Medical College Of West Bengal Research Articles

Clinical Reasoning Skills Among Second-Phase Medical Students in West Bengal, India: An Exploratory Study.

Introduction Proper application of clinical reasoning skills is essential to reduce diagnostic and management errors. Explicit inclusion of training and assessment of clinical reasoning skills is the demand of time. The study intended to measure the clinical reasoning skills of second-phase undergraduate students in a medical college inWest Bengal, India, and its distribution across several individual variables. Methods The clinical reasoning skills of 105 undergraduate medical students were assessed in a cross-sectional exploratory study using key feature questions (KFQs) with the partial credit scoring system. Six case vignettes aligned to the core competencies in the subject of pharmacology, pathology, and microbiology were designed and validated by the subject material experts for this purpose. The responses of the participants were collected through Google Forms (Google, Mountain View, CA) after obtaining written informed consent. The scores obtained in all KFQs were added and expressed in percentage of the maximum attainable score. Results The mean (±SD) clinical reasoning score of the participants was 42.5 (±12.6). Only 29.6% of respondents scored ≥ 50. Students with higher subjective economic status (p-value = 0.01) and perceived autonomy (p-value < 0.001) were more likely to have higher clinical reasoning scores. The marks obtained in previous summative examinations were significantly correlated with clinical reasoning scores. Conclusion Average score < 50.0 and inability to score ≥ 50.0 by more than two-thirds of the participants reflected the deficit in the clinical reasoning skills of second-phase MBBSstudents. The association of clinical reasoning skills with economic status, autonomy, and previous academic performances needs further exploration.

Construction and Psychometric Evaluation of the Critical Thinking Disposition Assessment Questionnaire Among Medical Undergraduate Students in West Bengal, India.

Introduction Assessing the critical thinking disposition of students with a valid tool in an Indian setting was a prerequisite to introducing critical thinking under the undergraduate medical curriculum, as it was shaped by society, culture, and language. The study planned to design and assess the psychometrics of the Critical Thinking Disposition Assessment Questionnaire (CTDAQ) in the Indian setting. Methods The study was conducted among undergraduate students at a medical college in West Bengal, India. A 30-item scale was initially designed through the review of relevant literature and discussion with experts. Through two rounds of the Delphi technique, a 20-item CTDAQ was formulated, and the content validity index (CVI) was calculated. The test-retest agreement was calculated after administering the tool twice among 25 students with a gap of three weeks using the weighted kappa coefficient. Then, principal component analysis was conducted to extract component structure with rotation. The internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha. Results Item-wise and scale CVIs were more than 0.80 and 0.90, respectively. All items had a weighted kappa coefficient of ≥0.75. A three-component model was extracted from 20 items, with a minimum factor loading of 0.30. It explained 50.3% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha of the scale, the conversance and systematicity component with seven items, the analyticity and flexibility component with nine items, and the maturity component with four items were 0.783, 0.789, 0.825, and 0.797, respectively. Conclusions The 20-item CTDAQ is psychometrically a valid, stable, and internally consistent scale to assess critical thinking disposition in the Indian context.

Factors associated with tuberculosis among PLHIV: An observational study in a Government Medical College in West Bengal, India

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of significant morbidity and mortality among the People Living with Human Immune-deficiency Virus (PLHIV) in India. Reducing TB burden among PLHIV is a priority area under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP). MethodologyWe analyzed the routinely collected data from an Anti-Retro-viral Treatment Centre (ARTC) of Malda Medical College, West Bengal with an aim of identifying the factors associated with TB prevalence among the PLHIV. All 739 PLHIV who attended the ARTC during 2020–2022, were included in this study. ResultsMean age of the study participants was 34 years (SD:13). 47.9 % PLHIV received Co-trimoxazole Prophylaxis Treatment (CPT) whereas 67.7 % PLHIV received TB preventive treatment (TPT). Transgender [2.9 (1.4–6)], Males [3.7 (1.8–7.9)], Widow/Separated [2.5 (1.2–5.4)], Living with 2–4 Family members [1.6 (1–2.7)], CD4 count less than 200 [1.9 (1.1–3.2)], those who received CPT [17 (7.1–40.8)] and those who didn't receive TPT [1.6 (1–2.6)] were independently associated with increased risk of developing TB. There was no significant association of Age with TB diagnosis among the PLHIV. ConclusionsIt is evident from this study, that introduction of TPT and improving CD4 count by Anti-retroviral Treatment is the key intervention to reduce TB burden among PLHIV. The study found significant association of CPT with TB. Further study may be conducted to determine the actual reason for such association.

