Early Community and Hospital Contact of Undergraduate Medical Students; Innovating the MBBS Curriculum through DCH [Doctor, Community and Hospital] Module

ABSTRACT

Transition from traditional to integrated curriculum has been very slow in Pakistan. However in the last few years there has been tremendous increase in the number of medical schools. Early clinical and community exposure is one of the key factors in generating interest of medical students in learning the clinical aspect of the basic sciences. For this purpose [DCH module] was incorporated in the first 3 years of the medical curriculum at Islamic International Medical College. To develop and implement DCH module for early clinical exposure of MBBS students. To determine teachers' and students' perceptions of about its influence on the overall learning of medicine. Action Research. Islamic International Medical College from Jan 2011 to Jan 2014. Initially Wise man approach was used to develop the module. However modifications were brought into the module applying the United Nations approach of designing a curriculum. The module has been incorporated in the curriculum, aligning it with the last 2 years of intensive clerkship of a five year MBBS program. Significant improvement has been observed by the faculty, in students' approach about dealing with the clinical context of the basic sciences. It has also resulted in better communication skills and their reasoning approach in PBL sessions. Early clinical exposure enhances the interest and understanding of medical students of the basic sciences. It lays the foundation of the students towards a professional and clinical approach in dealing with patients, which is in addition to better integration of basic sciences with clinical sciences