Self-Directed Learning And Approach To Seeking Medical Evidence: Perceptions Of Students From A Private Medical University Of Karachi.

Objectives: To assess self-directed learning among medical students and their approach towards seeking medical evidence. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from November 30, 2021, to June 30, 2022, at the Baqai Medical University, Karachi, and comprised first to fifth year medical students of either gender. Data was collected using a structured online questionnaire which also included questions from the self-directed learning instrument. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 250 students who approached, 159(63.6%) responded were received; 102(64.2%) females and 57(35.8%) males. The overall mean age was 21.78±1.72 years, with 88(54.1%) subjects aged >21 years. Majority 127(79.9%) participantsscored above average on the self-directed learning instrumentscale, while 131 (84.2%)showed satisfactory approach towards evidence-based medicine. Students with better attitude towardsself- directed learning were more likely to have satisfactory approach towards evidence-based medicine, but this relationship was not significant (p=0.136). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students were found to be keen to adopt self-directed learning and practice evidence-based medicine though they have not been formally exposed to it.

COVID-19 related risk perception and altruistic response amongst undergraduates on reopening of educational institutes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the coronavirus disease-2019-related risk perception and altruistic response among undergraduate medical students post-lockdown. Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, at the Baqai Medical University, Karachi, and comprised undergraduates aged 16 and above, studying in medical, dental, physiotherapy, pharmacy and Information technology departments. Data was collected using a structured and standardised online questionnaire. Positive responses led to a perceived risk score ranging 0-9, with a higher score indicating a greater perception of risk. The score was corelated with demographic variables. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 743 subjects, 472(63.5%) were females. The overall mean age of the sample was 21.34±1.8 years. The mean risk perception score was 3.8±2.5, and it was significantly associated with disease exposure (p<0.001). Altruism had a strong association with the perceived risk score (p<0.001), indicating lower risk perception. Conclusion: The risk perception among the students was low, pointing towards a need of psychological assistance programme for the students.

Assessing learning styles of medical students using Kolb's learning style inventory and their association with preferred teaching methodologies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of learning styles of medical students and their association with preferred teaching methodologies. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical College, Gadap, Karachi, form July to October 2019, and comprised medical students regardless of age, gender and academic year. David Kolb's learning style questionnaire, along with another questionnaire, was used to collect data. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Of the 523 students, 213(40.7%) were males and 310(59.3%) were females. The overall mean age was 21.5±1.69 years. Of the total, 268(51.7%) students were divergers, 118(22.8%) assimilators, 86(16.6%) accomodators and 46(8.9%) were convergers. There was a significant association between learning styles and selected teaching methodologies (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Majority students were found to be divergers and assimilators. Aligning instructional strategies with learning styles will improve learning and academic performance.

Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding implants among women of childbearing age.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 2016 to September 2016 to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding contraceptive implants among women of childbearing age visiting the Reproductive Health Services Centre, Civil Hospital, Karachi. A total of 396 adult, non-pregnant, married women of childbearing age, between 18 and 49 years, were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Only 153 (38.6%) of the respondents had any knowledge about implants, out of whom 122 (79.7%) had acquired the information from family planning clinics. Almost two thirds of the respondents, 267(67.4%) were in favour of using implants as a contraceptive method. Moreover, 244 (61.6%) respondents were of the opinion that if given a choice, they will use implanon, though out of the 316 (79.8%) respondents who had ever used contraceptives, only 3 (0.9%) used implants. Despite a favourable attitude, limited knowledge and poor practices of the respondents were the highlights of the study findings.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding breast self examination among females in Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding breast self-examination among women in an urban setting. METHODS: The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice study was conducted from May to July 2018 at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Naseer Hussain Shaheed Hospital and the Institute of Infectious Disease, Karachi, and comprised women aged 15 years or above who were attending the outpatient department. Data was collected using a pre-designed questionnaire and was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: There were 385 women with a mean age of 30.09±7.09 years. Overall, 259 (67.3%) subjects had adequate knowledge about breast self-examination, 123 (31.9%) had appropriate practices and 187 (48.6%) had positive attitude. CONCLUSIONS: Overall knowledge level regarding breast self-examination was found to be inadequate.

