Preparation and validation of a new questionnaire to study faculty perception of online teaching - Use of Cronbach’s alpha and pilot.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced educators to shift to virtual online classes. Teachers being major stakeholders in the medical teaching-learning process, it becomes important to understand their perception towards this new endeavour. It will make this transition beneficial to the learners. Objectives: To document the process of validation of a new questionnaire devised to study the perception of medical undergraduate teaching faculty towards online classes, using Cronbach’s alpha, and the subsequent pilot for the same. Results: At initial validation, Cronbach’s alpha was not acceptable (0.65) for the questionnaire. One item was scored low by two validators and was removed. Three items were given poor rating for lay out, clarity and feasibility and required editing. The Cronbach’s alpha after revision was 0.92 (acceptable). Pilot study was conducted. Based on the proportion of positive perception (36.4%) regarding ongoing online teaching programme, conducted on 11 teaching faculty with 10% absolute precision and 95% confidence, the minimum sample size for the main study was calculated to be 89. This was feasible from the point of view of total faculty strength. Conclusion: Research work involving a new tool, such as questionnaire, must utilize the statistical tool Cronbach’s alpha for validation, and pilot study for estimating the sample size and testing the content validity.

Abetalipoproteinemia - A Rare Disease Presenting as Bleeding Disorder

A 5-month-old child presented to the Paediatric Outpatient Department with complaints of fever, loose stools, blood in stool, and multiple subcutaneous swellings over the chest wall. The patient was given antibiotics and treated for acute gastroenteritis with a possibility of component of cow’s milk allergy also being considered. The routine blood counts revealed platelet count of 4.94 K / mL, along with Hb 10.2 g / dL, MCV - 80 fL, WBC - 13.6 x 109 / L. An LDH of 512 U / L (normal up to 451 U / L) and ESR of 2 mm / 1st hr. Liver function tests were within normal range. Her preliminary coagulation screening test showed both PT as well as aPTT to be prolonged beyond 120 sec each. She was further sent for complete laboratory evaluation for bleeding disorder. In view of the history of foul smelling stools, suggesting malabsorption, stool sample was analysed which showed presence of fat globules. USG was reported as normal study. Blood group was O positive.Abetalipoproteinemia is a very rare metabolic, autosomal recessive disease resulting from mutations encoding microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) leading to deficiencies in the apolipoproteins B-48 and B-100 with reported prevalence of less than one case per 100,000. Typical manifestations are failure to thrive, hypocholesterolaemia and fat malabsorption. Other features like fatty liver, acanthocytosis, and anaemia are usually present in infancy and neuro-ocular complications during adolescence. Early diagnosis and management can prevent disease progression