Non-medical Undergraduate Students Research Articles

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine in Undergraduate Students at Peshawar, Pakistan

Background: Although vaccines are an effective tool for tackling COVID-19, hesitancy exists in Pakistan. The objectives were to find the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and the causes of vaccine hesitancy among non-medical undergraduate students of Peshawar University. Methods: This cross-sectional study, was conducted from March 2021 to July 2022, using a validated closed-ended structured questionnaire. A pilot study was done on 32 students (10% of the sample) at Agriculture University with Cronbach’s alpha 0.7. By non-probability convenient sampling, 315 undergraduate students from the Psychology Department, Economics, and Institute of Management Studies of Peshawar University were included. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.23. Categorical variables were presented in the form of frequency and percentages. The chi-square test was applied with a p<0.05 as a significant Results: Among 315 participants, 45.7% (144) males and 54.3% (171) females of which 264(83.8%) were vaccinated. 45(14.3%) of the participants showed acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine. Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine didn’t show any statistical significance when compared with different age groups and gender with p=0.54 and p=0.86 respectively. Misconceptions, myths, and ignorance were the main factors for vaccine hesitancy. Studies showed that gender and COVID-19 vaccines were being promoted for the commercial gains of pharmaceutical companies with a p<0.001. Moreover, different departments considered fertility as a cause of hesitancy (p<0.001) Conclusion: It is concluded that misconceptions, fear of needles, and commercial gains of pharmaceutical companies, were the reasons for vaccine hesitancy which can be addressed by providing mass health education and targeting the vulnerable population.

Prevalence of Internet-based Self-medical Diagnosis among Indian Nonmedical Undergraduate Students: An Observational Cross-sectional Survey

ABSTRACT Introduction: Self-medical diagnosis using the Internet has become a common practice. Increasing use of technology and readily available health-related information on the Internet is a major reason for this practice. Self-medical diagnosis can have some advantages as well as disadvantages. Aim: To study the status, prevalence, and need of Internet usage for self-medical diagnosis among nonmedical undergraduate students and if gender, residency, and year of the study affect it. Methodology: After ethical clearance, an e-form with 12 closed-ended questions designed on Google Forms was randomly circulated to nonmedical Indian undergraduate students. The 986 responses gained over 3 months were tabulated and statistically analyzed using the SPSS statistical software 23.0 Version and Chi-square test. Results: The study revealed that convenience, accessibility, and a desire for immediate answers were key factors driving individuals to engage in Internet-based self-medical diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference in gender, type of residency, and year of the study to any of the questions regarding the role of Internet in self-medical diagnosis. Conclusion: Participants acknowledged the presence of misinformation, conflicting advice, and difficulty in accurately interpreting medical information online. The risk of misdiagnosis, heightened anxiety, and inappropriate self-treatment emerged as noteworthy concerns, emphasizing the need for cautious engagement and the importance of seeking professional medical guidance to enable a more balanced approach.

Knowledge, attitude, and awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among university enrolled medical and non-medical students of Pakistan: An online study.

To evaluate the awareness, attitude and knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among university-enrolled medical and non-medical undergraduate students of Pakistan. Cross-sectional online survey-based study was conducted across institutes in Pakistan from December, 2022 to January, 2023. The study involved university-enrolled undergraduate students across the country. The structured questionnaire was disseminated via Google forms. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data by applying independent sample t-tests and ANOVA. A total of 249 responses were received. After the exclusion of two responses, the overall awareness score of participants was found to be 2.49 ± 1.33, attitude score of 4.09 ± 1.74, and knowledge score of 3.51 ± 2.13. Female respondents, medical students, unmarried (single), private institutes, and respondents with educated parents achieved relatively higher scores. The overall difference in awareness scores among different regions of Pakistan was also significant (p <0.05). Gender, region, and parental literacy rate also showed effects on participants' basic life support (BLS) and CPR knowledge (p <0.05). Overall knowledge and awareness were unsatisfactory and inadequate in university-enrolled undergraduate students, with no one getting a complete score on very basic knowledge questions. Significant differences in awareness, attitude, and knowledge among different regions, genders, and parental literacy rates were found.

