Publication:

A study incorporating action research to enhance community based medical education

Background Action research is a natural way of acting and researching at the same time and intends finding the solution to local problems encountered by the researcher team. Action research adds to the enthusiasm of community based interventions and learning when implemented by students as a part of community based learning.

Methods A medical education research was carried out involving 40 medical students visiting adopted village under CCHCP of JNMC Sawangi (Meghe) during the period of January to June 2015. Students were assessed on various skills associated with conducting action research, responses towards its utility and its felt need in community based learning was assessed on a five-point likert scale and consensus score was calculated based on the responses.

Results The study reported significant increase in the excellent test score and good test score and decrease in average test score and poor test score. So the performance of students improved from pre-test to post-test. Normalized gain (g) was 0.59, considered moderately effective.

Conclusions Students agreed to having achieved various skills in conducting research with good consensus scores and also agreed to a strong need to incorporate action research in community based medical education.