Background In keeping with nation-wide efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) transformed fully its pedagogical delivery to online mode, where we investigated teaching and learning experiences, physical and mental health of undergraduate students and lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study on undergraduate students and lecturers in a health science faculty using a self-developed pretested questionnaire through anonymous online data collection method. Results Fifty-six lecturers (100% response rate) and 279 students (93.3% response rate) participated. The positive experiences reported by students include becoming independent (72.8%) and adapting to online learning (67.4%), while lecturers learned new teaching techniques (50.0%) and became more innovative (50.0%) by learning new tools (48.2%). However, studying at home caused students to feel more distracted (72.0%) with a feeling of uncertainty towards examinations (66.7%), while lecturers felt that students’ laboratory skills were compromised (44.6%). Even though online delivery of assessments enabled lecturers to explore all options (50.0%), they found it difficult to maintain appropriate questions (41.1%) and fair assessments (37.5%). Majority of students missed eating out (68.8%) and felt a lack of participation in extracurricular activities (64.9%), while lecturers reported more time for exercise (51.8%), despite having more screen time (50.0%) and computer-related physical stress (44.6%). In terms of mental health, increased stress in students was reported (64.9%), though they had more time for self-reflection (54.8%). Although lecturers reported a closer relationship with family (44.6%), they also felt more stressed due to deadlines, unexpected disruptions and higher workloads (44.6%) as well as concerns related to work, family and self (39.3%). Conclusion In this abrupt shift to online teaching, students and lecturers in our study identified both positive and negative experiences including the impact on their physical and mental health. Our findings are important to provide the evidence for online pedagogical benefits and can serve to promote the enhancement and adaptation of digital technology in education. Our findings also aim to promote the importance of addressing physical and mental health issues of the university community’s well-being through provision of emotional and mental health support and appropriate programs.

Multiple mini-interview (MMI) is a ‘multiple sample-based’ approach comprising multiple focused encounters intended to access and assess a range of attributes in order to gain more objectively multiple impressions of an applicant’s interpersonal skills, thoughtfulness and general demeanour. It is designed to focus on four domains that are not considered to be comprehensive, but are considered to be vital for a successful career in the health sciences: critical thinking, ethical decision making, communication and knowledge of the healthcare system. Traditionally, the MMI is conducted face-to-face, but with COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing measures, no onsite or campus teaching, banning of mass gatherings and cancellation of face-to-face interviews, Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences at Universiti Brunei Darussalam explored the feasibility of conducting MMI through virtual means. This report provides an account of our experience in conducting internet-MMI for the selection of new applicants into the August 2020 cohort of the Medicine programme. We also aimed to determine whether the scores derived from internet-MMI were reliable and equivalent to the scores derived from traditional MMI.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices on Zika virus infection among general adults in Brunei Darussalam. From February to June 2017, 439 adults were interviewed from outpatient health care settings. Most participants were Malays (87.0%) and females (61.5%), with a mean age of 40.7 years. Only 25.1% had a total knowledge score of 15 to 28 points (of a possible score of 0-28). Females and those living in households of <8 people were more likely to have higher total knowledge scores (15-28 points). Media was the preferred source to get updates. Also, 67.4% had a total prevention practice score of 19 to 36 points (of a possible score of 0-36). Those who attained secondary level education or below, had no pregnant women present in their household, and scored 15 to 28 points for knowledge were more likely to have higher prevention practice scores (19-36 points). Knowledge on Zika was significantly associated with prevention practices against mosquito bites and breeding.

Introduction: Research has demonstrated the importance of general practitioners in providing care for cancer patients within the concept of ‘care closer to home’. This study reports cancer patients’ views and expectations on integrated cancer care in primary care settings in Brunei. Methods: A qualitative approach using semi-structured in-depth interviews with cancer patients were conducted. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 13 cancer patients participated and were interviewed, leading to three key themes that emerged from this study: (i) perceived challenges for providing cancer care at primary care settings; (ii) current health care system favours hospital-based cancer care and (iii) expectations towards integration of cancer care into primary care. Conclusion: Participants expressed their acceptance to the concept of primary care-based cancer care, mainly due to convenience and minimised waiting time. For this to be in place, there is a need for stronger communication channels between general practitioners and hospital physicians, familiarity of patients’ cases among general practitioners, in-depth knowledge and experience of general practitioners in cancer care, and consulting the same general practitioners to provide continuity of care.

