Training interns with a structured pathology and microbiology module during elective posting of compulsory rotating medical internship

• Author Details:   
• Asitava Deb Roy
• Veena Jyoti
• Aarushi Khajuria
• Mala Mukherjee
• Dipmala Das
• Himel Mondal ^*

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Background: Pathology and microbiology are essential for clinical decision-making, yet medical interns often receive minimal structured training in these areas. In India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandates laboratory medicine exposure during internship, but implementation varies. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a structured Intern LabMaster Training Program (ILTP) in pathology and microbiology.

Materials and Methods: An interventional study was conducted with sixty MBBS interns assigned to a 2-week laboratory medicine elective. They were randomly divided into an ILTP intervention group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30) following the standard internship curriculum. The ILTP included lectures, hands-on lab sessions, and role-play-based clinical case discussions. All interns underwent pre- and post-training assessments using a 50-item MCQ test (knowledge), a 10-station OSPE (lab skills), and two OSPE stations for communication skills. Statistical analysis was performed using paired and unpaired t-tests.

Results: Interns in the ILTP group showed significant improvements after the training in knowledge (54.3% to 82.4%), lab skills (51.6% to 79.8%), and communication scores (3.2 to 4.5 out of 5; p<0.001 for all), while the control group showed no significant changes. Post-intervention, the ILTP group outperformed controls in all domains (p<0.001).

Conclusion: A structured pathology and microbiology training module during internship significantly enhances interns’ competencies. Broader implementation may strengthen clinical preparedness and patient care. Further multi-center research is warranted.