Exploring Medical Students’ Perspective on Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded

Abstract

The Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum was introduced by the National Medical Commission of India in 2019, with the aim of bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills among medical graduates. In this study, the perspectives of undergraduate medical students toward the CBME curriculum were evaluated at a government medical college in Maharashtra. CBME not only emphasizes the acquisition of basic medical knowledge but also expands into core competencies required for producing highly skilled clinical graduates. In addition, it highlights value-based competencies such as empathy, professionalism, altruism, communication skills, ethics, and humanities, all of which align with the national goal of “Health for All.” This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among undergraduate medical students at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded. A validated questionnaire was administered through Google Forms among medical students. A total of 225 students participated. Majority of the students opined that Attitude, Ethics, and Communication skills, foundation course, early clinical exposure, and elective postings are necessary for the academic and overall development of the medical students. The new CBME curriculum aims to make medical education in India more outcome-oriented by focusing on the competencies required in clinical practice. It also provides a clear framework and defined standards for assessing student performance.