Introduction and Evaluation of a Module to Teach Humanities to First MBBS Students

Indian medical graduates lack attributes related to affective domain like humane approach to patients, empathy and communication. Attributes like empathy, compassion and communication which are vital in holistic patient care is not adequately imbibed by the Indian Medical Graduate during the training resulting in discordant doctor-patient relationship later.

Preparation of module to teach humanities with inclusion of cinema education, photographs, illness narratives, medical history, etc. was completed with help of medical education unit (MEU) team and other faculties after obtaining Ethical Approval. Validation and testing of module were done. Formation and validation of pre-test and post-test questionnaire (MCQ type) along with feedback forms (5-point Likert type scale) to assess perceptions of students as well as faculties was done. All students of first year MBBS were subjected to pre-test questionnaire after obtaining their informed written consent followed by 2 hours teaching module of humanities and immediatelythen after to post-test questionnaire and feedback of students for entire process along with feedback of faculties was taken. Perceptions given by the students and faculties were entered into MS Excel sheet and analysed via SPSS.

Total 134 students of first year MBBS were subjected to module of humanities, pre-and post-test questionnaire and feedback after obtaining their informed written consent. Out of these, properly filled 120 responses were included for analysis. Out of 120 participants, 82 were male and 38 were female. There was no statistically significant difference between perceptions of male and female participants. Comparison of pre-and post-test scores of students was done using Wilcox on signed-rank test. Students scored significantly more in post-test. Only 3% scored less in post-test and 5% had similar pre-and post-test scores.

This study showed that module of humanities is very much necessary for MBBS students as per perceptions of faculties and students. Current module of humanities is successful to increase knowledge among students but it should be revised time to time via feedback of students and teachers.