A Survey on the Preference of Text Book of Pharmacology by Undergraduate Medical Students in a Medical College in Puducherry

 

S Amarnath*, Arun Sharma, S Basalingappa, S Jaikumar, S Ramaswamy, M Thulasimani.

Department of Pharmacology, Sri Lakshminarayana Institute of Medical Sciences,

Puducherry - 605 502. India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Good text books contribute significantly in effective learning of medical students. A total number of 93 second year undergraduate medical students from Sri Lakshminarayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, participants in the survey on the use and views of text book of pharmacology. Of these 80 students belong to senior batch who have completed more than one year training in pharmacology; the remaining 13 students (junior batch) have completed six months. The survey revealed that 46.25% of students are using ‘Essentials of Medical Pharmacology’ by KD Tripathi. In contrast only 7.69% of junior batch preferred this text book. Forty percent of students of senior batch preferred the ‘Pharmacology prep manual for Undergraduates’ by Tara V Shanbhag, while 92.3% of the junior batch preferred the same. Text book of medical pharmacology by Padmaja Udaykumar was preferred by 12.5% of senior batch students and only by one student of junior batch. Easy understanding was attributed as a main cause for preference of the text book. From the statement of students it can be inferred that they give top priority for books which contain essential information, with less than 500 pages and simple, brief and clear explanation of mechanism of action. About 35% of students wanted pneumonics for easy recall without much stress. It appears from the survey in this study that students prefer text books from Indian authors. Hence, medical teachers from India should come forward to author text books which are reader friendly, illustrative and concise. 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Medical text books play a vital role in undergraduate medical curriculum. They are essential not only from the examination point of view but also to understand the basics of medical sciences (1). Since 40 years back, the number of medical text books available including pharmacology were less and students mostly followed such available books only without any choice. Currently with the availability of many medical book publishers and their encouragement of medical teachers to write and publish books, more number of text books of pharmacology have come up within the recent years. Each book presents data in its own way, though the goal is same to cater the need of the undergraduate medical students (2).

 

It was felt necessary to organize a survey to identify the opinion of the students on the text books in understanding pharmacology and also their actual requirements to meet their demand from a text book. The data thus obtained may provide useful suggestion for the medical teachers while writing text book of pharmacology so that the students can read and understand the subject without fear and tear.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The present study, a sample survey based on a validated questionnaire was conducted among the second year undergraduate medical students of Sri Lakshminarayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry. A total number of 93 students participated in the survey. Of this, 80 students (senior batch) have completed more than one year training in Pharmacology, while the remaining 13 students (junior batch) have completed 6 months.

 

The survey questionnaire addressed the following salient points

-         The  text book of pharmacology of their choice

-         Reasons for the preference of the book

-         The problem faced by them in understanding Pharmacology from the text books

-         Their expectation from a text book of pharmacology.

 

The participants were requested to express their opinion without apprehension since their identity was not disclosed. After the survey is completed, the questionnaires were collected; the data were analyzed and presented in the results.

 

 

 

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

TABLE -1 Over all response of the participants.

SNO	QUESTIONS	RESPONSES	Senior Batch (%)	Junior Batch (%)
1	Choice of the text book(s) you read for learning Pharmacology	Essentials of  medical Pharmacology by KD Tripathi	46.25	7.69
		Pharmacology prep manual for UG  by Tara V Shanbhag	40	92.30
		Basic and clinical Pharmacology by Katzung	1.25	0
		Clinical pharmacology by Bennett and Brown	0	0
		Medical Pharmacology by Padmaja Udaykumar	12.5	0
		The pharmacological basis of therapeutics by Goodman and Gilman’s	0	0
		Others	0	0
2	Reason for preference for the book	Teacher follows	15.06	0
		Easy to understand	80.82	76.92
		Seniors’ advice	26.02	15.38
		Questions appear from the book	8.21	7.69
		Examination oriented	20.54	0
		Small and handy (need based)	9.58	0
3	According to you reading of more than one book is necessary for understanding  Pharmacology	YES	82.5	92.30
		NO	17.5	7.69
4.	The problem you face in understanding pharmacology from the text books	Less subject matter	0	15.38
		More subject matter and confusing	67.12	38.46
		Mechanism of action not clearly explained	36.98	38.46
		Information given are not necessary for under graduates	5.47	7.69
		Any other points	None	None
5	Your opinion about a text book on pharmacology should provide the following	Only exam oriented	1.36	0
		Exam and concept oriented	49.31	76.92
		Explains fully including clinical aspects	36.98	23.07
		Explains precisely the aspects related to curriculum	23.28	0
		Completely illustrative	8.21	0
		Illustration where ever appropriate	24.65	0

 

 

 

In response to the question on the preference of text book, out of 80 senior batch students, 46.25% of students have informed that they are using ‘Essentials of Medical Pharmacology’ by KD Tripathi. In contrast, only 7.69% of the junior batch which included 13 students preferred this text book. Forty percent of the students belonging to senior batch preferred to read ‘Pharmacology prep manual for under graduates’ by Tara V Shanbhag, while 92.3% of the junior batch students preferred this prep manual. Text book of medical pharmacology by Padmaja Udaykumar was preferred by 12.5 % of the senior batch students. Only one student informed that he is reading ‘Basic and Clinical Pharmacology’ by Katzung. No mention has been made on text book of clinical pharmacology by Bennett and Brown or The pharmacological basis of therapeutics by Goodman and Gilman’s by any of the student in both batches.

