Ann Acad Med Singap
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Jan 2018
Predictors of General Functioning and Correlates of Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study among Psychiatric Outpatients.
Functioning and quality of life (QOL) are negatively impacted as a result of mental illness. This study aimed to determine the: i) socio-demographic and clinical correlates of functioning and; ii) associations between functioning and QOL in a multiethnic sample of psychiatric outpatients. ⋯ Functional impairments were associated with different socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, which should be addressed when planning tailored treatment and interventions. Given that functioning is significantly associated with QOL, it is crucial to regularly assess and monitor them (in addition to symptomatic outcomes and adopting a more holistic and biopsychosocial approach).
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Jan 2018
Randomized Controlled TrialCan Robots Accelerate the Learning Curve for Surgical Training? An Analysis of Residents and Medical Students.
Surgical traineeship has traditionally been based on a master apprentice model where learning takes place in the operating theatre. This approach has changed over the past few years with greater emphasis on surgical training taking place within the surgical skills laboratory. We developed a high fidelity simulator, the Image-guided Robotic Assisted Surgical simulator (IRAS) with an incorporated robotic guidance feature. ⋯ Participants randomised to the intervention group consistently scored better. However, their overall time were not statistically significant from the control group. The robotic guidance capability of the IRAS is a key advantage of this simulator platform over the conventional platform.
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Singapore's ageing population is likely to see an increase in chronic eye conditions in the future. This study aimed to estimate the burden of eye diseases among resident Singaporeans stratified for age and ethnicity by 2040. ⋯ Results indicate that the burden for all eye diseases is expected to increase significantly into the future, but at different rates. These projections can facilitate the planning efforts of both policymakers and healthcare providers in the development and provision of infrastructure and resources to adequately meet the eye care needs of the population. By stratifying for age and ethnicity, high risk groups may be identified and targeted interventions may be implemented.