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Background: Medical students are reported to have high levels of mental distress that includes problems such as anxiety, depression, and stress due to the highly competitive curriculum. In the post-pandemic era with a renewed perspective toward health system and popularization of online classes, current batch of students are exposed to diverse sources of mental distress. Aims and Objectives: Objectives of this study were to find out the socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics, family background and academic profile of the study participants, and to estimate the proportion of different varieties of mental distress among them, and to examine relationship of mental distress with sociodemographic, behavioral and academic profile. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed on 649 undergraduate students by census method using depression anxiety stress scale-21 items. Results: The study participants are predominantly Hindu, urban, unmarried, hostelites, males from nuclear families and belonging to upper socioeconomic class according to Modified B.G Prasad Socioeconomic Status Scale (January 2022). The proportion of depression, anxiety, and stress among study participants was found to be 49.61%, 58.86%, and 33.13%, respectively. Proportion of mental distress was significantly higher in the age group of 21–24 years. Those who preferred to study more at night were more anxious and stressed. Stress was higher in students with addiction to gadgets too. Participants hailing from rural areas, hostelites, and paying guests were relatively more depressed. Conclusion: There is urgent need for emotional support and provision of personalized counseling for the MBBS students as unchecked mental distress can turn into severe psychological morbidity.
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Background: Over the counter drugs (OTC) are the drugs that can be sold by the pharmacist without the prescription of registered medical practitioner. There is an increase in the trend of usage of OTC drugs because of busy lifestyle which can result in adverse drug reactions, drug interaction, abuse, and misuse of drugs. Since medical students are future doctors and play an important role in educating the patients regarding benefits and risks of using OTC drugs, the present study is undertaken to assess the knowledge and practice of OTC drugs among MBBS students. Aim and Objectives: The main objectives of this study was to determine the commonly used OTC drugs and indications for the use of OTC drugs among MBBS students and to assess their knowledge on safety of use of OTC drugs. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, and questionnaire-based study was conducted during December 2021 among 2nd year MBBS students, after getting approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Students were explained about the purpose of the study and questionnaire was administered to the students. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: In our study, we observed that 75.3% of students practiced self-medication (SM) using OTC drugs for minor illnesses. The most common drugs used for SM were analgesics, antipyretics and antihistamines. The most common reason for using OTC drugs is due to influence from family and friends/seniors (30.2%). Conclusion: Use of OTC is widely practiced among health care professionals, since they are exposed to knowledge of drugs, from 2nd year MBBS itself. Since students are future doctors and play a very important role in communication of knowledge regarding medical therapy including use of OTC drugs to the patients, they should be educated in a larger way regarding pros and consequences of use of OTC drugs.
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Background: The onset of the aggressive Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated masks for the health care community. For healthcare workers, proper knowledge, a good attitude and increased comfortability with masks are of great essence. Knowledge of proper use and handling of masks among health care workers and medical students is of utmost importance as they protect the wearer and those around from transmission of infection. Aim and Objectives: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of 2nd year MBBS Students Regarding the Use of Face Mask to Limit the Spread of the New COVID-19. Materials and Methods: After obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee with an ethical approval no. of IEC/2020/2/42, a questionnaire with 14 questions was prepared to investigate the knowledge, attitude, practices, and problems faced by 2nd Year MBBS students with regards to wearing a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was sent electronically, consent was obtained and the responses were analyzed. Results: Assessment of knowledge revealed that 87.3% of participants knew the correct way of using a mask, 87.3% knew that there are three layers in it and 83.3% knew that the middle layer acts as the filter media barrier. Only 32.4% of participants knew that a surgical mask can be used for 8 hours and 92.2% incorrectly indicated cloth masks to be as effective in protection from COVID-19 as surgical masks are. About 97.1% of participants knew the purpose of metal strips and 93.1% knew the extent to which a surgical mask must cover. The attitude was excellent with 95.1% of participants believing that surgical masks can help, 90.2% saying they knew the steps of wearing a mask, and participants wearing masks at all times when conversing with patients and in public as well. Perturbingly, only 24.5% of participants faced no issues when wearing a mask. Conclusion: Overall, respondents displayed thorough knowledge and exuded a highly positive attitude but less than a fourth of respondents faced no issues while wearing a mask. Continued educational efforts and more research into mask comfort is the need of the hour.
