IMT has published some sample questions this week of the Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT), as part of the ongoing Special Report on the HPAT. See how well you do.

University College Cork’s new Student Mental Health Policy was launched today (January 15) by Mr John Moloney, Minister for Equality, Disability and Mental Health.
From the press release:
The university is aware that many people experience a period of mental distress or mental illness at some stage in their lives. Changes and challenges face students in a new environment and it is in this context that the university saw the need to have a coherent framework and supportive administrative procedures in place to assist the promotion of mental well-being in UCC.
Launching the Policy, the Minister for Equality, Disability and Mental Health, Mr John Moloney said: “As Minister of State for Disability and Mental Health, one of my main priorities is to eliminate social exclusion, stigmatisation and discrimination of the mentally ill and create a culture and environment where people in distress feel they can seek help from family, friends and health professionals. Both students and teachers can play a vital role by identifying early warning signs of an emerging mental health issue and encouraging the young person to seek help as soon as possible.”
It is hoped that the new Policy will help improve the Student Experience for all students attending UCC and so allow them fulfil their personal, social and academic potential.

A conference on research in nursing and midwifery takes plans October 9 at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery. Topics include:

Postnatal depression in first-time mothers;
The use of information technology to improve patient care;
Self-neglect of older adults;
Ethical issues at end of life care.

From the press release:
The Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery will host the 9th Annual Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference on Friday, October 9th 2009. Key nursing and midwifery clinical practice issues will be the focus of the conference which will see eminent speakers from a range of clinical and academic settings in Ireland, Scotland & USA share and critically debate the findings of key research with conference attendees.
Dr Patricia Leahy-Warren, Senior Lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery will present findings from her recent study on postnatal depression. Dr Leahy-Warren undertook the study with a large number of first-time mothers. The prevalence of postnatal depression was 13% at 6 weeks and 10% at 12 weeks indicating a significant public health issue. The significance of family and friends and health care professionals providing differing functional social supports in positively influencing first-time mothers’ mental health will be presented. This research has been funded by the Health Research Board.
Ms Mary-Rose Day who is a Lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery will speak on the serious public health and social issue of self-neglect. This condition can occur across the lifespan but is more common in older people and accounts for approximately 20-25% of cases referred to Adult Protective Services in Ireland. Self-neglect poses many challenges and ethical dilemmas for Senior Case Workers as identified by Ms Day’s research. The research shows that lack of clarity on what constitutes ‘exceptional circumstances’ in cases of self-neglect can be detrimental to clients’ well-being.
“Am I going to die, nurse?”, ethical challenges at the end of life” will be discussed by Dr Joan McCarthy, Lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Dr McCarthy will present recent research which investigated a range of ethical issues arising in end-of-life care in hospital settings. The research was carried out as part of the Irish Hospice Foundation’s national project, the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme, aimed at improving the culture of care and organization in the areas of dying, death and bereavement in Irish hospitals. The paper specifically addresses the ethical obligations of health professionals when conveying the prognosis to seriously ill patients. It considers patient narratives drawn from clinical practice in Ireland from an ethical perspective and links them with patient experiences in other countries.
Alongside a dynamic scientific programme, this 2009 conference will include some exciting master classes on Thursday, October 8th in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. ‘Clinical Governance and Patient Safety’ will be facilitated by Dr Kathy Gallo from the US and Professor Joyce Fitzpatrick, also from the US, who will facilitate ‘Clinical Doctorate’ and Professor William Lauder from Scotland who will facilitate ‘self-neglect’. Delegates attending will represent a number of health care professional disciplines.
The conference and master classes will take place at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, UCC; see http://www.ucc.ie/en/nursingmidwifery/Research/ResearchConferences/
For further information please contact: Marie McSweeney, Press Officer, University College Cork (T) 021 4902371; (086) 0845182.

Medical students and those thinking of studying medicine will have the opportunity to participate in a Summer School designed to prepare them for a career in medicine this month.
The Doctors’ Academy Summer School in Manchester – 17th August (Monday) to 21st August (Friday), 2009 – is open to Irish teenagers and medical students.
From a spokeswoman for the Academy:
“A one day taster-course into what life is like as a medical student is aimed at teenagers contemplating a career in Medicine and runs on August 16. This is followed by a week-long course for Medical Students which helps them find out more about what the various clinical sub-specialities have to offer; this runs between August 17-August 21, 2009.
“The courses will address issues beyond academic requirements such as interview skills and effective communication. Time will be devoted also to the important matter of the logically constructed Curriculum Vitae. In the ever-competitive arena of post-graduate job-seeking, a sound knowledge of medical ethics and of current political factors affecting the healthcare system are vital for the candidate to shine. The course will provide a forum for such topical discussion.
“The Doctors’ Academy was set up five years ago by Plastic Surgery trainee, Mr. Stuart Enoch, and now has a host of hospital consultants and NCHDs helping to keep the courses interesting and dynamic. The Academy is a not-for-profit organisation and all course-fees are re-invested to allow further teaching and expansion. So far, the response from medical students has been resoundingly positive and we await the reaction of secondary –school students this August at the conclusion of the first of the Academy’s courses designed specifically for pre-university teenagers.
Perhaps such extra-curricular courses are the way of the future when medical-students are under increasing pressure to decide early what sub-speciality is for them?”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.doctorsacademy.org

The RCPI has announced its diploma course on cerebrovascular and stroke medicine for doctors seeking stroke training at the Registrar grade or higher. Here’s the press release:

The diploma course will provide the principles for stroke management in an environment where there is a significant increase in evidence based management of stroke and the complexity of care of patients with stroke disease. Aimed at doctors wishing to pursue further formal training in stroke medicine at Registrar grade (or higher) and GPs with a significant practice in cerebrovascular disease. Course runs over one weekend per month from Sept 2009 to May 2010, ending with an examination in June 2010. Course fee is €2,500. Further information available at www.rcpi.ie or at courses@rcpi.ie. Limited places so early booking is advised.

The Irish Times is reporting today that the points required by Leaving Certificate students for many University courses has fallen — especially those course related to construction and property.
Medicine, however, still requires a near-perfect Leaving Certificate and the points remain virtually unchanged — Trinity requires 585, UCD requires 575 as does UCC, while NUIG and the RCSI require 570.
For all the problems within medicine in Ireland — and despite a daily avalanche of negative news stories about the health service — it would seem that medicine is still the profession sought after by most high-achievers.