Assessment of factor affecting performance of undergraduate medical students at GMERS medical college, Dharpur-Patan, North Gujarat, India: a cross sectional and descriptive study

Background: Undergraduate medical education in India and many developing nations is facing new challenges today. Multiple stressors including academic burden, parental pressure and even psychological ailments affect medical students. Depression, burnout and stress are commonly seen in medical students. This increases psychiatric morbidity and affects performance.              This study was conducted to extract the factors which are important factors for the effective learning of students and influences their performance during curriculum.Methods: This cross sectional and descriptive study was carried out among 100 MBBS student of 2015 of GMERS medical college, Dharpur-Patan during March to April 2018. Students were administered pre-designed and structured questionnaire after obtaining their informed consent while seated in the lecture hall. Responses of questionnaires were analyzed with Epi Info 7.0 and MS Excel. Frequencies and percentages were calculated and Chi-square test was applied to find out significance.Results: Most important factors which were affecting students’ performance in our study were language problems, competent teachers, social media and campus environment. 70% students have no issue with financial status. Majority students prefer self study.Conclusions: Identification of hidden factors affecting academic performance is very important in very early stage so they can perform better in their study in future. Language, hostel environment, teachers’ attitude towards students etc are also certain important factors which help students to perform better in curriculum.</jats:p

Awareness about organ donation in medical and non medical students in Patan city of Gujarat, India

Background: More than 4 lakh Indians require transplantation annually. However, not even 10% get it. Awareness, positive attitude and consent by relatives for organ donation in brain death patient are the prerequisites organ donation. Lack of understanding, religious attitudes along with myths and misconceptions added to the low percentage of organ donation. To bridge this gap we have conducted this research.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 300 students of last 4 semesters after getting permission was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee and principals/dean of above mentioned colleges. Self-administered questionnaires were allotted to students. Questionnaire contained demographic information and questions regarding the knowledge and attitude toward organ donation. After answering, the answer sheets were collected for evaluation.Results: Satisfactory knowledge was observed regarding consent before OD (58.0%), organ transplantation act (70.6%) and, risk involved in OD (77.7%). However, low level of awareness was found about legalisation of brain death (39.3%), organ donation centre (29.3%) and organ donation card (11.3%) was very low among students. About 3/4th of students (78.3%) were willing to be a donor, and their preferences of the recipient were 49.7% for family members, 31.3% for friend, 24.2% for relative and 43.6% for unknown person.Conclusions: There is gap between knowledge and attitude about OD among youth. Media should take up the initiative of broadcasting of the legislative laws related to process of OD and also information regarding organ donation card, organ donation centre. </jats:p

Study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Purification of Household Water among 210 Individuals of Urban Area of Patan District

ABSTRACT Introduction: Consumption of contaminated drinking water is a major source of water related illness. About 88% of diarrhoeal diseases are attributed to unsafe drinking water, poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation. Nowdays, simple, low-cost and acceptable household water treatment technology are available. In many communities, there is limited knowledge and poor practice for water treatment. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 community members living in Patan city. Head of the family (HOF) or any family member above 18 years was interviewed. Participant used at least one method of HWT was considered as good practices and given 1 scores, otherwise poor practices as 0 scores. Result: Most prevalent method was filtration by cloth (60.0%) followed by boiling (11.4%), and chlorination (11.0%). The high awareness regarding filtration (92.9%) and, boiling (86.2%). Only 16.7% respondents had good knowledge on HWT methods. Educational status was observed as a significant predictor factor for knowledge and attitude towards HWT. One fourth participants (29.5%) did not use any method of water purification. Conclusion: The attitude of respondents on HWT was positive but water purification practices were quite poor. There is wide gap between knowledge and practice of filtration and boiling methods