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Background: Lectures have always been the most popularly used teaching-learning method since time immemorial. However recently in today’s computer age, PowerPoint method has gained popularity over traditional blackboard teaching method. The use of the blackboard by a teacher depended on teacher’s ability to draw and write on the board. It provided a variety of opportunities for modifying the presentation of the subject content. Chalkboard aid is inexpensive, easy to clean and reuse, allows students to keep pace with the teacher, and is not dependent on electricity. PPT has the advantages of using colors, fonts, diagrams, and animations. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study was to compare blackboard teaching method with PowerPoint teaching method by pre- and post-questionnaire and evaluation of feedback from 1st year MBBS students in the subject of physiology. Materials and Methods: This comparative study was conducted at Nootan Medical College and Research Center, Visnagar, Gujarat on October–December 2019 as a part of Project for the Advance Course in Medical Education. A total of 150 students were participated and their consent was taken. After that, students were divided randomly into two groups, Group A and Group B, each having 75 students. Two different topics with same difficulty level were taught to both groups by both the methods with pre- and post-test of five multiple choice questions. After that, feedback questionnaire with ten questions was given to both groups regarding both the methods. Results of pre- and post-test were analyzed by paired t-test. Results: Mean post-test result for blackboard method was slightly higher than that for PowerPoint Method. Values are statistically significant when analyzed by Paired t-test. Conclusion: Blackboard teaching method is preferred over PowerPoint teaching method in the learning physiology by 1st year MBBS students. Blackboard teaching method has more retention rate, better understanding of topic, and more interactive, effective, and sufficient time available for taking notes.
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Background: Internet addiction disorder is identified as a matter of grave concern likely to cause physical, psychological, and social issues. Hence, this survey was designed to study its degree and impact on second MBBS students of a medical college in India. Aims and Objectives: Objectives were to determine the degree of internet addiction, its effect on personal relationships, academics, psychological and physical health along with commonly accessed applications, and monthly expenditure. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out wherein each participant was provided with a pre-validated questionnaire of which Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was a part. Results: Of 108 participants, the ratio of males to females was 1:1. According to the IAT score, regular use was noted in 28 students whereas mild and moderate addiction was observed in 53 and 27 students, respectively. Academic performance was most affected (3.71 ± 2.03 vs. 6.53 ± 2.49 vs. 9.15 ± 1.59) while personal relationships were least affected (1.43 ± 1.45 vs. 2.07 ± 1.59 vs. 2.96 ± 2.63) across all grades. Deleterious effect on physical and psychological health was seen with increasing grades of addiction which was statistically significant. Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Google were commonly accessed with majority (n = 94) of participants spending <500 INR monthly. Conclusion: Our study inferred that mild and moderate addiction was commonly seen in students and can be a potential cause for physical and psychosocial issues. Nonetheless, the situation can be managed by employing a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, and support group therapy.
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Background: Complementary and alternative medicine is very robust in some parts of the world. The study was done to impart the experiential learning related to sources of drugs in a pharmacy practical class for MBBS students.Methods: We used ingredient-tray (I-Tray) teaching tool consisting of two parts to generate experiential learning in MBBS students about ethno pharmacological sources of drugs. Innovatively designed I -tray filled with two sizes plastic containers (100 ml and 50 ml sizes used for collecting biological samples of sputum and urine) containing crude drug medicinal sources which were arranged in gutters of the tray. They were sorted into five categories such as plants (flowers of Vinca rosea, bark of Terminalia arjuna, roots of Rauwolfia serpentine and Eucalyptus leaves); animals (formalin preservatives freshwater leech, shells and vaccines); minerals (kaolin, potassium permanganate and charcoal); oils and others. Three charts of 4 square feet sizes were used for demonstration of synthetic, microbiological and genetically engineered drug sources.Results: The students’ approval rate of I-tray was mean yes value of 105.78 for a tool of active learning out of total 113 students. Around 100%, 98.23 % and 97.35% students utilised application of concept (cognition), faculty of smell (affective) and volunteering (psychomotor) in the class. However female students had statistically significant score against this set up of the class depicting gender specificity of the learning process.Conclusions: Thus teaching traditional sources of drugs through I-tray impart higher order social, place based and experiential learning of medicine.
