Correlation of trainees\u27 selection scores with their subsequent performance during specialty training in anesthesiology

Objective: To determine the correlation of trainee selection scores (TSS) with subsequent performance in anesthesiology trainees at a university hospital.Study Design: Descriptive analytical study.Place and Duration of Study: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from August 2016 to January 2017.Methodology: Data were collected on 44 anesthesiology trainees completing their training between 2009 and 2015. TSS consisted of entrance test, final-year medical school scores, and interviews. Assessment included written tests, viva voce, and clinical assessment. Non-parametric Spearman rank correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationship between scores.Results: Weak correlation was found between TSS and overall assessment scores for first three years of training. Correlation of TSS with clinical component of assessment was weak throughout training, while it was moderately significant with cognitive component of assessment in third and fourth years of training. Correlation between interview scores and cognitive as well as clinical assessment was non-significant. TSS showed weak correlation with success in exit level examination.Conclusion: Correlation between overall TSS and assessment scores was weak for first three years of training, and becoming moderately positive in later years of training. Cognitive component of TSS had moderately positive correlation with cognitive assessment, but not with clinical performance. Anesthesiology training programmes need to strengthen their selection criteria; and development of structured interviews might prove useful. Future research should focus upon identifying most useful traits in selecting high performers in anesthesiology training

Variation in the Quality of Life within Punjab: Evidence from MICS, 2007-08

Since quality of life research is essentially concerned with measuring and monitoring welfare. In order to measure quality of life, one must have a theory of what makes up a good life [Cobb (2000)]. There is a variety of such theories and notions of what constitutes a ‗good life‘ and correspondingly different concepts of welfare and quality of life have been developed. Various approaches and operationalisations are to be distinguished, each of which reveals a different concept of welfare and thus highlights different components and dimensions [Noll (2000)]. Among the various efforts to operationalise welfare in general and the quality of life concept in particular, two contrary approaches are to be distinguished, which define the two extreme positions on a broad continuum of concepts currently available: the Scandinavian level of living approach [Erickson (1993)] and the American quality of life approach [Campbell (1976)]. The Scandinavian approach focuses almost exclusively on resources and objective living conditions, whereas the American approach emphasises the subjective well-being of individuals as a final outcome of conditions and processes

Learning approaches and academic performance of undergraduate medical students in Pakistan

Objective: To classify undergraduate medical students according to their learning approaches and to correlate the learning approaches with their academic achievements.Materials and Methods: A questionnaire to appraise learning approaches of undergraduate medical students was administered and collected at the end of the regular certifying examinations. The responses were analysed through the principal component factor analysis.Results: The results did not depict formation of demonstrable learning approaches during academic years. However, increased self-awareness about the approaches was indicated by the responses of final year students as compared to the third year students. The correlation of the learning approaches with the scores of the certifying examination and a mock test (consisting of specially developed integrated questions), through multivariate analysis depicted statistically insignificant results.Conclusion: There was a non-significant relationship between the learning approaches and academic performances and a weak statistical significance between achievement, orientation and performance in certifying examination. It is essential that along with changes in the instructional and assessment strategies awareness should be created in students about various learning approaches

Results of faculty evaluation at The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: The aim of the retrospective correlational analysis was to identify the attributes valued most by students for assessing the overall effectiveness of a teacher. Methods: Responses of the students to the two versions of evaluation questionnaires, each attempting to assess 4 and 8 characteristics respectively on a scale of 1-5 were included in the analysis. The third and fourth year students, at the end of each course/module completed a total of 2110 evaluation forms, which were studied. Results: The over all effectiveness of the teacher showed statistically significant correlation of .914 and .895 with ability to communicate ideas effectively and clarity and organisation of the lectures. Whereas the knowledge of subject and the successful use of teaching aids showed a correlation of .658 and .637 with a statistical significance of PConclusion:Students need a basic outline of what they have to learn and guidance to plan their studies OPMA 49: 135, 1999)

Case of xanthogranulomatous oophoritis

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is characterized by destruction of the tissues of the organ involved and replacement by chronic inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, plasma cells, occasional neutrophils with or without multinucleated or Touton giant cells. Exact aetiology is not known but the theory of infection with organisms like Proteus, E coli, and Bacteroides fragilis is most popular. Xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the female genital tract is not common and usually involves the endometrium; however, xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the ovaries is a rare entity

