A Prospective Interventional Study on Modified One-minute Preceptor Model: An Effective Teaching-learning Tool for Early Clinical Exposure in Biochemistry

Abstract

Introduction: Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) was incorporated into the Competency-based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum in 2019. ECE in a classroom setting is conducted through Clinical Case Discussion (CCD) using paper-based clinical case scenarios. The assessment pattern of CBME and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) includes clinical case-based questions. Therefore, assessing and developing clinical reasoning skills and critical thinking has become the need of the hour. Aim: To measure the effectiveness of the modified One-minute Preceptor (OMP) model as a teaching-learning tool for CCD to enhance the knowledge and reasoning skills of Phase I Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students and to assess the perception of students and faculty towards the modified OMP model. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry at Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India from February 2020 to May 2020. Out of 250 Phase I MBBS students, 180 who had given consent and participated in all the sessions were included. Eight faculty members voluntarily participated in the study. The faculty involved in CCD for the control and study groups were different and selected through randomisation. After a didactic lecture, a pretest was administered, and then students were divided into Control group A (n=90) and Study group B (n=90). For CCD, the modified OMP model was used for the study group and the traditional unstructured method for the control group. A post-test was given after CCD, and feedback was collected from faculty and students. Quantitative analysis of the feedback was done using a 5-point Likert scale, and open-ended questions were qualitatively assessed. Pretest and post-test scores were analysed using an unpaired t-test. Learning gain was measured, and program evaluation was conducted using Kirkpatrick’s model. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the post-test scores obtained by the control group and study group (p-value <0.001). A higher normalised learning gain (0.83) was observed in the study group. The modified OMP model was perceived as an effective, interactive teaching-learning tool for CCD by both students and faculty. Conclusion: CCD using the modified OMP model significantly improved knowledge, critical thinking, and reasoning skills of students. Even after modifications to the original OMP model, the effectiveness of this model for preclinical subjects remains unaffected.