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Background andObjectives: Overweight and obesity are not only the biggest problem among the middle-aged but also among children, teenagers and young adults. Early detection of the factors causing obesity, in turn, helps in the prevention of its complications. The objectives of the study were to assess the various lifestyle practices among medical students and to correlate the relationship between the nutritional status and biochemical parameters.Methods:A cross-sectional -study was conducted on MBBS students studying at Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), Mandya, Karnataka, India. Self-administered questionnaires were given to the students followed by the recording of their anthropometric measurements. Nutritional status was assessed using the Body Mass Index (BMI). Fasting blood sample was collected from the student and analysed the biochemical parameters.Results: Out of 325 students, 48.9% were male students and 51.1% were female students. Itwas found that a higher percentage of female students (53%) was on a balanced diet as compared to male students (47.2%). The daily consumption of fruits and vegetables were less amongst students of both genders. Mean values of Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG) and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) were higher among male students as compared to female students. Mean values of few biochemical parameters like FBS, TC, TG and LDL-C were higher amongst obese students along with a corresponding decrease in High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C).Conclusion:Our study showed that unhealthy dietary and lifestyle practices were associated with increased levels of various biochemical parameters and it was more common amongst male students. Increased biochemical parameters like FBS, TC, TG and LDL-C with the corresponding decrease in HDL-C is an alarming sign for increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease among the younger age group.
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Background: Universal precautions is an approach to infection control to treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne pathogens. The CDC recommends Standard Precautions for the care of all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. Health care personals are at risk of being exposed to blood-borne pathogens. The aim of the study to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical and nursing students towards universal precautions.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out at S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka. The participants were medical and Nursing undergraduate students. A questionnaire was prepared based on the WHO and CDC guidelines on Universal Precautions and was validated and pre-tested before finalization. Degree of knowledge was ascertained by means of yes-no questions on each item being evaluated.Results: All students were aware of Universal precautions, but soundness of their knowledge is very poor. Compliance in Universal precautions is good to average in nursing students but poor to average in medical students.Conclusions: It can be concluded that interventions to improve Universal precautions among medical students, nursing students urgently needed. So, there is a need for developing strategies to promote the use of Universal precautions which take into account behaviour change and accuracy of knowledge including its integration into practice. Teaching universal precautions early in their curriculum is necessary for better learning and practices during their posting.
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Background: With digitization the e-learning modalities are being increasingly used by medical students. These often help the first MBBS students to overcome limitations of conventional teaching methods like didactic lectures. However, e-learning is not official part of medical education in India and the awareness about its use among medical students need to be evaluated. Aim and objective of the study was to assess the extent to which MBBS first year students use e-resources for learning as well as to assess knowledge, attitude, skills and habits of first MBBS students towards e-learning.Methods: A questionnaire of twenty five questions on various aspects of e-learning was administered to the first MBBS students at two medical colleges. The data generated from responses was compiled and analyzed on SPSS to get insight on various aspects of e-learning.Results: Out of 236 students surveyed 77.97% were aware about the academic websites related to first MBBS subjects. 90.68 % accepted that e-learning helped in understanding topics, 84.32% recommended conventional teaching to be supplemented with e-learning. However there was no statistically significant difference between responses from two groups i.e. female and male students (p>0.05).Conclusions: The majority of first MBBS students use e-resources for learning various topics in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. The e-resources have made a positive impact on overall learning especially anatomy. e-learning can supplement conventional teaching in the first year of medical training.
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Background: World Health Organization (WHO) defines physical activity as “any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Since medical education is considered stressful due to voluminous academics, it leaves little time for the students to relax and recreate. Hence the present study had been undertaken with an aim to study various trends of physical activity, health status and academic performance among medical students and to find out any association between physical activity and health status, academic performance of medical students.Methods: A cross-sectional study had been undertaken among 2nd and 3rd year MBBS students of our medical college. Physical activity was assessed using GPAQ version 2 questionnaire and mental status of students was measured using hospital anxiety and depression scale. Height, weight, and BMI, of each student along with demographic details were collected. The total percentage of any one of the internal marks of each student was taken for assessing the academic performance.Results: Out of total 150 medical students it was found that 44% of medical students were physically inactive and 40.7% of them were highly active. Majority of female students 70.3% were physically inactive and overweight and obesity were higher among them when compared with male students. But anxiety and depressive symptoms were higher among male students. There was statistically significant difference in association between level of physical activity and mental health. The academic performance also increased with increase in physical activity.Conclusions: Physical activity and mental health are related proportionally and it bears a positive influence on the education of the youth. The regular physical activity improves the mental status and academic performance among students.
