Student Perceptions of Reflective Writing in Physiology-Insights into Academic and Professional Growth

Aims & Objectives - The aim of this study is to assess the impact of reflective writing on the academic growth, personal development, and professional skills of first-year MBBS students in physiology. Additionally, the study seeks to analyze students’ perceptions of reflective writing and gather feedback on their experiences with this practice. Materials & Methods: - This qualitative study was conducted in the Physiology Department at AIIMS Bhopal from January to April 2023, with 100 first-year medical students. Approval was obtained from the Research Review Board (AIIMS/BPL/RRB/Approval/2022/25). Students provided informed consent, and pre-study counseling sessions emphasized reflective writing's importance for academic progress. A pre-test using a validated questionnaire was administered before the intervention, followed by a post-test Six Interactive physiology lectures on pre-selected topics related to reproductive physiology, each with defined learning objectives, were delivered to the students. pre-validated perception Questionnaire about the reflection was given to students. Additionally, students were asked open-ended questions to gather their opinions on attributes they liked the most, suggestions for enhancing reflective writing effectiveness, and any experiences they wished to share Result: - Data from pre- and post-tests were analyzed using paired and unpaired t-tests. Perceptions were assessed through 13 closed-ended Likert scale items. The statistically significant mean difference (-3.72, p<0.05) between pre- and post-test scores indicated the impact of reflective writing. Chi-square analysis for perception showed significant differences in response distribution, with high satisfaction in teacher involvement and guidance. Students reported that reflective writing helped them engage more deeply with lecture content and emphasized the need for further teacher involvement in reflective activities to support both professional and personal growth. Conclusion: - Reflective writing is a powerful tool for enhancing medical education, improving retention, fostering engagement, and promoting lifelong learning. Integrating it more systematically into medical curricula could cultivate reflective practitioners who are better equipped for the complexities of modern healthcare. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2025 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.