Journal of Research in Medical and Interpathy Sciences

The Role of Faculty in Facilitating Self-directed Learning among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Scoping Review

2025-10-10T10:21:12+0530

Background: Self-directed learning (SDL) is increasingly recognized in medical education which places learners at the center and faculty as facilitators. Both, Indian and international MBBS curricula now mandate SDL to foster lifelong learning, adaptability, and professional competence. Faculty play a pivotal role in guiding, motivating, and assessing SDL, yet their involvement varies widely across institutions. This scoping review maps the breadth of faculty roles in SDL, identifies gaps, and proposes strategies for effective implementation.

Methods: Following Arksey & O’Malley and JBI frameworks, we conducted a systematic search across MEDLINE, Scopus, ERIC, and IndMED for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Studies exploring faculty roles in SDL for undergraduate medical education were included. Data were extracted, thematically analyzed, and synthesized to highlight key trends and challenges.

Results: Included studies highlighted inconsistent faculty participation in SDL curriculum design, limited comprehensive SDL blueprinting, and a tendency to view SDL as mere preparatory reading rather than active student engagement. Assessment of SDL was seldom integrated into formal evaluations. Optimal environments were marked by accessible resources and smooth scheduling, though many institutions faced logistical and infrastructural barriers. Faculty development initiatives showed variability in both content and uptake, with calls for more robust, context-sensitive structured SDL training. Precisely, validated faculty readiness assessment tools remain scarce, especially for the Indian context, and most existing instruments (e.g., SRSSDL, SDLI) are student-focused. The impact of structured faculty facilitation on SDL attitudes and skills as well as its adaptability across policy contexts remains underexplored. Strengths of this review include methodological rigor and broad mapping, while limitations involve heterogeneous study contexts and language constraints.

Conclusion: Faculty facilitation, resource guidance, and assessment are keys for successful SDL implementation. Systematic faculty training, definitive SDL objectives, and adaptable evaluation frameworks are essential. For SDL to foster lifelong learning, institutions must prioritize and support both educators and students in contextually meaningful ways.

Gender and Body Mass Index Association with Skeletal Muscle Work Output in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Mosso’s Ergograph

2025-10-10T13:46:13+0530

Background: Skeletal muscle performance plays a key role in sustaining physical activity and is influenced by factors such as gender and body composition. While males typically demonstrate higher muscle strength, the impact of body mass index (BMI) on muscle function is complex, particularly in young adults. In view of increasing prevalence of obesity in our young population, it is important to study the combined effect of BMI and gender on skeletal muscle performance.
Aim: To study the effect of gender and BMI on the amount of work done by forearm skeletal muscles using Mosso’s Ergograph in firstyear medical students.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 142 first-year MBBS students aged 18–20 years. BMI was calculated using standard anthropometric techniques and categorized as per Asian cut-offs. Forearm muscle performance was assessed using Mosso’s Ergograph. A two-way ANOVA was performed to examine the main and interaction effects of gender and BMI category.
Results: Males exhibited significantly greater mean work output than females across all BMI categories (p < 0.0001). BMI category also showed a significant main effect (p = 0.0173). A significant gender × BMI interaction was observed (p < 0.0001), indicating that the impact of BMI on work performance varied by gender. Obese females showed the greatest decline in muscle performance.
Conclusion & Significance: The study highlights the differential impact of gender and BMI on skeletal muscle performance. These findings underscore the importance of considering both sex and adiposity in functional assessments, especially in young adult populations.

Effect of Cyproterone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol in Infertile Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Females with Increased Ovarian Volume

2025-10-10T13:43:15+0530

Background: The infertility observed in women can be attributed to endocrine, metabolic and gynecological disorders in PCOS, which have an impact on the function and quality of the ovary. Infertile women with PCOS have raised ovarian volume, stroma and follicles on ultrasonography.
Objectives: To estimate the effect of standard available combination of ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone acetate (CPA+EE) on increased ovarian volume in patients with infertility having polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) of reproductive age.
Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was done in patients with infertility having PCOS as diagnosed by Rotterdam’s criteria and having increased ovarian volume. The women included in the study were divided into 3 groups according to their ovarian volume: Group I (10 to 15 cc), Group II (16 to 20 cc) and Group III (>21cc). These participants were subjected to CPA + EE treatment for a period of 3 months, and the change in the ovarian volumes was statistically analyzed thereafter. Then these patients were subjected to ovulation induction and monitored for pregnancy outcome.
Results: In Group 1, 68% patients showed reduction in ovarian volume on trans vaginal sonography after 3 months of the therapy & were put on ovulation induction giving 44% positive pregnancy tests. In Group 2, 46% patients showed a reduction in the ovarian volume and 33.33% patients had a positive pregnancy test. In Group 3, 40% patients showed a significant reduction in ovarian volume & were put on an ovulation induction protocol giving positive pregnancy test in 40%. Also, normalization of the FSH: LH ratio in 14 out of 21 participants with abnormal baseline ratio. Thus, overall a statistically significant decrease (p <0.05) in ovarian volume was observed in 84% patients after treatment with CPA+EE. And a positive pregnancy test was obtained in 40% patients with ovulation induction.
Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded that CPA + EE can be used as a pre-induction protocol for treating infertile PCOS patients with polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM).

