Challenges and Opportunities in the Implementation of the Family Adoption Program Under the Competency-Based Medical Education in India: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Family Adoption Program (FAP) is an initiative under the competency-based medical education (CBME) in which each medical student is assigned to families in a rural community from the beginning of the curriculum. Community engagement in medical education gives the students an insight into the living conditions of the public and how they influence their health, along with improving their communication skills. This program provides preventive and primary care services to resource limited rural population. The objective of this study was to recognize perceived challenges and benefits of the FAP to the medical students and to the adopted families, and to gather suggestions for the improvement of the FAP. METHODS: This observational qualitative study was conducted using a purposive sampling technique. Faculty members, medical social workers (MSWs) of the community medicine department, along with first, second, and third year medical undergraduate students, and heads of allotted families were our study subjects. Key informant interviews (KIIs) and the focus group discussion (FGD) technique were the study tools. A total of 38 KIIs (18 faculty members, 5 MSWs/field staff, and 15 community members) and three FGD sessions were conducted. RESULTS: The participants felt that the FAP provides a good opportunity for rural people to improve their health through health education activities and health camps. The undergraduate students realize that the FAP will have a good and positive impact on medical education. The most important challenge expressed by participants was the shortage of human resources. CONCLUSIONS: The FAP has a good scope to improve rural health due to long-lasting bonding between students and rural people and health-promoting activities. The FAP improves communication skills and develops empathy among students. There is a need to strengthen these activities through improving infrastructure and increasing manpower.