Velusami Deepika

Bio: Velusami Deepika is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Prehypertension & Active learning. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 8 publications receiving 17 citations.

'Learning from home': role of e-learning methodologies and tools during novel coronavirus pandemic outbreak

Abstract: Background During the crucial time of coronavirus pandemic, education is being remodelled: opening the doors of electronic learning (e-learning). The review emphasises on the various e-learning methods that can be used in the current scenario. Methods The review was based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines on databases, namely, PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane. Out of 1524 identified articles, after the process of screening and based on the eligibility criteria, 45 full-text articles were reviewed. Results Though there are many caveats on the path of successful implementation this is the right time that we step towards e-learning. The article discusses the methods and tools in e-learning that can modify the traditional ways of content delivery, record maintenance, assessment and feedback. Conclusion During the period of ‘planet arrest’, when the whole world is locked down with the motive of social distancing, let us stay connected with e-learning.

A study on the learning styles and learning approaches among medical students

Abstract: Background: Designing of active learning strategies that promote self-directed learning, has been emphasized in the directives of undergraduate medical education by the Medical Council of India. Acknowledging the diverse learning styles and learning approaches of the medical students is often an underutilized approach to improve classroom instructions. Aims and Objectives: The present study aimed to study the percentage distribution of diverse learning styles and predominant learning approach among the medical students. Materials and Methods: Self-administered visual, auditory, read/write, kinesthetic questionnaire and Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students questionnaire were distributed to 121 medical undergraduate students, to assess their learning style and learning approach, respectively. Results: Of the total 121 students, 53.8% students were unimodal learners and 46.2% were multimodal learners. Among the unimodal learners, predominant were visual learners (24.1%). There was no significant influence of gender on the learning style preferences among the medical students. Deep approach was the predominant learning approach among the medical students. The mean scores of the strategic approach were significantly higher in females compared to the male medical students. Conclusion: A successful learning results only when the teaching and assessment methods are in alignment with the student’s learning preferences. Students aware of their learning style and approach may be motivated to adopt techniques that best suit their learning styles and this may result in greater educational satisfaction.

Association of neck circumference with prehypertension and obesity in young paramedical students

Abstract: Introduction and Aim: Prehypertension and obesity are the important cardio metabolic risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome Neck circumference (NC) is an effective marker and screening tool for obesity It gives a quick assessment of the upper body fat distribution Early detection of obesity and prehypertension can increase the longevity of the individual Hence, we aimed at evaluating the association of NC with prehypertension and obesity in young adults Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study where 150 Paramedical students were screened for prehypertension and fifty students were identified as pre-hypertensives (n=50) Routine anthropometric measurements were taken NC was measured The correlation of NC with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was calculated The prevalence and percentage distribution of obesity using NC in prehypertensive was calculated The association of NC with obesity and prehypertension was demonstrated Results: The prevalence of obesity in prehypertensive students was 58% The distribution of obesity using NC was 61% in males and 55% in females Further, the association of NC with BMI (r=053,p=<00001), SBP(r=052,p=<00001) and DBP (r=044, p=<00001) was calculated using Pearson’s correlation and was statistically significant Conclusion: There was an increased prevalence of obesity among pre-hypertensives with a male predisposition The study also establishes a statistically significant and strong correlation of NC with BMI, SBP and DBP NC can be used as an effective screening tool to assess obesity and prehypertension

A comparative analysis of rate pressure product between prehypertensives and normotensives and its correlation with body mass index

Abstract: Introduction: An escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity had contributed to a significant increase in the prevalence of prehypertension wide across the nation While the autonomic imbalance in pre-hypertensives has been extensively studied, the association of rate pressure product as a marker of myocardial oxygen consumption, with cardiovascular dysfunction in pre-hypertensives has received less attention The present study aimed at comparing the rate pressure product between pre-hypertensives and normotensives and to measure its correlation with body mass index Materials and methods: About 100 male study participants in the age group of 18-23 years were recruited for the present cross sectional study and were classified into pre-hypertensives and normotensives depending on their blood pressure measurements Rate pressure product was measured as a product of systolic blood pressure and heart rate The results were compared between pre-hypertensives and normotensives and also within the subgroups based on their body mass index Results: The rate pressure product was significantly higher among pre-hypertensives compared to the normotensives, with a highest value among overweight pre-hypertensives (p < 00001) The rate pressure product also showed a significant positive correlation with body mass index only in pre-hypertensives Conclusion: Thus rate pressure product, as a simple non-invasive measure of myocardial oxygen consumption, could be used for early detection of hemodynamic stress in young individuals with prehypertension and the cardiovascular risk with prehypertension may be linked to the rate pressure product and level of body mass index Keywords: Body mass index, Normotensives, Pre-hypertensives, Rate Pressure Product