Comparative Evaluation of a Leadership Skills Module among Male and Female Junior MBBS Students in a West Bengal Medical College

Background: A competent Indian medical graduate must fulfill five roles: clinician, leader and member of the health-care team, communicator, lifelong learner, and professional. Leadership and management skills are essential for physicians to take responsibility as team leaders. Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a leadership skills module among male and female junior MBBS students in a medical college in West Bengal. Methodology and Participants: This observational cross-sectional study included male and female junior MBBS students, following institutional ethical clearance and informed consent. Students were divided into eight groups, provided with recorded YouTube videos, and participated in live interactive sessions and a fishbowl game to demonstrate leadership skills. Three online questionnaires assessed leadership skills, personality types, and leadership styles. Feedback was collected from students. Data were analyzed and compared between male and female students. Results: Out of 257 students who completed all tasks, personality types were assessed: ENFJ was the most common among males (25%), while ESTP and INFP were the least common (0.65% each). Among females, INFJ and INTJ were the most common (19.23% each), and ESTJ and ESFJ were the least common (0.96% each). Leadership scores (mean ± standard deviation) for males: authoritative 7 ± 2.30, democratic 9 ± 2.06, facilitative 9 ± 1.94, situational 9 ± 1.93, and leadership skills 65.05 ± 15.33. For females: authoritative 7 ± 2.21, democratic 9 ± 1.77, facilitative 9 ± 1.31, situational 9 ± 1.65, and leadership skills 64.15 ± 14.87. No significant differences were found between male and female students in these scores. Conclusion: Workshops on leadership skills improved student motivation and made learning enjoyable. Students were satisfied with the leadership skills taught, and the study increased awareness about leadership skills among students.

A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES, PERCEPTION, AND ATTITUDES OF UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS AT A GOVERNMENT TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN EASTERN INDIA

Objectives: Self-medication (SM) is common in India. It is of greater significance when practiced by medical students as they going to be medical practitioners in the future. This study was conducted to assess the pattern of SM practices, perceptions, and attitudes among students pursuing 2nd-year professional MBBS in a tertiary medical college in the year 2019. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional one based on a questionnaire. It was conducted among the 2nd-year undergraduate (MBBS) medical students in a tertiary care medical college in West Bengal, India. Results: Out of 199 students approached, 198 consented to the study and filled in the supplied study questionnaire. Thirteen incomplete questionnaires were excluded and the remaining 185 were analyzed. It was found that 81.6% (151/185) respondents practiced SM. The most common ailments for seeking SM were fever 66.2% (100/151), followed by cough cold, and sore throat 55.0% (84/151), diarrhea/nausea, and vomiting 40.4% (61/151). The most common drug used for SM was paracetamol 73.51% (111/151), followed by H1 antihistaminics and proton pump inhibitors. A small percentage of students used topical preparations of steroids, analgesics, antibiotics, and antifungals as well. Among the common reasons for seeking SM, 72.2% (109/151) felt that their illness was mild and 57% (86/151) preferred it as they had prior experience. Conclusion: Our study showed that SM is commonly practiced among the students of this institution. Therefore, medical teachers need to try even more to generate adequate awareness among the students about inherent risks of SM.

Evaluation of the effect of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy and puerperium in a suburban medical college in West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT Background: The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 was a novel situation, there was no conclusive knowledge, particularly concerning its effect on pregnant women and infants. Eminent obstetric organizations have introduced an array of guidelines to assist clinicians in countering this prior unknown outbreak. The primary objective of this study was to summarize the clinical characteristics, complications, and maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19 during pregnancy and puerperium. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in the Outpatient/Emergency/Inpatient or COVID ward in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, of a tertiary hospital in Nadia district, West Bengal, India, from 1.7.2020 to 30.6.2021 including 104 pregnant or puerperal mothers with laboratory-confirmed, i.e., RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test positive reports after informed consent. The obstetric outcome, modes of delivery, and neonatal status including any complications or SNCU admission within six weeks postpartum were recorded. Results: The majority were in the ≥ 20–24 years age group, primigravida, residents of Nadia with no significant travel or contact history. 73.08% were affected in the third trimester and the comorbidities detected were chiefly anemia (15.38%), hypertensive or chronic liver diseases, and hypothyroidism. 45.19% of the mothers were asymptomatic while the other complaints were fever (18.27%), cough (11.55%), anosmia and/or ageusia (10.58%), sore throat (9.61%), respiratory distress, loose stools, and chest pain. The medical complications were predominantly low SpO2, convulsions, pneumonitis, and two maternal deaths. The obstetric complications were preterm birth (26.9%), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (17.3%), antepartum (3.9%) and postpartum hemorrhage (4.4%), and sepsis (5.8%). Fourteen mothers had first-trimester termination, 63 had vaginal deliveries, and the rest had cesarean section. Out of 90 neonates, most were in the range of ≥ 2–2.5 kg birth weight and normal 1-min APGAR score. None tested positive for COVID-19 RTPCR and no detectable congenital anomaly or neonatal death was recorded.

