Hygienic practices during menstruation are of great importance. The lack of which increases emotional distress, anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unclean and discrimination as well as the susceptibility of an individual to reproductive tract infections. This prospective study was an assessment of female students’ perception (knowledge, attitude and practices) regarding menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at the School of Medicine and Health Science (SMHS), University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). Pretested questionnaire was distributed to 80 female students using a quantitative approach for data collection after obtaining ethical clearance. The responses were recorded in Excel Spread sheets. The data was statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013. All the participants learned through education that menstruation is a natural process in all females after puberty. Majority (90%) of the participants agreed with the proposed concept of free-distribution of sanitary pads to all female students by the SMHS student services. Further research on menstrual management options that are practical, sustainable and culturally acceptable must be conducted to inform future programs and policies that aim to empower young girls as they transition into womanhood.

This study carried out at the University of Papua New Guinea investigates undergraduate medical imaging science (MIS) students’ perceptions of the usefulness of individualised feedback using a rubric. In the first semester of 2017, 15 fourth year students in the research proposal design course were assigned to an assessment rubric, which comprised a detailed description of how their work was to be graded. Students were instructed to submit an initial draft of their writing. Electronic feedback was then provided to support the revision process. The benefits of the rubric and feedback were evaluated at the end of the semester using a paper-based survey, which provided participating students with the opportunity to critically reflect on the learning experience. The majority (93.3%) of the students were satisfied that the feedback on their draft proposal assisted their understanding on research methodology concepts which informed their progress with respect to achieving the assessment learning outcomes. This study has demonstrated that the use of a rubric as a formative assessment tool has had a positive impact on students’ learning experience. Reflection on the results of this study will lead to further refinement of the existing rubric and the development of others.

Patient communication is highly regarded as one of the basis of health care and an important part of practice in the application of radiographic procedures. Good communication is necessary in medical imaging if optimum diagnostic images are to be achieved. This study is a prospective assessment on the effectiveness of communication among radiographers and patients during general radiographic procedures at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH). Questionnaires were administered to 100 patients and 15 radiographers using a quantitative approach for data collection. Informed consent was obtained from each of the participants, after obtaining ethical clearance from the authorities. The responses in the questionnaires were recorded in Excel Spread sheet. The data was statistically analysed using Microsoft Excel 2013. A majority (78%) of the patients reported that there were no communication problems while more than half (57%) expressed satisfaction with the radiographic services that were provided. A majority (67%) of radiographers reported that language barrier was the cause of communication problems during radiographic procedures. The result indicated that although there was communication between radiographers and patients, the most common factor affecting effective communication was language barrier.