Impacts of adiposity parameters on peak expiratory flow rate in healthy young adults of Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi: Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of various adiposity parameters in young adults. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, from January to February 2021, and comprised healthy medical students aged 19-21 years. Height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and percentage body fat were recorded. Peak expiratory flow rate was determined using Wright's meter, and its association with adiposity markers was determined using regression analysis. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 162 subjects, 96(59.3%) were females and 66(40.7%) were males. The overall mean age was 20.18±1.01 years. Peak expiratory flow rate was significant positively associated with height, body mass index, waist circumference, and percentage body fat (p<0.05). It had weak negative association with waist-hip ratio(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Peak expiratory flow rate increased with height, body mass index, waist circumference, and percentage body fat in healthy subjects.

Utilization Focused Evaluation at Bahria University Medical & Dental College.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate integrated learning program of neurosciences for continuation of integrated learning in the forthcoming teaching and learning modules of undergraduate medical curriculum at Bahria University Medical & Dental College (BUMDC). METHODS: A mixed method design was conducted from August 2016to February2017 after ethical approval from BUMDC. The quantitative aspect was evaluated retrospectively by desk records ofmarks obtained in integrated module and nonintegrated module. Focused group discussionwere conducted with primary intended users (chair of integration committee, faculty and students of first and second year MBBS)to share their expectations and concerns and get responses on key evaluation questions for implementationand outcome evaluation of integrated learning program. RESULTS: The desk record revealed a positive perception of students and faculty at the time of implementation with improvement in results after integration in subjects of basic sciences. The discussions highlighted reasons which resulted in failure of its continuation and affirmedreadiness for re-induction and continuation of integration with clinicalsciences. CONCLUSION: Evaluators considered approval and re-application of integrated curriculum at BUMDC after utilization focused evaluation.

Intellectual wellness in medical university teachers: Gender based comparison.

A cross section, questionnaire based study was carried out from January 2012 till December 2014 to compare intellectual wellness (IW) awareness on the basis of gender in teachers of basic sciences at medical universities of Karachi, Pakistan. Data was collected from 3 public and 5 private medical universities of Karachi, Pakistan. Questionnaire was tailored from "Wellness Wheel" and responses were aggregated for eight questions in the dimension of IW to obtain aggregate IW score. Reliability of the questionnaire was measured using Cronbach's alpha. The average intellectual score was 24.99 ± 3.93 with a minimum score of 8 and maximum 32.The frequency of keeping informed about research updates was significantly higher in males (p = 0.043) that emphasized significantly better IW awareness of male medical teachers involved in teaching of medical sciences in both public and private medical universities of Pakistan.

Health and spirituality 'walk along' in wellness journey of medical students.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare knowledge, attitudes and practices of male and female medical students of Karachi in the context of physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. METHODS: The cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted from January to December 2010, comprising randomly selected 800 male/female medical students in eight medical colleges of Karachi. The responses--'never,' 'sometimes,' 'mostly' and 'always' (numbered 0-4 )--were analysed in terms of frequency, proportion and percentages by Predictive Analysis Software (PASW) version 18. Chi-square test was applied for comparison of categorical aspects of wellness, and results were declared significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 800 questionnaires, 736 (92%) fully-completed questionnaires comprised the study universe. According to the survey, 503 (68.37%), 504 (68.45%) and 658 (89.35%) medical students were aware of the concept of physical, emotional and spiritual wellness respectively. Males had greater involvement in physical activity (p < 0.001), while females selected healthy diet (p < 0.03). The dimensions of physical and emotional wellness on an aggregate did not differ significantly in both genders, but knowledge and practices of spiritual wellness in females gave them direction to face episodes of anxiety for which males had to take help from mentors and psychologists (p < 0.034, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Spirituality, the key success factor in better wellness management, was found to be greater among female medical students.