Formative Assessment in Teaching and Learning Anatomy: Perception of Teachers in a Medical College of West Bengal

Formative Assessment in Teaching and Learning Anatomy: Perception of Teachers in a Medical College of West Bengal

Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning in Undergraduate Medical Course: A Mixed-Methods Study in a Medical College in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Critical thinking is considered as the essential set of skills for medical practice, particularly during emergencies. However, there is lack of conceptual clarity around it and it was not explicitly included in the undergraduate medical curriculum in India. The present study has been planned to assess the critical thinking disposition and clinical reasoning skills among medical undergraduate students in a medical college in West Bengal, India. The perceived definition and attributes of critical thinking in medical education will be explored and the contexts where application of critical thinking skills may be crucial for medical practice will be identified. The content validity index, test-retest agreement; internal consistency and construct validity of the Critical Thinking Disposition Assessment Questionnaire (CTDAQ) will be assessed through step-by-step procedure. CTDAQ and the case-based objective-type questions for the clinical reasoning skills will be applied to around 200 medical undergraduate students. Their perception and experience on critical thinking in medical education will be assessed with structured open-ended questions. In-depth interviews with medical teachers of the second and third phases of undergraduate medical curriculum will be conducted to assess their perception and experiences on critical thinking. The quantitative analysis will be conducted with MS excel and R software using the relevant packages. The qualitative data will be transcribed and translated in English, close to the participants' verbatim. The thematic analysis will be conducted with inductive coding and memoing. The study will be conducted maintaining ethical standards for epidemiological studies. The present study, one of the first a few studies in India, will help to meet the conceptual gap in understanding the attributes of critical thinking, its association with clinical reasoning and the contexts of preferred application in medical practice.

Perception and Acceptance of the Newly Introduced COVID-19 Precaution (THIRD) Vaccination Dose among Health Workers at an Indian Medical College.

India has run a nationwide vaccination campaign against COVID-19, which has recently introduced a precaution (third) dose for health workers. This study assessed the perception and attitude of health workers toward the Indian vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with an emphasis on this major change. A printed questionnaire was distributed among health-care workers at the Medical College of West Bengal. The completed forms were analyzed. Most of the participants were doctors (83.7%). Although all had received two doses of vaccine before, 44.4% were unwilling to be vaccinated with the third dose in the present scenario. The majority (63.8%) of the patients were concerned about side effects. The emergence of new COVID strains (65.6%) was viewed as a threat to the effectiveness of the vaccines. Participants with higher age, comorbidities, and those with the perception that the third dose was being introduced appropriately and would be effective against newer strains of the vaccine tended to be more willing to get vaccinated with the precaution dose compared to their counterparts. A dilemma regarding the acceptance of precaution doses was noted among health workers. This warrants the availability of more comprehensive information to increase acceptance of these vaccines.

A Study to Observe the Impact of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels on the Cardiovascular Profile in Elderly Patients Attending a Peripheral Medical College of a Developing Country

Background: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, more so in an aging population with mental health issues. Objectives: We aimed to study the influence of depression, anxiety, and stress levels on the cardiovascular profile in elderly patients attending a peripheral medical college in West Bengal. Methodology and Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a peripheral medical college among 197 elderly participants. The cardiovascular profile was examined and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 scores were estimated. Results: One hundred and thirty-four (68%) were male and 63 (32%) were female and male–female participants were age and body mass index (BMI) matched. Males had significantly higher waist/hip ratio, heart rates, systolic blood pressure (BP), and diastolic BP. The female population demonstrated significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), whereas males had higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol. One hundred and third-eight (70.1%) had normal electrocardiogram findings, 30 (15.2%) had left axis deviation, 13 (6.6%) had right axis deviation, and 16 (8.2%) had ischemic heart disease. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) score of depression for males was 10.66 ± 6.81 and for females 16.22 ± 7.17 (P &lt; 0.0001). The mean ± SD of the stress score for males was 10.67 ± 6.71 and for females 15.17 ± 6.45 (P &lt; 0.001). BMI, heart rate, triglyceride, VLDL, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol showed a significant positive correlation with depression scores. A significant positive correlation was observed between anxiety scores and waist/hip ratio. Stress scores had significant positive correlations with age, triglyceride, LDL, and VLDL levels and a negative correlation with HDL levels. Conclusions: Increased depression anxiety and stress levels were found to worsen the cardiovascular profile among the elderly population and more so among males.

