Application of blooms taxonomy of verbs to evaluate the cognitive domain in undergraduate medical physiology question papers: a critique

Background: Over the years medical education has evolved in the system of education, teaching and evaluation. It is the evaluation system that has the most insightful impact on learning. This study aimed to assess the use of taxonomy of verbs in medical physiology question papers as a tool for written examination for summative evaluation of I year medical students.Methods: Retrospective analysis of I MBBS undergraduate question papers of revised scheme Rajiv Gandhi University of health sciences, Bangalore from the year 2006- 2014 was done. Questions were analyzed individually for the use of taxonomy of verbs in each question, marks allotted for each, and type of cognition analyzed from each question. The data was classified using a modification of Bloom’s hierarchy of cognitive learning (level I, II, III).Results: Majority (45%) of the questions in the papers had no use of verbs. There was variability in the distribution of marks on various chapters of Physiology across the years. Comprehension and knowledge component of the cognitive domain were maximally assessed in the written examination.Conclusions: Examination and evaluation though a source of anxiety for the undergraduate medical students, it is essential to stimulate their cognitive skills by teaching and enhance the evaluation of mental and reasoning skills. It could be more facilitated by proper framing of questions by adequate usage of verbs.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of universal precautions among medical and nursing students

Background: Universal precautions is an approach to infection control to treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne pathogens. The CDC recommends Standard Precautions for the care of all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. Health care personals are at risk of being exposed to blood-borne pathogens. The aim of the study to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical and nursing students towards universal precautions.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out at S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka. The participants were medical and Nursing undergraduate students. A questionnaire was prepared based on the WHO and CDC guidelines on Universal Precautions and was validated and pre-tested before finalization. Degree of knowledge was ascertained by means of yes-no questions on each item being evaluated.Results: All students were aware of Universal precautions, but soundness of their knowledge is very poor. Compliance in Universal precautions is good to average in nursing students but poor to average in medical students.Conclusions: It can be concluded that interventions to improve Universal precautions among medical students, nursing students urgently needed. So, there is a need for developing strategies to promote the use of Universal precautions which take into account behaviour change and accuracy of knowledge including its integration into practice. Teaching universal precautions early in their curriculum is necessary for better learning and practices during their posting

Effect of iron status on iron absorption in different habitual meals in young south Indian women

Background & objectives: Iron deficiency (ID) affects a large number of women in India. An inverse relationship exists between iron (Fe) status and Fe absorption. Dietary inhibitory and enhancing factors exert a profound influence on bioavailability of Fe. Although the current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Fe is based on 8 per cent bioavailability, it is not clear if this holds good for the usual highly inhibitory Indian diet matrix. This study was aimed to determine Fe absorption from several habitually consumed south Indian food and to evaluate the interaction of Fe status with absorption. Methods: Four Fe absorption studies were performed on 60 apparently healthy young women, aged 18-35 years. Based on blood biochemistry, 45 of them were ID and 15 were iron replete (IR). The habitual meals assessed were rice, millet and wheat based meals in the ID subjects and rice based meal alone in the IR subjects. Each subject received the test meal labelled with 3 mg of [57] Fe and Fe absorption was measured based on erythrocyte incorporation of isotope label 14 days following administration. Results: Mean fractional Fe absorption from the rice, wheat and millet based meals in the ID subjects were 8.3, 11.2 and 4.6 per cent, respectively. Fe absorption from the rice-based meals was 2.5 per cent in IR subjects. Interpretation & conclusions: Fe absorption is dictated by Fe status from low bioavailability meals. Millet based meals have the lowest bioavailability, while the rice and wheat based meals had moderate to good bioavailability. In millet based meals, it is prudent to consider ways to improve Fe absorption

Evaluation of co-existence of overweight and anemia among young adults in Coastal Karnataka, India using an interprofessional approach

Background: /Objectives: The dual burden of malnutrition is a public health phenomenon associated with a variety of socio-ecological determinants. Research examining the underlying causes of this phenomenon in the same individual is limited and warrants additional study. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of coexistence of overweight and anemia. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. A pre-validated questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, diet, and lifestyle determinants of the dual burden of overweight and anemia by an Interprofessional team. An Anthropometric assessment and Hemoglobin estimation was done. Pregnant and lactating mothers, immunocompromised adults, and patients with terminal illnesses were excluded. The participants were 250 young adults (20–45yrs). Data was analyzed with SPSS version 21, using descriptive and inferential statistics, t tests, binary logistic regression. Significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Mean age of the participants was 31.1yrs (±7.83). Prevalence of coexistence of overweight and anemia was 23%. Central body obesity was inversely proportional to the hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001). Determinants of this coexistence were gender (female), age (young), low physical activity levels, higher intakes of total fat, cereals, roots, tubers, sugars, and an inadequate intake of pulses and other vegetables (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Proportional, balanced diets with high nutrient density, accompanied with optimum physical activity, a healthy lifestyle, adequate water consumption and regular health monitoring, will help reduce the risk of coexistence of overweight and anemia in the short term and diet-related Non Communicable Diseases in the long run. An interprofessional approach is important to create awareness regarding this paradox