Terrorism, Death Anxiety and Anger; A Comparison of Police and Shopkeepers

The present study was designed to find the association between terrorism catastrophizing, death anxiety and anger among police and shopkeepers. The total sample comprised of two hundred and seventy six (N=276) subjects, including one hundred and thirty five (n=135) police personnel and one hundred and forty one (n=141) shopkeepers using convenient sampling technique. The age range was 24 to 60 years. Terrorism catastrophizing scale, death anxiety scale, and Novaco anger scale were used for data collection. Both groups were individually interviewed and were contacted through proper channel. Association between terrorism catastrophizing, death anxiety and anger was investigated among police personnel and shopkeepers. Comparison was made between police personnel and shopkeepers regarding terrorism catastrophizing, death anxiety and anger. Results revealed that there was no significant difference between the scores of shopkeepers and police personnel on terrorism catastrophizing and anger, however police personnel showed slightly higher scores on death anxiety as compared to shopkeepers. Simple linear regression of the data revealed terrorism catasrophizing as a predictor of death anxiety among police personnel and shopkeepers. Significant negative association between anger and terrorism catastrophizing among police personnel predicts controlled fear at the time of crises and steadfastness in fighting spirit. Findings suggests that police is as vulnerable to consequences of traumatic events as any other individual or professional, yet police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is determined in taking risks as shown in negative association between anger and terrorism catestrophizing

E-learning in medical education: a perspective of pre-clinical medical students from a lower-middle income country

Abstract Background Many of the educational institutions in developed countries have shifted to online learning. While transition from traditional to electronic learning (e-learning) has remained a great challenge in low-middle income countries, where limited resources for teaching and learning are important factors. Medical education involves not only lecturing but also deep understanding through laboratories and patient exposure. The debate about the effectiveness of e-learning in medical education is still in contradiction due to its limitations. This cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess pre-clinical undergraduate medical students’ perception of their first online learning in a lower-middle income country. Methodology The survey was conducted among the students who had participated in online learning during COVID-19 for at least a year. A total of 824 preclinical medical students who completed the survey from public and private medical universities in Sindh, Pakistan were included in the study. We used a validated online-based questionnaire, distributed through E-mail and social media platforms to assess the perception of students regarding their first online learning experience. Results The response rate of the survey was 87.9%. The mean age of students was 20.7 ± 3.8 years. 392/824 (47%) were males and 57% were females. Our study indicated that 613/824 (75%) of students were experiencing online learning for the very first time while 631/824 (77%) were facing technical issues like internet accessibility and lack of IT-related skills. 381/824 (46%) were not satisfied with the institute’s readiness for online teaching. However, 79% (654/824) of participants were of the idea that traditional learning is more effective in developing their practical skills as compared to e-learning. Of note, 668/824 (81%) showed overall dissatisfaction with e-learning. Conclusion Based on our study findings, we concluded that most students have a negative perception of e-learning. Difficulty in connectivity, electricity issues, less interaction with colleagues and teachers, and issues with the structure of online courses were the most frequently reported problems by the students

Sero-Prevalence of Brucellosis in Occupationally High-Risk Groups in Three Different Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Objectives: Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease in Pakistan, but it causes immense impact on livestock and public health.  This study was done to determine the prevalence of Brucellosis in occupationally high-risk groups encompassing butchers, milkers, and cattle caretakers in district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 blood samples were collected through a non-probability purposive sampling technique from occupationally high-risk groups including butchers, milkers, and cattle caretakers at district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar from December 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. All the blood samples were centrifuged and the serum was separated for further testing. Serum agglutination test was used for the detection of Brucellosis and the reagents used for this method were purchased from Biosciences PTE Ltd, Singapore. Results: Out of 300 blood samples, 111 samples were positive and the overall prevalence of Brucellosis was 37% in occupationally high-risk groups. The overall 37% prevalence of Brucellosis comprised of 70% of B. abortus, 21.6% of B. melitensis, and 8.1% of both B. abortus and B. melitensis simultaneously. The prevalence of Brucellosis in butchers was 27.6%, milkers 13.3%, and cattle caretakers 45.7% while prevalence in males was 33% and in females 39.6%. The prevalence of Brucellosis in district Swabi was 45%, Mardan 33.3%, and Peshawar 30%. The socio demographic factors including age group, occupation, and locality showed statistically significant results. Conclusion:  The prevalence of Brucellosis is considerably higher in occupationally high-risk groups in district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar, Pakistan