A comparison between wellness awareness among medical students.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the dimensions of spiritual wellness as elements of quality care in medical students of private and public medical universities. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was carried out at private and public medical universities in Karachi from November 2013 to January 2015.Students from both genders and all ethnic groups19-23 years of age were included. The responses of spiritual wellness were obtained and evaluated on a four-point Likert's scale; score ranging from 0-3. Data was analysed using Predictive Analysis Software version 18. RESULTS: Out of 736 students, 286 (38.9%) were from public medical universities and 450 (61.1%) were from private-sector institutions. Students of both types of universities were aware of the concept of spiritual wellness but the level of awareness needed scaling up. Public-sector students had a stronger will, were more physically and mentally alert, more compassionate, empathetic and enthusiastic about their relationship with patients than their private-sector counterparts (p<0.05). They used spiritual wellness as a coping strategy to deal with difficult situations through religious activities. Though attentive listening was a predominant feature in both groups, the use of communication skills required particular attention to improve the element of compassionate care. CONCLUSIONS: Empowerment of spiritual wellness is more likely to enable medical students to be more compassionate towards their patients and strengthen doctor-patient relationship.

Perceptions of medical students regarding dimensions of environmental wellness.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the status of awareness on environmental wellness in medical students of Karachi. METHODS: The cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out at Bahria University Medical & Dental College, Karachi, from January 2009 to July 2013, and comprised randomly selected medical students. The response options were; never, sometimes, mostly and always (numbered 0-4) and these were analyzed in terms of frequency, proportion and percentages by Predictive analysis software version18. RESULTS: Out of 800 questionnaires distributed, 736(92%) were received fully completed. There were 210(28.5%) male and 526(71.5%) female respondents, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.5. Female medical students were more serious in taking care of their environment tasks (p< 0.0001). They knew their responsibility to preserve environment and consciously tried to conserve energy more than the male students (p=0.034). The proportions of admitting disposal of garbage in dustbins was found more in females than males (p< 0.0005). Though 486(66%) participants were interested in knowing about environmental problems, females tended to be more in liking greenery in their place of residence (p< 0.0005) and lived in harmony with nature and universe (p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students were aware of the concept of environmental wellness, but female medical students had a better perception and were a step ahead in its realization.

Financial wellness awareness: A step closer to achieve Millennium Development Goals for Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To explore financial wellness (FW) awareness amongst public and private sector medical college students of Karachi. METHODS: A cross sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted on medical students from 3 public and 5 private sector medical colleges of Karachi from February 2011 to December 2011. All ethnic groups having age range of 18-23 years were included. A questionnaire tailored from wellness wheel evaluated the responses of FW on a four point Likert's scale ranging from 0-3(never, sometimes, mostly, and always). Factor analysis explored common FW factors among both public and private sector medical college (MC) students. RESULTS: Private MC Students were better in terms of making short and long terms financial goals compared to students in public sector. The students of public MC were more focused to make and restricting to given budgets (p=0.05). The FW element of keeping savings in bank account was responded more by private MC candidates (P < 0.0001) but was spent thrift as well (P < 0.0001). Factor analysis revealed two factors; 'Financial Security Wellness' which was better in Private MC Students (p=0.001) and 'Care towards Expenses Wellness" in which results were not significant. CONCLUSION: Both groups of medical college students lacked FW awareness element in terms of caring towards financial expenses. The awareness of importance of financial security was practiced better by private MC students in terms of making short and long term financial goals and keeping savings in bank accounts. They were however deficient in the knowledge of making and restricting themselves to budgets.

Oral hygiene KAP assessment and DMFT scoring among children aged 11-12 years in an urban school of Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the oral hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices among school children and evaluate their DMFT (Decayed/Missing/Filled Teeth) scores. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: A private school of Karachi from March to April 2008. METHODOLOGY: Convenient sample comprising 300 students of grade 6 within the age group of 11-12 years was selected. A knowledge, attitude and practices survey questionnaire based on quantitative indicators was filled by the students. Clinical examination was done for DMFT. Data analysis was done by using SPSS version 11. Associations were assessed using chi-square test and a p-value of < 0.001 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were 160 males and 140 females in the target group. The mean DMFT was found to be 1.27. The children had satisfactory knowledge of oral health's effect on general health and the problems associated with poor dental hygiene. However, 50.3% children did not have positive attitude towards importance of a dentist's role in maintaining their dental health. Only a few students (11.3%) had familiarity with dental floss. A statistically significant association was found between frequency of brushing and children's knowledge of the problems related to irregular tooth brushing (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The attitude of school children towards dental health and dental service utilization is determined by certain social and cultural factors. The mean DMFT of 1.27 showed that there must have been some poor oral practices that are contributing towards a higher mean.

En bloc resection of huge cemento-ossifying fibroma of mandible: avoiding lower lip split incision.

Cemento-ossifying Fibroma (COF) is an osteogenic benign neoplasm affecting the jaws and other craniofacial bones. It commonly presents as a progressively slow growing pathology, which can sometimes attain an enormous size, causing facial deformity. A case of a huge cemento-ossifying fibroma, appearing as a mandibular dumbell tumour in a male patient is documented, which caused massive bone destruction and deformity. It was surgically removed by performing en bloc resection of mandible avoiding the splitting of lower lip incision technique, thereby maintaining his normal facial appearance.