Questionnaire based counselling: A tool to identify stress precipitating factors and thereby upgrading the performance of a new medical Entrant in department of anatomy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vast first MBBS course has been posing great problems for a fresh entrant in medical college. A student is merely 18-19 years when he gains entry to a medical college in India. Multiple problems pile up for him at the very onset of his academic year in Department of Anatomy. The present study aimed to identify various stress factors and further assess the effect of counselling/mentorship programme on solving such issues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pre-validated, predesigned questionnaire was administered to hundred first year medical students. They were individually counselled with various faculty persons. Based on the questionnaire given, the results were analysed. RESULTS: 45% of the students were sure that their language problem was solved after the session. 48% students accepted that they did have some adjustment problems, which were solved then. 30% expressed that some of their personal problems were also solved. 54% were now able to manage their time judiciously. 64% opined that counselling helped to plan their studies well. 52% students admitted that counselling improved their performance in theory. 46% expressed that counselling also helped to improve their performance in practicals. 65% told us that their skills both in theory and practical had improved after the session. 39% consented that counselling relieved them of anxiety. 67% recognised that their knowledge in the subject of anatomy had increased. 75% were of the view that similar sessions should be conducted more frequently. 40% preferred to express their views in their regional language. 85% students advised us to carry forward these sessions to the next batches. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the need for counselling to solve multifaceted adjustment problems.