RESUMO
Rationality : During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been widespread confusion regarding the acceptance of donated bodies, especially those of COVID-19 unknown status. The present study aims to (1) quantify the fall in the body donation in COVID pandemic times & (2) explore the perception of the recipients of body donation (Anatomy faculties) and the facilitators of body donation (NGO members), regarding the problems they faced. Materials and Methods : A cross sectional study using a pre designed study schedule was conducted over period of two months. 30 Anatomy faculties from 3 Medical Colleges in Kolkata and 20 members from 2 NGOs were interviewed. The actual numbers of the body donation received has been documented from record in Anatomy Departments and actual numbers of the body donation facilitated by NGOs has been obtained from record maintained in NGO office. The responses were analysed accordingly. Results : There was significant decline in body donation activity in all the Medical Colleges during COVID times. 80% Anatomy faculties and 60% NGO members recommended posthumous RTPCR tests for COVID-19 unknown bodies. 93.33% faculties and 60% NGO members also wanted the Government to publish directives for posthumous RTPCR tests in donor抯 body. Most faculties (83.33%) were unsure as to whether embalming fluid can neutralize COVID-19 virus or not. Conclusion, Limitation & Future Scope : This study explored the hesitations, its causes and remedial measures of hindrances in body donation program in COVID times. Being an ICMR STS project, authors needed to wrap up it by only two months time; but it can be used as the pilot to continue same in larger scale. Further researches are required to assess the lethality of embalming fluid on COVID-19 virus in this perspective
RESUMO
Rationality:WhatsApp has been accepted as one of the commonly used social media for communication, texting, instant massaging by us. Now, when the Medical Council of India is stressing upon the Self-Directed Learning, e-learning; and the UG medical curriculum is shifting towards the Competency based medical education; at this juncture this study has been conducted to observe the acceptability of the WhatsApp based learning of the students. Aim:To analyse the feedback of the students for the WhatsApp based group discussion introduced in parallel to the Method: In the tenure of one and half months the Abdomen- viscera demonstration classes a WhatsApp group has been formed with the students. Students were provided with different provoking questions and they were asked to search out the replies by searching internet, books, journals and to post in the group. After the Part-completion, a feedback has been obtained from the students regarding their perception for acceptability of the WhatsApp based discussion in parallel to the classical class-room teaching. Result: majority of the students have replied that (1) It helped them to clear doubts, (2) There was constant schrynchonus or aschrynchonus communication with peers as well as the facilitators, (3) It helped them to study at their own place, at own time, (4) It helped them to participate in the group discussion, even when they stayed apart, (5) It provoked them to find the internet to solve the answers of the questions, i.e. it otherwards, it helped them for self-directed learning unknowingly. Conclusion:Self directed learning, peer assisted group discussion when perceived as one of the positive attribute for the WhatsApp based group discussion, on the other hand the teaching-learning hours also expands outside the class-room hours. So, the core-competencies may be taught in the on-site classroom, whereas the other non-core areas as well as problem-based questions may be discussed in the social media platform with the students