EFFECTIVENESS OF A STRUCTURED SENSITIZATION PROGRAMME ON PREPAREDNESS AND ATTITUDES OF FIRST-YEAR MBBS STUDENTS TOWARDS THE FAMILY ADOPTION PROGRAMME: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY
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Keywords
Family Adoption Programme (FAP); Sensitization; Community-based learning; Early clinical exposure; Social accountability; Medical education; MBBS students
Abstract
Contemporary medical education increasingly emphasizes community-oriented, competency-based training to prepare socially accountable physicians. The Family Adoption Programme (FAP), introduced by the National Medical Commission, aims to provide early community exposure to undergraduate medical students. However, first-year MBBS students often experience anxiety, lack of preparedness, and limited understanding of community dynamics, underscoring the need for structured sensitization prior to field engagement. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a structured sensitization programme in improving preparedness, knowledge, and attitudes of first-year MBBS students towards participation in the Family Adoption Programme. Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted over six months in the Department of Community Medicine, NIMDS&R. All first-year MBBS students of the 2024–2025 academic session was included through complete enumeration. Participants underwent a structured sensitization programme followed by pre- and post-intervention assessments using validated, semi-structured questionnaires. Outcomes measured included changes in knowledge scores, attitudes towards community engagement, and readiness for FAP. Student satisfaction and qualitative feedback were collected through reflection and debriefing sessions. Quantitative data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, while qualitative responses were subjected to thematic analysis using a manual coding framework. Results: The sensitization programme demonstrated improvement in students’ knowledge regarding social determinants of health, enhanced positive attitudes towards community engagement, and increased readiness for participation in FAP. Students reported high satisfaction with the training methods and expressed greater confidence in interacting with families in community settings. Conclusion: Structured sensitization prior to community exposure significantly enhances the preparedness, knowledge, and attitudes of first-year medical students, supporting the effectiveness of FAP as a valuable educational tool in undergraduate medical training.
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Roopali Nath Mathur
Additional Principal and Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Balvir Singh Tomar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Ishan Pathak
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Balvir Singh Tomar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India
Himanshu Tanwar
Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Index Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, India
