ABSTRACT
Background: There is lack of knowledge regarding research amongst medical students as it is not included in the present curriculum of MBBS. Hence authors have selected ‘Medical Research’ as a topic to evaluate the efficacy of WhatsApp messenger application as a teaching-learning tool. There is very limited research on impact of technological modalities like WhatsApp on education. Authors undertook this study to evaluate its efficacy as a tool to supplement medical research education and assess the perception of students about e-learning via WhatsApp messenger application.Methods: A prospective analytical interventional study was conducted after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. A self-designed comprehensive questionnaire was used to test the knowledge of medical students. A series of modules were sent and discussed on the WhatsApp study groups followed by assessment in change of the level of knowledge amongst the participants post intervention.Results: Applying the paired t-test, the scores of the study participants showed a statistically significant increase in the post- intervention evaluation (Mean=10.13, Median=10, Range=0-21) as compared to the baseline knowledge regarding medical research as reflected in the pre intervention evaluation (Mean=6.76, Median=7, Range=0-16). Conclusions: Growing availability of economical and user friendly smart phones in every generation has promoted use of WhatsApp by teachers as well as students. WhatsApp has the potential to supplement academic learning and become a natural educational modality. Necessary precautions could be taken to minimize the drawbacks expressed by the students to make it a more enjoyable and acceptable tool for teaching and learning.
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In 2013, an independent group of researchers developed the CARE guidelines, a checklist to standardise reporting of case reports. This study assesses adherence to CARE guidelines among PubMed-indexed Indian medical journals in 2015 and the extent of endorsement of these guidelines by the journals. Case reports published in 2015 in journals indexed by PubMed, belonging to the medical stream, currently active, and that had an impact factor were included for analysis. Case series and journals that were published from India but for another country were excluded. Total adherence score and classification of adherence as “excellent”, “very good”, “good”, and “poor” as also adherence to individual components of the checklist were the outcome measures. A total of 162 journals were identified by the search strategy, of which 36 satisfied the selection criteria. In these 36 journals, 1178 case reports were published. We tested the association between the type of journal and impact factor with adherence by using the chi-squared test and generated crude odds ratios. All analyses were done at 5% significance. Based on the total percent score, no case report had excellent adherence, and 19% had good, 70.7% average, and 10% poor adherence, respectively. Among the sub-items, the best adherence was seen in the clinical findings [97.9%], followed by keywords [88.5%], and introduction [71.5%]. The items with extremely poor adherence were patient perspective [0%], informed consent [2.8%], and timeline [4.6%]. Journals with an impact factor of more than 1 had better adherence, relative to those with an impact factor lower than 1. Only one journal’s website mentioned the CARE guidelines. Greater awareness needs to be created among authors, peer reviewers, and editors about using these guidelines. As informed consent is a metric of autonomy, all stakeholders must ensure its reporting.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence andseverity of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Interns in Medical Colleges and associated hospitalsacross Maharashtra and to identify the associated factors responsible for the same. The secondary objectivewas to correlate the prevalence of this psychological morbidity with their life style and the probablestressors experienced by them in the course of internship.Methods: This study is an Observational, Cross-Sectional, Questionnaire Based Study which wasconducted online with a sample of 362 interns. The data obtained was entered using Microsoft Excel 2013and analyzed using SPSS 16.0 Software. The Pearson chi square correlation test was used to find out theassociation of various personal and life-style related factors with the levels of depression, anxiety and stressamongst the respondents.Results: Amongst the total respondents, the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was found to be59.70%, 63.03% and 38.79% respectively. Many factors specific to the course of internship were found tohave a statistically significant correlation with high prevalence and severity of mental disturbances in theinternsConclusion: There is a very high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among interns working inMaharashtra which needs to be effectively dealt with on an urgent basis. The strong association of theprevalence of psychological illnesses with many factors and stressors faced by them will help us highlightthe contributory factors and suggest strategies to deal with them effectively at a personal, institutional andnational level.