Assessing the Need for Clinical Forensic Medicine Training in the Medical Undergraduate Curriculum.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the need for clinical forensic medicine (CFM) training (hands-on and bedside) in medical undergraduate students and to determine the utility of skill-based teaching methodology in CFM. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Government Medical College, where we used the mixed model approach (qualitative and quantitative component) to access the approach of three groups containing 50 participants each from (1) resident doctors/interns, (2) faculty, (3) casualty medical officers, toward skill-based teaching of CFM. A structured pretested questionnaire was administered to all study participants. The questionnaire was based on their perception regarding the legal problems faced during clinical practice and their attitude toward the need for CFM. It was followed by a focus group discussion (FGD) arranged separately for each group of 10 participants. Each FGD session lasts for 40 minutes with a moderator and recorder. RESULT: Present MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) curriculum teaches CFM very early is strongly agreed by 20 (40%) of the faculty, four (8%) of interns, and three (6%) of medical officers. 40 (80%) of interns, 43 (86%) of medical officers, and 40 (80%) of faculty necessitate hands-on training in CFM in the MBBS curriculum. Forensic medicine specialists should handle clinical medico-legal cases (MLCs), as agreed by 50 (100%) faculty, 46 (98%) interns, and 47 (94%) medical officers. CONCLUSION: Hands-on training in CFM is needed for a better practical approach for doctors toward handling MLCs. Hands-on training should be introduced in the second-year MBBS curriculum, and their clinical aspects should be taught simultaneously with clinical subjects till the internship.