Get the software first, there are some that have instruction videos included along with the software pack.
How to handle the software? practice on the problems given in the videos... I spent a few weeks trying properly understand how to use spss by myself.

http://btjunkie.org/search?q=spss


I am currently doing my MBBS in Bangalore, India.


Yes, you will have to do the research project in real life on your own with your supervisor checking every aspect of your research. Generally, a research project that involves laboratory work is known in my Uni as "Wet lab" research and that which doesn't involve laboratory work is known as "Dry lab" research.

"Dry lab" research is the one which will require a lot of data analysis and knowing how to properly use SPSS is vital in this type of research. In this kind of research, you will be required to gather information for your research project from various reliable sources (interviews, questionnaires, evidence from related journals, books, etc) and analyze it.

You will be doing A LOT of traveling for various reasons such as information gathering (National Library, Journals from other Universities' library, conducting interviews, etc) and seeking formal permission from government agencies in order to obtain specific data from hospitals, etc, etc, etc

"Wet lab" research, you will spend most of your time in the laboratory doing a specific research experiment under your supervisor's guidance. Here you will need to be very thorough with the experiment procedures, you will need to compare various methods used by other researchers' in the past by reading their research papers. In this type of research, you will also need to be able to use SPSS in order to analyze the results from your research experiment.

I dont know what else to tell you guys.. Research project is very time-consuming (writing the thesis is another time consuming work)

Subjects focus is different. subjects are different, even the degree name is different...

It was indeed Dr Pallavi Jayavanth ~ Guess what? There are a LOT of her type in MSU-IMS. zzzz

is that by walking or with transport? if by walking, then get a motorcycle/scooter~

what..!?

why were you only observing them doing the lab tests?

Which government hospital were you posted for training?
Only observing and doing nothing for the entire duration of the "lab training" is pathetic for a Biomedical/Medical Laboratory student, that literally defeats the idea of "Hands-On" training...

When I went for my training in Likas Hospital in Sabah, I was expected to do ALL the routine laboratory tests available in all the sub-departments in the Pathology lab... I mean REALLY do the tests from morning (8.30am) to evening (4.30pm)... very tiring though...

The supervising MLTs taught me how to properly conduct lab tests, file proper lab results and taught me to operate the delicate diagnostic equipments (eg; Axysm, Olympus Biochem analysis machine, etc). After a few days, I was doing all the tests on my own without further instruction/strict supervision from the MLTs...

Here are some pics during my lab training:



And on weekends, I am required to join the Hospital's blood donation campaign all over KK and conduct on-spot blood grouping and hemoglobin tests on hundreds of blood donors. I enjoyed poking needles in other peoples' finger a lot... many different people, many different behaviors, quite fun and amusing really~~


I like Biomedical science and I like lab work~ now that I'm doing medicine, my goal would most likely be to become a Pathologist.

If you dislike Biomed course, why didn't you quit during your first year? You could reapply the UPU and fill it with non-science course, or appeal to the Dean to change course?

What is Biotechnology? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotechnology
Here is a Biotechnology thread. http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...l=biotechnology

ei.. slow down with girlfriend-boyfriend stuff already.. it will interfere with your study~ heheh

...its different... try uploading your syllabus, and we will tell you the differences...

...and you think Biomedical students don't take Biochemistry and Pharmacology? Our subjects are not limited to just biochemistry -

http://www.fskb.ukm.my/biosm.html
http://www.medic.upm.edu.my/index.php?opti...d=64&Itemid=194
http://www.ppsk.usm.my/Akademik/Program/Hp...ea?OpenDocument

Biomedical graduates are more versatile than Biochem graduates both in terms of subjects learned and job prospects.

If you are assuming that Biomedical graduates can't work as a researcher and get a PhD in Pharmacology/Biochemistry (if the graduate wants to)....

you are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay wrong.........

Many of my classmates are now working as research assistant while doing their Masters/PhDs in various universities in Malaysia. Infact, one of our best biomedical student is doing his PhD in Pharmacology (USM) directly from his Bachelors Degree.

Biomedical graduates can also enter graduate entry medical programs - and I am one of them.

You should get more information about biomedical science/Biomedicine before making such assumptions...

No, It is most certainly NOT the same. As I previously said before, "Different subjects, different Focus"~

If you intend to do Masters or even PhD abroad - I suggest that you apply to renowned universities, once you get the offer letter, present it JPA/MARA and apply for a scholarship.

....or if you intend to do graduate-entry medicine, you can try to do the same as above.

Here is a suggestion for you, quite a number of graduate entry "bioperubatan" graduates (from MSU) doing their MD there (MARA students):

http://www.wum.edu.pl/wydzialy/2wl/english...ion/4_year.html

This post has been edited by CyberSetan: Jul 15 2010, 07:14 PM

If you want to do masters, some well known universities... you can see from the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THES_%E2%80%9....28full_data.29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_tables...sh_universities

UK, Australia and some European countries offer graduate entry medical program to degree holders. Here is something for you to read:

http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/...rnegara/Article
http://presidentcollegekualalumpur.blogspo...-in-poland.html

This post has been edited by CyberSetan: Jul 16 2010, 05:58 AM

Warsaw Medical University is recognized by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).
I don't think there is going to be any problem, biomedical science degree is a suitable degree for graduate entry medicine.

You could either try to inquire directly to MSU or to the Polish Embassy.

...you could also try IMU's Partner medical school pathway~ I quote from their website:

"...For University of Queensland or University of Warwick, student with a first degree on entry may transfer after 2½ years. Students without a first degree will have to spend another year to complete the IMU Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Hons) to be eligible to transfer.." - IMU

Read this carefully (IMU): http://www.imu.edu.my/partner-medical.html


... but based on my calculation, you will waste a lot more time in IMU-PMS pathway... I suggest you go with Poland graduate entry program...

This post has been edited by CyberSetan: Jul 16 2010, 11:41 PM

You have a "Sarjana Muda Bioperubatan - UKM" which is the same as "Bachelor in Biomedicine - MSU".

We have diploma graduates (eg: Dip.Med.Lab.Technology) doing MBBS in India from various IPTAs, it may be possible for you to apply for the MD program in Poland via MSU. Alternatively, you may try India if you wish. (read the first few pages of the following link below)

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=889461&hl=

I've never actually asked about this to our Dean (Datuk Dr. Abdul Gani Mohammed Din), you could inquire this matter to MSU-International student exchange department (ISEP) or MSU-Internatianal Medical School (IMS) office.

MSU-IMS deals with graduates intending to study medicine in India (IMS Bangalore) like me, but our Dean also monitor other graduates studying in Poland (Warsaw Medical University) and Czech Republic (Charles University).

If you are referring to IMS in Bangalore, intake will be around September - October.

Since you are also a BSc.Biomedicine holder, you could inquire about graduate entry medical program and its requirements from IMS office in Shah Alam, try and look for our dean (Datuk Dr. Abdul Gani) for more details.~

For the graduate entry MD in Poland, I'm not sure about the intake date. There are three recognized Polish Medical Universities and all of these universities have the 4 years graduate entry medicine. For the other two universities, I suggest you inquire directly to the Polish embassy.

You may find the following interesting as well (just to provide you with more options):

http://www.acms.edu.my/portal/programmes-a...ree/md-ukm.html
(look at the entry requirements)

This post has been edited by CyberSetan: Jul 18 2010, 02:00 PM

I'm sorry for the late reply, I've been busy this week. Below are the answers for your questions~

I do not know this Ms.Anis or Mr.Zaidi, the one I dealt with prior to going to IMS Bangalore was En.Mashal. Regardless, you can tell Ms.Anis that I am one of the "lateral entry students" from BSc.Biomedicine (Hons) program that was sent to IMS Bangalore, I will not reveal my identity here in this open forum.

- Staff members (management), Professors and lecturers here in MSU-IMS are helpful, one doesn't need an appointment to meet with them.. even the Dean/Deputy Dean. The management staff will help you in various matters from housing to immigration matters (VISA, Residential permit, etc)

- At present, I believe there are almost 500 students from First year to Final Year... and at present there are 58 BSc.Biomedicine graduates here in IMS-Bangalore.

- Entrance test... you as a Biomedical degree holder shouldn't have to go through that, that test is meant for Matriculation/STPM/A-levels/foundation program students, you on the other hand is a degree holder. If MSU intends to test you, the test should be related to your previous degree program (BSc.Bioperubatan).

- Interview process? I can't help you there since I didn't get to be interviewed, perhaps its because we are MSU graduates and we are familiar with MSU... Last time, the interviewers consisted of MSU-IMS dean and some professors from the school of Health Science.... by the way our Dean's name is Datuk Dr Abdul Gani Mohammed Din (former Deputy Director General of Medicine in MOH).


The MSU-IMS medical program @ Bangalore

Take Note - This info may no longer be valid for the latest batch of students (2010 and onwards) - There have been significant changes and modification to the MSU-IMS Bangalore MBBS curriculum, again do take note of this.

Regarding the MBBS program in IMS Bangalore, we study medicine via the traditional method (as with most Indian medical program) and not via problem based learning (PBL).

The program structure is like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_college_in_India

Program structure for MSU-IMS MBBS (Click below):



The study environment can be stressful at most of the time (if I say otherwise, I'd be lying to you, its medicine after all). All Indian MBBS program are 4.5years plus compulsory 1 year housemanship (total 5.5years).

- There are 3 phases in the Indian MBBS program. First phase (aka First MBBS), second phase (aka Second MBBS), third phase (consist of part-1 and part-2). Then comes the compulsory 1 year housemanship. If a student fails any of the subject within a particular phase, he/she will NOT be allowed to proceed to the next phase and have to repeat the exam again - exception in Third MBBS. (max repeat phase - twice for the entire program)

Clinical postings and theory classes

- Clinical postings begin at the second year (after passing the first MBBS professional exam).

- Clinical postings (for second and third MBBS students) and clinical lectures are conducted in hospitals (for third MBBS students). Theory classes are conducted in the the IMS campus (for first and second MBBS students).

- For me, morning is for clinical postings (surgery, medicine, ENT, OBG, etc..) - It starts from 9.00AM - 11.45AM (may differ). Clinical posting is where most of the clinical teachings are done (eg; history taking, clinical examinations, etc). On alternate days, there is the Community medicine subject/posting. Clinical postings include Saturdays as well.

- In the evening, theory classes starts at 1.00PM and ends at 5.00PM. The subjects taught in the evening will depend on which phase you are in.

- Currently there are three different hospitals for clinical postings. College Buses are provided for the students to go for their clinical postings.

Exposure and Hands-on training

- First year students get to dissect real human cadavers and can even get real human remains (skulls and bones) to bring back to their rooms for study (hey~ thats India for you~ ).









- I am currently satisfied with the level of exposure and training provided in IMS Bangalore. Hands-on training on patients begins at the second year onwards during clinical postings. One can examine patients all they want in the hospital. Lots of strange and rare cases can be seen here. You can even see lepers (leprosy) walking around in the streets even today in India.





The People, surroundings and climate

- There is a LOT of people in Bangalore. If you think KL is crowded, wait until you see Bangalore. There is a wide gap between the rich and the poor here. Some are extremely and pathetically poor - from these people, we often get rare medical cases that doesn't even exist anymore in Malaysia. Additional info - here - women will be seen doing construction work.

- People can be good (particularly the educated ones) and can be bad as well.Eg; some people here in Bangalore will take advantage of you, seeing that you are a foreigner and a new one at that (this is particularly true for auto rickshaw drivers). Corruption is rampant, some of the police will ask/hint for a bribe, although they are more cautious about this when dealing with foreigners.

- Beggars... there are a lot of them here... various kinds too... they some how can sense if you are new to Bangalore and will persistently follow you around until they get something out of you. There are even special type of beggars here in India, the "pondans" here often demand money from people - this is due to some belief that the Indians have that these "pondans" can cause misfortune if their demands are not met.

- The Indian men here, have the habit of urinating almost anywhere they like, its like nothing to them. They will even stop in the middle of a traffic jam and urinate on a wall or a tree with their backs facing the entire traffic in full view of everyone on the road. They don't care what wall or tree they piss on. Some of the building owners even put pictures of Hindu Gods, Christian cross or even Muslim symbols on their walls to prevent people from urinating on them.

- Traffic here in Bangalore, suckksssss... Really..... KL traffic is NOTHING compared to how terrible the traffic is in Bangalore. For your information - fuel cost is very high here in India - 1 Liter of Petrol will cost around RM5.50 (Malaysia only RM1.90)

- English is widely spoken amongst the educated here in Bangalore, not all Indians speak the same language, hence English or Hindi is used. All lectures in Indian medical colleges are conducted in English. The uneducated however, will not understand English.

- Surroundings... all I can say .... is dirty in most areas.

