BackgroundMany factors shape the quality of learning. The intrinsically motivated students adopt a deep approach to learning, while students who fear failure in assessments adopt a surface approach to learning. In the area of health science education in Nepal, there is still a lack of studies on learning approach that can be used to transform the students to become better learners and improve the effectiveness of teaching. Therefore, we aimed to explore the learning approaches among medical, dental, and nursing students of Chitwan Medical College, Nepal using Biggs’s Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) after testing its reliability.MethodsR-SPQ-2F containing 20 items represented two main scales of learning approaches, deep and surface, with four subscales: deep motive, deep strategy, surface motive, and surface strategy. Each subscale had five items and each item was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed using Student’s t-test and analysis of variance. Reliability of the administered questionnaire was checked using Cronbach’s alpha.ResultsThe Cronbach’s alpha value (0.6) for 20 items of R-SPQ-2F was found to be acceptable for its use. The participants predominantly had a deep approach to learning regardless of their age and sex (deep: 32.62±6.33 versus surface: 25.14±6.81, P<0.001). The level of deep approach among medical students (33.26±6.40) was significantly higher than among dental (31.71±6.51) and nursing (31.36±4.72) students. In comparison to first-year students, deep approach among second-year medical (34.63±6.51 to 31.73±5.93; P<0.001) and dental (33.47±6.73 to 29.09±5.62; P=0.002) students was found to be significantly decreased. On the other hand, surface approach significantly increased (25.55±8.19 to 29.34±6.25; P=0.023) among second-year dental students compared to first-year dental students.ConclusionMedical students were found to adopt a deeper approach to learning than dental and nursing students. However, irrespective of disciplines and personal characteristics of participants, the primarily deep learning approach was found to be shifting progressively toward a surface approach after completion of an academic year, which should be avoided.

Staphylococcus aureus normally colonizes the nasal cavity and pharynx. After breaching the normal habitat, the organism is able to cause a number of infections at any site of the body. The development of antibiotic resistance has created a global challenge for treating infections. Therefore, protection by vaccines may provide valuable measures. Currently, several vaccine candidates have been prepared which are either in preclinical phase or in early clinical phase, whereas several candidates have failed to show a protective efficacy in human subjects. Approaches have also been made in the development of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies for passive immunization to protect from S. aureus infections. Therefore, in this review we have summarized the findings of recently published scientific literature to make a concise report.

BackgroundFacebook, a popular social networking site, has been used by people of different ages and professions for various purposes. Its use in the field of medical education is increasing dramatically. At the same time, the pros and cons of facebook use among the health science students has attracted the attention of educators. The data regarding its use and the effect on the life of Nepalese health science students has not yet been documented. Therefore, this study is carried out to evaluate the effect of facebook use on social interactions, behaviour, academics, and the health of students in a medical college of Nepal.ResultsA cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among medical, dental, nursing and allied health science students using self-administered questionnaire. The study showed that 98.2 % of participants were facebook users. Among 452 respondents, 224 and 228 were male and female respectively, with a mean age of 20.2 ± 1.2 years. The main reason for using facebook was to remain in contact with family and friend (32 %), while its use for the academic purpose was only 5 %. However, 80.8 % of students acknowledged ease in acquiring academic materials from others, through facebook. One-fourth of the students acknowledged that they are using facebook late at night on a regular basis, while surprisingly 4.2 % of the students admitted accessing facebook during the classroom lectures. Almost two-third of the users, further admitted that facebook has had a negative impact on their studies. Burning eyes (21 %), disturbed sleep (19 %), and headache (16 %) were the most common adverse health effects reported by the facebook users. Many students (71.4 %) tried and most of them (68.7 %) succeeded, in reducing time spent on facebook, to allow for increased time devoted to their studies.ConclusionThe widespread use of facebook among the health science students, was found to have both positive and negative effects on their academics, social life, and health.

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The purpose of this review is to summarize the pertinent literature published in the present era regarding the antiulcerogenic property of curcumin against the pathological changes in response to ulcer effectors (Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and exogenous substances). The gastrointestinal problems caused by different etiologies was observed to be associated with the alterations of various physiologic parameters such as reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide synthase, lipid peroxidation, and secretion of excessive gastric acid. Gastrointestinal ulcer results probably due to imbalance between the aggressive and the defensive factors. In 80% of the cases, gastric ulcer is caused primarily due to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory category of drug, 10% by H. pylori, and about 8-10% by the intake of very spicy and fast food. Although a number of antiulcer drugs and cytoprotectants are available, all these drugs have side effects and limitations. In the recent years a widespread search has been launched to identify new antiulcer drugs from synthetic and natural resources. An Indian dietary derivative (curcumin), a yellow pigment found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been widely used for the treatment of several diseases. Epidemiologically, it was suggested that curcumin might reduce the risk of inflammatory disorders, such as cancer and ulcer. These biological effects are attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. It can, therefore, be reported from the literature that curcumin PRevents gastrointestinal-induced ulcer and can be recommended as a novel drug for ulcer treatment.

