How to Prepare PSM for Medical PG Entrance Exams?

1. Biostatistics and Epidemiology

• For Biostatistics, aspirants need not go into greater details since questions asked on Biostatistics tests are basic confined to chi square, student t test and paired t test.
• Candidates need not focus on multi-variant analysis.
• Sampling types
• Basic knowledge of standard error, standard division, mean, median, mode and normal distribution
• In addition, you will need a little knowledge about screening tests
  1. Sensitivity, specificity
  2. PPV, MPV and their relation to each other according to base theorem
  3. Knowledge of what happens when tests are arranged in series and when tests are arranged in parallel
• Focus on Null Hypothesis: α-error, β-error and power of a test
• Brief knowledge of Guttman Scale, Likert scale and what is Distinction of Characters in Categorical Test and Quantitative Test
• Knowledge of which test to apply, whether the test is Qualitative or Quantitative and in which degree it can be placed
• Brief knowledge of Bias, Confounding and Effect Modifier and you need to have your concepts cleared.
• Recommended book for biostatistics: Anthony N. Glaser

2. Epidemiology: Concept of Health and Disease

The most important topics have been highlighted below:

• The Difference of HDI vs HPI vs PQLI must be studied in parallel to know the difference between them
• Iceberg concept, Concept of Web of Causation and brief knowledge of the at risk approach.
• Types of Studies
  1. The Difference between Case control, Cohort and Randomized control trial
  2. Factors favouring each
  3. Disadvantages of each.
  4. Approach to overcoming Bias/Confounding
  5. Knowledge of Matching

3. Immunization

• It can be covered from both Pediatrics and PSM
• This topic is very important so do not leave it
• The best approach is not to cram the topics under Immunzation
• Questions asked under immunization are generally based on practical application should you must focus on approach.
• You might be given an instance that a child has been completely unimmunized till 4 years of age, so what all vaccines should be given.
• Study the comparison of NIS Schedule for IAP recommendations with the National Immunization Schedule.

4. Infections

• Refer to Parks’ book for Infections since it is much better than Microbiology books
• Prepare Influenza thoroughly since 3-4 questions are asked every year from this topic.
• Japanese encephalitis
• Polio
• Parastic Infections – Filarial worm
• Park’s book covers all infections properly, with their vaccines and the national programmes
• Study infections from PSM since it will cover a lot of load from PSM + Microbiology

5. Nutrition

• Iodine Deficiency (For NEET Exam you must study IRDA values)
• Vitamin Deficiency and National Programmes associated with it
• Difference between growth monitoring and nutritional surveillance

6. Bio-Medical Waste

• Brief knowledge of Bio-Medical Waste is important since you get an easy question from here.
• Concepts of Incineration, Screw Fit technology and Inertization must be prepared thoroughly since questions on these have appeared repeatedly in previous PG exams.

7. Environment

• Knowledge of Tests for various types of Pollution
• Mosquito Control measures

8. Programmes

• Prepare the programmes from various competition books.
• Remain updated with any changes in the old programme and the new programmes being launched
• Question on RNTCP National programme came in previous year papers. RNTCP is a web-based portal for monitoring of cases
• Keep updated with new updates, new web-portals and new monitoring techniques being launched
• NTCP programme is very important so study it thoroughly

9. Recent Infections

• Questions on Recent Infections like Ebola, Swine-flu, H1N1 are frequently asked.
• Keep yourself updated with all the recent infections

We are hopeful that this article will surely guide the aspirants in their preparation for PSM.

Good Luck!