
An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Journals
Author Login
Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences | Volume-3 | Issue-02
Importance of Early Clinical Exposure in Learning Anatomy
Sharadkumar Pralhad Sawant, Shaheen Rizvi
Published: April 28, 2015 |
124
328
DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i02.099
Pages: 1035-1038
Downloads
Abstract
Anatomy is one of the basic science disciplines in the medical undergraduate curriculum and forms the
foundation for the training of future doctors. It not only involves a vast curriculum but for some students it is a complex
and dry subject. To make it interesting, a lot of educators are of the opinion that knowledge of Anatomy should be
acquired in a situation resembling those in which it will be applied. MCI (Medical Council of India) in its ‘VISION
2015’, has introduced a restructured curriculum and training program for undergraduate teaching with emphasis on early
clinical exposure, integration of basic and clinical sciences, clinical competence and skills and new teaching learning
methodologies. This according to MCI, will lead to a new generation of medical graduates of global standards. In the
present setup, in the undergraduate curriculum, students are exposed to clinical subjects only during the second year.
However, it has been observed that students find it difficult to recollect essential basic concepts during clinical postings.
To improve this scenario, it has become necessary to introduce the students to clinical problems within the first
undergraduate year itself, as advocated by the MCI. As medical education continues to advance, it is the endeavour of
educators as well as MCI, to attempt to prepare students for their professional lives. Early clinical exposure (ECE) will
help students to develop a professional identity, increase motivation to learn, ensure well integrated knowledge of the
basic sciences so as to retain knowledge better and even consider career options earlier. ECE also promotes self-directed
learning and analytical skills in students. ECE is a useful method for a basic science like anatomy if it is taken up with
the traditional teaching method. Anatomy will be better understood, retained and later practically applied, if learned in a
clinically significant set-up.