AETCOM Modules in Medical Education
AETCOM (Attitudes, Ethics, and Communication) is a comprehensive competency-based curriculum mandated by India's National Medical Commission that runs longitudinally across all years of undergraduate medical training, designed to develop essential non-technical skills including empathy, patient-centered communication, professionalism, ethics, shared decision-making, and teamwork through 27 structured modules. 1, 2
Core Structure and Implementation
AETCOM represents a fundamental redesign of Indian graduate medical education to equip physicians with essential attitudes, values, and responsiveness beyond pure clinical knowledge 1. The program consists of:
- 27 self-contained modules distributed across all professional years of MBBS training, with each module specifying learning objectives, competency levels, content, study hours, teaching methods, and assessment strategies 2
- Five specific modules on "Foundations of Communication" taught progressively from first year through final year to build communication competencies systematically 3
- Integration into basic curriculum rather than existing as a standalone course, with both formative and summative assessments of how students communicate with patients, obtain informed consent, counsel for challenging procedures, and demonstrate sensitivity in care delivery 2
Key Competency Domains
The modules aim to develop medical graduates as:
- Competent communicators with skills in patient-centered dialogue and therapeutic relationships 1, 3
- Ethical professionals understanding healthcare as a right, equity in access, and the role of socioeconomic factors in healthcare delivery 4
- Team players and leaders capable of collaborative practice 1
- Lifelong learners with emphasis on self-directed learning approaches 2
- Empathetic clinicians who demonstrate respect, professionalism, and shared decision-making 1, 4
Educational Impact and Effectiveness
Evidence demonstrates significant positive outcomes from AETCOM implementation:
- Attitude improvement: Medical students show significantly increased positive attitude scores toward communication by final year and internship compared to first year 3
- Practical utility: 80% of interns who completed all communication modules agreed they were useful and equipped them with skills required for actual clinical practice during internship 3
- Student reception: 98% of students agreed the National Medical Commission took excellent initiative with AETCOM and found the duration sufficient 1
- Behavioral change: Students demonstrated improved understanding of healthcare delivery systems, changed attitudes toward patients, and enhanced communication skills after completing modules 4
Teaching-Learning Methods
The modules employ diverse pedagogical approaches:
- Interactive sessions including role-play, group discussions, and reflective writing exercises 4
- Multimedia tools such as documentary films and audiovisual aids to illustrate concepts 4
- Experiential learning through simulated patient encounters and real clinical scenarios 3, 4
- Self-directed learning as a core methodology across all 27 modules 2
Important Caveats and Limitations
Faculty feedback reveals that while AETCOM modules motivate students to acquire communication skills, these modules alone may not be sufficient to fully develop communication competencies 3. This suggests:
- Continuous reinforcement beyond formal module sessions is necessary for skill mastery 3
- Integration with clinical rotations and bedside teaching remains essential for translating knowledge into practice 3
- More interactive teaching techniques are needed, as students specifically requested increased interactivity in sessions 1
Assessment Framework
AETCOM competencies are formally assessed through: