Bench to Bedside Transition: Self-perception of Confidence and Competence among MBBS Graduates

To function effectively as basic doctors, the Medical Council of India (MCI) aims to create doctors with requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and values. Internship is a crucial point for doctors as they transit from textbooks to reality. This study looks at self-perception of medical graduates concerning MCI recommended skills and professionalism.

This study done in May 2016 included a convenient sample of 110 house surgeons, 55 from NRI Medical College, Guntur (Private) and 55 from Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada (Government) in Andhra Pradesh. A pretested Likert-type questionnaire was administered individually after taking an informed consent. The data was entered in MS Excel and analysed using Epi Info version 3.4.3.

Less than 50% of Interns from both colleges were confidant in pre-clinical subjects, medico-legal issues and national and regional healthcare policies. Better knowledge was professed in history taking and physical examination skills, ability to communicate sensitively with patients, ability to self-assess knowledge and skills and continue learning and ability to respect and maintain professional boundaries.

The study revealed better perception of professionalism and holistic care in private medical college graduates. Govt. students were more positive about application of knowledge, ability to communicate professionally with colleagues and commitment to life-long learning. However, studies have shown that student self-assessment is usually not very accurate.

The chief driving force of medical training should be directed at establishing confidence and competence. A student's progress should be measured by achievement of necessary competencies.