PERCEPTION OF EARLY CLINICAL EXPOSURE BY I MBBS STUDENTS

Background: The National Medical Council (NMC) in its new educational reforms has made Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) sessions compulsory. Though it is being followed by all medical colleges, there are very few studies where perception of ECE in Biochemistry has been studied. Objectives: To determine the perception of I MBBS students about ECE in Biochemistry. Materials And Methods: Study design : Ambispective qualitative study, Study setting : Biochemistry Department. Subjects : I MBBS students 2022 Batch, Sampling technique : Purposive sampling, Study duration : 4 months. Retrospective component: ECE Reection questionnaire were given to all students after ECE sessions. We studied 120 ECE reections. Prospective component : We conducted Focused group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) for 40 students. The Themes generated from reections, Focused group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interviews were analyzed. Results: Thematic analysis Themes on early clinical exposure sessions emerging from Focused group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interviews were : Understanding of ECE Method – “It was helpful and exposed us to different clinical conditions", Impact on Clinical Problem-Solving - “By ECE sessions, we learnt how to encounter clinical cases", Enhancements for ECE Sessions - “taking students to wards”, Diverse Learning Outcomes - “ECE sessions made complex manifestations into easily understandable topics". Conclusion: There was a broad understanding of ECE and perceptual shift in study topics among participants. Integration of basic sciences with clinical subjects was found benecial, though complexities were noted. Suggestions for ECE enhancements were more interactive sessions and real-life clinical exposure.