Process assessment of the attitude, ethics, and communication (AETCOM) sessions: student engagement and satisfaction among medical students in central India

The Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM) module—integral to India’s competency-based medical curriculum—has been designed to foster professionalism, empathy, and ethical decision-making among students graduating from medical colleges in India. However, the process of delivering AETCOM sessions remains insufficiently assessed. Focusing on Phase-III, Part-II MBBS students at R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, the present study examines how process assessment, based on student feedback and structured observer-based assessment, can provide insights into AETCOM session delivery and student engagement.

This observational study was conducted on 126 Phase-III, Part-II MBBS students (Batch 2021) over 3.5 months. Four AETCOM competencies—patient autonomy, medical error disclosure, confidentiality, and fiduciary duty—were taught in small groups by using interactive methods, such as role-play and discussions. Data were collected using the modified System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities (SETQ) survey and an observer-based engagement checklist. The SETQ score ranges from 19 to 95. The actual scores were converted to percentages. Statistical analysis included Cronbach’s alpha for reliability, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for session comparison, and Pearson’s correlation to link the learning environment with student engagement.

The participants’ attendance rate ranged from 92.0% to 99.2%. The modified SETQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.92). Satisfaction scores across the four sessions ranged between 87.97% and 89.86%, categorized as “very good.” A one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences between sessions (p = 0.038), with the confidentiality module rated significantly higher than the patient autonomy module. Engagement metrics showed high levels of eye contact (91%–96%) and on-task behavior (84%–94.4%). Pearson correlation showed a strong positive relationship between the facilitator’s professional attitude and student engagement (r = 0.70, p < 0.01). Note-taking was notably lower (30%–54%), which may reflect greater emphasis on active participation than traditional note-taking.

Process assessment using validated tools like the SETQ provides useful insights into AETCOM session delivery. The findings suggest that interactive methods and positive facilitator–student rapport are associated with higher student engagement. These observations suggest that AETCOM sessions may support student engagement and reflective discussion in ethics-related learning.