Assessment of oral manifestations of systemic health related knowledge of medical students pursuing internship programme at a tertiary health care centre.

Aim: Clinicians across the entire medical profession are responsible for detection, prevention and imparting importance of oral health to the patients. However, many studies conducted so far show lack of knowledge of medical students regarding dental conditions. The present observational study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge of oral manifestations of systemic diseases amongst medical students undergoing Internship program at a tertiary centre. Materials & method: A self-structured Questionnaire comprising of 20 questions was used as a survey tool to assess the understanding of 100 medical students undergoing internship program. They were explained about the purpose of the study. The questionnaire consisted of an objective part Yes/No (7 questions) and subjective part designed on likert scale(13 questions). There were questions on their view on current curriculum for dentistry in medical undergraduate training and possible enhancement in teaching modalities. The subjective part had five options to choose from, Strongly agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree And Strongly Disagree. Statistical analysis: The responses of objective questions was recorded and percentage calculated for both options. The total score was obtained for each participant based on their reponses to the subjective questions based on the Likert scale. Student t-test was applied to calculate means between male and female students. Results: For all objective questions, percentage was calculated for affirmative and negative responses. The responses were calculated on scale5-1 for the subjective questions. Reverse scoring was done for questions 10,11,12 i. e scale 1-5. The maximum achievable score in this category was 65 which was further divided into three category as Excellent score range 55-65, Good score range 45-54, Unsatisfactory score range 35-44. The number of students in excellent category were 11, Good 66, unsatisfactory 23. The average score obtained was 48.175. The mean scores for males was 48.0161 and for females it was 48.142. The scores were slightly better for females but the difference was statistically insignificant as (p-value = 0.455056). Conclusion: The present study showed good level of Knowledge on oral manifestations of systemic diseases among medical students as compared to other studies which forms an integral part of medical curriculum. The students responses on enhancing dental curriculum and teaching aids for improved education tools can help the faculty provide a better teaching learning experience.

Medical Students' Preferences of Study Resources: Physical vs Digital Resources.

Introduction Medical school students are presently confronted with distinct study resources, that can be categorized into physical and digital formats. Additionally, existing literature offers limited insights into the most efficacious and favored modalities of study adopted by medical students. The following research seeks to elucidate the optimum mode of study embraced by medical students, concurrently examining the determinants influencing their choices. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, encompassing a cohort of 572 students from the Colleges of Medicine and Dental Medicine at the University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE. All the students in the target population were invited to participate in this study by completing a self-administered questionnaire. The ensuing data analysis was executed using SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Among the participants, 184/570 individuals were male, constituting 32.3% of the total sample, while 386/570 participants were female, representing 67.7% of the sample. A predominant proportion of students 355/567 (62.6%) articulated a preference for both modalities of studying, whereas those exclusively favoring either physical or digital formats constituted 119/567 (21%) and 93/567 (16.4%), respectively. Notably, an association was discerned between both colleges and the favored mode of study, indicating that a higher percentage of medical students 198 (53.8%) exhibited a preference for recommended textbooks compared to their counterparts in dental medicine 60 (29.4%) (P-value <0.001). The utilization of printed textbooks demonstrated a decline among third-year students 66 (35.7%) when juxtaposed with first and second-year students 97 (49.5%) and 94 (49.7%), respectively (P-value = 0.001). The prevailing inclination among students was to select learning resources based on the quality of information provided 457/571 (80%) and considerations pertinent to their time and schedule 501/572 (87.6%). Conclusion Students within the colleges of medicine and dental medicine enhance their educational experiences through the utilization of a variety of learning resources encompassing both physical and digital modalities. Among the factors influencing their selection, only the quality of information proffered by the learning source and schedule held substantive significance.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Organ Donation Among Medical Students in India: A Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Deceased organ donation rates are extremely low in India. As future physicians, medical students can advocate organ donation in society. However, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding organ donation remain understudied in India. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to deceased organ donation among undergraduate medical students in India using a mixed methods approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a mixed-method study with a cross-sectional survey conducted among 400 randomly selected medical students at a medical college in India using a pretested questionnaire. Additionally, 20 in-depth interviews were conducted to gain qualitative insights. RESULTS: Knowledge was high regarding organ donation (90%) but lower for brain death (27.5%). Most had positive attitudes, but only 11% were registered donors, and 10% had discussed organ donation with family. Multivariate regression revealed that having third- and fourth-year-old students, urban upbringing, good knowledge, and positive attitudes were associated with increased willingness to donate. Qualitative findings revealed gaps in brain death understanding, religious myths, lack of conviction, and family disapproval as barriers. CONCLUSION: Despite good awareness, gaps in the comprehension of brain death persist among students. However, the registration and family discussion rates are very low. Targeted strategies such as integrating ethical issues into medical curricula, public awareness campaigns busting myths, simplifying donor registration, and promoting family conversations are strongly recommended. This can empower students to become physician advocates driving organ donation uptake in India.