BackgroundAdmission scores have been used to select highly capable students for an undergraduate medical programme. This study examines the relationship between three admission criteria: (i) multiple-mini-interview (MMI); (ii) pre-university final results (PUFR); (iii) entrance scores (combination of 50% MMI and 50% PUFR), with students’ academic performance in the medical programme at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).MethodsWe performed linear regression analysis on 125 students who completed the programme from 2013 to 2018 and compared their MMI, PUFR and entrance scores with their academic performance throughout their three years of undergraduate study. Academic performance outcomes were assessed from students’ Grade Point Average (GPA), cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) and marks in the modules ‘Health Sciences’ (HS), ‘Patient Care’ (PC), ‘Our Community and Personal Professional Development’ (OCPPD) and Special Study Modules, for overall (six-semesters average) and individual semesters.ResultsSimple linear regression results revealed that one unit increase in MMI score was associated with a significant increase in overall PC marks by 0.09. A 20-unit increase in PUFR was associated with a significant increase in students’ cGPA by 0.05; overall HS marks by 1.0; GPA in semesters 1,2,3,6; HS marks in semesters 1,2,3,6 and OCPPD marks in semesters 2,3. Meanwhile, one unit increase in entrance score was associated with a significant increase in cGPA by 0.01; overall HS by 0.2 marks and overall OCPPD by 0.11 marks. The effect of entrance score was also seen with increase in students’ GPA in semesters 1,2,3,4,6 by at least 0.01, as well as marks for HS in semesters 1,2,3,4,6 and OCPPD in semesters 2,3.ConclusionOur findings support that both PUFR and entrance scores as selection criteria for admission into a medical programme were associated with better academic performances, with PUFR showing a greater mark increase than entrance scores. Meanwhile, MMI showed better academic performance in the patient care module only, inferring that MMI grants a glimpse of candidates’ bedside attitude towards patients.

Human plasma inhibits arachidonic acid metabolism and platelet aggregation. This helps human form a haemostatic control system that prevents the progress of certain aggregatory or inflammatory reactions. Whether this property of plasma is unique to human or extends to other species is not well known. It is speculated that this protective ability of plasma remains evolutionarily conserved in different mammals. In order to confirm this, the effect of plasma from 12 different mammalian species was investigated for its inhibitory potential against arachidonic acid metabolism and platelet aggregation. Metabolism of arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways was studies using radio-immuno assay and thin layer chromatography while platelet aggregation in the plasma of various mammals was monitored following turbedmetric method in a dual OPEN ACCESSMolecules 2014, 19 11386 channel aggregometer. Results indicate that inhibition of AA metabolism and platelet aggregation is a common feature of plasma obtained from different mammalian species, although there exists large interspecies variation. This shows that besides human, other mammals also possess general protective mechanisms against various aggregatory and inflammatory conditions and this anti-inflammatory property of the plasma is evolutionarily conserved in mammalian species. The most likely candidates responsible for these properties of plasma include haptoglobin, albumin and lipoproteins.

Background: Daily exposure and overuse of digital devices are associated with several health-related issues to human eye, muscles and bones that are collectively termed as Digital Eye Strain and related Musculoskeletal Disorders. These problems have become worse during covid-19 pandemic due to global shift towards working online. This paper introduces a validated research instrument called DESRIL-27 to be used in assessing digital eye strain and related musculoskeletal disorders, with their associated risk factors in the working population.Methods: DESRIL-27 was developed from thorough review of salient literatures and in consultation with a team of experts to ensure the content validity. This 27-item tool consists of two scales, namely symptom severity and risk level scales. Reliability and validity analyses were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of DESRIL-27. Results: Cronbach’s alpha was 0.91 for Symptom Severity and 0.88 for Risk Level from the scales in the questionnaire. Principal Component Analysis results ranged from acceptable to very good. Conclusions: The procedures adopted for the validation and the results of the analysis reveal that DESRIL-27 is a reliable and valid research instrument. It can be safely used in future research studies to assess the visual and musculoskeletal problems and their risk factors in digital screen users. The resultant knowledge can help individuals, health practitioners, and related policy makers to prevent and control these problems at workplace.

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