Perception of teaching faculty about Medical Council of India-mandated Foundation Course

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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Apropos of the initiative by the Medical Council of India (MCI), a month-long Foundation Course was implemented in our institute for the Phase 1 MBBS batch (2019). The index study was carried out to assess the perceptions of faculty members teaching Phase 1 MBBS students about the usefulness and effectiveness of this course, and their suggestions for further improvement. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted online using a predesigned, pretested questionnaire in the form of Google Forms. A total of 41 faculty members were invited to participate in the study. RESULTS: Thirty-six faculty members responded, i.e. a response rate of 88%. Majority of the faculty (69.4%) considered the Foundation Course as a useful addition to MBBS course but felt that the duration is too long. Faculty members found almost all of the sessions to be very useful for the students. However, they also felt that some of the sessions such as spirituality, alternate health systems, disability competency, national health policies, and use of information technology were not relevant for the newly joined MBBS students. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Foundation Course recommended by MCI for MBBS students at the entry level is a positive addition. Incorporating the suggestions from the faculty members can enhance its usefulness further.

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