Natl Med J India
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Many factors influence the career choices of undergraduate medical students. We sought to identify the career choices of medical students in an Indian medical college and what influenced these choices. ⋯ The career choices of medical students at our institution were biased against some subjects. Often, choices develop during the course. Role modelling by faculty during departmental postings could be a factor influencing choice.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of the health-promoting orientation of three tertiary care hospitals of India.
Hospitals have been considered as places for the provision of curative services. Nowadays, services related to health promotion are also sought to be provided through hospitals. We compared the health-promoting hospital (HPH) orientation of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh with two other tertiary care hospitals in India, which have been declared HPH by WHO. ⋯ In view of its low score as an HPH, PGIMER should frame an appropriate HPH policy and devise strategies to provide leadership to other hospitals in India.
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Review
Intensive glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: does it improve cardiovascular outcomes?
With growing urbanization and economic development, there is a rapid increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in India. T2DM is associated with 2-4 times higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Several studies have shown the benefit of intensive glycaemic control in reducing the frequency of diabetic microvascular complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy. ⋯ The aim of management of patients with established T2DM should be to achieve the goal of good glycaemic control (haemoglobin A1c<7%), with avoidance of hypoglycaemia. It is equally, if not more important, to control other risk factors of CVD by paying greater attention to lifestyle measures (weight loss if overweight or obese, regular exercise, cessation of smoking), rigorous control of blood pressure (<130/80 mmHg) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (<100 mg/dl or <70 mg/dl if already diagnosed with CVD) and the prophylactic use of low dose aspirin as per current recommendations. A multifactorial approach targeting multiple cardiovascular risk factors is likely to be most effective in reducing CVD outcomes in T2DM.