Breast Self-Examination: An Early Familiar Diagnostic Test of Breast Cancer

Background: Among female patients’ breast cancer are a growing threat for over a century. In women, breast cancer is the most common malignancy universally such as 154 of 185 nations. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple, very low-cost, non-invasive early detection method used to detect early breast cancer, which involves the woman herself looking at and feeling for any change in their breast as early as possible, which yields a better survival rate. BSE should be done for all women older than 20 years. This study intended to determine knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of breast cancer among medical and non-medical undergraduate students. Material &amp; Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted from October to November 2019 to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of BSE. The target population consisted of undergraduate female medical and non‑medical students. A total of 154 (N=154) undergraduate female students participated in this study. Verbal consent was taken before recruiting the study population. Completed data forms were reviewed, edited, and processed for computer data entry. The data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25.0. Results: Among the study population (N=154) with an early familiar diagnosis of breast cancer ”breast self-examination, the mean age of them was 20.434±4.38. Of seventy-eight respondents (n=78), breast cancer screening test was heard by around half of the medical students (42, 53.8%) &amp; of seventy-six non-medical respondents (n=76), around three-fifth of them (46, 60.5%) did not hear about breast cancer screening test. There was no significant relationship between them (p=0.394). Forty medical students (40, 51.3% and twenty-five non-medical students (25, 32.9%) had no idea, twenty-four medical students (24, 30.8%) &amp; forty-three (43, 56.6%) non-medical students had monthly BSE done. Conclusion: Initial diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have a definite survival benefit. So early detection is an issue of necessity to be uplifted. The results of the present study suggested that knowledge regarding breast cancer, its risk factors, sign symptoms, prevention measures, and performance of BSE is insufficient.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine Among Undergraduate Students

Objective: To assess the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among medical and non-medical undergraduate students and compare the COVID-19 vaccine receptivity differences between medical and non-medical undergraduate students.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross-sectional study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Bahria University Medical &amp; Dental College, and Bahria University Karachi Campus Pakistan, from Mar to Jun 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: In this study, a total of 392 participants, were selected by non-probability convenience sampling. Students aged 19-26 years were enrolled. Participants were required to sign a voluntary consent form prior to participation. The questionnaire included 21 questions inclusive of demographic characteristics, insight regarding COVID-19 disease, prior EPI vaccine exposure, attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine, including the importance of vaccine to end the pandemic, acceptance of vaccine along with reasons and non-acceptance and sent by email as a Google form to participants.&#x0D; Results: There were 171(43.6%) males and females 218(55.6%). The mean age of participants was 20.7±2.29 years. 217(55.4%) students were from the MBBS programs, and 175(44.6%) were from non-MBBS programs. COVID-19 vaccine acceptability was better amongst medical students, with 182(83.9%) considering it safe for use in contrast to 5(2.8%) non-medical students who considered it safe.&#x0D; Conclusion: The comparison of knowledge and attitudes towards accepting the COVID-19 vaccine between medical students and non-medical students revealed better acceptance amongst undergraduate medical students than non-medical undergraduate students.

Knowledge about iron deficiency anemia in university girls: A perspective for an educational booklet

Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent nutritional deficiency observed among young girls globally. In the city of Hail, college students frequently opt for fast food available at their college food mall. The primary objective of this study is to examine the level of knowledge pertaining to Iron-Deficiency Anemia and awareness regarding a diet rich in iron among female university students. The aim is to promote an understanding of preventive measures for this condition. A cross-sectional research design was employed, and a sample of 700 girls aged between 18 and 25 years, who were non-medical undergraduate students at the University of Hail, was selected using the non-probability convenience sampling technique. Notably, undergraduate students enrolled in the Medicine, Nursing, and Science Colleges were excluded from the study. Data collection was performed using a standardized, pre-designed, and pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire encompassed various aspects, including demographic variables, distribution of obstetrics and menstrual history, questions regarding knowledge about anemia, knowledge about iron-rich foods, and health-seeking behavior. The findings of the study revealed that 35.1% of the students exhibited inadequate knowledge about anemia, and a significant proportion (85.9%) displayed inadequate knowledge about incorporating iron-rich foods into their diet. Additionally, 68.7% of the participants experienced heavy blood flow during their periods for a duration of 4-7 days, while 64.1% had a history of anemia. These results emphasize that this particular demographic group, which consists of women of childbearing age, lacks awareness regarding the importance of iron-rich foods and their inclusion in their diet. Consequently, enhancing their dietary habits and increasing their knowledge about iron-rich foods would help prevent the detrimental effects of anemia. Upon the completion of data collection, all study participants were provided with an informational pamphlet containing details about iron deficiency anemia and its preventive measures.

Predictors of online health information seeking behaviour of non-medical undergraduate students might vary.

As more people across Generations X, Y, and Z continue to use the Internet meet their information needs, this study assesses the characteristics influencing the online health information seeking behaviour (OHISB) of non-medical university students. Previous studies on the subject in Nigeria have largely assessed the concept of OHISB among university students without examining the determinants of such behaviour. To determine the predictors of OHISB among non-medical undergraduate students of a Nigerian private university. Adopting a cross-sectional research design, the study utilized a semi-structured questionnaire administered via Google forms. Some 361 non-medical undergraduate students were recruited purposively with a response rate of 84.2%. The questionnaire obtained data on students' socio-demographics, Internet usage, and OHISB. Presence of a chronic condition, gender, and college showed significant associations with students' OHISB. 'Mothers' occupation' and 'prior experience' became significant predictors of students' OHISB. The results align with studies that stressed that chronically ill persons would search for health information on the internet and that presence of chronic illness is among the predictors of OHISB. These findings add to evidence from other countries that had identified health literacy and presence of chronic illness as significant predictors of OHISB among students.

Reported knowledge and practices towards the proper use of patient information leaflet among university students

Background: A patient information leaflet (PIL) is a valuable tool that can convey basic information about the disease conditions and the recommended medication enabling both the patients and the health care professional to get rapid, easy, and precise access to the treatment process. Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge and practices for appropriate and useful use of PIL among final-year medical and non-medical undergraduate university students in Baghdad, Iraq. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among final-year undergraduate university students with different academic disciplines, including medical (pharmacy, dentistry) and non-medical disciplines (law, media) in Baghdad, Iraq, using a structured questionnaire to evaluate the level of knowledge and practices towards the proper use of PIL. Result: A total of 384 students enrolled in this study and the majority were medical students (59.1%). The proportion of non-medical students who read the PILs was lower than that of medical students (82.2% vs. 91.6%, p&lt;0.0001). According to participants’ responses, 84.6% (p=0.03) of the medical students stated that reading PIL was useful for accurate medication use, while 60.5% of the non-medical students reported that the language of PIL was difficult to understand. Instructions for proper medication intake were significantly higher among the medical students (78%, p&lt;0.0001). Conclusion: An acceptable level of knowledge along with several different practices toward the proper use of PIL while taking medicines was reported among medical and non-medical undergraduate university students.

What is Transferred and How Much is Retained? A Simulation Study of Complex Surgical Skills

IntroductionStudies indicate that learning surgical skills on low-fidelity models is equally beneficial to learning on high-fidelity models in terms of skills retention and transfer. However, it is unclear how low-fidelity simulation training impacts retention and transfer in novice learners, particularly on complex surgical tasks that incorporate multiple challenging skills. This study explores the capacity of complete novices to learn and transfer complex surgical skills from a low-fidelity model to a high-fidelity simulation after a delay. MethodsTask-naïve medical and nonmedical undergraduate students (n = 62) participated in a three-phase prospective double-arm randomized (2:1) experimental study. Participants completed two skills training sessions (end-to-side anastomosis) on a low-fidelity bench model. After a 4-week delay, participants completed the task again either using the low-fidelity model or a high-fidelity model (cadaver) and were assessed using a validated checklist. ResultsThere was a significant time × fidelity group interaction (P = 0.004). Simple effects analysis indicated the high-fidelity group (Mdiff = 4.18, P < 0.001) performed significantly worse (P = 0.003) in phase 3 relative to phase 2 compared to the low-fidelity group (Mdiff = 0.75, P = 0.39). Post hoc logistic regression analysis indicated that radial suturing technique and economy of motion skills were less likely to be completed correctly for those in the high-fidelity group. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that for novice populations, relying on low-fidelity simulation training as a source of teaching complex skills may not provide a reliable transfer to high-fidelity models and in turn clinical settings.

Basic life support awareness among non-medical students at King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Background: The knowledge and skills about basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support are the most important determining factors of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) success rates. Practicing simple CPR techniques as well as knowing BLS improves the chances of survival of the patient until experienced medical help can arrive. In most cases, it is sufficient for survival in itself. The study aimed to determine non-medical undergraduate students' knowledge of BLS and related skills at King Faisal University.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia between October 10 and December 30, 2021. A total of 406 students from nonmedical colleges participated in the study. A validated Arabic-language questionnaire was subsequently administered, which included 10 items assessing knowledge about BLS.Results: A total of 406 participants completed the questionnaire. The majority of participants (82.5%) had poor knowledge of the BLS. A quarter of students (25.1%) indicated that they had previously taken BLS training. Approximately (16%) of students acquired their knowledge about BLS from the internet, 7.6% from watching movies and TV shows, 16% from school subjects, 2.2% from college subjects, and 26.4% from reading.Conclusions: BLS knowledge was very limited among non-medical colleges students. It is evident from the study that nonmedical students need better BLS training in order to respond appropriately to cardiac arrest and other emergency situations.

Knowledge and Associated Factors for the Uptake of Hepatitis B Vaccine among Nonmedical Undergraduate Students in a Private University in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis B is a life-threatening viral infection that causes acute and chronic diseases of the liver. Hepatitis B infection is endemic in Nigeria with a national pooled prevalence rate of 9.5%. However, a safe and effective vaccine that offers the protection against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is available. Aim: This study assessed the knowledge of hepatitis B vaccine and the associated factors for the uptake of the vaccine among non medical undergraduate in a Private University in Ekiti State. Materials and Methods: This survey is a cross-sectional study involving 420 nonmedical undergraduate students of a private university in Ekiti State, Nigeria, using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured pretested self-administered questionnaire between March and May 2019. Analysis was done using SPSS version 23, and the level of significance was taken as P &lt; 0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 20.3 ± 2.7 years. Almost half of the students (47.4%) were within the age range of 15–19 years. Females constitute 51.4% of the respondents and mostly practiced Christianity (77.4%). The majority of respondents had good knowledge of HBV vaccine (77.6%). Just a little over a quarter (26. 9%) of the respondents have taken one or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine. There was a statistically significant association between respondents' age (P = 0.032), the college of study (P = 0.006), and good knowledge of HBV vaccine (P &lt; 0.001) and uptake of hepatitis B vaccine. The factors associated with uptake of hepatitis B vaccine include older age group (25–29 years), studentship in the college of science, and good knowledge of hepatitis B vaccine. Conclusion: The majority of respondents had good knowledge of hepatitis B vaccine. Associated factors identified for uptake of hepatitis B vaccine include age (25–29) years, studentship in faculty of science, and good knowledge of hepatitis B vaccine. It is recommended that health education about hepatitis B and its vaccine should be offered to undergraduates to increase the uptake of hepatitis B vaccine.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Indonesian medical and non-medical undergraduate students toward COVID-19

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread across Indonesia, good knowledge, proper attitude, and appropriate practices among undergraduate students must be achieved before starting a face-to-face lecture. These are also important since most students are active in social media and can spread true or false rumors regarding COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and non-medical undergraduate students toward COVID-19. A 51-item online questionnaire was developed and sent to random undergraduate students from different faculties in Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia. A total of 482 students completed the survey. The Chi-square test showed significant associations in the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the COVID-19 between medical and non-medical students, where medical students have better knowledge, attitudes, and practices than non-medical students. This study's findings may become the basis for an awareness campaign planning among students in particular and the public in general, which at this time most student activities are still carried out online and to prepare face-to-face lectures and also to deepen the material regarding COVID-19 among students, especially non-medical students, and furthermore, help to guide the efforts and plans of state health authorities for better containment of COVID-19.

The Interactive Relationship Between Instructor Perceptions and Learner Personality on Surgical Skills Performance

The objective of this study was to examine the association between learner personality and capacity to be trained (i.e., performance improvement) on a surgical task, and how instructor perceptions of the learners' capacity to be trained interact with learner personality and performance during training and feedback. There is meaningful heterogeneity in the degree of learner surgical skills acquisition despite receiving the same amount of training. While learner personality may independently contribute to skill acquisition, the instructor-learner feedback process is also important to consider. To better understand this interpersonal relationship, it is necessary to also consider instructor factors (i.e., perceptions), and how this may contribute to learner variability in skills training. This exploratory study employed a prospective two-phase design. Medical and non-medical undergraduate students (N = 62) completed measures of personality and participated in two 20-minute training sessions with expert feedback 2 weeks apart, performing an end-to-side anastomosis on a low-fidelity model. Learner performance and instructors' perceptions of a learner's capacity to be trained were assessed. Sixty-two medical and non-medical undergraduate students. There was a significant interaction between learner Extraversion and instructor's perceptions of learner capacity to be trained. Higher learner Extraversion was only associated with an increase in performance improvement for those who were considered trainable (OR = 4.83, p = 0.017). Post hoc analysis revealed a significant difference in the amount of feedback provided to participants who were considered trainable (M = 9.45) versus not trainable (M = 16.48). This study highlights the importance of both individual learner factors and instructor perceptions on surgical skill acquisition.

