Background: Self-medication is widely prevalent in India, more so among medical students as they have easy access to information from drug indices, literature and physician samples. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional type of study conducted among undergraduate students of a medical college in Maharashtra. Minimum sample size came out to be 259 by taking prevalence of self-medication as 78.6% from a previous study conducted on similar population. 75 students each were randomly selected from all four batches of MBBS. Data collection was done by using pretested questionnaire and it was analysed using SPSS version 22. Qualitative data was expressed in proportions and quantitative data was expressed in mean and standard deviation. Chi square test was used to check the association of various factors and self-medication practice. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was found to be 72.1%. The practice was significantly more common in females, those belonging to urban areas and those from senior batches of MBBS (p<0.05). Headache (34.2%), acidity (25.7%) and fever (24.3%) were most common indications and antipyretics (28.2%), antihistamincs (17.3%) and analgesics (11.4%) were commonly used drugs for self-medication. In spite of being aware about the side effects of self-medication and importance of completing antibiotic course, their practices were largely unfavourable. Previous prescriptions (45.5%), family members (23.8%), pharmacist (21.8%) and medical textbooks (18.3%) were sources of information about self-medication. Conclusions: Self-medication was highly prevalent among medical students with more prevalence among females, students from urban areas and senior students. The practices of students were also unfavourable.

Introduction: Organ shortage is a global issue. As future doctors, role of medical students becomes important in promoting organ donation. Objectives: 1. To study the knowledge of medical students regarding organ donation 2. To study the beliefs of medical students regarding various aspects of organ donation 3.To study their perceptions about the need to have a training on this topic. Method: The study design was cross sectional involving undergraduate medical students from a teaching institute of Delhi. Sample size of 296 was calculated and 60 students were randomly recruited from each year by using random number tables. Data collection was done by using a pre designed pre tested semi structured questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was done by using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 20 software. Results: A large proportion of 95.3% (286) had heard of ‘organ donation’ but correct knowledge regarding ideal age for donation and brain dead people for donation was very poor. It was significantly poorer in males and those studying in earlier years of graduation (p<0.05). A very small proportion (14.7%) had actually pledged for donation. A large proportion of students were in favour of providing health insurance and financial compensation for live organ donors. Only 27% perceived to have adequate knowledge and 58% felt confident in counselling potential donors for organ donation. Females and senior students were significantly better in this aspect. (p< 0.05). Majority of them (90.3%) felt the need for training. Conclusion: Knowledge and some of the beliefs of medical students regarding organ donation were not found to be appropriate and training about it was desired by them.

Background: The best ethically acceptable source of cadavers for dissection by medical students is voluntarily donated bodies of people during their lifetime. The main objective of this research was to study the knowledge and attitude of medical students towards body donation.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving undergraduate students from a medical institute of Delhi. Sample size of 281 was calculated by taking estimated prevalence of knowledge about the concept of body donation as 88%, 99% confidence interval and 5% sample error. Participants were randomly selected from each year by using random number tables. Data collection was done by using a pre-designed pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was done by using SPSS version 20 software.Results: The overall knowledge about body donation among medical students was found be poor in many aspects. Their feelings regarding body donation were mostly positive but only a small proportion (22%) were willing to do so, main reasons for unwillingness being disrespectful behaviour towards cadavers (39.7%), lack of approval by family (34.6%), not being comfortable (33.8%) and religious beliefs (18.4%). Higher levels of knowledge were found in females, but a more positive attitude was found in males and those studying in earlier years of graduation (p<0.05).Conclusions: Medical students were found to have poor knowledge about body donation with higher level of knowledge among females. Despite having positive feelings towards body donation, majority were not willing to do so.

Background: Deh daan, body donation is an act of bestowing one’s body after death to medical college for research and education. Importance of this is also written in our ancient literatures. Knowledge, attitude and behavior of healthcare professionals are important factors in fostering an environment that can encourage and promote organ donation among the entire population. Medical students are the future doctors of the country, and faculty members as a guide and knowledge providers, their positive attitude and high level of knowledge can create a positive environment and promote organ donation.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional type of study was carried out among 360 undergraduate medical students and faculty of Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South Delhi using self-administered, predesigned, pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Of these 360 undergraduate medical students and faculties, 60 faculty and equal number of students from each year (60/year) were randomly selected.Results: Out of 360 study subjects 222 (63.7%) were male and 138 (36.3%) were female. Almost all respondents were aware of term body donation (88.1%) and organ donation (95.6%). Majority (82.2%) of respondents had correct knowledge regarding time duration for viability of organ donation though the knowledge regarding age limit in donating organ was poor. Majority (87.8%) respondents were willing to support organ donation, almost equal among male (87.4%) and female (88.4%) but only 13.6% were willing to take pledge for organ donation.Conclusions: Through regular seminars on organ donation and body donation the medical fraternity can be kept updated on developments in the transplantation fields and research. This may help them counsel their patients and address their anxieties regarding organ and body donation in a better way.