Background: Peer physical examination (PPE) is a cost-effective preclinical method for learning physical examination skills, but its implementation requires careful evaluation of students’ acceptability.
Methods: We analyzed the responses of 2,085 undergraduate students of medicine and of BS programs in different health professions (mostly nursing students) to two questionnaires widely used to assess PPE acceptability: the Peer Physical Examination Questionnaire (PPEQ) and the Examining Fellow Students (EFS) questionnaire. Subscales were derived using Mokken scale analysis and Principal Component Analysis, and concurrent validity was examined.
Results: The PPEQ yielded three subscales—Emotional  (PPEQ-E, H = 0.50), Attitudinal (PPEQ-A, H = 0.68), and Concerns about Sexual Connotation (PPEQ-SC, H = 0.52). The EFS could be partitioned into Sensitive Areas (EFS-SA, H = 0.68) and Less Sensitive Areas (EFS-LSA, H = 0.59). All subscales showed good scalability and internal consistency, and were strongly intercorrelated. Each PPEQ subscale was independently associated with the EFS score after adjustment for sex and course type (p < 0.001). The subscales were able to detect differences in response patterns across sex and course type: female students reported lower emotional and attitudinal scores and higher sexual concerns on the PPEQ, and lower willingness to be examined in sensitive areas on the EFS (p < 0.001). Students of BS programs showed lower PPEQ scores than medical students, but also greater reluctance toward sensitive areas, while medical students reported fewer sexual concerns.
Conclusions: The PPEQ and EFS subscales provide complementary perspectives on students’ attitudes toward PPE. Their combined use enables a nuanced assessment of acceptability and its determinants across different student populations. These tools may support monitoring of trends over time and contribute to the design of educational activities that maximize learning benefits while minimizing discomfort.


https://doi.org/10.65413/XXXXXX

Existing preclinical and clinical evidence for nanotechnology-based therapies in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs) is reviewed in this narrative study. Antibiotic-resistant UTIs represent a growing global health concern, necessitating the development of new therapeutic approaches. This review examines the application of nanotechnology against antibiotic-resistant UTIs and the capability of nanocarrier systems to improve drug delivery, target bacterial cells, and block biofilms. Different nanocarriers, including liposomes, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), have been investigated for their distinctive properties that improve treatment efficacy. This review also discusses the mechanisms of action of these nanostrategies, including targeted drug delivery and enhanced penetration of antimicrobial agents. Safety considerations, including cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, as well as strategies to minimize side effects, are evaluated. Future research should focus on refining these technologies to overcome antibiotic resistance, ensuring safer and more effective clinical applications in UTI management.


https://doi.org/10.65413/XXXXXX

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most significant infectious diseases affecting global public health, with 8.2 million new cases reported in 2023. The burden of disease remains disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries. The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine currently represents the only licensed vaccine for the prevention of tuberculosis and continues to be a cornerstone of preventive strategies, particularly in protecting children against severe forms of the disease.
This article provides a comprehensive review of the global and Albanian experience with BCG vaccination, including the most recent national epidemiological data, global immunization policies, and the immunological mechanisms underlying vaccine action, with particular emphasis on the concept of “trained immunity”. In addition, it discusses the expanded therapeutic applications of BCG in oncology, as well as recent advances in TB vaccinology and future perspectives in the development of novel tuberculosis vaccines).

https://doi.org/XXXX/XXXXXXXX