Self-directed learning scores were lower among our MBBS students than reported elsewhere in the literature.

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment and treatment of pain, and other problems - physical, psychosocial, and spiritual. It is estimated that in India the total number of people who need palliative care is likely to be 5.4 million people a year. Though palliative care services have been in existence for many years, India ranks at the bottom of the Quality of Death index in overall score. However there has been steady progress in the past few years through community-owned palliative care services. One of the key objectives of the National Programme for prevention and control of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke is to establish and develop capacity for palliative and rehabilitative care. Community models for the provision of home-based palliative care is possible by involving community caregivers and volunteers supervised by nurses trained in palliative care. Training of medical officers and health care professionals, and sensitization of the public through awareness campaigns are vital to improve the scope and coverage of palliative care. Process of translating palliative care plan into action requires strong leadership, competent management, political support and integration across all levels of care.

Background: There has been growing public awareness regarding the ethical conduct of medical practitioners, and complaints against physicians appear to be escalating. After completing their studies, healthcare professionals are expected to know ethical principles and apply them in their clinical practice. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical ethics among final year medical students.Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted among final year Medical students in a private medical college. After obtaining permission from Institutional ethics committee, the purpose of the study and nature of information which has to be furnished from the students was explained to them. Willingness to participate in the study was obtained from participants using written consent form. Data was collected among 135 medical students using pre tested self-administered questionnaire. The respondents were asked to grade their responses on a 3 point Likert scale.Results: Study results showed majority 87% of students felt patient wishes must always be adhered to. In contrast 65% of students felt doctors must do what is best irrespective of patient’s opinion. About 64.7% of them disagreed consent is required only in case of operations and not for tests and medications. Nearly half (47%) of the students were of opinion privacy of the patient must not be ignored for benefit of larger group.Conclusions: The fact that many respondents had neutral opinion to some questions may indicate their lack of awareness or knowledge in that area and their inability to decide. Hence there should be sufficient training classes, workshops, conferences to stress the importance of ethical practice.

The government of India opened up for free Private sector intervention in the Insurance sector in the year 1999. This resulted in a number of new private Insurance companies coming up with innovative products, customized package, quality customer service and more job opportunities for graduates. This article expresses the factors which influence the graduating students to select insurance advisor as their future career. The variables identified are student’s psychosomatic profile, academic performance, financial rewards and its stimulus on job choice and the influence of knowledge related to insurance and the rapport with an insurance advisor to their career selection. The study is directed toward three main objectives. The primary objective is to identify the factors which sway the career selection of students. Second, is to propose inputs to the insurance industries to attract more sale force. Third, is to find out the factors which will give better retention of the advisor workforce.