Cinemeducation: a teaching-learning tool to teach professionalism and ethics in medical undergraduates

Background: The study was undertaken in II year medical students to sensitize and make student competent for professionalism and ethics to maintain respect for patients, colleagues and society and role of Informed Consent in a clinical trial using Cinema-education Methods: A brief lecture about professionalism and ethics and hands-on training to write reflections was conducted. During session, the knowledge gained and attitudes were checked by pre-test questionnaire. In the Session the students were shown short movie clips that portray on professionalism and ethics which highlight doctor patient relationship in context of maintaining respect of patient, colleagues and society and ethical aspects of informed consent in a clinical trial. The Post session was assessed by a role play, post-test, feedback and reflection writing and analyzed using content and narrative analysis.Results: Respect towards patients and co-workers and taking informed consent were the positive reflections while treating patients as a subject and giving incomplete information about the trial were pointed out as negative aspect of the movie clip. Majority of the students agreed that cinemeducation had cleared doubts, gave better understanding, stimulated their interest and motivated to learn about professionalism and Ethics. Through role play as assessment the students were able to correctly pick up the scenario, identify the issues related to the role play and were able to give solution to the problem portrayed.Conclusions: Cinemeducation is an indispensable teaching learning tool to understand about patients feelings, role of communication and to teach empathy, ethical aspects in patient care