A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Behavioral Patterns and Attitudes of First - and Second-Year Medical College Students in West Bengal, India, Regarding Self-Medication

BACKGROUND&#x0D; Self-medication is a pervasive habit, and drug abuse is a severe problem. Since medical students are future doctors, they give it a unique significance. The study's objectives were to assess the practice, knowledge, and attitudes of first- and second-year medical students at a medical college in West Bengal, India, about self-medication.&#x0D; METHODS&#x0D; The study was conducted in Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal. In 2021, medical students across the colleges of West Bengal conducted cross-sectional research using questionnaires. Upon being informed of the objectives and design of the study, first- and second-year MBBS students willingly agreed to participate.&#x0D; RESULTS&#x0D; In this study, 91.50% of medical students practiced self-medication. The common indication for self-medication was fever (89.2%) and headache (69.6%). Previous prescriptions for the same illness (68.87%) were the main source of information for self-medication. Common reasons for self-medication were urgency (53.33%) and quick relief (50%). Over-the-counter (88.14%) drugs were the most common sources of medications. The common preferred system of self-medication was allopathic (92.5%). The percentage of discontinuation (58.1%) of self-medication was more. The majority of them favoured oral (96.67%) media.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS&#x0D; It was determined that more than half of the student population self-medicated for a wide range of ailments; the cause may be the increased public awareness of drugs brought on by the availability of information via books, the internet, and over-the-counter medications from pharmacists. Therefore, it is crucial to stop students from self-medicating to prevent the emergence of drug habits, resistance, and drug interactions.

Water sanitation and hygiene at households and its implications on diarrhoea among under-five children of slums at field practice area of a Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal.

Inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) may lead to an increase in water-borne diseases like diarrhoea. The objective of the study was to assess water, sanitation and hygiene in the urban slums of Patpur, Bankura and to determine the implications of WASH on the occurrence of diarrhoea among under-five (U-5) children. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during January-March 2020 by interviewing persons involved in water collection from each of the 182 slum households of Patpur, by two-stage sampling using a pre-designed structured schedule and the core questions on drinking WASH for household surveys: 2018 update by UNICEF and WHO. For testing the association between categorical variables, a Chi-square test was done. Binary logistic regression and the Hosmer Lemeshow test were done to know the predictors of diarrhoea in U-5 children. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The proportion of diarrhoea among U-5 children was 0.34. Limited drinking WASH services were found in 3.30, 45.05 and 24.18% of households, respectively. Mobile objects users for handwashing were 14.05 times more prone to diarrhoea in U-5 children than those who had fixed handwashing facilities at their dwellings, yards or plots. Feeding children without handwashing had 5.70 times increased chances of diarrhoea among U-5 children than those who washed their hands before feeding. Handwashing facilities (fixed, mobile object or no facility) and handwashing with soap and water before feeding the child significantly affected the occurrence of diarrhoea among U-5 children.

Mental Health Disorders among Children and Associated Parental Stress: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pediatric OPD of Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal.

Identification of mental health disorders during childhood is crucial for healthy 'adult roles' in the society, so this study aimed to estimate the magnitude of 'any mental health disorder' and to find out its correlates among children attending the pediatric out-patient department (OPD) of a medical college in West Bengal and to estimate parental stress among their parents. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in the pediatric OPD of Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal, during July-December, 2021. The calculated size of 288 children aged between 4 and 12 years and attending with either of their parents was selected through systematic random sampling. One of their parents (preferably mother) was interviewed using a schedule, containing a pre-validated pediatric symptom checklist and parental stress scale. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Data were analyzed using SPSS-v23. The median age of the children was 7 years (5-8 y.). The majority of them were male (57.6%), lived in urban areas (59.0%), and lived in joint families (57.6%). One-fifth (20.5%) of the children were found to have any mental health disorder (AMHD). Living in an urban area (aOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1-5.7), belonging to a nuclear family (aOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.7-8.1), and belonging to a family with social problems (aOR = 7.8, 95% CI: 2.3-27.2) were significant correlates of AMHD. Parental stress [median: 60 (55-63)] was found significantly higher (P < 0.001) among parents of children with AMHD as compared to the parents of others. The magnitude of AMHD was high in this study, indicating toward the necessity of implementing opportunistic screening and appropriate public health action.

