Study of Students' Perceptions on Evidence Based Curriculum of Forensic Medicine

Evidence based education system is an innovative practice followed by Sumandeep Vidyapeeth and as a part of it, curriculum of Forensic Medicine is made evidence based. Evidence Based Forensic Medicine (EBFM) is providing platform to create Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) to be competent enough to choose right evidence according to need and develop lifelong learning potential for continuous professional development. Present study was done to know students' perceptions towards evidence based curriculum of Forensic Medicine as they are the beneficiaries of it.

Consent form and Questionnaire (pretested and validated, Likert type scale) was formed to take the feedback of students on their perceptions regarding existing evidence based curriculum of Forensic Medicine. Questionnaire contained total 30 questions in various parameters like overall competency/evidence based need, educational experience, evidence based teaching, content and quality of syllabus, content and quality of teaching, evaluation/assessment. Each question had response varied from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Feedback and suggestions given by the students were entered in MS excel sheet and analyzed via SPSS.

A total of 119 students were given the questionnaire, of which properly filled 100 responses were included for analysis and the rest 19 responses, which were either incomplete or not attempted, were ignored. Frequency and median score of various parameters and pertaining questions were calculated. Assessment or evaluation component of curriculum had median score of 3.5 while rest had median score of 3. There was no statistically significant different between perceptions of male and female participants. Assessment or Evaluation part of curriculum, content and quality of syllabus were reflected as strength while rest parameters of curriculum like education experience, evidence based teaching, content and quality of teaching did not reflect as strength which inferred to be improved.

It is acceptable that students' perceptions on evidence based curriculum of Forensic Medicine are very much important as they are the ultimate stakeholders who can in future serve to society in better way. Implementation of perceptions of students at present is in process but future is optimistic.