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Objective: To assess the relationship between internet addiction (IA) and academic performance among the medical students of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done involving 316 medical students of Poonch Medical College, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan from May 2018 to November 2018. Dr. Young's Internet Addiction Test questionnaire was used as the tool of data collection. The questionnaire contained twenty 5-points Likert scale questions to assess internet addiction. IA score was calculated and the association between IA and academic performance was observed by Spearman Rank Correlation test. Relationship between baseline characteristics of the medical students and IA was also seen. Results: Eighty-nine (28.2%) medical students fell under the category of 'severe addiction' and most importantly only 3 (0.9%) were not internet addicted according to Dr. Young's questionnaire. Internet addicted medical students scored significantly poor in their exams (p. <.001). One hundred thirty one (41.4%) students with a median IA score of 45 scored in the range of 61-70% marks as compared to 3 (0.9%) students with a median IA score of 5, secured greater than 80% marks. Conclusion: This study and many other previous studies have revealed that internet addiction affects academic performance. The number of internet users is ever increasing therefore, the number of internet misusers will also increase. If no step is taken to control internet addiction, it may cause a serious impact in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although intensive care medicine has evidenced a significant growth in recent decades, the number of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) still represents a considerable burden on health-care expenditure. The prediction of the need for PMV seems to provide a plausible cost-effective intervention. The objective of this study is to systematically review the predictors of the need for PMV of adult patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) due to medical and surgical needs. Methods: We conducted a systematic search on three online databases (PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE) till February 20, 2019. The search process employed several combinations of specific keywords and Boolean operators. Results: A total of 15 articles were included in the study. Based on pooling the outcomes of odds ratios (ORs) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as reported from logistic regression analyses, the pooled PMV incidence in 8220 patients (69.59% males) was 17.67 cases per 100 ICU admissions (95% CI 13.69-21.65). We could not conduct a meta-analysis of ORs and 95% CIs due to the significant heterogeneity observed between the included studies (P < 0.001, I2 = 97%). Preoperative/ preadmission kidney dysfunction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the most significant independent predictors of the need for PMV. Following cardiac surgeries, repeated or emergency surgery, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, and the need for blood transfusion were predictors of the need for PMV. Conclusion: Within the study limitations, several predictors were identified, which could be further investigated using a unified PMV definition. Successful prediction of the need for PMV would assist clinicians in identifying and adjusting a "weaning strategy" as well as improving patient care to reduce morbidity. Furthermore, establishing specialized weaning units could be warranted based on PMV incidence and prediction in the local settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the relationship between the educational environment and academic performance of undergraduate medical students of Azad Jammu and Kashmir., Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to September 2019 at Poonch Medical College, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and comprised undergraduate medical students of either gender from first to fifth year of studies. Data was collected using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure questionnaire which was distributed electronically to the students. The percentage of scores achieved in the last professional examination was taken as the academic performance, and it was corelated with the questionnaire's subscale scores. Data was analysed using SPSS 23., Results: Of the 500 students approached, 324(64.8%) returned the questionnaire fully completed; 92(28.4%) males and 232(71.6%) females. The largest group was from the third year of studies 108(33.3%). The mean questionnaire score was 96.31±18.47 and it was not significantly correlated with academic performance (p>0.05). The subdomain mean scores were also not significantly correlated with academic performance (p>0.05). Academic performance was significantly higher among females compared to males (p=0.002)., Conclusions: There was found a huge scope for improvement of the educational environment.

A cross-sectional observational study was performed at the Poonch Medical College, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, from June 2018 to June 2019 to assess the relationship between self-esteem and the academic score of undergraduate medical students. Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE) scale was used as data collection tool. The study questionnaire was electronically distributed to all 500 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.B.B.S) programme out of which 253 submitted the questionnaire (response rate: 50.6%). The mean academic score of all students was 66.61± 5.42 and the mean RSE score was 28.66± 3.98). A statistically significant correlation was not found between age, academic score, and RSE score. Female students had slightly higher academic performance scores and RSE scores compared to the male students, but this difference was not statistically significant. Future studies are required to assess the contributing factors responsible for better academic performance.

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound and chest X-ray in diagnosing Acute Pulmonary Oedema in patients presenting with acute dyspnoea in emergency department, a study was conducted at the emergency department of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from July 31, 2018 to January 31, 2019. A total of 225 patients presenting with dyspnoea and satisfying the inclusion criteria were assessed through clinical examination, lung ultrasound (LUS) and chest X-ray. The results of chest X-ray and lung ultrasound were compared with clinical diagnosis. The study revealed sensitivity of chest X-ray and LUS (60.16% versus 91.05%), specificity (66.67% versus 91.18%), positive predictive value (68.52% versus 92.56%) and the negative predictive values (58.12% versus 89.42%) respectively. The present study revealed that the LUS has better accuracy than chest X-ray for diagnosis of acute pulmonary oedema.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of breast self-examination (BSE) among female undergraduate medical students in Poonch Medical College, Azad Kashmir. Out of 306 respondents, 250 completed the 16-item questionnaire (response rate of 81.7%). The correlations between knowledge, attitude, and practice were observed. Out of the total 250 respondents, 180 (72.0%) had ever heard of BSE, and 62 (24.8%) had performed BSE. The most important source of information regarding BSE was 'internet', which delivered knowledge to 64 (25.6%) students. The majority 200 (80%) thought that publicity and campaigns can motivate students to perform BSE. There was mild uphill correlation between knowledge and attitude, and knowledge and practice (p<0.001). The study identified poor KAP of BSE among the students, although most of the students gave high importance to BSE practice. Nationwide BSE campaigns can be undertaken to increase the practice as most of the respondents were positive about mass campaign.