Perceptions and suggestions of second year medical professional students of deemed health university about their teaching and learning process in pharmacology: an analytical study

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThe teaching learning process in 2 nd year medical professional course is crucial; because this is the time the students are taught about patho-physiological concepts of diseases and their treatment and come across patients in the clinics. In short, learning in the 2 nd year professional students acts as a foundation on which a process of becoming a good professional is resting. Moreover, the curriculum and trends in medical education are changing rapidly. Needs of students are changing and role of educators is being redefined at the same time. One has to keep pace with the ever changing needs of the students and changing trends. So, if the needs of the students are considered while carrying out teaching, the process of teaching-learning can be made effective. So, we tried to find out the gaps, if any, by taking students' feedback, in the 2 nd professional medical students about their teaching and learning process in our subject (pharmacology) and sought suggestions from them for strengthening teaching and learning of pharmacology.Pharmacology is a medical science that forms a backbone of the medical profession as drugs form the corner stone ABSTRACT Background: The teaching learning process in 2 nd year medical professional course is crucial. Learning in the 2 nd year medical students acts as a foundation on which a process of becoming a good professional is resting. Pharmacology is a medical science that forms a backbone of the medical profession as drugs form the corner stone of therapy in human diseases. So, in order to assess the strength of the pharmacology curriculum and students' learning experience, collection of the students' feedback is important so that necessary reforms can be implemented for the betterment of teaching/learning of the subject. Objective of this questionnaire based study was conducted to determine the perceptions of 2 nd year medical professional students about various aspects of their teaching and learning, in order to make teaching more effective and enable students to learn better. Methods: This was a questionnaire based analytical study. The first part of the questionnaire contains respondent's general information. The second part of the questionnaire was in multiple choices format with a space for suggestions/remarks. The response was reviewed and analysis was done. Results: Out of total 180 students, 111 were able to complete the survey. Out of them 2 were not filled the first part of the questionnaire (respondent's general information). Out of 109 duly filled questionnaires 43 were males and 66 females and the mean age of the students was 20 years. Majority of the students found Pharmacology to be the most relevant and useful subject in further profession and future. About teaching learning media in understanding the subject in theory class majority of students preferred combination of chalk and board as well as power point presentation (PPT). Regarding the reforms to be made in the curriculum, majority of the students opined that group discussions should be introd...