INTRODUCTION:Evidence from the literature suggests a link between social media addiction (SMA) and academic procrastination, both of which are negatively correlated with academic performance. OBJECTIVES:To assess the relationships between SMA, academic procrastination, and self- control strategies for social media use among medical students. METHODS:We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study using an online self-administered questionnaire distributed to Tunisian medical students. The questionnaire included socio-demographic data, characteristics of social media use, and the Arabic versions of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and the Academic Procrastination Scale. RESULTS:A total of 156 responses were collected. Sixteen percent of students had SMA. The median Academic Procrastination Scale score was 67.5. We found a moderate positive correlation (ρ = 0.514, p < 0.001) between the Academic Procrastination Scale score and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale score. The most commonly used self-control strategy among medical students to regulate social media use was "direct self-control" (23.7%). Students using self-control strategy 1 had significantly lower Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale scores compared with those using strategies 4 (p = 0.03), 5 (p = 0.036), or 7 (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION:Targeted interventions aimed at reducing problematic social media use and academic procrastination could improve students' well-being and academic performance.
INTRODUCTION:A psychometric analysis of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) is an important step in the assessment process. It makes sure that MCQ items are valid and reliable. The residency competition is an important part of medical training. It is how we choose future doctors who can meet the clinical and scientific requirements. Our aim is to find out what the medical residency competition's MCQs are like. METHODS:150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) were analysed from the October 2025 medical residency exam. There were 760 candidates in the exams. This analysis looked at the difficulty index (DIF I), the discrimination index (DI), and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS:78 (52%) of the multiple-choice questions were at a recommended/acceptable level of difficulty, with an average DIF I of 43± 2,03. 45 (30%) were too difficult. 97 items (64%) had a DI between excellent and acceptable, and 40 (26%) were rejected, with an overall average DI of 0,325± 0,017. There was a relationship between DIF I and DI (r=0.36, p0.01). The reliability of the items was satisfactory at 0.84, as measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. CONCLUSION:Our study allowed us to find good MCQs to add to the question bank for future tests, as well as MCQs that needed to be changed. This thorough analysis makes sure that the assessments are valid and reliable. It makes sure that the selection process is tough and that it meets the necessary academic and practical standards.
BACKGROUND:Oncogeriatrics is a sensitive medical specialty dealing with malignant neoplastic diseases in elderly patients. Ethical challenges have emerged due to both the specific characteristics of the affected population and the severity of the disease. AIM:To report and analyze the ethical issues raised in oncogeriatrics. RESULTS:Oncogeriatrics is an emerging specialty that has developed in response to two major epidemiological observations: the aging population and the increasing number of cancer patients. Assessing these patients using specific scoring tools is essential to identify their particular needs. The unique characteristics of this population give rise to several ethical dilemmas, including end-of-life issues (such as therapeutic obstinacy and euthanasia) and those related to the patient's capacity for discernment and informed consent. The main ethical concerns discussed in this paper include access to care, research, consent and the right to information, and end-of-life issues. Addressing these challenges involves applying the four fundamental principles of medical ethics: respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. CONCLUSION:Adhering to the four principles of ethics provides a framework for managing ethical issues. However, in oncogeriatrics, applying these principles must be carefully evaluated due to the specific characteristics of the elderly population.
INTRODUCTION:Biotherapies have revolutionised the management of spondyloarthritis (SpA). Despite these advances, there is still a proportion of patients with multiple changes in biological markers, which may correspond to difficult-to-treat spondyloarthritis (SPA D2T). Our study aims to explore the prevalence of this particular entity and to characterise its clinical aspects in a Moroccan population. METHODS:This is a comparative cross-sectional study that included patients with SpA admitted to the department on biologic therapies. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic data were collected. Patients who had received at least two biologics were considered to be SpA D2T. A comparison was made with a control group of non-multi-switchers (SpA-non-D2T). RESULTS:210 patients were included, 56.2% of whom were men. The prevalence of multi-switchers was 32,7%. D2T SpA patients were predominantly female (53,6% versus 39%, p= 0,04), had more axial involvement (76,8% versus 91,5%, p= 0,003), CsDMARD use (97,1% versus 31,9%, p= 0,001). Disease activity at the initiation of biotherapy was higher in D2T-ASDs. The time between diagnosis and use of the first biologic was longer (4 [2,25-6] years versus 3 [1-4] years, p = 0,03). All D2T-SPA patients had received anti-TNFα. CONCLUSION:Our study found a high prevalence of D2T-SpA.
Introduction: Le défi reel avec la maladie asthmatique consiste essentiellement dans le contrôle de celle-ci. Les objectifs du travail étaient de décrire le niveau de contrôle de l’asthme dans une population Tunisienne et de rechercher les facteurs associés au mauvais contrôle de la maladie.Méthodes: Nous avons mené une étude descriptive observationnelle transversale sur une série de cas dans un service de pneumologie sur une période de 02 mois. Etaient inclus les patients vus à la consultation d’âge supérieur ou égal à 15 ans avec un diagnostic d’asthme confirmé et soustraitement anti-asthmatique depuis au moins 6 mois. Un asthme non contrôlé était défini par un score au test de contrôle de l’asthme inférieur à20.Résultats : Cent treize patients étaient inclus. L’âge moyen de la population était de 45 ± 15 ans. Treize pourcent des patients étaient tabagiquesactifs. Les principales comorbidités associées à l’asthme étaient l’obésité (34,5%), le reflux gastro-œsophagien (17%). Trente-sept patients (32,8%)étaient observants aux traitements. L’asthme était classé bien contrôlé chez 64 patients (56,6%). Les facteurs associés au mauvais contrôleétaient : le tabagisme actif (p= 0,04), l’exposition au tabagisme passif (p= 0,02), les mauvaises conditions socio-économiques (p= 0,003), certaines comorbidités comme le reflux gastro- œsophagien, l’obésité, le début de la maladie au jeune age (p= 0,008) ainsi qu’avec l’observance thérapeutique(p = 0,008) et la technique d’inhalation (p = 0,002).Conclusions : Une prise en charge adéquate de l’asthme doit être obligatoirement multidisciplinaire prenant en considération les comorbidités et la lutte anti-tabac.
