Sudha M¹,
Kalyani²
Vignesh³,
¹Professor and Head,
Department of Physiology,
²Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine,
³Assistant professor, Department of Community Medicine,
Government Medical College and Hospital,
Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract

• Background: Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) introduces first-year MBBS students to clinical environments, enhancing their understanding of pre-clinical subjects through real-world application.
• Aim: : To explore faculty perspectives on the implementation of ECE for I-MBBS students in a tertiary care medical institution.
• Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using focus group discussions among 40 faculty members from preclinical, paraclinical, and clinical departments. Participants were grouped by department and engaged in sessions lasting 60–90 minutes. Thematic content analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach.
• Results: Four key themes emerged: general perspectives on ECE, faculty preparedness, human resource requirements, and time constraints. While most preclinical faculty supported ECE, others cited challenges such as lack of training, insufficient staffing, and limited time allocation for ECE activities.
• Conclusion: Faculty acknowledged the value of ECE in aligning basic sciences with clinical relevance. However, successful implementation requires enhanced faculty development programs, resource allocation, and curriculum planning.

Keywords: clinical Education, curriculum, early exposure, faculty development, medical students