one of the most common problems faced by medical students. 6,7 Depression, another form of MHPs i... more one of the most common problems faced by medical students. 6,7 Depression, another form of MHPs is characterized by extreme dejection, gloomy ruminations, feelings of worthlessness, loss of hope and often of apprehension. 6 The World Health Organization has declared depression as a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. It is a leading cause of disability worldwide because of its physical, psychological and social impacts and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. 8 Many factors might increase students' susceptibility to anxiety and depressive disorder. These factors include female gender, changes in lifestyle, financial stressors, family relationship changes, socioeconomic status, exposure to an older, fragmented, and more theoretical curricular structure and academic worries with post-graduation. 9,10 Medical students are being trained to meet the healthcare ABSTRACT Background: Mental well being of medical students has been a growing concern for several years. In Bangladesh, mental health problems are still considered as stigma. The aim of this study was to find out prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students of Bangladesh. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to find out the prevalence of anxiety and depression among undergraduate medical students (4 th year) of 2 medical colleges (Brahmanbaria Medical College and Army Medical College Bogura) of Bangladesh during the month of March, 2020. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used as data collection instrument. Total 85 students participated in the study.
medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Jun 21, 2022
Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate antimicrobial prescribing behaviors in the d... more Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate antimicrobial prescribing behaviors in the dermatology outpatient department.. CC-BY-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. (which was not certified by peer review) Methods: This multi-centered, cross-sectional study was conducted at dermatology outpatient department of three tertiary care hospitals in Chittagong division, Bangladesh during the period October, 2021 to April, 2022. Results: During the study period, 463 prescriptions were obtained. Over half of the participants were female (57%) and between the ages of 21 to 40 years. The majority of patients were diagnosed with eczema (19%), acne (17%), and scabies (15%). Most commonly prescribed antimicrobials was Azithromycin (22%), followed by Permethrin (16%) and Erythromycin (7%). In most cases, antimicrobials were recommended for more than two weeks (60%). Nearly half of the antimicrobials (53 %) were recommended as combination of systemic and topical route. Conclusion: Current study found that dermatologists frequently recommended broad-spectrum antimicrobials for extended periods of time, which may lead to antimicrobial resistance. There is a need for continuing medical education on the appropriate use of antimicrobials, which will result in the effective management of skin diseases.
Background: The aim of pharmacology education is to make graduate competent enough to prescribe s... more Background: The aim of pharmacology education is to make graduate competent enough to prescribe safely and effectively. So it is expected that pharmacology education would incorporate all the important aspects of prescribing. Skin diseases are associated with a considerable disease burden in Bangladesh and mostly treated in primary care settings by junior doctors. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the undergraduate pharmacology curriculum and written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum of 07 different universities (Bangladesh University of Professionals, University of Dhaka, University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, Chittagong and Gono Bishwabidyalay) of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). The evaluation was conducted through searching certain key phrases. Results: In Pharmacology & Therapeutics portion of th...
Background: Promotional activities conducted by pharmaceutical industries are highly successful t... more Background: Promotional activities conducted by pharmaceutical industries are highly successful to alter physicians' prescribing habit. Undergraduate medical curriculum does not make students to deal with this unwarranted effect. Educational intervention might be a key to address this crucial issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of educational intervention on knowledge and attitude of medical students regarding pharmaceutical promotion. Materials and methods: This interventional research was conducted from February 2016 to February 2017. 4th year MBBS students of the four medical colleges of Dhaka city were the study population. A baseline assessment on knowledge and perception of the 4th year MBBS medical students' of the included medical colleges (Control and intervention) was conducted by a questionnaire survey. Number of respondents in control and intervention group was 156 and 243 respectively in pre test. Then, a package of educational intervention including interactive lecture and practical session was delivered to intervention group. After I month of intervention, post intervention data had been collected from undergraduate students to evaluate the effect of intervention on their knowledge and perception by using same questionnaire. Number of respondents in control and intervention group was 152 and 227 respectively in post test. Attitude of the undergraduate students of intervention group was evaluated by a structured questionnaire after one month of intervention. Total 227 students were participated in this survey. Results: Proportion of students regarding knowledge and perception about pharmaceutical promotion is significantly increased after intervention (p<0.001). Attitude of undergraduate students of intervention group on 10 different case scenarios related to pharmaceutical promotion have been changed after intervention and it were statistically significant in all 10 case scenarios. Conclusion: The conducted educational intervention was found effective at undergraduate level to modify knowledge and attitude about pharmaceutical promotion.
