Perceptions of Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM) Modules Among Indian Medical Graduates in Their First Professional Year: An Educational Observational Study.

ABSTRACT

Background The National Medical Commission (NMC) of India has redesigned the graduate medical education program to equip Indian medical graduates with essential information, skills, attitudes, values, and responsiveness as physicians in their initial interactions with the community. Central to this initiative is the Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM) module, designed as a guide for educators and institutions to implement a comprehensive, long-term program. This aims to ensure that students develop competency as clinicians, leaders, team players, communicators, lifelong learners, and professionals. Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate students' perceptions of the AETCOM modules during their first year. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted at BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, India, utilizing self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires for data collection. The study included second- and third-year medical students, with all respondents who submitted their responses being included in the study. The total sample size comprised 123 students. Results Ninety-eight percent of the students agreed that the NMC had taken excellent initiative with the AETCOM module and found its duration sufficient. They suggested that the teaching-learning techniques should include more interactive sessions. Conclusions Feedback from the AETCOM module is crucial for enhancing its effectiveness, and it should be gathered from all medical colleges to propose necessary improvements.