Nurses' role in diabetes management and prevention in community care.

Diabetes care-particularly in a community setting as a form of prevention and management, is a growing requirement across England and Ireland. Self-management skills are an essential part of diabetes management and nurses in the community setting are one of the first points of care to ensure this. It is therefore imperative that nurses working within these primary and community care settings have the knowledge and skills necessary to support those in the community setting to effectively manage their condition, improve their health outcomes and their quality of life.

Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients attending an acute hospital ambulatory assessment unit.

To describe the factors associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in mild-to-moderate patients attending for assessment. This observational study was conducted in a Model 4 tertiary referral center in Ireland. All patients referred for SARS-CoV-2 assessment over a 4-week period were included.

Experimental bottom trawling finds resilience in large-bodied infauna but vulnerability for epifauna and juveniles in the Frisian Front.

In this study, we analysed the benthic effects of two in situ fisheries disturbance experiments using a combination of side-scan sonar, high definition underwater video, sediment profile imagery, and box core sampling techniques after conventional beam trawling and box core sampling after electric pulse trawling in a southern North Sea habitat. Acoustic and optical methods visualised the morphological changes induced by experimental beam trawling, showing the flattening and homogenisation of surface sediments. Video transects found a 94% decrease in epibenthos in beam trawled sediments compared to an untrawled control site and a 74% decrease in untrawled sediments of the same transect.

Peristomal skin damage: assessment, prevention and treatment.

The majority of ostomates experience peristomal complications, the most common of which is skin damage. Healthy peristomal skin is essential for pouch adherence, which prevents effluent from seeping onto the skin. The aim of good stoma management is to prevent peristomal skin soreness and, if this arises, to minimise its effects.

Functional consumers regulate the effect of availability of subsidy on trophic cascades in the Yellow River Delta, China.

Understanding the environmental context where heterogeneous ecological processes affect biotic interactions is a key aim of ecological research. However, mechanisms underlying spatial variation in trophic interactions linked to resource availability across ecosystem gradients remains unclear. We experimentally manipulated the interactive effects of predator fish and quantitative gradient of leaf detritus on macroinvertebrates and benthic algae.

Care of the stoma: complications and treatments.

Quality patient education of how to care for their stoma improves patient outcomes and enhances quality of care and efficacy. There is a need for home visits to assist ostomates with rehabilitation of their stoma formation, as they often feel stigmatised and are likely to withdraw from social activities. It has previously been highlighted that community care is often the weakest link in rehabilitation, highlighting the need for effective teamwork and collaboration between stoma nurse specialists and community nurses.

Correction to: A systematic review of stakeholder views of selection methods for medical schools admission.

Following publication of the original article [1], the author report typographical errors in the.

A systematic review of Appropriate Use Criteria for transthoracic echocardiography: are they relevant outside the United States?

Introduction: The 2011 Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) were developed by the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) to provide guidance for referring physicians in response to growing concerns about unnecessary transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) requests. Very few studies have assessed how medical centers overseas perform against AUC. Evidence is now emerging that inappropriate referral rates in Europe are similar to those reported in the US.

A systematic review of stakeholder views of selection methods for medical schools admission.

Background: The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature with respect to stakeholder views of selection methods for medical school admissions.

Methods: An electronic search of nine databases was conducted between January 2000-July 2014. Two reviewers independently assessed all titles (n = 1017) and retained abstracts (n = 233) for relevance.

Appropriate use criteria for transthoracic echocardiography: Are they relevant to European centers?

Background: There is a growing interest in appropriate use criteria (AUC) for cardiovascular imaging referrals in Europe. These criteria, developed by American subspecialty societies, have been in use since 2007 and show a temporal reduction in inappropriate transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) requests. When applied to European centers, inappropriate referral rates as high as 15% have been observed.

Desires versus reality of medical and health science summer student research opportunities.

Background: Medical and health science students are increasingly becoming involved in research throughout their undergraduate education. However, the quality of student research outcomes has recently come into question.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of Irish medical and health science student who received a summer student research grant in 2014 and 2015.

Medical students' perceptions of professional misconduct: relationship with typology and year of programme.

Aim: To examine the contribution of programme year and demographic factors to medical students' perceptions of evidence-based classification categories of professional misconduct.

Methods: Students at an Irish medical school were administered a cross-sectional survey comprising 31 vignettes of professional misconduct, which mapped onto a 12-category classification system. Students scored each item using a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 represents the least severe form of misconduct and 5 the most severe.

Medical school selection criteria as predictors of medical student empathy: a cross-sectional study of medical students, Ireland.