Retrospective Study on Indication and Outcome of Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy in a Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal

Retrospective Study on Indication and Outcome of Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy in a Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal

Depression and its correlates among undergraduate students in a medical college of West Bengal: A cross-sectional study

Background: Depression among medical students is still a neglected public health problem in India. Aims and Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the prevalence of depression and its correlates among undergraduate medical students of a medical college of eastern India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 336 undergraduate students of a Medical College during October 2022–January 2023. A predesigned, pretested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire incorporating Beck’s depression inventory scale was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the trial version of SPSS software version 20.0. Mean, standard deviation, proportion, or percentages were calculated. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were used for statistical significance as necessary. For all statistical purposes, P&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of the total of 336 students, 205 were male and 131 were female. The mean (SD) age of the study participants was 21.04±1.75 years. More than one-third (39.3%) of the study participants were suffering from depression. Bivariate analysis showed that there was a significant association between depression with certain variables such as gender, quality of relationship with friends, major catastrophic events in the past 3 months, broken relationship, and not opting for MBBS by their own choice. Conclusion: Regular screening for depression, identification of contributory factors of depression and implementing appropriate measures, and follow-up of the affected students are vital. Analytical studies aimed at identifying the risk factors and the effects of depression on the undergraduate medical students are need of the hour.

Readiness of the Interns to work at rural area: a cross-sectional survey in a backward district of West Bengal

Background: The scarcity of qualified doctors in rural areas remains a critical challenge for the health sector in India Aim was to analyze the perception of medical students regarding upcoming compulsory rural posting for 1 year as a part of their rotatory internship Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a medical college of West Bengal among the interns during March 2019 to February 2020. By doing complete enumeration of the interns present at the end of their Community Medicine posting, the sample size became 125. Predesigned, semi structured questionnaire was used for data collection. At the end of community medicine posting, when the interns came to department for completion, the printed questionnaire were given to them for filled up by their own. Collected data were entered in MS excel spreadsheet and analyzed with the help of SPSS 22.0 version. Results: About 74% interns thought it was difficult to serve the rural areas however 52% felt it will enrich their professional skills and about 65% thought it would be beneficial to the rural community. Only 22.4% were in favour of rural posting during their internship and 46% thought paying bond money is a good way out. Lengthening of MBBS course, inadequate clinical exposure, poor connectivity, no job satisfaction, obstructed career growth, no quality of life, insecure working environment for women, excessive workload, inadequate monetary compensation were the major reasons identified by interns for noncompliance of compulsory rural service during internship. Conclusions: The policymakers and medical educators need to design newer strategies for the improvement of rural healthcare facility keeping in mind the perception of students regarding rural service in the present scenario.

A Study to Compare the Mental Health Status and Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Male and Female Undergraduate Medical Students

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students and health-care professionals faced significant challenges, which had a negative impact on their mental health. Aims: This study aimed to assess the mental health of male and female undergraduate medical students and the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants and the Methodologies: After receiving institutional ethical clearance and the informed consent of the participants, this study was carried out on 591 medical students from a peripheral medical college in West Bengal during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. At intervals of 6 months, two surveys were conducted. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and Impact of Event Scale–Revised scale scores were evaluated in the Google Forms surveys. Using the t-test and the Chi-square test, the parameters of the two groups of students were compared. Results: On the initial assessment, neither group received a score that was significantly different from the other. Female students had significantly higher anxiety scores than male students on the second assessment. During the second pandemic wave, there was a significant gender difference in anxiety and stress levels (P = 0.001), with females experiencing higher levels of anxiety and stress. Conclusions: During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, female undergraduate medical students had higher stress and anxiety levels than their male counterparts, according to the current study. Therefore, it is possible to draw the conclusion that the spread of the pandemic had a greater negative impact on the mental health of female undergraduate students.

