Identification of mistakes and their correction by a small group discussion as a revision exercise at the end of a teaching module in biochemistry.
BACKGROUND
Graduate medical students often get less opportunity for clarifying their doubts and to reinforce their concepts after lecture classes. The Medical Council of India (MCI) encourages group discussions among students. We evaluated the effect of identifying mistakes in a given set of wrong statements and their correction by a small group discussion by graduate medical students as a revision exercise.


METHODS
At the end of a module, a pre-test consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) was conducted. Later, a set of incorrect statements related to the topic was given to the students and they were asked to identify the mistakes and correct them in a small group discussion. The effects on low, medium and high achievers were evaluated by a post-test and delayed post-tests with the same set of MCQs.


RESULTS
The mean post-test marks were significantly higher among all the three groups compared to the pre-test marks. The gain from the small group discussion was equal among low, medium and high achievers. The gain from the exercise was retained among low, medium and high achievers after 15 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of mistakes in statements and their correction by a small group discussion is an effective, but unconventional revision exercise in biochemistry.
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India - Department of Biochemistry.
Zachariah
Z
Bobby
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India - Department of Biochemistry.
H
H
Nandeesha
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India - Department of Biochemistry.
M G
MG
Sridhar
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India - Department of Biochemistry.
R
R
Soundravally
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India - Department of Biochemistry.
Sajita
S
Setiya
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India - Department of Biochemistry.
M Sathish
MS
Babu
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India - Department of Biochemistry.
G
G
Niranjan
D001671:Biochemistry / Q000193:education*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans