Evidence Amalgamating Case Based Teaching (CBT-E) In Physiology: An Innovative Learning Approach for Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

Context: Whether it is the teaching, evaluation or research, the element of evidence has to be integrated to the entire process. Amalgamating two teaching approaches viz case based teaching and evidence (CBT-E) will help medical students to enhance their learning and develop conceptual clinical approach in Physiology. Aims: To assess the learning of first year medical students towards the mixed teaching approach of CBT-E and to correlate the learning with other teaching methods. Setting & Design: Analytical cross sectional comparative study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, SBKS MIRC, SVDU for one year duration in first year MBBS students. EBM is a part of curriculum and paper based case was amalgamated with the recent evidence for teaching. Method & Materials: Once the students are sensitized for the PICO format and level of evidence, four sessions were taken for applied Physiology with a case scenario followed by the evidence related to the case for various topics. Along with CBT-E learning was also be assessed for the sessions with only evidence, sessions with only case and sessions with traditional teaching methods, 4 sessions of each. All the groups were analyzed compared for the learning outcome by pre-post analysis. Statistical analysis used: Data analysis was prepare evaluation matrix up to the level II. Chi-square analysis was done for association for post-test findings. Results: Study found highly significant difference for learning outcome for all the groups. Chi-square analysis for Post-test learning for four different methods on the basis of percentage grouping of post test score. The number of students in group3 (>75%) is highest (N=110) for CBT-E method of teaching (p <0.0001). Conclusion: CBT-E teaching approach may help students for understanding of the application of knowledge and higher level of thinking ability, which might influence students’ performance for coming years in patients care.