Perceptions of oral structured examination: a move from subjectivity to objectivity

Objective: To determine the student and examiner perceptions regarding structured viva in comparison with conventional viva as a method of assessment

Study Design: Quantitative survey

Place and Duration of Study: Anatomy Department of Foundation University Medical College, from July 2014 to Oct 2014

Material and Methods: A quantitative survey was conducted after introducing structured viva voce replacing traditional viva in the first and second year MBBS students. A total of 234 students and 12 examiners selected by simple random sampling filled a questionnaire regarding their perceptions. Their responses for each item were recorded on a like rt scale of 1 to 10. The total score for both types of viva were calculated. The mean of total score with SD for structured and conventional viva were calculated. The statistical significance between means scores of the two vivas were calculated using paired sample t-test

Results: It was found that 88.0% students, and 83.3% examiners preferred structured viva as compared to the conventional viva. The mean scores for structured and conventional viva regarding uniformity of assessment time, structuring of questions, confidence in correct judgment, decreased biases, decreased stress level, uniform coverage of topics, continuity of chain of thought, increase in thinking time and student friendliness were significantly greater for structured as compared to conventional viva. The mean overall score for structured viva was 67.55 +/- 15.02, and for conventional viva was 49.42 +/- 17.27 with a statistical significance of p=0.001. The mean scores perceived by students and examiners for structured viva were not statistically significant

Conclusion: Structured viva was more acceptable by the students as well as examiners due to its increased objectivity and less biases

unique approach to learning/teaching anatomy

The present day teaching emphasizes on teaching methodologies that capture the interest of students and increase their satisfaction. To assess the effectiveness of nontraditional teaching methodologies such as storytelling for teaching anatomy and to determine whether this method enhances student satisfaction. The study was carried out in Foundation University Medical College, Rawalpindi [Pakistan]on first year MDBS students [n=87] The students were given a story, adapted from: [The case of the dividing cell: mitosis and meiosis in the cellular court [http:/www.sciencecases. org/mitosis_meiosis/mitosis_meiosis.asp] by Clyde Freeman Herreid. Copyright held by National center for case study teaching in science, University at Buffalo, state university of New York. Used with permission. The students were divided into small groups who discussed the learning issues in three interactive sessions, after which, they were given a surprise assessment test and an anonymous questionnaire which was to be answered on an open scale of 1-10 [1 being the minimum score and 10 maximum] regarding the effectiveness of this methodology. Students enjoyed the sessions and would like similar sessions in future [mean evaluation score: 5.92/10 +/- 3.15]. An overall satisfaction score of 6.52 +/- 1.75 was obtained. Mean of assessment results was 92.7% +/- 10.4. Some students felt that it was more time consuming as compared to lectures and could not be used to cover all topics. Teaching anatomy by storytelling captured the interest of majority of the students who found it an effective teaching methodology. However, other traditional tools of teaching should also be an integral part of anatomy curriculum

Effect of passive tobacco smoking on fertility of female mice

To determine the adverse effects of passive tobacco smoking on fertility of female mice and the preventive role of antioxidants, if any Randomized controlled trial. Anatomy Department, CPSP Regional Centre, Islamabad, from February to July 2005. One hundred and seventeen female mice [Balb C] were selected by random sampling. They were mated and grouped as C [n=30] control, S [n=40] exposed to passive smoke in a whole body exposure chamber and SV [n=37] exposed to smoke and given antioxidants [vitamin C, E]. At 19 days postcoital they were sacrificed and the number of pregnant animals, fetuses and resorption cases were counted. Histological study of uteri without fetuses was done in H and E stained sections for confirmation of pregnancy. Percentages were calculated and Chi-square test was used to calculate statistical significance. The percentage of pregnancies was 55.00% in S and 80.00% in C [p=0.029]. The percentage of animals with more than 11 fetuses was 5.0% in S and 33.30% in C [p=0.001]. The percentage of animals with resorption was 31.80% in S and 0.00% in C [p=0.005]. These values in SV were 64.86%, 18.90% and 20.80%, which were not significantly different from S [p=0.378, 0.216, 0.390 respectively]. Histological study of resorption sites revealed decidual reaction/ remnants of the placenta. Passive tobacco smoke has adverse effects on fertility of female mice, which were not prevented by antioxidants. Either those were due to other chemicals present in smoke, or the antioxidants were inadequate to neutralize the free radicals