Anatomy Education Environment Measurement Inventory (AEEMI): a cross-validation study in Malaysian medical schools.

BACKGROUND: The Anatomy Education Environment Measurement Inventory (AEEMI) evaluates the perception of medical students of educational climates with regard to teaching and learning anatomy. The study aimed to cross-validate the AEEMI, which was previously studied in a public medical school, and proposed a valid universal model of AEEMI across public and private medical schools in Malaysia. METHODS: The initial 11-factor and 132-item AEEMI was distributed to 1930 pre-clinical and clinical year medical students from 11 medical schools in Malaysia. The study examined the construct validity of the AEEMI using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. RESULTS: The best-fit model of AEEMI was achieved using 5 factors and 26 items (χ 2 = 3300.71 (df = 1680), P < 0.001, χ 2/df = 1.965, Root Mean Square of Error Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.018, Goodness-of-fit Index (GFI) = 0.929, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.962, Normed Fit Index (NFI) = 0.927, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.956) with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.621 to 0.927. Findings of the cross-validation across institutions and phases of medical training indicated that the AEEMI measures nearly the same constructs as the previously validated version with several modifications to the item placement within each factor. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirmed that variability exists within factors of the anatomy education environment among institutions. Hence, with modifications to the internal structure, the proposed model of the AEEMI can be considered universally applicable in the Malaysian context and thus can be used as one of the tools for auditing and benchmarking the anatomy curriculum.

Enhancement of BDNF concentration and restoration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis accompany reduced depressive-like behaviour in stressed ovariectomised rats treated with either Tualang honey or estrogen.

A possible interaction between glucocorticoids and estrogen-induced increases in brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in enhancing depressive-like behaviour has been documented. Here we evaluated the effects of Tualang honey, a phytoestrogen, and 17 ß -estradiol (E2) on the depressive-like behaviour, stress hormones, and BDNF concentration in stressed ovariectomised (OVX) rats. The animals were divided into six groups: (i) nonstressed sham-operated control, (ii) stressed sham-operated control, (iii) nonstressed OVX, (iv) stressed OVX, (v) stressed OVX treated with E2 (20 µg daily, sc), and (vi) stressed OVX treated with Tualang honey (0.2 g/kg body weight daily, orally). Two months after surgery, the animals were subjected to social instability stress procedure followed by forced swimming test. Struggling time, immobility time, and swimming time were scored. Serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone levels, and the BDNF concentration were determined using commercially available ELISA kits. Stressed OVX rats displayed increased depressive-like behaviour with significantly increased serum ACTH and corticosterone levels, while the BDNF concentration was significantly decreased compared to other experimental groups. These changes were notably reversed by both E2 and Tualang honey. In conclusion, both Tualang honey and E2 mediate antidepressive-like effects in stressed OVX rats, possibly acting via restoration of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and enhancement of the BDNF concentration.

A systematic review of task-sharing interventions for substance use and substance use disorder in low- and middle-income countries.

INTRODUCTION: Substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with adverse health and socio-economic consequences. Due to the shortage of specialist healthcare providers, people with SUDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have limited access to adequate treatment. Task-sharing with non-specialist health workers (NSHWs) has the potential to improve treatment accessibility for these individuals. This review synthesizes the evidence on the effectiveness of task-sharing interventions for SU and SUDs outcomes in LMICs. METHODS: PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health and CENTRAL databases were searched to identify eligible studies. Quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB2) and Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. A narrative synthesis was undertaken to analyze the data. RESULTS: Nineteen RCTs and two quasi-experimental studies met the eligibility criteria, and the majority had a low risk of bias rating. NSHW-delivered interventions significantly impact SU and SUDs outcomes, particularly in reducing alcohol and other substance use, cessation of smoking, and use of opioids. Multiple sessions delivered via face-to-face interactions was the most utilized method for intervention delivery. There were variations in terms of components of the intervention across studies; however, the most common intervention strategies used were a) personalized feedback, b) psychoeducation, c) motivational enhancement, d) problem-solving, and e) coping skills. CONCLUSION: Our review highlights the growing interests in leveraging NSHWs to provide interventions to people with SU and SUDs in LMICs where access to treatment is limited. However, additional research is necessary to explore the effectiveness of these interventions and identify the specific active components linked to enhancing treatment outcomes on a broader scale.

