Early Clinical Exposure for First-Year Medical Students at Jalalabad International University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63666/ejsmr.1694-9013.2.I.2025.33Keywords:
Early Clinical Exposure, MBBS, Preclinical Education, Student Motivation, Clinical ReasoningAbstract
Aim and Background: Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) serves to bridge the divide between preclinical education and clinical practice from the outset of the MBBS program. It enables students to integrate foundational sciences with patient-centered care, fostering a cohesive medical education experience. This study evaluated the influence of ECE on the learning outcomes, motivation, and clinical comprehension of first-year MBBS students at Jalalabad International University (JAIU).
Objectives: To assess the effects of ECE on student motivation, interest in learning, and formation of professional identity. To examine how ECE contributes to the foundational development of medical knowledge among first-year students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, perception-based study was conducted among first-year MBBS students following over six months of ECE implementation. A pre-validated questionnaire comprising 6 demographic items and 9 closed-ended questions addressing all preclinical subjects was distributed via Google Forms. Data collection spanned two weeks, with responses analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means) were employed, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Of the respondents, 92% reported enhanced understanding of basic sciences through clinical contextualization, 89% indicated increased motivation, 85% noted improvements in communication skills, 80% affirmed heightened interest in medicine, 78% believed ECE reduced anxiety in later clinical settings, and 82% reported improved teamwork skills.
Conclusion: ECE during the first year of MBBS at JAIU emerges as an effective educational strategy, bolstering comprehension, motivation, confidence, and professional orientation among students.
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