A Use of New Questionnaire Based Tool for Evaluation of Medical Student’s Satisfaction Regarding Their Final Professorial Surgical Appointment at Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction: Faculty of Medicine University of Ruhuna, Located in southern coastal town of Galle is one of 10 state owned medical faculties in Sri Lanka. . Surgical curriculum consist of lectures, Tutorials, ward classes as well as clinical appointments scattered through last 3 years. The Final year two-month professorial surgical appointment is meant to ensure that Graduates have acquired rounded knowledge and key skills in surgery to pass out to become safe and competent intern house officers. No formal study has been conducted to assess the student perspectives regarding this appointment. Methodology: Purpose of this study is to evaluate the student component of the 360 degree assessment regarding the effectiveness of teaching programme of professorial surgical clinical appointment using a questionnaire consist of five components. Results: Vast majority of students answered the questionnaire (range 130-136 except concerning requirement to modify end appointment assessment method when responding number fell to 118). Components A is aimed to evaluate students view of professorial appointment and its usefulness for different components of final MBBS examination .Over 84% marked generally useful and above for all the components of final MBBS examination. Highest was for short cases at 96.1% while lowest figures were for long cases (84.4%). Component B is to assess view of different modalities of clinical teaching encounters during professorial appointment and its usefulness for improving surgical knowledge and a good pass at final mbbs. 97.8% thought elective ward rounds were generally useful or above while lowest was obtained by emergency theatre teaching (84%). Component C has six questions aimed to assess student satisfaction of quantity of particular sessions. 89.3% were satisfied about number of clinic teaching sessions which fell towards short case practice sessions (73.8%), theatre teaching sessions (59.2%) and endoscopy sessions (58.9%). D is a single question about their satisfaction of end appointment assessment method and any modifications required.46.5% thought continuous assessment method require modifications. Component E assesses the overall effectiveness of the surgery appointment in functioning as an intern medical officer effectively. 81.8% marked generally useful and above. Conclusions: Significant majority of students were satisfied in most of the components of final year professorial appointment while certain drawbacks became apparent such as insufficient number of endoscopic and Operating Theatre sessions. The designed Performa appears to be a satisfactory tool to assess student satisfaction about a final year professorial clinical appointment and more studies and further modifications may result in its validation even for other clinical appointments.