Student perspective about one minute perceptorship in a busy outpatient setting

Objective: To evaluate the students' experiences about One Minute Preceptor [OMP] as an instructional tool

Study Design: Case study

Place and Duration of Study: Riphah International University, Islamic International Medical College Trust, Pakistan Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2013 to March, 2014

Material and Methods: Non-probability convenience sampling of 75 final year medical students who had experienced OMP during their rotation in gynecology department was done. A survey questionnaire having 12 closed ended statements and 3 open ended questions regarding OMP was designed. The students were asked to fill in the forms at the end of their rotation using a 7 point agreement Lickert scale after taking informed consent. The survey form was filled in anonymously to protect the identity of the students. The questions included the efficacy of OMP in making concepts, time utilization, skills learnt, understanding the clinical diagnosis and management. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 17 to calculate frequency analysis of the survey. Content analysis was done using NVIVO 10 by text query analysis to produce word frequency table, cluster analysis and word cloud

Results: Quantitative analysis of our study show that OMP is a useful instructional tool for improving presentation skills [78.2%], providing feedback [72%], formulation of an assessment plan [75.9%] and encouragement to read more about the disease [77%]. Qualitative analysis shows that it is a student friendly tool which provides instruction in a short period of time. Time was the most commonly used word in all the 7 themes including clinical skills, case presentation, decision making, problem solving, time management, organization and resources

Conclusion: OMP is perceived as a good tool to improve presentation skills, clinical evaluation of the patient, making a plan of action and providing feedback in a short clinical encounter with the patient

Peer assisted learning as a formal instructional tool

To explore the utility of peer assisted learning [PAL] in medical schools as a formal instructional tool. Grounded theory approach. King Edward Medical University, Lahore, from July 2011 to December 2011. A study was designed using semi-structured in-depth interviews to collect data from final year medical students [n=6], residents [n=4] and faculty members [n=3], selected on the basis of non-probability purposive sampling. The qualitative data thus generated was first translated in English and transcribed and organized into major categories by using a coding framework. Participants were interviewed two more times to further explore their perceptions and experiences related to emergent categories. An iterative process was employed using grounded theory analysis technique to eventually generate theory. PAL was perceived as rewarding in terms of fostering higher order thinking, effective teaching skills and in improving self efficacy among learners. PAL can offer learning opportunity to medical students, residents and faculty members. It can improve depth of their knowledge and skills

Thyroidectomy in carcinoma thyroid - a three years experience

Twenty-five patients were operated for thyroid malignancy in dept. of Surgery, SRGH, Lahore over a period of 3 years. From Nov 2001 to Nov 2004. Carcinoma was diagnosed on FNAC in 10 pts [40%] and Total Thyroidectomy planned as first and definite procedure. In rest of 15 patents [60%] complete thyroidectomy was performed after initial total lobectomy and subsequent Histopathology. Eight pts were found to have follicular carcinoma and 16 had papillary carcinoma revealed on H/P of resected specimen. Thyroid function tests in almost all showed euthyroid status. The only exception was a female pt who`s hormonal assay showed hypothyroidism but she was operated for FNAC suggested follicular adenoma. All the pts had Iodine-131 whole body scan for residual thyroid and metastatic disease. No thyroxin was started before Iodine-131 scan. Twenty pts were given single dose of 50-75 miCu ff radioiodine, followed by thyroxin in suppressive dose. No recurrence of tumor noted during follow-up 2 years. Only one pt diagnosed finally as thyroiditis on histology of resected specimen. On FNAC, she had suspicion of follicular neoplasm mandating thyroidectomy. A female prepondondrance with age ranging from 15-45 yrs was observed