RESUMO
Background: In order to successfully run a curriculum in a medical college, it is a mandatory to collect regular feedback from the students regarding teaching and learning methodologies. The primary objective of our study was to analyse the various teaching-learning aids and course content of pharmacology. The secondary objective was evaluation of pharmacology practical classes and their relevance in relation to the interests of students as well as clinical application. Methods: This is a cross sectional, open labelled questionnaire based study conducted among 100 2nd year MBBS students of a tertiary care teaching hospital. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions with 4 response options each. Descriptive statistics was used for analysis and interpretation and the results were expressed as percentage frequency of responses. Results: It was revealed from our study that a majority of the students (45%) found microbiology undergraduate practical laboratory more interesting with pharmacology at 35%, which reflects that 65% students think that pharmacology laboratory exercises are boring and less useful. From among the pharmacology practical laboratories (clinical laboratory, experimental pharmacology and pharmacy), majority (47%) of the students opted for clinical prescription and problem based learning exercises as most beneficial. A whopping 55/100 students wanted introduction of clinical case studies as part of the regular practical teaching schedule while 30 students felt that doctor-patient role play should be included in teaching curriculum for better understanding of subject. Surprisingly, 42% of students find audio visual aids as most useful teaching methodologies while 33% students like bilateral (student- teacher) interactive classes. On the contrary, 72% of the students prefer studying pharmacology from combination of both lecture notes, textbooks and their self-prepared notes. 50/100 students wanted inclusion of more case studies and treatment protocols as a part of regular teaching protocol in pharmacology and 30 students wanted more group discussions to be included as a part of teaching curriculum in pharmacology. Conclusion: Pharmacology is a dynamic and continuously evolving branch of medicine. The results of our study are hoped to help in knowing students’ perspective regarding pharmacology teaching and modifying pharmacology teaching patterns for better outcomes.
RESUMO
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of and a leading cause of chronic disability between fourth and fifth decade of life, with a prevalence ranging between 17-60.6% in India. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety profile of glucosamine HCl- sustained release (GLU-SR) with that of Glucosamine HCl- immediate release (GLU-IR) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: This was an open labelled, randomised, controlled trial conducted in a tertiary care hospital at Kanpur. The study involved 60 patients with knee OA, randomised to receive single oral dose of 1,500 mg GLU-SR and GLU-IR for 60 days with 30 patients in each group. The primary efficacy being reduction in pain and improvement in function was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. Intention-to-treat principle, repeated measure of ANOVA and mixed model analysis were used for statistical analysis. The history of adverse reactions experienced was collected throughout the study period. Results: There was a significant reduction in algo functional indices as primary outcome measure in both the groups (P < 0.001). A significant difference (P < 0.05) in the number of patients reporting ADR in the GLU-SR arm (38% lesser) was noted as compared to GLU-IR arm, with no difference in the use of rescue medications in both arms. Conclusions: From the observations made in this study it is concluded that GLU-SR is as effective as GLU-IR in the management of knee OA; with an advantage of having a better safety profile.
RESUMO
Background: Ischemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of global disease burden. Despite treatment with standard therapy, many patients with chronic stable angina pectoris remain symptomatic making it an urgent necessity to introduce new strategies. Hence this study was planned to compare the efficacy and tolerability of Ivabradine and Ranolazine; the two novel antianginal drugs. Methods: This was a single blind, randomised, controlled trial. Thirty patients each taking IVA 5 mg twice daily or RAN 500 mg twice daily were randomised into two groups. Patients filled a pretested questionnaire on frequency of angina attacks and adverse reactions experienced at baseline and 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The haemodynamic parameters, routine laboratory investigations were evaluated at the baseline and after intervention. Results: There was no significant difference in the frequency of angina attacks per week between the IVA and RAN study groups. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) in the number of patients reporting ADR from the IVA group as compared to RAN group. In the IVA group, the most common ADR was dizziness (36.6%); whereas nausea (30%) and dizziness (23.3%) was most common in RAN group. The routine haematological and biochemical evaluations did not show any significant difference between the baseline and post intervention. However, IVA significantly decreased the resting heart rate after eight weeks of intervention.. Conclusion: Both IVA and RAN are comparable and efficacious antianginal agents. However, RAN had a better safety and tolerability profile than IVA.
RESUMO
Background: Temperature and other environmental stressors are known to affect blood pressure and heart rate. The cold pressor test is used clinically to evaluate autonomic and left ventricular functions. Aims: This project was done to test the hypothesis that blood pressure and heart rate is altered during the cold pressor test. Methods: Students performed the cold pressor test, to study the change in blood pressure following an environmental stress. 40 medical students from the Ist year MBBS batches were selected and tested for cold pressor test during 1 to 2 min immersion of one hand in ice water. This test used cold as a stressful stimulus. The response of the subject was measured by the change in blood pressure and heart rate after the application of cold stimulus. Results: The study showed that the correlation between Anxiety state scores and cold pressor test response was not significant statistically. The correlation between Anxiety trait scores and cold pressor test response was also not significant statistically. Conclusion: The results indicate that the blood pressure and heart rate increases following an environmental stress. This activity can be easily adapted and students can learn about the test and carry out the test on their classmates.