57 research outputs found
External assessors' reports – do they provide valid and useful information?
No full text[EN] The engagement of external assessors or examiners is one of the approaches which may contribute to overall quality assurance in institutions of higher learning . Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the quality of the reports received following an onsite visit, utilizing a purposefully designed template, and identify any significant shortcomings. Results: Only 90% of the expected reports were ever received, with 66% of reports being received unacceptably late. Just over 18% were deemed to be of excellent quality, while 32% were classified as being below average or poor demonstrating questionable academic professional responsibility of certain examiners. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the systems to ensure quality need to be audited on a regular basis to ensure that their purpose is being met.Cordina, M.; Cacciottolo, J. (2022). External assessors' reports – do they provide valid and useful information?. En 8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'22). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 733-741. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd22.2022.14388OCS73374
The final examination in medicine : time for change?
No full textMost medical programmes culminate in a final assessment, in order that participants may be tested and graded. In June 1995, at the University of Malta, a group of 53 medical students sat for their final examination; medicine was one of the three co-equal component subjects of this statutory qualifying examination. The scope of this paper is to analyze the results obtained in the final examination in medicine and to use this data to address such issues as aims of this examination, method and quality assurance of assessment. The result obtained by candidates in the final examination in medicine was correlated with their university entry qualifications. The composite mark for each candidate was split into its components and analysis took the form of description, correlation and clustering. Computation of Cronbach’s alpha facilitated anlaysis of reliability of each of the three parts of the examination. The findings of this paper suggest that there is room for improving the quality of assessment methods. A review of methods and procedures, with the dual purpose of decreasing bias and increasing specificity and sensitivity of this statutory examination will not only benefit candidates, but ultimately also the University of Malta. The final qualifying examination in medicine should have clearly defined objectives and methods of assessment should be aimed specifically at reaching them. It needs to be able to assess the ability to think critically about diagnosis and management and to ensure that the candidate has a satisfactory base of factual knowledge. It also needs to assess objectively the adequacy of basic clinical skills and candidates’ facility of communication.peer-reviewe
Effectiveness of blood pressure control in a small community
No full textThe aim of this study was to examine the degree of control of blood pressure with respect to individuals on anti-hypertensive drug therapy attending a Health Centre for repeat prescription. Despite their being on anti-hypertensive drug therapy, only 35% of the individuals were found to be normotensive, 27% were in the borderline range whereas 38% were found to be hypertensive. The relatively high prevalence of poorly controlled patients suffering from high blood pressure is partly a reflection of the degree of non-compliance by patients to prescribed drug regimens although this is difficult to either qualify or quantify. Education of the patient vis-à-vis his medical condition and its treatment is of great importance as is regular monitoring and effective control of raised blood pressure by the family physician.peer-reviewe
Tuberculosis in Malta : thirty-five years of epidemiological trends in the native population
No full textMalta, the smallest island state in Europe, with an approximate population of 400,000, has one of the lowest reported incidence rates for tuberculosis (TB) in its native-born population.1 Long- term trends for TB among this population were investigated.
A period of 35 years (1979-2013) for the Malta-born population was investigated using single-age population numbers for each year, retrospective, and partly prospective analysis of notified TB cases. Mean five-yearly populations were then used to calculate 5- yearly incidence rates for birth-cohorts, age-groups, major site and gender. Annual reported TB incidence rates were also calculated.
In the Malta-born population, over the 35- year period, reported yearly TB incidence shows a downward, albeit decelerating trend. Consecutive follow-up of 5-year age-cohorts and 5-year age-groups confirms that incidence has fallen, with the highest rates being observed in progressively older age-groups. A falling trend in TB incidence according major site and gender was also observed.
TB is being successfully controlled among the Malta-born population, and confirmed to be slowly approaching the elimination phase.peer-reviewe
The constrained formative feedback in doctoral examiner reports
No full textThe award of a PhD degree is based on a rigorous examination process which is unique in that examiners can recommend that the degree is awarded subject to minor or major amendments to the thesis. In their examiner reports, examiners also include formative feedback that is intended to help the doctoral researchers improve their work. Using data from examiner reports from two faculties at the University of Malta (Arts and Science) for the years 2017-2018, the study looks at the formative feedback comments provided by doctoral examiners. Results suggest that the feedback comments provided can be described as editorial, instructional and reflective, with the most common type of feedback comments being editorial and instructional. This indicates that the focus of doctoral examiner reports is on giving advice to doctoral researchers so that it reaches the expected doctoral standards. This study points to: the need for a rethinking of the way in which feedback is provided in doctoral examiner reports so that the focus is shifted to reflective comments that lead to in-depth learning; and for more professional development for doctoral examiners to that they can make this shift in their provision of formative feedback
Swollen limbs and bone pain : a case report
No full textA 50 year old man presented with peripheral oedema, abdominal distension and a pulmonary opacity on CXR. He subsequently perforated his sigmoid colon as a complication of diverticulitis with pericolic abscess. After colectomy his postoperative period was marked by severe hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis, hyperglycaemia and recurrent chest infections. Paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome was diagnosed after finding elevated serum cortisol and ACTH levels. CT-guided biopsy of the lung lesion revealed small-cell carcinoma. Bone scan disclosed collapse of numerous thoracic vertebrae possibly due to osteoporosis or oncogenic osteomalacia. Treatment with steroid-synthesis blockers was commenced but the patient died before tumour-directed therapy could be started. Ectopic ACTH syndrome and oncogenic osteomalacia are discussed.peer-reviewe
Anxiety and the management of asthma in an adult outpatient population
No full textReview of the literature suggests that anxiety is more common among patients with asthma than among the general population, yet it does not appear to be given the attention it deserves as part of the overall management of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety and asthma management, in terms of Global Initiative for Asthma steps, lung function and medication.
