Impact of Bilingual Approach in Undergraduate Education of Health Sciences

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of English only and bilingual approach with additional use of Urdu as medium of instruction for facilitating students' learning and communication in academic and clinical interactions, in undergraduate education of health sciences. Survey based quantitative study. The study was carried out at Islamic International Medical College, Islamic International Dental College and Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences belonging to Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Riphah International University Islamabad, Pakistan from May to September 2013. A survey was conducted by administering two structured questionnaires using ordinal scale. Questionnaire A was filled by 600 students and B by 60 teachers. The collected data was processed and analyzed by SPSS version17. Thirty five percent students came from institutions using only English medium of instruction. 55% received education in both [English and Urdu] and 10% in other languages. The students speaking Urdu with parents and patients were 63% and 79% respectively. 50% and 61% students talk in both languages with friends and teachers respectively because of comfortable communication and expression. 62% students prefer to be taught, 54% prefer to give viva voce and 55%understood viewpoints better using both languages. 87% students and 91% teachers admitted that use of Urdu enhances learning. 84% students confirmed that teachers used both languages during lectures and 72% teachers admitted it. Considering p<0.05 the nonparametric test applied shows significant value of 0.0499. Bilingual approach in medium of curriculum using English and native languages is an effective tool for better learning, expression and communication

Evaluation of laboratory request forms for culture and sensitivity testing of pus specimen

To evaluate the awareness among health care professionals about the importance of various components of request form through their form completion behavior in a teaching hospital at Rawalpindi. Retrospective study. All lab request forms accompanying pus specimen for culture and sensitivity received in the laboratory of Islamic International Medical College Trust Pakistan Railways Hospital during the calendar year of 2010 were analyzed. A total of 525 Laboratory [Lab] Request forms for pus culture and sensitivity were received. These were analyzed for completion of all the provided information spaces. The results were entered in Microsoft access sheet and analyzed. Most of the specimens [55%] originated from Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, followed by Departments of Surgery 23%, Orthopedics 11%, Pediatrics 2%, Medicine 1%, ICU and ER 1%, ENT 1%. Department was not mentioned in 6% forms. Most of these forms were signed by Post Graduate Trainees [44%], followed by Medical officers 18%, Consultants 11%, House Officers 9%, Ward Representatives 8%, Registrars 4% and signed without designation 1%. Five percent forms were received unsigned. In the Patient Identification part of the form Father / husband's name was written only in 38%. Patient's ward, bed number, age, gender and Registration No. were missing from 5.7%, 30.7%, 15.2%, 10.5% and 14% respectively. Although clinical notes were given in 90.3% but diagnosis was stated in 26.5% and history of antibiotic therapy only in 2,3% forms. Important information like site of pus collection and type of wound were missing from 20.4% and 27.6% of the forms. The type of test required was stated in 81% whereas the date was missing from vast majority [81.7%] of forms. The study indicates lack of awareness about the importance of components of Lab Request form among Health Professionals. Serious omissions are made even in patient identification information. The frequently neglected important parameters included history of antibiotic therapy, date of sample collection, and site of pus. The study highlights the need for attention to teaching and training laying emphasis on this issue and conducting CME lectures for both graduate and postgraduate levels

Menstrual irregularities with excessive blood loss: a clinico-pathological correlation

To evaluate various histo-pathological features in endometrial curettings of patients complaining of menstrual irregularities with excessive blood loss and correlating them with clinical presentations. A total of 260 endometrial curettings were obtained by Dilatation and Curettage done at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi. All the preserved specimens were processed under standard conditions at the Pathology Department, Islamic International Medical College [IIMC]. The sections were studied after staining with Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. The patients presented with menorrhagia in 51.9%, metrorrhagia in 35.4%, polymenorrhoea in 9.2% and polymenorrhagia in 3.5% cases. History of hormonal intake was observed in 0.66% patients. Menstrual disorders were most common in 41-50 years age group accounting for 48% cases. Pathology was diagnosed in 40% of endometrial biopsies. The endometrial lesions included endometrial hyperplasia [24.7%], chronic nonspecific endometritis [13%], endometrial polyp [1.2%], pill pattern endometrium [2.3%] atrophic endometrium [0.8%] menopausal pattern endometrium, squamous metaplasia, squamous cell carcinoma and chorioncarcinoma [0.4% each]. The dilatation and curettage was found to be an appropriate approach with a good diagnostic yield. Fortunately frequency of endometrial malignancy appeared to be very low. Endometrial hyperplasia was the leading causes of excessive menstrual bleeding