An approach to enhance medical pedagogy: a study to assess the role of seminars in undergraduate teaching

Background: Teaching in India is still controlled by teacher centered classrooms. Absence of active involvement of students in traditional teacher-centered classes leads to boredom and inability to concentrate in lectures. Recently, many active learning methods have been piloted and tested with the intention to engage students in classrooms. One such method is seminar, which is an interactive method of group teaching. The current study was undertaken to document the effect of seminar on undergraduate learning. Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted by the Department of Community Medicine, VMMC on undergraduate students. The Department organized a seminar on “Radiation and Cancer- Public health concerns” which brought together experienced speakers to deliver a talk on the importance of radiation. The effect of seminar was assessed with the help of predesigned questionnaire which was developed based on the topics presented at the seminar. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v. 17. Results and Discussion: A total of 112 undergraduate students completed the questionnaire, both pre- and post. The mean score before exposure to the seminar was 7.93± 2.05 whereas post seminar the score was 9.91±1.80 (p=0.001). 84% students observed an increment in their scores post the seminar. Findings provide a scientific support to introduce alternative methods of teaching besides the routine chalk and talk method. Introducing the concept of seminars wherein experts from various medical related backgrounds come at one platform and deliver updated medical knowledge to students would be beneficial

Dietary and nutritional change in India: implications for strategies, policies, and interventions

Despite the global transition to overnutrition, stunting affected approximately 159 million children worldwide in 2014, while an estimated 50 million children were wasted. India is an important front in the fight against malnutrition and is grappling with the coexistence of undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. This report summarizes discussions on trends in malnutrition in India, its evolution in the context of economic growth, intrahousehold aspects, infant and young child feeding practices, women's status, maternal nutrition, and nutrition policymaking. The discussion focuses on a review of trends in malnutrition and dietary intakes in India in the context of economic change over the past four decades, identification of household dynamics affecting food choices and their consequences for family nutritional status in India, and effective malnutrition prevention and treatment interventions and programs in India and associated policy challenges

Identification of priority health conditions for field-based screening in urban slums in Bangalore, India

BACKGROUND: Urban slums are characterised by unique challenging living conditions, which increase their inhabitants' vulnerability to specific health conditions. The identification and prioritization of the key health issues occurring in these settings is essential for the development of programmes that aim to enhance the health of local slum communities effectively. As such, the present study sought to identify and prioritise the key health issues occurring in urban slums, with a focus on the perceptions of health professionals and community workers, in the rapidly growing city of Bangalore, India. METHODS: The study followed a two-phased mixed methods design. During Phase I of the study, a total of 60 health conditions belonging to four major categories: - 1) non-communicable diseases; 2) infectious diseases; 3) maternal and women's reproductive health; and 4) child health - were identified through a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with health professionals and other relevant stakeholders with experience working with urban slum communities in Bangalore. In Phase II, the health issues were prioritised based on four criteria through a consensus workshop conducted in Bangalore. RESULTS: The top health issues prioritized during the workshop were: diabetes and hypertension (non-communicable diseases category), dengue fever (infectious diseases category), malnutrition and anaemia (child health, and maternal and women's reproductive health categories). Diarrhoea was also selected as a top priority in children. These health issues were in line with national and international reports that listed them as top causes of mortality and major contributors to the burden of diseases in India. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will be used to inform the development of technologies and the design of interventions to improve the health outcomes of local communities. Identification of priority health issues in the slums of other regions of India, and in other low and lower middle-income countries, is recommended

Evaluation of training manuals for health workers in India in context of kangaroo mother care

Background: Kangaroo mother care is an efficacious intervention in preventing mortality in low birth weight babies. With increasing focus on providing home based newborn care in India, it is pertinent to train the frontline healthcare workers in necessary skills for care of low birth weight babies. Objective: The current review was undertaken to evaluate the content of training manuals of frontline health workers in context of care of low birth weight (LBW) babies and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). Methods: A systematic extensive internet search was performed to identify training manuals available in public domain, and a targeted search was also done in the websites of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, and National Health System Resource Centre. Manuals published in or after the year 2000 and those in the English language were included in the review. A quality assessment tool was devised and the manuals were finally classified as “poor”, “fair”, “good” quality. Results: The initial search yielded 107 potentially eligible documents, however, a total of eight training manuals were finally found to be eligible for content evaluation. The mean average score for all the eight manuals was 17.0 (out of a total score of 48) and thus they were “fair” quality (aggregated per cent score of 35.4). Out of the eight training manuals, six had separate section on care of the LBW babies, though content on breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact was variable. None of the manuals provided case studies/ scenarios or introduced challenges to effective initiation and continuation of KMC. Conclusion: Current training manuals lack quality content on care of LBW babies and KMC and need to be upgraded with evidence-based information