PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among medical students' assessments on peers' group presentations, instructors' assessments of those presentations, and students' educational achievements in other assignments and tests. METHODS: A total of 101 first-year students from a medical school participated in the study. The students' educational achievements in a 4-week long integrated curriculum were analyzed. Student's final grades were comprised of the following education criteria: two written tests (60%), 15 group reports (25%), one individual report (7%), and four group presentations (15%). We compared scores of the group presentation assessed by the peers and the two instructors. Furthermore, we compared peers' assessment scores with each component of the evaluation criteria. RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis showed significant correlaton for the assessments between peers and instructors (r=0.775, p<0.001). Peer assessment scores also correlated significantly with scores for the group assignments (r=0.777, p<0.001), final grades on the curriculum (r=0.345, p<0.001), and scores for individual assignments (r=0.334, p<0.001); however, no significant correlation was observed between the peer-assessed group presentation scores and the two written test scores. CONCLUSION: Peer assessments may be a reliable and valid method for evaluating medical students' performances in an integrated curriculum, especially if the assessments are used to academic processes, such as presentations, with explicit evaluation and judgment criteria. Peer assessments on group presentations might assess different learning domains compared to written tests that primarily evaluate limited medical knowledge and clinical reasoning.
Curriculum ; Education ; Educational Status ; Group Processes ; Humans ; Judgment ; Learning ; Methods ; Peer Review ; Schools, Medical ; Self-Evaluation Programs ; Students, Medical*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the results of quantitative and qualitative student evaluations of team-based learning (TBL) and student achievement evaluations during TBL. METHODS: Questionnaires that evaluated medical student perception and self-assessment of the TBL experience included 38 questions on the TBL process. Also, we used scores from the TBL session to investigate student academic achievement. RESULTS: Our results showed that the more proper the educational environments were, the more focused students were on team learning. According to the distribution period for preliminary assignments, there was a difference in self-directed learning. In addition, team members had the opportunity to learn new knowledge by interacting with each other, and when they had the experience of feedback, they understood the instruction topics through team learning better. With regard to peer evaluation, the students who recognized the importance of assessment studied more sincerely and honestly. By experiencing the TBL process, every team showed a high significance in the group readiness assurance test score compared with the individual readiness assurance test score, and student satisfaction with the TBL and expectation levels about capacity strengthening increased as well. CONCLUSION: TBL is an effective teaching and learning method and has positive impacts on student academic achievement. A study on student academic achievement and perception of TBL is expected to provide medical educators with suggestions on planning teaching strategies for effective TBL administration.
Achievement ; Education, Medical ; Educational Status ; Group Processes ; Humans ; Learning ; Peer Review ; Program Evaluation ; Self-Assessment ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Physician's Role*

The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing globally, most particularly in middle- to low-income countries. This article examines the burden of allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria in the Asia-Pacific region, unmet clinical needs, and the potential role of bilastine in the management of these conditions. An International Advisory Group meeting was convened in association with the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology Annual Congress in November 2014, followed by a literature review, and consensus-based outcomes from the meeting and literature review are described. Regional estimates of the prevalence of allergic rhinitis range from 10% to 50%, while little is known regarding the burden of urticaria in the Asia-Pacific region. A survey of allergy patients in the region identified fast, complete, and long-lasting symptom relief as the medication attributes most important to patients. International treatment guidelines for allergic rhinitis and urticaria advocate the first-line use of second-generation, no-sedating H1-antihistamines, such as bilastine, over their first-generation counterparts and a range of these agents are available to Asia-Pacific patients. The newer agents possess many of the properties of an "ideal" antihistamine (once daily administration, rapid and complete symptom relief, limited potential for drug-drug interactions, minimal side effects). The burgeoning prevalence of allergic diseases in the Asia-Pacific region and the uncontrolled symptoms that these patients experience demand a new antihistamine that offers the highest number of positive features according to the international guidelines.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Consensus ; Group Processes ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Urticaria

BACKGROUND: Although, its efficacy is unclear, the application of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing among patients worldwide. The physician's role is very important to help patients understand and use CAM properly. The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions, attitudes and physician-patient communication of about CAM in two distinguished specialty physicians. METHODS: A web-based survey was performed to list oncologists and family physicians in Korea between May 2007 and July 2007. E-mails were sent to total of 5,429 physicians and 547 physicians replied on survey (response rate: 10.1%). Of them, 500 participants comprising 174 clinical oncologists and 326 family physicians were involved in this study. The study questionnaire consisted of 26 questions including questions about general characteristics of CAM and intentions of introduction and education to their patients. RESULTS: Of 500 physicians, males were 73.4%, and 82.0% were middle-aged 30-49. Family physicians had more interest than oncologists about CAM (79.5% and 57.5%, respectively). In addition to, family physicians preferred introducing CAM to their patients than oncologists (34.1% and 18.4%, respectively). Almost 85% of the oncologists and family physicians thought that it was necessary to introduce CAM to their patients. However, 60.2% of them had hesitated their practice because 70.3% of them did not have sufficient knowledge in CAM. Both specialty physicians responded that usefulness of CAM information when regarding practice, should contain evidence-based evaluation (59.2%) and consensus guideline (37.0%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that most physicians did not have sufficient information regarding CAM (87.2%). The result implies that evidence based information on complementaryand alternative medicine should be offered in the national level to improve communication between physicians and patients.
Complementary Therapies ; Consensus ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Male ; Physician's Role ; Physicians, Family ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Although, its efficacy is unclear, the application of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing among patients worldwide. The physician's role is very important to help patients understand and use CAM properly. The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions, attitudes and physician-patient communication of about CAM in two distinguished specialty physicians. METHODS: A web-based survey was performed to list oncologists and family physicians in Korea between May 2007 and July 2007. E-mails were sent to total of 5,429 physicians and 547 physicians replied on survey (response rate: 10.1%). Of them, 500 participants comprising 174 clinical oncologists and 326 family physicians were involved in this study. The study questionnaire consisted of 26 questions including questions about general characteristics of CAM and intentions of introduction and education to their patients. RESULTS: Of 500 physicians, males were 73.4%, and 82.0% were middle-aged 30-49. Family physicians had more interest than oncologists about CAM (79.5% and 57.5%, respectively). In addition to, family physicians preferred introducing CAM to their patients than oncologists (34.1% and 18.4%, respectively). Almost 85% of the oncologists and family physicians thought that it was necessary to introduce CAM to their patients. However, 60.2% of them had hesitated their practice because 70.3% of them did not have sufficient knowledge in CAM. Both specialty physicians responded that usefulness of CAM information when regarding practice, should contain evidence-based evaluation (59.2%) and consensus guideline (37.0%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that most physicians did not have sufficient information regarding CAM (87.2%). The result implies that evidence based information on complementaryand alternative medicine should be offered in the national level to improve communication between physicians and patients.
Complementary Therapies ; Consensus ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Male ; Physician's Role ; Physicians, Family ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Confidentiality ; Electronic Mail ; Ethics, Medical ; Humans ; Internet ; Patient Education as Topic ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Professional Role ; Social Support

No abstract available.
Humans ; *Peer Review, Research

No abstract available.
Humans ; *Peer Review, Research

Peer Review, Research