Objectives: To determine whether performance in any of the Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT) sections, most specifically the interpersonal understanding section, correlates with self-reported empathy levels in medical students.

Setting: The study was conducted in University College Cork, Ireland.

Participants: 290 students participated in the study.

The construct validity of HPAT-Ireland for the selection of medical students: unresolved issues and future research implications.

Aptitude tests are widely used in selection. However, despite certain advantages their use remains controversial. This paper aims to critically appraise five sources of evidence for the construct validity of the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT)-Ireland, an aptitude test used for selecting undergraduate medical students.

Relevance of anatomy to medical education and clinical practice: perspectives of medical students, clinicians, and educators.

Introduction: Against a backdrop of ever-changing diagnostic and treatment modalities, stakeholder perceptions (medical students, clinicians, anatomy educators) are crucial for the design of an anatomy curriculum which fulfils the criteria required for safe medical practice. This study compared perceptions of students, practising clinicians, and anatomy educators with respect to the relevance of anatomy education to medicine.

Methods: A quantitative survey was administered to undergraduate entry (n = 352) and graduate entry students (n = 219) at two Irish medical schools, recently graduated Irish clinicians (n = 146), and anatomy educators based in Irish and British medical schools (n = 30).

Irish Medical Students Understanding of the Intern Year.

Upon completion of medical school in Ireland, graduates must make the transition to becoming interns. The transition into the intern year may be described as challenging as graduates assume clinical responsibilities. Historically, a survey of interns in 1996 found that 91% felt unprepared for their role.

Learning strategies, study habits and social networking activity of undergraduate medical students.

Objectives: To determine learning strategies, study habits, and online social networking use of undergraduates at an Irish medical school, and their relationship with academic performance.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Year 2 and final year undergraduate-entry and graduate-entry students at an Irish medical school. Data about participants' demographics and educational background, study habits (including time management), and use of online media was collected using a self-report questionnaire.

Association between learning style preferences and anatomy assessment outcomes in graduate-entry and undergraduate medical students.

An improved understanding of the relationship between anatomy learning performance and approaches to learning can lead to the development of a more tailored approach to delivering anatomy teaching to medical students. This study investigated the relationship between learning style preferences, as measured by Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic (VARK) inventory style questionnaire and Honey and Mumford's learning style questionnaire (LSQ), and anatomy and clinical skills assessment performance at an Irish medical school. Additionally, mode of entry to medical school [undergraduate/direct-entry (DEM) vs.

Push and stay factors affecting Irish medical student migration intentions.

Background: A significant proportion of medical students in Ireland have demonstrated strong intentions to migrate following their graduation. Factors influencing these intentions are poorly understood. Our study aimed to investigate 'push' and 'stay' factors that may influence the migration plans of medical students.

Ireland's medical brain drain: migration intentions of Irish medical students.

Background: To provide the optimum level of healthcare, it is important that the supply of well-trained doctors meets the demand. However, despite many initiatives, Ireland continues to have a shortfall of physicians, which has been projected to persist. Our study aimed to investigate the migration intentions of Irish medical students and identify the factors that influence their decisions in order to design appropriate interventions to sustain the supply of trained doctors in order to maintain a viable medical system.

Can less be more? Comparison of an 8-item placement quality measure with the 50-item Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM).

Clinical clerks learn more than they are taught and not all they learn can be measured. As a result, curriculum leaders evaluate clinical educational environments. The quantitative Dundee Ready Environment Measure (DREEM) is a de facto standard for that purpose.

The fairness, predictive validity and acceptability of multiple mini interview in an internationally diverse student population--a mixed methods study.

Background: International medical students, those attending medical school outside of their country of citizenship, account for a growing proportion of medical undergraduates worldwide. This study aimed to establish the fairness, predictive validity and acceptability of Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) in an internationally diverse student population.

Methods: This was an explanatory sequential, mixed methods study.

Attitudes towards professionalism in graduate and non-graduate entrants to medical school.

Background: The number of places available in Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) for graduate entry to medical school has increased in the past decade. Research has primarily focused on academic and career outcomes in this cohort, but attitudes towards professionalism in medicine have not been systematically assessed. The purpose of this study was to compare the importance of items related to professional behaviour among graduate entrants and their 'school-leaver' counterparts.

The at-risk medical student--what more can we do?

Securing a place in medical school is extremely difficult-students who are successful all have similar high levels of academic achievement. So why do some students, and not others, have difficulty with the course, and in some cases, leave the programme? Studies on medical school attrition offer valuable insight into why medical students under-perform. Identification of the 'at-risk' student can trigger additional support and early remediation, helping some students remain in their chosen profession.