A study on students’ perception of a community-based teaching programme

Background: The traditional biomedical approach to illness in individuals has little impact on the health of the whole community, where most illnesses are due to social, economic and political factors linked to unhealthy behaviour and adverse environmental factors. With this idea, community exposure has become a part and parcel of medical education. To continue with such teaching-learning methods, it is also important to seek the opinion and share the experience of the students so as to modify or improve such methods.

Methodology: The study was carried out among the 6th semester MBBS students of a medical college in West Bengal. During this period, the students are required to undertake a family health care project in an urban slum. The attitudes and expectations of the students towards this project were assessed by administering an anonymous questionnaire. The answers to the questions were graded using a five-point Likert scale.

Result: The students held a very positive attitude towards the programme. They felt that field training was an interesting way of learning. It helped them to develop an orientation towards community health. It also helped them to understand the subject of community medicine. They also had an experience of group learning, and there was development of communication skill and humanitarian thought. The students suggested for increasing the number and duration of such programmes.

Conclusion: Community-based teaching approach has been appreciated by the students. A proper curriculum development, training and sensitisation of the concerned persons in this regard is recommended.