Practice-based learning is the key objective of postgraduate education. COVID-19 has revealed that medical institutions may need to adopt adaptive strategies to guide their students. The aim of this study is to describe the perception of Philippine medical clerks towards their surgical preparedness with an Enriched Virtual Mode (EVM)-Hybrid Learning during the pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 176 fourth-year students using a 21-item 4-point-Likert questionnaire. Descriptive analysis showed that students sustained a strong enthusiasm for surgery (composite mean = 2.83 ± 0.62), with the highest ratings given to skill-oriented subjects, such as practical minors (3.05 ± 0.82) and clinical surgery (3.03 ± 0.78). Preparedness was similarly high (3.17 ± 0.46): practice was regarded as essential (3.50 ± 0.68) and operating-room exposure useful (3.22 ± 0.68), though time for hands-on practice was adequate (2.84 ± 0.74). Preference scores revealed a desire for richer tactile experience (3.36 ± 0.37), with scrubbing, suturing and live surgery observation receiving most support (>3.50). Overall satisfaction reached a moderate-to-high level (2.99 ± 0.48) but lagged behind interest and preparedness, indicating that limited physical immersion tempered fuller contentment. These suggest that while a blended curriculum can preserve enthusiasm and sense of readiness, emphasis on protected skills laboratories and increased exposure to the operating room may be needed to translate conceptual competence into experiential fulfillment.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult: 19-24 Yrs Old ; Cross-sectional Studies ; Education ; Curriculum ; Perception ; Observation ; Schools, Medical ; Personal Satisfaction ; Learning ; Mental Competency ; Laboratories ; Pandemics

INTRODUCTION

With the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, schools around the world have slowly started to reimplement on-site classes with guidelines to prevent outbreaks. The University of Santo Tomas has devised their own set of guidelines, including safety protocols, vaccinations and daily health declarations. These were monitored using the
Thomasian Online Medical Services and Support (ThOMedSS).

METHODOLOGY

Through a case-control study design, the study aims to determine an association between the vaccination status of UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (UST-FMS) students and breakthrough COVID-19 infections in the first semester of the academic year 2022-2023, with population data acquired via records of students participating in face-to-face classes from the UST Health Service Office, and categorized based on breakthrough infections and vaccination status.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Results were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test (pCONCLUSION

The study suggests that vaccination status did not have a statistically significant association (p = 0.3451) with breakthrough infections. The majority (99.94%) of students have received the complete primary COVID-19 vaccination series and only 6.61% of this population developed breakthrough COVID-19 infections, all occurring in those completely vaccinated. Breakthrough infections were 1.76 times more likely for those with booster shots than those without. The possible reason for this is the emergence of the Omicron variant. To improve the study, external exposures and individual behaviors must be considered as potential factors influencing infection rates.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Young Adult: 19-24 Yrs Old ; Association ; Case-control Studies ; Covid-19 ; General Surgery ; Faculty ; Incidence ; Infections ; Medicine ; Universities ; Vaccination

RATIONALE: In 2008, the Philippine College of Surgeons in collaboration with the Philippine Society of General Surgeons and the Philippine Academy of Head and Neck Surgeons, Inc. had published Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules. This was followed by an update in 2013 with a focus on important diagnostic and therapeutic management issues concerning thyroid malignancy. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge gaps and behavioral patterns among users with respect to these CPGs. METHODS: A validated 30 item survey assessing knowledge of, attitudes towards, and adherence to the recommendations of different Evidence based Clinical Practice Guidelines was administered to general surgery residents, PSGS fellows, and otorhinolaryngology residents and consultants performing thyroidectomies. RESULTS: There were 343 assessable forms. Of the respondents, 276 (80.47%) were general surgeons, 33 (9.62%) were otorhinolaryngologists. There were 66 (19.24%) consultants, and 277 (80.76%) residents. Otorhinolaryngologists were less aware of the local CPGs than their GS counterparts. GS Residents, compared to their consultants, were more aware of the American Thyroid Association guidelines than the local guidelines. Among all respondents, the local guidelines had about equal preference for usage as the American Thyroid Association guidelines. There were no statistically significant differences on the level of knowledge and attitudes among the respondents. CONCLUSION The level of awareness about the PCS Thyroid Guidelines needs to be improved. The dissemination process needs to be reviewed and ensure that all stakeholders will be reached.
thyroids ; clinical practice guidelines

