An evaluation of a medical student international service-learning experience in Southeast Asia.

Background: International service-learning trips (ISLTs) are structured experiences in a different country where students interact and engage in cross-cultural dialog with others. Month-long ISLTs originating from North American or European medical schools enhance clinical acumen, cultural awareness, and global health familiarity. The impact of experiences shorter than 1 month or those that originate from Asia is unknown. We aimed to determine the impact of a short-term ISLT on medical students' clinical and cultural competence. Methods: At Duke-National University Singapore, we developed an ISLT incorporating peer-assisted learning and a 1-week on-site experience delivering supervised primary care, health screening, and health education in an underserved Southeast Asian community. Using a prospective controlled design, we assessed its impact on medical students' clinical and cultural competency using validated surveys. We compared medical students who participated in the ISTL (intervention group) to a control group of students before and after the ISTL experience. We analyzed responses using univariate analysis and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: : Sixty-six students responded to the survey (100%). After the ISTL, the intervention group (n = 32) showed an increase in their ratings of clinical competency (preexperience mean = 3.39, postexperience mean = 3.81, P < 0.01) as well as an increase in their cultural competency domains (preexperience mean = 3.61, postexperience mean = 4.12, P < 0.01). Post the ISTL, students in the intervention group rated their clinical and cultural competency higher than the control group (n = 34) (clinical: intervention postexperience mean = 3.81, control postexperience mean = 3.30, P < 0.01; cultural: intervention postexperience mean = 4.12, control postexperience mean = 3.50, P < 0.01). After the ISTL, the intervention group reported increased ratings of self-efficacy (pre mean = 3.99, post mean = 4.29, P = 0.021), which were higher than the control group (pre mean = 4.29, post mean = 3.57, P < 0.01). Discussion: : This short-term ISLT in an Asian medical school improved students' clinical and cultural competency and self-efficacy. Our findings suggest a positive impact of short-term ISLTs if designed and implemented with a student learning focus.

Nurses' perceptions of risk from emerging respiratory infectious diseases: a Singapore study.

The recent emergence of virulent respiratory infectious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Influenza A/H1N1 viruses predisposes nurses to occupational risks. This qualitative study investigated how Chinese Singaporean nurses perceived the risks of exposure to these infectious diseases and the factors that influenced this risk perception. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's process of thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: living with risk; the experience of SARS; and acceptance of risk. The nature of nursing work was perceived to place participants at risk of infection. Another significant finding of this study is that the government's, organizations' and nurses' perceptions of new emerging respiratory infectious diseases were influenced by their previous experience with SARS. Similar to previous studies, nurses working at the 'front line' believed that infection from these diseases was an unavoidable occupational hazard.

The regulation of cartilage extracellular matrix homeostasis in joint cartilage degeneration and regeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability and socioeconomic loss worldwide. However, the current pharmacological approaches used to treat OA are largely palliative. Being the hallmark of OA, the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) destruction and abnormal homeostasis is gaining more attention as a therapeutic target in cartilage regeneration. Moreover, during the progression of OA, the cartilage ECM shows significant pathological alternations, which can be promising biomarkers in identifying the pathological stages of OA. In this review, we summarize the role of abnormal ECM homeostasis in the joint cartilage during OA. Furthermore, we provide an update on the cartilage ECM derived biomarkers and regenerative medicine therapies targeting cartilage ECM which includes preclinical animal models study and clinical trials.

Advanced Strategies of Biomimetic Tissue-Engineered Grafts for Bone Regeneration.

The failure to repair critical-sized bone defects often leads to incomplete regeneration or fracture non-union. Tissue-engineered grafts have been recognized as an alternative strategy for bone regeneration due to their potential to repair defects. To design a successful tissue-engineered graft requires the understanding of physicochemical optimization to mimic the composition and structure of native bone, as well as the biological strategies of mimicking the key biological elements during bone regeneration process. This review provides an overview of engineered graft-based strategies focusing on physicochemical properties of materials and graft structure optimization from macroscale to nanoscale to further boost bone regeneration, and it summarizes biological strategies which mainly focus on growth factors following bone regeneration pattern and stem cell-based strategies for more efficient repair. Finally, it discusses the current limitations of existing strategies upon bone repair and highlights a promising strategy for rapid bone regeneration.

Assessment of dyspneic patients in the emergency department using point-of-care lung and cardiac ultrasonography-a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Lung ultrasonography is increasingly used in the emergency department (ED) as a standard adjunct in the evaluation of the breathless patient. The study objective was to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy of lung and cardiac ultrasound in undifferentiated dyspneic ED patients. METHODS: We conducted this prospective observational study on patients presenting with dyspnea in the ED of a tertiary hospital. The sonographers who performed lung and cardiac ultrasound according to a locally-designed protocol were blinded to clinical and radiologic results. Ultrasonographic findings were subsequently compared with the final adjudicated diagnoses. RESULTS: Between February and August 2015, 231 patients were recruited. There was male predominance (63.2%) with a mean age of 67.8 years. Overall, lung ultrasonography yielded correct diagnoses in 68.3% of patients. Our protocol had likelihood ratios of 3.63 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.44-5.40], 3.73 (95% CI: 2.50-5.57) and 6.31 (95% CI: 3.72-10.72) for positive findings; and 0.42 (95% CI: 0.29-0.63), 0.35 (95% CI: 0.25-0.50), and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.28-0.56) for negative findings in the diagnoses of pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, respectively. Addition of bedside echocardiography was able to differentiate cardiogenic from nephrogenic pulmonary edema in 70% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Lung ultrasonography, when complemented with other tools of investigation, aids evaluation, allows for earlier treatment and more accurate disposition of undifferentiated dyspneic patients in the ED. The addition of cardiac ultrasound was not able to reliably differentiate the causes of pulmonary edema.

