The study aimed to assess the nursing students' class engagement and academic performance using flipped class using a mixed-methods research and explored their feedback and perceptions about the flipped classroom (FCR) in comparison to the current teaching methodology. Participants were 22 females and 4 males, selected through convenience sampling method, and were evaluated at pre-cycle with casebased learning, post-cycle I with FCR, and post-cycle II, using FCR with an extra class time, in a cyclical nature of inquiry. Data collection involved a triangulation technique using checklists to observe and assess students' class engagement, quizzes for measuring class performance, and focus group interviews. The focus group interview reflections and feedback were used to refine and plan the next cycle. The quiz and the class engagement scores were highly significant at post-cycle II where the FCR was used with extra class time compared to post-cycle I and pre-cycle. The participants stated that they gained a deeper understanding of concepts, were motivated and more confident in learning the course material. The study findings support the use of FCR in learning pediatric course content. Further empirical evidence is required for adapting FCR to other courses in the curricula to determine its suitability to a particular teaching content.

Aim:To assess the anticariogenicity of microwave-assisted 0.5% extract of Stevia rebaudiana leaves in high caries risk patients. Materials and methods:Forty-six patients with high risk for caries were selected. They were randomly assigned to two groups; group I was allocated for chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash (0.12% Perio-Aid) and group II for S. rebaudiana (0.5% extract of Stevia bio) mouthwash. Salivary pH, buffer, and microbial count were assessed before the patients were asked to use the mouthwashes. Patients were prescribed the mouthwash/extract twice a day for 7 days. On the 8th day, postrinse salivary pH, buffer analysis and Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli count were done.Results: Significant difference in pre-and postrinse values of pH and buffer was found in both groups. However, no difference was noted between groups. Both groups decreased the bacterial count to <10 5 colony-forming units (CFUs) in all the patients. Conclusion:Stevia rebaudiana extract in 0.5% concentration improved the pH and buffering capacity of the saliva in a high caries risk patient. It also reduced cariogenic organisms in saliva.Clinical significance: Stevia rebaudiana extract in 0.5% concentration can be used as a mouthwash for moderate-to-high caries risk patients. However, long-term clinical studies are required to prove its substantivity like that of CHX.

Aims. The purpose of this pilot trial was to determine the efficacy of sleep promotion program to adapt it for the use of adolescents studying in various schools of Mangalore, India, and evaluate the feasibility issues before conducting a randomized controlled trial in a larger sample of adolescents. Methods. A randomized controlled trial design with stratified random sampling method was used. Fifty-eight adolescents were selected (mean age: 14.02 ± 2.15 years; intervention group, n = 34; control group, n = 24). Self-report questionnaires, including sociodemographic questionnaire with some additional questions on sleep and activities, Sleep Hygiene Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, The Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire, and PedsQL™ Present Functioning Visual Analogue Scale, were used. Results. Insufficient weekday-weekend sleep duration with increasing age of adolescents was observed. The program revealed a significant effect in the experimental group over the control group in overall sleep quality, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and emotional and overall distress. No significant effect was observed in sleep hygiene and other sleep parameters. All target variables showed significant correlations with each other. Conclusion. The intervention holds a promise for improving the sleep behaviors in healthy adolescents. However, the effect of the sleep promotion program treatment has yet to be proven through a future research. This trial is registered with ISRCTN13083118.

Introduction:Sleep plays an important role in adolescent's health and undergoes substantial changes with puberty and physical maturation with a preference for later bed times. Evidence shows that many adolescents are not obtaining the required amounts of sleep which is 9.25 h, due to inadequate sleep practices, academic and societal demands. This study aims at describing the (1) sleep patterns of adolescents on school days and weekends, (2) sleep hygiene practices and the extent of parental monitoring and (3) gender and grade level differences in sleep duration and sleep hygiene practices among Indian adolescents in Bahrain.Materials and Methods:Study used a descriptive correlational design. A total of 145 adolescents from 11 to 17 years from grade 6 to 12 were selected using convenience sampling. Data was collected from November 2012 to March 2013. A structured questionnaire for sleep patterns and Mastin et al.'s Sleep Hygiene Index for assessing sleep hygiene practices were used.Results:The adolescents’ total sleep duration was 7.07 ± 1.13 hours. A highly significant difference in sleep duration on school days and weekends between adolescents of various grade levels (P < 0.001 and 0.001, respectively) and between parental monitoring at the time of getting up on school days and sleep duration (P value 0.026 at 0.05 level of significance) was found. Gender was not significant with the sleep duration, and also with Sleep Hygiene Index scores.Conclusion:The results suggest that there is a high prevalence of insufficient sleep and irregular bed-time schedule among Indian adolescents in Bahrain. Interventions directed toward improving sleep and promoting good sleep hygiene strategies are required to improve the physical and emotional health of adolescents.

Purpose The study aimed to (a) assess the sleep pattern changes and the level of fatigue among COVID positive adults (b) determine the association of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors ( age, gender, marital status, occupation, income, exercise, nap, diet, and comorbidities ) on sleep pattern and level of fatigue c) examine the relationship between sleep and fatigue, and between sleep problems, sleep quality and fatigue, among a community sample of COVID-19 affected adults. Methods A non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used. Participants were adults, between 18 and 63 years (n = 782) , who tested positive for COVID-19 infection using RT–PCR or Antigen test, confined to home quarantine/under observation, and without any complications. Data was collected using the socio-demographic-sleep and related activity questionnaire, Fatigue Assessment Scale, and Sleep Quality Scale. Results A majority of the participants reported either mild to moderate sleep quality problems (97.31%) and 377 of them (48.21%) reported fatigue levels. A significant association between sleep quality and fatigue with gender, and lifestyle factors such as sleep duration, food intake, napping, exercise pattern, and influence of COVID-19 on livelihood after being affected with COVID-19, and time of experiencing sleep problems after COVID-19 infection (all, p ˂ 0.01) were observed, as well as age with sleep quality. Poor sleep quality and fatigue were significantly correlated with each other, and also with sleep problems before being affected with COVID-19 ( p = 0.000). Conclusions The study has shown that COVID-19 has an effect on an individual's demographic factors and a multitude of lifestyle factors, and highlights the need for post-COVID-19 monitoring even after recovery from the disease.