Effectiveness of a program designed to expose medical student to the rural community and support system in healthcare, in a medical college.

ABSTRACT

Background: It is felt that medical training should largely be made in close proximity of public health & social environment compared to a tertiary care hospital. The package of training could include an exposure to the rural community because a fresh graduate doctor does not have concept of broad community healthcare needs. Aims & Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a program designed to expose medical student to the rural community and support system in health. Methods: The study was conducted in December 2008 among 96 medical student of 7th semester. This was a quasi- experimental design with before and after intervention assessment. Assessment was made based on presentations on comparisons of mock village scenario Vs real village experience. A structured questionnaire was used to assess change in knowledge. Results: The mean of the test scores in communication skill and knowledge (based on presentations) in average mock village scenario were 45.94 and improved to 53.56 after real village stay. There was an improvement of 7.62(16.6 %, p<0.001).The mean pre and post village stay score in knowledge based on questionnaire was 56.02 and 67.12 respectively with an improvement of 11.1 (19.81%, p<0.001). The programme was also found to be interesting to the students and villagers. Conclusions: A village stay programme to teach undergraduate student in a field setting to expose them to various parameters of practice of primary health care can help them understand the contextual needs of the society.