Bangladesh journal of medical education, Jan 7, 2023
Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. Th... more Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives and content coverage of pharmacotherapy of diseases of high burden were evaluated. Objective regarding factual knowledge (pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reactions of drugs) occupied about 80 percent of the questions throughout the last decade. Medicines used in diseases of high burden received very little weightage, which is consistent throughout the decade.
Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. Th... more Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives and content coverage of pharmacotherapy of diseases of high burden were evaluated. Objective regarding factual knowledge (pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reactions of drugs) occupied about 80 percent of the questions throughout the last decade. Medicines used in diseases of high burden received very little weightage, which is consistent throughout the decade.
Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 2022
Background: It is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescr... more Background: It is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescriber. Credibility of undergraduate pharmacology curricula is rather questionable in this aspect. As assessment shapes learning priorities, it is crucial to design assessment methods of pharmacology in right way to achieve the expected learning outcomes of future physicians. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and national health priorities in undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of different universities of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and selective disease burdens were evaluated and compared. Results: One objective regarding factual knowledge (Pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reactions of drugs) had significant higher weightage throughout the decade in all universities. There were statistically significant differences in weightage of reflection of five curricular objectives (p value <0.00001, 0.001, 0.003, 0.004, 0.02) among different universities. There was not a single question reflecting the ethical and legal issues involved in drug prescribing, development, manufacture and marketing in the decade in any university. Chemotherapy was the highest covered area (1 9. 4 ± 3. 3), followed by central nervous system (1 6. 0 ± 3. 4) and general principles of pharmacology (1 4. 3 ± 3. 2) throughout the last ten years in all universities. There was statistically also significant difference among different universities in weightage of all content areas except Gastrointestinal pharmacology. Statistically significant difference (p value < 0. 0 0 0 0 1) among different universities in cardiovascular diseases burden was observed. Conclusion: Current study found variation in pharmacology written question papers of different universities in the aspects of reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and cardiovascular disease burden.
Background: The key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to ... more Background: The key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to prescribe safely and effectively. There is worldwide speculation of inadequacy of pharmacology education to achieve the expected learning outcomes. Problem-based pharmacotherapy is considered as one of the crucial way to prepare future physicians as rational prescribers. As assessment drives learning priorities, adequate weightage on problem-based questions in undergraduate pharmacology examination might be helpful. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum of 07 different universities (
Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regul... more Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regulatory initiatives are taken to overcome this unwarranted influence. The present research was conducted in such context with an attempt to review the regulatory documents related to pharmaceutical promotion in Bangladesh including Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (CPMP), and to compare CPMP with different global guidelines. The studied guidelines demonstrate effort to regulate promotion, though that varies to a great extent, particularly in enforcement aspects. Clearly defined ethical and legal prohibitions, provisions of punishment for violations and entrusted agency with defined authority are crucial.
Background: COVID-19, one of the worst pandemics in humankinds history on December 2019. Clinical... more Background: COVID-19, one of the worst pandemics in humankinds history on December 2019. Clinical presentations of COVID-19 patients are varied and being closely similar to those of seasonal flu, its difficult to differentiate it on first presentation as COVID. Clinical scenario and demographic characteristics provide important guideline in the management of COVID. Materials and Methods: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore the demographic characteristics and clinical features of COVID-19 patients admitted in a Combined Military Hospital of Bangladesh. Data were collected from treatment records of patients of the CMH Bogura during the period of June 2020 to August 2020. Total 219 RT-PCR positive admitted patients were included as study population. Result: Among 219 patients, 78.6% were male and 21.5% female. Mean age of patients was 34.3 (12.2). Highest percentages (67.2%) of patients were from age group 21-40 years. 85.4% of the patients had no comorbidities, ...