Ocular surface infections in northeastern state of malaysia: a 10-year review of bacterial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility.

OBJECTIVE: Ocular surface infections that include infections of conjunctiva, adnexa, and cornea have the potential risk of causing blindness within a given population. Empirical antibiotic therapy is usually initiated based on epidemiological data of common causative agents. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the bacterial agents and their susceptibility patterns of isolates from ocular surface specimens in our hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis and records of bacterial isolates from ocular surface specimens in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from January 2001 to December 2010 were examined. Specimens were processed according to standard laboratory procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommendations. Only single, nonrepetitive isolates were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1,267 isolates were obtained during the study period, which comprised Staphylococcus aureus (n = 299, 23.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 194, 15.3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 108, 8.5%), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 100, 7.9%), Haemophilus parainfluenzae (n = 84, 6.6%), and Enterobacter spp. (n = 81, 6.4%). Fungi contributed to 4.4% of the total isolates. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated that gram-positive bacteria were generally resistant to gentamicin (19%-57%), whereas gram-negative bacteria were resistant to chloramphenicol (27%-58%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above results, knowledge of the initial Gram stain findings is imperative before the commencement of empirical antibiotic therapy. Therefore, a simple Gram staining for all eye specimens is highly recommended.

An interconnected duplicated femoral vein and its clinical significance.

Anatomical variations in the femoral vein are of great clinical importance especially in cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Knowledge of the variable anatomy of the femoral vein is important to minimise false-negative findings on ultrasound examination in patients with DVT and help to explain the 'silent' DVT. Furthermore, the presence of a duplicated femoral vein itself is associated with higher incidence of DVT. These venous anomalies are usually due to the truncular venous malformation. In the present study, while dissecting the right lower limb, we found a case of variation of the femoral vein. In this case, besides a duplicated femoral vein, we also noticed a 3rd interconnecting channel near the apex of the femoral triangle joining the two veins. This variation has not been reported previously by other authors. Considering its uniqueness and clinical importance, we decided to report this case.

Preliminary study: effects of social instability stress on depressive behaviours in ovariectomised rats.

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the common post-menopausal symptoms. In addition to estrogen deficiency, social instability stress may contribute as an additional underlying factor in the development of depressive behaviour in females. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining the influence of social instability stress on depressive behaviour in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: The rats were divided into four groups (n = 5 per group); (i) sham-operated control without stress, (ii) sham-operated control with stress, (iii) ovariectomized without stress, and (iv) ovariectomized with stress. These rats were subjected to social instability stress procedures for 15 days prior to an enforced swimming test. Struggling, immobility, and swimming times were recorded promptly. RESULTS: The results were analysed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a P value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. The mean durations of struggling, immobility, and swimming behaviour were significantly distinct among the four groups. Ovariectomized rats exhibited a substantial decrease in struggling and swimming behaviour, and an increase in immobility behaviour in comparison with the sham-operated controls (P < 0.05). Ovariectomized rats with stress displayed a supplementary decrease in struggling and swimming behaviour as well as an advanced increase in immobility behaviour, compared to sham-operated controls with or without stress (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In summary, these findings suggest that ovariectomized rats encountered an augmented amount of depressive behaviour following social instability stress.

Qatari women living with cardiovascular diseases-challenges and opportunities to engage in healthy lifestyles.

