Orientation programme for first year medical students. a qualitative study

Objective: To estimate the perceptions of the students regarding its usefulness in academic and future prospects and to get a clear picture of having promoted learning and ascertaining the standards

Study Design: A mixed methods research design was adopted

Place and Duration of Study: Wah Medical College Wah Cantt, from Nov 2016 to Oct 2017

Material and Methods: Sixty-five students of the first year MBBS were given questionnaire, quantitative data on the feedback of orientation week was analyzed through the SPSS version 21. Likert based statistics were analyzed as mean +/- SD. The significance of gender related responses was found out by using Chi square test at a p-value of 0.05. The qualitative data was analyzed to identify emerging themes

Results: Out of 65 students 26 [40 percent] were males and 39 [60 percent] were females. About half of the students [44.6 percent] strongly agreed that the objective were clearly communicated. About 46.2 percent of the students felt that the environment was safe and conducive for learning. Qualitative analysis generated nine themes in which the most important were the future impact of the orientation week, interactive teaching, the concepts of medical ethics and professionalism

Conclusion: The students found that the topics discussed during the orientation week were of great relevance and time allocated was adequate. However, it unfolded a couple of topics that needed more elaboration which could be incorporated in the upcoming years

Effects of iodine deficiency goiter on academic performance of girls

Iodine is an essential micronutrient and is essential in minute amounts for the normal physical and mental growth, development and well being of all humans. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of iodine deficiency Goiter on academic performance of girls and to compare these effects between Grade I and Grade II goiter. The study was conducted in different schools of Wah Cantt and Abottabad from 1[st] February 2011 to 30[th] June 2011. This is a descriptive / School based observational study. To assess the effects of iodine deficiency Goiter on academic performance of girls, 300 girls [10-19 years of age] were interviewed. A pre-tested closed ended questionnaire was designed. Different variables were included in the questionnaire regarding the subject. Results were summed and statistically analyzed using SPSS 10.0. Of the total number of girls interviewed 38 percent belong to 10 - 14 years and 62 percent belong to 15 - 19 years age group. In 18% subjects goiter was present since birth, 23% were having goiter for the last 5-10 years, while in 59% girls the duration of illness was less than 5 years. Academic performance was poor in 11%, satisfactory in 49%, good in 30% and excellent in only 2%. School attendance was poor in 18%, satisfactory in 34%, good in 34% and excellent in only 6%. The main reasons for absence from school were continuous illness and lack of self interest. It can be concluded from our study that iodine deficiency Goiter can affect the academic performance of girls. The academic performance was better among girls with Grade I goiter as compare to girls with Grade II. Academic performance of girls, with duration of illness < 5 years, was better as compared to those who were having goiter for longer than 5 years because cognitive functions deteriorate with increasing duration of illness. Emphasis should be on health education regarding the use of iodized salt to prevent iodine deficiency Goiter

Iron deficiency anemia; role of nutritional deprivation among female patients of reproductive age group

1] To determine the frequency of different causes of iron deficiency anemia in female patients of reproductive age group. 2] To determine the association between lack of balanced diet and iron deficiency anemia. Cross-sectional analytical study. Federal government services hospital, Islamabad. From July 2008 to November 2008. The study included female patients of reproductive age group i.e. 15-49 years of age having hemoglobin less than 11.5g/dl. The sampling technique was purposive. The data was analyzed using Microsoft excel 2000 and SPSS 10.0. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the direction of relationship between total nutritional score and level of hemoglobin; student's t-test was used to determine the significance of association. Ap-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. A positive correlation was observed between total nutritional score and level of hemoglobin [r=0.402, p-value = 0.008]. Correlation between animal protein and level of hemoglobin was 0.438 [p-value = 0.004] while between plant protein and level of hemoglobin was 0.211 [p-value = 0.179]. It is concluded that there is a definite role of nutritional deprivation in the development of iron deficiency anemia. Lack of balanced diet especially protein group has much stronger association with this type of anemia. Animal protein as compared to plant protein has strong association with the development of iron deficiency anemia

Chlorpromazine and frusemide in the management of acute hypertensive emergencies

Antihypertensive effect of parenteral chlorpromazine and frusemide was studied prospectively in 12 patients with blood pressure of more than 200/130 mm of Hg. Satisfactory response to single administration was seen in 9 patients while 2 patients required repeat administration, one woman died of intracranial haemorrhage before the effect of therapy could be fully assessed. Chlorpromazine and frusemide given parenterally are effective and safe in the management of hypertensive emergencies especially when sophisticated monitoring facilities are lacking and staff levels are limited