Research Question: What is the current status of self-efficacy beliefs towards research and research utilization (RU) of University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (UST-FMS) graduates who had Clinical Epidemiology in their basic medical education curriculum?

Significance of the Study: There is an increase in research and RU trends globally as adherence to practice based on evidence results in improved patient outcomes. Limited studies are available in describing research and RU of Filipino physicians and there is no study available specific for UST-FMS graduates.

Objectives: The study aims to describe self-efficacy beliefs towards research and RU of UST-FMS graduates' batches 2012-2016 who had Clinical Epidemiology in their basic medical education.

Study Design: A single-center, quantitative descriptive survey design was used.

Methodology: Participants were graduates of UST-FMS batches 2012-2016, currently working at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital. Evidence-based Practice Confidence Scale (EPIC scale) and Edmonton Research Orientation Survey (EROS) were used to assess the research and RU of the participants gathered through snowball sampling.

Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations were used to analyze the EPIC and EROS scores.

Results: The UST-FMS graduates value research and are generally confident in their ability to participate in evidence-based medicine. However, they rarely conduct research and have a low understanding of statistics.

Conclusion: The self-efficacy beliefs of USTFMS graduates towards research and RU may be attributed to several factors. Clinical epidemiology as a subject may be improved by adding more lectures on statistics while hospitals should create avenues to support the conduct of research.

A 46-year old female presented with a one-year history of a right lateral neck mass which gradually increased in size and subsequently involved bilateral cervical nodes. Diagnosed as Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Stage I (T1N2M0), she underwent Total Thyroidectomy, Central Neck Dissection, Modified Radical Neck Dissection, Type I, right and Modified Radical Neck Dissection Type III, left. Histopathology revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma with no lymphovascular and capsular invasion, and metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma in 15 out of 16 lymph nodes, probably nasopharyngeal in origin. Work up uncovered an erythematous, friable nasopharyngeal mass. Its histopathology was nasopharyngeal cancer, a second primary malignancy. The malignancies were treated as separate entities. The patient underwent chemoradiotherapy first for the nasopharyngeal cancer. Radioactive Iodine for the thyroid malignancy was given six months after completion of radiotherapy. Double primary malignancies deserve aggressive treatment. The sequence of therapy should be based on the severity of the malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to describe the relative frequency of benign tumors in the mandible and maxilla, the operations done to manage these tumors at the Philippine General Hospital and compare it to previous reports.

METHODOLOGY: The histopathology records of patients with tumors affecting the mandible and maxilla who underwent biopsy or definitive surgery between January 1993 and December 2005 were included in this study and analyzed.

RESULTS: Out of 1049 cases of tumors of the mandible and maxilla, 566 were benign tumors. Patients had a mean age of 30.77 + 15.70 (Range of 4 mos to 83 years). There is a predilection for males (1.4:1), and the mandible (1.9:1). Ameloblastoma is the most common tumor encountered (266 out of 566 or 47.00 percent). Resection is the most common operation done (380 out of 575 or 66.09 percent). Nine operations were done for tumor recurrence (9 out of 575 or 1.57 percent). Ameloblastoma is the only histologic type of tumor that resulted in recurrence.

CONCLUSION: Benign tumors are more common in the mandible and maxilla. Odontogenic tumor, specifically ameloblastoma, is the most common histologic type. If has specific predilections as to site, age, and gender. In this study, resection is the most common procedure done for this tumor.

Human ; Ameloblastoma ; Maxilla ; Odontogenic Tumors ; Mandible