Assessing the existing learning methodology in physiology: a feedback study from students of two medical colleges in Northern India

Abstract

To improve the overall health scenario of the nation, the need of the hour is to produce quality doctors and not just the quantity. To achieve this, medical education needs to be updated keeping in mind the current trends. Physiology, one of the basic subjects of medical education forms the foundation of many medical branches and students should have its proper understanding. The aim of the study was to assess the current practices and attitudes of the medical students in two medical colleges of North India in the Jammu Province of J&K towards learning of physiology. 500 medical students participated in this study, 300 from the ASCOMS & Hospital, Sidhra, Jammu and 200 from the Government Medical College(GMC), Jammu. A questionnaire consisting of 13 questions was provided to each of them to elicit their feedback regarding learning of physiology. The results revealed that 89% were in favour of lectures, 51.2% of tutorials and 83.45% were of the opinion that practical's were useful. Enthusiasm of the students ’in learning physiology was so much that 36.2% considered lecture notes insufficient, so 87.4% were using advised reference books, 51.2% previous examinations and 57.6% previous exam papers to guide them. When faced with difficulty in learning physiology majority preferred to consult advised reference book, class fellows and seniors in that order, while consulting teachers was found to be the last option. The potential to self-study was so much that 64.8% used internet and 21% scientific journals to get the latest information in the learning of the subject. We can conclude that medical students are motivated in learning physiology by using hybrid techniques which include using advised reference books, consulting among themselves to solve problems and using online sources Fewer consultation with teachers and lesser interest in tutorials can be improved by initiative from teachers, by becoming more friendly with students, encouraging them, creating an open and positive atmosphere, being more responsive and empathetic to them.