Easy understanding was attributed as a case for preference by 80.82% of senior batch and 76.92% of junior batch. Seniors advice was mentioned as reason by 26.02% of senior batch students and 15.38% of junior batch students. About 21% of students have mentioned their preferred text book is examination oriented but none of the students from junior batch gave importance to this cause. Fifteen percent of students from senior batch mentioned that these books are followed by teachers and hence their preference but none of the students from junior batch touched on this aspect. While 8.21% of the students from senior batch felt that examination questions mostly appear from these books; none of the students from junior batch touched on this line. Text book being small and handy was considered the reason by 9.58% of the students of senior batch; but none of the students belonging to junior batch mentioned anything regarding this aspect.

 

This shift in the paradigm of preference of text books with in a period of six months. While 46% of senior batch students preferred text book by K D Tripathi, only 7.60% of the junior batch students who joined six months later, preferred to use this text book. There is spurt in the preference of text book by Tara V Shanbhag from 40% to 92.30% within a span of six months. More than 75% of students from both the batches felt that this text book is easy to understand.

 

Some students opined that the Manuel by Tara V Shanbhag is short, concise without much confusion and above all it contains simple line diagrams for easy understanding. Further, two students from senior batch felt that though the text book by KD Tripathi is informative and descriptive but not easily stored in mind. It contains 1002 pages in contrast to the Manuel by Tara V Shanbhag which contains only 500 pages. A factor considered by the students is that they have to learn not only Pharmacology but also Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine in second year and they cannot devote too much time for only one subject alone (3).

 

It is surprising to observe that none of the medical students participated in this study preferred clinical pharmacology text book by Bennett and Brown. Usually, this book had been the preferred text book of pharmacology by almost all medical students including the authors of this article for past 30 years for then written by D.R.Laurence. This book has been written in a simple manner with clinical orientation including synopsis, case histories and eye catchy illustrations; these features had made this book as reader friendly.

 

Similarly, ‘The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics’ by Goodman and Gilman’s is considered as one of the standard book for pharmacologists. It contains complete information about the drug, treatment modalities of diseases with appropriate references. However, the reasons for none preferred this book is the exhaustive information available which may suit postgraduate and researchers in that field of pharmacology (4).

 

From the statement of students it can be inferred that they give top priority for books which contain essential information and are easily understandable. Available text books catering this need of the students are considerably less. Hence, it appears a text book written on these lines will best used by the students to learn pharmacology. Hence, we feel that medical teachers working in medical colleges should be encouraged to write text book of pharmacology. Organisations such as University Grand Commission (UGC), Department of Science and Technology and medical universities should come forward to give financial assistance to teachers without complicated procedure. This is all the more important on considering the view of 82% of the students from both batches felt that more than one text book be used for better understanding of pharmacology.

 

With regard to problem faced by students in understanding pharmacology, more than 67% of the senior batch and 38% of the junior batch students felt that the subject matter is too much and confusing for them; more than 37% of students from both batches had expressed their view that mechanism of action of drugs could not be clearly explained.

 

It is heartening to know that only one student felt that the text book should be only exam oriented. About 50 % of students from senior batch and 76% of the students from junior batch have felt that the text book should be not only exam oriented but also clinically oriented; this reveals that these students are more inclined to learn the subject and be good professionals besides passing the examinations.

 

With regard to aspects covered in text book, more than 70% students from both batches felt that simple illustrations to understand the mechanism of actions will be more helpful. Further, the sentences should be simple and should not be long and complicated stretching over 7 to 8 lines. A significant proportion of students (35 %) also wanted pneumonics for classification, uses and side effects for easy remembering without much stress; such pneumonics will help them to recollect all the points during theory and oral examination.

 

CONCLUSION:

As seen from the results, the students participated in this survey prefer textbooks from Indian authors. Hence, medical teachers from India should author text books based on their curriculum, reader friendly, Illustrative and concise. Such text book will cater the needs of the students.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

None

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES:

1.       Gurpinar E, Bati H, Tetik C. Learning style of medical students change in relation to time. Advances in Physiology Education. 35; 2011: 307-311.

2.       Ventura-Martinez R, Aguirre-Hernandez R, Santiago-Mejia J, Gomez C, Rodriguez R. Learning pharmacology in Mexico: A survey of the use and views of pharmacology textbooks by undergraduate medical students. Scientific Research. 5(1); 2014: 46-52.

3.       Klatt E C, Klatt C A. How much is too much reading for medical students? Assigned reading and reading rates at one medical school. Academic Medicine. 86; 2011: 1079-1083.

4.       Shukr I, Zainab R, Rana M H. Learning style of postgraduate and undergraduate medical students. Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. 23; 2013: 25-30.

 

 

 

 

Received on 17.11.2014       Modified on 09.12.2014

Accepted on 15.12.2014      © RJPT All right reserved