PURPOSE The efficacy and sufficiency of a healthcare system is directly related to the knowledge and skills of graduates working in the system. In this regard, many different assessment methods have been proposed to evaluate various skills of the learners. Video Observation of Procedural Skills (VOPS) is one newly-proposed method. In this study we aimed to compare the results of the VOPS method...

The aging population calls for instruments to assess functional and cognitive impairment in the elderly, aiming to prevent conditions that affect functional abilities. Objective To verify the accuracy and reliability of the Pfeffer (FAQ) scale for the Brazilian elderly population and to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of the translated version of the Pfeffer Questionnaire. Meth...

OBJECTIVE To assess the errors between estimates of amounts based on photographs and actual quantities of food presented to adults or eaten on the previous day. DESIGN A photographic atlas was constructed by taking digital photographs of three pre-weighed portion sizes of 212 traditional Lebanese dishes. In a first approach, ten portions of real pre-weighed foods were assessed using the photo...

Abraham RR, Raghavendra R, Surekha K, Asha K. A trial of the objective structured practical examination in physiology at Melaka Manipal Medical College, India. Adv Physiol Educ 33: 21–23, 2009; doi:10.1152/advan.90108.2008.—A single examination does not fulfill all the functions of assessment. The present study was undertaken to determine the reliability and student satisfaction regarding the o...

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation and concordance between end-tidal carbon dioxide and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure, and confirm the experience of the general consensus among service environments. DESIGN A prospective cross-sectional analysis. SETTING Two respiratory service units in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred respiratory patients were recruited, in whom 219 sets o...

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an inexpensive, quick and non-invasive method to determine body composition. Equations used in BIA are typically derived in healthy individuals of European descent. BIA is specific to health status and ethnicity and may therefore provide inaccurate results in populations of different ethnic origin and health status. The aim of the present study was to t...

Background: Estimating prostate volume using less invasive transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) instead of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) is of interest in terms of identifying their agreement level. Previous reports on this subject, applied general correlation coefficient as the level of agreement. This study uses Bland-Altman method to quantify TAUS and TRUS agreement on estimating prost...

Objective(s): In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of thyroid volume measurement using 99mTc pertechnetate single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images, acquired by the standardized uptake value (SUV)-shape scheme designed by our expert team.Methods: A total of 18 consecutive patients with Graves’ disease (GD) were subjected to both ultrasonographic and 99mTc pertechnet...

BACKGROUND Comparing health-related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes between studies is difficult due to the wide variety of instruments used. Comparing study outcomes and facilitating pooled data analyses requires valid "crosswalks" between HRQL instruments. Algorithms exist to map 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) responses to EQ-5D item responses and preference weights, but none have b...

BACKGROUND OptiScanner devices, continuous glucose monitoring devices that perform automated blood draws via a central venous catheter and create plasma through centrifugation, measure plasma glucose levels through mid-infrared spectroscopy at the bedside. The objective of this study was to determine accuracy and practicality of the devices in critically ill patients attempting glycemic control...