- Bangalore is rather a dusty place to live in compared to Malaysia and now will be entering the cold season (no snow though, but it is cold nonetheless). Cold season can cause your lips to crack - its not humid cold but dry and cold. Monsoon doesn't seem to effect much of Bangalore since it is situated far inland. Overall... weather is OK... not as hot as Malaysia...



Food and Housing

- Food is ok once you get use to them. Diarrhea is common for the first few weeks of eating the food here. Food is relatively cheap if you eat Indian food eg; Masala Dhosa, Idli, Chapati, Rasam, Sambar etc... honestly... I've never even heard of most of these food before coming here.... Raw material is cheap if you are planning on cooking everyday...

- MSU-IMS students are placed in one area (Gokula area). Students live in apartments (2 bedrooms to 3 bedrooms apt) on a sharing basis. The apartments are fully furnished (study tables, washing machine, water heater, TV, fridge etc). These apartments are managed by IMS. One room can accommodate 2 students, each paying around RM260/month. The electricity is separate from the rental charge but the water supply is FREE.

- Apartments are not within walking distance (although one can walk to the college - takes about 45 minutes). College buses are available in front of the apartment in the morning to carry the students to the college or to their respective hospitals.

- Additional info, read here:


http://www.tutor.com.my/tutor/dunia.asp?y=...if&pg=ps_01.htm

http://www.tutor.com.my/tutor/dunia.asp?y=...if&pg=ps_02.htm

http://www.tutor.com.my/tutor/dunia.asp?y=...if&pg=ps_03.htm


Medical Books and equipments

- Medical books are cheap here... Seriously...~ I take for example "Bailey & Love: Short Practice Of Surgery", here it cost only Rs2914 (RM215) with the standard price being USD128 (RM446).



- Even medical equipments are cheap - for example~ Wellch Allyn Ophthalmoscope and Otoscope junior set cost above USD400 (http://www.allmed.net/catalog/item/1,417,475,477), but here I got both for just USD245.



- Indian made medical equipments are cheap as well, my stethoscope cost me RM25 only and my mercurial sphygmomanometer (BP set) cost me RM70 ~ Both are reliable nonetheless~

- The following is my suturing practice board and my very own microscope (hobby):










.... though I'd like to show more pictures, there is a limit in this forum as to how much picture I can upload per post~
Any inquiries~ do ask~

This post has been edited by CyberSetan: Apr 7 2012, 12:21 AM

I'm a bit busy right now~
I'll answer your questions on Saturday~

Alright, the following are the answers for your questions:

1. The answer to "Traditional method of teaching medicine vs PBL method" have been elaborated by this guy here - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...25014126AAsF04H

Most Indian medical colleges employ the traditional method of teaching medicine.


2. BSc.Biomedicine (hons) graduate are referred here in IMS as the lateral entries. I will not divulge the specifics of the graduate entry program here.

However, I can say that it will take 4.5 years (including the compulsory housemanship period) for a BSc.Biomedicine (hons) holder to complete the entire MBBS program compared to the 5.5 years MBBS program for A-levels/STPM/Foundation holders. (not exactly 4-years like that of the Polish MD program, but I consider 4.5 years is short enough).

Regarding the housemanship, Indian MBBS program have a compulsory 1-year housemanship period as part of the MBBS program, you will need to complete this before being allowed to graduate and get the MBBS degree (it is PART of the program which one cannot skip).

Since it is part of the MBBS program, that particular 1-year housemanship in India will not be taken as part of the 2 years compulsory housemanship in Government hospitals, meaning, after graduating with the MBBS degree from IMS, one will have to do housemanship again for 2 years under the MOH.

Just consider that one will get an extra 1-year housemanship experience during the MBBS program, besides IMS will not let you graduate without the completion of this housemanship. So, total housemanship period 1 year in India (under IMS MBBS program) + 2 years in Malaysia (under MOH)

3. Regarding the exams... first you will need to understand how Indian MBBS program work... as I mention before, there are three phases:

- Phase I (MBBS-I), Subject are: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology (duration is 1 year)
- Phase 2 (MBBS-II), Subjects are: Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, (duration is 1.5 years)
- Phase 3a (MBBS-III part1), Subjects are: ENT, Ophthalmology, Community Medicine (duration is 1 year)
- Phase 3b (MBBS-III part 2/Final MBBS), Subjects are: Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Pediatrics (duration 1 year)
- After passing all the above, compulsory Housemanship period will begin. (duration is 1 year)

Clinical postings begin in phase 2 for every clinical subjects (Medicine, surgery, ortho, E.R, opthal, ENT, OBG, dental, dermatology, pediatrics, etc)

Now moving on to your question, each of the phase will end with a PROFESSIONAL MBBS EXAMINATION, if a student fails this examination, the student may NOT proceed to the next phase and will be held back for 6 months and have to repeat the failed subject in the next professional exam along with his/her juniors. Passed subjects are however will not be required to be taken again during this period, only the failed subject must be re-taken.

