Table 5 Microbiology, chemistry and physics topics ranked as moderate priority (3 – 3.99) by academics (ranking: 1 = lowest priority to 5 = highest priority)

Microbiology

Bacteria

3.87 ± 0.35

3-4

Viruses

3.80 ± 0.41

3-4

Control of microbial growth

3.75 ± 0.56

2-4

Disease transmission

3.73 ± 0.65

2-4

The role of antiseptic, soap and alcohol

3.73 ± 0.48

3-4

Common infectious diseases

3.67 ± 0.65

2-4

Vaccines

3.57 ± 0.76

2-4

Fungi

3.55 ± 0.69

2-4

Control of microbial growth

3.53 ± 0.74

2-4

Chemical and physical requirements for microbial growth

3.53 ± 0.51

2-4

Virulence and resistance

3.50 ± 0.76

2-4

Asepsis

3.50 ± 0.76

2-4

Principles of epidemiology

3.48 ± 0.75

2-4

Reservoirs and vectors (e.g. mosquitos)

3.40 ± 0.82

2-4

Protozoans

3.40 ± 0.60

2-4

Helminths (worms)

3.33 ± 0.84

2-4

History and scope of microbiology

3.33 ± 0.77

2-4

Microbiological tools, techniques and procedures

3.29 ± 0.85

2-4

Eukaryotics and prokaryotics

3.29 ± 0.77

3-4

Relationship of microbes and cancer

3.27 ± 0.76

2-4

Biotechnology

3.15 ± 0.81

2-4

Algae

3.11 ± 0.83

2-4

Chemistry

Electrolytes

3.88 ± 0.34

3-4

pH as a scale of acidity, buffers, body buffer systems and blood gases

3.73 ± 0.46

3-4

Chemical symbols – e.g. Na, K, Ca

3.73 ± 0.59

2-4

Diffusion

3.69 ± 0.48

3-4

Osmosis

3.69 ± 0.48

3-4

Concentration, solubility in making solutions, solutions and body fluids

3.65 ± 0.61

2-4

Protein, carbohydrate and lipid chemical structures

3.65 ± 0.61

2-4

Hydration

3.62 ± 0.51

3-4

Filtration

3.56 ± 0.62

2-4

Catalysts, enzymes

3.47 ± 0.70

2-4

Anaerobic and aerobic respiration

3.46 ± 0.66

2-4

Catabolism and Anabolism

3.41 ± 0.67

2-4

Production of ATP

3.35 ± 0.75

2-4

Citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) and electron transport chain

3.29 ± 0.78

2-4

Periodic table

3.20 ± 0.78

2-4

Covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds

3.11 ± 0.81

2-4

Organic chemistry – alkanes, alkenes, alkyls, alcohols

3.05 ± 0.85

2-4

Chemical equations

3.05 ± 0.78

2-4

Chemical change

3.00 ± 0.84

2-4

Physics

Measurement – quantities

3.56 ± 0.88

2-4

Temperature and heat transfer

3.56 ± 0.71

2-4

Fluid flow: length/radius of tube; viscosity; resistance; flow rate; venturi effect

3.50 ± 0.69

2-4

Measurement - relationship of volume to weight

3.44 ± 0.63

2-4

Measurement - errors

3.33 ± 0.89

2-4

Pressure, pressure in fluids, pressure gradients and pressure between solids

3.30 ± 0.87

2-4

Measurement - graphing

3.27 ± 0.88

2-4

Gas laws

3.24 ± 0.75

2-4

Friction

3.22 ± 0.81

2-4

Phototherapy

3.20 ± 0.78

2-4

Acceleration, speed and velocity,

3.20 ± 0.68

2-4

Gravity and centre of gravity

3.20 ± 0.68

2-4

Electricity – electrical conductivity

3.19 ± 0.83

2-4

Principles of MRI and issues

3.11 ± 0.76

2-4

Principles of Ultrasound and issues

3.11 ± 0.76

2-4

Principles of X-ray, CT, Fluoroscopy and issues

3.11 ± 0.81

2-4

Exothermic and endothermic reactions

3.08 ± 0.76

2-4

Matter - Atoms, isotopes, properties of elements, cations, anions, flammability of elements, effect of heat on matter

3.00 ± 0.79

2-4

Light - light sensors

3.00 ± 0.89

2-4

Force and motion, vectors

3.00 ± 0.76

2-4

Sound – auscultation and stethoscope use

3.00 ± .1.00

2-4