INTRODUCTION:In communication process, feedback plays a major role. Usually, a formal/informal feedback is collected from students on their experience and understanding about the tasks given by the mentor to assess the learning process. Receiving high-quality feedback (positive or negative) is valuable from multiple perspectives. Students may or may not enjoy sessions on innovative teaching–learning methods; in that case, feedback helps to modify it into a more effective and acceptable method of teaching.METHODOLOGY:With an objective to understand the students’ perception on a smartphone app in community-based research, a cross-sectional study was planned among undergraduate students posted for the re-orientation of medical education. Epicollect5, a mobile app, was used for data capture. Students were requested to submit their feedback by using the same app which they had used during the survey. The received feedback was analyzed and presented in proportions.RESULTS:Students shared that the new tool was easy to install (97.5%), user friendly (100%), saved time in data collection and data entry (100%), and they also missed the usual practice of paper-based questionnaire survey (12.5%) and data entry in excel sheet (7.5%).CONCLUSION:The students liked and enjoyed the paperless method of data collection and entry which saved time and improved the quality of the data. They were also interested to learn more on the designing or framing the questionnaire in app and planned to use the app in future research. The feedback conveyed the immense welcome for new technology by the students into medical curriculum.

Background: Globally, dengue infection is a mosquito borne viral disease accounts for nearly 50 million cases per year. South East Asia (SEA), Western Pacific, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and Latin America are all endemic for frequent outbreaks of dengue fever. The burden of dengue is 17 times higher in SEA countries as compared to Japanese encephalitis, upper respiratory tract infections and Hepatitis B. Thus a study was planned to assess the trend of morbidity and mortality of dengue for the period of five years from 2012 to 2016 in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu (TN), South India. Methods: The data were sourced from National Health Profile 2017, WHO vector borne disease fact sheets and official website of National Vector Borne Disease Control Program. Analysis of secondary data was done and results were tabulated. Graphs were plotted to study the trend of the disease. Results: There is a fall in the morbidity of Dengue cases whereas increase in the mortality over the period of five years (2012-2016) in Puducherry. In TN, there is a decrease in trend of morbidity over the past five years and mortality since 2015. However, there is a rising trend of disease in India. Conclusions: Considering the above facts there is no doubt that dengue is a public health problem in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, which needs urgent action to reduce the burden of dengue.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In India, incidence of MI is rapidly increasing due to lifestyle changes, ageing and rising healthcare costs. The out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for MI care in India can be substantial, as majority of healthcare costs are paid by patients or their families. However, little is known about the actual OOPE incurred by MI patients in tertiary care centres in Pondicherry, South India. This study aims at estimating the OPPE by MI patients attending the tertiary care centre in Pondicherry. The findings can inform policymakers and healthcare providers in developing interventions to reduce the financial burden of MI care in patients and their families. Methods: This was a hospital-based, cross–sectional study conducted on patients attending Cardiology's outpatient department OPD, who had myocardial infarction in the past for about 3 months to 3 years at the time of enrolment in the study. A pre-designed and validated questionnaire was used to collect information regarding socio-demographic details and cost of health expenditures (direct medical and non-medical costs and indirect cost for both the participants and caregivers). Data analysis was done using SPSS24 Software. The median and inter-quartile range was used for assessing the cost of health expenditures. Results: Study participants underwent invasive and non-invasive procedure as part of their management. More than 93% underwent invasive, and the cost ranges from 1,694.03 USD to 2470.00 USD (1,20,000 INR to 1,75,000 INR). They spent 10.58 USD to 21.17 USD (750 INR to 1,500 INR) for their monthly medication. The travel expenses for each follow-up visit were between 5.64 USD to 70.57 USD (400 INR and 5000 INR). The majority of participants received health insurance or reimbursement of 1834 USD (1,30,000 INR) from their firm, 12.7% of the participants  lost a payment of 162 USD to 776.28 USD (11,500 INR – 55,000 INR). Conclusion: The cost of the invasive procedure for myocardial infarction patients was 1694.03 USD to 2470.00 USD, which was the major share from the out-of-pocket expenditure compared with the other direct and indirect costs.

Coal mining is a hazardous profession in India that exposes workers to a range of health risks, including respiratory diseases, skin disorders, hearing loss, and injuries. The coal miner's day, observed on May 4th every year, commemorates the hard work and sacrifices of coal miners. The mines act, 1952, and its associated regulations mandate the provision of medical facilities, safety and health measures, and rescue stations and trained personnel for the rescue of workers. The coal mines (Conservation and development) act, 1974, mandates the conservation of coal resources and the development of coal mines while ensuring the safety and health of workers. However, the implementation of these laws has been inadequate in many cases, leading to a high prevalence of occupational diseases among coal miners. The lack of proper implementation of safety and health regulations has been identified as a key factor contributing to the high prevalence of occupational diseases. Additionally, the existing regulations do not address the specific safety and health issues associated with the use of automation and robotics in mining. To safeguard the health and safety of coal miners, more efforts are needed to ensure the effective implementation of these laws and to provide adequate medical support and rehabilitation services. Prioritizing the health and well-being of coal miners can pay tribute to their contribution to society while promoting a safer and healthier workplace for all.

Cholera is a major public health issue in India, with outbreaks occurring frequently in many parts of the country. India has a long history of cholera outbreaks, and the country has experienced several devastating epidemics in the past. The disease is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and is transmitted through contaminated food and water. India has the highest burden of cholera in the world, with an estimated 675,188 cases and 10,582 deaths reported in 2019 alone.