ABSTRACTBackgroundGlobal knowledge of treatment and outcomes of COVID-19 has been evolving since ... more ABSTRACTBackgroundGlobal knowledge of treatment and outcomes of COVID-19 has been evolving since the onset of the pandemic.Materials and MethodsThe objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore treatment and outcome of COVID-19 patients admitted in a Combined Military Hospital of Bangladesh. Data were collected from treatment records of patients of the CMH Bogura during the period of June 2020 to August 2020. Total 219 RT-PCR positive admitted patients were included as study population.ResultAmong 219 patients, 78.6% were male and 21.5% were female, mean age of patients was 34.3 ± 12.2. About14.6% patients had one or more comorbidities. Most (83.1%) of the admitted patients were diagnosed as mild cases. Antimicrobials were used in 98.8% cases, and frequent use of doxycycline (80.4%) and ivermectine (77.2%) was found. Anticoagulant and steroid therapy were used in 42.0% and 15.5% patients respectively. O2 therapy was required in 6.0% cases and intensive care unit (ICU) suppo...
BackgroundIt is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescrib... more BackgroundIt is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescriber. Credibility of undergraduate pharmacology curricula is rather questionable in this aspect. As assessment shapes learning priorities, it is crucial to design assessment methods of pharmacology in right way to achieve the expected learning outcomes of future physicians.Materials and MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and national health priorities in undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of different universities of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and selective disease burdens were evaluated and compared.ResultOne objective regarding factual knowledge (pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reacti...
Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regul... more Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regulatory initiatives are taken to overcome this unwarranted influence. The present research was conducted in such context with an attempt to review the regulatory documents related to pharmaceutical promotion in Bangladesh including Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (CPMP), and to compare CPMP with different global guidelines. The studied guidelines demonstrate effort to regulate promotion, though that varies to a great extent, particularly in enforcement aspects. Clearly defined ethical and legal prohibitions, provisions of punishment for violations and entrusted agency with defined authority are crucial.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal, 2019
The medical practice has become complex and challenging because of the entry of newer medicines a... more The medical practice has become complex and challenging because of the entry of newer medicines and technologies. The key objective of pharmacology teaching-learning activities is to make graduates enable to select medicines by appraising safety, efficacy, cost and suitability. Promotional activities conducted by pharmaceutical industries deleteriously affect physicians’ prescribing practice. The present research was conducted with an attempt to explore current academic documents related to Pharmacology education in Bangladesh. The curriculum (pharmacology portion of undergraduate medical curriculum), books of pharmacology (preferred by the pharmacologists), and written question papers (of last five years from all universities) were evaluated by searching certain key phrases. The curriculum of undergraduate course did not give adequate emphasis on issues related to the pharmaceutical promotion. Ethical issues and ‘critical appraisal skill’ are not mentioned in the pharmacology books...
International Journal of Psychiatry Research, 2019
Bangladesh to see the patterns of prescription and drug use in psychiatry outpatient department o... more Bangladesh to see the patterns of prescription and drug use in psychiatry outpatient department of teaching hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total 300 patients were included in this study. Simultaneously a total of 100 patients were interviewed by questionnaire to identify the educational and socioeconomic status of the patient. The pharmacological classification of psychotropic drugs, clinical indication, average number of drugs per prescription, adverse effect, cost, generic or trade name; formulation, frequency and duration of therapy, special warning or instruction regarding possible side effect and percentage of additional (anticholinergic) drugs prescribed were noted. The antipsychotic drugs were prescribed 36% anxiolytics drugs were prescribed 15.43%, antidepressant drugs were prescribed 9.97%, Antimanic drugs were prescribed 16.39% and other drugs were prescribed 22.95%. The commonest clinical indication were schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder 40%, bipolar mood disorder 39%, depressive disorder 9.66%, anxiety disorder 2.66%, somatoform disorder 1.66%, OCD 02%, others 3.33%. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.44 % drugs were prescribed by generic name. Use of oral psychotropic drugs 91.33% was frequent but injection use 8.33% was very low, additional (anticholinergic) drugs were prescribed 76% of prescription. Average cost of drugs per prescription was 181 taka. So, the study will help to understand the trends in prescribing psychotropic drugs and will provide guidelines for designing appropriate future intervention strategies in order to promote rational prescribing and improve the quality of health care.
