Inducting undergraduate medical students via WhatsApp-based multiple mini interviews during COVID-19 pandemic.

Selection of medical students requires both cognitive and soft skills assessment. Shalamar Medical and Dental College (SMDC) has been using on-campus multiple mini interviews to assess the latter but due to Covid-19 pandemic it became imperative that an alternative be found. The aim of this communication is to share the process SMDC went through to plan, design, and ultimately conduct WhatsApp-based multiple mini interviews (wMMI) in a low risk method as an entry criteria for undergraduate medical students. The process involved designing scenarios appropriate for online interviews, training the faculty members regarding conducting MMI as well as the use of technology, and designing an online webpage for enrolling, scheduling and assessing candidates. We were able to successfully complete wMMI process for 522 candidates within one week in a low risk setting using WhatsApp as communication medium with strong IT and administrative support.

An epidemiology of homicidal deaths due to rifled firearms in Peshawar Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of homicidal deaths caused by rifled weapons in Peshawar as regards the parameters of age, gender, place of occurrence and the number and location of injuries on the body. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, from June 2005 to February 2006. METHODOLOGY: The subjects were selected from victims presenting for autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. One hundred cases were selected where the weapon of offence was a rifled weapon and the manner of death was homicide on the basis of the police inquest, the autopsy and an interview with the relatives of the victim. After the autopsy, the findings were tabulated and analyzed. RESULTS: Homicides predominantly occurred in young males residing in a rural locality. The peak incidence was between 20-29 years in males and in females the age group most prone was 30-39 years. Male to female ratio was 6:1. The chest (33.8%) followed by the head and abdomen were the areas primarily targeted. CONCLUSION: High velocity automatic weapons are primarily being used to kill young people in rural areas. Prevention can be through strict gun control laws coupled with education and awareness.

Pattern of homicidal deaths in Faisalabad.

BACKGROUND: Homicide is a reflection of extreme aggression. Many factors influence such a behavior. Family environment, urbanization and the presence of weapons. We conducted this study on autopsies conducted at the department of forensic medicine, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad to know the dimensions of homicide in terms of age, sex, weapons involved and seasonal variation if any. METHODS: The study encompasses all 188 cases of homicide reporting for autopsy at the department of forensic medicine, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad from July 2001 to June 2002. The cases were categorized on the basis of police inquest and autopsy findings. RESULTS: The homicide rate in Faisalabad was 8.3/100,000 population/year. The age of predilection was the third decade of life and males outnumbered females by a ratio of 3.47:1. A firearm was used in almost 50% of the cases. A surge in the summer months was noticed. CONCLUSION: Homicide rate is high in Faisalabad. Firearms are the major weapon used for committing homicide.