ABSTRACT
Background. The addition of research-oriented medical education (ROME) to the existing curriculum could promote logical thinking, rapid literature search and a better understanding of research methodology. Creation of research temperament could lead to innovations in healthcare. We assessed the perception, awareness and practice of ROME among undergraduate students. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 234 students of R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata selected by the simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-designed, pre-tested, validated questionnaire by direct interviews. Results. The mean (SD) perception score was 44.2 (5.03). Students from outside West Bengal (p=0.05), women (p=0.03) and students whose parents were doctors (p=0.01) had significantly higher scores. Students in the second and fourth semesters had a better perception than those in the sixth and eighth semesters. Awareness of research fellowships granted to undergraduate students such as the Indian Council of Medical Research–Short-term studentship (ICMR-STS) was low among the second semester students (13.9%), but more than half (59.3%) of the students in the eighth semester were aware (difference across semesters, p<0.001). Awareness about journals, conferences and ‘research bodies promoting student research’ was low. Students in the senior semesters spent more time on research (6th semester 72.2% and 8th semester 88.9%) than those in the junior semesters (2nd: 66.7% and 4th: 77.8%; difference across semesters, p=0.03). About 3% of students participated in extracurricular research and/or had presented work at a conference. Conclusion. There is a good perception about the need for research but a lack of awareness of the why and how, as well as hardly any practice of ROME among medical students of this medical college. Natl Med J India 2016;29:94–7
ABSTRACT
Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is an age old disease described in Vedic Medicine as ‘Yakshma’. Later on, in Ayurveda it earned a prefi x and found way into mythology as ‘Rajayakshma’. After the discovery of streptomycin, the therapeutic management of PTB received a major breakthrough. The treatment module changed remarkably with the formulation of newer anti-tubercular drugs (ATD) with appreciable success. Recent resurgence of PTB in developed countries like United States posed a threat to the medical community due to resistant strains. Consequently, WHO looked toward traditional medicine. Literature reveals that Ayurvedic treatment of PTB was in vogue in India before the introduction of ATD with limited success. Records show that 2766 patients of PTB were treated with Ayurvedic drugs in a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata in the year 1933-1947. Objectives: To evaluate the toxicity reduction and early restoration by adjunct therapy of Ayurvedic drugs by increasing the bio-availability of ATDs. Materials and Methods: In the present study, treatment response of 99 patients treated with ATD as an adjunct with Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) and a multiherbal formulation described in Chikitsa-sthana of Charaka samhita i.e. Chyawanprash were investigated. Hematological profi le, sputum bacterial load count, immunoglobulin IgA and IgM, blood sugar, liver function test, serum creatinine were the assessed parameters besides blood isoniazid and pyrazinamide, repeated after 28 days of treatment. Results: The symptoms abated, body weight showed improvement, ESR values were normal, there was appreciable change in IgA and IgM patterns and signifi cantly increased bioavailability of isoniazid and pyrazinamide were recorded. Conclusion: This innovative clinical study coupled with empowered research may turn out to be promising in fi nding a solution for the treatment of PTB.
ABSTRACT
Inappropriate, irrational and cost-ineffective practices of pharmaceuticals are worldwide phenomena. A retrospective study was conducted among the Ophthalmic-in-patients to investigate the nature of utilization of drugs in respect of rationality correlating the clinical and forensic pharmacology. Prescriptions in the Bed Head Tickets were the study samples which were analyzed according to the WHO/INRUD Indicators. Incurred cost per day per prescription was calculated. Commonly prescribed drugs were also studied. Result revealed that proportion of drugs from Essential Medicines List (EML) was 51.62%, while 54.05% was prescribed by generic names. Most commonly prescribed drugs were antibiotics (100%), analgesic-anti-inflammatory agents (100%) and mydriatic-cycloplegic agents (91.98%). Average number of drugs per prescription was 4.03±1.5 and average cost per day per prescription was 99.22 INR (Indian Rupees). Injectables were prescribed in 97.36% cases, and 10.81% of total drugs (37) prescribed. Prescribing practices were not always in accordance with the WHO criteria for rational use of drugs. It is suggested that there is a felt need to provide more inputs to the Ophthalmologists to promote rational use of drugs.