PERCEPTION OF STUDENTS TO AETCOM MODULE ON EMPATHY FOR FIRST MBBS STUDENTS

Abstract

Background: The goal of undergraduate medical education program as proposed in the revised Graduate Medical   Education    Regulations (2017) is to create an “Indian Medical Graduate” with appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and responsiveness. AETCOM module introduced by MCI as part of the new Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum recognizes the need to teach professionalism as a formal part of the undergraduate training.

Methods: This is a cross sectional observational study conducted over a period of one month involving first year MBBS students who joined in the year 2019-20 in Municipal Medical College in Mumbai. 169 students were included in this study. The teaching schedule of AETCOM Module had four sessions as given in the guidelines by MCI. At the end of session student’s perception was obtained on Likert scale and analyzed.

Results: Out of the 169 students who volunteered for the module 62% strongly agreed whereas 37% agreed that the module created interest in the subject. A majority of the students (98%) opined that the AETCOM Module will improve their future interaction with patients. Students’ also positively appraised the AETCOM module for gaining insight into patient’s rights as also being useful for themselves and in future practice. They also preferred multiple similar modules throughout the UG course.

Conclusions: The AETCOM Module will be good for the first MBBS students for understanding the importance of empathy in patient interaction. A detailed evaluation of other AETCOM modules and a follow-up study to evaluate the long-term impact of the modules would be required.

Keywords: AETCOM, Perception, First MBBS Students