Sleep Patterns and Associated Insomnia in Junior and Senior Medical Students: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Appropriate quality and quantity of sleep are critical for good mental health, optimal body functioning, memory consolidation, and other cognitive processes. Objectives To evaluate the sleeping patterns of medical students in Saudi Arabia and their relationships with psychological distress. Methods This was a cross-sectional, self-administered, questionnaire-based study. The study included medical students from a university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) were used to evaluate the prevalence and burden of inadequate sleep quality and insomnia in the participants. Results The majority of the participants was women (76.6%). Furthermore, most participants (96.2%) were aged between 18 and 24 years old, while 54.4% of the participants were in their senior year. According to the AIS scores (mean: 15.85 ± 4.52), 98.7% of the participants exhibited insomnia symptoms. The PSQI scores (mean: 9.53 ± 5.67) revealed that 70.5% of the participants had poor sleep quality. Students in their fundamental and junior years had significantly higher percentages of insomnia symptoms and poor sleep quality compared with students in their senior years. Conclusion The prevalence of insomnia and poor sleep quality is high among medical students. Therefore, appropriate strategies for early detection and intervention are warranted.

Impostor phenomenon: Prevalence among 1st year medical students and strategies for mitigation.

Impostor phenomenon (IP) is described as a pattern typified by doubting one's accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud. These feelings of self-doubt are pervasive along the medical education continuum, beginning with medical students where IP has been associated with emotional stress, physical exhaustion, depression, and anxiety. We, therefore, conducted an interactive workshop with first-year medical students to educate them about the manifesting patterns and risk factors of IP and strategies to mitigate these feelings. The 60-min workshop began with participants voluntarily completing the Young Imposter Scale (YIS) followed by an interactive presentation that reviewed the literature related to IP and its prevalence in medicine. Participants were then assigned to small groups where they discussed three cases of IP in academia and the medical profession. Medical school faculty acted as facilitators and utilized pre-designed prompt questions to stimulate discussion. Students re-convened for a large group report out, where each group shared main discussion points. The session ended with facilitators discussing IP mitigation strategies that can be implemented at the individual, peer, and institutional levels. Participants were also invited to complete a post-workshop evaluation. Fifty first-year medical students participated in the session. A total of 49 (96 %) completed the YIS and post-workshop evaluation. Nineteen (40 %) participants obtained scores on the YIS to indicate a positive finding of IP. The percentage of female medical students meeting the threshold for IP was significantly higher (84 %, n = 41 vs 16 %, n = 7) than male medical students. The workshop was effective at identifying IP and associated risk factors and providing mitigation strategies, with 95.8 % of participants agreeing or strongly agreeing. In qualitative feedback, participants reported that the workshop was "very interactive", "provided strategies to manage impostor syndrome" and "helped me become more vulnerable with my peers." This workshop provided a novel interactive and effective method to increase medical students' awareness about IP which can be employed as a strategy to enhance student's wellness.

Nature as Medicine and Classroom: Evaluating an Innovative, Outdoor Course for Medical and Dental Students.