Coping Stress of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Medical and Non-Medical Undergraduate Students at Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia

Background : Coping stress is an act of dealing with stress by adapting to the problems of the thought process. The ‘Distance Learning’ policy is a stress factor during the COVID-19 pandemic which may have an impact on psychological conditions and coping stress. This study aimed to determine differences in stress levels and coping stress among medical and non-medical undergraduate students against the global COVID-19 pandemic. Methods : Cross-sectional analytical methods were used. Stratified random sampling recruiting undergraduate students, including from medical students (n=80) and non-medical students (n=84) at Universitas Padjadjaran class 2017–2019. The distributed questionnaire contained 25 questions adapted from the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 42) and the Cope Inventory. Validity and reliability tests were carried out previously, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.26. Results : The median age of both groups was 21 years and most of the respondents were female. There was no significant difference in stress and coping stress. At the time of coping, the medical students focused more on emotions and the non-medical students focused more on the problems. Conclusion : There is no difference in the levels of stress and coping stress with emotional and problems focus in the medical and non-medical students.

Knowledge and awareness of genetic test available for risk of breast cancer among female students in UiTM

Background: Malaysians are less likely to be highly exposed of the information regarding genetic tests as compared to citizens of developed countries in the world. In addition to that, little is known about the level of knowledge and awareness of the genetic testing for risk of breast cancer detection among the students in University Technology Mara (UiTM).&#x0D; Materials and methods: A cross-sectional with correlational design study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among medical and non-medical undergraduate students of University Technology Mara (UiTM). The population from which the convenience sample gathered were those who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this study.&#x0D; Results: Three hundred and eighty six (386) respondents were involved in present study, (50.8%) of them were familiar with the existence of the test while the remaining (49.2%) did not know about the genetic tests available for detecting gene mutations. Regards their interest in genetic testing to detect inheritable mutations, (35.8%) of them were definitely interest in the test, (38.3%) of them were probably interest in the test, (20.7%) of them were considering the test and the remaining (5.2%) have no interest in the test at all. About their awareness of the genetic test available for mutations detections, majority of them, (67.9%), agreed to get tested in order to learn of their own risk in getting breast cancer. In terms of their reason to avoid being tested, many of them, (40.7%) mentioned that the main reason is if the result comes out positive for genetic mutations, it will disrupt their daily lives.&#x0D; Conclusion: There were mild level of knowledge and moderate level of awareness about breast cancer genetic tests, but the respondents showed high level of interest towards genetic test available for breast cancer risk detection. Educational materials and programs may increase knowledge and awareness about the genetic test available for detection of inheritable mutations. The effectiveness of the educational strategies shall be tested in the future.

Working Towards Competence: A Novel Application of Borderline Regression to a Task-Specific Checklist for Technical Skills in Novices

Demonstrated competence through frequent assessment is an expected goal for progressive development in competency-based medical education curricula. The Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) is considered a valid method of formative assessment, but in few instances have standards been set for determining competence. The present study used borderline regression methods to examine standard setting of performance on a complex technical task with novices assessed using an OSATS checklist. This was a single institution prospective single arm experimental design study. Participants were 58 non-medical undergraduate students with no previous surgical experience, who observed a computer-based training module on end-to-side vascular anastomosis. Subsequently, participants were provided two 20-minute training sessions, two weeks apart where they received expert feedback whilst performing the task on a low-fidelity model. After each training session, participants completed the task unaided. Sessions were recorded and assessed using an OSATS checklist retrospectively by experts. Paired t-test analyses indicate that for both the checklist total score (t(52) = 8.05, p < 0.001) and the global rating score (t(53) = 8.15, p < 0.001), individuals performed significantly better in Phase 2. Borderline regression analyses indicated that in Phase 1 (R2 = .60) and Phase 2 (R2 = .75), the OSATS checklist could adequately capture variation in performance in novices. Further, the checklist could reliably classify novices at three of the five global rating performance levels. Pass rates determined by regression equations improved from Phase 1 to Phase 2 on all global rating levels. With the increasing focus on competency-based medical education, it is imperative that training programs have the capacity to accurately assess outcomes and set minimum performance standards. Borderline regression methods can accurately differentiate novice learners of varying performance levels before and after training on a complex technical skill task using an OSATS checklist.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Indonesian medical and non-medical undergraduate students toward COVID-19

