Radiology as a career among medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study.

Radiology has become a fundamental constituent of the modern medicine. However, it has been observed that medical students in Pakistan often lack sufficient guidance and education in this field. This study aims to establish whether Pakistani medical students possess the requisite basic knowledge required in radiology and their attitude and perception toward radiology as a potential career path. This cross-sectional study conducted a survey among 530 medical students of Pakistan via a self-reported online questionnaire from August 01, 2021 to September 01, 2021. The data collected were analyzed using the SPSS software, along with logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with interest in pursuing radiology as a career and possessing a comprehensive understanding of radiology among medical students. Of the 530 participants, 44.2% rated their understanding of radiology as "poor" with only 17% indicating interest to pursue a career in radiology. Logistic regression model showed significantly higher odds of radiology as a career among males (Crude odds ratio [COR] = 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17-2.72, P = .007), medical students of Punjab (COR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.01-2.40, P = .048), and those, who self-reported their knowledge of radiology as excellent (COR = 14.35, 95% CI = 5.13-40.12, P < .001). In contrast, medical students from Punjab (COR = 0.504, 95% CI = 0.344-0.737, P < .001) and second-year medical students (COR = 0.046, 95% CI = 0.019-0.107, P < .001) had lower odds of good knowledge. Our study suggests that the medical student's knowledge of radiology is deficient. Thus, it is advised that radiological societies work with medical school boards to integrate thorough and early radiology exposure into the undergraduate curriculum.

Socio-demographic determinants of Monkeypox virus preventive behavior: A cross-sectional study in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Monkeypox (mpox), re-emerging zoonotic infectious disease, is striking the world with serious public health concerns, especially in non-endemic countries. The public's knowledge and attitude towards the monkeypox virus (MPXV) influence their adherence to preventive strategies. Therefore, we aimed to assess the public's knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of MPXV in Pakistan. METHODS: We collected data for this cross-sectional study from 1040 participants via online self-reported questionnaire from July 5th, 2022, to August 1st, 2022. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 29 items in four sections, assessing socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding MPXV. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS V.25, and factors associated with MPXV knowledge, attitude, and practices were identified by using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1040 participants were included. 61.4% were male, and 57.2% had graduation level education. Only 34.4% had good knowledge about MPXV, and 30% knew the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine against MPXV. 41.7% had a positive attitude, 48.6% agreed that it is a fatal disease, and 44.6% were in favour of banning travel from endemic to non-endemic regions. 57.7% had good practices, and 69.9% would use protective measures if MPXV became an epidemic. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that gender and education significantly impacted knowledge (p<0.05). While monthly income status had a significant impact on attitudes (p<0.05). The practices were positively correlated with gender and education (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The majority of study participants had inadequate levels of knowledge, and attitudes regarding MPXV. To prevent the emergence and spread of MPXV in Pakistan, a comprehensive strategic framework for public health education must be established and implemented.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever among general people: A cross-sectional study in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) continues to pose a serious threat to the fragile healthcare system of Pakistan with a continuous increase of morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CCHF among general people who resided in Pakistan. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey design was applied, and a convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 1039 adult people from Pakistan. Data were collected from September 08 to October 12, 2021. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 32 questions in four parts assessing socio-demographics, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CCHF. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices. RESULTS: Alarmingly, 51.5% of participants heard about CCHF infection before administering the survey. Among these, 20.2%, 33.3%, and 48.2% of the study participants had demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that education and income status had a significant impact on knowledge and attitudes (p<0.05). Similarly, the mean attitude scores differed significantly by age, education, and income status (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings reflected inadequate levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CCHF among general people in Pakistan which may regard as lower than expected. As CCHF is a highly contagious disease, it's urgent to initiate a comprehensive approach to handle the situation before it spreads further in Pakistan.

Diagnostic accuracy of Alvarado scoring system relative to histopathological diagnosis for acute appendicitis: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) is a surgical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and suitable management. It may lead to complications resulting in mortality. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Alvarado scoring system (ASS) for acute appendicitis concerning histopathological data. Methodology: About 120 patients were selected for this study consisting of 96 males and 24 females age between 20 and 60. Alvarado scoring system is calculated for each patient after collecting data about demographics, laboratory findings, and clinical examination. Then, we compared it with histopathological diagnosis taking it as a gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. SPSS version 20 was used for analyzing the data. Results: About 120 patients were included in our study. The male to female ratio was 3:1. Sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 41% respectively. While PPV and NPV were 85% and 41% respectively. The negative appendectomy rate was 21%. The area under the curve for receiving operating characteristics is 0.628. Conclusion: ASS is a useful diagnostic tool regarding sensitivity and positive predictive value, especially in developing countries. It is cheap, reliable, and can be easily applied.

Human monkeypox expansion from the endemic to non-endemic regions: Control measures.

The recent monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries is a rare event. It is a zoonosis with clinical features similar to smallpox, transmitting from animal to human and human to human. Since 2000, the number of monkeypox cases in humans had increased in African countries, resulting in its spread to the other parts of the world. On May 26, 2022 World Health Organization has confirmed 120 cases of monkeypox in 23 non-endemic countries. The decreased immunity to the Orthopoxviruses, human migration from endemic to non-endemic regions, genetic mutations in the viral genome, and reduced surveillance may contribute to the recent outbreaks. A multi-pronged approach comprising health education, tracking human migration, developing diagnostic facilities, and an effective vaccine could prevent transmission and pathogenicity.

Interventional radiology in low- and middle-income countries.

With advancements in imaging techniques, interventional radiology (IR) has found an increased utility in multiple diseases such as ischemic stroke, tissue biopsies, oncology, trauma, etc. The benefit has been twofold in being minimally invasive and improved outcomes. IR in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is still in its nascent phase. The many hurdles include poorly structured post-graduate training, cost of procedures, and lack of awareness among referring physicians. There is a significant need to increase the trained specialists' awareness among the medical community and rationalize the cost of procedures in LMICs with careful consideration, planning, and international economic and technical assistance.

Insufficient Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors among Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan.

Background: The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social distancing and isolation which leads to insufficient physical activity and thereby increases sedentary behaviors. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviors among medical students during the COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan, and to determine their associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was carried out among 407 medical students from the Punjab and Sindh provinces between May and June 2020. To collect data, an e-questionnaire was sent to obtain informed consent along with questions concerning socio-demographics as well as an International Physical Activity Questionnaires-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Results: As per the IPAQ, almost five in ten participants were physically inactive (48.2%), and 45.2% reported sedentary behaviors. Participants with insufficient physical activity were more likely to report sedentary behaviors than their counterparts (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI = 1.66-3.85, p < 0.001). The odds of insufficient physical activity were higher among the participants who did not strictly follow the COVID-19 preventive measures (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.35-4.69, p = 0.004); similarly, there were increased odds of sedentary behaviors observed among participants within a normal weight range compared to those who were underweight (AOR = 2.69; 95% CI = 1.76-4.11, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Insufficient physical activity and sedentary behavior are prevalent among medical students in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings indicate the importance of establishing tailored policies and programs to encourage young adults to engage in physical activity.