Biomedical subjects

Stella Major

Publications and source records attributed to Stella Major.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Why are you draining your brain? Factors underlying decisions of graduating Lebanese medical students to migrate.

In the context of a worldwide physician brain drain phenomenon, Lebanon has the highest emigration factor in the Middle East and North Africa. In this manuscript we aim to identify and develop a conceptual framework for the factors underlying the decisions of graduating Lebanese medical students to train abroad. We conducted two focus groups and seven semi-structured individual interviews with 23 students. In the deductive analysis (based on the push-pull theory), students reported push factors in Lebanon and pull factors abroad related to five dimensions. They focused predominantly on how training abroad provides them with a competitive advantage in an oversaturated Lebanese job market. An inductive analysis revealed the following emerging concepts: repel factors abroad and retain factors locally; societal expectations that students should train abroad; marketing of abroad training; and an established culture of migration. The marketing of abroad training and the culture of migration are prevalent in the academic institutions.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Communication skills in a Lebanese medical school: from movie theaters to medical classrooms.

BACKGROUND: Communication skills are widely taught in US medical schools, but in Lebanon, such teaching is in its infancy. METHODS: At the American University of Beirut, we piloted a communication skills teaching package using video scenarios in Arabic. A total of 150 second-year medical students addressed eight communication issues in a 3-hour multi-method workshop that included watching and discussing video clips and role-playing. RESULTS: Students evaluated the sessions positively for relevancy, quality of video clips, teaching methods, and usefulness for future practice. CONCLUSIONS: This interactive, role-playing workshop proved highly acceptable to Arab students and has been permanently incorporated into the curriculum.

Communication↗

PubMed2003

Osteitis pubis: an unusual postpartum presentation.

INTRODUCTION: Osteitis pubis is a poorly understood and uncommon disorder rarely associated with spontaneous delivery. CASE REPORT: We present a case consistent with osteitis pubis that followed a normal vaginal delivery and where symptoms developed earlier than ever previously reported. DISCUSSION: The potential benefit of low molecular heparin is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Changes in health-related attitude and self-reported behaviour of undergraduate students at the American university of Beirut following a health awareness course.

UNLABELLED: The importance of the university as a setting for health promotion is increasingly being acknowledged. Part of this health promoting function includes curricular offerings to increase health awareness. However, there is a dearth of systematic evaluations of such courses. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a university level "Health Awareness" course on attitudes and behaviours of undergraduates enrolled in the course. METHODS: A self-administered survey was used to assess attitude and self-reported behaviour of students at the beginning and end of the course. Paired analysis of means compared responses at pre and post assessments for groups of items within a particular health topic. Cross tabulations of stage of change at pre and post assessment indicated movement related to tobacco use, exercise, and nutrition. RESULTS: Results indicated an improvement of at least 20% from pretest score in four out of eleven health topic areas, and of 10-20% in an additional five topical areas. In addition, movement in a health promotive direction along the stages of change was evident for smoking, eating fruits and vegetables, and exercise. DISCUSSION: The results presented herein are encouraging and indicate support for the impact of a health awareness class on knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of undergraduate students. The two topical areas that did not show improvements between pre and post assessment were those (i). for which students already scored high at pre assessment, or (ii). which the course did not tackle specifically. Conclusions to be drawn are limited by several factors inherent in the design of this evaluation. Future evaluation should include a larger number of students and a comparison group.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors influencing the choice of specialty among medical students in Lebanon.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: We focus on graduating students from two medical schools in Lebanon to identify the proportions who select primary care careers, to highlight factors that are considered when making a career choice, and to compare these among primary care (PC) and non-primary care (NPC) candidates. METHODS: Anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used to assess student demographics, chosen career, and perceived level of importance concerning 27 career influencing factors using a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: 127 (97%) students responded. 53 (42%) students selected primary care. 20 (61%) of the females were in the primary care group. Among all, the most important factors scored (3.30 to 3.06) represent: "intellectual opportunities", "match of personal interest and skills" and "helping and social responsibilities". Least important factors scored (1.96 to 1.13) and represent: "encouragement/role models", "clerkships and courses", and "residency issues". "Diversity in diagnosis and treatment" and "emphasis on patient education and prevention" were significantly higher for the primary care career groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.001) and "working with new technology" significantly more important (p = 0.001) for the non-primary care group. CONCLUSION: Among the students surveyed "intellectual opportunities", "match of personal interest and skills" and "helping and social responsibilities" were the most important criteria reported to influence their choice of career in medicine.

Adult↗