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Simulation based learning refers to the representation of an artificial environment similar to a real one to students for achieving learning objectives through experiential learning instead of apprenticeship.

The objective of the study is to focuses on the actual phenomenon of medical students’ exposure to failure. The research aims to focus on the lived experiences of undergraduate medical students after failure in final professional examination, from the student’s point of view. Study was conducted in Bahria Medical and dental college Karachi, Pakistan. Interpretative phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experiences of students who failed in the final professional MBBS examination. Interpretivist and pragmatic research paradigms were used for philosophical explanation of the phenomenon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection. These interviews were repeated until data saturation was reached. Interviews of participants were initially audio-recorded and then transcribed. Non-verbal communication was transcribed using observation method and following continuum of lexicalisation ranging from symbolic gestures to phrases or words omitted or adapted to enhance thick description and interpretation of latent content analysis. ---Continue

Objective: To explore perceptions and experiences of undergraduate medical mentees and mentors on online mentoring sessions during COVID-19. Study Design: Qualitative study. Setting: A Private Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. Period: January 2021-May 2021. Material & Methods: A qualitative study was designed using phenomenological approach and constructivist and relativist paradigms. Maximum variation purposeful sampling technique was chosen to involve variety of participants from given population. Unstructured individual interviews and four focus group discussions were done in first and second year medical students of a private Medical College Karachi. Content analysis was done for analysis of collected data. Results: Most mentors supported online mentoring. However the mentees opinion was different from mentors as most of them were not in favor of online mentoring sessions. Some mentees praised blended education since it removed some of the traditional teaching barriers. Mentors have common experience that face-to-face mentoring allows them to inspire mentees and have expressive and meaningful connections with them. Conclusion: Face-to face mentoring provides better opportunities to connect during mentoring sessions however blended, online and on campus mentoring sessions can be provided in emergency situations as COVID-19 crisis.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of head and neck cancers (HNCs), their risk factors, signs and symptoms among the general public of Karachi, Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachInitially, 503 individuals were approached for data collection, out of which 404 fit the inclusion criteria (response rate = 80.03%). Nonprobability convenience sampling was utilized to select participants who fell under the age group of 15–60 years, barring the fields of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelors of Dentistry (BDS). Knowledge was evaluated by a 9-item questionnaire, the scores of which yielded the following interpretations: No (0), low (1–3), moderate (4–6) and high (7–9) knowledge.FindingsOf the 404 participants who completed the questionnaire, 357 (88.4%) participants claimed to be aware of HNC. The HNC knowledge scores had a statistical relevance with socioeconomic status (p = <0.01) and level of education (p = 0.02). Most participants recognized a “lump or swelling in the throat” (87.1%) as the most common symptom, followed by “bleeding in mouth or throat” (84.7%). Surprisingly, 75.25% of participants thought HNCs were inclusive of brain cancer.Originality/valueOverall, knowledge of HNCs among the general public of Karachi surpasses the knowledge in other regions around the world. Our study demonstrated that people indulge in unhealthy habits despite having sufficient knowledge and this warrants prompt interventions and counseling of the people.