As the COVID-19 Pandemic spread across Indonesia, good knowledge, proper attitude, and appropriate practices among undergraduate students must be achieved before staring face-to-face lecture. These are also important since most students are active in social media and can spread true or false rumors regarding COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and non-medical undergraduate students toward COVID-19. A 51-item, online questionnaire was developed and sent to random undergraduate students from different faculties in Diponegoro University, Indonesia. A total of 482 students completed the survey. Chi-Square test showed that there were significant associations in the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the COVID-19 between medical and non-medical students, where medical students have better knowledge, attitudes, and practices than non-medical students. This study's findings may become the basis for an awareness campaign planning among students in particular and the public in general , which at this time most student activities are still carried out online and to prepare face-to-face lectures and also to deepen the material regarsing COVID-19 among students, especially non-medical students, and furthermore, help to guide the efforts and plans of state health authorities for a better containment of COVID-19.

Factors Associated with Attitudes towards the Preferred Method of Delivery in Medical and Non-Medical Female Students

Aims: In order to reduce the rate of cesarean section (CS), it is necessary to be aware of attitudes of women to predict their preferred method of delivery and its related factors. This study aimed to compare attitudes of medical and non-medical female students regarding the preferred method of delivery and its related factors in 2019.&#x0D; Study Design: cross sectional-analytical study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Medical and non-medical undergraduate female students of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, were randomly selected between October 2019 and November 2019.&#x0D; Methodology: We included 1040 students (873 non-medical, 167 medical students; mean age 20.90 ± 1.54 years). The data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential (Chi Square, Fisher's exact test, Kruskal–Wallis, Mann-Whitney and multiple regression) statistics (P =.05).&#x0D; Results: In general, 71.50% of subjects in both groups had a neutral attitude. For group comparison, the medical and non-medical groups (24% and 12.40%) had a positive attitude towards CS and (11.40% and 14.80%) had a positive attitude towards normal vaginal delivery (NVD), respectively. Attitude score according to the university (P =.002), the school (P =.002), the academic year (P =.001), age (P =.031), ethnicity (P =.001), child rank (P =.042), father education (P =.007), mother education (P =.006), childbirth method of the mothers in other children (P =.007), and delivery method of the relatives (P =.05) was significant.&#x0D; Conclusion: Although non-medical students had more possitive attitude towards NVD, in general, in both groups, the majority of them had a neutral attitude towards the mode of delivery. It seems necessary to develop the educational-counseling interventions to form a positive attitude towards NVD in all students and youngs.

Factors Influencing Self-Medication Practice Among Medical and Non-Medical Undergraduate Students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria

Factors Influencing Self-Medication Practice Among Medical and Non-Medical Undergraduate Students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria

Trend of Regular Voluntary Blood Donation and its Associated Factors in Karachi - A Comparative Analysis of Medical and Non-medical Undergraduate Students

Background: Regular voluntary unpaid blood donation assures safe blood supply in association with minimum infection transmission. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of regular voluntary blood donation and to evaluate the causes of donating blood as well as factors impeding blood donations among the medical and nonmedical students of Karachi. Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted among medical and nonmedical students of JSMU and NED University respectively from May to October 2018. Sample size was 272 including 137 medical and 135 non-medical students. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Chi-square test of independence/ Fischer’s exact test were applied to assess statistical significance. Result: In medical group 5/21(23.8%) voluntary regular donors were recorded. In non-medical group, voluntary regular donors were found to be 8/30 (26.6%) (p&gt;0.00). Medical students most commonly 15/21 (71.4%) donated blood voluntarily in a camp while non-medical participants frequently donated blood as replacement donors 13/30 (43.3%) (p&gt;0.00). Major hindering factor for blood donation in both study groups was non-participation in blood donation derives i.e. 66/116 (56.8%) in medical and 53/105 (50.4%) in non-medical groups respectively. Anemia, 20/116 (17.2%) in medical and 15/105 (14.2%) in nonmedical students was the second major cause of not donating blood. Conclusion: The frequency of regular voluntary blood donations is very low among undergraduates. However, comparatively, the trend is slightly higher among non-medical group. The major hindrance in not donating blood was non-participation in blood donating derives.