International Medical Journal

The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors were closely related to foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) among Japanese EFL college students in their communicative English classes. A questionnaire was administered to 252 students. It included the five-point Likert scale questionnaire about FLCA (five items) and risk taking (six items), the three-point Likert scale questionnaire about self-confidence, motivation, hours of self-study, years at college, major, and class-type. The multiple regression analysis of the questionnaire revealed that lower levels of anxiety were predicted by higher levels of self-confidence, risk-taking, and higher percentages of motivation, and longer self-study hours. If students will be more confident, take more risks in class, study English on their own for more hours, and have stronger motivation, their anxiety may be low.

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of Iraqi dentists towards cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) applications in endodontics by using an online survey. A questionnaire, consisting of 31 questions, targeted general dental practitioners and specialists in different dental specialties. A total of 306 participants were included. Data were assessed according to the frequency of distribution and the chi-square test was applied to analyses the difference in responses between two independent groups. Among the participants 63.4% were using digital radiography in their daily practice, and 84% had awareness about CBCT's uses, with higher statistically significant responses among endodontists. About 51.4% of participants gained their CBCT knowledge from lectures, while 79.4% believed that continuous education courses enhance knowledge of CBCT. Nearly 75% of participants agreed on the accuracy of CBCT rather than periapical radiography in detecting endodontic conditions. However, most participants responded that CBCT would be used selectively in their future routine practice. This questionnaire showed that Iraqi dentists have a very good knowledge regarding indications and limitations of CBCT in endodontics. However, there is a lack of structured teaching and practical training on the use of CBCT within dental schools. The development of CBCT training programmers and increasing the availability of CBCT machines within dental schools are strongly supported by the results of this survey.

This study aimed to evaluate podcast as an alternative learning media for primary survey skills in medical students at Atma Jaya University. One group pretest-posttest design on 54 clinical clerkship students in surgery rotation and the pretest and posttest results were compared. A podcast about the primary survey was made and given to students after the pretest. An assessment sheet for the scoring of primary survey skills was used in pretest and posttest to measure the students primary survey skill knowledge. The change between tests’ scores was used to measure the students' skill knowledge improvement. A follow-up survey was also given for the students' opinions. There was a statistically significant increase in the primary survey knowledge between the pretest and posttest using a podcast as a learning media. The majority of students had an interest in learning using podcast media, increased their desire to learn, and interested in reading further primary survey theories. Podcast is effectively used as a learning media for primary survey in medical students at Atma Jaya University. Students had an interest in learning with podcast media and reading further theories about the primary survey.

There have been no naturalistic reports in Japan clarifying the effect of switched to emborexant on insomnia disorder. This study aimed to investigate the difference in treatment continuation between the recently started group and switched group in clinical setting. Insomnia was assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Efficacy outcome assessment was the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I). 77 patients had recently started lemborexant and 73 patients switched from benzodiazepine hypnotic monotherapy to lemborexant. The mean AIS total score of the recently started group and switched group were a significantly improved (7.7 ± 4.1 to 3.7 ± 3.4; 5.7 ± 3.3 to 3.9 ± 3.3) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean CGI-I scale between the recently started group and switched group (3.0 ± 0.9; 3.3 ± 0.8). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the 24-weeks continuation rate between the recently started group and switched group. These results indicate that the use of lemborexant may lead to safe and maintenance therapy, which is one of the exit strategies for hypnotics, and may in turn improve drug adherence.