Dataset Information

An indirect estimation of the population size of students with high-risk behaviors in select universities of medical sciences: A network scale-up study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Network scale-up is one of the most important indirect methods of estimating the size of clandestine populations and people with high-risk behaviors. The present study is an indirect estimation of the population size of students with high-risk behaviors in select universities of medical sciences.

Methods

A total of 801 students from two University of Medical Sciences at Tehran and Alborz University of Medical Sciences were selected through convenience sampling. Six subgroups of high-risk behaviors were examined in the study, including Tramadol use, cannabis use, opium use, alcohol consumption, extramarital heterosexual intercourse, and heterosexual intercourse in return for money. To estimate the social network size in the study population, each participant was asked to name their close student friends from the two select universities. Data were collected using a checklist designed for this purpose.

Results

The participants' mean number of close friends from the selected medical universities was C = 8.14 (CI: 7.54-8.75). Within these social networks, friends with extramarital heterosexual intercourse (5.53%) and friends who consumed alcohol (4.92%) had the highest frequency, and friends who used opium (0.33%) had the lowest frequency. The variables of age, gender, marital status, type of residence and academic degree were significantly related to the likelihood of having close friends with certain high-risk behaviors (P<0.001).

Conclusion

According to the results obtained, alcohol consumption and extramarital heterosexual intercourse are very common among students. Special HIV prevention programs are therefore necessary for this age group.

SUBMITTER: Sajjadi H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5940232 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

An indirect estimation of the population size of students with high-risk behaviors in select universities of medical sciences: A network scale-up study.

Sajjadi Homeira H Jorjoran Shushtari Zahra Z Shati Mohsen M Salimi Yahya Y Dejman Masoomeh M Vameghi Meroe M Karimi Salahedin S Mahmoodi Zohreh Z

PloS one 20180508 5

<h4>Background</h4>Network scale-up is one of the most important indirect methods of estimating the size of clandestine populations and people with high-risk behaviors. The present study is an indirect estimation of the population size of students with high-risk behaviors in select universities of medical sciences.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 801 students from two University of Medical Sciences at Tehran and Alborz University of Medical Sciences were selected through convenience sampling. Six subg ...[more]

PMID: 29738560

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Project description:BackgroundIt is useful to advance simulated patient (SP) participation in teaching to improve the communication skills of medical students, so this study aims to explore the current state of Chinese mainland SP education.MethodsA cross sectional survey was designed utilizing well defined quantitative research methods and descriptive statistics. The questionnaire sought information which elucidated the current status of SP-based education, the origin of SP-based learning, SP training, challenges of this learning strategy and future developments. Questionnaires were distributed to 79 medical colleges in mainland China, and 68 were returned. Of these, 64 constituted valid responses (81%).ResultsThe number of SP-based education activities in medical colleges offering 5-year、7-year and 8-year clinical medicine programs was significantly higher than that in medical colleges which offered only a single 5-year program (p < 0.01). Communication skills training accounted for 73% of the content of SP-based learning activities, and was expected to rise in the future to 90%, in response to a need to improve doctor-patient relationships. Persons recruited as 'simulated patients' included students (21% of the total), residents (49%), medical staff (15%) and teaching staff (14%). Colleges, planning a SP-based education program, preferred teachers (80%) and students (55%) to assume 'simulated patient' roles. In objective structured clinical education (OSCE) scenarios, co-scoring by both SPs and teachers featured more highly in the 'consultation' station and 'doctor-patient communication' station. A number of factors were identified as hindering future development and implementation of SP-based learning including budget restraints, SP selection and training.ConclusionsSP-based learning programs offer clear benefits for improving the clinical education of medical students and their communication skills. The main obstacles to achieving more widespread and higher quality SP-based education are insufficient funding and the lack of standardized training and performance evaluation processes for simulated patients. Medical colleges should consider reducing the proportion of students and teachers acting as SPs, and attract more citizens to participate in SP-based learning activities. Formalised training and evaluation of SPs performance are necessary to establish a 'standard simulated patient' for a particular medical discipline, thus improving SP-based activities and student learning.

Dataset Information

An indirect estimation of the population size of students with high-risk behaviors in select universities of medical sciences: A network scale-up study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

An indirect estimation of the population size of students with high-risk behaviors in select universities of medical sciences: A network scale-up study.

Similar Datasets

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