BRIDGING THE GAP IN MEDICAL EDUCATION: EVALUATING MBBS STUDENTS' VIEWS ON AETCOM AND THE FOUNDATION COURSE

Background: The transition from high school to medical school is challenging, and the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) to ease this shift. The Foundation Course and AETCOM (Attitude, Ethics, and Communication) modules aim to equip students with essential skills for medical practice. The aim Objectives: of the study was to evaluate MBBS students' perspectives on the effectiveness, challenges, and potential improvements in the AETCOM and Foundation Course. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 705 MBBS studen Methodology: ts across India. Data was collected via an online feedback form and analysed using descriptive statistics. While 67.4% of Results: students found AETCOM beneficial, many recommended making it more practical. Similarly, 63.3% supported the Foundation Course, but students suggested incorporating hands-on training like CPR and suturing. The study highlights the need for a more interactive, skill-based a Conclusion: pproach to improve engagement and learning outcomes in these foundational courses.