Search

Background: Medical internship in South Africa is a two-year period after completing the basic medical degree. Interns rotate through six different domains, where they are exposed to various clinical procedures. These skills are often not up to standard, and interns feel unprepared for future challenges.This study evaluated the self-perceived readiness of interns rotating through the Universitas Academic Health Complex in performing basic medical procedures, and the frequency of performing these procedures.Methods: This was a descriptive quantitative study. Consenting participants completed an anonymous questionnaire regarding four pre-selected medical procedures per department.Results: The majority of the 61 participants were second-year interns (52.5%), female (54.0%), with a median age of 25 years. Interns felt ready to perform the majority of procedures, but more than 50% reported not being ready to perform circumcisions, episiotomy and perineal repair, assisted delivery and appendectomies. Some procedures in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Surgery and Psychiatry were rarely performed by at least half of the participants.Conclusions: Exposure of medical students during their clinical years to practical training is inadequate. The focus in the MBChB curriculum should be increased to a more specific practical approach during both the pre-clinical and clinical years.

The seasonal allocation and efficiency of biomass and resources (starch, soluble carbohydrates, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) within and between the constituent plant parts of Sparaxis grandiflora subspecies fimbriata , a deciduous, synanthous geophyte, are described. The sequential production of roots, leaves and a new daughter corm, with fruit production phased in during the development of the daughter corm, results in continual transfer of resources when the plant is not dormant. The new daughter corm serves as the major sink for the allocation of dry matter and resources during the vegetative, reproductive and senescent periods. The parent corm is the major source of resources in the early stages of the vegetative period. The amount of resources allocated to the reproductive structures was comparatively low when compared with that allocated to vegetative plant parts. The corms have highly flexible storage capacities for a variety of nutrients, particularly the better conserved nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and carbohydrates. The dynamic patterns for the majority of the resources revealed high allocation when metabolic activity was also highest. Efficient recovery or recycling of important resources from senescing organs results in a similar or greater allocation to the daughter corm than the amount that was present in the parent corm of the previous growth season. This is seen as an advantage to these plants that grow in a seasonal environment where soils are of low nutrient status.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press

The seasonal ontogeny and phenology of Sparaxis grandifloraspp. fimbriatawere examined along with various population parameters for this synanthous geophyte which possesses an annual storage organ. It was found that the majority of plants in the sample were less than seven years old with a maximum age determined at eighteen years. Age was successfully determined by examining subterranean markers (tunics) and it was found that the plants do not generally flower before they are four years old and have a ‘critical minimum corm biomass’ of 0.37g dry matter. Corm size is related to depth of burial until reproductive maturity is reached, with over 80% of the corms found in the organic profile which extends to 3cm below the soil surface. The seasonal allocation of dry matter to the various plant parts indicated the efficient mechanisms adopted by this species to cope with the mediterranean climatic conditions and the low soil nutrient levels.

The seasonal biomass and resource allocation patterns of a perennial geophytic species, Haemanthus pubescenssubspecies pubescens,were investigated. Four phenophases for the species were identified and the annual patterns of dry mass and resource allocation were identified from individuals sampled from natural populations. From the results, four general resource allocation patterns were identified: (1) mobile macronutrients (N, P and K) and Cu; (2) immobile macronutrients (Mg and Ca) and Mn; (3) soluble carbohydrates, starch, Zn and Fe; and (4) Na, all with their own distinctive allocation patterns. This study confirms distinct allocation patterns between the resources and biomass. Furthermore, it was found that environmental constraints contributed towards the differential seasonal allocation patterns of the resources and biomass. The development of an underground storage organ is regarded as an evolutionary mechanism to cope with soils of a low nutrient status, characteristic of the Cape fynbos, and as a strategy for the protection of dry matter and resources against seasonal periodic droughts and fires.