Background: There is a growing, global awareness and recognition of the important, interdependent relationships between our natural world and human health. Several contemporary health organizations have placed calls to action and emphasize an urgent need for collaboration and interdisciplinary research, education, and clinical work to address the increasing degradation of our planetary and human health. With more research dedicated to nature's health impacts, health professions schools would benefit by including such training in their programs while also cultivating a comprehensive mind-body health perspective to support both the health of student practitioners and their future patients. Objective: The present program evaluation investigates a five-day outdoor mini-course covering nature-based health techniques at a medical and dental school in the American Northeast. This unique outdoor course combines nature, creativity, and reflection within the context of modern medicine. Methods: A concurrent mixed-method design using descriptive statistics, quantitative and qualitative data from students' anonymous final course evaluations and final reflection projects are evaluated. Results: Data suggests that students benefitted from their experience during this five-day course. Students provided feedback reinforcing the enjoyment and transformative outcomes gleaned from the course experiences. Students entered the course describing feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and overextended, not uncommon for learners in medical and dental school, and completed the course describing the acquisition of applicable skills, increased attention and mindfulness, creativity, and connection to the natural world. Conclusions: Students described a positive experience of the course. Several areas of personal and professional development were also described, such as improvements within cognitive domains, enhanced connection with nature, others, and themselves, increased mindfulness, and overall improved well-being. Findings have implications for medical and dental programs on how such innovative training may lean into the work of nature-based care to provide for the whole person.

Assessment of knowledge and prevalence of fibromyalgia among medical students and physicians in Riyadh region.

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness of soft tissue. The prevalence of FM in Saudi Arabia is not known. The diagnosis of FM is mainly clinical. The knowledge about fibromyalgia is poor, even among healthcare providers. Aim: To assess the knowledge and prevalence of fibromyalgia among medical students and physicians in the Riyadh region. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at all medical colleges in Riyadh and Riyadh hospitals. The study was conducted on both medical students and physicians using a questionnaire. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 556 participants were involved; 56.5% heard about fibromyalgia, and only 5.6% attended Continuing Medical Education (CME) activity. There were 31.5% had high knowledge, whereas 68.5% had low knowledge. The level of knowledge was associated with the year (P = 0.002), specialty (P = 0.013), hearing about fibromyalgia (P = 0.0001), attending lectures (P = 0.009), and being aware of diagnostic criteria (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of FM was high, and there was poor knowledge among medical students and physicians regarding fibromyalgia.

Application of ChatGPT-based blended medical teaching in clinical education of hepatobiliary surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the effectiveness of incorporating the Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) into the clinical teaching of hepatobiliary surgery for undergraduate medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 61 medical undergraduates from the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, undergoing hepatobiliary surgery training, were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (31 students) using ChatGPT-based blended teaching or a control group (30 students) with traditional teaching methods. The evaluation metrics included final exam scores, teaching satisfaction, and teaching effectiveness ratings, analyzed using SPSS 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) with t-tests and χ2 tests. RESULTS: The experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in final exam theoretical scores (86.44 ± 5.59 vs. 77.86 ± 4.16, p < .001) and clinical skills scores (83.84 ± 6.13 vs. 79.12 ± 4.27, p = .001). Additionally, the experimental group reported higher teaching satisfaction (17.23 ± 1.33) and self-evaluation of teaching effectiveness (9.14 ± 0.54) compared to the control group (15.38 ± 1.5 and 8.46 ± 0.70, respectively, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The integration of ChatGPT into hepatobiliary surgery education significantly enhances theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and overall satisfaction among medical undergraduates, suggesting a beneficial impact on their educational development.

A cross-sectional study on personal values of medical students: the differences from their instructors, their associations with mental wellbeing, and the influences of gender.

BACKGROUND: Personal values of Thai medical students have been observed to be diverging from those of their seniors, but the differences remain uncharacterized. Despite its potential association with mental wellbeing, the issue remain unexplored in the population. This study aimed to explore (1) the difference in personal values between medical students and instructors and (2) the association between student's value adherence to mental well-being and the interaction by gender. METHODS: An online survey was performed in 2022. Participants rated their adherence to five groups of values, namely, Self-Direction, Hedonism, Achievement & Power, Universalism & Benevolence, and Tradition. Participants also rated their mental wellbeing. Comparisons were made between the personal values of students and instructors. The association between the personal values of students and their mental wellbeing and the interaction between values and gender were analyzed in linear regression. RESULTS: Compared to instructors, students rated higher on Universalism & Benevolence, marginally higher on Hedonism, and lower on Tradition. Students' ratings on Self-Direction, Universalism & Benevolence, and Tradition predicted better mental wellbeing. Their rating on Hedonism predicted poorer mental wellbeing, the effect of which was marginally stronger in males. Ratings on Achievement & Power marginally predicted poorer mental wellbeing in females. CONCLUSION: Difference in personal values between medical students and instructors have been observed. Some of these values hold potentials over student's mental wellbeing. Curricular and medical school environmental accommodation for the changes in the characters of learners may be necessary to mitigate the adverse effects on their mental wellbeing and foster development of desirable professional characteristics.