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Objectives:To frame individualized gender – specific prediction equations for shuttle run distance using 20 metre shuttle run test in healthy, Indian children aged between 7 to 19 years and to correlate shuttle run distance with age, height, weight & body mass index. Methods: 494 subjects between the age group of 7 to 19 years were recruited in this study. Demographic details like age, gender, height, weight and body mass index were noted. 20 metre shuttle run test was performed and shuttle run distance was calculated for all participants. Results: Shuttle run distance significantly correlated with age (r =0.303), height (r =0.357), weight (r =0.294), and body mass index (r =0.126). The gender specific reference equation generated forboys is -367.724 + (27.225 x Age) + (487.457 x Height) – (3.213 x Weight) and for girls is 153.689 +(10.306 x Age) +(118.113 x Height) – (1.421 x Weight). Conclusion: The established prediction equation can be used as a reference to evaluate exercise capacity for children and adolescents and to improve the applicability of the 20 metre shuttle run test in clinical practice
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Introduction: Anemia is a most common public healthproblem affecting around 1.9 billion population of the world.It is a severe public health problem in India. Medical studentsare vulnerable to develop anemia due to irregular eatinghabits due to hectic study schedule. Anemia among this agegroup has significant health consequences resulting in poorcognition, decreased attention span and memory affectingthe performance, depressed immunity, repeated infections,increased fatigue, and shortness of breath, dizziness, blurredvision, low endurance and irregular menstruation.Material and Methods: This study is conducted among 100students of both gender taking admission in MBBS first yearat MAMC, Agroha. Hemoglobin values and other relevantdetails of the students were taken from academic sectionsubmitted at time of admission. World Health Organizationcriteria were taken to determine the severity of anemia.Modified B.G. Prasad scale was used to assess the socioeconomic status of the family. Data was first entered into MSexcel sheet and then was exported to SPSS version 20.0 forappropriate analysis.Results: Prevalence of anemia came out to be 54% amongstudy subjects. Difference between the mean levels ofhemoglobin across the genders came out be statisticallysignificant (P=<0.001).Conclusion: Prevalence of anemia is high among the studysubjects with more prevalence among females study subjects.There is a need to accelerate efforts for achieving control ofanemia by strengthening multi-sectoral partnership involvinggovernment departments, academic institutions, bilateralagencies and food industry.
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Background: Self-medication is an important public health concern globally. Many factors influence the practice of self-medication among medical students, because of the earlier professional exposure to information about drugs in their curriculum. In view of this, the present study has been designed to assess the practice of self- medication among undergraduate medical students. The objective of the study was to assess self- medication practice among undergraduates and to list out the commonly selected drugs and the conditions.Methods: This questionnaire based, cross- sectional model, was conducted among 150 students of 2nd year MBBS for a period of 3 months. This study was approved by Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed consent was obtained from all the participants.Results: Out of 150 students 71 were male and 79 were female students with an average age of 19.5±1.5. 80% of the candidates practiced self- medication, (48%) for headache, followed by cough and cold (45.83%). The drugs preferred primarily were analgesics (67%), antimicrobials (64%), and the source of information was previous prescription (80%). 70% of the study subjects felt that, no need to visit a doctor for minor illness, 50% of the students anticipated, fear of selecting wrong drugs and adverse effects.Conclusions: The practice of self- medication was highly prevalent among these future health care providers. Hence, this study emphasis an urgent need to strengthen the risk outweighs the benefit and consequences of self- medication practice.
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Background: Case scenario based learning offers an interactive approach in medical education. It can be either as case based or problem based. objectives of' This study compared the effectiveness of Case scenario based learning (CBL) over didactic lectures (DL) among final year part II M.B.B.S students. It also compared the student's perception between the two methods.Methods: This interventional study was done in the Department of Pediatrics, Al- Azhar Medical College, Kerala for a period of two months. The participants(n=120) were divided into two groups- A and B who had respectively attended three sessions of CBL and DL on Pediatric infectious diseases. A test was conducted at the end of each session and after 2 weeks in the form of SAQs. A questionnaire was given to the participants about their perception. The data was analysed in SPSS 16 using unpaired t test and Mann- Whitney U test.Results: The mean exam scores for immediate tests were 26.04'1.9 and 19.47'2.8 for Batch A and Batch B respectively. The mean exam scores for the test conducted after two weeks showed significant result with 24.0'2.56 and 18.58'4.03 for Batch A and B respectively. Comparison of student's perception on Likert's scale about the teaching method yielded significant difference for CBL over DL with p<0.001.Conclusions: Case scenario based learning is an innovative method which is sure to invoke more interest and academic excellence in medical students.
