ABSTRACT
Introduction: Most institutes worldwide have experienced a forced shift to online mode education during COVID 19 pandemic. As in Indian Medical Institutions e-learning is not a well-established mode of teaching, it disrupts the newly implemented competency based medical education (CBME). This sudden shift in educational methods introduced new experiences, opportunities, and difficulties among medical teachers and students. In this study we explore undergraduate medical students and teachers’ perception, detailed insights and learning experience on online medical education. Method: This is an institution based mixed methods study conducted at three medical institutes in India. A self-prepared semi structured questionnaire was applied to extract various prospective of teaching and assessment through online mode. Qualitative descriptive design was applied using focused group discussion. All FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify themes and subthemes regarding perceptions of online and offline education. Result: A total of 323 medical students out of 510 and 35 medical teachers out of 71 were included in the study. Most students and teachers agreed to the fact that they faced technical difficulties, perceived less connected, and felt difficulty in achieving desired competencies. In qualitative analysis five major themes (Learning Environment, Technology, Competency, Health issues, Assessment) and multiple subthemes were identified. Conclusion: Improvement of the online teaching methods with appropriate technical advancement may help to reduce the gap between the online and offline teaching learning modalities.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Learning DisabilitiesABSTRACT
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) control activities are implemented in the country for more than 50 years. The countrywide lockdown in 2020 adversely impacted routine health-care services including those for the management of TB. Operational research is needed to know whether Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) (National Tuberculosis Elimination Program) is heading in the right direction as far as the pace and quality of implementation of the program are concerned. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the strength, weaknesses, and opportunities of RNTCP. An analysis of RNTCP was done to identify competencies and gaps. Materials and Methods: The present retroprospective and observational study was carried out at the RNTCP facility of a Government Medical College in the Central India in Madhya Pradesh during the year 2019–20. Samples of 238 patients registered under RNTCP for anti-tubercular treatment were taken in the study. Data were collected using a structured schedule from the RNTCP center and tabulated in a Microsoft Excel sheet, to assess the compliance of RNTCP norms in the management of TB. Results: The most commonly affected age was 16–49 years and the male: female ratio was 3:2. The most common basis of diagnosis was microbiological (60.92%). Follow-up sputum testing was done on time in 64.71% of patients. Adherence to anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) was regular in 78.57% of patients. All patients were telephoned while 43.14% of patients were home visited as a default action. After default action, 35.29% of patients return to regular ATT. Out of all registered patients initiated on ATT, 81.09% were treatment success, while 7.14% lost to follow-up, 2.1% became defaulters, and 4.62% patients died. Conclusion: We conclude that treatment success of TB unit was near the RNTCP norm of 85% which is below the national 88%. The probable reasons for the higher default rate and loss to follow-up rate during the study period could be the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Background: Tuberculosis (TB) control activities are implemented in the country for more than 50 years. The countrywide lockdown in 2020 adversely impacted routine health-care services including those for the management of TB. Operational research is needed to know whether Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) (National Tuberculosis Elimination Program) is heading in the right direction as far as the pace and quality of implementation of the program are concerned. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the strength, weaknesses, and opportunities of RNTCP. An analysis of RNTCP was done to identify competencies and gaps. Materials and Methods: The present retroprospective and observational study was carried out at the RNTCP facility of a Government Medical College in the Central India in Madhya Pradesh during the year 2019–20. Samples of 238 patients registered under RNTCP for anti-tubercular treatment were taken in the study. Data were collected using a structured schedule from the RNTCP center and tabulated in a Microsoft Excel sheet, to assess the compliance of RNTCP norms in the management of TB. Results: The most commonly affected age was 16–49 years and the male: female ratio was 3:2. The most common basis of diagnosis was microbiological (60.92%). Follow-up sputum testing was done on time in 64.71% of patients. Adherence to anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) was regular in 78.57% of patients. All patients were telephoned while 43.14% of patients were home visited as a default action. After default action, 35.29% of patients return to regular ATT. Out of all registered patients initiated on ATT, 81.09% were treatment success, while 7.14% lost to follow-up, 2.1% became defaulters, and 4.62% patients died. Conclusion: We conclude that treatment success of TB unit was near the RNTCP norm of 85% which is below the national 88%. The probable reasons for the higher default rate and loss to follow-up rate during the study period could be the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Asian Journal of Medical Sciences is the property of Manipal Colleges of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)