Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions

Research article

Relationships between undergraduate medical students’ attitudes toward communication skills learning and demographics in Zambia: a survey-based descriptive study: Mercy Ijeoma Okwudili Ezeala, John Volk; J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2023;20:16. Published online June 1, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2023.20.16

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Purpose
This study aimed to detect relationships between undergraduate students’ attitudes toward communication skills learning and demographic variables (such as age, academic year, and gender). Understanding these relationships could provide information for communication skills facilitators and curriculum planners on structuring course delivery and integrating communication skills training into the medical curriculum.
Methods
The descriptive study involved a survey of 369 undergraduate students from 2 medical schools in Zambia who participated in communication skills training stratified by academic year using the Communication Skills Attitude Scale. Data were collected between October and December 2021 and analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows version 28.0.
Results
One-way analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in attitude between at least 5 academic years. There was a significant difference in attitudes between the 2nd and 5th academic years (t=5.95, P˂0.001). No significant difference in attitudes existed among the academic years on the negative subscale; the 2nd and 3rd (t=3.82, P=0.004), 4th (t=3.61, P=0.011), 5th (t=8.36, P˂0.001), and 6th (t=4.20, P=0.001) academic years showed significant differences on the positive subscale. Age showed no correlation with attitudes. There was a more favorable attitude to learning communication skills among the women participants than among the men participants (P=0.006).
Conclusion
Despite positive general attitudes toward learning communication skills, the difference in attitude between the genders, academic years 2 and 5, and the subsequent classes suggest a re-evaluation of the curriculum and teaching methods to facilitate appropriate course structure according to the academic years and a learning process that addressees gender differences.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students
Naser Yousefzadeh Kandevani, Ali Labaf, Azim Mirzazadeh, Pegah Salimi Pormehr
BMC Medical Education.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

Software report

Integration of computer-simulated practical exercises into undergraduate medical pharmacology education at Mulungushi University, Zambia: Christian Chinyere Ezeala; J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2020;17:8. Published online February 24, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2020.17.8

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Abstract PDF

Purpose
This study was conducted to determine whether a computer simulation of practical exercises in undergraduate medical pharmacology led to the realization of the intended learning outcomes.
Methods
The study was a descriptive analysis of laboratory classes carried out using computer simulation programs. Five programs were used to teach practical pharmacology to undergraduate medical students at the Mulungushi University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The study period was January 2018 to December 2019. The computer programs included a pharmacokinetics simulator (CyberPatient), organ bath simulator (OBSim), AutonomiCAL for simulating autonomic pharmacology, and Virtual Cat and Virtual Rat (RatCVS) for simulating cardiovascular pharmacology. Students utilized these programs during their pharmacology laboratory classes, wrote reports, and answered relevant clinical questions.
Results
The 5 programs provided easy and precise platforms for students to explore concepts and demonstrate knowledge of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, autonomic and cardiovascular pharmacology, and their clinical applications.
Conclusion
The programs were effective learning tools. Students’ learning was easily assessed based on their laboratory reports. Although the computer programs met medical students’ learning needs, wet laboratory exercises are also needed to meet the needs of students who require practical laboratory skills.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Simulation as a Tool to Illustrate Clinical Pharmacology Concepts to Healthcare Program Learners
Liza Barbarello Andrews, Les Barta
Current Pharmacology Reports.2020; 6(4): 182. CrossRef

Brief Report

Analysis of the study skills of undergraduate pharmacy students of the University of Zambia School of Medicine: Christian Chinyere Ezeala, Nalucha Siyanga; J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2015;12:46. Published online September 25, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.46

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Abstract PDF

It aimed to compare the study skills of two groups of undergraduate pharmacy students in the School of Medicine, University of Zambia using the Study Skills Assessment Questionnaire (SSAQ), with the goal of analysing students’ study skills and identifying factors that affect study skills. A questionnaire was distributed to 67 participants from both programs using stratified random sampling. Completed questionnaires were rated according to participants study skill. The total scores and scores within subscales were analysed and compared quantitatively. Questionnaires were distributed to 37 students in the regular program, and to 30 students in the parallel program. The response rate was 100%. Students had moderate to good study skills: 22 respondents (32.8%) showed good study skills, while 45 respondents (67.2%) were found to have moderate study skills. Students in the parallel program demonstrated significantly better study skills (mean SSAQ score, 185.4±14.5), particularly in time management and writing, than the students in the regular program (mean SSAQ score 175±25.4; P<0.05). No significant differences were found according to age, gender, residential or marital status, or level of study. The students in the parallel program had better time management and writing skills, probably due to their prior work experience. The more intensive training to students in regular program is needed in improving time management and writing skills.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Improving Learning and Study Strategies in Undergraduate Medical Students: A Pre-Post Study
Ivan Sisa, María Sol Garcés, Cristina Crespo-Andrade, Claudia Tobar
Healthcare.2023; 11(3): 375. CrossRef
STUDY SKILLS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS OF URMIA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Hassan Saber, Ali Heidari, Marziye Mohammadpourr, Hamid Reza Khalkhali, Sima Masudi
Studies in Medical Sciences.2023; 34(2): 68. CrossRef
Examining anxiety and stress regarding virtual learning in colleges of health sciences: A cross-sectional study in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia
Tahani Alshammari, Sarah Alseraye, Rawabi Alqasim, Aleksandra Rogowska, Nouf Alrasheed, Musaad Alshammari
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal.2022; 30(3): 256. CrossRef
Ascertaining and promoting effective study skills and learning habits of first-year pharmacy students
Bernadette D'Souza, Amy E. Broeseker
Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning.2022; 14(5): 561. CrossRef
Factors affecting academic self-efficacy and learning experiences of pharmacy students: Insights from a qualitative study in Zambia
Aubrey Chichonyi Kalungia, Micheal Chigunta, James Sichone, Bugewa Apampa, Sarah Marshall, Claire May, Georgina Mulundu, Chiluba Mwila, Sekelani Stanley Banda
Pharmacy Education.2021; 21: 133. CrossRef

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