ABSTRACT
Background: The main pool of pharmacology practical teaching is formed by the use and demonstration of animal experiments. Animals have been used to demonstrate the effect of various drugs in experimental pharmacology classes, in the lab. The practical sessions in pharmacology training involving animal experiments are still taught by traditional teaching methods. Rapid development of information technology has led to newer trends in teaching and learning using Computer Assisted Learning (CAL). Keeping it in mind we decided to undertake this study to assess the perception of CAL in 2nd year MBBS students over conventional teaching in experimental pharmacology.Methods: This was an observational, questionnaire-based study. A total of hundred undergraduate MBBS (2nd year) students participated. Participants were first demonstrated an animal experiment by conventional teaching method followed by the same animal experiment demonstration on CAL. Students� feedback was recorded on a questionnaire and analyzed.Results: The mean age of the participants was 19.88�28 years. The study overall observed that 62% preferred CAL to conventional (38%). Majority of the participants� thought CAL (63%) helps to understand better over conventional (28%) and that CAL (63%) is time independent over conventional (28%). More than 85% felt that CAL was more explanatory and provided a better learning experience.Conclusions: Students preferred CAL to conventional teaching, in experimental pharmacology. It also provided insight on perception and experience of students towards CAL for experimental pharmacology. However, further studies are warranted to assess the knowledge, cognitive and psychomotor skills of students.
ABSTRACT
Background: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be traced back to disorders of the gastro-esophageal junction but several psychological factors interact to affect treatment outcomes. There is sparse literature from India regarding psychological co-morbidity and personality characteristics in patients with GERD. Aim and Objectives: To study the co-morbid psychological disorders and personality profiles in patients suffering from GERD. Methods: Two hundred patients with GERD-related symptoms were randomly screened for psychological disorders and personality characteristics using 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) respectively. Patients who screened positive for presence of co-morbid psychological disorders were further interviewed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis 1 Disorders (SCID-1) to find out the type of psychological disorder. Results: The prevalence of psychological co-morbidity in patients with GERD-related symptoms in our sample was found to be 40%. Major depressive disorder was the most common psychological disorder found co-morbid in these patients. Alcohol dependence was significantly observed in males; while in females, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder was more commonly seen. Regarding personality characteristics, a higher degree of neuroticism and risk-taking attitudes was found in patients of GERD with associated psychological co-morbidity Conclusions: This study suggests that the management of GERD may include psychological evaluations and possibly interventions in standard treatment protocols.
ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of fractures with advancing age in postmenopausal women. BMD measurements with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) are costly and not widely available The Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA) index is a simple tool based on age and body weight to predict low BMD and identify women at risk of osteoporosis. The objective was to study the association of OSTA index with BMD (T-score) and to validate OSTA index in comparison with calcaneal Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) for the prediction of low BMD in peri-menopausal Indian women. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out in department of physiology of a tertiary care teaching hospital (Navi Mumbai). Seventy two peri-menopausal women between 40 to 55 years with no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis were included. Participants’ socio-demographic detail, anthropometric measurements, OSTA index and QUS-based BMD was recorded. Pearson’s correlation test was used. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value was calculated. Results: OSTA index did not correlate with BMD in the entire samples. On subgroup analysis, OSTA index significantly correlated in a positive direction with BMD (T-score) in women in the age group of 50-55 years. OSTA index had a sensitivity of 70 %, and specificity of 84.62 % at T-score cutoff value of < -1. Conclusions: OSTA index is a simple risk assessment tool that can be used to identify women with low BMD in the age group of 50-55 years.