Background Smartphone applications have become popular tools in clinical educational environments, particularly because they enhance learning in any setting through their accessibility. Despite students utilizing these apps in their daily learning, Pakistan’s medical education system has yet to strongly endorse them. Given the rising usage of medical applications among clinical year medical students and the wide range of apps accessible on contemporary devices aimed specifically at the student population, there is a lack of literature addressing the use of these apps on clinical learning in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) such as Pakistan. Objectives Our study aims to (1) assess the level of awareness among clinical-year medical students in Pakistan, of smartphone applications for academic purposes, (2) determine the usefulness of medical apps as educational tools for clinical-year medical students, in terms of enhancing overall patient-care skills and (3) identify barriers to the usage of apps among students who do not have them installed. Methods This online questionnaire-based study includes clinical year medical students across four medical colleges (two private and two public sectors) in Pakistan. Participant identity was kept anonymous and informed consent was required to participate. A sample size of 360 was used based on previous studies in the UK and student estimates from chosen medical colleges. The questionnaire tool used consists of three sections; demographics and medical school information, perceived usefulness of medical smartphone apps on a Likert Scale and barriers to usage among students who do not have them installed. Results 97.9% of the total study population chose to participate in the study. There was roughly an equal percentage of responses from each clinical year and 72% of students reported active use of medical apps of which the vast majority (48%) have one to two apps on their phones. Only 39% of students felt that their medical colleges encourage the use of smartphone apps for academic purposes. 54% of students use apps to look up medical criteria for disease processes and almost 42% use them to search medications. On a Likert scale of 1-5, improvement of clinical performance received highest average score among users (3.92, SD 1.1), followed by quick access to medical guidelines (3.83, SD 1.0). The most common reasons for nonuse of medical apps were medical colleges not offering subscriptions and not knowing how to utilize apps. Conclusion Smartphone apps are widely used by clinical year medical students for academic purposes in our study. Despite lack of endorsement from their respective medical colleges, these apps are still popularly utilized for revision and research on disease criteria during clinics and rounds. Encouragement from the university has been identified as a significant barrier, however. Students who use smartphone apps reported an improvement in clinical...

Aim: To see if there was a link between menstruation issues and psychological stress among young medical students. Methods: A non-probability convenient sampling method was used to conduct an observational (cross-sectional) study on a sample of 180 university-bound students. Students were assessed for menstrual regularity associating with psychological stress by using Perceived Stress Scale in different universities of Lahore. Results: The study included approximately 92% of females with a regular menstrual cycle and 8% of females with an irregular menstrual cycle.While among irregular menstrual cycles, 5 had high levels of stress, 7 had moderate levels of stress, and 3 had mild levels of stress. The normal menstrual cycle group had 40 females with high levels of stress, 121 females with moderate levels of stress, and four females with low levels of stress. Conclusion: Although fewer students suffered from menstruation difficulties, the majority of them, including those who did not, experienced psychological stress. Keywords: Menstrual disorders, dysmenorrheal, abnormal menstrual cycle, stress

Aim: To describe the quality of life six months following on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in people aged 61 to 70. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted on 119 cardiovascular patients who have undergone On Pump CABG procedure. The data was collected from Punjab Institute of Cardiology and Omer Hospital Lahore. 70 patients were taken from Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore and 49 from Omer Hospital. Non-probability convenient sampling was used as a sampling approach. From August 2018 until January 2019, the research was conducted. The Medical Outcomes Study short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires were used to determine the quality of life. Results: The mean age of the 119 patients was 65.23 + 3.35, with a standard deviation of 3.35. Three patients (2.5%) had energy fatigue, three (2.5%) had role limitations due to physical health, fifteen (12.6%) had role limitations due to emotional problems, 96 (80.7%) had physical functioning and two (1.7%) had emotional well-being, four (3.4%) had social functioning, three (2.5%) had pain, and three (2.5%) had general health problems. Conclusion: The quality of life of on-pump CABG patients aged 61-70 years after six months of cardiac rehabilitation was reported to be satisfactory, with improved activities of daily living. Keywords: Quality of life, on pump coronary artery bypasses grafting, cardiac rehabilitation

Aim: To describe health related quality of life using Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) in individuals of LVDD post six months. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional survey on 72 individuals of LVDD post six months was conducted. Sample was calculated by WHO sample size calculator keeping μ as 0.49, margin of error as 5% and confidence interval as 95%. Data was collected by MLWHFQ via interview method with Non probability convenience sampling technique from Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore and Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore during August 2018 to January 2019. Stable individuals both male and female were recruited who aged between 50-71 years old. The baseline characteristic taken in account was NYHA of Heart Failure greater than 2, 50% or more Ejection Fraction, Diastolic Dysfunction (grade ≥1) and at least one of the positive cardiovascular risk factor. Results: Out of a total 72 subjects 41 were males and 31 were females with scores on MLWHFQ showed that out of a total 72 LVDD, HRQOL of 3(4.2%) patients were not affected, 3(4.2%) were very little effected, 7(9.7%) were little effected, 4(5.7%) was moderately effected, 34(47.2%) were much effected and 21(29.2%) were very much effected. Conclusion: The study concluded that health related quality of life using was found out to be much effected in subjects of Left Ventricular diastolic Dysfunction. Keywords: Quality of life, Left Ventricular diastolic dysfunction, Cardiac Disease

Background: The COVID-19 (Corona virus disease 2019) outbreak due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an infectious disease intimidating the world. The COVID-19 common symptoms include cough, fever, malaise, dyspnea, myalgia and gastrointestinal disturbances. The loss of smell and taste has also been reported among patients with COVID-19. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence and duration of loss of smell and taste among COVID-19 patients. Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study in which 150 COVID-19 patients were included. The enrolled patients answered a questionnaire at 14th (or more) days after confirmed infection. The patients’ responses were received online on data form and entered into computer software SPSS version 22.0. Frequencies and percentages were calculated and data was presented in tables and figures. Results: Out of 150 patients, 48.0% were 20-30 years old and 56.0% were male. Majority (82.0%) of patients experienced loss of smell and taste during COVID-19. 57.0% patients had lost smell and taste sense completely. 52.0% patients experienced smell and taste issues after other symptoms of COVID-19. Among 43.9% patients, the duration of these issues was more than 10 days. There were 30.1% patients who used any medicine or local remedy for COVID-19 treatment. Conclusion: Study concluded that loss of smell and taste was prevalent among patients with COVID-19 while duration was more than 10 days for most of the patients.