The present research was conducted to evaluate the quality of pharmaceutical promotional literatu... more The present research was conducted to evaluate the quality of pharmaceutical promotional literature. Indications was mentioned in 88.2% promotional literature and less than half (40.0, 33.9 and 38.9%) of these contains side effects, precautions and contraindications respectively. Among the provided information 67.3%, 16.5%, 19.5% and 24.0% matched with the BDNF/BNF respectively. Scientific articles (73.3%) were cited most followed by commercial online sources (15.5%), data on file (4.2%), regulatory body approval data (2.9%), product monograph (2.7%) and textbook/reference book (1.6%). Only half (50.2%) of these cited references were retrievable and no ‘data on file’ could be retrieved. Though most (73.2%) of the promotional claims were true, 13.7, 5.9, 4.6 and 2.6% were identified as false, exaggerated, ambiguous and controversial respectively. This revelation about the quality of promotional literature might an eye opener for the policy makers. More importantly, this may bring ale...
BackgroundThe key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to pr... more BackgroundThe key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to prescribe safely and effectively. There is worldwide speculation of inadequacy of pharmacology education to achieve the expected learning outcomes. Problem-based pharmacotherapy is considered as one of the crucial way to prepare future physicians as rational prescribers. As assessment drives learning priorities, adequate weightage on problem-based questions in undergraduate pharmacology examination might be helpful.Materials and MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum of 07 different universities (Bangladesh University of Professionals, University of Dhaka, University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, Chittagong and Gono Bishwabidyalay) of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to Novembe...
In the history of human civilization, research has played a significant role. There is no doubt t... more In the history of human civilization, research has played a significant role. There is no doubt that meeting the challenges of the 21st century will be tough if we are not world leaders in science and technology. The objective of this study was to assess physicians' attitude about research and the challenges they confront when doing research. From July to December 2020, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed among physicians in Bangladesh. The questionnaire poll had 626 responses in total. There were 55.6 % female physicians and 44.4% male physicians among them. The majority of physicians (87.6%) felt that conducting research is critical to become a specialist. Research methodology training at the medical colleges are extremely beneficial, according to a substantial percentage of physicians (72.2%). Research methodology should be included in undergraduate curriculum, according to 89% of physicians. Research is beneficial as it aids critical thinking and policy imp...
BackgroundSince December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention d... more BackgroundSince December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention due to its rapid transmission, which has infected more than twenty nine million people worldwide. World is facing enormous stress and anxiety as there is no effective medicine or vaccine to treat or prevent COVID-19 till date. Experts are recommending self-care like social distancing, respiratory etiquette, hand washing, using face mask to prevent corona virus infection.Materials and methodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to assess the prevalence of self-care practice among the undergraduate medical students (4th year) of 14 medical colleges of Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic. A structured questionnaire survey linked in the google form was used as study instrument and was distributed among study population through email, messenger, whatsapp and other social media during the month of October 2020. Total 916 students were participated in the study.Results79.8% of stu...
Background: Since December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention... more Background: Since December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention due to its rapid transmission, which has infected more than twenty nine million people worldwide. World is facing enormous stress and anxiety as there is no effective medicine or vaccine to treat or prevent COVID-19 till date. Experts are recommending self-care like social distancing, respiratory etiquette, hand washing, using face mask to prevent corona virus infection. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to assess the prevalence of self-care practice among the undergraduate medical students (4th year) of 14 medical colleges of Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic. A structured questionnaire survey linked in the google form was used as study instrument and was distributed among study population through email, messenger, whatsapp and other social media during the month of October 2020. Total 916 students were participated in the study. Results: 79.8...
