Publication:

Utilizing SWOC analysis as a thinking tool for enhancing understanding of pharmacology in second year MBBS students as part of preparation for the NEXT examination

Background This study assessed how well second-year MBBS students studying for the national exit test (NEXT) understood pharmacology using SWOC (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, challenges) analysis.

Methods 239 students from Government Medical College in Nagpur participated in a cross-sectional, parallel-group study. While the CD batch (n=121) did not receive SWOC instruction, the AB batch (n=117) did. A case-based MCQ test in the NEXT format was finished by both groups. Kendall Tau correlation and independent t-tests were used to assess the scores.

Results The CD Batch outscored the AB Batch by a large margin (p<0.001). There was little correlation (τ=0.212, p=0.014) between MCQ performance and SWOC chart scores.

Conclusions SWOC analysis may help with critical thinking in difficult situations, however it did not enhance MCQ performa.