Background: The biggest dilemma of today’s world is COVID-19. This pandemic situation has completely engulfed the globe with a rapidly increasing number of cases and has affected a great number of lives along with their lifestyle including the educational sector. Objective: This study explores the impact of COVID-19, how frequent lockdown, and online learning have affected the mental health of the students of medical college. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the medical students of Karachi, in September 2021, in Jinnah Medical and Dental College. A total of 312 medical students were enrolled in the study. Out of which 208 were females and 104 were males. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to assess the mental health of students of medical college. Results: The results of the study revealed that a total of 312 medical students were enrolled in the study; belonging to the age group of (18-25) years. Approximately 104 (66 %) of female students experienced depression, 44 (21%) anxiety, and 60 (28%) stress. Hence gender and year of study of the participants were found to be significant (p-value<0.05). The odds of first-year students showed high levels of anxiety as compared to final-year students (OR = 1.679, 95% CI [1.202–2.634], P = 0.002). Conclusion: This study will help in making relevant policies, mental health strategies and providing a better framework for the medical colleges and universities which is essential for the mental health of students. Keywords: Anxiety, COVID-19, Depression, Karachi, Medical Students, Stress

Background: Medical professionalism is an essential skill in medical education. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate medical professionalism among first year, final year and faculty of public and private medical and dental colleges. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 medical students of private and public Medical and Dental Colleges, of Karachi from November 2021 till January 2022 after ethical approval.First, final year students and faculty were enrolled using non-probability convenience sampling. We used a validated self-assessment tool “LAMPS” after getting permission. This questionnaire consisted of Accountability (seven items), Autonomy (six items), Integrity, Altruism, and Respect had five items each. The data was analyzed using t-test by SPSS version-23.(P ≤ 0.05)was considered significant. Results: The students of Public college’s undergraduate (first and final year; p=0.00) scored higher on Excellence(sub-scale of professionalism)while private sector students scored higher on altruism (first year p=0.01, final year; p=0.00) and respect (first year; p=0.01, final year p=0.02)respectively. Public sector faculty scored more on duty, honor, and respect (p=0.02, p=0.00 and p=0.00 respectively) while private medical college’s faculty scored more on Excellence (p= 0.00). Conclusion: The professionalism curriculum, teaching and assessment must be tailored to specificpublic and private sector to meet the needs of the community. The curriculum delivery and assessment offaculty development initiatives is essential to address the gaps of professionalism. Keywords: Assessment, Dental students, Faculty, Medical students, Medical Professionalism

Violence against physicians has been considered a significant issue in Pakistan. Objective: This study was conducted to explore the need for specific policy-related responses to patient-physician violence in the hospitals of Pakistan. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in the hospitals of Pakistan, by using in-depth interviews. A total of 40 participants were selected out of which ten were in-depth interviews with patients, ten in-depth interviews with their families, ten in-depth interviews with physicians, and ten in-depth interviews with the administrative staff. In-depth interviews were recorded and then transcribed. The responses of the participants were coded with the help of thematic analysis. Results: The results of the study revealed that three main themes were derived through thematic analysis. The cause is multi-factorial. The employees of the health sector were asked to build revenue without taking care of patients' needs. In the east, no training is provided to physicians regarding how to prevent violence. Patient-physician violence leads to various disputes as a result of which verbal and physical abuse is observed towards physicians. Conclusion: The financial stress at hospitals to increase revenue has ruined the patient-physician relationship leading to violence. Certain policies should be developed for the security of physicians. The low literacy rate among patients is also one of the major contributing factors. Communicating strategies should be developed to prevent patient-physician violence.

Healthy youth is an asset and strength for economic and social growth of any society. Developmental changes during puberty of youngsters need proper guidance to avoid future physical, physiological and psychological ailments. Bilateral Retractile Testis (BRT) is a health problem if remains unnoticed till adolescence can lead to tribulations. BRT may affect testicular parenchyma and spermatogenesis. Cremasteric muscles (muscles attached with testes) pull the testes up into groin so it randomly moves up and down and do not reside in its natural pouch always. It has been a controversial issue in male infertility as retraction may affect infertility. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of male infertility among patients with Bilateral Retractile Testis. Methodology: A total of 200 male patients were enrolled after the power calculation, with different reproductive health problems between the age of 18 -40 years during the year 2016 at Reproductive health clinic Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi. 25 male patients were reported with infertility and BRT. The data was collected using self-developed questionnaire including outdoor patients' physical check-up, manual testicular examination as size and shape were done. Patient height, weight, blood pressure, their lifestyle, and dressing regarding wearing tight jeans habits were asked. Semen analysis was carried out showing abnormality in sperm count, motility or morphology and entered and analysed in the SPSS version 10. Means and percentages were calculated. Result: Out of 200 male infertile patients, a total of 25 (12.5%) patients with a diagnosis of BRT were found in the sample with the mean age of 29 years. Moreover, it was identified that those having BRT also have low motility of the sperms. Based on the results it was concluded that How to cite this paper: Burni

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the general population towards coronavirus vaccinations in Pakistan. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Department of Dental Surgery, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Pakistan, between March 2021 and June 2021. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 500 individuals who were above 18 years of age. A well-constructed questionnaire consisting of 4 parts (Demographics, Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices) was constructed containing informed consent and distributed online. Spearman correlation test was used to analyse knowledge, attitude, and practices towards coronavirus vaccinations. Results: A total of 500 responses were collected from the participants. Most of the participants had adequate knowledge regarding the availability of the vaccines. About 116 (23.2%) participants had contracted the virus. The majority of 308 (61.7%) participants agreed on vaccines to be effective against the virus. Most of the 401 (80.4%) participants were willing to get themselves vaccinated when their turn comes. 265 out of 500 (53.1%) people have been vaccinated against coronavirus. The minority of people assumed a chip inside the vaccine and religious factors as reasons not to get vaccinated. Those residing in urban locations and with increasing age had better knowledge and attitudes towards vaccinations. Conclusion: To control and contain the ongoing pandemic, vaccination against the coronavirus is a must. There is still scope in evaluating and improving the general population’s knowledge regarding the vaccination programs especially in the rural areas where resources and socioeconomic status is weaker.