Organ Donation among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices

2025-12-02T12:54:05+0530

Background: Patients with end-stage organ failure experience a gradual deterioration in health status and daily functioning, and the timing of death is often uncertain. Organ transplantation is the only curative treatment for these patients. In India, there are 0.26 organ donors for every million people. This is a result of people’s ignorance of the requirements for organ donation as well as the overall lack of knowledge among the general public and medical experts about the significance, methods, advantages, and legal issues surrounding organ donation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to ascertain medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices about organ donation.
Methods: A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used in a cross-sectional study to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 180 medical students on organ donation. Microsoft Excel was used to enter and evaluate the data.
Results: The majority of medical students (66.7%) were female, with a mean age of 23.03 ± 0.73 years. 88.89% of participants were willing to donate organs, while 90.55% of participants had adequate awareness about organ donation. Merely 5.6% had a donation card. Knowledge of organ donation was substantially correlated with willingness to donate. Fear of organ misuse was the most frequent obstacle to organ donation. The most popular source of information was the Internet.
Conclusion: The findings reveal that while the majority of the students were adequately knowledgeable, there is still a need for further improvement in the knowledge, attitude, and practices. Appropriate knowledge and orientation can empower future physicians to be donors themselves and motivate their patients accordingly.

The Ubiquity of Electronic Gadgets and Sleep Patterns among Undergraduate Health Sciences Students: A Descriptive and Inferential Analysis

2025-09-09T14:25:06+0530

Background: The increasing use of electronic gadgets among students has raised concerns about their potential impacts on sleep quality and duration. This study sought to characterize the extent of gadget usage, describe sleep patterns, and identify commonly reported sleep-influencing factors among a cohort of undergraduate health science students in India.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2024 among 101 undergraduate students from medical and allied health disciplines at a tertiary institution in Ghoti Kh, Maharashtra, India. The survey collected self-reported data on daily gadget usage, pre-bedtime device activities, sleep duration, and subjective sleep quality on a 1-5 scale. Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, and frequencies, were used to present the findings.

Results: Participants reported a mean daily gadget usage of 3.79 hours (SD=1.15) and a mean sleep duration of 6.66 hours (SD=0.91). The mean self-rated sleep quality was 3.54 out of 5 (SD=0.92), with a "fair-good" rating being the most common. Social media browsing and watching videos were the most frequent pre-bedtime activities. Academic stress and workload were cited as significant contributors to poor sleep, alongside late-night gadget use. The distribution of daily gadget usage and sleep duration is visualized in histograms.

Conclusion: This descriptive analysis highlights the substantial daily gadget use and frequent pre-bedtime engagement among health science students in this Indian context. The average sleep duration falls below recommended guidelines, underscoring a public health concern. The findings emphasize the need for targeted sleep hygiene and time-management interventions to improve sleep health in this student population.

Editorial

2026-01-24T11:44:13+0530

Happy Moments,
The Journal of Research in Medical and Interpathy Sciences is pleased to present the Second Issue of 2025, continuing its mission to disseminate high-quality scientific research that integrates biomedical knowledge with ethical sensitivity, educational advancement, and societal relevance. The articles featured in this issue reflect methodological rigor, clinical applicability, and emerging concerns across medical, educational, and behavioral sciences.

Late-Presenting Bochdalek Hernia in a 36-Year-Old: Navigating Anaesthetic Risks and Lung Isolation

2025-11-18T12:26:24+0530

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) presenting in adulthood is uncommon and often poses significant diagnostic and anaesthetic challenges. Bochdalek hernia, the most frequent variant, may remain asymptomatic for years and present later with nonspecific gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms. We report the anaesthetic management of an adult female with late-presenting left-sided Bochdalek hernia requiring surgical repair.

