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Creativity is one of the tools in the toolkit of modern day learners. Scientific progress cannot be accomplished without developing creative capacities of individuals. The Muslim countries, despite their historical achievement in different creative and innovative discoveries and positive encouragement by Islam towards creativity, have paradoxically gone down from their position. Creativity is one of the priorities of modern age due to its role in the progress of humanity and future. The education system is spoon-feeding our learners and killing creativity. The main aim of the current scoping review is to summarise and disseminate research findings pertaining to the evidence on the definition of the concept of creativity, its importance in education, role of teachers and learners in making creativity a part of their educational endeavours, and their implications. Moreover, it provides a broad and detailed outline of the topic and exploring more general questions rather than providing answer to limited questions. It will help to determine how important it is to foster creativity as educators.

A series of seven workshops were conducted in 2018, at the National University of Medical Sciences and its affiliated institutes, to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-hour workshop in improving faculty competence in developing high quality test items. Participants' satisfaction was evaluated with a post-workshop feedback questionnaire. A self-made structured questionnaire was required to be filled as a pre-test and post-test assessment. Paired t-test was applied and difference in mean scores of responses was evaluated. A total of 141 faculty members were trained. The training session led to high satisfaction in all elements of workshop, significant improvements in boosting confidence in item writing skills (p=0.001), recognising parts of MCQs (p=0.001), identifying item writing flaws (p=0.001), and levels of Millers pyramid and blooms taxonomy (p=0.001). Training sessions of short duration are effective in improving faculty competence in writing high quality test items, if hands-on experience is built-in and effective feedback is provided.

The aim of this study was to identify the effectiveness of peer-assisted learning while giving presentation on assigned anatomy topics in class by medical students for enhancement of their learning and communication skills. Sixty top performing students were selected for the study. They were given assigned topics related to anatomy to be presented in the class after taking their consent. The duration of the study was 32 weeks. At the completion of the projects by the students, each of them was interviewed for three to five minutes; the questions were very precise and few in number and were then analysed. Focus group discussions were conducted from the rest of the class who were the audience and enjoyed the activity. The study showed that by conducting such an activity among medical students their knowledge about the subject, communication and teaching skills and confidence are enhanced. It is a fun activity for them and can be added in the routine timetable for its beneficial outcomes.

Objective: To assess whether internal assessment as a part of continuous assessment links to the outcome of the final summative assessment., Methods: The diagnostic accuracy study was conducted at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from November 2015 to July 2016, and comprised medical students of 2nd year. Different teaching methods used were interactive lectures, case-based sessions, demonstrations, small group discussions, skill lab and practicals. Other confounding factors were not considered. Receiver operator characteristic curve was computed to determine diagnostic accuracy of internal assessment for the prediction of examination results.., Results: Out of 202 students, 122 (60.4%) were male and 80 (39.6%) were female with an overall mean age of 20.05±0.69 years. Total marks of 2nd professional examination and internal assessment were normally distributed with mean values of 131.71±19.81 and 36.18±8.03 respectively. The cut-off value was 27.5 and at this value, sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 91%., Conclusions: Diagnostic power of internal assessment to identify students who may fail in professional examination was significantly high.

Objective: To observe the effect of skill lab training on academic performance of final year medical students in terms of marks obtained in long case, short case, objective structured clinical examination and viva., Methods: The cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi from February to April 2015. Two batches of final year MBBS were recruited for the study. Batch 1 received conventional training, and Batch 2 received skill lab training. The performance of students was assessed by comparing the marks obtained in long case, short case, objective structured clinical examination and viva. Data was analysed using SPSS 23., Results: Of the 335 subjects, 168(50.1%) were male and 167(49.9%) were female students with a mean age of 21.79±1.02 years. Batch 1 had 151(45%) students and Batch 2 had 184(55%). Batch 2 got significantly higher marks in long case, short case and objective structured clinical examination (p<0.05 each). Viva result was not found to be related to training (p>0.05)., Conclusions: Acquisition of clinical skills significantly improved when medial students were trained in skill laboratories.

Objective: To study the harmful effects of nicotine on the developing femur of chick and to observe the role of antioxidant camellia sinensis in the prevention of these effects., Methods: The experimental study was conducted at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, from November 2, 2011, to November 1, 2012, and comprised fresh fertilised eggs of Fayoumi species at zero hour of incubation of Fayoumi species. The eggs were divided into four equal groups. Control group G1 was given normal saline; G2 was given green tea extract; G3 was given 0.0001% nicotine solution; and G4 was given both 0.0001% nicotine solution and green tea extract. First exposure was at 48 hours of incubation and second at 48 hours of hatching (post-natal dose).At the age of one month, the chicks were sacrifised. The length of the femurs was measured with the help of measuring scale by keeping the ruler between greater trochanter and the lateral condyle. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis., Results: The four groups had 10 eggs each. G3 and G4 showed decreased growth compared to G1 and G2 (p<0.05). In G4, better growth was noticed compared to G3 (p<0.05), but its growth was less in comparison with G1 and G2(p>0.05)., Conclusions: Camellia sinensis antioxidant property helped to neutralise the oxidative injury by the use of nicotine, but was unable to recover it fully.

Objective: To evaluate the role of vitamin E on the arteriolar hyalinisation in kidneys of diabetic mice., Methods: The laboratory-based randomised control trial was conducted at the Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with National Institute of Health, Islamabad, from November 2009 to November 2010. Adult female BALB/C mice were randomly divided into three groups. Group A served as control group. Group B was made diabetic by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Group C received streptozotocin injection and was fed with vitamin E (alphatocopherol) supplemented diet. After 12 weeks,the animals were sacrificed and their kidneys were removed for histomorphological study. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis., Results: Diabetes caused significant histomorphological changes in arteriole of kidneys of Experimental Group B compared to Control Group A (p>0.05), but these changes were prevented in Group C. In experimental group B, 2(20%) animals had arteriolar hyalinisation of score 1, while score 2 was revealed in 8(80%) animals. Experimental group C showed no hyalinisation in any arteriole., Conclusions: Vitamin E prevents the arteriohyalinization in kidneys of mice with STZ induced diabetes.

Objective: To determine the probable factors responsible for stress among undergraduate medical students., Methods: The qualitative descriptive study was conducted at a public-sector medical college in Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to April 2014. Self-administered open-ended questionnaires were used to collect data from first year medical students in order to study the factors associated with the new environment., Results: There were 115 students in the study with a mean age of 19±6.76 years. Overall, 35(30.4%) students had mild to moderate physical problems, 20(17.4%) had severe physical problems and 60(52.2%) did not have any physical problem. Average stress score was 19.6±6.76. Major elements responsible for stress identified were environmental factors, new college environment, student abuse, tough study routines and personal factors., Conclusions: Majority of undergraduate students experienced stress due to both academic and emotional factors.

Objective: To observe students' perception of gross anatomy dissection., Methods: The qualitative study comprised second year medical students of Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, and was conducted in July, 2013. Data was collected over three weeks through quota sampling. Focus group discussions were held with four groups having 15 students each.The sessions were audio-recorded which were transcribed and interpreted., Results: On the basis of FGDs, four themes were identified: Prossected specimen as an introductory teaching tool; emotional reaction on specimen handling; practical concerns during specimen handling; and experience of learning anatomy. Trends were identified within these broader themes., Conclusion: There were differences in terms of attitudes and dissection hall experiences of medical students connected with the learning.