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The aim of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of using virtual reality to develop training modules for students who are participating in mechanical engineering laboratory classes. We investigated the feasibility of applying virtual reality and augmented reality technologies in manufacturing and material testing training programs to increase academic achievement, engagement, attitudes and self-efficacy toward engineering and also in fostering more effective use of expensive lab-equipment. We hypothesized that providing students with virtual reality and augmented reality enabled personalized manufacturing labs would increase students’ engagement and learning in this laboratory course. To validate the prototype and test our hypotheses, we conducted pilot testing at Texas A&M University. The total number of students with complete data analyzed for this study was 118. A two-group, randomized control group experiment was conducted. No significant differences were found for pre-existing factors including pretest and demographic factors. Five measures were administered to participants including subject matter measures and survey measures relating to attitudes, self-efficacy, engagement, and background demographics. Results of the pilot test data suggest an overall positive outcome for students participating in the virtual reality activity first (experimental condition) compared to those who performed physical machine activity first (control condition). Students who participated in the virtual reality activity first scored significantly higher on multiple-choice subject matter midtest scores. Analysis of open-ended subject matter responses indicates significantly higher gains for participants in the virtual reality activity compared to the physical activity. Subgroup analysis indicated a different performance pattern for female participants. Specifically, when pretest to midtest gain scores were analyzed, females in the experimental group gained twice as much over males after the virtual reality activity. Action data also revealed that female participants spent more time in the tutorial.

Background & Objectives:Older individuals often suffer fr om multiple systemic diseases and are particularly more vulnerable to potentially inappropriate medicine prescribing. Inappropriate medication can cause serious medical problem for the elderly. The study was conducted with objectives to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medicine (PIM) prescribing in older Nepalese patients in a medicine outpatient department. Materials & Methods: A prospective observational analysis of drugs prescribed in medicine out-patient department (OPD) of a tertiary hospital of central Nepal was conducted during November 2012 to October 2013 among 869 older adults aged 65 years and above. The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) in elderly patients was analysed using Beer's Criteria updated to 2013. Results: In the 869 patients included, the aver age number of drugs prescribed per prescription was 5.56. The most commonly used drugs were atenolol (24.3%), amlodipine (23.16%), paracetamol (17.6%), salbutamol (15.72%) and vitamin B complex (13.26%). The total number of medications prescribed was 4833. At least one instance of PIM was experienced by approximately 26.3% of patients when evaluated using the Beers criteria. Conclusion: Potentially inappropriate medications are highly prevalent among older patients attending medical OPD and are associated with number of medications prescribed. Further research is warranted to study the impact of PIMs towards health related outcomes in these elderly. Key words:Beer 's criteria; elderly; potentially inappropriate medicine Citation: Sah AK, J ha RK, Sah P, Basnet S. Potentially inappr opr iate pr escr ibing in elder ly population: A study in medicine out-patient department. JCMS Nepal. 2017;13(1):197-202. 198 of Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. All the patients who have visited medicine OPD for treatment of diseases; who were aged 65 years and above and consented for study were included. All the new cases were included in the study during the period May 2013 to April 2014. Data were recorded in a performa which includes Patient demographic data, medical histories, current diagnoses and prescribed medications. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review committee. The recorded data were analysed for potentially inappropriate use with the help of Beers criteria 2003. 8,9 According to Beers criteria, drugs which are prescribed inappropriately are classified into one of the following categories: Category A: Drugs that generally should be avoided in older adults. Category B: Drugs that exceed maximum recommended daily dose. Category C: Drugs to be avoided in combination with specific co-morbidity RESULTS A total of 869 patients were included into the study. Of these, 574 (66.1%) were males and 295 (33.9%) were females. In total, 4833 drugs were prescribed to the patients ranging from two to 11 drugs per prescription with mean of 5.56 per patient. Atenolol (24.3%) and amlodipine (23.16%) were the most frequently used medicines. Other commonl...