ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Teaching anatomy in a clinical context can aid students in appreciating how the subject will apply to their future career as nurses as well as in other administrative roles. Anatomy is voluminous, making it difficult to retain the factual information in the long run; therefore, this study primarily focuses on whether case-based learning (CBL) with integrated anatomy learning can help in retention of the information over short as well as long spans of time. It also focuses on how profitable would the students be with this different style of learning, and whether it can facilitate in better understanding of the basic and clinical concepts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study was conducted in the Nursing College of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India to integrate CBL and evaluate its effect compared to the highly compartmentalized, didactic lectures among the nursing students. The extent of knowledge retention was analyzed by conducting a series of tests before as well as after CBL intervention. Feedback and suggestions were obtained from the students by using the 5-point Likert scale method. RESULTS: The post-test scores of the students improved by 21% after the CBL. More than 85% of the students opined that CBL improves critical thinking, team work, self-directed learning, and communication skills. CONCLUSION: CBL promotes effective short-term retention and facilitates comprehension of key concepts. CBL also plays an important role in improving the professional skills of the students, which otherwise is not taught, and equips them for their future careers.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life (QOL) and the psychosocial problems of HIV infected children. METHODS: The present study was a comparative, cross-sectional survey conducted in the clinic of a tertiary care hospital in north India from July-December 2007. Children suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) were chosen as a comparison group. Children (3) 6 yr of age with HIV infection or Cystic Fibrosis, with no acute illness at the time of survey were included in the study. Quality of life of the enrolled children was assessed by using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) was used for assessing the psychosocial problems in the enrolled children. RESULTS: Forty one HIV infected and 30 children with cystic fibrosis were enrolled. According to child self -report in the PedsQL 4.0, the difference of perceived physical health status between the two study groups was statistically significant (p=0.04), with HIV infected children demonstrating a better QOL in this domain. A significantly greater number of children with cystic fibrosis (8/30 or 26.67%) suffered from psychosocial problems as compared to HIV children (3/41 or 7.32%) [p=0.026]. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life and psychosocial functioning is reasonably good in children with HIV infection. Thus, we should strive to maintain and optimize the overall quality of life of these children so that they can have a productive and meaningful future.