one of the most common problems faced by medical students. 6,7 Depression, another form of MHPs i... more one of the most common problems faced by medical students. 6,7 Depression, another form of MHPs is characterized by extreme dejection, gloomy ruminations, feelings of worthlessness, loss of hope and often of apprehension. 6 The World Health Organization has declared depression as a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. It is a leading cause of disability worldwide because of its physical, psychological and social impacts and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. 8 Many factors might increase students' susceptibility to anxiety and depressive disorder. These factors include female gender, changes in lifestyle, financial stressors, family relationship changes, socioeconomic status, exposure to an older, fragmented, and more theoretical curricular structure and academic worries with post-graduation. 9,10 Medical students are being trained to meet the healthcare ABSTRACT Background: Mental well being of medical students has been a growing concern for several years. In Bangladesh, mental health problems are still considered as stigma. The aim of this study was to find out prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students of Bangladesh. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to find out the prevalence of anxiety and depression among undergraduate medical students (4 th year) of 2 medical colleges (Brahmanbaria Medical College and Army Medical College Bogura) of Bangladesh during the month of March, 2020. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used as data collection instrument. Total 85 students participated in the study.
medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Jun 21, 2022
Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate antimicrobial prescribing behaviors in the d... more Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate antimicrobial prescribing behaviors in the dermatology outpatient department.. CC-BY-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. (which was not certified by peer review) Methods: This multi-centered, cross-sectional study was conducted at dermatology outpatient department of three tertiary care hospitals in Chittagong division, Bangladesh during the period October, 2021 to April, 2022. Results: During the study period, 463 prescriptions were obtained. Over half of the participants were female (57%) and between the ages of 21 to 40 years. The majority of patients were diagnosed with eczema (19%), acne (17%), and scabies (15%). Most commonly prescribed antimicrobials was Azithromycin (22%), followed by Permethrin (16%) and Erythromycin (7%). In most cases, antimicrobials were recommended for more than two weeks (60%). Nearly half of the antimicrobials (53 %) were recommended as combination of systemic and topical route. Conclusion: Current study found that dermatologists frequently recommended broad-spectrum antimicrobials for extended periods of time, which may lead to antimicrobial resistance. There is a need for continuing medical education on the appropriate use of antimicrobials, which will result in the effective management of skin diseases.
Background: The aim of pharmacology education is to make graduate competent enough to prescribe s... more Background: The aim of pharmacology education is to make graduate competent enough to prescribe safely and effectively. So it is expected that pharmacology education would incorporate all the important aspects of prescribing. Skin diseases are associated with a considerable disease burden in Bangladesh and mostly treated in primary care settings by junior doctors. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the undergraduate pharmacology curriculum and written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum of 07 different universities (Bangladesh University of Professionals, University of Dhaka, University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, Chittagong and Gono Bishwabidyalay) of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). The evaluation was conducted through searching certain key phrases. Results: In Pharmacology & Therapeutics portion of th...
Background: Promotional activities conducted by pharmaceutical industries are highly successful t... more Background: Promotional activities conducted by pharmaceutical industries are highly successful to alter physicians' prescribing habit. Undergraduate medical curriculum does not make students to deal with this unwarranted effect. Educational intervention might be a key to address this crucial issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of educational intervention on knowledge and attitude of medical students regarding pharmaceutical promotion. Materials and methods: This interventional research was conducted from February 2016 to February 2017. 4th year MBBS students of the four medical colleges of Dhaka city were the study population. A baseline assessment on knowledge and perception of the 4th year MBBS medical students' of the included medical colleges (Control and intervention) was conducted by a questionnaire survey. Number of respondents in control and intervention group was 156 and 243 respectively in pre test. Then, a package of educational intervention including interactive lecture and practical session was delivered to intervention group. After I month of intervention, post intervention data had been collected from undergraduate students to evaluate the effect of intervention on their knowledge and perception by using same questionnaire. Number of respondents in control and intervention group was 152 and 227 respectively in post test. Attitude of the undergraduate students of intervention group was evaluated by a structured questionnaire after one month of intervention. Total 227 students were participated in this survey. Results: Proportion of students regarding knowledge and perception about pharmaceutical promotion is significantly increased after intervention (p<0.001). Attitude of undergraduate students of intervention group on 10 different case scenarios related to pharmaceutical promotion have been changed after intervention and it were statistically significant in all 10 case scenarios. Conclusion: The conducted educational intervention was found effective at undergraduate level to modify knowledge and attitude about pharmaceutical promotion.
