1Second Year Postgraduate, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2*Senior Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
3Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
4Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Afraa, Senior Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Background: Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) has become an essential component of competency-based medical education, aiming to bridge the gap between preclinical learning and real-world clinical practice. By providing early interaction with patients, case scenarios, and supervised faculty guidance, ECE is expected to enhance clinical reasoning, communication, confidence, and the integration of basic and clinical sciences. Despite widespread implementation, limited evidence exists on how medical students across different training levels perceive the effectiveness of ECE in strengthening clinical reasoning skills. This study aimed to assess student perceptions of ECE and evaluate differences in perception across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 medical students from third-year MBBS, final-year MBBS, and postgraduate programs. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling to ensure proportionate representation across academic levels. Data were collected using a prevalidated semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic details, Likert-scale items assessing five ECE perception domains—Knowledge Integration, Clinical Reasoning, Communication and Confidence, Faculty Support and Structure, and Overall Experience—and a short DREEM-based learning environment component. Responses were analysed using IBM SPSS version 26. Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages, while continuous variables were summarised using means and standard deviations. Associations were examined using Chi-square tests, and group differences were analysed using t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests depending on data distribution. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained prior to study initiation.
Results: Of the 150 participants, 85.3% demonstrated a high positive perception toward ECE, with a mean total score of 4.35 ± 0.62. The highest subscale score was observed for Knowledge Integration (4.52 ± 0.58), followed by Clinical Reasoning (4.41 ± 0.65), indicating strong student agreement that ECE improves conceptual understanding and analytical ability. Postgraduates exhibited significantly higher overall perception scores (4.46 ± 0.55) compared to undergraduates (4.31 ± 0.64; p = 0.038). Clinical Reasoning showed a significant difference (p = 0.021), with postgraduates reporting greater perceived benefit. Perception increased progressively with the number of ECE sessions attended, demonstrating a clear dose–response effect.
Conclusion: ECE was perceived highly positively across all academic levels, with particular impact on clinical reasoning and integration of basic and clinical sciences. The stronger perception among advanced learners and the dose–response trend highlight the need for structured, repeated ECE sessions embedded consistently throughout the medical curriculum.
Keywords: Early Clinical Exposure, Clinical Reasoning, Medical Education, Competency-Based Medical Education, Student Perception, Knowledge Integration
How to cite this article: Theepika M, Afraa, Meena TS, Nithya. Student Perception on Early Clinical Exposure in Enhancing Clinical Reasoning Skills. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(12s): 829-838. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.12s.99
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None