Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: December | Volume: 5 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 392-399
To Study Impact of Problem Based Learning among First MBBS Students in a Medical College of West Bengal
Dr. Arunima Chaudhuri1, Dr. Sajal Kumar Sarkar2 2Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital (Affiliated to West Bengal University of Health Sciences), Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Sajal Kumar Sarkar
ABSTRACT
Background: Problem-based learning is a pedagogical practice employed in many medical schools.
Aims: To study impact of Problem based learning among first MBBS students in a medical college of West Bengal.
Materials and methods: This interventional study was conducted in a medical college of eastern India. Approval from the institutional ethics committee and informed consent of the subjects was taken before conduction of this pilot project. In this prospective interventional study 60 MBBS first students were divided in two groups A & B using an online randomizer. Group A consisted of a batch of 30 students who were exposed to audio visual presentation and lecture classes for 8 hours (Topics on control of voluntary movements which included the following: Cerebellum, Basal ganglia, Muscle tone, lateral and medial motor system, Reflexes, Decorticate and decerebrate rigidity, Vestibular apparatus). They were assessed with post exposure questionnaire (EXPOSURE I) immediately after completion. The questions were either MCQ or short objective structured type of question and total marks allotted were 10. There was no negative marking and time allotted for answering was 15 mins.
Audio visual presentation and tutorial classes were repeated after one month on the same topics. The subsequent questionnaire was named (EXPOSURE II)
Group B consisted of another batch of 30 students who were exposed to same audio visual presentation and lecture classes for 8 hours. They were assessed with post exposure questionnaire (EXPOSURE I) immediately after completion.
In the next month they attended 8 sessions of problem based learning on control of voluntary movements on similar topics. The subsequent questionnaire was named (EXPOSURE II)
The same questionnaire was given both Group A and Group B on all exposures.
Another questionnaire was given to both Group A and Group B after another one month without any further demonstration. The subsequent questionnaire was named (EXPOSURE III).
Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed using software SPSS version16; probability values (P Value) <0.05 were considered as statistically significant and P Values <0.01 were considered as statistically highly significant. Unpaired t test was used to compare the two group of students at different times of exposure.
Results: Questionnaires included 10 questions to test student knowledge regarding voluntary control of movements. There was no significant between the two groups on the first evaluation. The difference became significant between the two groups on second and third evaluation with B group showing better performances. The best responses from the students were observed on the second exposure.
Conclusions: Problem based learning was found to have a better impact on knowledge and memory of first MBBS students as compared to traditional methods of medical education and needs to be implemented in large scale for betterment of medical students.
Key words: Problem based learning, Medical education, First MBBS students.
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