Syncopal reactions in blood donors: Pathophysiology, clinical course, and features.

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) in donors is a transient loss of consciousness due to short-term global cerebral hypoperfusion, which has a rapid onset and has complete spontaneous recovery. VVS may be triggered by pain, fear, anxiety, or emotional upset and loss of blood perse. It is an exaggeration of an adaptive response meant to assist in reducing the amount of bleeding/loss of blood.

Script Concordance Test in Physiology: Preparation, Scoring, and Student Perceptions - A Mixed Method Study.

Background: Although the curriculum has changed, assessment tools are not in alignment with the new types of teaching such as early clinical exposure (ECE) and self-directed learning. Both in summative and formative assessment most commonly used tools for assessment of cognitive domain are written formats including MCQ. However, these assessment tools such as MCQ and written essays cannot assess the higher order thinking skills and clinical reasoning skills.

Design and development of an arena blended connected learning model for faculty development in health professions education: A step forward.

Current medical education and clinical practice has led to a need for advanced faculty development for medical teachers to effectively play the role of educators, researchers and administrators. There is large variability in the teaching programmes across countries, which range from a one-time activity to regularly scheduled workshops and seminars, to a highly advanced course spanning a few months to a year. Several healthcare institutes around the world offer faculty training programmes in health professions education, where the curriculum varies in design as they are developed and implemented by their own institutional body or education unit.

Simulation in the field of transfusion medicine: Scope and utility.

Simulation in medical education has made significant inroads in most of the specialties in some form or the other. Transfusion medicine, as a branch, being a new specialty, is imbibing a few things from the world of simulation and provides immense scope for its utilization, given its broad applicability as well as necessity. In the current Indian scenario of transfusion medicine, wherein the transfusion process has undergone significant changes involving critical steps, with fewer but can be serious complications arising due to the transfusion process, it is desirable for students and the staff involved to practice on the simulators to attain the desired level of competency as it allows the practice of hands-on invasive procedures before performing the actual process.

Comparison between MCQ, Extended matching questions (EMQ) and Script concordance test (SCT) for assessment among first-year medical students - A pilot study.

Background: Single-best response types of MCQs are commonly used tools in medical assessment. However, these are not particularly apt for the assessment of higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) among students. Assessment of HOTS and clinical reasoning skills requires unexplored tools like extended matching questions (EMQs) and SCTs.

A comparative study of knowledge, attitude, and practices about organ donation among blood donors and nonblood donors.

Introduction: Shortage of organs by donation is a national problem which needs a multipronged approach for its strengthening. Educating the people and increasing the awareness of the need for donation would be of the foremost priority. Identifying the target population who are more likely to respond would be very important to reap the maximum results.