Biomedical subjects

J Vernon-Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to J Vernon-Roberts.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Clinical teachers' perceptions of medical students' English language proficiency.

Medical educators from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Adelaide, South Australia, have expressed reservations about the adequacy of some undergraduate medical students' English language proficiency for satisfactory academic and clinical performance. This study explores the occurrence and nature of the comments made in writing by clinical teachers about the English language proficiency of 568 students over a period of 4 years. The frequency and nature of the comments made by clinicians have important implications for the planning and implementation of pedagogical strategies to support non-English-speaking background medical students experiencing difficulties with their course due to language. Although the University of Adelaide has introduced initiatives in response to some of the problems that have been identified, it is recommended that any teaching interventions require careful evaluation through a longitudinal research design to ensure that their aims are being achieved.

Australia↗

PubMed1997

Language background, English language proficiency and medical communication skills of medical students.

Associations between language background, English language proficiency and medical communication skills were investigated in a group of 149 third year undergraduate medical students studying at an Australian university. Written and aural English proficiency were assessed with the Screening Test for Adolescent Language (STAL). Medical communication skills and the fluency of spoken language were scored during an Observed Structured Clinical Interview (OSCI), rated by a standardized patient and a clinician. An association was found between language background, performance on the STAL and spoken language proficiency. Satisfactory performance in medical communication skills was not associated with language background or overall performance on the STAL. In this study it was the global rating of unsatisfactory spoken language fluency that was associated with poorer performance in medical communication skills under examination conditions.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Bridging the gap.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Education, Medical↗

PubMed1990

Effect of dexfenfluramine on gastric emptying of a mixed solid-liquid meal in obese subjects.

Recent studies suggest that dexfenfluramine (D-fenfluramine), because of its pure serotonergic effect, may be a more potent anti-obesity agent, associated with fewer side-effects than the racemate DL-fenfluramine. The effect of dexfenfluramine on gastric emptying of a mixed solid and liquid meal was assessed with a double-isotope scintigraphic technique in eleven obese patients. Each subject took a placebo capsule on the morning and evening of the day before, and on the morning of the first gastric emptying measurement. Dexfenfluramine was then taken at a dose of 15 mg twice daily and gastric emptying measurements were performed at 5 and at 29 d after the initiation of active treatment. Dexfenfluramine significantly slowed gastric emptying of the solid meal at both 5 and 29 d when compared with the placebo (P less than 0.05) and also delayed emptying of solid food from the proximal stomach (P less than 0.01), but no significant effect on liquid emptying was observed. No significant side-effects were reported and there was a marginal weight loss (P less than 0.005) during treatment. We conclude that inhibition of gastric emptying may contribute to the efficacy of dexfenfluramine in the treatment of obesity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Long-term effects of a psychologically based group programme for women preoccupied with body weight and eating behaviour.

The effects of a 10 session group programme designed to discourage dieting behaviour and reduce preoccupation with body weight, food and eating were assessed in 87 women (mean age 40 years and mean body mass index 31.9) who attended three different agencies in Adelaide, South Australia. The subjects were selected on the basis of eating preoccupation and not body weight. Measurements of various psychological parameters and body weight were made at entry to the programme, at the completion of the programme and at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after its completion. Eighty women completed the groups and data were obtained from 56 of them at 2 years. At the completion of the group programme and at 2 years there were significant improvements (P less than 0.01) in the psychological parameters self-esteem, depression, self-image, eating attitude, body image and assertion. At two years after the completion of the group, there was a significant (P less than 0.005) mean weight loss of 3.1 kg when compared to baseline. We conclude that this programme confers long-term beneficial effects on psychological function and body weight.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1985

Fenfluramine delays gastric emptying of solid food.

The effect of a single dose of (+/-)-fenfluramine hydrochloride (40 mg) on gastric emptying of a mixed solid and liquid meal was assessed with a dual isotope scintigraphic technique in eight obese patients. Fenfluramine significantly delayed gastric emptying of solid food (approximately a 15% reduction in the solid linear emptying rate), but had no effect on gastric emptying of liquid.

Adult↗