In Qatar, cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular diseases can be prevented and controlled by modifying lifestyle risk behaviors. In this qualitative study, we investigate ways to increase participation in physical activity, and to promote a healthy diet, and nonsmoking behavior in Qatari women. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 50 Arabic women. Participation in physical activity, observing a healthy diet, and abstinence from smoking are desirable lifestyle practices among Qatari women. Social support networks, cultural values, religion, changing sociodemographic and economic conditions, heart disease, and a harsh climate affect the ability of these women to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

Thematic Analysis on User Reviews for Depression and Anxiety Chatbot Apps: Machine Learning Approach.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are among the most commonly prevalent mental health disorders worldwide. Chatbot apps can play an important role in relieving anxiety and depression. Users' reviews of chatbot apps are considered an important source of data for exploring users' opinions and satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore users' opinions, satisfaction, and attitudes toward anxiety and depression chatbot apps by conducting a thematic analysis of users' reviews of 11 anxiety and depression chatbot apps collected from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In addition, we propose a workflow to provide a methodological approach for future analysis of app review comments. METHODS: We analyzed 205,581 user review comments from chatbots designed for users with anxiety and depression symptoms. Using scraper tools and Google Play Scraper and App Store Scraper Python libraries, we extracted the text and metadata. The reviews were divided into positive and negative meta-themes based on users' rating per review. We analyzed the reviews using word frequencies of bigrams and words in pairs. A topic modeling technique, latent Dirichlet allocation, was applied to identify topics in the reviews and analyzed to detect themes and subthemes. RESULTS: Thematic analysis was conducted on 5 topics for each sentimental set. Reviews were categorized as positive or negative. For positive reviews, the main themes were confidence and affirmation building, adequate analysis, and consultation, caring as a friend, and ease of use. For negative reviews, the results revealed the following themes: usability issues, update issues, privacy, and noncreative conversations. CONCLUSIONS: Using a machine learning approach, we were able to analyze ≥200,000 comments and categorize them into themes, allowing us to observe users' expectations effectively despite some negative factors. A methodological workflow is provided for the future analysis of review comments.

Effectiveness of Serious Games for Language Processing Amongst Elderly Population with Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This article intended to carry out a systematic review on the effectiveness of serious games for language processing among older adults with cognitive impairment. Out of 548 retrieved records, six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) eventually met the eligibility criteria. A meta-analysis of four studies showed that serious games are more effective than no/passive interventions in enhancing language processing among older adults with cognitive impairment (p=0.008). Further, a statistically significant effect of serious games on language processing when compared with conventional cognitive activities and conventional exercises was reported in two RCTs. Other RCTs found that exergames are as effective as computerized cognitive training games in improving language processing. Serious games should be offered or used as complementary (i.e., not a substitute) to the current interventions. For there to be definitive conclusions about the efficacy of serious games on language processing more trials are needed.

Effectiveness of Serious Games for Visuospatial Abilities in Elderly Population with Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

We explore the effectiveness of serious games for visuospatial abilities among older adults with cognitive impairment by conducting a systematic review. Out of 548 identified publications, seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this review. According to a meta-analysis of four RCTs, there is no statistically significant difference (p=0.28) in visuospatial abilities between serious game and control groups. Further, the included RCTs noted no statistically significant difference in the visuospatial ability when comparing serious games to conventional exercise (one study) and other serious games (two studies). One RCT demonstrated a statistically significant effect of serious games on the visuospatial ability when compared with conventional cognitive training. This review could not prove the effectiveness of serious games in enhancing visuospatial abilities for older adults with cognitive impairment. Thus, serious games should not be offered or used for enhancing visuospatial abilities amongst the elderly population with cognitive impairment. More robust RCTs are needed to make firm conclusions on the efficacy of serious games.

Contribution of Artificial Intelligence in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review.

For the past ten years, the healthcare sector and industry has witnessed a surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies being used in many different medical specialties. Recently, AI-driven technologies have been utilized in medical care for pregnancy. In this work, we present a scoping review that explores the features of AI-driven technologies used in caring for pregnant patients. This review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Our analysis revealed that AI techniques were used in predicting pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, along with managing and treating ectopic pregnancies. We also found that AI technologies were used to assess risk factors and safety surveillance of pregnant women. We believe that AI-driven technologies have the potential to improve the healthcare provided to pregnant women.

A Scoping Review of Effective Teaching Strategies in Surface Anatomy.

