ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: As a part of education reforms Medical Council of India has introduced early clinical exposure (ECE) as an important intervention in Medical teaching. It is stated in the literature, ECE helps to relieve stress of the students pertaining to patient handling, developing real-time clinical reasoning ability, communication skills, professional attitude, and patient empathy. With this view, this study was planned to assess effectiveness of early clinical exposure in improving attitude and professional skills in the current Indian medical education set up. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 820 students for three years duration. Students were randomly divided into two groups viz. ECE exposed group (Group A) and Traditional teaching exposed group (Group B). We conducted periodical sessions (Each duration: 60 minutes). We used a validated 10-point questionnaire for feedback collection. RESULTS: Using perception-based 10-point questionnaire based on Likert scale we found, 93.21% of students strongly agreed that the method of ECE teaching aroused interest in learning. 86.03% of students strongly agreed that the method of ECE teaching technique helped in better retention of topic. 89.91% of students strongly agreed that the method of ECE teaching imparts better clinical context. 92.75% of students strongly agreed that the method of ECE teaching allows better assimilation of knowledge gained during learning. With ECE-based teaching 87.42% of students found highly satisfied while 81.22% of students found highly competent about the knowledge and skills thus acquired via this teaching methodology. 95.11% of students liked ECE teaching methodology and these students enjoyed it a lot and with interest. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that early clinical exposure is the most important teaching tool in improving attitude and professional skills in the current Indian medical education set up.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is the fifth most common chronic condition and the sixth most frequent cause of death among the elderly. The objective of this research was to develop a new method for diabetes diagnosis by analysis of the glycogen content of the oral epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten control subjects and ten diabetic patients (study group) were taken, four oral smears for both control and study group from the buccal mucosa were taken and stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain, Papanicolaou (PAP) stain, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stain and PAS-Diastase (PAS-D) stain. RESULTS: The results showed that in the diabetic group: (i) The epithelial cells stained with PAP stain exhibited figures of binucleation and occasional karyorrhexis, (ii) the epithelial cells treated with PAS-D showed that glycogen containing cells did not take up the stain as compared to the other cells. CONCLUSION: The results associated with clinical and histological observations suggest that diabetes mellitus can produce alterations of oral epithelial cells as well as in their glycogen content.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has advocated early clinical exposure for students in medical colleges. In its 'Vision-2015' document for further reforms in undergraduate medical education, the MCI underlined the need for clinical teaching from first year onwards in medical colleges. AIM: Our aim was to collect and analyse perception of medical faculties towards early clinical exposure and MCI Vision 2015 and to study the awareness, depth and interest among medical faculties towards these changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used 10-item self developed survey questionnaires, which was validated from experts in medical education. 10-item questionnaire was based on awareness, depth and interest among medical faculties towards early clinical exposure and MCI Vision 2015 documents released by MCI in 2011. Qualitative data was assessed using percentage scale. We were approached to 182 preclinical medical faculties, however responses were received from 127 medical faculties from first year medical course subjects from six different college's viz. two from Deemed University, two from Government sector and two from private sector but affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health sciences, Nasik, India. RESULTS: A 94.48% faculty members were aware regarding MCI Vision 2015 documents released by MCI in 2011. Average 12% faculties could answer specific approach MCQs based on MCI Vision 2015 documents. However, 82.67% faculties agreed early clinical exposure will be definitely helpful if implemented in curriculum. CONCLUSION: The present work underlines need of special coaching and attention towards this important issue in medical education.
