J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2013;10:11.

Indian medical students' perspectives on problem-based learning experiences in the undergraduate curriculum: One size does not fit all

• Nanda B
• Manjunatha S

Abstract

PURPOSE
Problem-based learning (PBL) is a well-established method for facilitating the learning of basic science concepts in the context of clinical cases. Relevant evidence is lacking regarding PBL's effectiveness and acceptability as perceived by students accustomed to classical traditional teaching in India. Hence, this study gathered students' opinions on PBL versus Traditional teaching methods to generate a foundation for institutional policymaking and ultimately, changes in the policy of regulatory bodies.
METHODS
A total of 773 first year medical students admitted from 2007-2010 in Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal University, India were asked to respond to a 15-item questionnaire evaluating their preferences for PBL or traditional methods such as lectures after undergoing a systematically conducted PBL session in physiology. Their responses were analyzed with an unpaired t-test. Their comments were also collected.
RESULTS
PBL scored significantly higher for most items in the questionnaire for "learning efficiency" and "student-teacher relationship". The students' comments highlighted the importance of a trained tutor/facilitator to enhance the learning process.
CONCLUSION
Our students are willing to adapt to the PBL method, although they recognize certain benefits of traditional pedagogy. For learning efficiency and the student-teacher relationship, the students feel that neither method holds an advantage. We recommend that the future medical curriculum in India be a hybrid form of PBL and traditional methods with specific training on the unfamiliar PBL approach for both faculty and students.

Keyword

Medical students; Problem-based learning; Perspectives; Curriculum; Evaluation

MeSH Terms

Curriculum*
Humans
India
Learning
Lectures
Methods
Physiology
Problem-Based Learning*
Students, Medical
Teaching
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Percentage of students favoring problem-based learning with respect to various items in Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal University, India. I: at least 10 years of schooling in India before entering medical school; A: at least 10 years of schooling abroad before entering medical school. PBL, problem-based learning.

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  Fig. 2 Preference of students with respect to understanding principles on problem-based learning experiences in the undergraduate curriculum in Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal University, India. I: at least 10 years of schooling in India before entering medical school; A: at least 10 years of schooling abroad before entering medical school. PBL, problem-based learning.

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  Fig. 3 Preference of students with respect to student-teacher relationships on problem-based learning experiences in the undergraduate curriculum in Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal University, India. I: at least 10 years of schooling in India before entering medical school; A: at least 10 years of schooling abroad before entering medical school. PBL, problem-based learning.

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