The maximum amount of repeats during the entire MBBS program (regardless of phase one is in) is TWICE.
I take for example,

- During MBBS-I, a student fails a subject and have to repeat the paper. (plus being delayed for another 6 months for each failure)
- Should the student pass, he/she may proceeds to the next phase (MBBS-II), if then the student fails again in a particular subject in that phase, the student will have to repeat paper (this counts as twice).
- After passing that paper, the student may proceed with the MBBS-III part 1 phase... IF he/she FAILS again in any paper for that phase - the student can say bye2 to MBBS program (termination of program) ~

... a student can also say bye2 to the MBBS program if the student failed three times for a subject in a particular phase. (eg; fails three times in Anatomy - bye2 MBBS)

...Examples of subjects that are considered difficult with quite a number of failures are (from past observations):

- Biochemistry
- Pathology (very vast)
- Pharmacology
- Community medicine (also vast)

Its stressful most of the time, insanely stressful a few weeks before professional exam - particularly when "delayed for 6 months for failing a subject, not to mention have to join juniors for the rest of the program" are constantly in mind.

4. I have not experienced PBL method employed in UK and Malaysia... so I don't know about that. I prefer studying alone. Group study just doesn't work for me.

5. Traffic is terrible in Bangalore... its an undeniable fact. I commute to college/hospital using motorcycle. Quite a number of the male students use motorcycles, none have car (so far).

Most female students here will just use the college bus or the auto-rickshaw to commute to the college/hospital, some bought scooter and a few bought car.

Malaysian driving license is invalid here, however, one can convert a Malaysian driving license to an Indian one.
Good news is that;
- there is NO road tax.
- Indian driving license last for 20 years.

Bad news is that;
- Traffic suckss,
- Road condition varies (from acceptable to terrible with pot holes, cows, animal excreta, people walking everywhere etc)
- Fuel is very expensive (RM5.50+ /liter)
- Traffic policemen are useless (almost) and most are corrupt.

6. As a student, it is not that often that we encounter corrupt practice since we rarely deal with the Indian government servants (police, etc), but corruption present and widespread in India (particularly when dealing with lower level government officers).

So far, from my female classmates, they often complain of auto-rickshaw drivers trying to cheat them (excessive charge, etc) but they have become experienced enough by now to deal with such matters. I'd say that it is quite safe for a female foreigner walking around alone during daytime but I can't say the same for nighttime. Here in Bangalore, the Indian government impose a curfew rule after 12.00AM, no shops will be opened after this time and police will be patrolling the roads.

The safety of the Malaysian students living under MSU-IMS apartments is well secured with well-confined area and around the clock security guards patrolling the apartments.

.................................................................................................................................................................

As for traveling around, there isn't much time to do that. Our holidays are scarce, we would get 1-2 weeks of holidays in a year, and we would have to choose between spending that in Malaysia or traveling to some other places. However, we sometimes do travel to places nearby in the weekends particularly after some major internal assessment exams.

If you are going for the IMS Bangalore interview on the 7th, you will be interviewed by either the IMS Dean himself or by his deputy dean and IMS Professors. Our dean is currently here in Bangalore and I have mentioned your interest to him yesterday. (below is our Dean)



- Dean IMS: Dato' Dr.Abdul Gani Mohammed Din, Former Deputy Director General of Health Malaysia (Medical).

If you do meet him for your interview, please send my regards to him~

... by the way, I have identified you Ms.Na__la. ~


This post has been edited by CyberSetan: Jul 31 2010, 11:48 PM

You apparently haven't read the entire thread~

---

Added on August 10, 2010, 12:45 am


...and to n_n, you did your practical training already or not? I STRONGLY suggest you find a Govt. hospital lab for your training. Find a major hospital if you can.

Do all you can, call whoever as long as you get a place in a govt. hospital laboratory. They got the resources to provide you with "hands-on" training, you can practice all you want there, even do "overtime" if you wish.

This post has been edited by CyberSetan: Aug 10 2010, 12:45 AM