Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical Undergraduates
Introduction: Physiology is one of the foundation sciences for the medical curriculum. It forms the basis of all life sciences. Physiology practical classes in India are divided into three sections: exercises in haematology, exercises on humans and experiments on amphibians. Faculty and students...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/9977/24341_CE[Ra1]_F(RK)_PF1(SY_SS)_PFA(PSY).pdf |
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| author | RAJNI GOYAL RAJVEER GARG PUNEET RAJ GOYAL |
| author_facet | RAJNI GOYAL RAJVEER GARG PUNEET RAJ GOYAL |
| author_sort | RAJNI GOYAL |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Physiology is one of the foundation sciences for
the medical curriculum. It forms the basis of all life sciences.
Physiology practical classes in India are divided into three
sections: exercises in haematology, exercises on humans and
experiments on amphibians. Faculty and students of medical
schools in India are of the opinion that animal experiments
should be discontinued, that the curriculum in experimental
physiology and pharmacology needs to be updated, that the
same understanding of topics could be obtained by using
alternative methods and that there is an urgent need to introduce
alternatives of animal experiments.
Aim: To assess the need for changes in the practical physiology
curriculum of medical undergraduates.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among
300 MBBS, second and third professional students using a
semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted
of two sections: the first section was based on the current
experimental physiology curriculum regarding the relevance of
topics taught in haematology, amphibian and human practical
classes. In the second section, the opinion was also sought
regarding introduction of new topics related to recent advances
in clinical physiology and basic clinical skills.
Results: More than 60% of the students marked most of the
haematology experiments useful. All the amphibian practicals
were considered irrelevant/not useful by more than 75% of the
students. Regarding the human experiments, more than 70%
of the students marked useful. More than 65% students were
of the opinion that basic clinical skills should be introduced
at undergraduate level. More than 50% students favoured
introduction of topics from recent advances in physiology.
Conclusion: The present study concludes that there is an
imperative need to implement radical changes in the experimental
physiology curriculum which should be in consonance with
patient care for the doctors of tomorrow to render better health
service. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:52:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51522df9ebaa4c7999341004b9f9a01b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2249-782X 0973-709X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:52:17Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-51522df9ebaa4c7999341004b9f9a01b2022-12-22T01:53:37ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2017-06-01116CC06CC0810.7860/JCDR/2017/24341.9977Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical UndergraduatesRAJNI GOYAL0RAJVEER GARG1PUNEET RAJ GOYAL2Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Ramnagar, Patiala, Punjab, India.Consultant, Department of Neurosurgery, Ivy Hospital, Panchkula, Haryana, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Ramnagar, Patiala, Punjab, India.Introduction: Physiology is one of the foundation sciences for the medical curriculum. It forms the basis of all life sciences. Physiology practical classes in India are divided into three sections: exercises in haematology, exercises on humans and experiments on amphibians. Faculty and students of medical schools in India are of the opinion that animal experiments should be discontinued, that the curriculum in experimental physiology and pharmacology needs to be updated, that the same understanding of topics could be obtained by using alternative methods and that there is an urgent need to introduce alternatives of animal experiments. Aim: To assess the need for changes in the practical physiology curriculum of medical undergraduates. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 300 MBBS, second and third professional students using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: the first section was based on the current experimental physiology curriculum regarding the relevance of topics taught in haematology, amphibian and human practical classes. In the second section, the opinion was also sought regarding introduction of new topics related to recent advances in clinical physiology and basic clinical skills. Results: More than 60% of the students marked most of the haematology experiments useful. All the amphibian practicals were considered irrelevant/not useful by more than 75% of the students. Regarding the human experiments, more than 70% of the students marked useful. More than 65% students were of the opinion that basic clinical skills should be introduced at undergraduate level. More than 50% students favoured introduction of topics from recent advances in physiology. Conclusion: The present study concludes that there is an imperative need to implement radical changes in the experimental physiology curriculum which should be in consonance with patient care for the doctors of tomorrow to render better health service.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/9977/24341_CE[Ra1]_F(RK)_PF1(SY_SS)_PFA(PSY).pdfamphibianhaematologyhuman clinical |
| spellingShingle | RAJNI GOYAL RAJVEER GARG PUNEET RAJ GOYAL Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical Undergraduates Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research amphibian haematology human clinical |
| title | Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical Undergraduates |
| title_full | Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical Undergraduates |
| title_fullStr | Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical Undergraduates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical Undergraduates |
| title_short | Need for Changes in the Practical Physiology Curriculum of Medical Undergraduates |
| title_sort | need for changes in the practical physiology curriculum of medical undergraduates |
| topic | amphibian haematology human clinical |
| url | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/9977/24341_CE[Ra1]_F(RK)_PF1(SY_SS)_PFA(PSY).pdf |
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