ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Clinical decision-making revolves around evidence-based medicine. Evidence-based medicine entails research problems, their evaluation against available scientific literature and implementing the results into practice. Medical undergraduates lack experience in the research process. This study aimed to analyze the difference between the precourse expectations and postcourse perception of students after an interventive, mandatory research module. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort survey was conducted at Azad Jammu Kashmir Medical College, Muzaffarabad. Fourth-year medical students were included in this study. After ethical review board approval, online survey questionnaires were circulated at 2 data points: before starting the research module and after it ended. Data were analyzed and nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon tests were applied to compare the difference in responses, regarding expectation and perception of the research module. RESULTS: Total participants were 104; the response rate was 100% for the expectation questionnaire, whereas it dropped to 77% for the perception questionnaire. Female students had a higher response rate. In comparison of the 2 questionnaires, a statistically significant difference was observed in the student's ability to conduct literature search and critical literature appraisal (P = .000 and .00, respectively). There was also a perceived improvement in scientific writing, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills. Overall, a significant difference was found between the expectation and perception of students. CONCLUSION: Students had high expectations from the research module. After the course, their perception of their own communication skills, research abilities, scientific writing, and research aptitude has significantly improved.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The sub-Tenon's space is a potential space between the capsule and the sclera. This study evaluated complications from sub-Tenon's anaesthesia in different corneal and anterior chamber ophthalmic surgical procedures. METHODS: The prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at the Baqai Medical University, Karachi, from March 2010 to August 2011, and comprised 149 patients for various minor and major intraocular surgeries. All the patients were operated under sub-Tenon's anaesthesia, administered in the inferio-nasal quadrant with a 19G cannula.Their complications were noted on a specific proforma. Data was analysed for frequencies of complications. SPSS 13 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were 82 (55%) males and 67 (45%) females who underwent surgery. There were 89 (59.7%) right eyes and 60 (40%) left eyes. The commonest surgery was phaco-emulsification (n = 79; 53%), followed by extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation (n = 33; 22.1%). Subconjuctival haemorrhage (n = 75; 50.3%) was the commonest complication, and the least common was pain during injection (n = 9; 6%). CONCLUSION: There was no incidence of life-threatening or sight-threatening complications. The procedure was almost pain free and can be simply, safely and effectively given by the beginners with due precautions.