Awareness regarding risks of self-medication among people visiting community pharmacies.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 2018 to February 2019 to assess the level of awareness regarding the risks of self-medication among people visiting the community pharmacies of Block-13, Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi. Data was collected from 395 participants after taking their written informed consent by using a pre-tested questionnaire and analysed on statistical package for social sciences version 20. The study results showed that 186 (47.1%) participants were aware that drugs have side-effects, 242 (61.3%) knew that a drug can make a person dependent on it, 220 (55.7%) had the knowledge that long-term use of any medicine can be harmful to the body, 132 (33.4%) were aware that all over-the-counter medicines are not safe to use, whereas178 (45.1%) believed that no medicine should be taken unless recommended by a licensed practitioner. It was concluded that many of the study participants did not have the knowledge regarding risks of self-medication.

Assessment of pre-natal and post-natal attitude and practice of family members towards the birth of a female child among people residing in district East, Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the pre-natal and post-natal attitude and practice of family members towards the birth of a female child among people residing in an urban area. METHODS: The cross-sectional attitude and practice study was conducted from May 2018 to November 2018 in Jamshed Town and Gulshan Town in district East of Karachi, and comprised randomly chosen participants. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire, and was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 400 subjects, 208(52%) were males, and 387(96.8%) were Muslims. The overall mean age was 46.13±14.75 years. Gender of the subject, relationship with the child, monthly household income and number of family members were significantly associated with consideration of abortion in case of a female foetus (p<0.05). Education of the mother and the number of sons were significantly associated with the reaction at the birth of the first female child (p<0.05), whereas age of the participant, education of the father, number of family members, number of sons and number of daughters were significantly associated with reaction at the birth of subsequent daughter (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Various demographic characteristics were significantly associated with pre-natal and post-natal attitude and practice of family members towards the birth of a female child.

Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding diabetes mellitus type 2 among people with diabetes visiting outpatient department of Taluka Hospital, Miro Khan, Sindh.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out from March 2018 to November 2018 to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices about diabetes mellitus type 2 among people with diabetes visiting the outpatient department of Taluka Hospital, Miro Khan, Sindh. Data was collected by using a pre-tested questionnaire and analysed on statistical package for social sciences version 20. Almost all the participants knew that diabetes is marked by high blood glucose, 261 (68.0%) knew that sweating is a symptom of low blood glucose, 198 (51.6%) were aware that hypoglycaemia is more dangerous than hyperglycaemia, 310 (80.7%) knew that positive family history of diabetes is a predisposing factor for diabetes mellitus type 2, 196 (51.0%) thought that one should not avoid administration of insulin when needed, 131 (34.0%) used sugar substitutes in their diet whereas 153 (39.8%) used to exercise daily. Mass awareness programmes by the public sector and targeted counselling by healthcare providers are suggested as means for improving the practices of people with diabetes mellitus.

Factors affecting migration abroad of dental practitioners from Karachi: A cross-sectional survey.

This was a cross-sectional study. Survey was conducted from May 2016 to November 2016 among dentalpractitioners from four dental institutions of Karachi, two each from the public and private sector. From public sector, Dow University Hospital Dental Section Ojha Campus and Karachi Medical and Dental College, while from the private sector Baqai Medical University and Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. After taking informed verbal consent, a total of 100 participants were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive analysis was employed for categorical variables using frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study revealed the causes considered most important by the dental practitioners impacting migration abroad. Among the local push factors were bad law and order situation (59%), low salary (54%) and lack of job openings (53%) while local pull factor was mainly family responsibilities (40%). Foreign pull factors were better working environment (56%), high salary (52%) and enhancing knowledge and skills (50%) while the foreign push factor was racism (37%).