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Background: Pharmacology is one of the important subjects studied during second year MBBS. The general stigma among students regarding pharmacology is that it is a dry and boring subject. Hence lecturers need to reform their teaching methods in order to make pharmacology teaching interesting and a significant learning experience by the students.Methods: A questionnaire based evaluation of 146 second MBBS students about teaching methods in pharmacology was conducted at Shadan institute of medical sciences, Hyderabad. Questionnaire was prepared from previous studies and validated by experts. The questionnaire was given to the students to be solved in one hour.Results: The mean age of the students was 20 plus or minus 2 years. There were 73% females and 27% males. 85% of students felt that pharmacology is an interesting subject. 67.2% wanted more of group discussions. 50.4% did not want any student seminars. 53.9% felt there should be more of problem stimulated lectures in pharmacology. 92% were interested in computer assisted learning. 57.5% of students preferred learning from textbook and class lectures. 68.1% students preferred to study pharmacology for regular tests only, 92% students wanted Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ’s) to be discussed in class.Conclusions: There is a definite need for modification of undergraduate curriculum so as to make pharmacology learning more understandable by students. Novel methods of teaching like small group discussions, computer assisted learning, bed side teaching etc can be adopted to make pharmacology an interesting and useful subject among students.
RESUMEN
Background: The aim of the present study was to monitor and analyze the pattern of occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to commonly used platinum compounds in MNJ Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad. Methods: Cancer patients, who received platinum compounds as chemotherapy regimen, were monitored for adverse reactions. Cancer patients belonging to either gender and of all ages, who were receiving platinum compounds under any standard regimen, were included for the study. Cases that were unlikely, conditional or unaccessible under World Health Organization (WHO)-Uppsala Monitoring Centre causality criteria were excluded from the study. The ADRs were recorded in Central Drugs Standard Control Organization forms. Causality was assessed by the WHO Causality Assessment Scale and Naranjo’s Algorithm. Preventability and severity of ADRs were assessed by modifi ed Schumock and Thornton scale, modifi ed Hartwig and Siegel scale, respectively. Results: Among 100 patients, 78 developed ADRs to platinum compounds. The reactions observed were vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal renal function tests, myelosuppression, anemia, thrombocytopenia, alopecia, and constipation. The WHO Causality Assessment Scale indicated 64.6% “possible” and 35.4% “probably,” but no “certain” reactions. Naranjo’s Algorithm showed 59.4% “possible” 40.6% “probable” reactions. 48% reactions were “defi nitely preventable” 16% were “probably preventable” and 36% were “not preventable.” Modifi ed Hartwig and Siegel Scale of severity assessment showed that 12% reactions were “mild” 69% were “moderate” and 19% were severe. Conclusion: Platinum compounds have high potential for adverse effects. There is a need to improve the management of adverse effects. This study also emphasizes the need to improve pharmacovigilance awareness among physicians in order to improve the pharmacovigilance in India.