Abstract

Dr. T. Vidhyalogini* and Dr. Arvind Thangarasah

ABSTRACT

Background: Biochemistry is traditionally taught through lectures, which causes many students to lose interest in the fundamental sciences. We therefore suggested to assess first-year MBBS students' perceptions of their clinical biochemistry knowledge following early clinical exposure in a tertiary care hospital as a requirement in a competency-based learning programme AIM: Correlate knowledge gained through early clinical experience and raise awareness of its quality as an active learning strategy. Study Design: A questionnaire based study is done on students from the first MBBS. Materials & Methods: In this study, first-year medical students (n=150) were enrolled. Following a typical didactic session, a specific questionnaire was developed about the case of diabetes mellitus, a clinical condition connected to carbohydrate metabolism, and its form was distributed to all 150 students. A writing test was given, and the results were validated. Then, all 150 students received initial clinical exposure to the diabetes mellitus case. A second exam was given, and the results of the pre- and post-early clinical exposure were compared to gauge the students' level of information acquisition. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were checked and confirmed before to starting the study's main phase. To compare the test's reliability, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 21. Conclusion: In spite of the well-established traditional teaching methods, students' learning interests have been increased by early clinical exposure teaching learning methods. The curriculum will be strengthened and integrated using this ECE approach. Additionally, it will support the problem-based learning strategy. As a result, this study will emphasise the value of early clinical exposure as a method for integrating learning medicine.