Psychomotor skills for the undergraduate medical curriculum in a developing country--Pakistan

Objective: To identify essential psychomotor skills for all the medical graduates of an undergraduate programme in Pakistan.Materials and Methods: Twenty-five physicians practising in a tertiary care centre and ninety primary care physicians used a Likert\u27s scale, ranging from very essential to not required at all , to mark 99 psychomotor skills in the undergraduate medical curriculum in Pakistan.Results: Overall the opinions of both the groups about the essential skills matched except for a few areas.Conclusion: This study provides baseline data about psychomotor skills that a medical graduate in developing countries should be able to perform. Further studies will be undertaken by involving other stakeholders to identify and incorporate these skills in the undergraduate medical curriculum, thereby enabling graduates to practice in all the settings in Pakistan

Mapping Flood Risk Assessment by Remote Sensing in District Chiniot, Pakistan

A flood is a catastrophic event of natural origin which involves exposure of human population, infrastructure, and resources. Heavy rainfall in river catchments, snow melting in monsoon season, inadequate drainage networks, water overflowing from the main drainage channels, conversion of natural vegetation, agricultural land, and wetlands due to urbanization are the core reasons of floods. Whereas, climate change has made the condition worse and increases the frequency of the floods. Asia consists approximately one-fifth of the earth's land area with half of the world's population living in this continent. As natural disasters increased around the world, Asian countries also continued to experience hazard events especially from 1994 to 2004, when nearly 60,000 people were killed in floods (Arambepola, 2009)

Frequency and Characteristics of Breast lymphomas presenting to a tertiary care hospital, Pakistan

Objective: To assess the relative frequency of (primary and secondary) mammary lymphomas presenting to a tertiary care hospital, Pakistan and its categorization according to WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. Methods: All NHLs (nodal and extra nodal) diagnosed in the section of histopathology during 1992-2004 were retrieved and reviewed. All patients (n=30) diagnosed with lymphomatous involvement of the breast were selected. Distinction between primary and secondary breast lymphomas was not made owing to lack of availability of clinical information. Results: A total of 5637 breast malignancies were diagnosed in our department during the study period of 10 years and the total number of NHLs (Nodal and extra Nodal) was 2632. Thirty (n=30) patients accounting for 1.13% were diagnosed to have lymphomatous involvement of the breast. The Female to Male ratio was13.5:1; age range was 12-92 years with a median age of 43 years (Mean age 46.5 years and Standard deviation of age was 16.88 years). The sites of the lesions were the right breast in 11 cases (37.93%), left breast in 9 cases (31.03%) and both breasts in 2 cases (6.89%), while the location of 8 masses (27.58%) was unknown. Immunohistochemical studies were negative for cytokeratins (MNF and Cam 5.2) in all cases. All cases of DLBCL expressed B cell lineage antigens and were positive for LCA and Pan B (CD20 and 79a). Conclusion: We concluded that breast lymphomas represent 1.13% of all NHL and 0.5% of all breast malignancies in this study. The most frequent morphologic type was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. As patients with primary breast lymphoma have a better prognosis than those with carcinoma of the breast or patients with extranodal lymphomas, a multidisciplinary approach including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy when needed would result in a more favourable outcome

Primary pulmonary plasmacytoma presenting with rare IgG lambda monoclonal gammopathy

Extramedullaryplasmacytoma (EMP) represents a peculiar and typically progressive malignancy that can originate outside the bone marrow. Primary pulmonary plasmacytoma (PPP) is a rare subset of EMP, confined to the lung. A 55-year-old man, diabetic, non-smoker presented to our clinic with a right chest wall swelling. A routine chest radiograph showed a well-circumscribed opacity in the right upper lung zone. A CT of the chest revealed a large right upper lobe mass with extensive local infiltration. Biopsy and immunohistochemical evaluation led to a diagnosis of PPP. Screening for multiple myeloma was negative. Serum immunofixation showed an IgG lambda monoclonal gammopathy, found in a minority of PPP patients. In view of disease extent, treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy was initiated. The patient is currently in out patient follow-up and has shown a favourable response to the treatment with a considerable decrease in serum IgG levels