Understanding of 'generalist medical practice' in South African medical schools.

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, medical students are expected to have acquired a generalist competence in medical practice on completion of their training. However, what the students and their preceptors understand by 'generalist medical practice' has not been established in South African medical schools. AIM: This study aimed to explore what the students and their preceptors understood by 'generalist medical practice'. SETTING: Four South African medical schools: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Walter Sisulu University and the University of the Witwatersrand. METHODS: The exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used. Sixteen focus group discussions (FGDs) and 27 one-on-one interviews were conducted among students and their preceptors, respectively. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. The inductive and deductive data analysis methods were used. The MAXQDA 2020 (Analytics Pro) software was used to arrange data, yielding 2179 data segments. RESULTS: Ten themes were identified: (1) basic knowledge of medicine, (2) first point of contact with all patients regardless of their presenting problems, (3) broad field of common conditions prevalent in the community, (4) dealing with the undifferentiated patient without a diagnosis, (5) stabilising emergencies before referral, (6) continuity, (7) coordinated and (8) holistic patient care, necessitating nurturance of doctor-patient relationship, (9) health promotion and disease prevention, and (10) operating mainly in primary health care settings. CONCLUSION: The understanding of 'generalist medical practice' in accordance with internationally accepted principles augurs well in training undergraduate medical students on the subject. However, interdepartmental collaboration on the subject needs further exploration.Contribution: The study's findings can be used as a guide upon which the students' preceptors and their students can reflect during the training in generalist medical practice.

Cyberchondria and smartphone addiction: A correlation survey among undergraduate medical students in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: There is an increase in smartphone usage globally. Cyberchondria (CYB) is characterized by excessive Internet searches for health information. Smartphone addiction is constantly rising among medical students together with CYB as a collateral emerging risk, yet there is limited research available on the topic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study explores the rising phenomenon of smartphone addiction and its potential role in CYB among medical students in seven Egyptian universities. A total of 1435 medical students participated in completing online questionnaires that assessed smartphone addiction and CYB using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12). Multivariable regression analysis was applied to assess predictors of smartphone addiction and CYB. RESULTS: Based on the used scales, 57.6% of students were suffering from smartphone addiction, and 85.8% exhibited a moderate degree of CYB. There was a significant positive correlation between smartphone addiction scores and CYB (p < 0.05). The multivariable regression models revealed that four factors including using Facebook, using WhatsApp, increasing time spent on the Internet per day, and a higher CYB score increase the probability of smartphone addiction. The factors that increase the probability of CYB are using Facebook, an increase in the frequency of Internet searches, a higher degree of worry about one's health or a family member's health, and being a smartphone addict. CONCLUSION: Smartphone addiction among undergraduate medical students is prevalent. Social media use, time spent online, and smartphone addiction were linked with the risk of CYB. Regular physical activity decreases the probability of smartphone addiction. Awareness programs and increased mental and physical activities are required to help reduce smartphone addiction among youth.

Awareness of Radiation Hazards and Knowledge About Radiation Protection Among Medical Students at the Northern Border University, Arar.

Studies have shown that medical students and doctors are not well equipped with knowledge of radiation hazards and their protection. This lack of knowledge may cause harm to patients and healthcare professionals. Objectives To compare the awareness of radiation hazards and knowledge about radiation protection among medical students at Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia, with and without prior teaching. Methods and materials This cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students from clinical years at Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia, from May 1st, 2023, to June 30th, 2023. Their consents were taken. Then they were randomly sorted into two groups. One group was given a radiation safety short course, and then they answered a questionnaire. The other group filled out the questionnaire without prior instruction, and analysis was done. The outcome of this study was quantified based on the score calculated after participants filled out the questionnaire. Results The mean score of students who didn't attend the radiology course was 3.38±1.8, while the score of students who attended the radiology course was 7.87±1.4 (p<0.001). Radiology course attendance showed a significant association with knowledge and awareness scores. Conclusions The average knowledge of medical students regarding radiation protection and hazards is quite poor. This lack of understanding could potentially lead to increased risks for both patients and healthcare professionals. The knowledge about radiation hazards and protection is increased in students who attended a short radiology course. We recommend implementing comprehensive educational programs that focus on radiation hazards and protection for medical students.