Bangladesh journal of medical education, Jan 7, 2023
Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. Th... more Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives and content coverage of pharmacotherapy of diseases of high burden were evaluated. Objective regarding factual knowledge (pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reactions of drugs) occupied about 80 percent of the questions throughout the last decade. Medicines used in diseases of high burden received very little weightage, which is consistent throughout the decade.
Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. Th... more Undergraduate pharmacology education has always been a topic of intense excitement and debate. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives and content coverage of pharmacotherapy of diseases of high burden were evaluated. Objective regarding factual knowledge (pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reactions of drugs) occupied about 80 percent of the questions throughout the last decade. Medicines used in diseases of high burden received very little weightage, which is consistent throughout the decade.
Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 2022
Background: It is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescr... more Background: It is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescriber. Credibility of undergraduate pharmacology curricula is rather questionable in this aspect. As assessment shapes learning priorities, it is crucial to design assessment methods of pharmacology in right way to achieve the expected learning outcomes of future physicians. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and national health priorities in undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of different universities of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and selective disease burdens were evaluated and compared. Results: One objective regarding factual knowledge (Pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reactions of drugs) had significant higher weightage throughout the decade in all universities. There were statistically significant differences in weightage of reflection of five curricular objectives (p value <0.00001, 0.001, 0.003, 0.004, 0.02) among different universities. There was not a single question reflecting the ethical and legal issues involved in drug prescribing, development, manufacture and marketing in the decade in any university. Chemotherapy was the highest covered area (1 9. 4 ± 3. 3), followed by central nervous system (1 6. 0 ± 3. 4) and general principles of pharmacology (1 4. 3 ± 3. 2) throughout the last ten years in all universities. There was statistically also significant difference among different universities in weightage of all content areas except Gastrointestinal pharmacology. Statistically significant difference (p value < 0. 0 0 0 0 1) among different universities in cardiovascular diseases burden was observed. Conclusion: Current study found variation in pharmacology written question papers of different universities in the aspects of reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and cardiovascular disease burden.
Background: The key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to ... more Background: The key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to prescribe safely and effectively. There is worldwide speculation of inadequacy of pharmacology education to achieve the expected learning outcomes. Problem-based pharmacotherapy is considered as one of the crucial way to prepare future physicians as rational prescribers. As assessment drives learning priorities, adequate weightage on problem-based questions in undergraduate pharmacology examination might be helpful. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum of 07 different universities (
Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regul... more Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regulatory initiatives are taken to overcome this unwarranted influence. The present research was conducted in such context with an attempt to review the regulatory documents related to pharmaceutical promotion in Bangladesh including Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (CPMP), and to compare CPMP with different global guidelines. The studied guidelines demonstrate effort to regulate promotion, though that varies to a great extent, particularly in enforcement aspects. Clearly defined ethical and legal prohibitions, provisions of punishment for violations and entrusted agency with defined authority are crucial.
Background: COVID-19, one of the worst pandemics in humankinds history on December 2019. Clinical... more Background: COVID-19, one of the worst pandemics in humankinds history on December 2019. Clinical presentations of COVID-19 patients are varied and being closely similar to those of seasonal flu, its difficult to differentiate it on first presentation as COVID. Clinical scenario and demographic characteristics provide important guideline in the management of COVID. Materials and Methods: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore the demographic characteristics and clinical features of COVID-19 patients admitted in a Combined Military Hospital of Bangladesh. Data were collected from treatment records of patients of the CMH Bogura during the period of June 2020 to August 2020. Total 219 RT-PCR positive admitted patients were included as study population. Result: Among 219 patients, 78.6% were male and 21.5% female. Mean age of patients was 34.3 (12.2). Highest percentages (67.2%) of patients were from age group 21-40 years. 85.4% of the patients had no comorbidities, ...
