Virginia (N = 285) in the study timeframe, 57 (20%) were ultimately accepted into medical school. Factors associated with medical school acceptance were as follows: first MCAT test score (odds ratio [OR] 1.3, 95% confidence level [CL] 1.2-1.4, P < 0.001), change in MCAT test score (OR 1.2, 95% CL 1.1-1.3, P = 0.0015), and biology-chemistry-physics-math grade point average (OR 15.1, 95% CL 4.2-54.8, P < 0.0001). The highest benefit for improved scores occurred between the first and second attempts. The highest point gain occurred when the first MCAT score was in the range of 477 to 487 (<1st-12th percentile); this finding was not found in the national data. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study was limited to West Virginia medical school applicants, this information could prove useful in advising premedical applicants from other Appalachian and southern US areas.