An observational study to evaluate the outcome of patients admitted in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) using pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM-III) score in a tertiary care hospital of West Bengal

Background: Pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM III) score is used across the globe to predict the mortality of hospitalized children by an objective method based on 17 variables measured during first 24 h of admission in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Aims and Objectives: We have done this study to evaluate the cause, management and outcome of PICU admissions and also to find out the statistical significance of PRISM III score in predicting mortality. Materials and Methods: This observational prospective study was conducted for a period of 1 year in the PICU of a district Medical College of West Bengal among children 1–12 years age. They were divided into 4 groups according to the PRISM III scores of 1–10, 11–20, 21–30, and &gt;30 and outcome in all the groups were recorded and analyzed. Results: Respiratory (25%), neurological (20.1%), and infectious (17.3%) etiology were major cause of PICU admission. About 17.4% patients needed mechanical ventilation, 31.2% Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and 66% patients inotropic support. Out of 144 cases, 117 discharged and 27 expired. Percentage of death is 100%, 44.4%, 21.6%, and 4.6% among child with PRISM III score of &gt;30, 21–30, 11–21, and ≤10, respectively. Significant increase in mortality noted with increase in number of organ failures. Specificity and positive predictive value increases with higher PRISM III score and sensitivity and negative predictive value is more with low PRISM III score. Conclusion: PRISM III score can be used as a triage tool in limited resource settings for early initiation of intense management to high risk and salvageable cases.

A Study on Evaluating the Effectiveness of Pre- and Posttest Model of Learning Microbiology in a Tertiary Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal

Abstract Background and Aims: Traditional didactic lecture methods were previously dominant in medical education in India, where students tend to lose their concentration after 15–20 min of lectures. In the context of competency-based medical education, a teaching–learning method that includes pre- and posttests were hypothesized to have the potential to enhance the learning process and make difficult topics easier for students to understand. This method was implemented for phase 2 MBBS students at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital in India. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of microbiology in October 2021, with 65 male and 33 female students who provided informed consent. All the students were allotted immunology topics and were asked to present seminars. The students were required to complete a pretest and posttest questionnaire covering key areas of immunology. The mean and standard deviation of the scores were calculated. Paired Student’s t-test was used to compare pre- and posttest scores, and P values were calculated using SPSS 20. A P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The total number of correct responses on the posttest was significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) than the number of responses on the pretest. Gender-specific posttest responses were also significant (for males, P &lt; 0.001; for females, P &lt; 0.001). Overall marks were improved on the posttest, and the mean scores among all the students showed significant improvement in their posttest scores compared to their pretest scores. Conclusions: Evaluating students using a pretest and posttest was found to be a practical and feasible tool for learning. The majority of students reported that this method of learning helped them engage in critical thinking and understand topics more systematically, which they believed would contribute to their success as competent Indian Medical Graduates.

Impact of an Assessment-Based Training Module on Communication Skills in Phase I Indian Medical Undergraduates

Introduction: Good communication skills (CSs) are not only the crux of a good doctor–patient relationship but also the foundation over which any human relationship is based. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of training on CS in Phase I MBBS students in a Government Medical College in West Bengal, India. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-four Phase I medical students were trained on how to communicate properly with their peers, seniors, teachers, college authorities, department staff, patient relatives, and other health professionals. Each participant underwent a set of three assessments (presession, postsession, and late postsession) for both knowledge and skills in CS. After postsession assessment, feedback by the faculties and peers was provided and reflections were obtained from the participants. A prevalidated questionnaire and Gap-Kalamazoo CS Assessment Form (with some modification) were used for knowledge and skill's assessment, respectively. At the end of the module, feedback was collected from the participants. Data were tabulated and results were compared and interpreted. Results: Mean score and standard deviation for knowledge assessment were 5.29 ± 1.35, 9 ± 1.20 and 8.55 ± 0.97 in T1, T2, and T3 and for skills' score were 17.78 ± 4.89, 26.32 ± 5.04 and 30.77 ± 3.66 in SA1, SA2, and SA3, respectively. Most participants showed improvement in T2 with mean improvement score (T2–T1) of 79.57 ± 47.25 and mean retention score (T3–T1) of 71.9 ± 47.84. About 52% of participants showed deterioration in T3 with late deterioration score (T3–T2) of − 4.06 ± 11.42. 33% showed no change in knowledge, i.e., they retained their improvements, whereas 15% showed further improvement. Fifty-two percent of participants showed skills' improvement by scores of 7–12, 43% showed retention by 13–18, and late deterioration was shown by 82%, their scores dropped by 0–6. Conclusion: The training module was successfully implemented, and participants appreciated this type of participant centric assessment-based teaching learning module. They learned about the effective ways of communication in a fun manner and were determined to apply all that they have learned.