To become skilled physicians, medical students must master surface anatomy. However, the study of surface anatomy is less emphasized in medical and allied health science curricula, and the time devoted to direct engagement with the human body is limited. This scoping review was designed to answer one research question: "What are the elements and strategies that are effective in teaching surface anatomy?" The review was performed using a five-stage scoping review framework, including research question identification, relevant study identification, study selection, data charting, and result collating and reporting. Three databases were searched using two search terms combined with a Boolean operator: "teaching" and "surface anatomy." The initial pool of 3,294 sources was assessed for duplication, and study eligibility was evaluated using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were abstracted from 26 original articles by one researcher and verified by two other researchers. A thematic analysis was performed, and several elements of effective teaching strategies for surface anatomy were identified, namely contextualized teaching, embracing experiential learning, and learning facilitation. This review revealed that a multimodal approach was most commonly used in surface anatomy instruction. Hence, future research should explore the effectiveness of multimodal teaching strategies that adopt the three aforementioned primary elements of effective teaching in an authentic learning environment. It is pertinent to clarify the effectiveness of these teaching strategies by evaluating their impact on student learning, organizational changes, and benefits to other stakeholders.

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Serious Games in Health Care: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven serious games have been used in health care to offer a customizable and immersive experience. Summarizing the features of the current AI-driven serious games is very important to explore how they have been developed and used and their current state to plan on how to leverage them in the current and future health care needs. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the features of AI-driven serious games in health care as reported by previous research. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review to achieve the abovementioned objective. The most popular databases in the information technology and health fields (ie, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, CINAHL, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar) were searched using keywords related to serious games and AI. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection process. Three reviewers independently extracted data from the included studies. A narrative approach was used for data synthesis. RESULTS: The search process returned 1470 records. Of these 1470 records, 46 (31.29%) met all eligibility criteria. A total of 64 different serious games were found in the included studies. Motor impairment was the most common health condition targeted by these serious games. Serious games were used for rehabilitation in most of the studies. The most common genres of serious games were role-playing games, puzzle games, and platform games. Unity was the most prominent game engine used to develop serious games. PCs were the most common platform used to play serious games. The most common algorithm used in the included studies was support vector machine. The most common purposes of AI were the detection of disease and the evaluation of user performance. The size of the data set ranged from 36 to 795,600. The most common validation techniques used in the included studies were k-fold cross-validation and training-test split validation. Accuracy was the most commonly used metric for evaluating the performance of AI models. CONCLUSIONS: The last decade witnessed an increase in the development of AI-driven serious games for health care purposes, targeting various health conditions, and leveraging multiple AI algorithms; this rising trend is expected to continue for years to come. Although the evidence uncovered in this study shows promising applications of AI-driven serious games, larger and more rigorous, diverse, and robust studies may be needed to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of AI-driven serious games in different populations with different health conditions.

Descriptive study on the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Sudan.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine in treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in four sentinel areas in Sudan with different malaria transmission (Damazin, Sinnar, and Kosti in the north, and Juba in the south). METHODS: World Health Organization protocol for assessing antimalarial drug efficacy in treating uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria was employed. A total of 2,139 patients were screened, and 771 had P. falciparum monoinfection. Only 291 met the enrollment criteria and gave written consent to be recruited in the study. Patients were treated with artemether-lumefantrine tablets in a six-dose regimen calculated according to body weight. Tablets were given at 0, 8, 24, 36, 48, and 60 h. Patients were followed up for 28 days. RESULTS: A total of 291 patients were recruited to the study, of whom ten [3.4; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.8-6.4%] patients showed early treatment failure (ETF) or late clinical failure (LCF) and were excluded from further follow-up. Of the remaining 281 patients, 276 (98.2%; 95% CI: 95.7-99.3%) completed the 28-day follow-up. Of these, 274 (99.3%; 95% CI: 97.1-99.9%) had adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR), and two (0.7%; 95% CI: 0.13-2.9%) showed late parasitological failure (LPF) at days 21 and 28. The overall mean +/- standard deviation (SD) of parasitemia and fever clearance times were 36.4 (23.7) h and 34.6 (19.2) h, respectively. Mild and reversible adverse effects were reported by 11 patients (3.8%; CI: 2.0- 7.0%) and were relieved without the need for termination of drug therapy or supportive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that artemether-lumefantrine was an effective and safe drug for treating uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in northern and southern Sudan.

