Browsing by Author "Thapa, Moon"
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Publication Air Medical Evacuation of Nepalese Citizen During Epidemic of COVID-19 from Wuhan to Nepal(Nepal Medical Association, 2020) Rajbhandari, Bibek; Phuyal, Naveen; Shrestha, Bikal; Thapa, MoonAbstract In December 2019, the world was disrupted by the news of a new strain of virus known as Novel Corona virus, taking lives of many in China. Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province is said to be the place where the outbreak started. The city went on a lockdown as the disease spread rapidly. After the lockdown, most countries like India and Bangladesh airlifted their citizens who were studying in Wuhan. Similarly, Nepal also has many youth studying medicine in Wuhan. Pleas for help from the students reached the government. This was a first encounter of such experience for Nepal government. With the help of Health Emergency Organizing committee, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Nepal Army Hospital, Nepal Police Hospital, Waste Management team, Nepal Ambulance service, Tribhuwan Airport and Royal Airlines the government of Nepal planned, organized and successfully brought back all the 175 students on 15 the February, 2019 from Wuhan, China. The aim of the present article is to share the experience, the challenges faced and recommendations for future similar cases. Keywords: evacuation; Nepal; Novel Corona virus; Wuhan.Publication Identifying Barriers and Areas of Focus to Improve the Publication Practices among Paediatricians in Nepal(Nepal Health Research Council, 2025) Dhakal, Ajaya Kumar; Neopane, Arun Kumar; Thapa, Moon; Singh, Neeti; Shrestha, DevendraBackground: Medical research publications in Nepal have remained relatively uncommon over the last decade. However, recent growing research interest among clinicians in Nepal has emphasised the need to identify and address key barriers to strengthen the research-publication process. This study aimed to identify these barriers and focus areas for improving publication practices among paediatricians in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Nepali paediatricians from 15 January to 15 May 2024 using a semi-structured questionnaire distributed via Google Forms. The survey included Likert-scale, open-ended, and closed-ended questions on research-publication barriers, research practices, motivation, and recommendations for improvement. Results: A total of 293 participants (male: 60.1%) responded to the survey. Of these, 35.2% worked in government hospitals, 38.6% were subspecialists, and 54.9% had additional responsibilities beyond their paediatric work. Furthermore, 77.5% of paediatricians had publications, with 78% and 95.15% as principal authors and co-authors, respectively. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were deemed to be the most challenging, whereas cross-sectional studies were the easiest to conduct. Academic recognition (73.7%) was the primary motivation for publishing, whereas the most significant barrier was being overwhelmed by clinical work (64.5%). Time management (96.1%) and clinical work responsibilities (93.2%) were the main challenges in the manuscript preparation. Ghost authorship (14%) and gift authorship (32.6%) were the most common issues related to authorship. Most participants (80.5%) believed that training in manuscript writing and research methodology could improve the quality and quantity of the research publications. Conclusions: Paediatricians in Nepal face several publication barriers, which can be addressed through increased funding, improved resources, and enhanced research training. Keywords: Barriers; Nepal; paediatrician; publication; research.Publication Perceptions of MBBS Interns Regarding Internship Training in Nepal(Nepal Health Research Council, 2025) Dhakal, Ajaya Kumar; Shrestha, Devendra; Jha, Nisha; Thapa, Moon; Kafle, Raju; Poudel, Daman Raj; Regmi, Shanti; Jha, Anand Kumar; KC, Namrata; KC, DivyaAbstract: Background: Internship, an integral part of the MBBS course, includes mandatory clinical rotations during which interns apply knowledge, develop patient management skills, build competencies, and mould themselves into competent medical professionals. However, perceptions of competency achievement and overall internship experience may vary. This study assessed the perceptions of MBBS interns in Nepal regarding their internship training. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 20 November 2022 and 20 January 2023 among MBBS interns from various medical schools who had recently completed or were completing their internships. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire in English was distributed to the eligible interns using Google Forms. The questionnaire included a five-point Likert scale and closed- and open-ended questions on clinical skills, teamwork, conflict and stress management, postgraduate plans, internship satisfaction, and recommendations for improvement. Results: A total of 280 interns (male: 61.8%) responded to the questionnaire. Most interns (92%) reported enjoying their internships, while 57.5% felt that the MBBS curriculum adequately prepared them for training. High self-reported proficiency was observed in medical history-taking (86.5%), patient communication (75%), managing common health problems (67.5%), triaging (66.4%), and physical examinations (65.3%). Excessive duties or workload (55%) were the most common challenge, while learning professional skills was viewed as the most valuable aspect of the internship. Additionally, 59% believed that interns should be treated respectfully by medical teams, patients, and their relatives. Collaborative discussions (34%) were the primary conflict resolution strategy, while support from friends and family was the most common stress management method. Conclusions: MBBS interns reported positive perceptions of their internship experiences and expressed confidence in their professional competencies across most domains of their internship.