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Background: India is currently in need of large number of public health specialists to combat the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. But it was seen that medical students are less interested in a career as a public health specialists. This study aimed to assess the preferences of subjects for future specialization among medical students and to understand their attitude towards Community Medicine as a future career. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 200 MBBS students selected by stratified random sampling at Agartala Govt. Medical College of Tripura during April to May 2018. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 25.0). Results: Medicine was the most preferred subject (35%) for specialization followed by obstetrics and gynecology (16%) and surgery (15%). About 4% of the participants opted Community Medicine for future specialization. Lack of personal satisfaction, lack of future career prospective and lack of opportunity to earn name and money ranked top most cause for not choosing Community Medicine as a career. Conclusions: Preference of Community Medicine for future specialization was very limited among medical students. Interest on Community Medicine as a career among MBBS students can be improved by proper counseling and modification of curriculum.
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Background: Having a healthy behavior and physiology is impossible without normal sleep pattern. Between the ages 18 and 25, people are prone to sleep disturbances. College life, which mostly occurs during this ages also affects the sleep pattern.Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted among MBBS students of Stanley Medical College during august to September 2009. About 300 students were randomly selected using table of random numbers. Data was collected using a questionnaire and entered in SPSS version 16 software. Analysis was done using chi-square test. P value of less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: Prevalence of insomnia is found to be 37% and is significantly higher among males. Disturbed sleep is higher among males.Conclusions: Prevalence of insomnia is 37% and is significantly higher among males. About 26.3% of the participants had disturbed sleep
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Background: Choosing an appropriate Drug Delivery System (DDS) influences the acceptability, adherence and better outcome of the therapy in the patients. The present study was planned to evaluate the second year MBBS students on standardized patients (SP) using Group Objective Structured Clinical Encounters (GOSCE) after content delivery by traditional power point class versus experiential teaching methodology.Methods: DDS practical class was held in two larger groups after adding two odd sub-groups (1+3) as ‘A’ (64 students) and even sub-groups (2+4) as ‘B’ (66 students). The formative GOSCE evaluation was done 2 weeks after the classes by the trained physician examiners as per the Medical Council of Canada pre-determined scoring instruments.Results: The average magnitude of change in GOSCE scoring is extremely statistical significant on t-test (P< 0.0001) in favour of experiential teaching methodology for all the skills. The statistical significant percentage of students were able to extract the treatment history in respect of eliciting problem, reasons for non-compliance, methods of intake, explain the technique and showed the courteous professional behaviours.Conclusions: The clinical cases as SP in pharmacology teaching for developing competency based communication skills and GOSCE are the appropriate methodology for evaluation of large student group for experiential DDS training.
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Background: Antibiotic resistance has become a global threat in the field of medicine. Multiple causes like antibiotic abuse, irrational usage of antibiotics, over the counter availability of antibiotics etc., have been put forth as culprit leading to antibiotic resistance. The present study aims at evaluating the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of antibiotic usage and resistance among undergraduates in South Indian teaching hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey conducted in undergraduate MBBS students including 5th to 9th semester at Department of Pharmacology. The questionnaire comprised off: Demographic data; Knowledge including 12 questions using Four-point likert scale; Attitude and behaviours consisting of 8 questions of Yes/No type. Data were analysed in the software SPSS version 24.0. Association among categorical variable were analysed with Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc Bonferroni test.Results: Among 455, 382 students completed the survey instrument and the response rate was 87%. Statistically significant (p=0.002) results have been obtained for the correct responses of knowledge questionnaire. The order of “good knowledge” about antibiotic usage and resistance according to semesters are graded as VIII>VI>V. Unfortunately, there were no significant results seen with attitude and behaviour.Conclusions: The study concluded that, though there was adequate theoretical knowledge among undergraduate students however they lack in their attitude and behaviour regarding antibiotic usage and resistance. Therefore, they need to improve their attitude and behaviour over antibiotic usage and resistance.