What can process assessment tell us about AETCOM delivery?
Dhaneria M, Shrivastava S, Shaiva R, Golecha A, Pathak A. Process assessment of the attitude, ethics, and communication (AETCOM) sessions: student engagement and satisfaction among medical students in central India. BMC Medical Education. 2026;26:963. PMID: 42286671.
View source on PubMed ↗What was studied?
An observational study followed 126 Phase III Part II MBBS students over 3.5 months at R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain. Four AETCOM competencies were delivered in small groups using role-play and discussion. The investigators combined student ratings using a modified System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities with an observer-based engagement checklist.
What did the study find?
Attendance was high, student satisfaction was rated very good across the four sessions, and observer measures showed high levels of eye contact and on-task behavior. The study also reported a positive association between facilitator professional attitude and student engagement.
What might this mean for medical educators?
The study shows the value of assessing the process of an educational session rather than assuming that delivery quality is uniform. For institutions, structured observation and learner feedback may help identify differences between facilitators and sessions that are otherwise invisible.
What does it not establish?
This was a single-institution observational study focused on engagement and satisfaction. It did not establish improvement in clinical communication competency, transfer to patient care, or long-term behavior change.