Case-Presentation: A 36-year-old female presented with abdominal pain and breathlessness for 15 days. She had a history of two lower-segment caesarean sections but no prior diagnosis of diaphragmatic defect. Pre-operative evaluation revealed NYHA Grade II dyspnoea. Chest radiography showed left lower lobe collapse, and HRCT demonstrated a posterolateral diaphragmatic defect with herniation of bowel loops and mesentery, consistent with a Bochdalek hernia. Baseline investigations and ECG were normal, and echocardiography showed an ejection fraction of 60%. Pre-operative pulmonary optimisation with Duolin and Budecort nebulisation was advised.

Anaesthesia was induced after full preparation and preoxygenation. A 35 Fr double-lumen endotracheal tube was placed for lung isolation. Invasive monitoring, including arterial line and triple-lumen central venous catheter, was instituted due to the anticipated complexity of surgery. Anaesthesia was maintained with controlled ventilation and sevoflurane. The six-hour procedure was uneventful with stable haemodynamics. At completion, the double-lumen tube was exchanged for a single-lumen tube, and the patient was transferred intubated to the SICU for elective postoperative ventilation. She was successfully extubated on postoperative day three, and imaging confirmed good lung expansion.

Conclusion: Adult Bochdalek hernia requires meticulous anaesthetic planning, lung isolation strategies, and vigilant perioperative monitoring to ensure favourable outcomes.

Hidden Cartilage in the Tonsil: A Rare Case of Cartilaginous Choristoma

2025-10-10T09:52:18+0530

Background: Choristomas are benign proliferations of histologically normal tissue in ectopic locations. While osseous and cartilaginous choristomas are known in the oral cavity, their occurrence in the palatine tonsil is exceptionally rare. This report highlights a rare case of tonsillar cartilaginous choristoma with osseous metaplasia—an uncommon finding with diagnostic implications.

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old male presented with recurrent sore throat and fever, consistent with chronic tonsillitis. Bilateral tonsillectomy was performed. Gross examination revealed grey-white glistening tissue with firm-to-hard consistency. Histopathology of both tonsils showed lymphoid tissue with acanthotic stratified squamous epithelium and follicular hyperplasia. Within the fibrocollagenous stroma, mature hyaline cartilage lobules were observed along with foci of calcification and osseous metaplasia—hallmarks of a cartilaginous choristoma with endochondral ossification.

Discussion: Cartilaginous choristoma of the palatine tonsil is rarely reported, with fewer than 10 cases documented in the literature. Theories for its pathogenesis include developmental anomalies from the second pharyngeal arch or reactive mesenchymal proliferation due to chronic inflammation. Differentiation from neoplastic lesions is crucial, as misdiagnosis can lead to overtreatment. This case highlights the importance of routine histopathological evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens, even in seemingly benign conditions.

Conclusion: This case adds to the limited literature on tonsillar choristomas and highlights the potential for osseous differentiation within these lesions. Early recognition is essential to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and ensure appropriate patient management.

A Rare Presentation of Purplish-Brown Peripancreatic Fluid in Acute Pancreatitis: A Case Study

2025-12-04T07:43:57+0530

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition resulting from premature activation of pancreatic enzymes, leading to autodigestion, necrosis, and potential systemic complications. Pancreatic pseudocysts commonly arise as sequelae of acute pancreatitis, typically containing clear or straw-colored fluid. We have reported a rare case of acute pancreatitis with a large pancreatic pseudocyst containing purplish-brown fluid, uncommon finding, not commonly described in literature.
Case Presentation: We report the case of a 28-year-old male presenting with severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, worsened by oral intake. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a large peripancreatic loculated collection (14.0 × 9.5 cm) consistent with a pseudocyst, along with a small intrapancreatic pseudocyst, splenomegaly, and moderate hyperdense peritoneal fluid. Image-guided drainage yielded purplish brown, slightly hazy fluid.
Discussion: The unusual fluid discoloration likely reflects haemoglobin degradation pigments from prior intracystic hemorrhage, despite the absence of active bleeding on imaging. Recognition of such not-so-typical features is essential to avoid missed vascular complications and to guide timely interventions for better outcomes in patient.
Conclusion: This rare presentation focuses on diagnostic significance, early recognition of such atypical features, along with detailed radiological evaluation and biochemical analysis of drained fluid, is essential to guide appropriate management and prevent serious complications.