Browsing by Author "Ho, Samuel B."

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Clinical learning environments across two different healthcare settings using the undergraduate clinical education environment measure
(2023) Benamer, Hani TS; Alsuwaidi, Laila; Khan, Nusrat; Lakshmanan, Jeyaseelan; Ho, Samuel B.; Kellett, Catherine; Alsheikh-Ali, Alawi; Stanley, Adrian G
Background: The clinical placements of our medical students are almost equally distributed across private and public sectors. This study aims to assess medical students’ perceptions of their Clinical learning Environment (CLE) across these two different healthcare settings, using the Undergraduate Clinical Education Environment Measure (UCEEM). Methods: 76 undergraduate medical students (Year 5 and 6), were invited to participate. Data were collected using an online UCEEM with additional questions related to demographics and case load exposure. The UCEEM consists of two overarching domains of experiential learning and social participation, with four subdomains of learning opportunities, preparedness, workplace interaction, and inclusion. Results: 38 questionnaires were received. Of 225 responses to the individual UCEEM items, 51 (22.6%) scored a mean of ≥4 (range 4-4.5, representing strong areas), 31 (13.7%) scored a mean of ≤3 (range 2.1-3, needing attention) and 143 (63.6%) scored a mean of 3.1–3.9 (areas that could be improved). The majority (63%) of the case load exposure responses scored a mean of ≥4 (range 4-4.5). Compared to the private sittings, there is a significant reduction in total UCEEM (p=0.008), preparedness for student entry (p=0.003), and overarching dimension of social participation (p=0.000) scores for the public sector. Similarly, both workplace interaction patterns and student inclusion and equal treatment scored significantly lower for the public sector (p=0.000 and p=0.011 respectively). Two out of three case load exposure items scored significantly higher for the public sector (p=0.000). Discussion: The students’ CLE perceptions were generally positive. The lower UCEEM ratings in the public sector items were related to student entry preparedness, workplace interactions, student inclusiveness and workforce equity of treatment. In contrast the students were exposed to more variety and larger number of patients in the public sector. These differences indicated some significantly different learning environments between the two sectors.
Tracking Risk Factors Related to an Outbreak of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers in a General Medicine Ward
(2023) Varghese, Ben Thomas; Hasan, Hemica; Toba, Nagham; Alsharif, Ghadah; Khamis, Amar H.; Ho, Samuel B.
Background: An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection occurred in a medical ward involving patients and hospital staff from May to June 2020. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine risk factors related to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in six healthcare workers (HCWs) in a medical ward with initially unrecognized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using a comprehensive questionnaire and personal interviews to determine the risk factors for COVID-19 infection in HCWs. Findings: A total of 6/34 HCWs were diagnosed with COVID-19 in a medical ward. There were no differences between COVID-19 negative HCWs and COVID-19 positive HCWs in terms of mean duration of hours worked in the unit during the cluster event (180.2 vs 177.5 hours) (p>0.05), mean total time spent in contact with COVID19 positive patients (12.8 vs 10.5 hours) (p>0.05), mean total time spent on aerosol-generating procedures (1.9 vs 0.9 hours) (p>0.05), and mean total time spent on non-aerosol generating procedures (10.9 vs 9.6 hours ) (p>0.05). There was no difference in exposure to COVID-19 positive family members among the HCWs (33% vs 3.7%, p=0.08). In contrast, exposure to COVID-19 positive contacts in the community was significantly greater in infected vs non-infected HCWs (16.7% vs 0%, p=0.03). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in risk factors for contracting SARs-CoV2 among HCWs due to hospital exposures. COVID-19 positive HCWs were more likely to be exposed to positive individuals in their households and community, indicating that the source of SARS-CoV-2 infection came from outside the hospital.
Tracking Risk Factors Related to an Outbreak of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers in a General Medicine Ward
(2023) Varghese, Ben Thomas; Hasan, Hemica; Toba, Nagham; Alsharif, Ghadah; Khamis, Amar H.; Ho, Samuel B.
Background: An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection occurred in a medical ward involving patients and hospital staff from May to June 2020. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine risk factors related to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in six healthcare workers (HCWs) in a medical ward with initially unrecognized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using a comprehensive questionnaire and personal interviews to determine the risk factors for COVID-19 infection in HCWs. Findings: A total of 6/34 HCWs were diagnosed with COVID-19 in a medical ward. There were no differences between COVID-19 negative HCWs and COVID-19 positive HCWs in terms of mean duration of hours worked in the unit during the cluster event (180.2 vs 177.5 hours) (p>0.05), mean total time spent in contact with COVID19 positive patients (12.8 vs 10.5 hours) (p>0.05), mean total time spent on aerosol-generating procedures (1.9 vs 0.9 hours) (p>0.05), and mean total time spent on non-aerosol generating procedures (10.9 vs 9.6 hours ) (p>0.05). There was no difference in exposure to COVID-19 positive family members among the HCWs (33% vs 3.7%, p=0.08). In contrast, exposure to COVID-19 positive contacts in the community was significantly greater in infected vs non-infected HCWs (16.7% vs 0%, p=0.03). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in risk factors for contracting SARs-CoV2 among HCWs due to hospital exposures. COVID-19 positive HCWs were more likely to be exposed to positive individuals in their households and community, indicating that the source of SARS-CoV-2 infection came from outside the hospital.