Methods: A total of 201 consecutive patients with respiratory physician-diagnosed asthma were recruited from an adult outpatient asthma clinic. Participants underwent a sociodemographic review, and a medical interview which included a detailed drug history. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values were recorded using a Micro Medical portable spirometer. The level of anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Results: A total of 51.5% of participants registered clinically significant levels of anxiety. Of these only 21% had already been diagnosed and were receiving treatment. Females reported significantly higher BAI scores than males (p<0.01). More females (66.3%) registered clinically significant levels of anxiety as compared with males (33.7%) (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the BAI score and the prescribed dose of inhaled glucocorticoids (rs¼0.150, p<0.05) and between anxiety and GINA treatment step (rs¼0.139, p<0.05). There was also a positive correlation between anxiety and the number of medicines taken by patients (rs¼0.259, p<0.001).
Conclusions: Physicians treating patients with asthma should be sensitised to the association between asthma and anxiety, and should also consider assessing patients for the possibility of anxiety disorders as part of asthma management plans.peer-reviewe
Contributions of mean and shape of blood pressure distribution to worldwide trends and variations in raised blood pressure : a pooled analysis of 1018 population-based measurement studies with 88.6 million participants
No full textBACKGROUND: Change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure could be due to both shifts in the entire distribution of blood pressure (representing the combined effects of public health interventions and secular trends) and changes in its high-blood-pressure tail (representing successful clinical interventions to control blood pressure in the hypertensive population). Our aim was to quantify the contributions of these two phenomena to the worldwide trends in the prevalence of raised blood pressure.METHODS: We pooled 1018 population-based studies with blood pressure measurements on 88.6 million participants from 1985 to 2016. We first calculated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and prevalence of raised blood pressure by sex and 10-year age group from 20–29 years to 70–79 years in each study, taking into account complex survey design and survey sample weights, where relevant. We used a linear mixed effect model to quantify the association between (probit-transformed) prevalence of raised blood pressure and age-group- and sex-specific mean blood pressure. We calculated the contributions of change in mean SBP and DBP, and of change in the prevalence-mean association, to the change in prevalence of raised blood pressure.RESULTS: In 2005–16, at the same level of population mean SBP and DBP, men and women in South Asia and in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa would have the highest prevalence of raised blood pressure, and men and women in the high-income Asia Pacific and high-income Western regions would have the lowest. In most region-sex-age groups where the prevalence of raised blood pressure declined, one half or more of the decline was due to the decline in mean blood pressure. Where prevalence of raised blood pressure has increased, the change was entirely driven by increasing mean blood pressure, offset partly by the change in the prevalence-mean association.CONCLUSIONS: Change in mean blood pressure is the main driver of the worldwide change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure, but change in the high-blood-pressure tail of the distribution has also contributed to the change in prevalence, especially in older age groups.This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust [101506/Z/13/Z].peer-reviewe
Selection of medication in hospitalised elderly patients with Angina Pectoris
No full textObjective: To evaluate medication changes in hospitalised elderly patients diagnosed with angina pectoris and to compare the selection of medication with evidence-based treatment guidelines. Design: Review of medical notes and patient interview. Setting: St. Luke's Hospital, Malta; January - May 2001. Subjects: 226 patients, aged 60 years or over, with a history of chronic stable angina and a discharge diagnosis of angina. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of use of antiplatelet agents, lipid lowering agents, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, potassium channel openers and cellular anti-ischaemic agents; presence of co-morbidities, concurrent medication and adverse effects. Results: Prior to discharge, 77% of patients were receiving antiplatelet agents and 27% were receiving lipid lowering agents. The most frequent anti-ischaemic agents used were nitrates (97%) and second-generation dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (59%). Beta-blockers were used in 31% of patients and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers were used in 4% of patients. Potassium channel openers (nicorandil) and cellular anti-ischaemic agents (trimetazidine) were used in 5% and 19% of patients respectively. Of patients discharged on a single anti-ischaemic agent, 96% were prescribed nitrates, while 64% of those on two agents were prescribed nitrates and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. Beta-blockers, nicorandil and trimetazidine were generally used in conjunction with at least two other antiischaemic agents. The major medication changes involved the addition, or increase in dose, of amlodipine and isosorbide dinitrate. The major determinants affecting choice of medication were age and co-morbidities. Conclusion: Medication selection for chronic stable angina was not in accordance with treatment guidelines.peer-reviewe
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