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Effects of realistic e-learning cases on students' learning motivation during COVID-19.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Keeping up motivation to learn when socially isolated during a pandemic can be challenging. In medical schools, the COVID-19 pandemic required a complete switch to e-learning without any direct patient contact despite early reports showing that medical students preferred face-to-face teaching in clinical setting. We designed close to real-life patient e-learning modules to transmit competency-based learning contents to medical students and evaluated their responses about their experience. METHODS: Weekly e-learning cases covering a 10-week leading symptom-based curriculum were designed by a team of medical students and physicians. The internal medicine curriculum (HeiCuMed) at the Heidelberg University Medical School is a mandatory part of clinical medical education in the 6th or 7th semester. Case-design was based on routine patient encounters and covered different clinical settings: preclinical emergency medicine, in-patient and out-patient care and follow-up. Individual cases were evaluated online immediately after finishing the respective case. The whole module was assessed at the end of the semester. Free-text answers were analyzed with MaxQDa following Mayring`s principles of qualitative content analyses. RESULTS: N = 198 students (57.6% female, 42.4% male) participated and 1252 individual case evaluations (between 49.5% and 82.5% per case) and 51 end-of-term evaluations (25.8% of students) were collected. Students highly appreciated the offer to apply their clinical knowledge in presented patient cases. Aspects of clinical context, interactivity, game-like interface and embedded learning opportunities of the cases motivated students to engage with the asynchronously presented learning materials and work through the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Solving and interpreting e-learning cases close to real-life settings promoted students' motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic and may partially have compensated for missing bedside teaching opportunities.

Influence of learning-style preferences in academic performance in the subject of human anatomy: an institution-based study among preclinical medical students.

Abstract: Purpose: The present study was conducted to find the preferred mode of learning among first-year preclinical students and compare the preferred mode of learning with sex, faculty of students, and academic performance of the students using the VARK questionnaire. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 142 first-year Bachelor of Medicine-Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery students from February to May 2018. Demographic data and various academic performance marks were recorded for each individual. VARK (visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic) questionnaire version 7.8 was administered to calculate the score of each component. Mean VARK scores were calculated and each student classified by their preferred mode of learning. The preferred mode of learning was compared with sex, nationality, faculty of students, and academic performance using χ 2, unpaired t-tests, and the Mann-Whitney U test. P<0.05 was taken as statistically significant for comparison. Results: A majority of the students (53.52%) were multimodal. The most common multimodal mode of preference was bimodal (26.06%), while the most common unimodal preference was kinesthetic (29.06%). Total V score, K score, and VARK score were higher among males, while A and R scores were higher among females. The K score (7.96±2.35 in males and 6.96±2.43 in females) differed significantly (P=0.019) between male and female subjects. More subjects with higher scores in the theory exam of anatomy were unimodal learners (53.8%) compared to multimodal learners (46.2%). Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that undergraduate students were diverse in their learning styles, but most were multimodal. Though learning styles were found to vary by sex, nationality, and academic performance, differences were not statistically significant.

Neck circumference: A novel anthropometric tool forscreening obesity in adults

Abstract: Background: Obesity is as result of minor energy imbalance leading to gradual and persistent weight gain for a considerable period. To evaluate obesity in adults, Body mass index and waist circumference are recommended but, have some disadvantages. Neck circumference devoid of these disadvantages and has good correlation with body mass index and waist circumference in different studies, has to been included in the study for evaluation of obesity. Objectives: This study was conducted to study the correlation of neck circumference with body mass index and waist circumference and to find critical cut off points for neck circumference for adults of central India. Methodology: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in 479 adults in urban field practice area of a tertiary care hospital in central India. The people having established thyroid disease or enlargement, neck abnormalities, pregnant women and critically ill subjects were excluded. Socio demographic profile and anthropometric measurements were documented. Results: Our study infers that there is a weak to moderate correlation between neck circumference and body mass index. Further, also that there is moderate correlation between neck circumference and waist circumference. On the basis of ROC analysis, we conclude that neck circumference is a fair test to evaluate obesity in adults. The cut off of 36.50cm in males and 32.50cm in females will help to screen the population of Asian Indian origin. The sensitivity of this screening test for this cut off was 84.85% and 73.68% in males and females respectively. Discussion and conclusion: For a developing country like India which is facing a double burden of nutrition transition, neck circumference will be a feasible method to screen obesity in adults. It is cheap, socially acceptable, time saving and less cumbersome method to screen obesity.

Evidence for a common multi-modal learning style in young adults? A psychometric investigation of two modality-specific learning style inventories

Abstract: A well-known hypothesis amongst educators and the general public is that matching instructional method with an individual’s modality-specific learning style improves learning. Several critical reports in the past decade, however, have shown that the psychometric properties of the inventories applied to establish learning styles have been poorly validated. Furthermore, theoretical development has challenged the theoretical basis for the modality-specific learning style model. Thus, the aim of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties and relationship between, two learning style inventories: the Barsch Learning Style Inventory and the Learning Style Survey. University students (n = 242) completed the two inventories, and their responses were subjected to confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, as well as analysis of inter-item agreement (internal consistency). The results failed to support the expected three-factor measurement model and thus indicated questionable reliability and factorial validity of the two inventories. Analysis of inter-correlations between factors from the two inventories resulted in a one-factor solution explaining up to 40% of the variance, which is discussed as emerging through an overall multimodal learning style.