The Impression of ICT in Medical Education throughout COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey among Medical Graduates of Bangladesh

In COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of ICT in Medical education is amplified. The purpose of the study was to assess and estimate the role and impact of ICT in relation to learning on medical education and changing behavior of the students in the period of pandemic. A questionnaire survey approach was applied amid of the Bangladeshi medical undergraduates during the period of August, 2020 to November, 2020. A Google linked structured questionnaire was used and distributed to the study population via email, messenger and WhatsApp. The questionnaire was completed by 201 medical students, with 65% were female and 35% were male students. Almost all respondents (98%) owned an android smartphone and used it to access the internet. Two-thirds (69%) of respondents have medical and health related apps in their device, with Medscape being the most widely utilized app. Respondents (49%) encountered bandwidth trouble during online class. For collaborative learning with classmates, 76% respondents favored messenger and whatsApp group. ICT knowledge should be included in the curriculum, according to 57% respondents. Over one-third participants, 37.3%, were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. 30.8% respondents were satisfied while 19.4% were dissatisfied. The long-term benefits and problems of reforming the medical education system and utilizing ICT technologies should be considered. In this pandemic circumstance, digitalization of learning can give essential foundations for future medical education, aided by ICT tools. Our study may be used as a foundation for future research into developing digital teaching models in medical education. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education Vol.13(1) January 2022: 58-68

Development of Critical Thinking Transfer Practice Construct and Sub-Constructs: A 9-steps Approach

The study aimed to develop critical thinking transfer practice (CTTP) construct and sub-constructs relevant to medical undergraduates. The study used a 9-step qualitative case study approach. The prior relationship of construct and sub-constructs were conceptualised to produce the initial thematic framework (Step 1 to 3). Then, a qualitative study confirmed the sub-constructs that were relevant for the undergraduates, as the new data were fitted into the initial framework to become an evolving framework (Step 4 to 5). Next, the construct and sub-constructs were defined operationally (Step 6) and evaluated (Step 7). After that, the evolving framework was revised (Step 8) and developed to become the final construct and sub-constructs (Step 9). Based on the literature, the study conceptualised an initial framework that described the theoretical relationship of the prior construct and six sub-constructs. From the qualitative findings, 37 codes were fitted into the initial framework. The fitting resulted in an evolving framework that contained a theme (the medical undergraduates’ CTTP), 6 categories and 26 sub-categories. A 100% of participants agreed that the data were generated from them. Then, the team members and the expert panels accepted the theme (Cohen Kappa value > 0.80). The maintained and revised theme, categories and sub-categories were used to develop the CTTP construct and 6 sub-constructs. The study discussed in detail the included subconstructs for CTTP. The study also addressed the similarities and differences of the construct and sub-constructs for medical education and general studies. The study concluded that the construct and sub-constructs were theoretically proven to represent the medical undergraduates’ CTTP.

Effect of Cellphone on Quality of Life among Medical Students; A Cross-sectional Study

Aims: The aim of the current study is to find out the quality of life among the medical undergraduates who are addicted to cellphone use. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in private and public sector medical and dental colleges of Karachi from January 2019 to September 2019. Methodology: The data had been collected through a set of questionnaire, which was pre-designed. Those students were included who were using smartphones for pleasure, communication or study purpose The data was entered into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. For numerical variables mean with standard deviation were calculated and for categorical variables frequency and percentages were calculated. Results: The mean age of the students surveyed was found to be 21.2 ±1.82 years. Majority of our research candidates were addicted to cell phone use. It was noted that more than 6 hours’ screen time daily was 29.75% while very unfortunate observation of less than 1-hour screen time was found in 6.25% of study participants. About 38.25% of our participants although addicted to screens agreed that this addiction is causing them to ignore their important things like study or family. Cell phone addiction is worsening day by day as 37.5% medical students confessed that they feel stressed when they do not use cell phones. About 76.75% medical students despite of being addicted to screens, confessed that this is causing them different health and social problems which they feel should be removed just by giving lesser time to the applications. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the medical undergraduates who are addicted to their cellphones, having poor quality of life which is negatively affecting their health as well as their studies. There is a need to accept the problem and find out the best solution for it. Students should be aware of the effects of cellphone addiction on the quality of life.