ABSTRACTBackgroundGlobal knowledge of treatment and outcomes of COVID-19 has been evolving since ... more ABSTRACTBackgroundGlobal knowledge of treatment and outcomes of COVID-19 has been evolving since the onset of the pandemic.Materials and MethodsThe objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore treatment and outcome of COVID-19 patients admitted in a Combined Military Hospital of Bangladesh. Data were collected from treatment records of patients of the CMH Bogura during the period of June 2020 to August 2020. Total 219 RT-PCR positive admitted patients were included as study population.ResultAmong 219 patients, 78.6% were male and 21.5% were female, mean age of patients was 34.3 ± 12.2. About14.6% patients had one or more comorbidities. Most (83.1%) of the admitted patients were diagnosed as mild cases. Antimicrobials were used in 98.8% cases, and frequent use of doxycycline (80.4%) and ivermectine (77.2%) was found. Anticoagulant and steroid therapy were used in 42.0% and 15.5% patients respectively. O2 therapy was required in 6.0% cases and intensive care unit (ICU) suppo...
BackgroundIt is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescrib... more BackgroundIt is expected that pharmacology education should prepare students as rational prescriber. Credibility of undergraduate pharmacology curricula is rather questionable in this aspect. As assessment shapes learning priorities, it is crucial to design assessment methods of pharmacology in right way to achieve the expected learning outcomes of future physicians.Materials and MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and national health priorities in undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of different universities of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to November 2019). Total 131 question papers were collected, and reflection of curricular objectives, content coverage and selective disease burdens were evaluated and compared.ResultOne objective regarding factual knowledge (pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reacti...
Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regul... more Pharmaceutical promotion is a negative influencing force for prescribing. However, very few regulatory initiatives are taken to overcome this unwarranted influence. The present research was conducted in such context with an attempt to review the regulatory documents related to pharmaceutical promotion in Bangladesh including Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (CPMP), and to compare CPMP with different global guidelines. The studied guidelines demonstrate effort to regulate promotion, though that varies to a great extent, particularly in enforcement aspects. Clearly defined ethical and legal prohibitions, provisions of punishment for violations and entrusted agency with defined authority are crucial.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal, 2019
The medical practice has become complex and challenging because of the entry of newer medicines a... more The medical practice has become complex and challenging because of the entry of newer medicines and technologies. The key objective of pharmacology teaching-learning activities is to make graduates enable to select medicines by appraising safety, efficacy, cost and suitability. Promotional activities conducted by pharmaceutical industries deleteriously affect physicians’ prescribing practice. The present research was conducted with an attempt to explore current academic documents related to Pharmacology education in Bangladesh. The curriculum (pharmacology portion of undergraduate medical curriculum), books of pharmacology (preferred by the pharmacologists), and written question papers (of last five years from all universities) were evaluated by searching certain key phrases. The curriculum of undergraduate course did not give adequate emphasis on issues related to the pharmaceutical promotion. Ethical issues and ‘critical appraisal skill’ are not mentioned in the pharmacology books...
International Journal of Psychiatry Research, 2019
Bangladesh to see the patterns of prescription and drug use in psychiatry outpatient department o... more Bangladesh to see the patterns of prescription and drug use in psychiatry outpatient department of teaching hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total 300 patients were included in this study. Simultaneously a total of 100 patients were interviewed by questionnaire to identify the educational and socioeconomic status of the patient. The pharmacological classification of psychotropic drugs, clinical indication, average number of drugs per prescription, adverse effect, cost, generic or trade name; formulation, frequency and duration of therapy, special warning or instruction regarding possible side effect and percentage of additional (anticholinergic) drugs prescribed were noted. The antipsychotic drugs were prescribed 36% anxiolytics drugs were prescribed 15.43%, antidepressant drugs were prescribed 9.97%, Antimanic drugs were prescribed 16.39% and other drugs were prescribed 22.95%. The commonest clinical indication were schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder 40%, bipolar mood disorder 39%, depressive disorder 9.66%, anxiety disorder 2.66%, somatoform disorder 1.66%, OCD 02%, others 3.33%. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.44 % drugs were prescribed by generic name. Use of oral psychotropic drugs 91.33% was frequent but injection use 8.33% was very low, additional (anticholinergic) drugs were prescribed 76% of prescription. Average cost of drugs per prescription was 181 taka. So, the study will help to understand the trends in prescribing psychotropic drugs and will provide guidelines for designing appropriate future intervention strategies in order to promote rational prescribing and improve the quality of health care.
