Student BMJ Review: September 2007 issue
I reviewed the
September 2007 issue
of the student BMJ with much apprehension, this being my first review job but I surprised myself when I was more than at ease while going through the issue. This I attribute to an immaculate job accomplished by the editor and his team – right from selection of the cover topic to the final form production of each article. My whole-hearted appreciation!
The cover
– It complements the issue’s topic but could have shown a hazier image of the medico to point towards the enigma.
The topic
of the issue – "The Ideal Medic" - Well chosen! It was something that deserved attention - despite being the most discussed and talked about topic in the medical community – it is still the perfectly enigmatic unanswered question. The articles in the issue have done justice to the topic and almost all make a spell binding read. ALL the articles have been presented in a catchy manner and the sub-titles are very attention-grabbing. Most of the pieces are well referenced and that gives them a global allure. The BOXES are extremely well compiled!
Having said this, I strongly feel that the issue missed a piece on "what goes into making of a medic" – the growing up environment, the parental and community influence, the school atmosphere and all such factors which influence the mind-set of a student and make him what he is – and decide if he’s close to the image of the "ideal medic".
"Societal and personal choices"
– Despite being the inaugural article, it lacked the punch. Quality lost trying to cut it too short.
"The news bites"
are succinct.
"To be a medical student today"
addresses the intricacies of the life as a medical student and has a TOTAL appeal – it’s exactly short and sweet.
One of the most well covered articles is "Supply and demand" – it brings the various health services in different countries to an effective comparison and thus is an exemplary job done at bringing out the dynamics of the issue internationally.
"Gender and choosing a specialty" has put the always felt disparities in the open. But the coverage of the article is restricted in terms of the specialties that have been discussed, that are OBG and surgery, whereas the discrimination has been felt in other specialties too.
It’s important for students across the world to be in the know of what their counterparts are involved in and the pros and cons of such new measures or activities initiated. Ms. Maria Ahmed and Mr. Faizan Ahmed have brought the intricacies of Problem Based Learning(PBL) to light in a precise and informed manner and they have dealt with making each PBL session more productive in a manner which is easy to grasp and inculcate.
An crucial reminder to the future clinicians, "Dignity and the essence of medicine: the A, B, C and D of dignity conserving care" subtly but firmly strikes a chord. Mr. Harvey Chochinov has well perceived the down sides the patients experience especially when chronically afflicted and makes a compulsory read. But a number of times the clinician and the health care staff is over-burdened and it becomes tough to follow the measures suggested – it is in these situations that methods to counter decreased patient dignity levels need to be addressed.
"HIV and the law"
is extremely well researched and compiled. Applause!
"The medic’s guide to prescribing: Prescribing for children."
-should have addressed the mal-practice of over-prescribing the Over – The - Counter (OTC) drugs to pediatric age group. This is and has been a cause of concern for long.
"Head-to Head"
– both sides hit the bull’s eye. One of the best read debates ever!!!!
"Islam – Faith and medicine" -
The article is an exemplar of what our world and community needs to understand rather than indulge in mindless uninformed actions and thoughts. It would have been infinitely better if certain widely misinterpreted customs or teachings about Islam had been discussed and the doubts dispelled.
Siddhartha Yadav’s item on
"traditional practices in new-born care in Nepal"
is an eye-opener and brings to light the poor health care facilities and even worse penetrance of the same in Nepal, India and most of the South-east Asian nations. The author could have written on other practices such as feeding castor oil after birth, harmful breast feeding practices and the inadequate post-puerperal care obtainable in the mentioned countries.
"No reservation?"
– Very well researched and informed. Detailed!
Hugh I.P. has expertly written about the "access in medical schools" being biased by factors and has impartially discussed the ups and downs in the same.
"The paper+ and picture quizzes"
are concise, easy to understand and well presented. More-over they present cases in a way which would want even a first-year to go through them. Some health care facilities like Primary Health Centers especially in the developing countries or far flung regions might not have primary access to an X-ray, the management in such a case warrants a discussion especially because such a scenario can occur anywhere. A short discussion on the different types of intra-cranial bleeds is reasonably expected.
"The reviews" –
Excellent presentations especially "I’m (almost) a doctor" which is the extremely well written. Praise!
The tête-à-tête with Dr. Daren Francis makes one think of diversifying from the mainstream and it’s a frank record. A few other questions deserved to have been asked for example on as to how Dr. Daren started working as the advisor. Was it something he always wanted or it just happened?
The interview with Dr. Ilora Finlay has been done thoroughly and gives an insight into what makes a successful doctor-politician.
"Eyespy" –
Tie-you-down! Must read! Did u know? - Young children whose mothers go out to work run a greater risk of becoming overweight. Go check eyespy!!
General comments -
The journal can work on a more interactive way of presenting each article such as by including a short map of each article at the starting of the same – for example the article on gender and selection of specialties may include the following points at the start:
- Gender bias – is it real?
- What drives a student to his specialty?
- Role of role models!
This makes it easier for the readers and they can easily pick a article of their choice to read.
Also an interview with a student pre-university counselor would have been of great value because it’s after all they who guide students to their careers and have a good idea of the dynamics of a students mind before and when he joins a particular field.
Lastly, it’d be very helpful if the journal involves more and more undergraduates from Asia and Africa where students are extremely interested and have a deep desire to be involved with the international community but are unable to do so due to lack of proper channels of expression.
Web edition –
The layout should be simplified and made in the cascade format for easy access. Fine otherwise. Google search option is of great help.
All in all it was a pleasure as well as a challenge reading the issue and reviewing it with a complete spectrum of articles bringing the issue to life.
Viren Kaul, Secretary, I.M.A student’s wing: Penultimate Year,Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, INDIA