Attitudes on euthanasia among medical students and doctors in Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study

Background Euthanasia is a topic of intense ethical debate and it is illegal in most countries at present, including Sri Lanka. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study of medical students and practicing doctors was to explore the acceptance of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide (PAS), and factors influencing this opinion. Methods A customised online questionnaire which explored opinions on euthanasia was administered to first and final year medical undergraduates in University of Colombo and practicing doctors with more than 5 years of work experience at The National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Attitudes on euthanasia and PAS were also assessed with the attitudes towards euthanasia (ATE) Scale, which is a 10-item questionnaire. Results A total of 425 individuals responded (males: 178, 42%, age: median – 27 years), which included 143 (33.6%) first-year medical undergraduates, 141 (33.2%) final-year medical undergraduates and 141 (33.2%) practicing doctors. More participants (200, 47.1%) favoured legalizing euthanasia than those directly opposing it (110, 25.9%), but a significant proportion (27%) remained undecided. The mean scores of ATE questionnaire from the whole sample were generally unfavourable towards euthanasia/PAS. Accepting euthanasia as an option for oneself (p = < 0.001) was the strongest predictor of favouring euthanasia/PAS or supporting its legalization. Conclusion In this cross-sectional survey, more respondents supported legalisation of euthanasia in Sri Lanka than those openly opposing it. Yet, a significant minority that responded as “undecided” for legalisation, were more likely to have unfavourable ATE.

Perception of online teaching in medical education in the backdrop of COVID- -19 lockdown: a cross- – sectional study among medical students of NEIGRIHMS

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adopt online teaching for medical learning. While there are undoubtedly benefits that online learning provides, the sudden transition to online teaching presented different challenges to the students as well as the teachers. The aim of this study is to explore the perception and experiences of medical undergraduates on online classes in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 166 medical students in NEIGRIHMS who had exposure to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed after getting informed consent. SPSS 21 version software for Windows was used for data entry and analysis.Results: Eight in 10 of the students do not prefer online learning. Moreover, they believe that practical skills will not develop through online learning. They cite internet connectivity, device-related and software- related issues as the main difficulties they faced during online classes.Conclusions: More than two-thirds of the students do not prefer online learning. The institution can be advised to provide the students with adequate skills and knowledge coupled with appropriate technology to address the issue.

Sequence Graphics to Impart Drawing Skills in an Upper Extremity Anatomy Course

Background: Sequence graphics could be used to address the lacunae of drawing skill development in medical undergraduates. Objectives: The present study aimed to use sequence graphics to evaluate medical undergraduates in terms of drawing moderately complex diagrams. Methods: This pilot study was conducted on six medical students, and four moderately complex diagrams were evaluated regarding the usefulness of sequence graphics. Core and accessory components were identified before asking the students to draw the diagram. In a conventional drawing exercise, the students were asked to draw four diagrams consecutively during the dissection hour. On the next day, videos of sequence graphics were projected on the screen, and the students were asked to draw the diagrams simultaneously. Results: While using the conventional drawing method, the students took significantly more time to complete the diagram, the outcomes were not uniform, and several missing core and accessory components were detected. Using sequence graphics, all the students traced the diagrams in tandem with the projected videos. The videos would be paused and replayed an average of six times each; the mean duration of the videos was 95 seconds. The students started and ended the drawing at the same time, and immediate feedback revealed that they all agreed that sequence graphics could impart better drawing skills, thereby leading to the ease of drawing the diagrams. Conclusions: According to the results, sequence graphics resulted in uniform, centered, labelled, large diagrams with defined core and accessory components drawn in lesser time compared to conventional drawing.