Exploring the experiences of struggling undergraduate medical students with formal mentoring program at a private medical college in Rawalpindi.

Objective: To explore the experiences of struggling undergraduate medical students (mentees) with formal mentoring program at a private medical college in Rawalpindi. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was carried out from March to August 2019. Data was collected from a purposive sample of sixteen struggling undergraduate students. Validated interview guide was utilized to conduct semi-structured one-to-one interviews. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed accurately. Confidentiality and anonymity were ensured to the participants due to the sensitive nature of the data. Various measures were taken to achieve trustworthiness in the study. Manual thematic analysis was performed and consensus among all authors was built regarding themes and subthemes. Results: Four themes and twelve subthemes emerged from the data. Participants were satisfied with the psychosocial outcomes of the mentoring program such as emotional, moral, and psychological support, and personal and professional development. Mentees told that mentors were their best guides who shared their life experiences. Moreover, mentors provided guidance on Islam, research methods, and case-based learning. Further, mentees said that mentors provide solutions to their problems. Useful suggestions were provided by the mentees regarding betterment in the present mentoring program such as recruitment of committed staff, the need for verbal feedback from mentees about their mentors, need for career counselling and one-to-one mentoring sessions. Conclusions: Majority of the mentees were satisfied with the formal mentoring program. Mentoring focuses on personal and professional development of all medical students. In addition to the useful suggestions provided by the mentees, there is a need for the addition of specific strategies to deal with students struggling with personal or professional problems.

Challenges Faced by Lady Surgeons during Professional Progress in Pakistan.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the professional challenges faced by lady surgeons in Pakistan. This qualitative exploratory phenomenological study was conducted from April 2019 to June 2019. Four lady surgeons participated in in-depth interviews, based on four questions: challenges during training; perceptions of gender-based professional treatment; perceptions of relationships with peers; and perception of gender on the quality of training. Four main themes with ten sub-themes were developed. Family support is identified as major facilitating factor. Participants experienced gender-based discrimination at workplace, long exhausting duty hours with lack of quality time for their families and social gatherings. With the passage of time, these problems diminished as the surgeons gained a work-life balance with their motivation. Key Words: Barriers, Career progression Challenges, Lady surgeons, Gender.

Structured Long Interview and Clinical Examination (SLICE) as Formative Assessment Tool in Clinical Clerkship: Medical Students Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate medical students' views about undertaking structured long interview and clinical examination as a formative assessment. METHODS: The qualitative, exploratory study was conducted from February to July 2019 at the Islamic International Medical College, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised final year medical students having undertaken formative assessment through structured long interview and clinical examination during their clerkship rotation in Paediatrics, General Medicine, General Surgery and Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Four sets of focus group discussions were conducted according to the relevant clerkship module. Each recorded FGD was transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted manually. RESULTS: Of the 32 students, there were 8(25%) in each of the four groups. Five major themes and five-sub-themes emerged, with the main themes being: Purpose, Learning, Timing, Relevancy and Fairness of the structured long interview and clinical examination. CONCLUSIONS: The students generally thought that the structured long interview and clinical examination was effective in enhancing their clinical skills learning and should be conducted more frequently with minor adjustments.

Efficacy Of 17- Α-Hydroxy-Progestrone In Prevention Of Preterm Labour In High Risk Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND: Preterm delivery (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) is a major determinant of infant mortality. The objective of study was to determine the efficacy of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone in preventing delivery before 37 weeks of gestation in high risk women. METHODS: This study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted in Obstetrics OPD, observing all scientific and ethical protocols. The women with less than 20 weeks gestation and with a past history of preterm delivery were included. A total of 132 women fulfilled the study requirements. Two groups made were as follows: Group A (Treatment group received intramuscular 17-alpha hydroxy-progesterone) and Group B served as control (The control group revived intramuscular Neurobion). A total of 66 women were assigned to each group. The data was recorded on a specially designed proforma for statistical analysis and comparison following the standard procedure. RESULTS: The criterion was strictly observed. The results showed a statistically significant (p<0.01) difference between group A as compared to group B. CONCLUSIONS: 17-α- Hydroxyprogesterone was found to be an effective drug in preventing delivery before 37 weeks in women at risk.