Impact of a Comprehensive Early Clinical Exposure Program for Preclinical Year Medical Students

Abstract Purpose To study the impact of an early clinical exposure program designed to provide a wide variety (cognitive, affective and psychomotor) of learning experiences for the preclinical year students. Method One hundred and fifty preclinical students were posted in small groups to selected departments – Transfusion medicine, Catheterization lab, Simulation lab, Radiology, Neurology, Nephrology, Respiratory medicine and General surgery. Each student had atleast ten hours  of clinical exposure under this program. The program was evaluated through a series of pre and post-test questionnaires, which were designed based on the learning objectives of each session. Students who wished to participate in the program evaluation gave informed consent, took up the pre / post test and were also asked to give their written open comments about the program. Results There was a significant increase in the post-test scores (ranging from 9.14±2.67 to 36.65±6.62) when compared to the pre-test scores (ranging from 7.94±2.31 to 28.69±6.11) for all the sessions (p value Conclusion The innovative use of early clinical exposure program to teach/learn clinical skills like phlebotomy and Basic Life Support had been well appreciated by the students. The present design involving a variety of learning experiences has been successful in introducing the various dimensions of medical profession like scientific, ethical, interpersonal, professional and social to the new entrants in addition to enhancing their motivation to learn.