Exploring the experiences of content experts with item vetting during item bank development.

Objective: To explore content experts' experiences with item vetting during item bank development at a public sector medical university of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Methods: An exploratory study was carried out from December 2022 to February 2023 at a public sector medical college of Rawalpindi. A purposive sampling technique was employed to collect data from all content experts of the study institute who participated in item vetting activity during pre-exam moderation in the university.

Survivability and behavior of probiotic bacteria encapsulated by internal gelation in non-dairy matrix and In Vitro GIT conditions.

The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the viability of free and encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum probiotics in mango juice and under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Specifically, the probiotics were encapsulated using sodium alginate and alginate-soy protein isolate through the internal gelation method, and the obtained probiotics were characterized for various attributes. Both free and encapsulated probiotics were exposed to challenging conditions, including thermal stress, low temperature, and simulated gastrointestinal conditions.

Investigating the internal structure of multiple mini interviews-A perspective from Pakistan.

Background: Healthcare professionals require many personal attributes in addition to cognitive abilities and psychomotor skills for competent practice. Multiple Mini- Interviews are being employed globally to assess personality attributes of candidates for selection in health professions education at all level of entry; these attributes are namely, communication skills, critical thinking, honesty, responsibility, health advocacy, empathy and sanctity of life. Considering the high stakes involved for students, faculty, institutions and the society, rigorous quality assurance mechanisms similar to those used for student assessment must be employed for student selection, throughout the continuum of medical education.

Transforming professional identity of medical teachers in Pakistan by a certificate program in health professions education: a thematic analysis of reflective essays.

Introduction: A teacher's professional identity development is a dynamic and continuous process that requires rigorous, longitudinal, faculty development initiatives which are designed to work on individual professional growth. Impact of such programs must be evaluated by qualitative means to identify the process of change; The purpose of our study was to investigate whether and how our thoughtfully designed 6-month certificate program has transformed the professional identity of medical teachers.

Methods: The study was conducted in National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan using thematic analysis, wherein a weekly task of guided reflective writing, on Moodle, was given.

Assessment of musculoskeletal disorders among cricketers playing in domestic clubs of Lahore.

Objective: To assess musculoskeletal disorders among male cricketers in an urban centre.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2020 in Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised male cricket players aged 10-25 years playing in four domestic clubs. Data was collected about musculoskeletal disorders experienced during the preceding 12 months using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.

Using Pensieve: Guiding and Evaluating a Learning Session on Reflections.

The objectives of this study were to guide students on reflective essay writing, evaluate their understanding and explore the immediate impact of a well-designed session on learning of students. A 1.5-hour learning session was designed following Gagne's nine events of instruction and conducted on final year MBBS students to guide them on reflective practice and its significance.

Evaluating the impact of faculty development programme initiative: Are we really improving skills in MCQ writing?

A series of seven workshops were conducted in 2018, at the National University of Medical Sciences and its affiliated institutes, to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-hour workshop in improving faculty competence in developing high quality test items. Participants' satisfaction was evaluated with a post-workshop feedback questionnaire. A self-made structured questionnaire was required to be filled as a pre-test and post-test assessment.

Identification and comparison of factors related to academic failure in medical colleges; A Bi-centre, comparative study.

Objective: To evaluate student's perceptions related to their academic failure, and to compare these perceptions with their nationality.

Methods: The non-interventional, bi-national, comparative study was conducted in medical colleges of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2017 and comprised medical students who had scored less than 50% in their professional examinations. Data was collected using a pre-designed 22-item questionnaire that was scored by the students on a 5-point scale.

Potential risk factors related to academic failure in a medical college: A comparative approach.

Objective: To compare risk factors related to medical students' failure based on gender, year of study and living away from home.

Methods: The cross-sectional, non-interventional, comparative study was conducted at a private medical college of Islamabad, Pakistan from 2015 to 2017, and comprised students who had even once scored <50% marks in their professional examinations. Data was collected using a questionnaire that was scored on a five-point Likert scale.

Students' perceptions of factors for academic failure in pre-clinical years of a medical school.

Objective: To identify and explore medical students' perceptions about their academic failure.

Methods: The qualitative study was conducted at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan, from December 2016 to January 2017, and comprised medical students. Two focus group discussions and 5 semi-structured interviews were conducted with students who had obtained <50% marks in their first professional examinations.