defibrillator (AED) correctly. These skills were taught using a combination of lectures and simulation-based small-group sessions. After the presentation of the material by content experts, skills were practised with the experts using airway and CPR manikins, as well as cardiac rhythm generators, defibrillators and AED trainers. Strategies to prevent needlestick injuries during phlebotomy, the correct implementation of universal precautions, and hand washing and hand hygiene were also reviewed, demonstrated and practised. Competency in both the life-saving skills and the personal safety skills was assessed following the completion of all lectures and skills laboratory sessions. Evaluation of results and impact Three classes of medical students participated in the programme between 2008 and 2010 (n = 375 students). In postcourse surveys, 81.3% of the students (n = 305) noted that the overall programme had a significant impact on their education. In 2010, student self-confidence in their personal safety skills improved from 56.8% to 81.2%. This programme has provided our students with the knowledge and confidence to effectively manage a patient for the first several minutes of a resuscitation while maintaining their own personal safety.

Anatomic variation and susceptibility for injuries depending on gender were described for the ulnar nerve. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between gender and ulnar never motor conductance and the influence of sidedness for this association. Study was conducted as a retrospective study using nerve conduction study data of ulnar nerve of 2,526 patients. Influences of age, gender, and sidedness on ulnar never motor conduction velocity (UMV) were investigated. Regression analysis was conducted to compare the relationship between UMV and age. Regression was significantly higher in males (-0.253 vs. -0.113), suggesting higher influence of age on UMV in males than in females. When analyzing right and left sides separately, influence of age on UMV is higher in males (-0.286 vs. -0.109) only in right side. Multiple regression analysis was done comparing the influence of age, gender, and sidedness on UMV, and it found that the order of influence is gender, age, and sidedness (Beta values 0.153, -0.140, and 0.029). Ulnar nerve motor conductance depends on gender, age, and sidedness. Males are having lower UMV than females. Age-dependant change of UMV is more prominent in males than in females and is more prominent in right hand than in left hand in males.

Information technology (IT)-based components are included as active learning activities in medical curricula that have been shown to be more effective than most passive learning activities. In developing countries, these activities are not popular compared with developed countries. In this study, an IT-based assignment was carried out in physiology for undergraduates in Sri Lanka. We assessed certain basic IT capabilities before the assignment and found that the capability of using MS Word, e-mail, and the internet was limited to 68.3%, 62.0%, and 49.2% of students, respectively, with 40.8% of students having some other IT capabilities. We found a considerable variation in IT capabilities among the students, which depended on IT learning at schools and the geographical locations where students came from. The main source of IT knowledge for students was an introductory IT course given in the medical school with the second source being private IT learning centers. Response to the IT-based assignment was very poor. The reasons for poor participation included a lack of time due to parallel subjects, poor IT knowledge, and poor IT resource availability. However, students were willing to have optional IT-based components and were aware that IT knowledge is important for medical students as well as doctors. This study shows the importance of improving IT knowledge in students and the need of improving IT resources in medical schools. With these improvements, physiology education can be enriched with more interactive IT-based learning activities, which help students to acquire knowledge more efficiently and effectively in developing countries like Sri Lanka.

Medical students following a traditional curriculum get few opportunities to engage in activities such as a literature search, scientific writing, and active and collaborative learning. An analytical essay writing activity (AEWA) in physiology was introduced to first-year students. Each student prepared an essay incorporating new research findings with existing knowledge on a medical topic. Students were expected to study on the topic in detail from textbooks as well as from research publications and write a descriptive and critical analysis. This activity would help them to be aware of new developments in the field and understand the complexity and rapidity of changes in the subject. The aim of this study was to learn how students used the AEWA as a learning process. For this purpose, student perceptions were assessed quantitatively and those of the faculty staff were assessed qualitatively. The data from the students showed considerable achievements in the medical database search, scientific writing, group work, and search for new scientific knowledge. The activity was influenced by prior capabilities in computer use, English language knowledge, and writing ability. Resources available at the medical school had a greater influence on the activity. Faculty staff appreciated the quality of the essay while highlighting areas of improvement. The students seemed to be satisfied with the supervisory role of the faculty staff, whereas the staff felt that the students used the supervisors less than expected. The AEWA was a successful activity promoting many aspects of active and collaborative learning. The low availability of books and information and communications technology (ICT) resources, poor internet connection, and insufficient English language skills were probably responsible for the negative feedback on this activity in this resource-deprived environment.

BackgroundThe internet is a relatively new medium of disseminating health information. Studies on Internet usage for health information are mainly done in developed countries and very few studies have been carried out in developing countries.MethodsThe Internet usage of patients who were attending specialist clinics in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya and Southern Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka was investigated. The study was carried out on the following specialities; General Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery and Cardiothoracic surgery. Information was collected using an investigator-administered questionnaire while patients were waiting for a consultation.ResultsThree hundred and fifty five patients (or guardians in the Pediatric clinic) participated in the study. One hundred seventy two (48.3%) participants have heard about the Internet. There was a relationship between awareness of the Internet and age, educational level and the clinic attended. There was no difference of awareness depending on the gender or the hospital. Only three participants (0.97%) have used the Internet to find information about their disease conditions. Close relatives searched the Internet about the conditions of two participants. Altogether, the Internet was used to search information on the disease condition of five participants (1.4%).ConclusionVery low usage of the Internet for health information retrieval in this study is probably due to low awareness of the Internet and low educational level. This low usage of Internet and the associated reasons shown in this study can be generalized to Sri Lanka and probably to other low-income countries that have lower educational level than Sri Lanka.