IMPACT OF EARLY CLINICAL EXPOSURE ON KNOWLEDGE RETENTION AND PRACTICAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MBBS STUDENTS-SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Keywords:
Clinical Competence, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Knowledge Retention, Medical Students, Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Practical Skills, South AsiaAbstract
Background: Traditional medical education often delays clinical exposure until later years, which can disconnect theoretical learning from practical application. Recent shifts in educational models emphasize the benefits of introducing students to clinical settings early in their academic journey to enhance cognitive integration, clinical competence, and long-term retention.
Objective: To systematically review existing evidence on the impact of early clinical exposure (ECE) on theoretical understanding, practical skill development, and long-term knowledge retention among undergraduate MBBS students.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted over four months, focusing on studies from South Punjab and similar educational settings. Ten eligible studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted regarding participants, intervention design, and measured outcomes. Tools included pre- and post-intervention knowledge assessments, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), and six-month follow-up evaluations. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with t-tests and ANOVA applied to assess significance, assuming normal distribution of data.
Results: Post-ECE knowledge scores showed significant improvement, with a mean increase of 25.3 percentage points across studies. Practical skill performance also reflected strong outcomes, with OSCE scores averaging 84.6%. Long-term retention remained notably higher than baseline scores, sustaining an average of 69.2% six months post-intervention. Statistical analyses confirmed significant differences in knowledge and skill outcomes pre- and post-intervention (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Early clinical exposure demonstrably enhances knowledge acquisition, practical competency, and long-term retention among undergraduate medical students. These findings support its integration as a standard element of MBBS curricula to foster clinically competent and practice-ready graduates.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Jahanzaib Ali, Iqra Yaqoob (Author)
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