ABSTRACT
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the curriculum for BS degree program in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in Pakistan. For this purpose, a working group comprising of experts in the field from NEAT [a Pakistan based registered organization: www.neat.org.pk ] was assigned the responsibility to evaluate the curriculum. As suggested by the working group, a modified Delphi technique was used and a group of expert panelists [n=46] was identified. Three main 'areas of enquiry' '[AE]' were proposed, where the responses from the panels were requested: AE[1] evaluated the curriculum against a set of 15 characteristics reported in the literature; AE[2] evaluated the curriculum against 32-item 'knowledge areas' based on findings of a recent investigation. AE[3]: scored the course contents of individual courses against a 'perceived standards' in light of a 14-item Battery. For AE[1] and [2] and [3], the panelists responded, respectively, on scoring scale [0 - 4] and ticked any one from 1 -3. The data were analyzed for mean and median scores for each individual item. Findings of AE[1] suggest that majority of the panelists agreed that the curriculum 'adequately'/'excellently' highlighted the fifteen criteria set-forth. Findings of AE[2] suggest 8 out of 32 'knowledge areas' being 'poorly' reflected in the curriculum. Findings of AE[3] suggest majority [28/43: 65%] of courses fulfill the perceived standards except 2 courses ["Nutrition through Life Cycle"; and "Research Methods in Nutrition"] fulfilling <50% of the required standards. In all, the findings are of suggestive that the curriculum is 'good' except certain shortfalls. It was recommended that the deficiencies may be addressed in the coming revision
ABSTRACT
Carcinoma of the prostate is one of the common tumours of old age in men. This cross sectional study was conducted to detect carcinoma of prostate in clinically benign enlarged gland and to evaluate the efficacy of Digital rectal Examination in detection of prostatic cancer in patients presented at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from July 1998 to July 1999. Patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms over the age of 50 years were evaluated on English version of International Prostate Symptoms Score [IPSS], clinically examined and post-voiding residual urine determined on abdominal sonography. The selection criteria were; Severe IPSS, absence of signs of malignancy on Digital Rectal Examination [DRE] and post-voiding residual urine more than 100 ml. Thus a total 100 patients were selected for further study. Four ml blood was taken to assess Prostate Specific Antigen [PSA] level pre-operatively. All these patients underwent either transvesical prostatectomy or transurethral resection of prostate [TURP] and enucleated prostatic tissues were sent to histopathology. Eighty-five percent patients had PSA level up to 10 [eta]g/ml. PSA level of 15 [15%] patients were above 10n gm/ml out of which 13 [13%] patients were having PSA in range of 11-12 [eta]g/ml and two [2%] had PSA level between 20-25 [eta]g/ml. Histopathology report of 2% patients turned out as adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Out of 100 patients who were having clinically benign DRE findings, 2 turned out as Carcinoma of the prostate histologically