Impact of a Comprehensive Early Clinical Exposure Program for Preclinical Year Medical Students

Authors

Sumitra Govindarajan, Department of Biochemistry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, IndiaFollow
Ganesan Vasanth, Department of Nephrology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Pananghat A. Kumar, Department of Anatomy, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Catherine Priyadarshini, Department of Nephrology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Shanmuga Sundaram Radhakrishnan, Department of Cardiology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Vikrant Kanagaraj, Department of Radiology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Nithilavalli Balasubramanian, Department of Respiratory Medicine, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Prasanna N. Kumar, Department of Pathology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
T. Jasmine Divya, Department of Nephrology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India

Abstract

Purpose: To study the impact of an early clinical exposure program designed to provide a wide variety (cognitive, affective and psychomotor) of learning experiences for the preclinical year students. Method: One hundred and fifty preclinical students were posted in small groups to selected departments – Transfusion medicine, Catheterization lab, Simulation lab, Radiology, Neurology, Nephrology, Respiratory medicine and General surgery. Each student had atleast ten hours of clinical exposure under this program. The program was evaluated through a series of pre and post-test questionnaires, which were designed based on the learning objectives of each session. Students who wished to participate in the program evaluation gave informed consent, took up the pre / post test and were also asked to give their written open comments about the program.

Results: There was a significant increase in the post-test scores (ranging from 9.1472.67 to 36.6576.62) when compared to the pre-test scores (ranging from 7.9472.31 to 28.6976.11) for all the sessions (p value o0.001, n¼144). Analysis of the open feedback showed that the program had significant impact on the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. “Application of basic sciences in clinical practice”, “motivation to learn”, “got familiar with various specialties”, “insight about what the patient undergoes” were the themes identified from the open comments.

Conclusion: The innovative use of early clinical exposure program to teach/learn clinical skills like phlebotomy and Basic Life Support had been well appreciated by the students. The present design involving a variety of learning experiences has been successful in introducing the various dimensions of medical profession like scientific, ethical, interpersonal, professional and social to the new entrants in addition to enhancing their motivation to learn

Recommended Citation

Govindarajan, Sumitra; Vasanth, Ganesan; Kumar, Pananghat A.; Priyadarshini, Catherine; Radhakrishnan, Shanmuga Sundaram; Kanagaraj, Vikrant; Balasubramanian, Nithilavalli; Kumar, Prasanna N.; and Divya, T. Jasmine (2018) "Impact of a Comprehensive Early Clinical Exposure Program for Preclinical Year Medical Students," Health Professions Education: Vol. 4: Iss. 2, Article 9.
DOI: 10.1016/j.hpe.2017.06.002
Available at: https://hpe.researchcommons.org/journal/vol4/iss2/9