Analysis of Perception of Students and Faculty on Case Based Early Clinical Exposure in First Year Medical Students

Early clinical exposure (ECE) is a novel strategy for medical colleges to bridge the gap between basic and clinical sciences. There are few studies that explain student's and faculty's perspective on ECE. This study compares the ECE models (Case-based and Video-based case) in terms of benefits and challenges. This cross-over comparative study with 120 medical students of MBBS Batch 2019 and 8 facilitators was conducted in Government medical college, Pali, Rajasthan, India from September 2020 to March 2021. Entire batch was divided into two groups. In a hospital environment, one group was taught by an actual case (patient) of a specific topic, while another group was taught in a classroom setting by a video-based case. The students' and faculty's perspectives on Case-Based Early Clinical Exposure (CBECE) were documented using a pre-tested questionnaire and evaluated on a Likert scale. Finally, both groups were given assessment questions and the process was repeated in the following session of case based early clinical exposure, but with switched groups. Majority of the students (98.3%) agreed CBECE as more effective for attentiveness, retention, correlation of clinical knowledge with theoretical knowledge and communication. Most of the students (43.0%) believed that learning is limited due to lack of repeatability as compare with video-based case. Most of the facilitators found CBECE as effective tool for the development of attitude and communication skills of the students. CBECE can be implemented with limited sessions for sensitization of students about health care setup, importance of empathetic behavior, communication skill and better correlation of preclinical subjects in the context of disease.