Original Articles

An analysis of student performance in clinical appointment in forensic medicine

Authors:

Abstract

Introduction:

Undergraduate medical students have only one clinical attachment in forensic medicine during their entire curriculum. Within this time imparting a clinical skill is difficult before basic theory is taught.

Objective:

To analyze the clinical and practical skills obtained during the clinical appointment and suggest changes to clinical appointment.

Method:

Medico-legal reports (MLR) and post mortem reports (PMR) written by ninety five undergraduates who followed the appointment before the completion of the medico-legal module were analyzed. Key sections were analyzed based on pre-determined criteria. A mark was allocated ranging from 1(poor)-5(very good) by evaluating the criteria. Marks obtained for each criterion under a section analyzed were added to obtain a total mark. The average of the total mark for each section was again graded according to the same marking scheme.

Results:

In the reports analysed, for sections on basic information/identification and category of hurt, more than 70% of students obtained an acceptable mark, but for injury description it was 58%. For opinion writing it was below 60%. The success rate for writing a proper cause of death was 55%.

Conclusions:

Even without basic forensic theory knowledge we have been able to train the students how to write an acceptable MLR and PMR but success rate for formulation of opinion and cause of death was not satisfactory. Therefore clinical teaching appointment should be well planned and placed in a proper position within the curriculum. The use of a structured time table is also important. It is important to give basic knowledge on forensic medicine prior to clinical training.

 

Medico-Legal Journal of Sri Lanka 2014; 2(2) : 33-38

Keywords:

UndergraduateClinical appointmentForensic Medicinepractical skillsMedico – legal reportPostmortem report
  • Year: 2014
  • Volume: 2 Issue: 2
  • Page/Article: 33-38
  • DOI: 10.4038/mljsl.v2i2.7312
  • Published on 18 Dec 2015
  • Peer Reviewed