Anxiety and depression during post covid-19 lockdown period among medical students, and it's relation with stress and smartphone addiction in India.

OBJECTIVES: Medical profession, a competitive and ever-updating field which requires great commitment, imposes a stressful environment for students. Our study aimed to find the prevalence and factors associated with psychological illness. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was done among medical students in Puducherry. A stratified random sampling strategy was incorporated to achieve a calculated sample size of 384. The presence of anxiety and depression, perceived stress and addiction to the phone were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Smartphone Addiction Scale - short version. Prevalence of anxiety and depression was summarized as a proportion with a 95 % confidence interval (CI). The prevalence ratio (PR) for the factors associated was estimated using log-binomial regression. RESULTS: With the response from 383 students, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was 39.4 % (95 %CI: 34.5-44.3 %) and 26.6 % (22.2-31.1 %). Perceived stress was moderate in 68.2 % and high in 14 % of students. Higher age (aPR=1.49), female gender (aPR=1.22), tobacco or alcohol use (aPR=1.24), smartphone addiction (aPR=2.09) and high stress (aPR=1.93) were the predictors of anxiety among medical students in our study. Use of tobacco or alcohol (aPR=2.07), smartphone addiction (aPR=1.96) and high stress (aPR=1.72) were the predictors of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety was more prevalent than depression among the medical students. Use of tobacco or alcohol, smartphone addiction and stress increase the risk of psychological morbidity. Medical training should have a module on coping mechanisms to overcome psychological illness and have better mental well-being.

A Cross-Sectional Study to Evaluate Work-Life Balance Among Indian Medical Students.

Introduction The concept of work-life balance is a complex, multidimensional intertwinement of the roles an individual plays in their professional and personal life. Work-life balance is crucial for every profession, and doctors have no exemption not exempted from it. Medical students and young graduates face numerous challenges that potentially impact their work (study)-life balance. Objectives of the study The aim is to assess the hours spent in study and the hours spent in non-study activities by medical students and graduates in India and to assess the study-life balance among them. Methodology A cross-sectional observational study employing a predefined web-based survey to investigate the study-life balance among medical students and graduates across India. A predesigned questionnaire was designed and made accessible through Google Forms, which was distributed among doctors across India via popular social media platforms. Data management was conducted using Microsoft Excel and Data analysis was done using SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results A total of 416 responses were included in the study. The study participants were predominantly female (64.2%). Most of the study participants were from the State of Telangana (63.9%). The time spent studying was < 10 hours/week for 43.8% students and 10-25 hours/week for 27.2% students. Around 24% students reported spending 10-25 hours/week in hospital. While 47.4% reported spending less than one to two hours per day with their family, 26% of the participants answered "yes" to the question "Do you feel that your study-life is stressful?." Conclusions Self-care and study-life balance is a multi-factorial focal area that is based on balancing stress and happiness, with completing the tasks of the medical school. Medical students need to receive proper guidelines to transition into medical school for better study-life balance.

Readiness of Medical Students and Budding Doctors About the LGBTQ+ Community: A Cross-Sectional Study From India.

INTRODUCTION: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) community has always faced discrimination across the globe. Due to a lack of information in medical curricula and no training or sensitization of doctors towards their health needs, there are numerous health disparities faced by this community. Negative attitudes and inadequate knowledge may also cause students to feel hesitant to treat patients in the community. The present study thus aims to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of medical students and interns towards LGBTQ+. METHODOLOGY: The present study is a cross-sectional observational study where a self-administered questionnaire was shared with the medical students of India via an online platform. The collected data was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel STATA version 14.0 (StataCorp LLC, Texas, USA). RESULTS: A total of 790 responses were analyzed. 67.2% of respondents had an overall positive attitude, with students under the age of 20, female students, and medical students being more likely to have a positive attitude towards the community. 60.7% of the respondents had satisfactory knowledge, with interns being more likely to have more knowledge than students. The respondents with better knowledge were more likely to have a positive attitude. CONCLUSION: The study participants had satisfactory knowledge, and the majority had a positive attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community. However, to clear misconceptions regarding the LGBTQ+ community, the medical curriculum must be updated to include more information and provide proper training and sensitization in order to ensure optimum healthcare for all, regardless of sexual orientation and identity.

