Integration of Different Disciplines in Medicine: A Vertical Integrated Teaching Session for Undergraduate Medical Students.

INTRODUCTION: The medical course is very vast and disciplines are covered in different phases. Most of the teaching methods are didactic and conducted by individual disciplines; that's why students fail to see the relevance of different disciplines and do not develop the required skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. Solution to this is integrated teaching by various disciplines. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among VI semester MBBS students and all the students who attended the class were included, using universal sampling. A descriptive analysis of the feedback was done for the students at the end of an integrated teaching session to assess the perceptions of students towards a new method of integrated teaching. A handout with all the relevant information was shared with the students as the study material. The results were presented in percentages. RESULTS: Ninety seven percent of the students stated that the objective of the session was achieved. Most of the students (92.7%) believed that they had learned new skills which would be applicable in future practice. Most of the students (42.3%) appreciated the problem solving session followed by all the sessions equally (20.7%). Around 97.3% of the students shared that the handouts produced them with valuable information to support the session, and 92.8% of them gave feedback that they would use it in future as a reference material. CONCLUSION: The current descriptive analysis shows that students appreciated and enjoyed this new method of teaching learning session with the problem solving section as the most appreciated part of the integrated teaching session. The handout was well appreciated and utilized as a reference material during the session and students were also interested in using the same in future as a reference material.

Analysis of 262 Children with Scrub Typhus Infection: A Single-Center Experience.

Scrub typhus, a vector-borne rickettsiosis, is the leading treatable cause of non-malarial febrile illness in Asia. The myriad of typical and atypical features poses a clinical conundrum. We aimed to study the clinical and laboratory profile of children with scrub typhus infection diagnosed by IgM ELISA. Data of children < 12 years presenting with undifferentiated fever to the pediatric services of a tertiary teaching institute between January 2012 and December 2018 were retrieved. Children with seropositive IgM ELISA (InBios International Kit, Seattle, WA) for scrub typhus were enrolled in the study. Clinical features, laboratory investigations, treatment received, and the outcome recorded were obtained. Objective evidence of organ dysfunction was taken as severe scrub typhus. In total, 262 children were diagnosed with scrub typhus. The mean age was 5 years, with male preponderance (65%). And, 13 children presented during infancy. Fever was universal, and generalized lymphadenopathy (93.5%) and hepatomegaly (70%) were the common clinical signs. Eschar was identified in 31%, with greater predilection for groin and axilla. Thrombocytopenia was striking in one-third of children. Also, 25 children (9.5%) had severe scrub typhus and 18 required intensive care stay. Elevated aspartate aminotransferase enzyme levels was a predictor of severity ([OR 3.9], P value 0.005) by multivariate analysis. Lymphadenopathy was found significantly associated with eschar (P < 0.005). No mortality was recorded. This 6-year study underscores the varied spectrum of pediatric scrub typhus infection. Zero mortality in our cohort signifies the excellent outcome with judicious first-line antibiotics.

Factors Associated with Physical Inactivity among Adult Urban Population of Puducherry, India: A Population Based Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Increase in physical activity decreases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, and improves psychological wellbeing. AIM: To study the level of physical inactivity among the adult population in an urban area of Puducherry in India and its associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 569 adult participants from an urban area of Pondicherry. The level of physical inactivity was measured by using WHO standard Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). RESULTS: Overall prevalence of physical inactivity in our study was 49.7% (CI: 45.6-53.8). Among the physically active people, contribution of physical activity by work was 77.4%, leisure time activities were 11.6% and transport time was 11%. Both men and women were equally inactive {Physically inactive among women was 50% (CI:44.1-55.9)} and {Physically inactive among men was 49.5% (CI:43.8-55.2)}. Prevalence of physical inactivity was increasing with increasing age. Non tobacco users were two times more active than tobacco users {Adjusted Odds Ratio: 2.183 (1.175- 4.057)}. Employed were more active as compared to retired {Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.412 (0.171-0.991)}, students {Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.456 (0.196-1.060)}, house wives {Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.757 (0.509-1.127)} and unemployed {Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.538 (0.271-1.068)}. Non alcoholics were only 0.34 times as active as alcoholics. CONCLUSION: Level of physical activity was found to be insufficient among adult urban population of Puducherry. Working adult population found to be active, that too due to their work pattern. There is a need to promote leisure time and travelling time physical activity.