The benefits and threats of blockchain technology in healthcare: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The application of blockchain technology is being explored to improve the interoperability of patient health information between healthcare organisations while maintaining the privacy and security of data. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this scoping review is to explore and categorise the benefits and threats of blockchain technology application in a healthcare system. METHODS: Databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, IEEE, Springer, and ScienceDirect were searched using a combination of terms related to blockchain, healthcare, benefits and threats. Backward-reference list checking was conducted to identify other relevant references. Study selection process was performed in three steps based on PRISMA flow diagram. Extracted data were synthesised and presented narratively using tables and figures. RESULTS: The search resulted in 84 relevant studies that have been conducted of which only 37 unique studies were included in this review. Eight benefits of blockchain were categorised in either patient related-benefits (security and authorisation, personalised healthcare, patients' health data tracking, and patient's health status monitoring) or organisational-related benefits (health information exchange, pharmaceutical supply chain, clinical trials, and medical insurance management). Meanwhile, eight threats of blockchain were categorised into three groups: organisational threats (installation and transaction costs, interoperability issues, and lack of technical skills), social threats (social acceptance and regulations issues), and technological threats (scalability issues, authorisation and security issues, high energy consumption, and slow processing speeds). CONCLUSION: Blockchain is a viable technology that can improve the healthcare data sharing and storing system owing to its decentralisation, immutability, transparency and traceability features. However, many healthcare organisations remain hesitant to adopt blockchain technology due to threats such as security and authorisation issues, interoperability issues and lack of technical skills related to blockchain technology.

Mid-Gut Carcinoid Tumour Presenting as Suspected Orbital Metastasis.

Although metastasis of carcinoid tumours of the intestine is rare, it has been reported in several organs, mainly in the lungs, the liver and less commonly in the orbits. We report a 50-year-old male patient who presented at Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar, in 2016 with central abdominal pain, distention, nausea and vomiting for the previous four days. The patient had unilateral right-sided exophthalmos for two years prior to presentation. Following an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan and an ultrasound guided biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with extensive multi-focal metastatic carcinoid tumour of the small bowel and mesentery; histopathology confirmed the diagnosis. Subsequently, the patient underwent a laparotomy and small bowel resection and was administered somatostatin therapy. One week postoperatively, the patient developed an acute increase in his right eye exophthalmos. CT, magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy scans revealed an orbital metastatic lesion, which probably originated from the previously diagnosed carcinoid tumour. The orbital metastasis was treated with somatostatin therapy and the patient was lost to follow-up when he left the country.

Dietary Supplement Intake and Associated Factors Among Gym Users in a University Community.

Dietary supplement intake and associated factors among gym users in a university community in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), were assessed using a structured, self-administered questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. Adults (N = 320) from five gyms in the University City of Sharjah participated in this cross-sectional study. The prevalence of dietary supplement intake was 43.8%. Statistically significant associations were found between the use of dietary supplements and sex (47.7% males, 28.1% females; p = .006), as well as weight lifting (88.6% taking supplements vs. 11.4% not taking supplements; p < .001), favoring male gym users. The reasons attributed to the use of dietary supplements varied between the sexes. Male exercisers used supplements to increase or maintain muscles mass, strength, and power and to boost exercise recovery. Females mainly used dietary supplements to increase energy, maintain their health, and prevent nutrition deficiency. Overall, protein supplements (whey proteins [48.6%] and protein powder [45.7%]) were among the most-consumed dietary supplements, followed by multivitamins (38.6%), branched-chain amino acids (36.4%), caffeine (35.0%), and creatine (29.3%). A widespread use of Internet-driven, self-prescribed dietary supplement intake was reported among gym users (60.7%). Only 12.8% of dietary supplement users sought information from dietitians. Practical implications suggest that gym instructors and coaches should be sufficiently trained to be able to provide accurate and scientifically sound information on dietary supplements to the exercisers in gyms in the university environment.