"My Dead Body": Development, production, and reception of a documentary that publicly displays the dissection of a human donor.

Recently, there has been an emphasis on keeping the study of anatomy using donor material confined to the domain of medical and allied healthcare professionals. Given the abundance of both accurate and inaccurate information online, coupled with a heightened focus on health following the COVID-19 pandemic, one may question whether it is time to review who can access learning anatomy using donors. In 2019, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) obtained a Human Tissue Authority Public Display license with the aim of broadening the reach of who could be taught using donor material. In 2020, BSMS received its first full-body donor with consent for public display. Twelve workshops were delivered to student groups who do not normally have the opportunity to learn in the anatomy laboratory. Survey responses (10.9% response rate) highlighted that despite being anxious about seeing inside a deceased body, 95% felt more informed about the body. A documentary "My Dead Body" was filmed, focusing on the rare cancer of the donor Toni Crews. Viewing figures of 1.5 million, and a considerable number of social media comments highlighted the public's interest in the documentary. Thematic analysis of digital and social media content highlighted admiration and gratitude for Toni, the value of education, and that while the documentary was uncomfortable to watch, it had value in reminding viewers of life, their bodies, and their purpose. Fully consented public display can create opportunities to promote health-conscious life choices and improve understanding of the human body.

Evaluating an obstetrics and gynecology teaching program for medical students incorporating simulation-based education underpinned by cognitive load theory.

Although there have been previous publications on curriculum innovations in teaching O&G to medical students, especially utilizing simulation-based education, there have been none, as far as we know, incorporating and evaluating the outcomes using cognitive load theory. The aim of this article was to describe the introduction, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative teaching program in O&G, incorporating simulation-based education, underpinned by cognitive load theory. Cognitive load is defined as the amount of information a working memory can hold at any one time and incorporates three types of cognitive load-intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. To optimize learning, educators are encouraged to manage intrinsic cognitive load, minimize extraneous cognitive load, and promote germane cognitive load. In these sessions, students were encouraged to prepare in advance of each session with recommended reading materials; to limit intrinsic cognitive load and promote germane cognitive load, faculty were advised ahead of each session to manage intrinsic cognitive load, an open-book MCQ practice session aimed to reduce anxiety, promote psychological safety, and minimize extraneous cognitive load. For the simulation sessions, the faculty initially demonstrated the role-play situation or clinical skill first, to manage intrinsic cognitive load and reduce extraneous cognitive load. The results of the evaluation showed that the students perceived that they invested relatively low mental effort in understanding the topics, theories, concepts, and definitions discussed during the sessions. There was a low extraneous cognitive load. Measures of germane cognitive load or self-perceived learning were high. The primary message is that we believe this teaching program is a model that other medical schools globally might want to consider adopting, to evaluate and justify innovations in the teaching of O&G to medical students. The secondary message is that evaluation of innovations to teaching and facilitation of learning using cognitive load theory is one way to contribute to the high-quality training of competent future healthcare workers required to provide the highest standard of care to women who are crucial to the overall health and wellbeing of a nation.

Learning styles, academic performance and mental health among medical students in King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of various learning styles and their correlation with academic performance and mental health of medical students. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Faisal University, Houfof, Saudi Arabia, from January to June 2019, and comprised medical students regardless of gender or the academic year. Data was collected using the Visual Aural Read/write Kinesthetic questionnaire. Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 was used to assess mental health. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 315 students, 179(57%) were males and 136(43%) were females. Overall, 152(48.3%) subjects preferred multimodal, while 163(51.7%) preferred unimodal style; 93(29%) aural, 53(16.8%) visual, 11(3.5%) read/write and 6(1.9%) kinesthetic. Males preferred visual and quardimodal styles of learning, while females preferred aural learning (p<0.05). Academic achievement was associated with learning style (p<0.05), but no relationship was observed between depression scores and learning styles (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The most preferred learning styles among medical students were found to be aural and bimodal.