Biochemistry teaching: It's time to prepare for multidisciplinary integration

Abstract

Background: Biochemistry is taught for 1st MBBS students without much emphasis on its relevance to medicine. This makes the subject less interesting for students. Medical Council of India (MCI) in its revised regulations on graduate medical education has started the process of integration of medical teaching. Objectives: Study intends to identify the areas of biochemistry subject for multidisciplinary, integrated teaching that will help in framing an effective educational programme. Methodology: MBBS curriculum based on the Medical Council of India regulations on graduate medical education 1997 was obtained. Course content of each subject was discussed with two subject experts of concerned speciality. Subject content that overlaps with biochemistry or topics that need preliminary knowledge of biochemistry for better understanding of concerned subject were noted, as they form potential areas for integrated teaching. Information gained from all ten major subjects was compiled to arrive at results. Results: Nearly 75% of topics (90 classes) could be taught by integrated teaching. Topics like Chemistry of biomolecules, Bioenergetics, Quality control and few metabolic pathways (30%) were not amenable for integrated teaching. Conclusion: Biochemistry can be made more relevant to learner by use of integrated teaching. MCI has recommended multidisciplinary integration of subjects and our study is a humble beginning in this direction.