Background: Orientation programs help medical students to tide over many difficulties faced during their transition to a new study environment. Therefore, it is important that it be conducted well covering all essential aspects.Methods: The present study assesses the feedback of a three-day orientation program given to 100 students who attained admission to MBBS in 2016.The program was organized and conducted by the management and the Medical Education unit. The sessions included lectures, small group assignments, observations and group activities. A semi structured Questionnaire was used to gather the feedback.Results: All of the 100 students (67 female and 33 male students. Median age19 years.) attended. Considering the overall rating of the orientation programme, 40% opined it to be excellent, 50% very good, 7% good and 3 % satisfactory.Conclusions: Through this orientation program, the students were able to understand that leadership quality, team work and good communication skills are needed to be an efficient doctor. Physical work and shadowing of the patients were two innovative and well appreciated sessions. It is evident through the feedback of the students that such orientation programmes are beneficial to them.
Background: Empathy is an essentiality among the medical fraternity. Literature indicates better competency, patient compliance and clinical outcomes in relation to higher levels of empathy. Gender differences in empathy level are universal and various factors influence it. So it's quintessential to understand empathy and its correlates among medicos in India. Aims: To evaluate changes in empathy levels of the M.B.B.S students of a renowned medical college in India, during their course in the first year. Materials and methods: A prospective study was carried out among hundred 1st year medical students [M=34, F= 66] enrolled at a medical college in Kerala during
the academic year 2014 - 2015. Participants completed the Jefferson Scale of Empathy [Student Version].
Results: The mean empathy at the entry & exit points of the study stood at 112 ± 11.39 & 112.07 ± 13.98
respectively. Comparing the male & female population, the females had higher empathy levels. When comparing
the empathy levels at the entry & exit points of the male population, significant decline [p value= 0.001] was
seen. The female population showed a significant increase [p value= 0.001] in their empathy levels over the
same period. Conclusion: There were significant changes in empathy levels of the male & female population,
though discernable changes in the whole population were not evident. This study necessitates further follow up
of the present students, to analyze the changes occurring over the entire period of medical school.
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