The Short-Term Studentship Program initiated by the Indian Council of Medical Research awards a stipend of Rs. 5,000/- per month for a period of three months to encourage new medical and dental graduates to pursue research.

Drs. Devika R. Krishnan, Sruthy Sara Varghese and Urmila, currently interning at the Amrita School of Dentistry, were chosen to receive this stipend in 2012, for their research projects.

Now, having completed their respective projects, they accompanied Dr. K. N. Unni, Principal, Amrita School of Dentistry, to Amritapuri recently, so they could inform their Chancellor Amma.

“We had the privilege to meet our Chancellor. Amma was so happy; she appreciated our work and said she was happy to note that we were serving society through our research. She suggested that this should be a continuing process, to make our lives meaningful,” happily shared the three research scholars.

Amma was also appreciative of the fact that the students received much support from their faculty and

Principal. The research scholars later expressed their gratitude to faculty from the Department of Public Health Dentistry at Amrita who mentored them. They acknowledged especially the support and guidance received from Drs. Joe Joseph, Seby J. Gardens and Shamaz Mohammed.

Dr. Devika’s study was titled A Study on Infection Control Practices among Dentists in Edapally, Ernakulum, Kerala.

Her study assessed scientific knowledge dissemination regarding infection control and extent of compliance among dentists with regards to their day-to-day practices. “My research

showed that there is a clear need to improve the existing situation. Emphasis on continuing education about infection control procedures through seminars for all oral care workers is a must,” she underlined.

Dr. Sruthy Sara Varghese’s study titled Perceived Stress, Sources and Severity of Stress among Medical and Dental Undergraduates at Kochi shed light on the severity of stress borne by those students during their academic life.

“The undergraduate medical and dental curriculum requires a lot of hard work by the students,” stated Dr. Sruthy. Her study revealed that the majority of medical students in the study sample perceived their living conditions and academics to be very stressful.

“In the light of these findings, it is suggested that relevant psychosocial measures be adopted in the medical educational set-ups,” she recommended.

Another study by Dr. Urmila tested the association between tobacco usage and recurrent ulcers. This study was titled Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers among Tobacco Users Attending Tertiary Care Hospital in Kochi.

April 2, 2013
School of Dentistry, Kochi