Effect of early clinical exposure on attitude and performance of first year medical students

Encountering clinical environments as an inseparable part of studying medicine could bring about tension and anxiety for medical students. Early clinical exposure has been suggested to decrease these stresses and to motivate students for a better attitude and awareness. This study was performed to determine the effect of a short-term period of exposing to clinical environment on medical students’ attitude toward medical education and their educational function.

In an interventional study performed as pre-test/post-test, 43 first year medical students were encountered clinical environments in rounds, operating rooms and emergency ward. Students’ attitude was assessed by a questionnaire using Likret scale. We compared student's function in specific lessons and result of comprehensive basic examination with previous entrance students as an external control group.

Significant differences were found in the student’s attitude before and after the course (P<0.01). Results showed a significant increase in the student’s attitude toward importance of the patient's history and physical exam versus para-clinical exams. In addition, their attitude about therapeutic stuff duties in all levels. The rules between physician and patient, patients rights in hospital, diagnosis and therapeutic management, different steps of medical education and merging basic and clinical sciences, simple physical exam and assistance management were increased significantly after the course. No significant difference was observed in the student's educational function in any items.

Based on the results of this study, we found a positive effect of early clinical exposure on attitude of first year medical students. Therefore, we suggest that early clinical exposure be added to educational curriculum for medical students.