The present research was conducted to evaluate the quality of pharmaceutical promotional literatu... more The present research was conducted to evaluate the quality of pharmaceutical promotional literature. Indications was mentioned in 88.2% promotional literature and less than half (40.0, 33.9 and 38.9%) of these contains side effects, precautions and contraindications respectively. Among the provided information 67.3%, 16.5%, 19.5% and 24.0% matched with the BDNF/BNF respectively. Scientific articles (73.3%) were cited most followed by commercial online sources (15.5%), data on file (4.2%), regulatory body approval data (2.9%), product monograph (2.7%) and textbook/reference book (1.6%). Only half (50.2%) of these cited references were retrievable and no ‘data on file’ could be retrieved. Though most (73.2%) of the promotional claims were true, 13.7, 5.9, 4.6 and 2.6% were identified as false, exaggerated, ambiguous and controversial respectively. This revelation about the quality of promotional literature might an eye opener for the policy makers. More importantly, this may bring ale...
BackgroundThe key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to pr... more BackgroundThe key objective of pharmacology education is to make graduates competent enough to prescribe safely and effectively. There is worldwide speculation of inadequacy of pharmacology education to achieve the expected learning outcomes. Problem-based pharmacotherapy is considered as one of the crucial way to prepare future physicians as rational prescribers. As assessment drives learning priorities, adequate weightage on problem-based questions in undergraduate pharmacology examination might be helpful.Materials and MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the undergraduate pharmacology written question papers (SAQ) of MBBS curriculum of 07 different universities (Bangladesh University of Professionals, University of Dhaka, University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, Chittagong and Gono Bishwabidyalay) of Bangladesh in last 10 years (January 2010 to Novembe...
In the history of human civilization, research has played a significant role. There is no doubt t... more In the history of human civilization, research has played a significant role. There is no doubt that meeting the challenges of the 21st century will be tough if we are not world leaders in science and technology. The objective of this study was to assess physicians' attitude about research and the challenges they confront when doing research. From July to December 2020, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed among physicians in Bangladesh. The questionnaire poll had 626 responses in total. There were 55.6 % female physicians and 44.4% male physicians among them. The majority of physicians (87.6%) felt that conducting research is critical to become a specialist. Research methodology training at the medical colleges are extremely beneficial, according to a substantial percentage of physicians (72.2%). Research methodology should be included in undergraduate curriculum, according to 89% of physicians. Research is beneficial as it aids critical thinking and policy imp...
BackgroundSince December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention d... more BackgroundSince December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention due to its rapid transmission, which has infected more than twenty nine million people worldwide. World is facing enormous stress and anxiety as there is no effective medicine or vaccine to treat or prevent COVID-19 till date. Experts are recommending self-care like social distancing, respiratory etiquette, hand washing, using face mask to prevent corona virus infection.Materials and methodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to assess the prevalence of self-care practice among the undergraduate medical students (4th year) of 14 medical colleges of Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic. A structured questionnaire survey linked in the google form was used as study instrument and was distributed among study population through email, messenger, whatsapp and other social media during the month of October 2020. Total 916 students were participated in the study.Results79.8% of stu...
Background: Since December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention... more Background: Since December 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has garnered global attention due to its rapid transmission, which has infected more than twenty nine million people worldwide. World is facing enormous stress and anxiety as there is no effective medicine or vaccine to treat or prevent COVID-19 till date. Experts are recommending self-care like social distancing, respiratory etiquette, hand washing, using face mask to prevent corona virus infection. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to assess the prevalence of self-care practice among the undergraduate medical students (4th year) of 14 medical colleges of Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic. A structured questionnaire survey linked in the google form was used as study instrument and was distributed among study population through email, messenger, whatsapp and other social media during the month of October 2020. Total 916 students were participated in the study. Results: 79.8...
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