Roles of Medical Education Department: What are expectations of the faculty?

Background and Objective: Pakistan like many Asian countries is investing in medical education to address increased societal needs and to meet the requirement of national and international accrediting bodies. Establishing medical education departments is part of this investment. The research question was ''What are the expectations of faculty from medical education department?'' The objective of this study was to explore the Faculty's perception about the roles of medical education department and their suggestions for its future endeavors

Methods: A qualitative case study design was chosen for this study. Heterogeneous group of faculty members from basic and clinical sciences departments of University College of Medicine, Lahore were invited for this study. They represented a variety of disciplines, and seniority levels. They were queried about their perception of the roles of medical education department and were encouraged to give suggestions for better functioning of department. Data was collected by audio recording through focus group interviews. Data analysis was done using NVIVO 11 software

Results: Initially 55 nodes/codes emerged which were then condensed to 35 nodes. Out of these three main themes emerged. The three emergent themes were: 1. Knowledge about the roles of medical education department. 2. Interactions with the medical education department. 3. Future Prospects of the medical education department. Roles of medical education department identified by the faculty were mainly related to faculty development, curriculum planning and implementation, student support, policy making for student induction, improving teaching strategies, student assessment, quality assurance and accreditation of the medical college. Faculty development not only encompassed faculty training but also provision of opportunities for research and curriculum development. Student support was found to be a neglected role and faculty members suggested it to be an important area to be looked upon by medical education departments

Conclusion: Institutions must ensure consultation with faculty members and should take proactive measures to sustain change, including giving ownership and team building among the faculty members

Dengue fever; a clinical experience

Dengue is the most prevalent mosquito-born viral illness in the world. Clinically dengue ranges from asymptomatic, non-febrile illness, classic dengue to dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome. This study was included 79 patients conducted at Nawaz Sharif Social Sevurity Hospital, Lahore during the epidemic of dengue in Lahore from September 2011 to Dec 2011. Twenty out of 79 patients suspected of dengue fever were dengue IgM positive. Male to female ratio was 1.19: 1. Our study included 79 patients suspected of having dengue fever. Fever was the most common symptom in these patients. Early identification of dengue with risk of developing hemorrhage is an important clinical objective. The morbidity and mortality can be reduced by appropriate and judicious treatment of dengue patients

Complications of pre-term infants in the neonatal unit

To assess the complications of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit and compare that with those faced by preterm infants in western neonatal intensive care unit. A prospective comparative study. This study was conducted at Paediatrics Department, Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahorefrom 1[st] December 1997 to 30[th] November 1998. All neonates delivered before 37 weeks and admitted to the neonatal Intensive care unit [NICU, SZH] were included in the study. It was a prospective study conducted over a period of one year from 1[st] December 1997 to 30[th] November 1998. The study population included 170 preterm neonates. For the purpose of study, these infants were divided into three gestational age groups i.e. < 30 weeks gestational age, 30 to 35 weeks gestational age, and > 35 weeks gestational age. These neonates were then prospectively followed till discharge from NICU. Out of the 170 preterm infants admitted to NICU, 128 infants survived and were discharged under stable conditions, while 42 infants expired. Maximum number of complications and highest mortality i.e. 87% was seen among the most premature group, i.e. below 30 weeks gestational age. Mortality in the gestational age group 30 to 35 weeks was 43%, while it was 9% in the gestational group >35 weeks

Vaccination status of children aged 1-5 years in labour community

Objective: to determine the vaccination status of children aged 1-5 years

Material and Methods: mothers of children aged 1-5 years coming to pediatrics outpatient department were interviewed according to pre designed questionnaire. The data then complied was interpreted at the end of study

Results: results of our study showed 59% of children received full course of vaccination. 9% we're not vaccinated at all. 32% of children received 1-3 doses of vaccination but did not complete the course

Conclusion: immunization coverage of children in Pakistan is still around 60%. Our effort needs to be intensified to reach the poor children living in far off areas