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IDENTIFYING THE BARRIERS BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND ETHICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: A PILOT STUDY

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Title: IDENTIFYING THE BARRIERS BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND ETHICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: A PILOT STUDY Authors: Ahsin, Sadia; Imran, Muhammad Abstract: Approval from Ethical Review Committee (ERC) has often been considered a challenge by researchers. Regular evaluation of ERC procedures has been recommended globally. We have evaluated working of ERC at Foundation University by identifying gaps between ERC and researchers with the vision to improve the efficiency of the committee. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted, after permission from president ERC. We developed a structured feedback proforma with 20 questions regarding application form, its processing and over all experience of researchers. A total of 65 volunteer faculty members who had ever applied to ERC for approval, participated in study. A descriptive analysis was done using spreadsheets. Results: Out of 65 volunteers, 41 returned and completed the proforma. More than 50% (n=24) respondents considered application form was simple to comprehend, however, 40% (n=17) agreed that ERC should provide assistance in its completion. The good majority received final approval letter within one month of application however almost none received proper acknowledgement of receipt and notification of time taken for review. Two third participants (66%, n=27) showed confidence in ERC decisions. Improvement in communication between ERC and researchers through IT support was suggested. Conclusions: Researchers agreed that ERC at Foundation University with its limited resources was fulfilling its role of timely review process and showed confidence in its decisions. The communication lack between ERC and researchers was considered major weakness.

GENDER DISPARITY IN BIG FIVE FACTORS OF PERSONALITY AND THEIR EFFECT ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Title: GENDER DISPARITY IN BIG FIVE FACTORS OF PERSONALITY AND THEIR EFFECT ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS Authors: Shah, Syed Afzal Abstract: Although personality and intelligence both affect the academic achievement, research findings prove that personality has a profound effect on academic achievement of secondary school students. The objectives of the study were; to compare the Big Five Factors (BFF) of personality of male and female students; and to explore the effect of Big Five Factors of personality on academic achievement of students at secondary level. Methods: Cross sectional analytical design was used to conduct study at secondary level in Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from October, 2013 to March, 2014. A sample of 1438 of Grade 10 students from Hazara Division was selected by using stratified random sampling technique. Information about Personality was collected by adopting 41 items Big Five Factors Personality Inventory. Whereas academic achievement scores of the students were collected from their 9th class annual result of examination. Results: Results indicated that male students had higher extraversion (p<0.01), conscientiousness (p<0.01), and Agreeableness (p<0.01) while female students had significantly higher academic achievement (p<0.01) scores. Further, Extraversion (β= -17.14, p=0.00) Neuroticism (β= -10.76, p=0.02), and Agreeableness (β= -10.75, 0.01) were significant negative predictors of academic achievement whereas Conscientiousness (β= 11.59, p=0.02) was significant positive predictor of academic achievement of students at secondary level. Conclusion: This study proves male students as social, outgoing, organized, and having a sense of dutifulness, cooperativeness, and straightforwardness. Further, Extraversion Agreeableness, and Neuroticism negatively predicts academic achievement of students. Conscientiousness positively predicts academic achievement.

COMPARISON OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PEER ASSISTED AND EXPERT-ASSISTED LEARNING THROUGH TEST SCORES

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Title: COMPARISON OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PEER ASSISTED AND EXPERT-ASSISTED LEARNING THROUGH TEST SCORES Authors: Saeed, Gul-e-Naghma; Ahsin, Sadia; Saad, Komal; Afzal, Amir Abstract: Peer Assisted Learning is being increasingly used in medical education as it is a wellestablished approach in learning. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Peer Assisted Learning with Expert-Assisted Learning in terms of assessment scores in first year MBBS students during their cardiovascular module. Methods: A cross-over study was carried out on 139 first year medical students at Foundation University Islamabad after ethical approval. The entire class constituted the sampling frame. Students were given an introductory lecture on Peer Assisted Learning methodology at the beginning of study. Three Peer Assisted Learning sessions were conducted in small groups with all students as an adjunct to traditional large group lectures, and in the fourth session all students went through pre-informed assessment comprising of short answer questions and multiple choice questions. In the next three weeks, same students went through conventional Expert-Assisted Learning sessions, followed by same type of assessment with different topics of the same module. The scores were compared. Mann-Whitney U test was used as a test of significance. Results: Test scores, represented as median (IQR), of the Peer-Assisted Learning and Expert-Assisted Learning sessions were 6.50 (5.00–7.50) and 7.00 (6.00–7.50) respectively (p=0.46). Pass percentages in these sessions were 82.9% (n=102) and 87.5% (n=105) respectively, with odds ratio of 0.69 and 95% confidence interval of 0.34 to 1.42. Conclusion: Academic performance of Peer-Assisted Learning sessions in terms of test scores was not better than Expert-Assisted Learning sessions

INTERFAMILIAL PROBLEMS AND MARITAL DISSATISFACTION AMONG FERTILE AND INFERTILE COUPLES

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Title: INTERFAMILIAL PROBLEMS AND MARITAL DISSATISFACTION AMONG FERTILE AND INFERTILE COUPLES Authors: Ehsan, Neelam; Khurshid, Maryam; Abbasi, Najamul Hasan; Fazaldad, Ghazala; Gul, Seema; Mushtaq, Rabia Abstract: : Infertility is a major reproductive health problem in the life of married couples, especially those living in a family system. According to the World Health Organization, there are currently 50–80 million infertile couples in the world. The present study is aimed to investigate family relations and marital dissatisfaction among infertile and fertile couples. Method: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted from March to October 2015. A sample of 150 couples was taken from twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Index of family relations and Index of marital satisfaction were used to measure the study variables. Results: Infertile couples had low levels of marital satisfaction as compared to fertile couples. Infertile women had low marital satisfaction when compared with infertile men. The two groups had significant differences with respect to family relations. Conclusion: Infertile couples are more likely to reveal higher degree of marital dissatisfaction and confront more intra-familial stressors as compared to fertile couples.