ABSTRACT
The competency based assessment (CBA) is an integral part of competency based medical education (CBME). It is important to discern the similarities and differences between CBME and traditional curriculum for developing effective implementation schedules and to identify opportunities for best use of the CBA in pharmacology training. CBA relies on assessment of core competencies and attitudes. The viva marks, to be decided at university level, are excluded from theory marks. An advantage of CBA is early entry of failed students into next phase of study. The areas of concern are, viva marks are included in practical marks further reducing ratio of practical to theory marks despite increase in total marks, and non-contribution of internal assessment marks to university marks for rank or grades. Multiple assessments using multiple tools in limited duration of 11 months would pose logistic problems and would require concerted efforts of faculty members for accomplishment.
ABSTRACT
Background: This study was done to know the maternal perception of weight of their children and correlate it with exact weights. We also studied various factors affecting ability of a mother to perceive her child's weight status.Method: This prospective study was done in Pediatric Department of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Western Gujarat, India, from January 2018 to September 2018. 897 mothers of children < 5 years of age were included. Socio-demographic and anthropometric details of child and mother were recorded. Maternal perception of their child's weight status was enquired. A correlation between perceived and actual child weight status was estimated.Results: 897 patients <5 years of age had mean (SD) age of 28.66 ('17.04) months, weight 10.17 ('3.5) kg, height 0.81 ('0.15) meters and BMI 15.74 ('15.26) kg/m2. 34.7% of mothers perceived underweight erroneously as compared to actual weight status being normal (p value=0.00001). Misperception (under or over) of the mothers for their children weight status was significant for girls (p=0.011). Significant difference between perceived and actual weight status was seen in birth orders 1 to 4. 34. 6% actual UW children were perceived as NW by < 40 years age mothers (p=0.0018). 78.2% uneducated and 81% of primary or secondary educated mothers from lower SES felt their children were of NW status whereas actually 43.4% and 50.3% children were of NW status respectively (p=0.00001). Surprisingly, 91.3% of graduate or postgraduate mothers of middle SES perceived their children as NW status while actually only 39.1% were of NW and 52.1% of UW (p=0.00001).Conclusion: Half of the mothers were not able to perceive correct weight status of their children. Misperception was significant for girls. Significant difference between perceived and actual weight status was seen for birth orders 1 to 4. Mothers <40 years of age significantly failed to perceive actual UW status of the children. Both educated and uneducated mothers misclassified their children's weight status significantly.
ABSTRACT
Metaphors are increasingly used for learning in medical education.1,2 Learning can be facilitated by giving homologous/analogous examples and story-telling.3-5 The undergraduate students are involved, and learning becomes enjoyable and stress-free. Here is a conversation between two NSAIDs while travelling in anthropomorphic forms (human beings) and discussing the detailed pharmacology and therapeutics of NSAIDs.
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Background: Excessive use of mobile phones, including smart phones, is found to result in various health related, social and psychological problems. Nomophobia expands to ‘No Mobile Phobia’, i.e., fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Previous studies on nomophobia have focused on the student populations, since the younger generation is more technology savvy. This questionnaire-based study aimed to know the prevalence and factors leading to nomophobia in general population.Methods: This study was conducted in western Gujarat from September 2018 to October 2018. A prevalidated questionnaire, containing three parts, the demographic details, details about the characteristics of mobile phone use and the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), was sent through emails and WhatsApp to 1000 individuals. The responses were tabulated and analyzed.Results: Out of 331 respondents 192 (58%) were males and 139 (42%) females. There was no significant difference in average NMP scores with respect to gender (p = 0.401), age brackets (p = 0.135), marital status (p = 0.123) and profession (p = 0.055). However, NMP scores were significantly more in individuals who spent more time on mobile phones per day (p = 0.000), checked their mobile phones more frequently (p<0.000) and in whom phantom ringing syndrome was also present (p<0.000). 241 respondents (72.80%) felt that their mobile phone use was consuming time and affecting their other daily activities.Conclusions: Nomophobia is an emerging health related adverse effect of prolonged mobile phone use. Interventions are required to promote judicious use of mobile phones.
ABSTRACT
Objectives - To compare the safety and efficacy of prostaglandin E2 gel with I.V. oxytocin for induction of labour. Methods - Over 200 pregnant women admitted for induction of labour were randomly allocated into two groups; Group A (100 women) who had pre induction cervical ripening with prostaglandin E2 gel; Group B(100 women) who received IV oxytocin without cervical ripening. Statistical analysis used: Student t test, Z test, correlation of coefficient. Results: The demographic characteristics of the women and indications of labor in both groups were comparable. The mean Bishop score at 12 hours in group A and group B were 9.33 ±1.63 and 5.76 ±3.07 respectively and were statistically significant (p<0.05). The mean duration of labor in group A was 8.99±4.7 hours and in group B was 16.22±5.11 hours. The difference was highly significant (p< 0.0005). The complications and side effects were minimal with good neonatal outcome in group A compared to group B. Conclusion: Prostaglandin E2 gel when used intracervically is a safe and effective method for induction of labour.
ABSTRACT
Despite availability of a number of oral antidiabetics, a sizeable population of diabetics remains uncontrolled. Thus there is growing need of new group of drugs for diabetic control. Understanding renal conservation of glucose by efficient reabsorption through sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) has paved way for development of an entirely new group of drugs, the SGLT-2 inhibitors. These glucosuric antidiabetic agents have shown promise in early clinical studies. Canagliflozin is recently approved for use in diabetes alone or along with other antidiabetics. Other highly selective inhibitors undergoing various stages of clinical developments are dapagliflozin, sergliflozin, remogliflozin, ipragliflozin, empagliflozin, luseogliflozin, tofogliflozin and desoxyrhaponticin. KGA-2727 (pyrazole-O-glucoside) is the first selective SGLT-1 inhibitor undergoing intense preclinical testing. There are safety issues associated with this group like urogenital infections (fungal), weight loss, initial osmotic diuresis and increased incidence of cardiovascular events. The long term safety remains to be established. Despite these limitations, SGLT-2 inhibition offers a unique target for achieving adequate control of diabetes in adults.
ABSTRACT
Vertigo is a sense of whirling and rotation and is frequently associated with nausea and vomiting. Vertigo is a cardinal manifestation of vestibular disorders. Pharmacotherapy is required for symptomatic treatment of vertigo and motion sickness irrespective of the aetiology. Drugs like cinnarizine, betahistine and scopolamine are time honoured drugs. Antihistaminics and phenothiazines are also useful agents. Surprisingly, very few newer agents have shown undisputed efficacy against vertigo. This review describes the neurotransmitters involved in the genesis of vertigo and current status and evolution of appropriate pharmacological options for the treatment.