Self-efficacy and Online Learning Readiness of Undergraduate Dental Students in Pakistan During COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between general self-efficacy and online learning readiness among Pakistani undergraduate dental students. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Riphah International University, Islamabad, between September 2020 and March 2021. METHODOLOGY: Using cluster sampling, three dental colleges of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were selected. Electronic questionnaires were sent to 750 students. The questionnaire was comprised of two instruments, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS). GSES had 10-items with response measurement on four-point Likert scale, while the OLRS had 18 items in five different domains measured by five-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using SPSS-23. Correlation between dependent variables was calculated using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The response rate was 59.3% with a predominant response from female students (82.2%) compared with male students (17.8%). The majority of responses were recorded from third year students (27.9%). The year four students' scores for GSE, computer and internet self-efficacy, and self-directed learning differed significantly from other students. The overall mean GSE score was 29.37+4.57. Regression indicated a low degree of correlation between GSE and the five domains of OLRS with r2 values ranging from 0.12 to 0.32. CONCLUSION: A weak to moderate correlation was found between self-efficacy and the five dimensions of online learning readiness among Pakistani undergraduate dental students as depicted by the r-values. KEY WORDS: Cross-sectional studies, Dental education, Dental students, Dentistry, Efficacy, Online learning, Questionnaire.

Remote Contrast Sensitivity Testing Seems to Correlate With the Degree of Glaucomatous Macular Damage.

PRCIS: Remote contrast sensitivity (CS) testing through a free downloadable home test correlates with glaucomatous macular damage measured by 10-2 visual field (VF) testing. PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and validity of home CS monitoring as a measure of glaucomatous damage using a free downloadable smartphone application. METHODS: Twenty-six participants were asked to remotely use the Berkeley Contrast Squares (BCS) application, a free downloadable tool that records the user's CS for varying degrees of visual acuity. An instructional video detailing how to download and use the application was sent to the participants. Subjects were asked to send logarithmic CS results with a minimum 8-week test-retest window, and test-retest reliability was measured. Results were validated against office-based CS testing that was collected within the previous 6 months. Validity analysis was also carried out to determine whether CS as measured by BCS is a good predictor of 10-2 and 24-2 VF mean deviation (MD). RESULTS: There was a high BCS test-retest reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient score of 0.91 and a significant correlation between repeat test results and baseline test scores (Pearson, 0.86, P < 0.0001). There was significant agreement between unilateral CS scores as measured by BCS and office-based CS testing ( b = 0.94, P < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.61 to 1.27). Unilateral CS as measured by BCS was significantly associated with 10-2 VF MD ( r2 = 0.27, P = 0.006, 95% CI: 3.7 to 20.6), but not with 24-2 VF MD ( P = 0.151). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a free, rapid home CS test correlates with glaucomatous macular damage as measured by 10-2 VF.

Adapting and preserving through sturdy journey to create a new normal: A phenomenological insight into factors affecting medical resident's journey to consultant practice.

Objectives: To explore factors promoting and hampering a medical resident's journey from residency induction to role adaptation into consultant practice. METHODS: The qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted at the Fatima Memorial Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from February to July 2019, and comprised junior residents, senior residents, newly qualified consultants and supervising consultants from four departments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to achieve theoretical saturation. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and along with nonverbal cues notes by the researchers were analysed using Atlas.ti 7. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis protocol, codes were merged into categories to form main themes. RESULTS: Of the 16 subjects, 4(25%) each were junior residents, senior residents, senior registrars and supervising consultants. There were 7(44%) males and 9(56%) females. The mean age of the residents was 30.9±5.03 years and that of the supervisors was 55.3±0.97 years. Overall, 157 codes were developed which led to 18 categories and subsequently to 2 main themes; intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors. The former encompassed physical and emotional health, personality traits, style, personal skills, core knowledge, attribution training, self-selection of career, and previous life experiences. Extrinsic factors included physical/non-physical environment, economic stability, communication of expectations, structured residency programme, regular programme evaluation, society and culture, family, support system, preparation for transition, psychological assistance, role of supervisor, involvement into communities of practice, time for relaxation, opportunity provision, work-life boundaries, and reflective practices. CONCLUSIONS: The resident's transition through residency depended upon the interplay of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. A seven-tier resident support model is proposed to corelate the phases and provide a roadmap for resident's assistance and sustenance planning.

Orbital tuberculosis: a case report and update on the role of imaging in treatment.

Orbital tuberculosis is a manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis that is challenging to diagnose and treat. Here, we describe the pivotal role of serial imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of orbital tuberculosis. A 28-year-old male presented with recurrent right upper eyelid swelling and a supraduction deficit associated with a firm painless orbital mass, seen on initial computed tomography to be an extensive superomedial lesion producing mass effect. Biopsy revealed a tuberculosis-like granulomatous inflammation, which, coupled with a positive QuantiFERON gold test, led to empiric anti-tuberculin treatment. Serial radiologic imaging following initiation of treatment showed progressive reduction in mass size, supporting the diagnosis and determining the length of treatment. This rare case demonstrates the utility of serial radiologic exams in the diagnosis and treatment of orbital tuberculosis.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces in New York City.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus on surfaces that trainees and faculty of an academic eye clinic came into contact with during daily life at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis involved collection of at least two samples by teams on four different days (November 9, 2020 - December 18, 2020) using sterile swabs (Puritan HydraFlock, Garden Grove, CA). Collection sites were grouped into four zones depending on proximity and amount of time personnel spent there. Samples were transported to the laboratory in transport medium and RNA was extracted using the QIAamp DSP Viral RNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germantown, MD). Presence of viral RNA was investigated using the Luna Universal Probe One-step RT-qPCR kit (New England Biolabs, Ipwsich, MA). RESULTS: 834 samples were submitted. Two were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The first was a sample from a patient bathroom sink handle in the main emergency department. The second was a nasal swab sample from a staff member who had been assigned to collect samples. Prior to this positive result, this asymptomatic staff member had tested positive for COVID-19, had quarantined for two weeks, and had received a negative test. CONCLUSION: Though COVID-19 is currently widespread in the United States, this study shows that health care personnel working in New York City at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center have a low chance of encountering viral RNA on surfaces they are in close contact with during daily life.

Conceptualizing Medical Resident's Journey through Wonderland of Clinical Practice: From transitional shock to role adaptation to independent practice.

OBJECTIVES: To explore experiences of medical residents about stages and nature of transitional journey from induction into residency program to achievement of consultant title. METHODS: Qualitative phenomenological study was conducted at Sir Gangaram hospital and Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore for six months from Feb 2019-July 2019 after IRB/ERC approval from Islamic International Medical College (Ref# Riphah/IIMC/ERC/19/0320). Using purposive criterion sampling, 16 semi-structured interviews in four departments, four strata of junior residents, senior residents, newly-qualified consultants, and supervising consultants with four participants each were conducted till theoretical saturation of data was achieved. After informed consent, audio recorded data was transcribed verbatim & analyzed through Atlas.ti 7 using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. After Bracketing and horizontalization, data was coded line by line. Codes (324) were merged to categories (19) for structural and textural description. Composite description of phenomenon was done by abstraction of themes (eight for stages and two for nature of journey). RESULTS: Eight themes for stages as merriment, anguish, melancholy, acceptance and efforts, intensive learning, burnishing to shine, identity formation and intra-stage oscillations were identified. Two themes for journey's nature were exponential learning & oscillating journey. CONCLUSION: The transitional journey is a multi-stage complex, oscillating journey. An oscillating electron model is presented upon the findings of this study to explain resident transition.