Day time sleepiness in medical undergraduates: social media the culprit?

Background: Medical undergraduates have been seen to be suffering from sleep disturbances, especially daytime sleepiness. Social Media usage or social networking has also tremendously increased over the past few years in adolescents. It has also increased in the day-to-day lives of medical students. Authors therefore tried to find out the association, if any, between social Media usage and daytime sleepiness in medical undergraduates and whether daytime sleepiness can affect their academic performance. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the association between daytime sleepiness and usage of social media among medical students and to look for any association of daytime sleepiness with academic performance.Methods: A self-administered, questionnaire-based study was conducted on medical undergraduate students to assess social media usage. Epworth sleepiness score was determined. ‘Analysis of variance’ was done to look for any association between (a) social media usage and daytime sleepiness (b) daytime sleepiness and academic performance.Results: The majority of students (77.14%) used social media for 2-5hours per day and whatsapp was the most commonly used medium by them. Highly significant association was observed between the usage of social media and daytime sleepiness among the medical undergraduates. Daytime sleepiness was also significantly related to the academic performance of the participating students.Conclusions: Sleep disturbance particularly daytime sleepiness is significantly associated with the usage of social media among first year medical undergraduates and can significantly affect their academic performance.

Perceptions regarding Problem-Based Learning as a Teaching Learning Strategy among medical students.

Background & Objectives: Problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education can be considered as the most significant innovation in educational tools in the past 35 years. This study was conducted to evaluate the students’ perceptions regarding PBL which will provide inputs to rectify the curriculum. Methods: The study was conducted in two years on two batches of 100 students each. Six PBL exercises on different topics were successively allotted to each batch of students in groups of 15-18. At the end of each year, the students were asked to fill a 21-item questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale, regarding their perceptions for PBL. The mean/median scores of ≥3 was considered as positive attitude towards PBL Results: For 20 items related to PBL as T-L strategy and its effect on professional attitude, the mean/median scores was observed to be ≥3. Mean score of 2.04 and median score of 2 was found for the item that considered PBL as a waste of time; reinforcing the liking for PBL. Interpretation and Conclusion: PBL empowers students to engage in collaborative learning, improves inter-personal skills, enhances pre-existing knowledge and develops a professional attitude. It is recommended that it should be integrated in future Indian medical curriculum.

Pros And Cons Of Problem-Based Learning In Medical Education: Students’ Viewpoint.

Background and Objectives: Problem-based learning (PBL) is an innovative educational approach in which the students determine what they need to learn. The present study was done to review the pros and cons of PBL, with the aim to introduce reforms in the traditional teaching methodology.Methods: A total of 200 MBBS students participated in the study. Six PBL exercises were allotted to the students and after their completion, they were asked to fill the questionnaire regarding their perceptions about PBL on a 5-point Likert scale, as well as open ended questions to elicit two reasons each for liking and disliking PBL.Results: Regarding the students’ perceptions, the mean/median scores of all the items was found to be ≥ 3, indicating the positive inclination of students towards PBL. The major favourable factors of PBL were the opportunity of group discussion (16%) and better understanding (15.8%). The major drawbacks in PBL were that preparation required more time (20.5%), inadequate discussion (12.8%) and large group size(11.0%) Interpretation and Conclusion: Students generally favour PBL, as it enhances their ability to handle and solve real-life problems; however, few of the challenges are also accompanied with it which should be looked into to improvise it.

Cross -Sectional Study of ‘Abnormal Body Mass Index As A Risk Factor for Premenstrual Syndrome’ In Adolescent Girls of NCR.

Background And Objectives: Adolescent period is characterized by profound psychological, behavioural and hormonal changes. Adolescents with high body mass index are susceptible to a host of metabolic functional abnormalities and clinical problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate association between occurrence of PMS and body mass index (BMI) if any, in adolescent girls. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 407 healthy adolescent girls in 12-18 years age group. Study Tool used is the widely accepted premenstrual syndrome self evaluation questionnaire by Allen Lawrence. The participants were asked to fill in responses for each premenstrual symptom before, during and after menstruation, stating intensity grading from 0-4. Data was analyzed by using SPSS software version 16. Chi- square and student’s t-test were used for statistical calculations. Result: In the study, mean observed body mass index was found to be 22.86 +/- 5.22 kg/m2. The study revealed that PMS occurred in 63.2% of the participants and Occurrence of PMS was significantly high (p<0.05) in participants with high BMI. Conclusion: This study revealed that PMS occurs in a high proportion of adolescent age group. Furthermore, this study reveals that high body mass index is positively associated with PMS.

A prospective study for comparison of hematological parameters in healthy young adult and elderly age group subjects.

Aims & Objectives: This study of hematological parameters is the object of continuing intensive research of hematopoietic system to the functional integrity in aging. (1) Assessment of Hb, total RBC count in healthy young adult as well as in elderly subject.(2) Assessment of Hct & blood indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) in healthy young adult as well as in elderly subject.(3) Comparing the values of Hb & total RBC count in healthy young adult with the elderly subject.(4) Comparing the values of Hct & blood indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) in healthy young adult with the elderly subject.(5) To co-relate the results of present study with findings of other studies. Material & Methods: The hematological indices analysed were Hb, HCT, and Total RBC Count, Blood indices like MCV, MCH & MCHC. Hematological values were measured by the different method in laboratory with the use of standard test reagent. Results: In present study, the result shows that a significant decrease in Hb concentration and RBC count are associated with decrease in Hct, MCH, MCHC and little increase in MCV. Conclusion: In present study, the overall assessment shows that a significant decrease in Hb concentration, reticulocyte count and RBC count are associated with decrease in Hct, MCH, MCHC and little increase in MCV. These results show a significant decrease in haematological parameters in old age and fairly accurate reflection of decreased erythropoietic activity of bone marrow.

Autologous platelet gel and its clinical application.

Platelets are attracted to a wound or injury site stimulating the clotting and healing cascades. Degranulated platelets release numerous substances including proteins known as growth factors. Growth factors signal undifferentiated stem cells to the site, promote cell mitosis, and stimulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Cytokines, which attract neutrophils, are also released from platelet granules. Concentrating platelets 4x to 5x the baseline level accelerates the healing process. When platelet rich plasma is mixed with an activator, a platelet gel will form. Clinical applications of platelet gel are numerous. Some benefits include a marked decrease in post-surgical swelling and bruising, reduction in surgical site pain, elimination of drains, and acceleration of bone growth and soft tissue healing. Scientific publications support that autologous biomaterial accelerates the healing process.

Aging and its theories.

Several factors (the lengthening of the average and, to a lesser extent, of the maximum human life span; the increase in percentage of elderly in the population and in the proportion of the national expenditure utilized by the elderly) have stimulated and continue to expand the study of aging. Recently, the view of aging as an extremely complex multifactorial process has replaced the earlier search for a distinct cause such as a single gene or the decline of a key body system. This mini review keeps in mind the multiplicity of mechanisms regulating aging; examines them at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels; and explores the possibility of interactions at these three levels. The heterogeneity of the aging phenotype among individuals of the same species and differences in longevity among species underline the contribution of both genetic and environmental factors in shaping the life span. In this mini review, several theories are identified only briefly; a few (evolutionary, gene regulation, cellular senescence, free radical, and neuro-endocrineimmuno theories) are discussed in more detail, at molecular, cellular, and systemic levels.