RESUMO
Background: Multiple choice questions (MCQs) are a common method for formative and summative assessment of medical students. Item analysis enables identifying good MCQs based on difficulty index (DIF I), discrimination index (DI), distracter efficiency (DE). The objective of this study was to assess the quality of MCQs currently in use in pharmacology by item analysis and develop a MCQ bank with quality items.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 148 second year MBBS students at NKP Salve institute of medical sciences from January 2018 to August 2018. Forty MCQs twenty each from the two term examination of pharmacology were taken for item analysis A correct response to an item was awarded one mark and each incorrect response was awarded zero. Each item was analyzed using Microsoft excel sheet for three parameters such as DIF I, DI, and DE.Results: In present study mean and standard deviation (SD) for Difficulty index (%) Discrimination index (%) and Distractor efficiency (%) were 64.54±19.63, 0.26±0.16 and 66.54±34.59 respectively. Out of 40 items large number of MCQs has acceptable level of DIF (70%) and good in discriminating higher and lower ability students DI (77.5%). Distractor efficiency related to presence of zero or 1 non-functional distrator (NFD) is 80%.Conclusions: The study showed that item analysis is a valid tool to identify quality items which regularly incorporated can help to develop a very useful, valid and a reliable question bank.
RESUMO
Background: In an era of rapidly rising health care costs generic medicines provide a less expensive alternative to branded medicines. In addition to reducing the overall health care expenditure, it has been shown to improve adherence. Objective was to study knowledge and perception about generic drugs among patients coming to outpatient department of tertiary care centre.Methods: After ethical approval a cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted. Patients (n=71) were interviewed according to questionnaire in vernacular language by investigator to fill questionnaire.Results: About 28% people think that price of generic drug is less than a branded drug while nearly 61% of people don’t know of it. Only 18.85% participants had taken generic medicine. Trusting efficacy of generic drugs only 30 participants were in favour it. Even they have not seen or heard publicity of generic drugs (61.97%). They (60.56%) opined that generic drugs never prescribe in our country.Conclusions: Limitation in knowledge and perception about generic medicines has been seen among participants.
RESUMO
Background: There has been a rapid increase in the number of drugs entering the market from last few decades. Preclinical and clinical data are insuffi cient to conclude the complete safety of drugs. Hence, it is necessary to have a robust pharmacovigilance system in place to generate safety signals. Under reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) exists as an inherent weakness of current voluntary reporting scheme. This study was therefore taken up, to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice about ADR reporting among doctors in a tertiary care center. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, which included prescribers of a tertiary care teaching hospital. We tried to fi nd out the possible ways to improve reporting of ADR and factors responsible for defi cient reporting of ADRs. Results: After analyzing the data, we observed that 59% of the responders were aware of the ADRs reporting system. And the most encouraging fi nding was 94% of the respondents think that this reporting system is necessary. However, the practice was very poor just 14% among the respondents. 74% and 61% of participants felt creating awareness among healthcare professionals, and training to healthcare professionals would lead to improvement in reporting of ADRs respectively. Main factors which discouraged ADR reporting by healthcare professionals were reporting would lead to extra work 70.5%, non-availability of forms 64.5%. Conclusion: The defi ciencies in ADR reporting require attention so as to improve spontaneous reporting and enhance safety of patients.