Creating an engaging and stimulating anatomy lecture environment using the Cognitive Load Theory-based Lecture Model: Students' experiences.

OBJECTIVE: There is a need to create a standard interactive anatomy lecture that can engage students in their learning process. This study investigated the impact of a new lecturing guideline, the Cognitive Load Theory-based Lecture Model (CLT-bLM), on students' cognitive engagement and motivation. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial involving 197 participants from three institutions was conducted. The control group attended a freestyle lecture on the gross anatomy of the heart, delivered by a qualified anatomist from each institution. The intervention group attended a CLT-bLM-based lecture on a similar topic, delivered by the same lecturer, three weeks thereafter. The lecturers had attended a CLT-bLM workshop that allowed them to prepare for the CLT-bLM-based lecture over the course of three weeks. The students' ratings on their cognitive engagement and internal motivation were evaluated immediately after the lecture using a validated Learners' Engagement and Motivation Questionnaire. The differences between variables were analysed and the results were triangulated with the focus group discussion findings that explored students' experience while attending the lecture. RESULTS: The intervention group has a significantly higher level of cognitive engagement than the control group; however, no significant difference in internal motivation score was found. In addition, the intervention group reported having a good learning experience from the lectures. CONCLUSION: The guideline successfully stimulated students' cognitive engagement and learning experience, which indicates a successful stimulation of students' germane resources. Stimulation of these cognitive resources is essential for successful cognitive processing, especially when learning a difficult subject such as anatomy.

Anatomy education environment measurement inventory: A valid tool to measure the anatomy learning environment.

Students' perceptions of the education environment influence their learning. Ever since the major medical curriculum reform, anatomy education has undergone several changes in terms of its curriculum, teaching modalities, learning resources, and assessment methods. By measuring students' perceptions concerning anatomy education environment, valuable information can be obtained to facilitate improvements in teaching and learning. Hence, it is important to use a valid inventory that specifically measures attributes of the anatomy education environment. In this study, a new 11-factor, 132-items Anatomy Education Environment Measurement Inventory (AEEMI) was developed using Delphi technique and was validated in a Malaysian public medical school. The inventory was found to have satisfactory content evidence (scale-level content validity index [total] = 0.646); good response process evidence (scale-level face validity index [total] = 0.867); and acceptable to high internal consistency, with the Raykov composite reliability estimates of the six factors are in the range of 0.604-0.876. The best fit model of the AEEMI is achieved with six domains and 25 items (X2 = 415.67, P < 0.001, ChiSq/df = 1.63, RMSEA = 0.045, GFI = 0.905, CFI = 0.937, NFI = 0.854, TLI = 0.926). Hence, AEEMI was proven to have good psychometric properties, and thus could be used to measure the anatomy education environment in Malaysia. A concerted collaboration should be initiated toward developing a valid universal tool that, using the methods outlined in this study, measures the anatomy education environment across different institutions and countries. Anat Sci Educ 10: 423-432. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.

Evaluation of diabetes awareness among general population of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

AIMS: To evaluate diabetes awareness among general population of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. METHODS: A questionnaire based descriptive cross sectional study was performed during 2014. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. RESULTS: Total 383 respondents participated in this study giving a response rate of about 88%. Mean age of the participants was 33±13.3 years and the majority of the participants were females (50.4%). Mean scores of the participants were 20.77±6.65 out of 34 and only one participant scored 34/34 marks. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test revealed that females scored significantly higher diabetes awareness score than males (p<0.05). Moreover, urban residential status, better education and higher socioeconomic status were significantly associated with higher diabetes awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of our study population had adequate awareness regarding diabetes. However, lack of awareness was observed among illiterate, poor and rural participants that indicated the immediate need of diabetes awareness programs for these participants.