Death among elderly patients in the emergency department: a needs assessment for end-of-life care.

INTRODUCTION: Elderly patients with serious chronic diseases often present to the emergency department (ED) in the last moments of their life, many with identifiable trajectories of dying: organ failure, advanced cancer and chronic frailty. These patients and their families may benefit more from good end-of-life (EOL) care provision than the standard resuscitative approach. This study aimed to determine the incidence and nature of death among patients aged ≥ 65 years in an ED, and characterise their trajectories of dying. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out over a one-year period in a tertiary ED. All ED deaths in patients aged ≥ 65 years over this period were included. Information on the patients' demographics, comorbidities and details of death were extracted from the hospital's electronic medical records database. Based on the available information, their Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores and trajectories of dying were ascertained. RESULTS: In one year, 197 patients aged ≥ 65 years died in the ED, 51.3% of whom suffered from serious chronic illnesses, with identifiable trajectories of dying. Of these patients, 46.5% had premorbid functional limitation with KPS scores of 0-40. However, only 14.9% of patients had a pre-existing resuscitation status and 74.3% received aggressive resuscitative measures. CONCLUSION: There is a significant burden of EOL care needs among elderly patients in the ED. Many of these patients have chronic illness trajectories of dying. This study underscores the need for improvement in EOL care provision for dying patients and their families in the ED.

Easing student transition to graduate nurse: a SIMulated Professional Learning Environment (SIMPLE) for final year student nurses.

BACKGROUND: Preparing nursing students for making the transition to graduate nurse is crucial for entry into practice. Final year student nurses at the National University of Singapore (NUS) are required to undergo a consolidated clinical practice to prepare them for their transition to graduate nurse. AIM: To describe the development, implementation and evaluation of a simulation program known as SIMulated Professional Learning Environment (SIMPLE) in preparing the final year student nurses for their clinical practicum in transition to graduate nurse practice. METHOD: A set of simulation features and best practices were used as conceptual framework to develop and implement the simulation program. 94 final year student nurses participated in the 15-hour SIMPLE program that incorporated multiple simulation scenarios based on actual ward clinical practices. Pre and post-tests were conducted to assess the students' preparedness for their clinical practice in transition to graduate nurse practice. The students also completed a satisfaction questionnaire and open questions to evaluate their simulation experiences. RESULTS: The student nurses demonstrated a significant improvement (t=12.06, p<0.01) on post-test score (mean=117.21, SD=15.17) from pre-test score (mean=97.86, SD=15.08) for their perceived preparedness towards their clinical practicum in transition to graduate nurse practice. They were highly satisfied with their simulation learning. Themes emerged from the comments on the most valuable aspects of the SIMPLE program and ways to improve the program. CONCLUSION: The study provided evidences on the effectiveness of the SIMPLE program in enhancing the students' preparedness for their transition to graduate nurse practice. A key success of the SIMPLE program was the used of simulation strategy and the involvement of practicing nurses that closely linked the students with the realities of current nursing practice to prepare them for the role of staff nurses.

Comprehensive systematic review of healthcare workers' perceptions of risk and use of coping strategies towards emerging respiratory infectious diseases.

AIM: To determine healthcare workers' perceptions of risk from exposure to emerging acute respiratory infectious diseases and the perceived effectiveness of strategies used to facilitate healthy coping in acute hospital and community healthcare settings. METHODS: Electronic databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Ovid, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Wiley InterScience) were searched using a three-step search strategy to identify the relevant quantitative and qualitative studies published in English from 1997 to 2009. The grey literature was not included in the review. The identified studies were evaluated using the Meta-Analysis of Statistics, Assessment and Review Instrument and the Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Fourteen quantitative studies were included and the findings included in a narrative summary. The findings from the two qualitative studies were categorised into a meta-synthesis that generated two synthesised findings. RESULTS: Findings indicated that healthcare workers perceived personal and familial health risks and stigmatisation from their exposure to emerging acute respiratory infectious diseases, but the majority were accepting of these risks. Organisational implementation of infection control measures, avoidance of patients and complying with personal protective equipment were identified as risk-mitigating strategies. Demographic, individual and organisational factors were found to influence their risk perceptions and their adoption of strategies to mitigate the risk. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that healthcare workers' risk perceptions can influence their behaviour towards patients with emerging acute respiratory infectious diseases as well as their use of risk-mitigating strategies. Institutions need to ensure that appropriate infection control safeguards are in place to protect workers and their families. Institutions can also offer incentives to encourage healthcare workers to comply with the policies and procedures introduced to mitigate risk. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Institutions and government need to ensure that policies and procedures are communicated and adequate institutional measures (i.e. personal protective equipment; education and training; and personal support) are implemented to safeguard healthcare workers during and after pandemic outbreaks. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Future research needs to examine how perception of risk related to acute emerging respiratory infectious diseases, epidemic or pandemic, and the factors that would influence healthcare workers': decisions to stay within the workforce and provide care or resign from the workforce and compliance with institutional and government policies and procedures, as well as compliance to use of personal protective equipment.